We like playing the classic game of Monopoly for a few reasons, not the least of which is that it allows us to feel like our own Mr. Trump as we buy, sell, and penalize our neighbors on our way to being superrich. The game can be had at any toy retailer for about $20, but no self-respecting mogul would be caught dead touching the cardboard and crude tin pieces.
No, the real tycoons play the Geoffrey Parker edition, with the game board and dice cups lovingly crafted out of good leather, the pieces of hand-tooled pewter, as are the hotels and houses. If you’re playing on this board, you play like you mean it. For added fun, play with real money, for keeps. Just don’t volunteer to be the banker, no matter how attractive the leather-bound banker’s box is to the touch.
All of this Big Kahunaism for only $4,550, which sounds like a lot, until you realize this is the one Monopoly board from which you’ll never lose the pieces.
John here. I “own” The Sporting Life and I’m trying to assess your overall interest and appreciation of our content. I’d like to keep running it but I’m worried that the audience just isn’t there. If you’re an avid reader, drop me a line at john at bigwidelogic dot com and let me know what you think of the site and what we can improve. Thanks.
Despite his giving up of cigars over 20 years ago, humidors autographed by Cuban president Fidel Castro are to be auctioned again at Havana’s Habanos festival this March – with the proceeds going to cancer research.
An annual event, Habanos’ gala banquet last year raised €610,000 from Castro-signed humidors, despite being without its traditional guest of honor, el Comandante. Obviously, poor health (is there a superlative form of poor?) will again keep the dictator from attending in 2007, the fourth consecutive year he’s been absent from the event.
While we actively advocate the smoking of cigars (and wouldn’t mind any Latin benefactors putting in a bid for us), we have to ask: is this the most blatant example worldwide of a potential carcinogen being auctioned off to raise money for cancer? It’s like drag racing for motor safety or boxing for Parkinson’s research. Both of which we’re also up for, if anyone wants to forward us the invite.
How do we describe one of our favorite cars in so few words?
Launched in 2001, the Aston Martin Vanquish quickly ascended to classic status. The Formula 1-style paddle transmission, the growling 5.9 L V12 and, above all else, the exceptionally beautiful hand-crafted styling have all been of such a standard as to set it apart from it’s lesser cousin, the DB9 (oh, and so has the price).
Being replaced this year by the revived DBS, however, the Vanquish S is going with a bang rather than a whimper – a limited “Ultimate” edition of 40 farewell models. And the color?
The Ultimate Edition centres on changes to the Vanquish S’s renowned colour and trim. On the exterior, these changes include a unique ‘Ultimate Black’ - a striking new colour which will only be available with this car. Inside, the Vanquish S cabin is trimmed in a semi-aniline leather, with coarse stitching, leather headlining and black chrome finish interior fittings.
For those as moved as we are, be sure to pop your £182,095 check in the mail today. With only 40 being made, we can see this release being very ultimate indeed.
In October last year, when Wallpaper* founder Tyler Brûlé launched his new magazine Monocle (the first issue of which ‘hit the streets’ today), he had a specific demographic in mind – himself, and people like him.
Based in London, with small editorial setups in Zurich, New York and Tokyo, Monocle is printed on luxurious stock, features high-brow journalism and intelligent feature pieces, is exquisitely designed and carries the kind of healthy cover price that will restrict it to the carry-ons of the affluent jetsetters it’s targeting.
As its website attests, Monocle’s mission is obvious:
Focused on informing and entertaining an international audience of disillusioned readers, listeners and viewers, it is our intention to create a community of the most interested and interesting people in the world.
We’d like to think that’s us. Who wants to spot us the $150 for a 10-issue subscription?
It’s one of those circular problems – you need shelves because you have no space, but you need space to put the shelves. Argh!
The trick? Create space that becomes shelves, by tearing a hole in your dry wall between two studs and building shelves in the damn wall. Sounds crazy?
Although these cabinets or shelves will be narrow in depth, they can be used for any of the following: a pantry in the kitchen, paperback shelves in bedrooms and family rooms, a second medicine cabinet or towel storage in the bathroom, shelves for stuffed animals in a child’s room, or storage for hanging long tools, such as shovels and rakes, in the basement or garage.
Sounds feasible. Just don’t go nuts – those walls are there for a reason.
If the posters, the billboards, the TV commercials, common sense or the legacies of dead friends-of-friends are still not enough to stop you from driving home drunk, the State of New Mexico is going to speak to you in a language you can understand – urinal cakes.
Using motion-sensor technology, the Wizmark Interactive Urinal Communicator (we’re not kidding) detects the approaching, uh, client, and delivers a short, calm, sweet message encouraging well-lubricated patrons to consider getting home by means other than their own.
Although the really drunk will probably run away screaming the second they hear a talking urinal cake, perhaps the less-drunk-but-still-too-drunk-to-drive, having so far ignored everyone else’s advice, will heed the warning of their small, drenched friend.
We’ll leave the last word to the Wizmark itself: “Remember, your future is in your hand.”
It’s probably not the most water-wise thing to do, but hectic lifestyles and plain old laziness conspire to find you shaving in the shower. But at least now you can stop trying to wash your shaving brush under the shower head, or try and protect your precious foam from the evil water.
Brave Soldier Shower Shave is exactly what it sounds like – shaving cream optimized for use in the shower. Apparently its silicon formula bonds with water to add “extra lubricity” and it plays well with both electric shavers (waterproof ones, natch) and their more manual cousins.
Amusingly, the packaging reinforces the line ‘for body & face’. Yes lads, shave it all off.
The list of lists is here – the completely incomplete list of classic things. Cars, shoes, CDs, cameras, novels – like, everything.
And ‘classic’ is a broad church. You should own an E-Type and a Landrover Defender. Jack Purcells and Gucci loafers. Hüsker Dü AND Lionel Richie.
…Dipping his Jheri-curled soul into everything from renegade funk (“Running With the Night”) to stone-skipping syrup (“Stuck On You”), Richie creates one of the greatest guilty pleasures in music history. You will know the words to each and every song, and you will sing them and dance like a fool.
Worth a read, if only to see why Gore Vidal and Point Break should live side-by-side on your shelf.
We like playing the classic game of Monopoly for a few reasons, not the least of which is that it allows us to feel like our own Mr. Trump as we buy, sell, and penalize our neighbors on our way to being superrich. The game can be had at any toy retailer for about $20, but no self-respecting mogul would be caught dead touching the cardboard and crude tin pieces.
Despite his giving up of cigars over 20 years ago, humidors autographed by Cuban president Fidel Castro are to be auctioned again at Havana’s Habanos festival this March – with the proceeds going to cancer research.
In October last year, when Wallpaper* founder Tyler Brûlé launched his 
If the posters, the billboards, the TV commercials, common sense or the legacies of dead friends-of-friends are still not enough to stop you from driving home drunk, the State of New Mexico is going to speak to you in a language you can understand – 
It’s probably not the most water-wise thing to do, but hectic lifestyles and plain old laziness conspire to find you shaving in the shower. But at least now you can stop trying to wash your shaving brush under the shower head, or try and protect your precious foam from the evil water.
