Inbal Raz, singer and growing online fasionista is the Slickster Magazine girl of the week. She enjoys doing photoshoots, traveling… and of course, singing her favorite songs. Not one to be camera shy, Ray is a natural in front of the camera. It’s this propensity for posing, and her the following postings on her social media that are rapidly earning her a loyal following on Instagram and other sites.
Doing work has been a part of a man’s life going back to the hunter gatherer days. If Mr. Caveman didn’t catch a fish, build a house, or collect water, he didn’t live very long. Those tasks require the usage and mastery of tools. However, mankind isn’t banging sticks and stones together anymore to aid in the workplace. We’ve evolved… kind of.
Slickster Magazine lists five of the most manly tools out there.
The chainsaw is one of the most dangerous hand tools available at retail home improvement stores. It is also one of the most useful and necessary tools that a man can wield. When a windstorm or heavy snowfall brings down trees in the street or front lawn, who gets the job done? The guy with a well oiled and sharpened chain saw, that’s who.
A chainsaw is motorized cutting tool that uses a high powered motor to rapidly rotate a chain with sharpened teeth around a bar. There are a few different types of chainsaws, and each one has it’s own unique purpose. For example, a chainsaw used for everyday tree cutting likely isn’t the best chainsaw for use when fighting structure fires.
Because chainsaws have such awesome power, they can also do a tremendous amount of damage and cause fatal injuries to the unprepared user. If you don’t know how to use a chainsaw, its best to get some advice and guidance from a trained, experienced sawyer (chainsaw pro). This combination of raw power and potential for destruction squarely makes the chainsaw in the top five list of most manly tools.
A jack hammer, sometimes called a demo hammer, also makes the list of the most manly tools. Unless you work a full time job in construction, it’s not likely that you keep a jack hammer laying around your garage, but some guys may have one. These heavy duty smashing tools are used for demolition plain and simple. A common application is breaking apart concrete when rebuilding or remodeling a home.
What makes a jack hammer one of the most manly tools, is the sheer strentgh it takes to operate one of these bad mothers for any length of time. The continuous vibrations, impacts and hammering motion requires a strong upper body and excellent body mechanics.
Nothing, absolutely no tool, can ever come close to striking and splitting power of an axe. At least no un-powered tool, which is why the axe is one of the ultimate symbols of masculinity. One of the oldest tools, it has simple and elegant design; a metal or stone weighted head attached to a wooden or fiberglass handle. An axe is uncomplicated, and the number of tasks it can achieve are only limited by the user. We’re not saying you should try to install a window with an ax!
By it’s design, an axe is used for cutting. However, cutting can be precise, for example a surgeon uses a scalpel, but an axe also has a bludgeoning aspect to it as well. In other words, it breaks as it cuts. This is an important factor of an axe, because it allows a tremendous amount of force to be applied over a small area. Because of this fact axes have been used in combat as well as exploration.
No list of manly tools would be complete without some kind of welder. We’re not going to get drawn into the never-ending argument about which kind of welder is the best. There are many commercially available types of welders for all purposes. MIG, TIG, Stick… they each have their own place and value for whichever job you may need it for.
Welding works buy superheating metal with an exposed electrical arc, and isolating the molten pool of metal from oxygen sources. The end result (when done correctly) is two separate pieces of metal fastened together. Not all metals can be welded together. Steel is a common metal used for welding. The process of welding is extremely bright, effective and crucial to manufacture items used in everyday life. It can be dangerous if proper precautions are not followed. Welding can cause fires, throw sparks, and in extreme cases, cause electrocution.
Learning to fuse metal together could be considered a critical skill for anyone who claims to be man. If you think welding is on par with current fashion tips on the “man scale”, you have clearly landed on the wrong website and you should immediately go back and pour yourself a big ol’ glass of soy milk. No man’s workshop is complete without a welder loaded and ready to go when needed.
We make a lot of jokes about jacking off on Slickster Magazine, but this time we mean it. A hi-lift jack is an essential tool for every man to have. Common applications include moving vehicles, but really anything that needs to be lifted off the ground can be moved by a hi-lift jack. They come into play when a longer “throw” is needed and a shorter jack just can’t get the job done. In this case, size does matter… she’s lying to you when she says it doesn’t!
In addition to automobile and truck applications, hi-lift jacks are often used in construction projects. They can also be found just about anywhere men go to work, including fire trucks, heavy equipment, airports… you name it, and chances are pretty good you’ll find a hi-lift jack stashed somewhere near by.
Direct from the Gold Coast, Teah Van de Wakker, lights up a room just like she lights of the sandy shores. Just as the locale suggests, this blonde stunner has golden locks and bronzed skin that often stands out in a crowd. Carabita Beach is one of her favorite surf spots to hang out, and she’d always looking for the next exciting thing to come. “Adventures can be found anywhere,” says Van de Walker. Her hobbies include surfing, fitness and enjoying the single life.
Today, the average car has been on the road for 11 years and typically lasts up to 200,000 miles. If your vehicle has reached the end of the line, it could be time to sell it and make a little money to help purchase a new one.
If you’re selling an old car, here are four steps to take to ensure you make a profit.
Places like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book can help you find the trade-in value of your car based on its year, model, and make. It might not be the exact price you can expect, but this information will at least give you a ballpark range.
It can also be helpful to look into other local listings. You might find a similar vehicle and can see what that car sold for. All of this research helps you set expectations and means you can get the most money possible.
Even if your car no longer runs, salvage yards can still take it, so getting a quote can be an important step in the process.
If you’re trying to sell junk car, make sure you have all the relevant vehicle information at hand. This includes things like the car title, mileage, and information on any interior or exterior damage.
Your state DMV can also give you an idea of what’s required to sell a junk car. Being upfront and honest is the best way to make a good sale. You don’t want to misrepresent your vehicle.
When it comes to the best way to sell an old car, you have a few options. If your car no longer runs and is more than 10 years old, dealers likely won’t be an option.
Routes to take include selling to a scrapyard or finding a reputable junk car buyer online. Do your research in both cases to make sure you’re working with reliable people.If you’re trying to get the most money possible for your junk car, then be sure to get more than one quote to compare.
Once you’ve sold the car, remember to notify the DMV and your insurance company.
Before you hand over the keys, make sure you’ve gone through your vehicle. The last thing you want is to forget to grab something meaningful out of the car before you sell it.
Check places like your glove compartment, trunk, and back seat to make sure you haven’t left any valuables behind. And if your car is going to a salvage yard, you can remove the license plates.
Your beloved vehicle may no longer be roadworthy, but it can still bring in a little cash. If you’re selling an old car, though, be sure to take the necessary steps to get as much money for it as possible.
For more helpful advice on a variety of topics, check out the rest of our site.
Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure can buy a new 23′ bass boat, tickets to the Super Bowl, or a Manhattan Penthouse… and that might make you happy for a little while. Especially if you can afford to pay cash for these luxuries. Every guy knows the sinking feeling when you check your bank account or wallet and find it to be thinner than a beanpole.
According to Fool.com, almost 70% of people in the US have under $1,000 in savings these days. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you keep the bulk of your money invested in higher earning investments. Let your money do the work, and earn more money for you. But for many of us who live paycheck-to-paycheck, dropping ten grand into a mutual fund simply isn’t a reality. The truth is there are a whole lot of us that are struggling for cash, and living hand to mouth.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover a selection of top ways to get money fast.
Selling off your old stuff is great way to earn more cash, and declutter your life. You will never read your old textbooks again. Those baseball cards that you thought would be your ticket to riches haven’t gained more than a few cents of value in decades. And, the gifts that your ex-ex-ex girlfriend do nothing but remind you of her. Get rid if them! You’ll be doing yourself a favor and making a quick buck in the same stroke of genius.
Selling your stuff online is a great way to get started earning some pocket money quickly. Sites such as eBay are easy to access and have millions of buyers world wide ready and eager to snatch up your old junk. It takes a little time to get up and running and many of the bugs that were inherent in the system have been smoothed out by years of trial and error. Small simple items to sell, are best to start with, because they are easy to ship.
You want to lose weight? Eat less. You want to have money… Stop spending money!
If you haven’t already, then it’s time to audit your monthly expenditure and look for ways to cut back. You should downgrade your phone, cancel unused memberships, eat out less, go shopping less, and so on. It happens to professional athletes and it can happen to you too. If you are spending more money than you are earning, you will go broke… it ain’t rocket surgery.
And, for the love of god guys, don’t flush your hard earned cash chasing a woman who isn’t interested in you. If you got friend zoned on the first date, but she keeps calling you up so you can take her to expensive restaurants, and then bails out when you try to take her back home…. stop it!
Spend less money! It won’t take long for your bank balance to start looking healthier.
Taking on debt when you’re already in a financial bind isn’t always desirable. But it can, in some instances, also be a life-saver in terms of easing the strain on your bank balance. Of course, banks are a go-to source of funding for many people. Yet they’re often unwilling to lend money to people with bad credit.
In these cases, you should aim to learn more about payday loans, or cash loans with no credit check. These provide much easier access to the money you need (just be wary of loan sharks and sky-high interest-rates!).
Finally, you could think about using your home to your advantage. If you’ve got spare bedrooms that you aren’t doing anything with, then you could be sitting on a goldmine.
Sure, you’d have to share your space with potential strangers. But, depending on your situation, that sacrifice could be worth it! Their monthly rental contributions would be a vital source of additional income to help replenish your bank balance.
Everybody in this world wants to attain a life-enhancing state of financial freedom. They don’t want to worry about money, struggle to make ends meet, or stress out about mounting debt.
Hopefully, the tips in this post will help you turn that sort of predicament around and make money fast. Want to read more articles like this one? Search ‘money’ on the website now.
Written by Jonathan Lee. August 1, 2020, 10:00AM. Tweet to: @Writerscube
With titles like Ghost of Tsushima and the Last of Us 2 being hotly discussed these days, you’d be forgiven for, well, forgetting about the existence of Anthem since it has dwindled significantly. Quite sad, really, because I certainly enjoyed the game. But that doesn’t mean that Anthem has died. Far from it. Bioware’s been hard at work in working towards an Anthem 2.0. And from what we’re seeing with the most recent Bioware blog on July 31, 2020, they’re really taking it seriously.
From Studio Director Christian Dailey, we’ve been given a little peek behind the scenes on what Bioware has most recently been working on with the rebuilding of Anthem from the ground up. The blog goes into the development team’s “Loot & Equipment Goals” as they’re still working on improving the loot system that many players had remarked on during the original game’s launch. Even though game patches had helped a little, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to draw players back.
With the way the community responded to the loot system, Dailey humbly admits that “A good player experience depends on the loot system being extensible and robust, and a lot can go wrong. A lot did go wrong.” A lot of player likely needed to hear that. Players were also upset at Bioware’s general silence for a period of time. People were wondering if Bioware was going to just pinch out a few patches and let the game die. But then Bioware announced that they were going to revamp the whole game. Then with this blog post, I think Dailey here is finally giving the players some closure regarding the past before shedding some great light on the future of the world of Anthem.
After what sounded like a humble apology, Dailey went on to explain that their rebuilding efforts had started “with taking a long look and understanding the best in class of the many great games that inspire us.” This is great! There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’re not the expert at something and needing to dig into what the real experts do—it’s how we get better before eventually creating something of our own. But what games might they have been looking at?
Some players in the Anthem community had called it from the start that this inspiration-seeking was needed from the beginning. A Diablo-esque loot system would’ve really benefited this game. It seems like after some research, Bioware came to the same conclusion along with others. In bullet points, Christian Dailey laid out how they were going to craft a “Satisfying Loot Experience”.
Dailey goes on to describe how there will also be more choice in loot. That is, you will get to “pursue specific loot without relying on randomness alone”. He lists that there will be “Quests; Specialized Vendors; Unique Loot Tables” to ensure that this works. There also will be opportunities to modify our items and even “rerolling inscriptions and leveling up items”. I think it’s a pretty good idea too! Why? Because it sounds like a play taken out of the playbook of another favorite looter shooter of mine: Bungie’s Destiny.
Another play from the Destiny and Diablo playbook is a new ease in increasing one’s power cap. Dailey explains “Your power cap can be easily increased, and the loot system scales accordingly”. This is excellent to hear because even after reaching max “level”, still being able to boost our ability potential or power cap is a staple of both Diablo and Destiny. So what if we hit max level? We still want to get stronger, kick more butt, and slay harder! Dailey here sounds like Bioware is planning to give us just that.
It just gets better, folks. There is also a greater effort on the side of gunplay and weapons variety—Lots of effort! Take a look at the image below. Bioware is looking to give us access to weapons that go beyond just those of the Freelancers. I for one can’t wait to get my hands on an Urgoth weapon.
But through a short video clip within the blog, we also see some other neat equipment to come. After seeing a Freelancer gun down an enemy, a whole bunch of loot bursts out of it (increased loot). Loot gathering will be less of a chore too. In the video, loot can be seen getting sucked in towards your Javelin.
Finally, we see some interesting pickups. First there’s the lightning gun as a purple item, meaning we’re likely going to run into lightning guns more often in Anthem 2.0. I’m pumped for that because lightning guns are so much fun, they feel powerful! Then you see an epic grade item, Jorra’s Wrath, with a higher power level, nothing too surprising in itself, but seeing an epic burst from a mob enemy is encouraging from the perspective of loot. But most interestingly, we see a “Mod Battery” and “Reinforced Leg Armor”. Do I smell deeper Javelin customizations coming? Oh this is going to be exciting!
Bioware really took the feedback from the Anthem player community to heart, and it’s clear that they’re trying to make a No Man’s Sky kind of comeback. It’s heartening to see this moving forward. I’m super pumped to see this revamp succeed because Bioware’s always been that kind of passionate studio when it comes to their games. I highly doubt they meant for Anthem to suffer the way it did during the first run.
It was great seeing Bioware show off some of Anthem 2.0’s development. It was the proof I needed to squash the beginnings of doubt that I was beginning to have. But now, I’m feeling amped up about this. Dailey stated that there is still much work ahead. I strongly suspect Anthem 2.0 to be developing slower as well due to the COVID-19 outbreak’s effects on people working. But now that we know that things are indeed progressing, we can wait patiently again for what could be something amazing.
Love Looter Shooter Games? Check Out Our Other News!
Destiny 2: Could It Get an Endless Dungeon?
Anthem: Signs Appear as Cataclysm Nears
Your gut is home to to 100 trillion bacteria — and hundreds of golf cases of canned light beer. Come on’ you’re not fooling anybody with the baggy clothes. Too many nights at BW3’s with hotwings, pitchers and big screen sports (when that was still a thing… FU 2020) can really catch up with you quickly. Like a ninja in the shadows of the night, as you slip into your late 20’s and 30’s your metabolism needs a kickstart from time to time.
All that bacteria we mentioned, isn’t a bad thing. Instead, your gut plays a pivotal role in your overall health. With a balanced gut, you will have a stronger immune system and improved digestion, for example. Sometimes, though, our gut bacteria falls out of balance. Less-than-stellar gut health can lead to skin irritation, weight gain and autoimmune conditions, among other side-effects.
Everyone loses their way from time to time. (You brought the map, right?) When you get off-track here are some tips, tricks and tactics to find your way back home to healthy gut. Disclaimer: We’re not doctors, even if act like it. So, if you’re unsure which steps to take to get your gut back on track, ask your doctor.
Healthy bacteria is only part of the equation — you need proper digestion to maintain gut health. As such, hydration is one of the major keys to keeping your gut happy.
Make sure you’re drinking eight glasses of water each day at a minimum. The more you drink, the more you’ll keep digestion flowing — and start improving an unhealthy gut.
Doritos are awesome. Some guys can live off spicy shrimp raman noodles, Red Baron cheese pizza, and Sunny-D drink. It’s disgusting and feat of survival that equals Shackelton’s mishap in Antartica. But, that doesn’t mean eating like a bachelor on 40-day no sex streak is good for your gut.
Humans evolved eating whole foods — fruit, vegetables, meat and whole grains. Processed foods are convenient and tasty, of course, but they’re not as good for your gut. You might find that cutting processed foods altogether does wonders for your gut. Or, you might try an elimination diet to see which ones have the most significant effect on your stomach health.
Pro tip: If you have to open a cellophane bag to eat it, it’s probably not that good for you. Skip the chips and read labels. You don’t need anymore fat or salt in your diet that you’re already getting.
Once you get rid of the processed foods that hurt your gut, try adding in gut-healthy food and supplements. You can get belly-bettering probiotics from fermented foods, such as kimchi. You can never go wrong with fresh produce, either.
Legumes and other foods that contain resistant starches aid in digestion, and antioxidant-rich berries nourish your body, too. Don’t forget that there are plenty of products like these supplements designed to improve gut health further.
Get off the couch. Turn off your phone. Grab an axe, fishing pole, woman, …. and get to the woods. Be a man. Men work. Exercise is work. Do some work.
Exercise can enhance your gut with a diverse spread of microbial species, which is great for gut health. But a quick cardio session can also fight bloating. If you need to kick-start your gut into action after a big meal, for example, try taking a walk and seeing if you feel better.
Sleep is so crucial to your overall health. In general, it improves your mood, hones your focus, enhances physical performance and clears your skin. But sleep is vital to gut health, as well. While you rest, your body has time to repair itself. And, with ample rest, it can self-correct a leaky gut or other issues in the gut microbiome. Make sure you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep for your age group. For adults 26 to 64, that’s seven to nine hours a night.
With these five tips, you know how to heal your gut — or, at least, how to get started. So, begin now and see how much better you feel when you cultivate a healthier gut.
And don’t forget to check back in with us for all of your men’s health news and advice.
At a time when the world seems that it has gone off the rails on a Crazy Train, LA-based metal band, Zero Theorem, are releasing “Swarm” to express their frustrations with unfolding events. The song encapsulates the feeling of rage and lack of control many are experiencing around the world. The single is the first from “The Killing II” EP, slated to bow later this year.
Swarm opens with the unnerving dissonance of bees buzzing, suggesting a blind hive-mind mentality, before the onslaught of the opening heavy guitar hook. The song is a radio-friendly 3:57, and Zero Theorem doesn’t waste one second of it. Polished song writing keeps the pace of the song moving along, while still conforming to industry stand norms of song structure. There is a good use of dynamics in a quieter bridge, followed by a brief and tasteful instrumental section. The repeating mantra of, “I envy you,” juxtaposed against huge drums, low-tuned guitars, and massive production quality earns Swarm a high replay value.
Insightful and never at loss for in-depth analysis of situations, Caesar (the lead singer of Zero Theorem) caught up with Slickster Magazine to discuss Swarm.
Slickster: Hi Caesar. Thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine about your new track, ‘Swarm’. What would you like tell us about it?
Caesar: First, Thank You to everyone who has listened to the track and helped make it a success! The song is kind of a clarion call for people not to fall into the trap of just living live on the surface and not diving deeper into what’s really going on in the world today.
Slickster: In the press release for ‘Swarm’ it states, “Although written and produced prior to the recent worldwide pandemic, economic crisis, and protests against racial injustice, the song’s lyrics and subtext seem especially poignant at this moment.” That brought up an interesting moment for me, and I’ll tell you why. One of my favorite works of fiction is World War Z, by Max Brooks, in which he details the collapse of society. Published in 2006, prior to COVID-19, Brooks seems to get some things about a global pandemic spot on, and of-course other elements were just fantasy. Is there anything about ‘Swarm’s lyrics and subtext you feel you nailed on the head or others that missed the mark by a mile?
Caesar: That’s a great reference. I’m a fan of Max Brooks as well, and his father Mel has had a huge influence on me. Much of our current predicament is an example of our failure to adapt and prepare for the inevitable. Moreover, our inability to more authentically communicate continues to stifle the true genius and potential we possess. “Swarm” was written as an ode to the blissfully ignorant, but it was initially focused on more general facets of everyday life. With everything that’s happened since, it’s hard to ignore the larger implications.
Slickster: According to you, “The song (Swarm) grimly mocks the overly self-indulgent who choose lives of carefree superficiality.” Are you referring to anything specific, perhaps social media? Instagram?
Caesar: Certainly, social media plays a role, – but the critique isn’t limited to those online. The practice has been institutionalized to the extent that it can appear in a subtler and more pervasive way than perhaps realized in our everyday lives, across all forms of media.
Slickster: You are also quoted as saying, “”One of the major themes throughout ‘The Killing’ recordings is that suffering is inherent to life itself.” Please elaborate on “suffering is inherent to life” and what that means to you.
Caesar: Life is predicated upon some form of loss, death, or suffering. It’s simply wishful thinking to believe otherwise. Most of us can point to a tragedy or difficult time that was transformational to some degree, and it’s how we deal with these experiences that can make the difference. My belief is that it’s healthier and more effective overall to recognize the inherent struggle as opposed to wishing it away. It’s about living a more mindful life and looking for solutions, instead of turning away and getting caught up in mindless distractions.
Slickster: You worked with Lubomir Atan to craft a surreal sci-fi video for ‘Swarm’. In the video, there is a tremendous amount of attention to detail and sci-fi imagery. How did this collaboration come about?
Caesar: We met Lubomir online and were drawn to his work. After a few conversations, we agreed on a treatment for the video and what we wanted to convey. He did a fantastic job in capturing the imagery we felt was the best reflection of the song, and was great to work with.
Slickster: Total sci-fi nerd bonus question; Was the alien robot’s face in the video intentionally designed to look similar to the flux capacitor in ‘Back To The Future’?!
Caesar: That is amazing, Ha-ha!! No, that’s a coincidence – but a great reference!
Slickster: Thanks again for sharing your music. Is there anything else you’d like to mention that we didn’t a chance to talk about?
Caesar: Again, Thank You to everyone for listening to the song and watching the video. We have more content on the way, so be on the lookout!
Connect and Share with Zero Theorem:
Official Website: http://www.zerotheoremband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zerotheoremband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zerotheoremband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xwCHSKy9jDs9BxNLwCVJl
Apple Music/iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1517565921
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/0-theorem/swarm-single/ALKrpznhbtz9xzK
Attention! Attention! The NBA season is about to resume! Yes, you heard me right after a five-month drought, we’re about to get our first dose of professional sports. It’s been a long time coming, like a really long time, but at long last it’s finally happening. So, how did the NBA manage to resurrect their season from the dead? Great question and it deserves an answer.
The answer itself is simple. After numerous attempts to try and save their season, attempts that all failed mind you, it was decided that creating a “bubble,” would essentially be the best hope. However, it wasn’t as easy as you would think. So, what does the bubble mean? To put it simply it means that 22 teams will travel to a city, in this case Orlando, and will use the same facilities. Is this a risky move? Absolutely, it is! I mean, you are putting the health and safety of professional athletes at risk, after all. In my opinion I believe the NBA knows the risk and to them it’s worth the reward in the end.
As I already mentioned, twenty-two NBA teams have made the journey to Orlando, where they will spend the next three months in a so-called, “bubble.” Three months. It sounds like an eternity, doesn’t it? While in reality it isn’t if you factor in that fact players will be away from their families and limited to the campus, it may seem like a lifetime. At least to them. Basically, all the players will have is each other. Sort of like being in a foxhole with your buddies fighting for survival.
Let’s not forget that I also said the players, coaches, staff will all be using the same facilities. That means the same hotel, same court for all games, same workout facilities, etc. in the hopes it will keep players safe and quell any outbreaks of Coronavirus. Now, what does this mean for the teams involved? It means lots of games. Most teams have already gone through practices and from there moved on to scrimmages, designed to act as a mini training camp of sorts. Scrimmage games would consit of ten-minute quarters which would not only help players get back into game shape, but serve as a barometer to see where they were after not playing games since March.
Scrimmages games don’t count. They merely serve as exhibition games. The games that will truly count, will be the seeing games. Seeding games will be serve as the restart for the regular season. Yes, I know it may sound confusing, but when you break it down it actually makes sense. Believe me.
Like I said, when you break down how the seeing format works, it’s not very confusing. Seeding games will begin today, July 30th and end on August 14th. A play-in tournament will be held on Aug. 15-16 if necessary, meaning the NBA Playoffs would then begin on Aug. 17th. Seeding games will count towards regular-season standings and stats will count towards regular season-statistics. Three courts will be used. Sanitization will occur between each game, meaning at least a four hour wait period between games.
You might be asking yourself: Well, what time do the games start? Games will start as early as 12:30 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends. Any games involving West Coast teams will start as late as 9 p.m. Eastern. Teams will each play one back-to-back contest. What about safety? I mean, let’s face it with this format there could be a greater potential for injury. While true, concerns extend far beyond injury. Some players have already had to leave the bubble and have immediately been quarantined upon return. The NBA has also required all players and coaches to wear masks while on campus and during games players will sit in chairs six feet apart from one another.
Putting all of that aside and focusing on the schedule perhaps the biggest “wild card” we’ll call it, is the potential play-in tournament. This won’t affect every team of course, but for squads in say eighth-place, ninth-place, tenth-place or worse, the play-in tournament will be a major factor. My guess would be an eighth-place team and ninth-place team would play each other with the winner advancing. Unless one team is far enough ahead of another in the standings. In that case, the need for the tournament would be negated.
Of course, everyone knows the goal of this “bubble” experiment, will be for the NBA to crown a champion. That’s the endgame. Since the playoffs won’t start until Aug. 17th and will keep the traditional format of years past where each series is seven games, the league is hoping to have a champion crowned by Oct. 12th. Honestly, that’s quite a stretch. I’m not quite sure how that’s going to happen unless a handful of series wind up going the distance.
That’s just me, but then again, I’ve been wrong before. I just can’t fathom that happening unless every series goes to seven games.
Yes. That is the simple answer to this question. We’ve been craving it and I think there’s no better time than now for sports to return in as safe an environment as possible. Our world has changed dramatically in the last five months and the return of the NBA will be a welcome return to some semblance of normalcy.
Online fashionista, Jane Madison, couldn’t wait to be the Slickster Magazine girl of the week. She is a rising star on social media and frequently publishes her own unique brand of self-made videos on Youtube.
When she isn’t posing in front of the camera or editing her newest videos, she enjoys going on stand up paddle boarding (SUP) trips. Although, she admits that she isn’t too great at it yet, and needs a lot of practice.
Flying the friendly skies has changed over time. What was once a privilege reserved for wealthy elites has become a mainstream method of travel for the masses. In the glory days of commercial airline travel, it was common place for flight attendants to be gorgeous young women. That is still common for Virgin Airlines.
As the price of commercial airline travel dropped, let’s face it, flight attendants became more like cafeteria supervisors and less like 007 Bond girls. However, this is a trend that reversing like Maverick on a MiG-27 fighter pilot. (Top Gun reference.. look it up)
We combed the internet and found some of the hottest flight attendants working hard in todays air workspace.
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Born Innocent is heavy metal band ALCATRAZZ’s first return to the studio since going on hiatus in 1986. Featuring thirteen high-octane tracks on the North American-based release, guest guitarists and excellent production, Born Innocent is for driving too fast or slinging steel plates in the gym.
Debuting on Born Innocent is the latest of the illustrious Alcatrazz guitarists to bring their extreme six-string talents to the band, with Boston-based Berklee College of Music Assistant Professor of Guitar, and one-man metal impresario Joe Stump. Stump is known for his extreme Fender Stratocaster guitar technique, performing a style that reached a fever pitch in the 80’s and 90’s known as “shred“. Blending heavy metal idioms with Classical harmonies, melodies and impresario, shred guitar has long held an underground following of dedicated fans. Stump is watermark in the shred genre that many aspire too.
Alcatrazz keyboardist, Jimmy Waldo, remarks of Stump, “Joe is the best because there’s no ‘bad’ ego whatsoever with Joe. He’s a very aggressive guitar player and he knows exactly what he is and what he wants to do, but he’s also one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with.”
Slickster Magazine: Is there anything about you, your career, your music….. that you want to set the record straight on, right here and now?
Joe Stump: Yeah… A lot of people are not really familiar with the full scope of what I do. I’m mostly known for my solo records. But I’ve also had my band, Joe Stump’s Reign of Terror, and I played in Holy Hell in a period of five years and we made a record or two. Then I did a record with the metal band Exorcism. Then I played all of the solos on Ravenlord…. SO, I’ve done tons of different stuff and all different kinds of metal.
A lot of people will hear my solo records and immediately I get pegged with, “All he does is sound like Yngwie (Malmsteen).” You know, don’t get me wrong, I love Yngwie. He is one of my heroes. Anytime you play in that classically influenced style, if you play it well, you can’t help but give the nod to Yngwie! You’re going to have some of that in there.
Do all I do is play like Yngwie? FUCK NO! (Laughs) I have all kinds of things on my last solo record, like a bluesy Ritchie Blackmore meets Frank Merino kinda’ thing. I had another track that was a black metal, thrash metal kinda’ thing. The stuff that I write, in comparison, is much heavier and much darker, and much more metal.
I would describe myself as an evil metal combination of both Yngwie and Ritchie Blackmore if I had too. If I had to say, “What does Joe Stump sound like?”, that would be an accurate description. Some people would say, “All Joe Stump does is copy Yngwie. He’s just an Yngwie clone”.
Most people hear someone play fast in that European way, with harmonic minor scales and diminished stuff, and they couldn’t tell the difference between somebody that is playing like Yngwie and somebody who isn’t. It comes from people’s lack of education of the genre. Everybody pigeonholes people. It’s not good to make blanket assessments about music if you’re not fully educated on it.
Slickster Magazine: So, there is lot more to your playing and your music than meets the eye, and your catalog has richness of diversity. Is that basically it?
Joe Stump: Absolutely! And that obviously shows on the Alcatrazz record. On the Japanese release there is 15 tracks and I’m playing guitar on ten off them.
Slickster Magazine: Yeah, lets talk about that new Alcatrazz record. So, you have a new album coming out on July 31 in North America. What can you tell us about Born Innocent?
Joe Stump: I think people who love Alcatrazz will really enjoy the record. A lot of people’s favorite Alcatrazz music is the early stuff with Yngwie. Of course, that’s one of the reasons they got me to play with Alcatrazz. “Hey we need somebody who can play like Yngwie and Ritchie Blackmore, who can we get?” (LAUGHS) You know what I mean?! Big surprise, me! Do I do that better than anybody? I would say so, yes! (laughs). So people who are big fans of No Parole (Rocshire Records 1983), they immediately hear the Yngwie influence and they love it.
The new Alcatrazz is a bit meaner, a bit more aggressive…. has a bit more balls, because I’m much more metal. There are also some other truly great guitar players who are guests on the record. Chris Impellitteri… who is a friend of mine and great player…
Slickster Magazine: Jeff Waters from Annihilator.
Joe Stump: Right. I don’t know Jeff personally, but I’ve heard he is an awesomely nice dude. On Jeff’s song, Paper Flags, I played the first solo.
I was recording that song in Jimmy’s (Waldo) place in California, and he’s like, “Me and Graham have this tune, but we need a solo section.” So, I wrote the solo section right then and there while we were recording. I figured out the key and the changes, and then I recorded the solo right after I wrote the solo section right on the spot. Then we fixed two things, and that was the solo!
I haven’t heard Jeff’s thing, but I play first and Jeff plays second, and then I come back in. The version (of the album) I have is the Japanese version, which is just me all the way through, so I haven’t heard what Jeff did yet.
Slickster Magazine: As far as your status in Alcatrazz, are you now an official member or more of hired gun?
Joe Stump: I’m a full on member. When we play live, I drive the bus, you know what I mean? I get as much room to do whatever it is I want to do. I do all the Blackmore-esqe stuff, like rubbing my guitar against the monitor and the Marshalls, throwing it up in the air, kicking it with my foot… I throw it to the door manager after the show. I play lengthy solos and get indulgent.
So, Graham lets me do my thing and gives me as much room to shred as I want. I’m respectful of that, and don’t go stepping on his toes. I don’t overplay during the vocal section, so it’s a cool thing.
I’ll be writing most of the second record, so a good portion of the second record is going to be mostly my tunes.
Slickster Magazine: “The Wound is Open” is one of my favorite tracks on Born Innocent. It features a great riff, huge drums and promotes an unconscious head banging.
Joe Stump: That’s a Bob Kulick tune. Sadly Bob died not too long ago. Bob worked with Jimmy and Graham in a band called Blackthorne. He wrote “The Wound Is Open” and “I am The King”.
I was in California and they played me the tune. Bob had recorded some of the guitars but I don’t know if they were going to keep them, other than a couple small things that he did. So, I listened to the tracks and then I recorded everything. I learned the tune right there.
The guitar solo on The Wound is Open came out bad ass! It’s kind of this Hendrix meets Gary Moore kinda’ thing. People always think I play Yngwie, well then listen to the solo in that fucking tune! You know what I mean?!
I really like the way the solo turned out on The Wound Is Open. For me, I like playing my tunes, but I also like playing on stuff I didn’t write, because I just do my take on what’s appropriate.
Slickster Magazine: Well, bro… I’m gonna go there. You still have got insane chops! How the hell do you keep them up? Do you want to detail any exercise or practice routines that you use?
Joe Stump: I’m always playing all the time. I have different things that I work on, like different arpeggios or picking things. Usually when I’m working on stuff, I working towards stuff.
Like, I’m shooting an new instructional video course next month with a bunch of excerpts from my last record. I’m not at liberty to talk in detail about it, but it will probably be out in the summer time. Anyone who plays guitar will be fully aware of it. I’ll be working with another guitarist who has his own guitar academy.
Some guys are playing more now because of the Coronavirus, but I’m pretty much locked in my workspace playing, because if I’m not touring, I’m at Berklee (College of Music). I teaching remote from home now, and on my off days I do a few lessons too. That pretty much makes all that I do.
Now it’s kind of a drag, because normally I have live shows mixed in with all of that. In addition to Alcatrazz, I have my solo project and a Deep Purple cover band that tours regionally in Northeast. And I have a Rainbow tribute that I also play with, so usually I’m playing live on a fairly frequent basis.
Slickster Magazine: Do you have any kind of set practice routine? Do you warm up for ten minutes, then record yourself for ten minutes, and play back over it?
Joe Stump: I have a small Pandora PX4D, which is an amp simulator with built in bass and drum loops. Usually what I do is just pick up the guitar and start playing random things. Sometimes something comes to me, or whatever, or sometimes I have something I’m working on in the pipes, or I’m crafting a solo section, or just polishing stuff up. I’ll practice various picking things too. I might practice classical scales, or more picking fragments on multiple string sets. I also play that “economy pick” nonsense where I go “down-up-down-up”, picking drills or licks in sequence. And sometimes I just put the Pandora on, loop something and just start goin’ at it!
Here’s an example: Yesterday I played three or four arpeggio sections for the upcoming instructional thing. And then another thing was a section that is going to be in the new Alcatrazz album. So, I always have plenty of stuff that is new, and in the pipes, that I can work on.
Slickster Magazine: Can you talk about the importance of learning music by ear, aka transcribing?
Joe Stump: Players can have tons of music theory, fretboard knowledge, and technical skill, but the elements that really make you a great musician…. your feel, your sense of time, your ears… Learning music by ear is very gratifying and extremely helpful. In this day and age, there is so much information that is easily available to all players of all levels.
The old school idea of learning a solo by one of your favorite players, then taking their ideas making them into ten of your own is kinda’ lost now, you know? You can actually watch the actual artists playing it on Youtube, but then you can watch some kid in a controlled environment that has a better rendition of it! So a lot of players aren’t even watching the original dude play it!
Anything that helps players get better, I’m for. Transcribing is a pain in the ass… I’m not talking about learning by ear, I mean learning the track and then writing the whole thing out. Which I still do from time to time with my favorite players.
Slickster Magazine: Thanks for going into more detail on the nerdy metal music stuff!
Joe Stump: (LAUGHS) Oh yeah! That’s what I do! No one has to twist my arm on that. I one of those dudes that just loves the guitar. I’m not one of those guys who says, “all is listen to is Classical”. No! I listen to metal and hard rock guitar too. If I’m riding around in one of my cars, it’s not like I’m blasting Vivaldi!
Slickster Magazine: Of some of the newer guitar gods, are there a few that really grab your ear?
Joe Stump: With all of the modern players, I mostly know about them through my students. I don’t know much about the music that they create, but it’s very much it’s own thing. Like the djent-type of thing, is very much it’s own thing. Like my students will send me a video and say, “I’m thinking about doing this for my final performance.”
I appreciate it, but I don’t really listen to it. The young guys are really into it, and it really motivates them to play, so I think that is awesome. But for myself, I’m listening to the stuff I love, like early Yngwie or Rainbow Rising, or the six CD set of three live concerts in Germany from the (Ronnie James) Dio ear of Rainbow. That kind of stuff. The last bunch of Accept records.
I’m kinda settled into my niche. I don’t watch new guys and say, “I need to incorporate that into my playing.” A lot of the old school shred guitar techniques have been replaced with the next generation techniques. The new players are using more things that are jazz and jazz-fusion influenced. So, I’m not a jazz fusion dude at all.
Slickster Magazine: Can we talk about one guitarist in particular, so that he will never be forgotten… Let’s talk about the late legendary guitarist Shawn Lane. Did you know Shawn, ever work with him?
Joe Stump: He was a legend. Many years ago, when he was very young and he played in Black Oak Arkansas. He was one of the first underground guitar guys where it was a big stir, you know what I mean? It was like, people had very rare video footage of Shawn destroying the guitar at a very young age. It’s sad that for all of his legendary status and monster technical skills that he never created a huge catalog of material. He only made one solo record and a few fusion projects with Jonas Hellborg. I remember he did an instructional video on VHS too.
But, he was a monstrous player with monstrous technique. He wasn’t an influence on me, but of course he was influential on many, many other players. They cite Shawn Lane as a big influence. he was one of the original extreme guitar technicians. He was right there at the beginning of it.
Slickster Magazine: Thanks Joe, that was a great nod to Shawn. He was kindred spirit. Speaking of famous musicians, two Berklee College of Music bros are getting back together for a new album, John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy. Any thoughts on that?
Joe Stump: Those guys are extremely talented and they are from the same part of New York as me. I think they are both from King’s Park and I grew up on the Smith’s Town – King’s Park line.
Slickster Magazine: You’re a Long Island guy too!?
Joe Stump: Yes, that’s where they breed all of us guitar players!
Slickster Magazine: Apparently so! And Micheal Romeo (Symphony X) too, right?
Joe Stump: Mike is from Jersey. But from the Northeast, we got a lot of dudes… My mother’s from Brooklyn, that’s why my New York accent is so heavy. But I was born in Queens, where my dad’s from. So, like everybody your parent’s are from one of the boroughs. So, you live in the boroughs when you’re little then you move out to “The Island”, as they call it.
Yeah, so I grew up in Smithtown predominately. In fact, a guy who used to go fishing with my father… my father had a boat and they used to go out fishing in Long Island Sound… He used to live across the street from Portnoy, I think, in King’s Park.
I’m not a big prog guy, but you know, Dream Theater is legendary, epic band. They are all epic musicians, and Mike Portnoy doesn’t play with the band anymore, so that’s awesome that him and John have reunited for the album. So, it’s an awesome thing for both of those guys to be back playing together and great for the fans of both of them to have them playing together.
Slickster Magazine: Joe, thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine about the new Alcatrazz record and your music and career. Let’s open up the floor. Is there anything you’d like to talk that is important to you that we didn’t get to or mention? Do you have any message for the world during 2020?
Joe Stump: Yeah, you know.. .For anyone who hasn’t checked out my solo material, and you like metal guitar, my last two records, Symphonic Onslaught and The Dark Lord Rises, are fierce slabs of guitar-driven metal. My instrumental stuff is crossover, if someone is a guitar enthusiast, would dig these records. There’s cool melodies and bad-ass riffs, and all of that technical guitar nonsense played a million miles an hour.
Every Man of Steel needs a dynamic power source to fuel heroic tasks. It’s no secret that one of the primary aspects of living a healthy masculine lifestyle is a well-balanced diet. Tacos, pizza, and Johnny Walker all have their place, but so does avocado and lots of clean, fresh water.
A nutritious diet consists of minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. Eating healthy meals promotes your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing. Researchers say that eating foods dense in nutrients can give you multiple health benefits. This includes reducing the risk of chronic health conditions.
Doctors and health enthusiasts started the trend of superfoods. Read on to discover what superfoods are and our superfoods list to add to your next grocery trip.
Superfoods are generally known to be foods with an abundance of antioxidants. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods with a lot of vitamins and minerals. These high nutrient foods can help ward off disease and boost your immune system.
Many superfoods contain fiber, which helps in preventing diabetes and digestive problems. Phytochemicals found in superfoods can help reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases.
When combined with regular physical activity, your health may improve vastly. Here’s our superfoods list to guide you on your next grocery trip!
The ultimate summer fruit snack, watermelon is a superfood high in H2O. In only one cup of watermelon, you can get fiber, water, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. Watermelons contain lycopene which can protect your cells from damage.
This can also strengthen your body against the risk of cancer. Watermelon seeds may also provide you with similar benefits. Watermelon seeds contain high protein content. Watermelon seeds also have B-vitamins and other healthy nutrients like iron, folate, and magnesium. These can help keep your cholesterol levels in check.
Eggs are the ultimate breakfast food. Eggs are rich in two unique antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin. These gather into the eye’s retina and protect your eyes from harmful sunlight. Eggs help to protect your eyes from various eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Eating 1.3 egg yolks a day for 4-5 weeks can increase lutein by 28 to 50%. It can also increase levels of zeaxanthin by 114% to 142%. Large eggs are rich in vitamins A, B12, B2, and B5. They also contain high levels of iron, phosphorus, and selenium. The yolks contain most of the nutrients, so be sure to eat them all.
One tablespoon of chia seeds contains 3 grams of protein, 5 grams of healthy fat, and 6 grams of soluble fiber. Chia seeds are super seeds that can boost calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Many health enthusiasts incorporate chia seeds into their daily recipes. Some include yogurt, breakfast cereals, and fruit bowl smoothies. You may even add chia seeds to your superfood salad!
If you’re struggling with a drug-related illness, it’s easy to feel isolated in your rehabilitation efforts. However, 10% of Americans will struggle with drug addiction at some point in their lives, so you’re far from alone.
Here, we’re going to talk about some of the most common long term effects of drug abuse that most people see regardless of the drug that they’re on. Read on to learn more about why it’s critical that you take the steps necessary to heal and get your life back on track!
It’s worth noting that the specific drugs that you’re addicted to will each have a unique effect from other drugs. However, nearly all substances cause the tissue and blood vessels surrounding the heart to weaken. This plays a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Those who frequently take drugs may lessen the blood flow to the heart, which can ultimately make it difficult for it to do its job of pumping oxygenated blood through your body. This can cause tissue starvation, irregular heartbeat, and even the cutoff of circulation to the brain.
When your oxygenated blood is unable to make its way to the brain, the human body is at higher risk for brain damage. This can cause a lot of other issues for your body. Hearing loss and frequent blackouts are among the less severe long-term issues that brain damage causes. You may find yourself with memory problems or new brain disorders that inhibit your ability to function normally.
Brain hemorrhage and stroke is also a possibility here. There may be bleeding around your brain that causes the clots that lead to stroke. Luckily, drug rehab is an effective way to prevent this from happening! Make sure to look into your options and find a program that works for you.
Even if severe physical health effects don’t surface, drug abuse has a long-term effect on mental health. Drugs can cause psychosis and hallucinations as well as paranoia and aggression. This is especially the case due to withdrawal effects. However, even if you aren’t on withdrawal, you may see these issues arise.
In the long term, drug abuse can cause depression long after quitting. Rehabilitation- and entering into it early- can lessen the severity of this depression and ensure that you can get back on your feet.
While there are both short and long-term problems caused by drug and alcohol abuse, it’s possible for you to prevent these long-term issues from coming to fruition.
Now that you know some of the long term effects of drug abuse, it’s time to get more information on how to recover from this illness. Check out the ‘men’s health’ tab on our home page for more information on how to heal. You have the power to get your life back on track and begin to thrive once again.
Any man worth his weight knows that “learning the hard way” is often the best way to learn a life lesson. That might be dating the wrong woman, quitting a good job when you are having a bad day, or picking a fight after you’ve had one too many drinks. Making mistakes isn’t the end of the world. If you learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them, some may say they weren’t really mistakes to begin with.
It takes patience and resilience to rise above the ranks and become among the top celebrate online sports bettors. At times it might be the standard betting practices that are holding you back. Making mistakes in sports betting is non-negotiable as it not only costs you money but also time and your love for sports betting. Here are some of the mistakes that might be eating into your sports betting profits.
Shooting from the hip, is a good way to get yourself into a lot of trouble (debt) when you are placing bets on sports. It’s often a natural reflex response to want to wager a massive bet on a game while in a bid to salvage all your losses at once.
That isn’t the way to go because it might cost you big time in the long haul. You need to know that online sports betting isn’t a sprint; instead, it’s a marathon race. It’s best to take small, calculated steps, and know that each game is always unique from the latter.
You bet the farm and try to win it all in one go, there’s a good chance you’ll be working on someone else’s farm to make ends meet.
Fads come and go. Trends are hot one day and ice cold the next. Just look in your storage locker or closet and you’ll see what we mean. I’m sure you though those stonewash capri’s and Nickleback albums would always speak to your soul, and now look at ’em. They are F’ing worthless.
Sports betting also has trends, and you may be tempted to place a bet on some odd game that you’ve never heard of. Look before you leap. It would be best if you backed your hunch with detailed background research about any sports games that you venture into always. Do you know how the game works? What makes a player or team excel in the sport? Who is in charge of the leadership?
Sadly, most people hardly understand the different rules used in various sports. In the process, they use a specific betting technique they are used to in all sports and end up losing others. You need to wager on a sport that you are most conversant with to make the most of your betting time.
Choose your bets wisely. Common sense ain’t so common is it? Practice due diligence and avoid placing all your valuable stakes on each betting platform that you come across. Make sure you know who you’re dealing with before you roll the dice.
Most punters get lured in by the exclusive betting deals and rewards offered by these platforms. They fail to check the vital aspects such as legal authorization, casino ratings, and customer reviews. And before one knows it, they are counting heavy losses. It’d help if you chose well-established Footballbetting platforms to game on a credible website. Thus, you can become assured of receiving your winnings.
The hype around sports betting is not only captivating but also luring. We’ve all heard about guys that make a full time living simply by placing online bets or playing online poker. There are even local bars that offer huge cash payouts for pools like College Football or special PPV fight events.
When you win, celebrate. Tip your waitress (especially if she has a nice ass). But you also need to prepare for a rainy day. You’ll need to have some god damn discipline and active bankroll management if you desire to make a profitable career out of sports betting. Only bet within the stipulated limit to make sure you have the cash to bet another time. Place at least 50% aside from your winnings to build a cushion. Reinvesting 75%-90% is even better but takes a strong willed man to do so.
With sports betting, you don’t to make a fast profit overnight. Like chasing a rare good woman, don’t go in for the score too quickly, and stay in the for the long run. It’s a gradual process that enables you to own your mistakes and learn from them. Be vigilant and have a proven and well-calculated strategy rather than relying on your emotions when you’re betting. Keep a specific betting goal in mind, and you can always conduct in-depth research and trust your gut rather than overly relying on tipsters. When in doubt, bail out; Fall back, regroup and return to win big another day.
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