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August 31, 2008
It's Back To School Time
If you could turn back time, you'd likely want to turn it back three full months and start summer all over again, but just think of all you'd miss. You wouldn't see who would win the world series. You'd miss what's sure to be an awesome NFL and College football season. Possibly more important that all of that, you'd miss the fall lineup on NBC. So, in order to help you grin and bear the cooling temperatures, and less provocative clothing that is forthcoming, we put a bunch of really awesome gifts for men on sale in our Guyville Store. We figure that will at least soften the blow a little, and let's face it, you're going to need some new personalized guy gifts that are going to be essential at college, high school, or your new job.
If he's going away to school, he'll need our personalized Sports Duffle Bag, that will hold a ton of his important items. He'll also need a personalzied iPod Holder. Let's face it, pretty much everyone - both kids and adults have an iPod, so let's at the very least personalize his so no one dares try to take it and claim it as their own. Also on sale this week is our Personalized Silver USB Flash Key Chain, our Leather Wrapped Personalized Alarm Clock for those guys like me who can never get out of bed, and we have a lot more in our Sale Section.
The truth is, we hate the end of Summer too. But we know there is going to be some cool stuff to watch on TV, and we're going to rush the coolest fraternities...and if coach puts me in the big game, we're gonna win state...no doubt in my mind. Yep, I'll go pro making millions of dollars soaking it up in a hot tub with my soul mate. You shop our 20 percent off back-to-school sale from 8/29 until 9/7...I gotta practice throwing this here football over them mountains over there.
August 26, 2008
Texas Schools Consider Drinking Age
M.A.D.D. thinks it is ridiculous and there are both pro and con arguments on whether or not Texas should drop the drinking age from 21 to 18 years of age. An article in Chron.com is fascinating to us because we can't quite understand the logic of the pro side to dropping the drinking age to 18, since the issue at hand is that there is a big problem with underage binge drinking at the big universities. What the heck? What am I missing here? There are too many kids drinking and doing stupid things, so what we should do is drop the legal age to 18 so more kids can get drunk, only this time it's legal. According to this article UT in Austin says maybe. Texas A&M says not now. And a West Texas school says sign it up.
The argument they're trying to make is that if we lower the age it will somehow de-glorify drinking, and kids will do less of it if they could do more of it around adults. Did someone just rent the movie "Idiocracy" and decide that's the direction we should go? This argument not only doesn't make any sense, it's humorous. Here's another quote from the article: "In Texas, the president of the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, has signed the initiative. So did Pat O'Brien, president of West Texas A&M in Canyon.
"I am not encouraging teenagers to drink; that is not why I signed it," O'Brien said. "We have a drinking problem in the nation on college campuses. The current law does not resolve it."
Uh...okay, so the current law doesn't resolve it therefore, let's try something, anything, different. How drunk were these guys when they signed this thing? Listen, I'm not saying I didn't do a little underage drinking myself, and boy did I curse having to wait to be 21 to go to a bar when all my older friends were going every weekend. But I also drive quite a bit. I knew that the decisions I made in life were far different at 21 then they were at 18! I'd rather not be sharing the road with teenagers who have been LEGALLY drinking and trying to decide whether or not they're cool to drive home!
Look kids, we here at Guyville aren't haters. Far from it. When you hit the magic 2 to the 1, we'll be here ready to celebrate that first shot of gut rot Wild Turkey 101 out of one of our many cool shot glasses. We'll toast to many future years of you shopping in our gifts for men store, and most importantly we'll toast to your long life.
August 25, 2008
Goodbye Olympics Hello NFL
This is why we're a nation of fat people. There are so many compelling things to watch on television. Never mind my kid wanting me to teach her how to ride her bike. That's what training wheels are for. Just like an AM/PM commercial, there is simply "too much good stuff" and we can't pry ourselves from the boob tube. In case you wanted the total medal tally, Borat's favorite country the U.S.and A. walked away with the most medals with a cummulative 110, narrowly beating out host country China who's amazing athletes won a total of 100 medals, though they beat us in golds won with 51 to our 36.
We saw some great events this Olympics, and who will forget the amazing performances in volleyball by...well all of our teams! Phelps phans around the country are still rejoicing at his never-to-be-duplicated achievements in the pool. As all of this is soon to become a distant memory, we'll make room in our viewing brains as well as our Tivos for the rapidly approaching NFL season. This year the opener on Sept. 4 on NBC (7 p.m. ET) features the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants (that still sounds weird) against NFC East rival Washington Redskins.
So, we say, "embrace the armchair quarterback within each of us and enjoy." And during the commercials, have a look at our personalized gifts for men store. We've got a few cool NFL guy gifts that we think you'll love.
August 22, 2008
Guyville Goes Green
Sure we're a gifts for guys site. But just because we're the leader in personalized gifts for men doesn't mean we can't be concerned, in fact, very concerned for our environment and our unborn grand children's planet. We've been up on all of the bio-fuels, hydrogen solutions and green technology that the scientists of the world have been working fast and furiously on. One newer technology that is only right now beginning to get notoriety as a real possible solution to the world's cleaner burning alternative fuel source is algae.
In fact if you watch the above video from algae to oil producer, Origin Oil, and even though it clearly isn't the highest quality video you'll ever see, you will distinctly hear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger say, "I've heard about that" and "I think we should work on that right away." The Governor then introduced Origin Oil CEO, Riggs Eckelberry to top energy and environmental adviser Terry Tamminen and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, Linda Adams. I am an investor in this awesome and innovative company and I think Origin Oil (symbol: OOIL.OB) is poised to do great things for this country and the world. Algae is not only much cleaner burning then the dinosaur bones we're burning now, but given the right conditions you can harvest algae every 24 hours. Plus if you think about it, what do you think the petroleum we get from the ground is really made from? T-Rex bones? Maybe a fraction. Old leaves, dirt and moisture mixed in with it? Yup! And, gee...what do you think that is? Say...sounds like algae to me. Only when you control the growth and take out the gnarly black stuff, it's a whole lot cleaner.
Let's face it. We all wanted to get in on Microsoft at the beginning, because hindsight is 20/20 and very few of us got that opportunity. Origin Oil is at .42 cents per share today and the Governor thinks we should get to working on it "right away." I'm no prophet, and my humble opinions are my own...but I heard what the man said...that video didn't lie.
August 20, 2008
With Liberty and Guy Gifts For All
That's what I used to chant when I was in elementary school when everyone else was saying the Pledge of Allegiance, so that's how I know I'm in the perfect business. Since we've established that we are truly the leaders in personalized gifts for men, we know there will be competitors. We smile at that because it just rams home the point that we already knew. Our guy gifts store is gold medal worthy, and as other stores struggle to get up and running we are continually improving our selection of cool gifts for him. In the universe of personalized guy gifts, we liken ourselves to Shawn Johnson on the balance beam or Usain Bolt in the 100 meters.
Let's take the Olympians, for example. Here's a great personalized gift that I bet none of them have, but all would love. The Personalized Nano iPod holder. It's cool, it's inexpensive at only $20 and Phelps could personalize it with, "RUE" as in anyone who thinks they can beat me in a swim race will rue the day they tried. Or pick a marathon runner...go ahead, any of them from Kenya to the U.S. Here is a must have item for them as soon as these Olympics are over. The Major League Baseball Stein personalized with his favorite team. Let's face it, just watching those races makes me crave a beer, a hot dog and a cotton candy.
Lastly, all of these amazing athletes deserve and need our Personalized Travel Bag. Bags get lost and confused with other bags all of the time. With up to two lines of personalization and 20 letters per line, nobody will take the bag that says, "There's Phelps and everyone else" except Phelps. Or perhaps a rabid Phelps Phan. But you get the point.
There are hundreds and hundreds of guy gifts to choose from, so, please, don't be shy. Come into our Store for a visit and see for yourself.
August 18, 2008
A Major League Gifts for Men Idea
This has been a crazy season in Major League Baseball this year to say the least. Let's review quickly, shall we? Both the Yankees and the Red Sox, powerhouse franchises, are trailing Tampa Bay with a fraction of the season remaining. Tampa who? What's their team name again? Is it the "Sting Rays?" No offense to the Devil Ray fans out there (yes, of course, we know they're called the Devil Rays), we're just surprised that the Yanks trail by nine and a half with so little time left.
And let's face it, Boston could use the help of the enigmatic Manny Ramirez right about now, but he's gone like a solo shot to center field to the under-performing Dodgers. Will they be able to beat out Arizona for the top spot in the NL West? And what the heck is going on with the Cubbies? Are they forgetting the most famous quote in all of sports? "Just wait 'til next year!" The Cubs have the most wins in baseball right now! Their last World Series title? Anyone? 1908...an agonizing 100 years to the number since they last really cheered at Wrigley Field. Go Cubbies. Perhaps this really is the year and we won't have to wait 'til next year again.
We'd like to lift one of our famous Personalized Major League Baseball Beer Steins and toast the Cubs. The finish of the 2008 season promises to be one of wonder and surprises and we plan on being three sheets to the wind and ready to celebrate. For more guy gifts please visit our Guyville Store and you'll see why we are truly the leaders in personalized gifts for men.
August 15, 2008
The History of the Olympic Games
How Stuff Works piqued my curiosity as to the history of the Olympics, including how and where it all got started, and why. I'll keep the history lesson brief, but it is important to note that one of the reasons it all got started was to bring nations together in peace and that still seems to be at the core of our modern Olympics. This is a tradition that continues fifteen hundred years, and scores of generations later. Back in the sixth century, the athletes were normal tradesmen in the ancient Greek world. Every four years they would make the trek to Olympia with the goal of creating clout and social status through their victory. Not much has changed since then. Except, of course, for the millions of dollars and the front of a Wheaties cereal box.
Back then it wasn't all about winning. The primary purpose was to build diplomacy across the Greek world and to honor Zeus. Funny enough, the man who started it all ws a legendary guy named Pelops, the grandson of Zeus. He was a mighty warrior and a great Olympic athlete. Hmm...anyone thinking about reincarnation right now? Pelops...great Olympic athlete and great competitor...Michael Phelps twelve hundred years later. Pelops...Phelps...Phelps Pelops. Heir of Zeus himself possibly, that would explain a few things.
Lastly, we love the camaraderie that these Olympic games represent. In the name of peace, we would love to raise one of our awesome, personalized Steins and toast with you and the rest of the world for, what else...world peace! And when we're done drinking let's visit our Guyville store, so we can share with you why we are truly the leaders in personalized gifts for men.
August 14, 2008
2008 Medal Tracker
So as we are passing the first week of the 2008 Olympic competition, here is where the medal count stands: China leads the way, albeit narrowly, with 35 total medals including 22 Golds. Trailing the Chinese by a mere one medal is the U.S. with a total medal count of 34 including an even 10 Gold medals. It truly is a two horse race with South Korea and Australia tying for the third most medals with only 16 total. The once powerful Romanian gymnastics team has only 4 total medals tied with Armenia. Whoever thought Romania and Armenia would have the same medal count?
We've been really into the Olympics this year, and we're happy to say it seems like American patriotism is at a high right now with office cooler talk being dominated by subjects like Phelps and Misty May instead of the usual Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the end. It looks like a U.S. Gold medal will likely be forthcoming in basketball too, but will we ever catch the Chinese in Gold medals? They've still got a 12 medal lead on us in that category, but there are a lot of games yet to be played. Track and field hasn't even begun yet.
In honor of our American athletes, we invite you to visit our Guyville Store, and you can shop our precious metal/er medal categories and find some gold and silver metal guy gifts to share with the men in your life...or if you're a guy, buy some guy gifts for yourself. Spend some time, peruse, and you will understand why we are indeed the Leaders in Personalized Gifts for Men.
August 11, 2008
Lezak Has Phelps' Back - "Smashes" the French
The walls shook, not just surrounding the pool in Beijing, but they shook at my house too as I erupted and woke my entire family with shrieks of joy. So much happened during the last 50 meters of that race. Thoughts like, "Well, there goes Phelps' chance to break the 7 gold medal record. They'll have to be satisfied with silver." All those types of thoughts changed in a mere 25 meters as Lezak, just 8 years shy of 40, did the unthinkable and made up nearly half a body length to steal this win away from the boastful French team.
Talk about pure heart, few, including Lezak really believed he could catch Alain Bernard down the stretch. Clearly he found eighth gear if there is such a thing. I guess coach Bob's (we've all had a coach Bob at some point in our life, right?) plan to pump up the team by cutting out the French quote of, "We came here to smash the Americans" and posting it in the locker room worked magnificently. No matter what happens in Jason Lezak's life, this race will be played long after his swimming days are behind him and he reached heroic status for a lifetime and he did it in less than a minute.
We're out of breath, exhilarated, exhausted, euphoric and a few other 'e' words we can't pronounce. If you feel the same way, turn the sound down on the TV, and visit our Guyville Store where you'll understand why we're the gold medal winners and the leaders of personalized gifts for men.
August 7, 2008
Shopping Myths Debunked
We could go on forever with a shopping myths list of things that confuse good shoppers like yourself, especially in the gifts for men world, but we'll narrow it down to just three for the sake of time.
Myth #1: Personalized gifts for guys are really expensive! Well, that's simply not true. In our country's sharp economic downturn, we like to brag that we have a ton of guy gifts for under $20, and they're personalized too, which gives it that posh extra touch.
Myth #2: Beer tastes the same no matter what you drink it from...Well, c'mon now, sophisticate your palate for crying out loud! You drink a cold Bud from a can fresh out of the fridge, and sure it might taste pretty good, but you pull a personalized Mug from out of your freezer and pour the other half of that Bud into that frosty mug of frozen goodness, and see if you don't say, "Hey, damn, Guyville Guy is onto something."
Myth #3: Does Personalization of a gift really matter? Yes it does! Absolutely and positively. We are in a time when what really makes us strong is our individuality. There is something posh and elegant about a monogrammed shirt, or handkerchief and that started ions ago. We're just taking it to an entirely different level now.
We hope this helped cleared up some myths about shopping and personalization. If you want to see how vast our ideas of personalization of gifts for guys goes, please visit our Guyville Store, where you can shop hundreds of gifts and you'll immediately understand why we are the leader in personalized gifts for men.
August 6, 2008
Nike - That Ain't Right
Wow! And speaking about legendary gifts for men, just look at the photo to your left. We're a site that blogs about guy gifts, sure, but nobody wants that. The Wall Street Journal Online recently ran an article about heat that Nike was getting about its new billboard ads that were allegedly insensitive to gay men and African-Americans. The ads were to promote a new line of basketball shoes called, Hyperdunk, that were to be a part of Nike's Olympic marketing pitch. Basically the image on the billboards are of two unidentifed basketball players, one dunks on the other ones head, leaving the defender in the, er, crotch region of the dunker. The slogan running over the image..."That Ain't Right." Well, at Guyville, we don't think it's the worst thing we've ever seen, however, we can understand why people might get a little muffed, um, miffed by it too.
Look, Nike, we get that you can't win 'em all, and that you aren't always going to dream up something as brilliant as "Just do it" but I'm not sure how anyone thought this could be a real winner. Speaking of winners, why don't you mosey on down to our Guyville Personalized Gifts for Men superstore, where you can find any and all of your gifts for him needs without being grossed out.
August 5, 2008
Old Guys Rule - In the PGA
Alas, while Tiger is working on getting his knee right, has anyone noticed that the old guys on the tour are starting to takeover? Vijay may have agonized over his three foot putt last Sunday, but ultimately he wished it in for a win that took care of a drought that seemed to have lasted forever, though his last win was in March of 07. The Big Fijian as he is known, is still dangerous at the ripe old age of 45. If Vijay hasn't struck fear into the hearts of the youngsters on tour, then perhaps the new, er, temporary until Woods returns, number one player in the world, Kenny Perry will. Perry, who will turn 48 in a week, has been dominating the Tour's events this year. So, the big question we're all wondering is, who is going to shine in this Tiger Woodsless major, PGA Championship that begins on Thursday?
While we haven't a clue if youth will be served this week at Oakland Hills at the 90th PGA Championship, or if the old guys will rule the week, we can't wait until it starts. In typical Guyville fashion, we are putting our entire golfing gifts for men category on sale for the week as an homage to the major event. If you've been wondering what guy gifts to buy, then peruse the virtual shelves of our Guyville Store and see why we are the online leaders in personalized gifts for men and enjoy 20% off the entire golfing gifts category while you are there.
August 2, 2008
Four Figure Bottles of Wine!
Recently the Wall Street Journal Online had an interesting article about the astronomical prices of a newly released 2005 Chateau Latour. They noted that you could buy roughly 170 shares of General Motors stock for the same price as a single bottle of this wine. Of course, why would you want to do that? But seriously, $1,950 for a bottle of 2005 wine? Isn't the idea that the older the wine, the more expensive it gets? 2005 wasn't that long ago. I know this because my 2005 Subaru still has that new car smell, and only has 32,000 miles on it. Incidentally my Subie is worth far less than a case of this stuff! We are a gifts for guys blog, yet we're afraid to even taste the wine, much less recommend it.
Well, we also understand that during this strong economic downturn, that there are still enough people out there for which money is no object. For those who have mad funds, it simply becomes a supply and demand issue. On top of that, we applaud anyone who has the chutzpa to charge nearly $2,000 for a bottle of wine. I liken that to the guy who charged my daughter $12 for a cotton candy at the circus last weekend. Hell, at least they went for the throat! I nearly choked as I forked over the money. If you're thinking about charging a grand for a bottle of wine, why not make it two grand? Makes sense to me. If you're going to charge five bucks for a cotton candy that cost a quarter to make, let's make it an even twelve dollars. Why not? Heck, I told the guy he should just charge an even twenty and cut out the eight dollars in pesky change.
At the very least, if one is going to charge that much for a single bottle of wine, we'd like to suggest you visit our Guyville gifts for men Store and keep that bottle safe with our Personalized Sedona Leather Connoisseur Wine Carrier. That will really sell the "holy cow that must be an expensive bottle" tale. PS...it will work for a ten dollar bottle too!
