Around the Community This Week

Community Feature of the Week: Myles wrote an amazing story about how his best friend lost his dad in World War II. The ending is truly touching.

Jason asked, “What does leadership mean to you and what new standard could you set for yourself to become a better leader?”

Will is looking for advice on getting long-term disability insurance.

D Hanton asked how many is too many as it concerns sexual partners, children, and pets.

Chris asked, “What are you reading?”

Brad asked, “What are you listening to?”

Mikey is looking for suggestions and tips for a new cigar smoker.

Brian wrote an interesting post on the way we use cognitive distortions to rationalize actions that violate our core values.

Ray started a discussion on the funny things tourists do where you live.

Chris started a discussion on tv shows you can’t believe got canceled. While Leo posted a discussion on which shows you can’t believe haven’t been canceled.

Gabriel started a thread that will be dedicated to showing and talking about the home improvement projects you’re working on.

Matthew wrote an interesting post about being a truck driver.

Chris asked, “What is your American dream?”

General Interest Links

He Clips Hair, Not Conversation. (@NYT) An awesome story about the world’s oldest barber. Anthony Mancinelli has been cutting hair since Calvin Coolidge was president. Now almost 99 years old, he’s still going strong. Now there’s a guy with some stories to tell.

Be a Man: Get What You Want with Integrity. (@Tao of Bachelorhood). Is being an a-hole really the way to get what you want? Michael argues that knowing how to balance being polite and being assertive is actually the real key.

GI Joe ID Quiz (@Mancraft). And now for something with no larger social significance or meaning beyond having a few minutes of fun….an awesome quiz that tests your knowledge of GI Joe characters! How many can you identify?

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The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man Is Available Again!

The second print run of our first book, The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man is now out and available in bookstores, on Amazon.com, and directly through the site.

Around the Community This Week

Shaun started a Man Facts Group, a group for sharing and discussing those amazing practical and philosophical tidbits that make up a man’s treasure chest of knowledge. Join up and share some interesting man facts!

Chris wrote a post about his all-consuming love for his son and dealing with the worry of anything happening to him.

Will started a great discussion about which images and aspects of manliness from the past we should discard. Lots of thoughtful responses.

Sean shared pics of all the awesome board games he’s made with wood and his manly hands.

Mark shared a great story of gentlemanliness in action. Nice job, Mark.

Stephen wrote a great post about the profound effect dressing well can have on how you feel and how people treat you.

Morgan wrote a poignant tribute to the heroic astronauts who gave their lives in the pursuit of the heavens.

J.A. set forth his thesis: “Real manly men like cats too.”

Shawn is going to be a dad in 176 days and is looking for advice, tips, and recommendations on getting ready for this momentous event.

Frank started a discussion about manly nicknames. Do you have one?

Chad wrote a post about the importance of living life to the fullest.

Don wants to know where you get your favorite hamburger.

Rishi is looking for suggestions and ideas to impress a lady on Valentine’s Day.

Theodore argued that women in the military should be allowed in combat.

James! wrote a great post about the key to good gift giving and how he finally got a coconut monkey for Christmas.

General Interest Links

Because Your life Isn’t Over (@The Art of Marriage). Many men avoid marriage because of the erroneous belief that it will “end” their lives. This article succinctly points out why this doesn’t have to be the case.

Admirals, Samurais, and Umbrellas of Honor. On his blog, Jason Martin wrote a great post which delves into the meaning of honor and what honor means in this modern world.

Disappearing Acts: Making a Sheffield Pocket Knife. (@The Guardian) An interesting audio slideshow on a dying breed-the artisan pocketknife maker. These guys are making knives just as they did 150 years ago. (Hat tip: Dominic)

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Around the Community This Week

In addition to the great discussions we have every week in the Community, there are a few special things I’d like to draw your attention to:

AoM Community Fundraiser for Haiti Relief

AoM Community member Topher White has started a fundraiser challenge in the Community. If 25 members donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting “Haiti” to 90999, Topher has generously agreed to match these donations with his own money. There’s nothing more manly than helping those in need, so let’s rise to the challenge, men!

Saddleback Leather Briefcase Community Giveaway

This giveaway was created with input from members of the Community Man Bags Group and entries will be judged by them as well. The giveaway runs until February 1, so stop by, read up on the details, and enter to win an uber-manly Saddleback bag.

Now here’s a selection of what’s been going on this week in the Community:

Sean showed off some of the furniture he’s made himself. Very, very impressive.

Theodore argued the case for mandatory military service for men.

James wrote a post about the manliness inherent in speech and wondered where the TR’s and Churchill’s of the world have gone.

Bennett started a great discussion about the best lessons your dad taught you and shared what a tough, sacrificing bad ass his dad was.

Gerado started a discussion about your definition of manliness. Lots of good responses here.

John argued that laziness was in the ultimate in unmanly traits.

Shay wants to know, “What’s the best way to become an electrician?”

LShieldes started a vigorous discussion on why he doesn’t generally believe in getting dressed up.

Gregory started a discussion about retirement. Will you work until you’re dead, or find some other kind of purpose in your golden years?

Dwayne wants to hear about your experiences with airport shoeshines.

Leo had a great post on the proper shirt colors to wear to work.

Jamie started a discussion on the most pressing question of our time: Conan or Leno?

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Art of Manliness Gentleman & Scholar Tee Now Available in Black

Due to popular demand, we are now offering our Gentleman & Scholar tee in black in addition to red. Check out all of AoM’s Tankfarm-designed tees here.

Around the Community This Week

Community Feature of the Week: Tony visited what may be the oldest gym in America-and shares what he learned about it and some great pics. The gym was built inside a Victorian mansion-talk about man space! Very cool. Check it out.

There was a lot of great discussion around the Community this week! Be sure to stop by and lend us your two cents.

In the Man’s Best Friend Group, Mike challenged members to do something this year to help shelter/rescue dogs. Are you up for the challenge of helping poor pooches?

Mr. Saleem Huepenny posted an article about the death of strongman Joe Rollino. Joe was the epitome of a time when men were men-he died at 104 and stuck to his fitness and health regimen until being struck by a minivan and killed.

Jonathan invites you to share your favorite inspirational speech.

J.A. shared how he helped a girl who was receiving some unwanted attention from a jerk. And thus earned major gentleman points.

Mr. Menard is looking for advice on kettlebell workouts.

Jesse is looking for recommendations for a good bottle of single malt scotch to get for his dad’s birthday.

TrekkinDave is thinking about becoming a nurse and wants to hear from men already in the field.

Tanner wants to hear about your manly space. What are the most masculine things you have in your house?

Adam wrote up a post entitled: “10 Useless Fact to Impress Your Mates With.” And it is exactly as advertised. Do you know what the “WD” in WD-40 stands for?

Ron wrote about his truly admirable and manly 90 minute morning ritual. Ah. I can smell the sausage right through the screen.

Don wrote a nice post about a favorite father/son ritual he had in his boyhood. Breakfast at a diner, a trip to the barbershop, and a nutritious snack: grape soda and a chocolate bar.

Sean is going to be writing posts sharing what woodworking projects he’s working on in his workshop. In this first post he shows us a card table he made for his mother. It’s a real beaut! You can see more pics of his workshop here.

Tool-wielding Ape discusses the very interesting research behind the reasons we swear.

Pylon asked for advice for how to deal with a young boy who has a problem being dishonest.

Chris argued that a man should be completely and totally honest in all his dealings in life.

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Announcing the Winner of A Tailored Suit’s Sports Jacket Giveaway

Many of you had fun designing your dream custom tailored sports jacket in order to enter A Tailored Suit’s Sports Jacket Giveaway. But as always, there can only be one winner, and that winner is Mike P. Mikey is sure going to be looking handsome in his custom tailored jacket. If you didn’t win, consider purchasing a jacket or suit from A Tailored Suit. Owner Antonio Centeno is an incredibly friendly, incredibly knowledgeable man, and I’ve never met someone so passionate and dedicated to making quality, well made clothing and making sure all his customers are 100% happy with their purchase. I don’t get paid a penny to promote Tony’s stuff; he’s just the real deal and A Tailored Suit is a company you can truly get behind.

Announcing the Winner of Two Tickets to the “Big Game”

Congratulations to Joe Lucero of Fort Worth, Texas, who will be headed with a friend to the “Cooper Dole” come February 7th. A big thank you to Dockers for sponsoring the prize. And for encouraging men to wear the pants.

Around the Community This Week

Community Feature of the Week: Ray Daniels wrote a post about his father, their complicated relationship, and coming to see each other as fellow men. Powerful and well-written. A must read.

DFJ is considering becoming part of a Men’s Group of some sort. Do you have experience with one?

Clayton just got into wet shaving and travels a lot for his job. He’s looking for tips that make traveling with your wet shave kit easier.

Eric wrote a fantastic post about what a great man his grandfather was.

Will wrote a great post about trying to understand another person’s point of view.

Dallas started a discussion on male rites of passage.

David wants to know your dressing and grooming goals for 2010.

Travis wants to know what kind of art you like.

Bela warned people away from law school.

Thomas started a vigorous discussion on whether western society is in decline.

Adam wants to hear your biggest high and biggest low for 2009.

General Interest Links

8 Qualities of a Man Evolved (@Man Evolved). Mark’s started a new blog where he explores the qualities and skills he thinks an authentic, balanced and dynamic man should embody. Here he lays out what he believes are the 8 qualities of an evolved man.

David Sheldon truly took our “45 Manly Hobbies” post to heart and has made a resolution to try as many on the list this year as he can. You can follow along with his attempts at learning woodcraft and starting a stamp collection at his blog.

Iron in the Blood (@Arthur’s Hall). If  in reading our hobby article you felt a twinge in your heart as your read the blacksmithing entry, be sure to check out at this article. A blacksmith’s ode to the beauty, the blood, sweat and tears of blacksmithing as a hobby, a profession, and a way of life. (Hat tip: Richard).

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