In the inaugural episode of the podcast I revisit my very first post on the site Fit is King. I talk about what I still support from that post, and also bring up a few things I’ve learned since then.
As part of each episode, I will be discussing an Icon and Embarrassment. They are examples who typify both the good and the bad of the topic being discussed.
Icon: Steve McQueen
Embarrassment: Michael Jordan
A man who spends any time tuned into social media has most likely come across his fair share of the professional victim class – the people who always have something to complain about.
At the top of this list of people would be the Tumblr and Twitter activists that make up third-wave (fourth by now?) feminism. To some extent, I can’t blame these people. When their entire identity is based upon their oppression, they have to consistently seek new ways in which they can claim they’re being oppressed. Otherwise they’d be forced to redefine themselves.
In one of the largest #firstworldproblems farces, a new way in which men everywhere are carrying out the sinister desires of the all-so-secret patriarchy is by spreading our legs too wide when we’re seated. It’s called #manspreading, and when it’s done in public, it’s obviously a way in which brutish men can keep womyn under our thumb. Manspreading is characterized by the spreading of a man’s legs to take up more than the allotted space of a single seat in a public setting. It most often happens on subways but can be seen anywhere.
Most normal people would simply ask the manspreader to give them some room and move on with their lives. However, that’s not enough for downtrodden of the modern West. This phenomenon needs to be eradicated. Ironically enough, if a 400-lb woman were taking up three seats on the subway and subjected to a complaint or an eyeroll, these same activists would fault the complainer as opposed to the woman. Body shaming and all that good stuff.
Well, as it turns out, there is scientific backing for the benefits to a man of sitting with his legs spread. It’s all based around how much heat his testicles can handle.
Normal scrotal temperature (the external surface of the scrotum) is approximately 34°C in a normally clothed man walking about or maintaining a loose stance, and it has been estimated that testicular temperature within the scrotum is between 0.1 and 0.6°C higher than this [32,35,36]. Clothing itself appears to contribute about 0.5–1.0°C [37], compared to being naked. Clothed and sitting down with thighs apart raises scrotal temperature to about 35 C, whereas sitting with thighs together quickly allows scrotal temperature to rise to above 36 C, i.e. to abdominal temperature within the testis [36]. Several studies have now shown that men with predominantly sedentary occupations [36], or who spend considerable time driving a vehicle [38,39], have higher average scrotal temperatures and consequently lower average sperm production or reduced fertility.
The higher the temperature in a man’s scrotum rises, the more it kills his fertility.
The possession of a scrotum to contain the male gonads is a characteristic feature of almost all mammals, and appears to have evolved to allow the testes and epididymis to be exposed to a temperature a few degrees below that of core body temperature. Analysis of cryptorchid patients, and those with varicocele suggest that mild scrotal warming can be detrimental to sperm production, partly by effects on the stem cell population, and partly by effects on later stages of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. Recent studies on the effects of clothing and lifestyle emphasize that these can also lead to chronically elevated scrotal temperatures. In particular, the wearing of nappies by infants is a cause for concern in this regard. Together all of the evidence indirectly supports the view that lifestyle factors in addition to other genetic and environmental influences could be contributing to the secular trend in declining male reproductive parameters.
Other factors like being sedentary for too long, diapers on babies, too many estrogens in modern products, wearing briefs instead of boxers, and cell-phones in front pockets all contribute to frying a man’s huevos.
It stands to reason that the more a man can do to keep his temperature regulated, the better his fertility and testosterone production are going to be.
Clothing is another large factor but, I personally like my slim jeans. So #manspreading seems like a pretty easy way to keep the boys cool. The next time someone accuses me of systemic oppression of women by the way I’m seated, I’ll make sure to let them know I’m doing it for the children.
A controversial sport, bullfighting can trace its origins to ancient Mesopotamia – namely the Epic of Gilgamesh in which Endiku fought and conquered the Bull of Heaven using a bright tunic and a sword. The sport can be followed through Rome and medieval Europe, but it wasn’t until 1726 in Spain when it became popular to fight the bulls on foot.
The introduction of fights on foot allowed for men of lower stations to climb the social ranks via the celebrity of bullfighting. The fighters became the modern-day equivalent of rock stars. When asked why he chose to fight, one man said, “Hunger strikes more painfully.” With both status and violence being integral to the sport, it’s no wonder men throughout history have engaged in the art.
A more accurate name for the fighters is Torero. The term “Matador” is not technically used in Spanish, but is an abbreviation for the name of the lead fighter and the man with the charge of delivering the final blow. He is the “Matador de Toros” (killer of bulls), and is often addressed as Maestro. The other two fighters are respectively Banderilleros and Picadores.
The Picadores are on horseback and weaken the bull in order to “even the fight” for the other two classes of fighter. As their horses are charged, picadores lance the bull in the neck or the back, drawing its first blood, lowering its head, and weakening its body.
The role of the Banderillero is to place barbed lances in the top of the bulls’ shoulders. They wow the crowd by attempting to get as close to the bull as possible when placing the banderillas. These fighters can use the placement of the barbed flags to help correct a bull which may be pulling to one side or the other.
The costumes worn by the Toreros have historical reference, form, and function.
From a functional perspective, the tight pants and short-cropped jackets provide the perfect balance between movement and protection. Because the Toreros are judged as much (if not more) by their style and flair in performing their various duties as they are by their effectiveness, the ensemble needs to allow them the balance between a warrior and an artist.
The tight pants allow for a complete range of motion and the short jacket offers protection of the torso, without being long enough that the bulls’ horns would be able to catch on the fabric.
The gaudiness of the costume was not introduced until the mid 18th century when a fighter named Costillares began his rise as a Torero superstar. Growing up the son of a butcher, Costillares was by no means a member of the upper class. However, his skill and style in the ring (along with the money earned from fighting) allowed him to climb the ranks and become a member of his area’s elite. Because he was increasingly seen as a member of the upper class, Costillares decided to start dressing like one. While Costillares was the first to begin to adorn his bull-fighting costume with the intricacies and signs of the upper class, the idea didn’t take hold amongst toreros in general until 20 years after Costillares’ death when Spanish painter Francisco de Goya published a series of 33 paintings entitled La Tauromaquia.
Because Goya and Costillares were from different, rival cities he didn’t want to copy Costillares style exactly in his paintings. Instead he depicted his fighters with similar French styles.
The paintings showed minute changes that altered the entire appearance of the toreros. Rather than being ankle length, the trousers were cut at the calf. The jackets were lengthened from just below the ribs to hip length.
In the 1840’s fighter and style icon Paquiro made some changes of his own. He cropped his jackets back at the ribs and introduced the idea of the Galones de Platas (suit of lights). Drawing reference from Spanish and French nobility, Paquiro wanted a costume that would separate him as a Maestro from the banderilleros and picadores. He had his suits adorned with gold instead of the silver worn by the lower-esteemed fighters and also added the flashy details that would reflect both is personality and the sun in the arena.
Other details, such as pink socks, were added as ways to indicate wealth (brighter colors were more expensive than their drab counterparts in the 18th and 19th centuries) and to align with superstition. Yellow is considered to be an unlucky color while green and purple have an association with the insides of coffins.
Toreros today are not required to wear a particularly gaudy costume, but it has become such an ingrained part of their culture, that to fail to do so would be anathema. The best comparison to how a torero chooses the overall appearance of his costume is that of choosing a tattoo. Many fighters will select symbols, colors, and styles that reflect their family history, heraldry, religious convictions, personal tastes, etc. While others will simply select a design available on display with their tailor.
Modern day galones de platas are made bespoke by a handful of master tailors and cost thousands of dollars – a steep investment when considering that most fighters have at least half a dozen suits. As technology has advanced, new materials like spandex and polyester have been used because of a greater range of motion or the ease with which the bulls’ blood can be removed from the costume.
As controversial as the sport and the costumes may be. One can’t deny that toreros have a unique blend of both ancient, violent masculinity, along with its more refined, genteel counterpart.
Home design is an area I’ve already started to touch on. However, I’m not an expert in this field, and it makes more sense to bring on someone who is.
Before letting Justin take the reins, I want to tee this up by saying all the reasons a man should care about his clothing apply to his home. It is his castle and should be a place that reflects his personality, ambitions, convictions, and comforts. The same can be argued for his office, but is especially crucial in the home. Far too many men are content with maintaining the appearance of their college dorm, and many others just let their wives take over. There is no right way for a man’s home to appear. Some may be more Spartan in nature, others (like Justin in this post) embrace mid-century aesthetics, and more may want something a bit more full. The point is that a man’s home should be as intentional as the rest of his life.
So with that, I’ll let Justin take it from here.
Alright, it’s almost twenty fifteen and you have spent a good amount of twenty fourteen focusing on your body, your grooming, and of course your style; but what about the space that surrounds you?
That is where I come in, I have worked in architecture and design for over half of my short life and own my own architectural design and consultation company. It is my calling and I cannot wait to throw in my two bits on some best practices that will help you find the perfect style for your space. To start I would like to reference the great architect Mies van Der Rohe in saying, “less is more”. I live by this – as should many designers.
As I started writing this post I debated talking about the history of architectural design, but I think starting in Egypt, Greece, and Rome is a little extreme when it comes to the placement of your television. So rather I think we should start at the turn of the technological century, or as we call it in the design world: Mid-Century Modern.
Don’t get me wrong, over the next year we will reference the greats that came before MCM. Greats like: Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Louis Sullivan, we may even talk about Michelangelo, and Thomas Jefferson. However, my primary sources for this exercise will be our Mid-Century heroes like: Ray and Charles Eames, Dieter Rams, Philip Johnson (before he went post-modern), Louis Kahn, and photographer Julius Shulman.
Now I know that is a little name heavy; I did that on purpose so you would feel that there is something to be learned from these design posts. I want you all to recognize that when it comes to your space knowing these names is as important as knowing names like: Tom Ford, Enzo Ferrari, and Giorgio Armani. They are names of designers that have all influenced the way we should design. For more in-depth information on these names follow my personal blog where I will be writing regularly about these architects, designers, and photographers as well as discussing how they should influence our modern design.
With that plug aside I’d like to start by addressing the globe in the room. Many men, when asked about their dream masculine space, will start describing an Elizabethan era study. They will talk about the large oak desk, the walls lined with leather bound books, the large uncomfortable leather chairs, the bear rug, and the antique globe. Actually using this look is like telling your tailor that you would like jerkins and a cloak. It is beyond out-dated and does not fit your home. That is, of course, unless you are one of our European readers and you actually own a castle.
It is to those who do not own a castle that I’d like to address my posts; I’d like to help you know some of the ups and downs of design. It’s serious business and too many men are taking it lightly, or relying on Hollywood, Pinterest, or the Joneses for their frame of reference. Before you begin working on your space it will serve you best if you forget all that you may already know about architectural design and start with some of the basic principles.
Where do you start if you have to forget all you know? Start with Deiter Rams. Rams is a legend in the design community, in my eyes he has been as influential on today’s good design as Frank Lloyd Wright was on mid-century work. Rams originally studied to be an architect in the late forties at the Wiesbaden School of Art in Frankfurt Germany. After deciding not to be an architect he ended up working as an industrial designer for Braun and changed the way the digital world works, or better said: looks.
Rams, has always been one of my idols, and he has been an idol to most of the design community. I strongly urge you all to research more about him, and even look up his clip in the documentary Objectified by Gary Hustwit. Should you find the right clip, Rams will talk about the Ten Principles of Good Design, they are as follows:
1. Good design is innovative.
2. Good design makes a product useful.
3. Good design is aesthetic design.
4. Good design makes a product understandable. 5. Good design is unobtrusive.
6. Good design is honest.
7. Good design is long-lasting.
8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail. 9. Good design is environmentally friendly.
10. Good design is as little design as possible.
After reading through the Ten Principles of Good Design you should have your wheels turning. If not, read through them again, think about your space, the furniture in the space, the colors, the textures, the finishes. All of those should be details that you focus on when designing your space. Remember the quote from earlier, “less is more.”
Working on a personal space that is in our time should not be difficult. It should be simple to find a focal point, it should be obvious. Don’t let finding the perfect piece of furniture fool you. Be deliberate in your decisions. When I focus on a project I like to work through each square inch of a space. Examine everything from top to bottom. Find a functional use for everything in the room. If you will not use an object then you do not need that object.
It is famously said in the design world that form follows function. Do not take this lightly – often we get so caught up in the design of our space that we don’t have a place to put our pencil. Or we have to run a cable across the room just to power our iMac. By thinking through these details and researching solutions you will find your space to be clean, orderly, and well designed by doing as little design as possible.
I’d like to end by saying that good design is a process, it does not happen overnight. You will go through many different iterations before you find exactly which one works best for your needs. Prototyping is absolutely normal to the design process, do not let this discourage you. Start by working out the function of your space. In my next post I will discuss form and arrangement and after applying those principles your space will begin to transform the most.
Start today by sorting through your space and feel no shame in throwing away anything you have not used in the last 6 months. Make sure to touch everything: every piece of paper, every book, every envelope – EVERYTHING. By doing this you will know exactly what you are throwing away and what you are keeping. Once you have your “keep pile”, sort through it again, and if it helps do it again. Once sorted begin organizing by function. Apply a verb to each article – this will help you assign it a function.
Spend some time doing this. Work through it, refine what you have kept over the next couple months, and next time I post we will discuss exactly what to do now that you have your space organized by function.
I’m not too thrilled about today’s post.
Don’t confuse that with not being thrilled about this bag. It’s awesome – which is the exact reason I’m sad to give it away. However, my loss can potentially be your gain.
As part of the review of this review, I agreed to do a giveaway of the bag. It’s been my daily companion for a couple of months now, but it’s just barely getting broken in.
When it comes to leather goods, Saddleback has the reputation they do for a reason. While many companies will cut corners in one or many places in the process, Saddleback’s whole purpose is to create ridiculously strong, long lasting, great looking bags. Are they expensive? Absolutely they are. And in a time where nearly every company tries to tout the longevity – both from an aesthetic and durability stand point – of their product, the idea of something being so good your kids will fight over it can sound trite.
But Saddleback have been doing it right for a long time. They’re serious when it comes to making quality products, but not too serious when it comes to fun ways they’ve discovered to test that durability, or to explain why their products are superior.
When the company first reached out to me, I was a bit skeptical about whether one of their bags would meet my desired look for a work briefcase. Most of their offerings skew as far Rugged as one can get, and with my daily use being a bit more Refined, a case based on a rough-riding saddlebag wasn’t going to pan out. Thankfully, they have a small-but-budding line of business bags that keep to the tradition of the company’s build standards, while trimming down the look and adding a more luxe feel.
They sent me their Medium Thin Briefcase. Like all of their other creations, it has no moving parts. No zippers or snaps that can easily break and create a weak point in the construction. The leather is thick, full-grain stuff that is stiff and heavy. I haven’t had the bag long enough for it to break in, but I’ve held some that have been through more abuse, and the man who wins this is going to have a great time giving this thing some character.
Internally it’s lined with pigskin, meaning it’s still durable, but also softer so as not to scratch laptops, phones, etc. There are two main compartments, with a couple of smaller pockets and a keyring peppered throughout. This thing is minimal. It’s not one that has specialized compartments for every gadget the urban man tends to carry, but I like the simplicity. I keep a laptop, sunglass case, extra pouch of ear phones, moleskin, some business cards, laptop cable, and an extra magazine for a handgun in their with enough room for everything to be comfortable.
Of all the finishes and colors, I felt the Chestnut was the most business appropriate and versatile, so that’s what you’re going to get. It also comes with a shoulder strap, but I’ve avoided using it as it ends up looking a bit too much like a purse to me.
Speaking of negatives, there are only a couple. The biggest being the fact that there are different metal finishes on the D rings and rivets. It’s small, but for an OCD, detail-oriented person, it’s enough to be annoying. The other is more of a trade off than a negative. This is not a light bag. While it’s durable enough to be thrown around, it’s not easy to do so. I acclimated to it quickly but men who are interested in an extremely lightweight bag will want to look elsewhere.
So, like I said at the beginning, I’m giving this thing away. There are a few things I need you to do to get in on the action, and each will give you more entries. First is to sign up for the newsletter. This is the biggest and is worth five entry points. Once that’s done, there are nine other entry points that can be earned based on a few different actions.
As a quick heads up, I’ll be shipping this for free to the winner if he is in the continental US. If not, the cost of shipping will fall to the winner – so you out-of-country guys should keep that in mind when entering.
Oh, and to make things better – Brock over at The Modest Man is running a giveaway for a Saddleback bag as well. We timed it together on purpose and are excited to double your options to get one of these incredible bags.
