Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Men's Health

FIND YOUR WALL “For me, climbing is like food—I have to have it,” Caldwell says. Once you find that hunger, you’ve found your calling. “The stuff that motivates you, you just keep going back,” he says. BUILD A MENTAL MAP Over seven years, Caldwell mastered the Dawn Wall in sections, holding off on the full climb— which took 19 days!—until he could visualize each move. “I memorized every body position and how each finger fit into each hold,” he says. “I can still run the whole climb in my head.” Think about that before a big product launch or sales pitch. Once you can see a detailed mental picture of your success, you’re ready. HARNESS YOUR BUTTERFLIES Don’t fear stress, says Caldwell. It’s your body’s way of signaling that you’re…

TONY, BALTIMORE, MD You need to take action before the salmon even hits the skillet. The muscle tissues in seafood are stocked with trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), an odorless organic compound that helps fish live in salt water, says Jung-lim Lee, Ph.D., an associate professor of food microbiology at Delaware State University. But once fish die and are exposed to oxygen, bacteria produce an enzyme that converts TMAO into trimethylamine (TMA), a process that produces the distinct stink. The longer a fish is out of water, the more TMA is released. So stop the stench by soaking or rubbing the fish in an acidic solution, such as vinegar or lemon juice, Lee says. This does two main things: It suppresses bacterial growth and causes the TMA to bind to water instead…

Imbalance of Power Next time you squat, skip the plates and hang kettlebells from the bar instead. Lifting an unstable load engages more muscle throughout your body, a Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research study reveals. How much more? The researchers found that activation in participants’ quads, calves, and core rose 13, 72, and 86 percent, respectively. Do this: Grab kettlebells that total 50 to 60 percent of the weight you normally squat, and hang them from the bar with resistance bands, as shown. Do 5 sets of 15 reps. This technique also works for the bench press. RULE REVERSAL LIFT AWAY BACK PAIN Old Rule A guy with an achy back should avoid the deadlift. Period. New Rule Deadlifting can ease mild lower-back pain by teaching you to activate…

What’s Knot to Like? Can tying her down free her up? Women who are into BDSM say it helps them worry less about staying aroused, a new Portuguese study reveals. And removing that stress can lead to more satisfaction. Men also say kinky practices reduce their anxieties about staying hard and achieving orgasm. “BDSM broadens the ways you can have sex,” says Richard Sprott, Ph.D., coauthor of Sexual Outsiders. “If one particular area feels uncomfortable or doesn’t work very well, there are other ways.” Humiliation: How It Works Those nasty words trigger a rush of feel-good endorphins as your brain tries to ease your pain, says Sprott. (It has a hard time distinguishing between physical and emotional injury.) But go easy: Insult your partner in a way that’s also erotic.…

My superhot colleague superhotcolleague has been flirting with me. It’d be a slam dunk! But I don’t want to ruin the good thing I have with my girlfriend. LARRY, TUCSON, AZ You kidding me here? If you’re looking for permission to test the waters, it won’t come from me. I’ve been tempted too, pal. Yeah, ladies flirt with the barkeep, even a codger like me. But I’ve never taken the bait, because I, like you, have a good thing at home. You want to keep yours? Then don’t be a lowlife. Shut down the flirting and consider it one of many worthwhile sacrifices you’ll make for the woman you love—not the one you lust after. I need a cocktail I can make at home that will impress the hell out…

When compression garments first appeared 50 years ago, they were considered medical devices. Doctors prescribed them to enhance bloodflow in patients with poor circulation, not to boost performance in athletes with multimilliondollar throwing arms. But today you can’t go to an NBA, MLB, or NFL game without seeing skintight arm and calf sleeves. Athletes claim the sleeves keep their arms and lower legs warm, primed, and injuryfree. But scientists are unsure of the benefits for regular guys. Researchers in Spain, for example, found that the sleeves can reduce soreness by 27 percent, but only in the muscles they cover. So if your biceps or calves don’t ache, forget about them. And don’t believe claims they boost lifting power. “The effect is small— about 1 percent,” says iFAST founder Bill Hartman.…

I’m starting to notice love handles. What’s the quickest way to lose them? KEVIN, NASHVILLE, TN The first step is always the hardest: Cut back on your calorie intake. Start with refined-flour foods, cookies, packaged snacks, sugarsweetened sodas, and other quick-digesting “high glycemic” choices that are easy to overconsume passively. Also amp up your lean protein intake to help control hunger and maintain lean body mass as you shed body fat. As for workouts, combine longer, less-intense cardio, such as jogging, hiking, or cycling (45 to 60 minutes twice a week) with tougher interval and strength training (3 days a week) for 6 to 8 weeks. That mix will help you burn through fat stores, including the ones above your hips. How serious is feeling pain directly below my knee?…

303 Biking to work for 40 minutes instead of driving for 20 minutes + 82 Joining a 30-minute conference call by cell and walking instead of staying put at your desk + 29 Delivering 15 messages in person rather than by email + 70 Sacrificing a half hour of Internet surfing to walk the dog + 123 Trading 45 minutes of TV watching to help tidy up the house + 50 Getting busy with your wife for 20 minutes before going to bed EXTRA CALORIES BURNED 657 Calculations are for a 180-pound man.…

THE FIRST TIME A GUY FIRES UP A POWER TOOL IS AN epiphany: A little extra juice can help you finish the job in half the time (and feel like a badass). So it seems kind of remarkable that men haven’t fully embraced this principle when it comes to dreaded tasks like shaving, scrubbing, and brushing. “Using an electric razor or an air flosser is like the difference between swinging a hammer and using a nail gun,” says Michael Gilman, founder of the Grooming Lounge. Use the accessories on the following pages to supercharge your grooming regimen—and look better than ever. MH MUSTHAVE The Wedding Whether you’re flirting with a bridesmaid or getting hitched yourself, you want a flawless mug on the big day. This facial steamer hydrates your skin,…

Maybe some jerk cut you off on the highway or a colleague cut you out of a plum project. Whatever you’ve suffered, use these tools to help yourself walk (or drive) away from revenge. Fill Up Your Think Tank Your brain is 2 percent of your body weight but uses about 20 percent of your daily calories. The MPFC (medial prefrontal cortex), which governs emotion, is especially voracious, says Brad Bushman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Ohio State. If the idea of revenge starts to feel irresistible, gulp 4 ounces of fruit juice to send a surge of glucose to your MPFC. Delay, Relax, Distract Many guys try to dissipate anger through cathartic acts, like swearing. Save your breath. Bushman says indulging your aggression will fuel the vengeful fire…

DESIGNED BY Rob MacDonald, Gym Jones training director BEST FOR Testing your physical limits, building mental grit, and forging totalbody strength, stamina, and power EQUIPMENT Barbell, dip station, bench, weight plates, pullup bar CALORIES BURNED 678* TIME 27:33 *As measured by a fit 6'3", 255 lb man using a Garmin FR70 fitness watch DIRECTIONS Do this workout 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Start with the warmup, doing the moves back-to-back in a circuit (10 reps of each, 5 circuits total). Next, load a barbell (see “Find Your Perfect Weight” on the back of this pullout) and do the main workout. Perform the exercises as a circuit; start with 10 reps per move and subtract 1 rep in each successive circuit (10 circuits total). Rest as needed. Try to…

Three Creative Ways to Make Any Look Cooler The American designer MICHAEL KORS is best known for his aviator shades and his love of Palm Springs style. As most guys reach for boring flannels and heavy jackets, we asked the fashion icon to share a few of his favorite moves to liven things up. SCORE YOUR FIRST DOWN A down parka is your best defense against plummeting temps. Fur trim instantly reads both luxe and practical. “Pull up the hood and you don’t need to deal with a hat,” says Kors. TAKE A FEW GAMBLES If you usually dress conservatively, try rock ’n’ roll accents, suggests Kors. One easy way is to incorporate a subtle leopard print into a traditional piece like a tie or a weekend bag. GET HOOKED…

YOU KNOW THOSE SPORTSCENTER COMMERCIALS WHERE LeBRON JAMES IS WORKING away in his cubicle, or Peyton and Eli Manning are jostling in the hallway? It’s been kind of like that around the Men’s Health offices lately, ever since BJ Gaddour came on board this summer as our new fitness director. Not only is BJ a hulk of a man (6'2" and 225 pounds of pure muscle), but he’s as close to fitness royalty as it gets. You surely know him, even if you don’t know his name. He’s starred in our bestselling follow-along DVDs and written fitness books while also giving rock-hard advice in every issue. What he isn’t: just another hardbody. BJ knows fitness like no one else, and now he’s sharing that expertise 24-7 on all our platforms,…

How do I resist the urge to text while driving? BILL, LOS ANGELES, CA Three steps: Open trunk, insert phone, close trunk. Studies show that even when people turn off phone notifications, they still feel compelled to check their devices. According to technology addiction expert David Greenfield, Ph.D., we may crave the dopamine rush that receiving info produces. So after you stow your phone, crank up the tunes—listening to a favorite song can trigger a similar dopamine hit, a Canadian study found. Need your phone’s GPS? The app SafeCell 360 ($3, Android) can disable incoming and outgoing texts whenever you exceed 5 mph. What’s the best way to remove water from my ears after swimming? TOM, WILMINGTON, NC We’ll start with the worst ways: using a cotton swab or a…

Why does my beard grow in a different color than my hair? JOE, NASHVILLE, TN Your hormones are likely cuing the hue. An excess of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has been implicated in androgenic alopecia, a.k.a. male-pattern baldness. The odd part: Too much DHT can also boost facial hair growth. These follicles are more active than the ones up top, so they also age more quickly. Toss in a surfeit of male sex hormones that can reduce your body’s ability to pump out hair-darkening melanin, and salt-and-pepper scruff seems inevitable. Have a brown mop but a ginger beard? Your mug may be genetically wired to produce a high level of pheomelanin, a form of melanin that gives hair a rusty cast. Your options: Dye it, shave it, or go two-tone.…

Hazed & Confused Get your head out of the exhaust clouds. Exposure to air pollution may affect the size of your brain, a recent Harvard study suggests. The findings linked living in areas of poor air quality to smaller brain volume—the equivalent of about a year of brain aging. Study author Elissa Wilker, Sc.D., explains that tiny toxic particles can lodge in your lungs, causing widespread inflammation that may lead to cerebrovascular damage. To prevent premature graying of your gray matter, monitor your local air quality with the free EPA AIRNow app and avoid exercising outdoors when that index tops 100. WALK, OR DIE Your company still hasn’t sprung for standing desks? Stage a walkout. University of Utah scientists report that a quick stroll can help offset the deadly consequences…

“You’re getting ready to head out and maybe meet some girls...the next thing you know, it’s Sunday, and you’re in the ER with no nuts.” —BRIAN STEIXNER, M.D., OF THE JERSEY UROLOGY GROUP, ON PUBIC TRIMSGONE BAD. DETAILS AT MENSHEALTH.COM/OUCH MONTHLY METRICS Women Whoop 39%of fans at a typical NFL game are women. So if you’re planning to go shirtless with your belly covered in paint, you might want to start doing crunches now. Sex Saves 14%of U.S. men will get a prostate cancer diagnosis. Ask your partner to help lower your risk: Research shows that 21-plus orgasms a month will do exactly that. Cars Crawl 11%of us hit the road on Labor Day weekend. Before you leave, download Waze: This free app crowdsources traffic conditions to reroute you in…

HEARTY, HANDHELD, AND LOADED WITH PROTEIN, THE sloppy joe should be one of the greatest culinary creations in all of American history. It’s too bad the typical home cook doesn’t treat it as such. When the prep work starts with a can opener, the final product tends to look like something you’d plop into Fido’s dog bowl and taste like the BPAlined can it came in. So we enlisted Francis Derby, executive chef of The Cannibal in New York City, to help us craft a joe that includes rich, meaty beef short ribs, plus ketchup, Coca-Cola, and beer. First step: Buy more napkins. 1 Befriend a Butcher Ground beef is fine. But beef short ribs are better, says Derby. “They add a texture that offsets the softness of the bun—almost…

SHORT-CHAIN These fatty acids provide energy for digestion and may protect colon cells from inflammation, according to a 2014 Advances in Immunology study. Your body produces them when fiber ferments in your colon, which sounds disgusting. The good news: Dairy is another rich source. So shop the coolers for milk, butter, yogurt, and cheese. MEDIUM-CHAIN When you consume medium-chain fatty acids, your body sends them to your liver for processing. There they produce compounds called ketones, which help tell your appetite when to quit, Layman says. So yes, fat can fill you up. The mediumchain fatty acid you eat most often is lauric acid; it’s in butter, milk, and cheese, but palm oil and coconut oil are the richest sources. LONG-CHAIN The most common form of saturated fat is palmitic…

Is Greek yogurt any healthier than the regular kind? TODD, WILMINGTON, DE The Greek stuff packs roughly double the protein and half the carbs, making it a great switch for most guys. But beware of sugar shock: Some Greek yogurts have 17 grams of sugar per serving. (A dozen Oreos has 14 grams.) Use plain Greek yogurt (any fat percentage) and add flax or chia seeds for crunch and fresh berries for sweetness. Or add walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and a half scoop of vanilla protein powder for a “muscle sundae.” What foods can I eat in the afternoon to prevent a crash? KYLE, PHOENIX, AZ Don’t give in to the energy-shot hype. Your body and brain need equal-size portions of protein at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to ward off power…

CERTAIN JOBS COME WITH A CLEAR ELEMENT OF DANGER. Skyscraper window washer. Rattlesnake handler. North Korean dictator. With these gigs, you know what you’re signing up for. Not so with the average office job. While you probably think you’re safe from anything worse than a paper cut or a bruised ego, hidden health threats are lurking by the copier, hanging from the ceiling, and crawling around the vending machine. Heck, you’d practically need a map to spot them all. Hmm...Okay, here it is, along with the stay-well wisdom you won’t find in your employee handbook. 1 The Open-Office Plan You’ve heard the hype about open-office layouts: They foster collaboration! You’ll be more productive! They also turn your workplace into a petri dish. In a Danish study, employees in these setups…

How risky is it to buy a watch from a nonauthorized dealer? JIM, ATLANTA, GA Start with the obvious: The ticker could be bogus, or a discontinued version of a new style. You may never know because the serial number might be wiped clean. That means you have no warranty and won’t be able to have it serviced by the manufacturer. And if that’s the case, a major Swiss brand won’t fix it. Buy a watch you’ll want to pass down. It should keep ticking long after your own expiration date. Why do suit jackets have bottom buttons if you’re not supposed to use them? BILL, MACUNGIE, PA Blame King Edward VII and his regal appetite. By the early 1900s, the king had gained so much weight that he couldn’t…

!TAN FACIL COMO UNO DOS, TRES! Pickled Red Onions In a pan on low, toast ½ tsp cumin seed 4 to 5 minutes. Grind to a powder; mix in ½ sliced red onion, 1 tsp each white balsamic and red-wine vinegars, salt, and pepper. Soak 20 minutes. Cotija If you like your tacos with a touch of creaminess, try this cow’smilk cheese. It carries a tart, salty taste, like feta minus a bit of the funk. Just crumble the cheese with a fork. Mexican Oregano This dried herb packs more pungency than the Italian and Greek versions. Buy a bag ($7 for 4 oz, penzeys.com) and crush the leaves over tacos for an intense aromatic hit. SUPERIOR SALSA ½ CUP CANOLA OIL 1 DRIED ANCHO CHILE, STEMMED AND SEEDED 1…

01 Dorsal Striatum When you’re unjustly harmed by somebody, the prospect of payback activates this reward-processing region, making revenge seem sweet. It’s the primal part of you that suggests coldcocking the creep. 02 Medial Prefrontal Cortex The MPFC is your brain’s costbenefit analysis center. When the payback has risks (your enemy is stronger than you, say, or the cops might arrest you), it helps you figure out if getting even is really worth it. 03 Fronto-Insular and Anterior Cingulate Cortices These empathy areas light up whenever we see a good person unjustly punished. In men, but not women, these regions remain dark when we witness bad guys get what’s due. 04 Nucleus Accumbens and Orbito-Frontal Cortex When we see the guilty punished, these two reward-processing centers become activated—more so in…

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Crate and Barrel Bar10der It has 10 handy mixology tools, including a zester, strainer, and jigger. The muddler extends 15 inches. Booze, unfortunately, is sold separately. $40, crateandbarrel.com SOG SwitchPlier 2.0 It has all the functionality you’d expect from a multitool, with one trick upgrade: Hit the button on the handle and the springloaded pliers pop open. $64, sogknives.com Kaufmann Mercantile EDC Kit This keychain rig has a 2-inch pry bar, a lighter, tweezers, and two screwdrivers— all steel and sturdy as hell. Add more: The whole swinging toolbox is customizable. $54, kaufmann-mercantile.com VictorinoxTraveller Lite The classic pocket knife, with an arsenal of high-tech extras, including an altimeter, barometer, and thermometer. $195, swissarmy.com THE BOOTSTO CONQUER ANY OBSTACLE To a Board Meeting The premium leather looks as welcome as your…

Tune Up Your Brain Every Day “ Keeping your brain active is essential for preserving mental agility. Playing a musical instrument taps multiple brain regions, for example; it’s mental exercise. I play the violin terribly, but I’m always learning new things. I also solve the Sunday New York Times crossword every single week. Plus, I nourish my brain by drinking two cups of coffee a day; it’s a simple, productive way to reduce stroke risk.” Add Fido and Fiber to Your Life “T o maintain a strong, lean body, I emphasize high-fiber plant foods— vegetables, fruits, lentils and other beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. I also choose high-quality proteins like fish. Daily exercise is nonnegotiable. I’d rather be late to a meeting or adjust my schedule than miss a…

When I’m asked to make a donation to a charity, I just get annoyed. MARK, LANSDALE, PA We’re going to assume you aren’t Millionaire Mark from Lansdale. For people with realworld wealth, the annoyance usually arises from the public nature of the ask. “There’s a lot of social pressure involved,” says Stefano DellaVigna, Ph.D., a professor of economics and business administration at UC Berkeley. “Being put on the spot can be very uncomfortable.” In a study he published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, DellaVigna found that when people were given the chance to avoid interacting with a charity solicitor, as many as 25 percent took the out. And those who did give? They felt ambushed for alms and coerced into opening their wallets. So the next time you find…

NEWS THAT IMPROVES YOU Habits aren’t all bad: Sticking with one brand of food may help you curb overeating, say U.K. scientists. After feeding pizza to study participants, they found that folks who typically varied their pizza brands and types were less likely to find the slices satisfying than those who tended to stay loyal to one. And the greater their dissatisfaction, the more junk they ate afterward. Your expectation of a food affects your enjoyment of it, the authors explain. If it’s not what you expected, you might eat more.…

Diabetes? Over, Easy Scramble your defenses: According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eggs could help protect you from type 2 diabetes. Men who downed at least four medium eggs a week had a 37 percent lower risk of the disease than those who ate one egg or less. Antioxidant carotenoids in yolks may fight the chronic inflammation associated with diabetes, the researchers say. They recommend at least an egg a day for the maximum benefit. 25 PERCENTAGE LESS FIBER FOUND IN FROZEN CARROTS THAN IN FRESH Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Rake In the Roughage Over 90 percent of American men don’t meet federal guidelines for vegetable intake. Don’t be that guy: Find delicious ways to hit the target (below) at MensHealth.com/guygourmet. TOTAL:…

Sure, that whirring, bladed gizmo sitting on your counter is great for whipping up protein shakes. And if that’s the beginning and end of what you want to pour out of the pitcher, that trusty old machine from your college days is probably adequate. If, on the other hand, you’d like to slice, churn, pulverize, and puree your way to smooth smoothies, frosty margaritas, and even almond butter, retire that relic. Follow our advice, and your new blender will revolutionize the way you eat. + When shopping for your blender, make sure the base is compatible with a 16-ounce mason jar. Most blenders allow the lip of the jar to screw into the unit’s base. So if you want to mix something lightly—salad dressing, say—you can toss the stuff into…

FOR THE SECOND YEAR, MEN’S HEALTH LAUNCHED A SEARCH for the nation’s most skilled and inspiring trainer. After an initial round of auditions, eight were chosen to compete head-to-head in contests of training know-how. And when the sweat dried, one man was standing: Gideon Akande. If you live in Chicago, you might know him. The two-time Chicago Golden Gloves champ runs the city’s toughest boot camps, military-style fitness classes focusing on grueling totalbody circuits. Not in Chicago? Turn the page to build your own, or visit MensHealth.com/gideon to sweat with Akande. Gideon Akande, 31 HEIGHT 5'10" WEIGHT 185 HOMETOWN Chicago CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2015 Men’s Health Next Top Trainer winner, 2013 and 2014 Chicago Golden Gloves champion FITNESS PHILOSOPHY Set big goals and achieve them with small, attainable steps FAVORITE TIP Never…

THE LAST TIME YOU TOUCHED 10-pound dumbbells was probably while searching for shoes under your wife’s side of the bed. After all, light weights are for women and injury rehab, right? Serena says: “Wrong, dumbass!” Working both ends of the dumbbell rack hits a broader spectrum of muscle fibers and challenges your muscles in ways that using heavier weights alone can’t. “You’ll increase your strength, power, and mobility,” says MH fitness director BJ Gaddour. Weave these 10 exercises into your workouts to see for yourself. 1/ Increase Mobility OVERHEAD SQUAT Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a pair of dumbbells above your shoulders, palms forward. Lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Drive through your heels to return to the starting position. Do 5…

Caprese with Balls In a small bowl, combine a pint of cherry tomatoes with a handful of fresh mozzarella pearls and thinly sliced basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with smoked sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve with grilled chicken or steak. Salty-Sweet Citrus Salad Thinly slice an orange and a small fennel bulb. Alternate the slices on a serving plate and throw on two handfuls of chopped green olives and some finely chopped red onion. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Top with fennel fronds, if you want to be fancy. Cool Cukes Cut a peeled cucumber into coins; toss them with a thinly sliced sweet onion, a handful of chopped dill, and a splash of white wine vinegar. Add…

A 300-CALORIE DOUGHNUT IS NOT the same as a 300-calorie chicken thigh. But you knew that, right? Of course you did. Doughnuts spike blood sugar and leave you hungry, while chicken provides tons of muscle-building, hunger-fighting protein. Yet outside of fitness magazines and CrossFit boxes, nutrition conversations rarely go deeper than calories. Calories are posted on restaurant menus and stamped on packaged foods. They’re ticking away on fitness trackers and adding up in smartphone apps. They’re like the Kardashians of nutrition— confusing and overrated, yet completely inescapable. And every time you see them, you’re probably being fed misinformation. Take nutrition labels: When it comes to calories, those labels can be misleading. Why? Because they presume all calories are the same. In fact, your body handles calories differently depending on their…

Even though you bite it and burn it, your tongue usually doesn’t give you any lip. So you might be a little freaked out to look in the mirror and see red patches with raised white borders. Easy does it: You probably just have benign migratory glossitis, a.k.a. geographic tongue, a non-life-threatening condition that occurs in about 2 percent of the U.S. population. “It gives your tongue the appearance of a map,” says Eric Stoopler, D.M.D., an associate professor of oral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Why the atlas in your oral cavity? No one’s sure, though it has been associated with psoriasis and stress. Maintain good oral hygiene, and the patches should vanish in a week or two, although they may recur, says Dr. Stoopler. If you experience…

TRAIN FOR TRAUMA Major injuries trigger the production of lactic acid, too much of which can be toxic, says Andrew Dickinson, M.B.Ch.B., an emergency physician in the U.K. Dial up your cardio training now to make your body more tolerant of high lactic acid levels. LEAD WITH YOUR FEET If you hit your head or hurt your chest in a fall, your risk of dying doubles. Injure both, and it’s more than tenfold. Try to go feet-first so your legs absorb the impact, says John Edwards, M.D., a physical rehab specialist based in California. HIT THE BRAKES For each second of uninterrupted falling, gravity increases your speed by 9.8 meters per second, says Dr. Edwards. Grab anything that might slow your momentum, such as a gutter or tree branches. PLAY…

COLIN FARRELL LIGHTS UP A CIGARETTE AND EXPLAINS HOW HE QUIT SMOKING A FEW YEARS AGO. “I wrote a breakup letter to the Spirit of Tobacco,” he says in the parking lot of a Hollywood hotel. It’s the day before his 39th birthday, and Farrell, lean and fit in a black stretch T-shirt and black jeans, has the buoyant air of a man who’s not quite ready to let go of the boy. “I thanked tobacco for being with me through thick and thin but said, ‘I don’t need you anymore,’ ” he says. The Irish actor’s farewell to nicotine was an elaborate ritual (learned in rehab) that reveals him as someone who is single-minded and a touch eccentric— and who likes to amuse himself. “I got a frying pan…

Screwed someone over? Ruin his taste for revenge by delivering a hatchet-burying apology. Evolutionary psychologist Michael McCullough, Ph.D., offers a few pointers. Clear Your Calendar When you’re ready to convey your contrition, ask to meet at a place and time convenient for him. By showing respect, you help restore his sense of dignity, says McCullough. Say What He’s Thinking At the start of the conversation, admit that you know you were a jerk (or worse) and that you’d be pissed off too, says McCullough. No “buts” or other outs allowed. Plead 100% Guilty Even if there is blame to go around, you can’t assign it and apologize at the same time. Make it clear that what happened was in no way his fault, advises McCullough. Mend Those Fences Acknowledge that…

PLEASE INVENT... Plasma screens on the backs of big trucks so we can catch the game when stuck in traffic. True superfoods. The power of flight would be nice—or at least the ability to answer emails while sleeping. Car-wash blowers at the gym shower exit. Singles-only jury duty. Throw in a bowling alley and voilà: waiting lists. (“Your honor, we need to be sequestered.”) Short-term memory app. Records your day and reminds you if you took your vitamin this morning. Exchangeable first-aid items. Let us trade in 50 unused tiny Band-Aids for 20 regulars. Automatic parking garage spot locator. Fitted sheets with directional arrows. And with that, a mattress that hovers. Express lane at the doctor’s office. When the five-minute buzzer goes off, you’re done—even if the bleeding isn’t. Hamster-size…

Local Knives “I seek out knives on my trips abroad. They say a lot about the culture and traditions, and I treasure them.” The I Ching “I carry my battered copy everywhere. It can provide helpful wisdom when things seem to be going sideways.” The North Face ThermoBall Jacket “Nothing beats a good insulated jacket in cold, wet weather, whether you’re on a peak or in the city.” $199, thenorthface.com Sony RX100 Point-and-Shoot “On hikes with my family, I bring this simply designed, high-quality camera. It’s easy to use, and it has a Zeiss lens.” $450, sony.com Galen Rowell “He was one of the original participatory expedition photographers. He didn’t just shoot from the outside. He was a visionary.” The North Face Men’s Verto Approach II “The sticky rubber on…

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EtonDress Shirts “I love the sensibility of Eton. They have great accent details and memorable colors and fabrics.” $265, etonshirts.com Edward Burtynsky “His photos reveal how things are made. He can find beauty in a factory.” ScandinavianDesign Villency is fond of Swedish products like Stutterheim raincoats, Tiger of Sweden underwear, and Sandqvist bags. $368, stutterheim.com Imogene + Willie Jeans “American-made, not fussy, not contrived. They’re what denim is supposed to be.” $250, imogeneandwillie.com High-SpeedRail “It’s new, clean, quiet, fast, and stress-free. You get to work while you see the countryside in places like Japan, China, and Taiwan.” Prada Shoes “They’re comfortable and modern, with durable soles and classic silhouettes.” $1,150, prada.com High-End Earbuds “I like Thinksound, a small, eco-friendly New Hampshire company. The wood finish on my pair is great.”…

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