For the next five weeks, we at Man Certified will review two new blogs every week, for a total of ten. These blogs may be ones that opened our eyes, caught our ears, or rumbled our stomachs. The point is we thought you needed to know about them.
This is our final installment. The review is now complete. Read. Comment. Enjoy.
1.) History is cool. (No, seriously.)
Ok, history may not have been everyone’s favorite subject in school, learning all those dates, explorers, presidents, etc.; but if anything can make history a little more exciting (or at least bearable) it would be History Central, where they cover everything from American to world history.
They even have categories that include Naval, aviation and railroad history along with each of America’s wars including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, talk about being complete and comprehensive. They have biographies on all of the Presidents, first ladies, Antebellum and the Revolutionary War. For a complete (and interesting) guide to everything history they are worth a look.
2.) So, your fantasy football team sucks, huh?
Everyone indulges in fantasy at some time or another and it is probably best not to delve too deep into some of those fantasies; however, if Fantasy Football is your thing then you may want to check out the Fantasy Football Geek Blog. With a name like Fantasy Football Geek Blog it does sound a bit boring and nerdy, but that is not the case.
This site works well for both newbie’s and seasoned players; newcomers can check out the forums and probably get their questions answered without ever having to embarrass themselves by actually posting their own questions. And you old pros at the game will undoubtedly find that the musings and predictions found here may just have some great insightful advice for your picks.
3.) Grillmasters, unite!
If you love barbecue or want to learn a little more about it or even if you have something unique to contribute then The BBQ Forum is for you. This is a spin-off or perhaps an extension of Ray Basso’s famous BBQ Forum where all serious barbecuer’s go to learn, share and sometimes heckle.
They have many different consistent contributors plus Ray Basso’s comments of course that cover everything from profiles of “great” barbecue people to restaurant reviews to smokers, grills and pits; they even have an area for barbecue newbies. So whether you are a master griller or someone just getting their barbecue tongs wet this is the site for you.
4.) For the Liquor Snob In All of Us.
Think you are up on all the latest in the world of liquor? You may want to rethink that after checking out Liquor Snob, where you will find everything you ever wanted to know about the world of alcohol. For example, did you know that there is now chocolate milk just for adults? Yep, thanks to Temperance Distilling adults can now catch a buzz with their chocolate milk with this 40 proof liqueur that is soon to be joined by additional flavors such as Adult Fruit Punch, Adult Limeade and Adult Orange Cream.
This site covers everything that comes in a glass and they also offer links for accessories and reviews of all your favorites along with several new items that you haven’t even dreamed of. And, just in case you are hosting the next party they even offer reviews and links to portable breathalyzers so that you can be a responsible host. Check ‘em out.
5.) Know your flicks.
If you love movies and film but are tired of going to a movie only to have wasted both your time and money then you may want to check out Reel Movie News to see what they have to say about the movie you are considering spending your hard earned money on.
They provide everything from reviews to what is coming up to quotes from the movies, actors and directors to trailers of the different movies that are currently showing. Their site offers different ways of checking out potential movies one of which is an A to Z listing of pretty much any movie you have ever heard about and quite a few that you didn’t even know existed so that you can get an idea of what to expect when you plop down into that theater seat or bring it home to watch.
6.) Speed sells.
For the diehard NASCAR fans out there that are looking for a site that will give them the inside scoop on the race circuit then check out The NASCAR Insiders. It is relatively new, created in April of 2008, but the two main contributors have a good deal of knowledge about the sport from both inside and outside of the circle.
One of them started out as the fan that would sit in the rain or blazing sun just to catch a glimpse of his favorite driver. From there he became a crew member for a major NASCAR team and uses his inside knowledge to provide us with some great insight into the sport.
The other one is also a fan that has spent his life around different aspects of the sport; he has worked in various communications and media jobs all related to NASCAR. This allows him to give you an inside look into that tight little community of NASCAR racing.
7.) Everything’s bloggier in Texas.
If you live in Austin, are visiting Austin or have ever thought about visiting Austin, Texas then you need to check out Ultra8201. Everything you ever wanted to know about this amazing city and stuff you didn’t think you needed to know are covered in this blog. One thing that is so great about this one is that it does not follow the norm, meaning it is not like a cut and paste job of local Austin events; rather it is the author’s personal experiences (contributing to the blog are 4 guys; Richard, Joel, Castro and Fernie) with the things that are here. It covers everything from Austin City Limits to various music reviews to Austin’s famous Fun Fun Fun Fest, past and upcoming. Check it out.
8.) For the love of vino…
Fancy yourself a wine connoisseur? If so you really should check out Vinography. Even if you’re not a connoisseur but you enjoy a nice glass of vino you will still enjoy navigating around this site.
It originates from San Francisco but is not limited to the state of California or even the United States; it covers findings from around the world giving you the opportunity to “sample” (at least vicariously) their findings. They also offer reviews of wines along with reviews of different restaurants that serve the wines and even review books written on the subject. For everything wine related, go check them out.
9.) Sports from a Woman’s View
Men’s love for sports, pretty much any sport at that, has been around forever and many feel that it is definitely a “guy” thing; something that is normally watched, talked about and played by men. Most men are extremely supportive of women in sports, as well. After all, we love watching women’s beach volleyball, women’s gymnastics, women’s swimming (you get the point). When it comes to commenting on sports, however, guys pretty much turn to other guys. Well, hate to tell you this, gentlemen, but for a really unique and interesting view of sports you should check out http://adenaandrews.com.
Andrews, a 2007 USC graduate, actually makes her living by being an NBA.com (interactive) producer but she loves all sports and is very knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Her tag line “I make amazing happen” is true. Check her out for a great view on sports, both good and bad, as she is an equal opportunity blogger.
10.) Get the REAL inside scoop on your favorites in the limelight.
If you are looking for a great blog to keep up on your favorite celebs (and yes, that DOES include athletes and supermodels) then you should definitely check out http://perezhilton.com/. This site is considered Hollywood’s “sassiest” site, but don’t worry it is still entertaining for even the manliest man.
One thing that is so great about this blog is that nothing is sacred; Perez Hilton is definitely an equal opportunity basher or supporter, whatever the case may be. Remember that British guy from American Idol who loved to slam everybody? (Yeah, neither do we. We never watched that show either.) Well this is pretty much the blogging version of THAT. Forbes Magazine named Perez the number one web celebrity in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and has even been called one of the top 15 influential Hispanics by People in Espanol.
So, if you are looking for the latest dirt, both juicy and informative on your favorite rocker, quarterback, or the new hottest thing to hit the silver screen, then this is the blog for you.
e vision of creating a golf trail came from Dr. David G. Bronner, the CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The golf course designs started with Robert Trent Jones after coming out of retirement and have continued with Roger Rulewich, Jones’ protégé. The original courses opened in 1992 and additional courses have been added over the years. In 2011, greens were replaced on several courses. Silver Lakes underwent a significant renovation after tornado damage in 2011.
They receive unlimited greens fees all year to nine of the RTJ sites and reduced greens fees at Ross Bridge and Lakewood Golf Club. They can enjoy unlimited range privileges at their home site plus their own private locker, guest privileges at the RTJ Trail Card rate, 15% off merchandise and clubhouse meals plus 10% off golf lessons. Platinum Memberships start at $1800, considerably lower than a country club membership, and members have unlimited access to RTJ’s world-class golf. Payment options are available annually, quarterly and monthly. Platinum Membership can be purchased at any RTJ Trail location. Individual, couple and family memberships are available.
