Herculodge

Contrasting the Bro and the Metrosexual

The 12 Qualities of the Bro (also called the Dude)

 

1. He is self-conscious about people ranking him high on the Heterosexual Scale. He does this by amassing Man Points.
2. The less meticulous his fashion style, the more Man Points he receives.
3. His definition of masculinity is narrowly focused on feats of strength, athleticism, toughness, and general competitiveness as for the Bro masculinity is born from a fantasy of dominating others.
4. He prefers a dumbed-down image of women, in which they are accessories and as such do not inconvenience him from his true passion: hanging out with other guys. His image of women conforms to his intractable adolescent imagination.
5. The Bro prefers technology that heightens his sense of male power and dominance. Therefore, cars are a central theme in his technological world, as are violent computer games.
6. The Bro has a streak of misogyny (hostility toward women) in which he looks at women as threatening to his freedom and independence. Therefore, a lot of car and truck commercials depict men getting together and “escaping their women” on a variety of expeditions, treks, and general getaways.
7. The Bro can never reconcile his perennial contradiction: He bloviates endlessly about how much he loves women but he forever longs to escape from women and enjoy the escape of male camaraderie.
8. The Bro often feels disgusted and oppressed by the “feminization” of popular culture and he seeks relief from this disgust by becoming absorbed in violent, conspicuously male pursuits: football, MMA fighting, bellicose computer games.
9. The Bro loves hanging out with other Bros or “dudes,” but he demands that the number be three men or more since two men on an outing is too intimate and suggests a relationship not sharply heterosexual and masculine.
10. The Bro only dances when drunk and even then his dancing cannot be over-choreographed because an expertise in dancing suggests a lack of Man Points. In essence, the Bro dances as a “necessary evil,” part of the mating game he must put up with.
11. The Bro is comfortable with his ignorance and finds intellectual curiosity less than manly. He thus seeks other men who are as comfortable with their ignorance as he is.
12. The Bro is essentially conservative in nature, meaning that he hates change. He believes things are a certain way and to try to change them is to tinker with nature, a foolishness that will result in chaos and destruction.

 

The 12 Qualities of the Metrosexual (also called the Hipster)

 

1. The metrosexual is a heterosexual who unlike the Bro is meticulously concerned with grooming and fashion, to the degree that he budgets for a variety of beauty and grooming products and does so without feeling insecure about his sexuality.
2. The metrosexual is a highly refined consumer who pursues the best products available and distinguishes between high quality, mediocre quality, and low quality. While the Bro drinks Bud Light, the metrosexual is more inclined to drink Grey Goose or a mojito. A Bro does not know and does not want to know what a mojito is. While the Bro wears Gap jeans, the metrosexual wears Diesel or Evisu. However, the Bro wouldn’t get caught dead in those designer labels.
3. The metrosexual is open-minded to new experiences, travel, and change, things considered anathema and an abomination to the Bro.
4. While the Bro is provincial, clinging to the cultural mores of one small town or area, the metrosexual is cosmopolitan, gathering influences from all over the world.
5. The idea of a “feminine side” is abhorrent to the Bro, but the metrosexual embraces his feminine side in order to express his full humanity. The metrosexual not only goes to “sensitive” movies that the Bro would never go to; the metrosexual cries with no shame at those movies.
6. For the Bro, a lack of style is the hallmark of his bedroom. In contrast, the metrosexual looks for a very distinct style and is not ashamed to consult with an interior decorator or some other fashion consultant.
7. While the Bro frets over others accusing him of being a homosexual, the metrosexual is blithely indifferent regarding what anyone thinks of his sexuality since he is very secure in his deeply-rooted heterosexual orientation.
8. While the Bro eschews books and reading in general, the metrosexual is constantly haunted by the idea that he is behind in his reading and is constantly eager to start a new book.
9. The Bro clings to old traditions while the metrosexual is always on the cutting edge and is often perceived as a “cool setter.”
10. While the Bro likes to “get up and go,” the metrosexual will prepare himself in the bathroom twice as long as the average woman. Even the metrosexual’s closet will be oversized to accommodate his abundant fashion choices.
11. The Bro orders plain, provincial food like a hamburger while the metrosexual eats from an international menu. For example, the Bro cannot eat with chop sticks while the metrosexual is fluent in this form of eating.
12. The Bro goes out of his way NOT to dress in gay attire while the metrosexual and gay attire are often the same.

The Radiophile’s Essential Lexicon: Word #6: Surreptitious

Once the radiophile becomes infected with the radio bug and embarks upon his foolish quest for Radio Uber Alles, he will inevitably pique the concern of his wife who will begin to grow leery of her husband’s compulsion to amass more radios than their house can accommodate. Soon the wife’s concern will grow into outright hostility and she will forbid her husband from buying any more radios. And to make sure he does not stimulate his radio appetite, she will even ban him from going on radio websites such as this one. 

 At this point the husband will have to how to be surreptitious in all his radio dealings. For to be surreptitious means to engage in stealth and secrecy. Behind his wife’s back, the radiophile will make clandestine radio purchases, selling old ones as new ones come in, and hope that this equilibrium keeps his wife off guard. 

Unable to hide his radios at home, he may have to take several to work or put them in his “work den,” where he toils in secrecy under the guise of working on a car, a lawnmower, or a hand-crafted piece of baby furniture.

In the end his ruse will be exposed and revealed as an interminable radiophile, this crazed man will need to enter an intervention complete with a 12-Step Program.

With no nicotine patch or the like, this sad radiophile will inhale the cardboard boxes that housed his vintage radio purchases from eBay until he is sufficiently assuaged. 

 

Brian's 1959 Blaupunkt Granada Is Found on the Curb Awaiting Trash Pickup

My newest radio treasure was found by the curb awaiting the trash pickup. It is a 1959 Blaupunkt Granada. It is a huge table radio, featuring AM, FM, SW, and LW. I carried it down the street to my house and plugged it in. It made loud humming noises, so I replaced about four capacitors and now it plays nicely. The FM has a big, beautiful sound. The shortwave works, though there isn't much to listen to lately on SW. I haven't gotten the AM working yet. I think the selector buttons need cleaning.

I haven't decided if I will redo the case. It has some water damage to the top of the wooden cabinet, but it looks nice from the front.

There is a nice one of these listed on ebay for $200 plus $50 shipping. Mine will never command that amount, but it is a nice old tube radio.

Norm Modifies His Tecsun PL-300WT and Gets a DXing Champion As Good as a Panasonic RF-2200

I bought the Tecsun 300WT radio, and not being content with its already stellar AM reception, I turned to Steve Ratzlaff, who is a retired Navy Sonar Technician. I told Steve I wanted a modification that would allow using either the internal or be able to switch to one of the cool long external antennas currently being used with these "Ultralight" receivers.

 

Steve quickly came up with a solution and modified my Tecsun 300WT with a 3 pin mating plug so I could use either the external 3/8" diameter by 7 7/8" length antenna or switch to the internal antenna (which he peaked). These 300WT receivers and their counterpart, the Grundig G8, often need their internal loop peaked so it matches the inductance of the on-board DSP chip for the best performance.

 

I mounted the new ferrite rod and coil on a pegboard and put Velcro on the back of the radio. It sits on a pegboard attachment that I dipped in liquid rubber to provide insulation.  I've attached three detailed pictures and they are also available on the UltralightDX Yahoo Group pages under Photo Albums.

 

I've compared AM DXing with both my Panasonic RF-2200 and my Kaito KA2100, and in preliminary results, the modified 300WT equals the performance of either of these receivers. For more details, or to have Steve build one for you, contact him at: steveratz @ wildblue dot net.

The Counter Custom Built Burgers in El Segundo Gets an A Grade

My wife Carrie and I went to The Counter Custom Built Burgers restaurant this afternoon. I have to give this place an A. 

Being a semi-vegetarian, I ordered the one-third-pound garden burger patty, which like all the burgers, comes in three sizes. Next time, I'll get the bigger size garden patty. 

The garden burger is largely made of brown rice and panko break crumbs and they are made on the premises. No frozen garden burgers here. 

My additions included Greek feta, Jalapeno jack, red onions, roasted chiles, tomatoes, a fried egg, and apricot sauce. 

The burger arrived several inches high, way too big to bite like a sandwich, so I ate it with a knife and fork, open-face style.

As a side dish, my wife and I shared shoe-string sweet potato fries, which came with a horseradish mayonnaise. A huge tureen of fries, enough for 3 or 4 people, arrived before our burgers. We could not stop eating them. 

Sweet potato fries are all too often soggy. But not at The Counter. With a perfect crispy texture and lightly salted, these sweet potato fries rank 10 on the addiction factor.

My wife got a beef burger and said she loved hers. I confess I took a small bite, but I enjoyed my garden burger more. In my opinion, it has more flavor.

The total costs with ice tea and a fancy bottled water was $32 plus tip. 

I'll definitely go back. 

Replacement Radio of My Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo Overheats Just Like the Old One

I will bet good money that within a few months, I will have burned out 4 Horizon Duos because of their faulty design. They overheat and the first thing to go is AM. My replacement, which arrived a couple of weeks ago, is running hot. My second Duo purchase needs to go back and I suspect it will run hot also. 

These Duos are good for iPod speakers but that's about it. While they work, they're great but they burn out like a high-wattage light bulb. 

"Near Mint" Telefunken Bajazzo TS 301 Bidding for $183

Active bidding with little time to go on this Telefunken Bajazzo TS 301, shipping from Germany. 

The Radiophile’s Essential Lexicon: Word #5: Radio Uber Alles

Once the radiophile gets bit by the radio bug, he will inevitably become possessed by the idea of a Radio Uber Alles, a Radio of Radios, a Radio That Lords Over All Other Radios. This quest will make him scour eBay, radio chat sites, swap meets, and garage sales as he hunts down the hidden treasure that will make his fellow radiophiles seethe with envy. 

The inevitable outcome of these quests, of course, is a sort of bipolar crash in which the radiophile becomes disappointed with his Radio Uber Alles since it cannot fulfill the demanding expectations he has imposed upon it.

Ironically enough, the radiophile is actually glad of his disappointment for now he has the excuse he needs to embark on a fresh quest for another Radio Uber Alles. 

Indeed, the journey is more valuable than the destination. 

Why Waste Your Money on a Sangean PR-D7 When a Similarly Priced PR-D5 Boast a Much Bigger Ferrite Antenna?

Thanks to the relentless search for the best AM available from a radio lover who goes by the name of Unrelenting Ferrite Core (yes, radio lovers are passionate about their radios), we now have the official word on the AM antenna strength of theSangean PR-D5,  which is superior to the Sangean PR-D7. In the words of Unrelenting Ferrite Core:

Well, I suppose this is the "unrelenting" part. Here's the PR-D7 quote from the CCrane FAQs tab :

"How good is the AM reception on the PR-D7?
 

The PR-D7 has good AM reception almost as good as the Sonido Radio. The PR-D7's internal ferrite antenna is 8mm in diameter, 4" long and does a good job pulling in stations."

And here's a quote about the PR-D5 off Universal Radio's site :

"The new Sangean PR-D5 a top quality AM, FM, FM stereo radio with twin speakers. It has a 200 mm ferrite AM antenna for the best possible AM reception"

200 MM is about 8", 100 MM is about 4".

I'm thankful for that update. Now let me add a curious fact: As I post this, the PR-D5, which not only has a bigger AM antenna, stereo speakers, tuning knob, and RDS, sells for $72. And the PR-D7, which does not have RDS, has a smaller AM antenna, and has no tuning knob (you have to toggle buttons) and has a slightly larger monoaural speaker, can be pre-ordered at $80. So I ask: What makes the PR-D7 a more expensive radio? Is it the speaker? Very odd.

Thanks to the relentless search for the best AM available from a radio lover who goes by the name of Unrelenting Ferrite Core (yes, radio lovers are passionate about their radios), we now have the official word on the AM antenna strength of theSangean PR-D5,  which is superior to the Sangean PR-D7. In the words of Unrelenting Ferrite Core:

Well, I suppose this is the "unrelenting" part. Here's the PR-D7 quote from the CCrane FAQs tab :

"How good is the AM reception on the PR-D7?
 

The PR-D7 has good AM reception almost as good as the Sonido Radio. The PR-D7's internal ferrite antenna is 8mm in diameter, 4" long and does a good job pulling in stations."

And here's a quote about the PR-D5 off Universal Radio's site :

"The new Sangean PR-D5 a top quality AM, FM, FM stereo radio with twin speakers. It has a 200 mm ferrite AM antenna for the best possible AM reception"

200 MM is about 8", 100 MM is about 4".

I'm thankful for that update. Now let me add a curious fact: As I post this, the PR-D5, which not only has a bigger AM antenna, stereo speakers, tuning knob, and RDS, sells for $72. And the PR-D7, which does not have RDS, has a smaller AM antenna, and has no tuning knob (you have to toggle buttons) and has a slightly larger monoaural speaker, can be pre-ordered at $80. So I ask: What makes the PR-D7 a more expensive radio? Is it the speaker? Very odd.

Thanks to the relentless search for the best AM available from a radio lover who goes by the name of Unrelenting Ferrite Core (yes, radio lovers are passionate about their radios), we now have the official word on the AM antenna strength of theSangean PR-D5,  which is superior to the Sangean PR-D7. In the words of Unrelenting Ferrite Core:

Well, I suppose this is the "unrelenting" part. Here's the PR-D7 quote from the CCrane FAQs tab :

"How good is the AM reception on the PR-D7?
 

The PR-D7 has good AM reception almost as good as the Sonido Radio. The PR-D7's internal ferrite antenna is 8mm in diameter, 4" long and does a good job pulling in stations."

And here's a quote about the PR-D5 off Universal Radio's site :

"The new Sangean PR-D5 a top quality AM, FM, FM stereo radio with twin speakers. It has a 200 mm ferrite AM antenna for the best possible AM reception"

200 MM is about 8", 100 MM is about 4".

I'm thankful for that update. Now let me add a curious fact: As I post this, the PR-D5, which not only has a bigger AM antenna, stereo speakers, tuning knob, and RDS, sells for $72. And the PR-D7, which does not have RDS, has a smaller AM antenna, and has no tuning knob (you have to toggle buttons) and has a slightly larger monoaural speaker, can be pre-ordered at $80. So I ask: What makes the PR-D7 a more expensive radio? Is it the speaker? Very odd.

Thanks to the relentless search for the best AM available from a radio lover who goes by the name of Unrelenting Ferrite Core (yes, radio lovers are passionate about their radios), we now have the official word on the AM antenna strength of theSangean PR-D5,  which is superior to the Sangean PR-D7. In the words of Unrelenting Ferrite Core:

Well, I suppose this is the "unrelenting" part. Here's the PR-D7 quote from the CCrane FAQs tab :

"How good is the AM reception on the PR-D7?
 

The PR-D7 has good AM reception almost as good as the Sonido Radio. The PR-D7's internal ferrite antenna is 8mm in diameter, 4" long and does a good job pulling in stations."

And here's a quote about the PR-D5 off Universal Radio's site :

"The new Sangean PR-D5 a top quality AM, FM, FM stereo radio with twin speakers. It has a 200 mm ferrite AM antenna for the best possible AM reception"

200 MM is about 8", 100 MM is about 4".

I'm thankful for that update. Now let me add a curious fact: As I post this, the PR-D5, which not only has a bigger AM antenna, stereo speakers, tuning knob, and RDS, sells for $72. And the PR-D7, which does not have RDS, has a smaller AM antenna, and has no tuning knob (you have to toggle buttons) and has a slightly larger monoaural speaker, can be pre-ordered at $80. So I ask: What makes the PR-D7 a more expensive radio? Is it the speaker? Very odd.

What the Hungry Vegetarian Needs: Quick Vegetarian Pleasures

In my quest to sate the hungry vegetarian within, I've come up with a few menus in the 2,200-2,900 calorie range. Looking for quick diverse vegetarian preparations is a must. My friend, who is not a vegetarian, recommended Quick Vegetarian Pleasures by Jeanne Lemlin.