Or maybe you’re going full steam ahead when you abruptly blank and have no idea where to steer the conversation next. It happens to the best of us and it doesn’t exactly impress the pants off of that hottie you’ve so far managed to charm into hanging out with you.

Thankfully, authors David Matalon and Chris Woolsey have come out with the cure for awkward silences, empty talk about the weather and worst of all, embarrassing conversation faux pas. Their book, The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties: An Irreverent Compendium of Must-Know Info from Sputnik to Smallpox and Marie Curie to Mao, is a humorous and very informative read that they say will “transform you into the supernova of the party universe.”

Co-author Matalon talked to Click Magazine recently about the book, how smart is the new sexy, and gaining the confidence to talk.

Click: One thing I found extremely troubling with the book is that it makes it sound like I won’t be able to rely on my stunning good looks anymore. Is that the case?

David Matalon: I think your stunning good looks will always come in handy. That’s just an extra bonus.

Click: Phew… Why did you feel that this book needed to be written?

DM: Well, I had been going out to parties and I had found that there were certain names and events and things that I thought were pretty much common knowledge that I would mention that people didn’t seem to remember. I remember growing up, people knew who Franz Ferdinand was. They knew who Nietzsche was and they could actually say something about them. So I felt that probably what was happening was that everyone was so busy cramming all that information in their heads at school that they had just forgotten it. And it’s really fascinating cool stuff to talk about if you approach it from the position of ‘Oh that’s interesting.’

Click: Who do you think will gain the most from reading this book?

DM: When we started out we thought it’d be great for people who are socializing a lot and going to business parties and stuff like that, but it’s amazing because I’ve sat and watched people of all ages and both sexes laugh out loud and say “Oh my God I need this book.” At the end of the day, the book doesn’t make you a genius, but it gives you the confidence to have conversations.

Click: This may sound sexist, but do you think that there’s less pressure for women to sound smart?

DM: That’s an interesting question… there are more women executives, more women in professional roles, the competition’s higher and you have to have something to say, especially if you’re trying to get the attention of your boss or someone you’re romantically interested in. If there are two women of equal beauty, but one’s got a great personality and is smart and the other isn’t… I think the smarter one’s going to get more attention.

Click: Do you see a shift in thinking that makes intelligence a higher commodity than looks or money?

DM: I think definitely for men there is. I think women have always been attracted to intelligence. But I do believe there is a shift now, especially with shows like Sex and the City, which shows that you can be beautiful and sexy, but you can also have a great job and personality and you can be more. And that archetype of that powerful woman becomes very attractive.

Click: Now… if I’ve convinced someone that I’m smart at a party, how do I keep it up at subsequent meetings?

DM: Being smart is being part of a dialog and taking an interest in the other person. There’s an awareness to see when those eyes are glazing over and stop and listen. That’s part of being smart too — listening. If you find that there’s a subject of particular interest that the other person had shared with you, go read about it. Also, go read about something that you’re not an expert on and you can talk outside your realm of usual conversation. What happens then is that you become interested in what you’re saying. I think, very often, we tell our same stories again and again and we get a little tired of ourselves. So if you’re learning things that you’re excited about, I think that’s part of what makes someone smart — their passion for the subject.

Click: We’re always told to ask lots of questions when you meet someone new and put the focus on them. Do you think that’s right?

DM: Don’t be afraid to make statements. One of our intentions with the book is to make you confident. It’s good to ask questions, but you’ve got to be careful that it doesn’t become an interview. So, I prefer statements to questions in a dating environment.

Click: Are smart people finally getting the respect they deserve?

DM: There used to be a social taboo against being an egghead or a geek, but it’s coming back. And people really respect smart people. Who doesn’t want to be as successful or as smart as someone like Gates or Trump or Jon Stewart? There’s a lot of respect for intelligence.

By Ambrose Diaz first seen on http://holidays.canoe.ca/Relationships/Lavalife/2009/12/02/12007576.html

Elektra Coffee Machine Belle Epoque Copper Brass

Especially sized and somewhat redesigned for home use, the Mini Verticale also comes in copper and brass finish. Wooden handle, chrome or brass eagle make them very retro stylish. The base diameter is only 320 mm or just under 12.625″, so it takes little space but weighs close to 30 lbs. According to the review we found on Coffee Geek this Electra has few negative points, mainly – no direct line to water, but a liter storage container, the drip plate and reservoir are pain to clean, and if you ever have to reset the pressure switch, then you really going to feel the pain.

Elektra Mini Verticale Coffee Machine Chrome

Well, if you have at the very least about $1,800 USD or €1500 to spend, depending on where you live, those negatives are rather minor nuisances comparing with the beauty of this machine and the knowledge that you are one of the very few who dared to own one. Available in 7 voltages – 240, 230, 220, 127, 120, 115 and 110 Volts. Italian Espresso Coffee machines from Elektra.

Hey ladies why don’t you get your man a designer wallet for Christmas?

Leather wallets have become increasingly popular amongst men all over the world. There are so many reasons why this has become so. For one thing, leather is a material that is very sturdy and durable. Who would not want to get a wallet that can last for years and years? This spells much savings in the long run for any man sporting any sort of profession.

What’s more, leather wallets come with a lot of features. Some leather wallets come with card slides ranging from eight to twelve in quantity! With interior pockets and ID windows, all cards, IDs, and other pertinent documents can be stored in leather wallets very easily. Paul Smith has certainly brandished a strong name for himself as a designer and his prowess has expanded into the market of leather wallets as well.

One such wallet that has grabbed the attention of a lot of people is the one that contains a photographic print known as Mini in London. The wallet is made of premium leather, sporting cream stitching on its exterior. The inside contains the print of a car famously known as the Mini Cooper. The car is then placed against a London backdrop. The cool thing about the wallet is that the car sports a lot of colors against the backdrop that is a bit grayscale in color, giving more emphasis to the fast car!

Mini Cooper Wallet

Of course, one cannot help but consider the Billabong brand when it comes to men’s wallets. This is because the brand has certainly garnered a very strong portion of the worldwide market. The great thing about these wallets is that they come in all sorts of material. This is very nice since the preferences of men can differ relatively. The popular Billabong wallets come in both leather and canvas.

Billabong's Black Texas Leather Wallet

The Black Texas Leather Wallet by Billabong, for instance, is one of the recommended models in the market. The wallet comes with 2 compartments for all sorts of notes. One of these compartments is zipped, a security feature that adds more convenience. There are 6 slots for ATM and credit cards, a zipped coin pouch, an ID window, and 2 more slots for additional notes, receipts, and such. The wallet comes with the Billabong signature as well.

The Red Pepper Deck Canvas Wallet is also another popular model in the market. This tri-fold wallet made of quality canvas is perfect for the avid surfer. The wallet has two slots for credit cards, a zipped slot for notes, a zipped coin pouch on its exterior, a photo ID window, 2 other slots to contain miscellaneous things, and a plastic card holder that is removable for 4 other cards.

What are the Alternatives to a Classic Plain Leather Wallet for Men?

The leather wallet is considered a plain and functional accessory, with little opportunity for customization. Whilst many men favor a plain wallet for its convenience, there is also strong demand for unique and fashionable wallets.

This is certainly the case for the younger gentleman, but also for the man who appreciates individuality and attention to detail. There are many distinct and unique wallets on the market that offer style and versatility. In this article I will look at the different ways wallets can be customized (e.g. leather treatments, colors, lining and embossing), with particular reference to the designer brands that make them.

One of the most exciting wallet brands to emerge has been J.Fold, a New York based company established in 2003 that manufactures quality sports wallets. They have quickly developed a strong following amongst the likes of Justin Timberlake and the Arctic Monkeys, and are known for modern and bold designs.

J-Fold Men's Wallet

Diesel is known as an urban brand, and their men’s wallets reflect this ideal with edgy designs that display maturity. Timberland offers a piece of the rugged outdoors with their fashionable accessories, whilst remaining relevant to the urban consumer. Ted Baker understands that men need versatility with their accessories as well as a unique sense of style, and offer a strong range of wallets. Simon Carter offer s a modern take on classic English design, and have crafted a distinctive and light hearted approach to their leather accessories.

Timberland produces a range of wallets in natural and earthy tones which includes their classic tan color (known as weathered iron), a light beigey-grey and an earthy brown. It shows off a more laid back and casual image, suitable for casual and business-casual attire. Many designer brands such as Ted Baker incorporate color into a wallet with a colored edge that contrasts with the brown or black leather. J.Fold use exciting color contrasts such as a turquoise trim against brown leather. They are more famous though for their bold use of color throughout the wallet such as bright reds, racing greens, blues and yellow. Although not for everyone, their colorful wallets are street smart and will receive a lot of attention from admirers.

Timberland Wallet

Many wallets use a textured leather effect for interest, but there are other approaches to livening up the leather surface. For example, a leather glaze produces a shiny effect for a unique character without being too ‘way-out’. Simon Carter uses a glaze combined with a vintage effect on its travel wallet for a light hearted spin, ideal for city professionals who want a bit of individuality. Timberland uses a Nubuck leather for its ‘Sleeker’ wallet range which is softer and lighter than normal leather and has a similar look to suede. This is ideal for a casual and laid back look.

Many designer brands also customize the wallet by creating patterns and shapes with the leather. Most designer wallets have an embossed logo, but others use embossing to create abstract patterns (e.g. the Ted Baker Cutout wallet which has a paisley pattern).

The most playful designs come from J.Fold, who developed a technique of punching holes into their wallets, with a lining behind in contrasting colors. The J.Fold Loungemaster has tiny perforated holes punched into the leather surface, whilst the Reverb has small oval shapes that gradually change size. J.Fold also layer pieces of leather on top of the main wallet, as in their Roadster wallet which has two strips of leather to look like racing stripes. Another very modern approach to customize a wallet is screen-printing directly onto the leather. Diesel, known for their urban influences, screen-print anarchic designs for a dramatic look.

A more subtle way of customizing a wallet is a contrasting lining, which can be dramatic without dominating the whole wallet. A subtle but effective look is a brown interior on a black wallet or vice versa. J.Fold takes this a bit further and uses very colorful interior colors such as lime green and bright orange. Simon Carter, known for their quirky sense of humor, line all their wallets with a colorful comic strip that was developed exclusively for the brand. There are many types of unique and individual wallets that offer subtle and dramatic alternatives to the plain and ordinary.

Buying Slimmer and More Fashionable Men’s Leather Wallet
Fashion experts have been constantly and consistently recommending going for more fashionable men’s wallet products. There are many types of men’s wallets available in the market. Thus, many men are having a hard time deciding over which brands to buy. Some of the best and most popular brands are selling men’s wallets that are bulky and stocky, thus, many men tend to buy not-so-fashionable accessories. It should be your priority to find and choose the more fashionable and attractive ones. The wallet money clip is therefore among the best and usual choices for vanity and practical purposes.

A slimmer credit card holder could be the best option when buying men’s leather wallet. Some people call such accessories as skinny card cases, while others simply refer to them as the slim men’s wallet. This type of men’s leather wallet is especially designed to store and hold credit and bankcards. Most men rave that such accessories are handy and are very useful especially when there is hurry in finding functional cards. Unfortunately, such wallets do not feature much space for money bills. This way, you could accessorize the accessory through buying and integrating a wallet money clip.

The wallet money clip is a special clip that holds the money and clips it securely to the wallet. Slim men’s leather wallet products and credit card holders do not usually feature compartments and spaces for holding bills. The wallet money clip is attached to hold money bills inside or even outside the wallet. This way, men’s leather wallet products could still be slim and fashionable without sacrificing the money-holding feature and function. It is not surprising why wallet money clip in men’s leather wallet products is becoming very popular. The most fashionable and vanity-conscious men almost always prefer slimmer credit card holders or a money-clip wallet designed with credit card slots.

Mini Cooper Wallet

Where to buy such fashionable men’s accessories? The luxury and men’s accessory sections of retailers and department stores are sure venues where men’s leather wallet products are found and are bought from. Wallet money clip products are also to be found in such stores. Many men’s leather products do not already include or feature clips, but you could always easily add the money holders according to your preference and style. Thus, wallet money clip is a way to customize and personalize men’s leather wallet.

Wallet Buying Tips

The first thing that you have to consider when buying a wallet is the size. Size affects comfort. Too small of a wallet and your not carrying $400 in twenties. Too large, and you’ll get a herniated disk or bruised ass. Consider things that you want to carry in order to indicate the proper size. On the other hand, if you are the person who always carries cash, credit cards, you may consider leather smaller wallet with credit card slots. Taking this into consideration will save you from buying a wallet that you can not fill up, or a wallet that you have too much stuff for.

Another factor that you have to consider when buy a wallet is the amount of extra slots it has. From the reasons described above, you have learned that the size of the wallet must correspond to the number of things to be included.

Most importantly, will the wallet cause a herniated disk from being too thick when he sits down?

Expect to pay $50-$200 for a good wallet or about $10-$30 for a cheaper, functional one.

Burberry Men's Wallet

Men’s watches can be as enticing as exotic cars.  They come in a myriad of styles and designs, like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bugatti to accommodate varying tastes. But by and large, features like gold or silver tone, a glossy dial, elegant hands, and a fashionable bracelet are usually good indicators of a fine timepiece. However, a classy watch is not always restricted to these parameters. In fact, manufacturers are coming out with more and more classy but colorful men’s watches every year. This helpful overview highlights a few watches that display exuberant color while still maintaining a high level of style and class.

Colorful watches have been labeled over the years as perhaps being “juvenile.” However, premier companies like Invicta are working rigorously to dash the antiquated notions. A watch does not have to sacrifice color to preserve class, and Invicta’s Subaqua

Invicta Subaqua

Another colorful entry in Invicta’s Subaqua Collection is the Men’s Reserve Combat. The black ionic-plated 316L surgical stainless steel case is complemented by a stunning royal blue dial. Three Semi-transparent sub-dials reveal the intricate working of the Swiss ETA 251.272 Quartz Chronograph.  Beautiful and functional, the Combat is water resistant to an impressive 500 meters.

The Invicta Lupah Revolution is a newer model that has been turning heads due to its unique design and bold colors. The silver-tone stainless steel case is crafted in a

Invicta Lupah

Invicta provides men with a plethora of options when it comes to watch styles. One of their more popular lines is the Russian Diver Collection, originally created to honor the 1959 watch commissioned by the Russian Naval Fleet. These watches are artfully oversized and crafted of surgical stainless steel or titanium, distinguished as being Invicta’s largest watches. Perhaps the most exciting, timepiece to come from this collection is the Quinotaur Extreme Grand Russian Diver.

Invicta Quinotaur

It is important to note that unique color does not always have to mean extremely vivid shades. Some timepieces have fun with subtle, understated tones that still vary from the expected watch palate. This is precisely what Renato has achieved with its Men’s Wilde-Beast Diamond Watch.

Renato Wilde-Beast

Invicta’s Reserve Subaqua Venom Men’s Watch is truly amazing. The Venom’s signature 316L silver-tone stainless steel case protects a one-of-a-kind sunray dial, available in the vivid options of orange or green. A unidirectional rotating bezel has Arabic numerals at 10 second intervals, as well as scalloped edges where screw accents are located. The Venom’s bi-level dial comes in your choice of blue sunray or black matte, and has a very nautical aesthetic. A 1/10 second counter sits next to 2:00 while a second counter rests atop 6:00 and a minute counter is observed near 10:00. A black rubber strap keeps this exciting watch firmly gripped to your wrist, even at the Venom’s water resistant depth of 100 meters!

While years of conventional opinion may have deterred men from purchasing a colorful watch in years past, today’s watches are proving that vibrant colors do not detract from a watch’s class or style. In fact, many of these gorgeous pieces are notably enhanced by their colorful brilliance. With watchmakers constantly raising the bar and pushing the envelope, there is sure to be a daring yet classic timepiece out there for you!

1. Buy businesses with a sustainable competitive advantage – for me this translates into not buying that $4000 sound system
2. Don’t buy businesses you don’t understand
3. Look for consistently high return on equity
4. Beware of debt
5. Avoid commodity businesses
6. Look for increasing profit margins
7. Think like an owner
8. Buy at a discount
9. Focus on the long-term

read the full article at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/investor-clinic/how-to-invest-like-buffett/article1358889/ and let us know what you think!  Great stuff!