Sly Bald Guys' Blog - Things for Sly Guys

This is what skin cancer looks like

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:35:12 -0700

Hey everyone, this is a picture of a hole in one of Sly Bald Guys' member's head! The hole got there because a doctor had to dig skin cancer out of his scalp.

The reason that I post this up here is that I want to warn all the readers as to what can happen when you don't protect your bald dome with sunscreen. Spring is upon us and Summer is just around the corner. Please don't be another victim of skin cancer. It's easy, put on sunscreen every day, regardless if you think you're going to be outside or not.

Worried you won't get a tan? Trust me, you can still get a tan with sunscreen on. I wear sunscreen every day, even in the winter, and I have a very nice tan going on and it's not even summer yet. Here's a link to all of the reviews I've done regarding sunscreen - http://www.slybaldguys.com/serendipity/plugin/tag/sunscreen

This post is sponsored by:

Here's a little video teaching you how to remember to not mix different alcohol

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:48:49 -0700

Silicon Valley Fight Club

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:48:43 -0700

What do you think about this?

How to negotiate with stores like Best Buy and Circuit City

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:18:19 -0700

In the need for some electronics gear? Don't want to pay full retail price? Well then this article will help save you some money!

I love to negotiate with companies when I buy products and services from them. It's my belief that I should not have to pay full retail for anything so I went out to learn how I could avoid paying full retail. In my quest I read 5 different negotiation books, but one of them stood out above the rest; Negotiate This!: By caring, but not T-H-A-T much by Herb Cohen.

In Herb's book, he talks about how signs are just a point of negotiation. What does that mean? Well it means that we often take a sign, such as a price tag as a final offer, the price we MUST pay, but in reality, this is not the case in most situations. This is often just the first point in negotiation; the price they WANT you to pay. In remembering this little fact I headed out this weekend to buy a home theater system for my house, including a HDTV, receiver, speakers, a Blue-Ray player and an HD TiVo. I had a good time saving several hundred dollars; here's how:

Get your facts before shopping

Before you go out shopping for big ticket items (anything over $100) you need to know a few things about the items you want to buy. First off, know what you want. Make a list of everything you are going to buy on a 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of paper or in an Excel spreadsheet. If you use paper, make 3 columns on the page. The first column will be for the Make, the second for the Model Number, and the third for the lowest price found on the internet. If there's shipping, add 3 prices in the third column for that model; price without shipping, this shipping cost, the total cost with shipping. It's often good to have up to 3 makes and models that you are willing to buy so that you have a little more room to play with when negotiating.

To find the best price on the internet there is two different sites that I use. Google Product Search (http://www.google.com/products) and Shopping.com (http://www.shopping.com). Just type in the make and model number and you'll get a list of all the available products on the internet that match that description. Just sort by price to get the lowest. If you don't which product you want to buy yet, you can always find the best products in that area of electronics at CNET (http://www.cnet.com).

Print out the best deals that you find

Stores like Best Buy and Circuit City will match and often beat competitors advertised prices and you don't need a newspaper ad to get them to do it. When you use one of the sites listed above to find the lowest price for your product(s) then print out the page that shows that lowest price. Make sure it also lists the make and model number on the print out. This will allow you to present your starting point for negotiation if the store you go to has the product listed for a higher price.

Find the product on their own website

Before heading to Best Buy or Circuit City, search for the product(s) that you are going to buy and print out that listing. Both of these companies often list their products for cheaper on their own website than they mark the product for in the store. This printout will instantly give you a drop in price as it is their policy to match what is listed on their own websites.

It's time to go negotiate!

When you go to the store, it's my recommendation to go in during a slow time, such as a weekday, week night, or a weekend night. My vote would be at night, about an hour before the close. The reason for this is that managers have goals that their teams have to meet and managers that manage the slower times have a harder time of meeting these goals, thus they are more willing to negotiate. Also they aren't being pulled in several different directions by employees that are trying to satisfy customers like the daytime managers. When you go in make sure you have your printouts with you.

Continue reading "How to negotiate with stores like Best Buy and Circuit City"

How to save energy and impress your friends at the same time

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:47:23 -0700

I recently remodeled my house and spent A LOT of money doing it. Though out of all the expensive things that I put into the house the one thing that has everyone saying "that's so cool!" only cost me $15 and will probably save me more money than that by the time I have to replace it. So, what is this cool little gadget that gets all the applause? Well, if you looked at the picture on this post you can already tell that I'm talking about a light switch. Though, this isn't any little light switch, it's a motion sensing light switch.

What's cool about motion sensing light switch? First off, when your friends go to walk down the hall to use the bathroom they don't have to go searching for the light switch. Instead as the get near the hall, BAM!, the lights automatically turn on. And if you have it setup like me, another series of lights turn on as they get further down the hall. Secondly, as you open your bedroom door at night to go out into the hallway the light automatically turns on so you don't have to fumble around looking for the switch. And last, but not least, you save money because you don't leave the lights on when you're not in that area. This is great for people who have kids who tend to always leave the lights on.

To make the most out of the motion sensing lights I put one at the entry way of my house so when I open the front door the light turns on. This is also tied to the first light in my hallway. The second motion sensor is toward the back of the hall where all the bedrooms are located. This way when someon leaves a bedroom the hallway lights turn on. I would have also put these in the bedrooms, but we opted for dimming switches instead.

Where can you get these motion sensing switches? You can get them from Home Depot, Lowes, and Amazon.com. There's a variety of brands that you can buy that range from $15 to $60. They come in two models, either 180 degree or 150 degree. I opted for the 150 degree by Cooper Wiring Devices as they were only $15 and I liked that it had a manual switch for On, Auto, and Off.

Here's the model that I have:

Attention all British bald guys

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:39:53 -0700

I received this from ITV Productions this morning and wanted to pass it along to all of you British Sly Bald Guys so that you can have a shot at your own 15 minutes of fame.

ITV is celebrating
the

GREAT BRITISH BODY

in an exciting new
series with Trinny and Susannah.

Its British
Televisions biggest survey of the way we look.

Were holding a
roadshow at the Birmingham Town Hall on the 19^th
April 2008

Are you proud to be
bald?

Have you come to
love your bare head?

Are you part of a
bald headed group?

Do you want to come
and show the nation why bald is best?

We want as many
proud bald men as possible to come along and be counted in this landmark event

So if you fit the
bald bill we want to hear from YOU!

CONTACT Molly or Sam
NOW on Molly.Gilbert@itv.com

Or Call 09011 11 00 44

Calls cost 25p from a BT landline.
Calls from other networks and mobile operators may be higher. Callers must be
at least 18 years old. Lines close on
the 1^st June 2008 at midday.
ITV cannot guarantee that all applicants will be called back. For a full list of
our terms and conditions please visit our website:
http://www.itv.com/termsandconditions/

The Tax Game - Why The Rich Get More Taxes Back Than You Do

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:26:39 -0700

I just got back from meeting with my tax accountant to have my taxes done. Every year I meet with him he talks to me about how to play the "tax game" a little better each year. The one thing that he always reminds me is that there are two types of forms that are provided to list the things that you can deduct or "write off," a Schedule A and a Schedule C.

The typical American person or family will use the Schedule A to list deductions such as Medical Expenses, Other Taxes Paid, Mortgage Interest, Charitable Deductions, etc. It is good to have items to list on the Schedule A as it does lower your adjusted gross income (also known as the amount you get taxed on) but, it's not as good as having things to list on the Schedule C. Here's why:

A Schedule C allows you to write off any business expenses that you have accrued throughout the year. Things like Advertising and Marketing costs, Automobile Expense, Rent, Utilities, Insurance, and most other expenses that have to do with a business. How is having these things better? Without getting into the math, having Schedule C expenses write your income down quicker than having Schedule A expenses. For example, having $5,000 in Schedule C expenses will decrease your adjusted gross income by almost $5,000, close to dollar for dollar. Having $5,000 in Mortage Interest may only write your adjusted gross income down by $2,000 depending on your tax bracket. Remember, the goal is to LOWER your adjusted gross income as far as you can.

You may have noticed a couple of the items in the list of things on the Schedule C that you pay on a monthly basis, but don't get to write off; things like Automobile Costs, Rent, and Utilities. Yep, the people that own businesses can actually write off things like their Internet Access, Electrical Bill, Rent, and any miles they put on their car due to business and in 2007 that was 48.5 cents per mile or $48.50 for every 100 miles you drive. That's right, people are actually writing off the things that people like you use everyday just because they own a business.

If you're not happy with your tax return, or having to pay this year, then consider starting a business of some kind. It doesn't have to be a fancy busines that cost a ton of money to start up. Here's a list of 10 Legitimate Business that you can start for $20 - http://entrepreneurs.about.com/cs/businessideas/a/10startupideas.htm

Obviously, I'm not an attorney or a CPA, so don't take my word for this. Contract a tax accountant or tax attorney and find out how to play the "tax game" to your best advantage.

What does Whiskey have to do with the pefect shave?

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:58:53 -0700

THE BOWMORE WAY TO PERFECTION

Often considered as the perfect malt, Bowmore is now is inviting consumers to discover premium experiences with the launch of a unique extension to its website The Bowmore Way.

A series of films illustrating the perfect way to make the most of experiences will feature on www.thebowmoreway.com, with an expert providing a step-by-step guide.

Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard, British Chess Champion shows the Bowmore way to checkmate in just four moves while Maria Soep, the World's Champion Porridge Maker from the Roineabhal Guesthouse in Kilchrenan in the far north of Scotland advises how to cook porridge to perfection.

Other advice includes: how to tie a bow tie; lighting a cigar; shucking an oyster as well as extending consumers whisky knowledge by showing how to cut peat; turn barley and nose whisky.

Glen Moore, Bowmore brand director, said: âThis unique online development allows Bowmore to drive awareness across domestic and international markets. By showing customers the rules of traditional etiquette and how to achieve 100 per cent perfection in every situation, the films emphasise the premium status of the brand and the unique charm of Bowmore products.

Created by Glasgow-based digital design agency, Chunk and filmed by production agency The Gate Films, the films will rotate on a fortnightly basis and are intended to run until the end of 2008.

Bowmore Distillery, home to the original Islay single malt, recently launched an exclusive, limited edition bottle of the legendary Black Bowmore. With only 827 bottles released, the extremely rare 42 years old expression is the oldest Bowmore ever released by the distillery and with a retail price of £2,000 all are expected to be snapped up by whisky collectors and connoisseurs around the world.

In celebration of its release Bowmore is offering web users the opportunity to win a bottle, absolutely free, on their newly revamped website at www.bowmore.com.

How to carry on all of your head shaving gear when travelling

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:14:16 -0700

As some of you have noticed, until yesterday I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Well, this was due to me travelling for business part of the time while I was absent from the blog. While I was in the Denver airport trying to get through security, it made me realize that I've been thinking of doing a post on "how to carry on all of your head shaving gear while travelling" and now is the time to do it. Here's how:

First off, you need to know the rules. If you haven't travelled in a while, then you probably don't know that you have to separate all of your liquids from your other stuff and put them into on quart (not gallon) sized bag and each liquid item must be in a 3 oz container or less. The TSA outlines this as 3-1-1 as the picture up above details.

Secondly, it is important to separate your razor, blades, and other non liquid items into a separate bag. Remember, you DO NOT need to pull this bag out when going through security. Also, you can bring a safety razor (HeadBlade, Fusion, etc) on the plane with extra blades. Here's what the TSA says about razors in their prohibited items section:

"Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors (must be checked)."

From that line, it's my best guess that straight razors and double edge razors should be checked and you should not attempt to carry them on.

One of the toughest thing about this 3-1-1 rule is that it can often be hard to fit all of the things that you need into 1 quart size bag, so here is a list of all the products that I know of that come in bottles or packages that are 3 oz or less.

Shaving Creams/Oils/Gels

HeadSlick by Headblade - 2 oz
Pacific Shaving Oil - 1/2 oz and 2 oz sizes
Shave Secret Oil - 1 oz
KOS Shave Oil - 1-2 oz
Matte for Men - 2.5 oz

Exfoliating Scrub

HeadShed by HeadBlade - 2 oz
St. Ives Apricot Scrub -1 oz (Found in the travel section of stores like Target)

Lotions

HeadLube Matte or Glossy by HeadBlade - 2 oz
Matte for Men with SPF 25 - 2.5 oz
Neutrogena - 1 oz (If you stay at a DoubleTree they often provide this for free)
Neutrogena with SPF - 1 oz (If you stay at a DoubleTree they often provide this for free)

Bump Control

ClearHead by HeadBlade - 2 oz
TendSkin - 1 oz

One thins you'll notice is that HeadBlade has a product in every category on this list. They actually sell a travel kit that you can buy. The best part is that once you buy it, you can then refill the little bottles with product from your regular sized bottles. Both of Matte for Men's products are also below the 3 oz limit.

By sticking to products on this list or other products that you find that are below the 3 oz limit you should be able to fit all the product you need into the quart size bag. Remember that if you're are going to be somewhere longer than a week it will probably be a good idea to bring larger portions and just check your bag.

Is that a booger? No, it's just your nose hair.

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:51:29 -0700

I would like to send out a reminder to all of you guys that women and men are not big fans of talking to guys with nose hair that looks like it would strangle you if you got too close. Honestly! If you look into the mirror and can see hair petruding out of your nose then it's time to get rid of it. This also goes with ear hair. Just get rid of it! So, how do you do this? Get one of these...

The Phillips Norelco Ear and Nose Hair Trimmer.

This little gadget only cost about $13 at Amazon.com and works great! I do get pretty dark ear hair and I've always just used tweezers to pluck them out but it's hard to find them when looking in the mirror. With the trimmer I just have to run it over my ears and there's no sign of the hair anywhere. I'm lucky so far in that I don't really have visible nose hair, but to make sure this trimmer wouldn't tear up the inside of my nose I stuck it up there and turned it on. It tickled a bit but there weren't any cuts. This trimmer also comes with two attachements so that you can trim your eyebrows. So, if you have issues with hair growing out your nose or out your ears, then this is the product for you!

Guaranteed Cure For A Hangover

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:08:51 -0700

I was flipping through the channels tonight and came across a show called Manswers on Spike. My first thought, "brilliant!" As I started watching the show, my first thought was confirmed. Why didn't I think of this show?

Oh, you're here for the hangover cure, right? Ok, check out the video below. When you're done, you can get "manswers" to other burining questions such as:

Who is the king of beers?
Hooker or Cop?
How to get drunk faster?
Can you beat a breathalyzer?
What percentage of chicks are bisexual?

For the manswers to these questions, go to http://www.spike.com/show/22792

I know, I know...the cure! Here it is:

Manswers - Season 1 - Guaranteed Hangover Cure?

GameStrata - Where do you rank?

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:57:25 -0700

Ok gamers, I have a new site for you! It's called GameStrata and it's going to let you know how you rank against other gamers.

What is GameStrata all about? Well, here's what they have to say on their site:

"At GameStrata, we figure most video game players are in need of
something a bit more new and refreshing. Likewise, we feel the same
pain as each and every gamer out there each time we roll up to the
counter and pay $60 for a new game. So, why not make those 60 bucks go
a little further? Why not build something that is new and cool and not
just regurgitate the same old news and game review you can get
elsewhere. So, have at it, this is your community. Check some stats,
brag to your buddies, laugh at someone, challenge someone else, ask
some questions just make sure you have more time to play the games
you love."

Basically, it's a kick ass site for you to get all of your gaming info, connect with other gamers, and find out how you rank amongst them.

At the time of writing this post they are in "invite only" mode where you have to request a token to register. Luckily, I happen to have an insider connection over there and have got my hands on some tokens for all of my readers. If you want one, just comment up on this post and I'll send you one by email.

Why you should go get a physical

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:59:56 -0700

Yesterday I had the pleasure of heading into the doctor for my annual physical. I got to chatting with the nurse and she started congratulating me on making the decision to come into get a physical, especially being only 30 years old. I thought "wow, this is an odd thing to congratulate a guy on," so I went ahead and said, "I thought that's the thing you're supposed to do when you turn 30." She then proceeded to tell me that it IS the thing that people are supposed to do when they turn 30, but that men in general tend to ignore this point and will wait until they are sick to come in.

Because of this new found information, I'm writing this post to beg all of you that are 30 or older to go in and get a physical, ASAP! Seriously, stop reading this and call your doctor! Don't have a doctor? Call a friend and find out who they go to. The point is for you to go!

Why is it so important for you to start getting a physical? The main reason is that it will help the doctors prevent you from getting sick. There are tell tell signs that your health is deteriorating that the doctor will see. Things like rising blood pressure, rising cholesterol, rising weight, and various other things that may be there but may not make you "feel" sick. Detecting these things early can not only keep you from getting really sick, but it could detect something even more serious in the early stages. One of these things could be a potential heart attack, diabeties, or heart disease. Obviously these are things you don't want to have as a young or old guy.

Another thing that my doctor discussed with me yesterday is the rising cases of testicular cancer in younger men. That's right! Cancer on your nuts! Not a good thing...really! So guys, please, please put whatever it is that is preventing you from going to the doctor aside and go to the doctor! You never know, he or she might just have a nurse like the one above

One more thing. I've included a very good video for you to watch for being such a good guy and sticking around to read this post. Once you are done with the video, get off your computer and call your doctor!

Slumbercap - how to keep your head warm while sleeping

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:37:15 -0700

We're in the middle of winter right now and it can be tough to keep your head warm at night, especially for us bald guys. I know, I know I live in California, so what do I know about being cold? Well, last weekend my wife and I went to a marriage retreat in the mountains. At the retreat we were given a little cabin to sleep in. The cabin did have a heater, but the second night we were there the heater went out in the middle of the night and it was about 30 degrees in our cabin. I rarely wake up in the middle of the night, but my head was right by the window and was absolutely freezing! I got up to look for my hooded sweatshirt so that I had something to cover my head and then I rememberd I had brought my

Slumbercap that was just sent to me. It then dawned on me that this was the perfect opportunity to review this product.

I went into my bag, grabbed the Slumbercap and threw that baby on my head! Within seconds my head was back to a comfortable tempature. I don't remember much after that since I was back to sleep about the time my head hit the pillow. The beautiful thing was that my head stayed warm all night and I didn't sweat from wearing the Slumbercap.

The Slumbercap was created by Ruth Klampert back in the early 90's to provide women who were going through chemotherapy a way to keep their head warm while battling cancer. When she took some samples into the cancer research center a nurse suggested that she created some for men also. The Slumbercaps for men are made out of 96% cotton and 4% lycra, so basically they are a slightly stretchy cotton cap, similar to a beanie or skull cap. The men's size is about 8 inches long and is the size of your standard beanie. I was also sent a womans size, which the design is basically the same as the men's, only a bit shorter; similar to a skull cap. I actually prefer the women's size more than the men's.

Why a Slumbercap instead of a beanie at night? Well, the Slumbercap is not as heavy as material so it lets your head breathe more and reduces the possibility of sweating. This also make is much more confortable to wear for the entire night, where as a beanie could get irritating.

To learn more about the Slumbercap, go to http://www.Slumbercap.com. They currently cost $14 for a men's and $12 for a woman's.

How to know that you were bad in Vegas

nospam@example.com (Tyler) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:41:59 -0700

We all know the saying "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." But, this isn't just because things magically disappear when you get on that plane to leave Vegas, you have to do a little work to make sure your "baggage" doesn't get on the plane with you. Don't know if you've been bad while in Vegas, here's a list to let you know if you have.

1. You wake up in a hotel room that is not yours or anyone you know.
2. You can't remember the name of the person that you shared a bed with.
3. All your cash is gone and the only thing left in it's place is a receipt from the ATM. Now you're trying to figure out how to get ot the airport.
4. Your ATM receipt has a withdrawl amount equal to one month's mortgage.
5. Upon finding your clothes you find a receipt for a cash withdrawl on your corporate credit card.
6. Your clothes smell like thick perfume and it's not your wife's or girlfriend's brand.
7. Hotel security knocks on your door to ask if you would like your clothes back.
8. You check your credit card statement online to see what name comes up on the statement from a charge you made the night before.
9. You have a conversation that includes the question, "how much will bail be?"
10. You get a call when you get back home and upon seeing the caller ID you turn decline the call and make sure your wife or girlfriend didn't see it.
11. You have to visit the doctor when you get home for an itch on your junk.
12. You create a "story" amongst all your friends that were in Vegas with you so that all of you don't say the wrong thing to your spouse.
13. You leave specific items when leaving the hotel, on purpose, so that they don't serve as evidence against you.