The Carolina Panthers, via their official NFL website, have announced that their first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Star Lotulelei signed his contract and is now officially on the team. The Panthers selected Lotulelei with the 14th overall pick. Star is a defensive tackle from Utah who the Panthers hope will make an immediate impact on defense. Star Lotulelei signed on Thursday.

Carolina has signed all but two of their 2013 Draft picks, but it sounds like they will soon follow Lotulelei and guard Edmund Kugbila, who also signed on Thursday.

Star is only the fourth first round draft pick from the 2013 NFL Draft who has signed with his team. The previous three were Kyle Long (20 – Chicago Bears), Kenny Vaccaro (15 – New Orleans Saints) and Ziggy Ansah (5 – Detroit Lions).

The terms of Lotulelei’s contract have not been disclosed yet, but it is a four-year deal with a fifth-year team option… typical under the new collective bargaining agreement.

The biggest news of the day is learning that there is actually someone in this world named Star Lotulelei!

Star Lotulelei Signed with Panthers:

If you think you know who will be the very last first round draft pick that will be signed, make your guess in our First Pick/Last signed contest.

The post Star Lotulelei Signed Contract With Carolina Panthers appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Fat loss is a constant, ongoing battle of trying to burn more than you store. So while it’s a good idea to use supplements that can free up more fat and burn it up, you should also consider using supplements that decrease the amount of fat your body stores.

CLA is a naturally occurring group of healthy omega-6 fats. Numerous research studies confirm that CLA enhances fat loss while simultaneously boosting muscle growth and strength. The main way it works is by inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL allows fat cells to take up fat from the bloodstream and store it as body fat. By inhibiting LPL, CLA prevents the body from storing fat and instead encourages it to burn fat.

Sometimes an increase in caloric burn isn’t enough to ensure that it all gets torched for good. The fat has to get to the tiny power plants, known as mitochondria, located in the body’s cells where it will be burned up as fuel. But fat isn’t allowed to pass into the mitochondria at will, it must be carried in. Fat transporters can help to maximize the amount of fat that gets in. L-carnitine is an effective supplement for increasing the transportation of fat to be burned by the cells mitochondria.

The more we learn about nutrition and nutritional supplements, the more we realize that nutrients can affect our genes in some profound and surprising ways. Fat burning is one such case. Fish oil as a source of essential omega-3 fats provides both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fats have recently been found to turn on genes that increase fat burning while turning off genes that allow fat storage.

Dominick Walsh is a blogger for Performance Nutrition and TMRzoo.com and covers all men’s health topics and exercise issues including protein powders, diets, weight loss, weight lifting supplements, fat burners and supplement reviews. Dominick’s columns cover everything you need to know about your pre, during and post workout nutrition.

The post Which Fat Fighting Supplements are Right for You appeared first on TMR Zoo.

EA Sports has released a trailer showing off the Owner Mode for Madden NFL 25, which puts the player in the role of an owner. They can choose to be Jerry Jones or Bill Polian, or a completely new rookie owner. The Owner Mode has a broader perspective on running a team, where the bottom line is a bigger priority.

Madden NFL 25 comes out August 27, 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Jonah Falcon is a blogger for TMRzoo.com and GameStooge.com and covers all gaming consoles and platforms including Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP and computer games designed for Mac OS, Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. Jonah provides his readers with reviews, previews, release dates and up to date gaming industry news, trailers and rumors.

The post Owner Mode Detailed for Madden NFL 25 (Video) appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Xbox One Revealed!: It’s finally here.  We now have the Wii U, what we know of the PS4, and now the new Xbox One.  The title may be confusing and cause issues when search online for some.  Wasn’t the original Xbox the 1st one?  Getting back on track, we have the nitty gritty details and specs.  Rather than ruin the surprise, I have the video posted below.  Read below the video for features confirmed and features still up in the air.

Here’s a funny recap as to the theme of the new Xbox:

Confirmed:

•  Blu-Ray (about time right?)
• Live TV (HDMI In, so we assume it as an IR blaster to control your cable box)
• Xbox TV Guide – Supports new Kinect.  Search by channel, show, category, etc.
• Kinect 2.0 – Included with all new Xbox One purchases. (Processes over 2Gbits per second, enhanced voice and motion control)
• 8 Core Processor (AMD), 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, USB 3.0, WiFi Direct, HDMI In, HDMI Out, and more.
• TV Snap – Allows you to watch TV and have the web, Skype, or other features (fantasy football integration) on the side of the TV.
• Skype – High Definition, voice controlled Skype support.  Highest quality picture and ease of use.
• Integrated battery on controller, impulse triggers, and precision D-pad
• 15 Exclusive Titles (8 new IP Franchises, including Quantum Break which looks incredible)
• Halo TV Series – Directed by Steven Spielburg!

Unconfirmed:

• Always on requirement (Will this work without an internet connection for gameplay)
• Graphics processor specification is still from rumors alone.
• Price?  This is possibly the largest factor as to how successful the launch will be.
• Release date.  All we know right now is everywhere in the World, sometime at the end of the year.
• Which titles will launch with the Xbox One, and what will we need to wait for?

Update:

• A fee will be charged to use the same game disc on a different console and account (used game market?)
• Not backwards compatible, so hang on to your old 360 if you still want to play those games.
• Gamerscore and Achievements will transfer to new console.
• Internet connection preferred.  Many features and some games will not work without internet connection.

Have corrections, questions, or just want to talk about it?  Post below or on our official Facebook page (facebook.com/GadgetryTech).  Stay tuned for E3 coverage!

Joe Currao is a blogger for TMRzoo and Founder of the high tech gaming and gadget site GadgetryTech.com. GadgetryTech.com covers all gaming consoles and platforms including Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP and computer games and peripherals designed for Mac OS, Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. Joe provides his readers with reviews, previews, release dates on the hottest technology trends and up to date tech industry news.

The post Xbox One Revealed! – Update: More Info Leaked appeared first on TMR Zoo.

I am going to make a confession here today. I am a sunglass junkie there I said it. No, I do not primp and accessorize before leaving the house. I do make sure I am wearing the right shades. Nothing finishes your look off like a great pair of sunglasses. Look at the classics, James Bond, Jim Morrison; even Elvis always had a great pair of shades.

The thing is, a person really needs more than one pair of great sunglasses. Picture yourself in your best suit. Now picture yourself in your best suit with Elvis’ sunglasses. You look like a clown don’t you? That is because there are different styles for different situations.

Sunglass designers are making sunglasses for sport, fashion, and even business. So why limit yourself to one pair for all your looks?

Today I want to introduce you to a couple of great pairs of frames. Spy Optic has the distinction of having one of the largest selections of quality frames for men and women. It is not just the mesmerizing amount of styles and shapes available from Spy Optic but also the array of finishes and lenses. The great thing about this brand is the value.

Spy Optics are priced in a range that allows you to pick up a great pair of sport shades and still have money left over to get those fashion frames to go with your best suit, you feeling me Elvis. Here are a few options from Spy Optics to help you look your best from the boardroom to the bowling alley.

The Colt is a great pair of futuristic looking sport shades. The wrap around design holds securely to your head while chasing down foul balls. If by chance they do slip off your head the Colt are built from bomb-proof Grilamid. How is that for a bit of James Bond action, bomb-proof shades. Despite being made out of this space-aged material the Colt are incredibly light and  comfortable with anchored ear-pieces and scalloped temples.

The Colt come in 8 different finishes ranging from classic black-on-black to funky finishes like white and matte smoke tort. All are emblazoned with the classic SPY+ cross on the temple.

Want to get classic? Check out the Discord. They are an awesome throwback design with 13 updated color options. The black rose tort frames are cool enough for the skate park while exuding enough class to compliment your sharpest suit. Want to unleash your inner wild child? Check out the blazing red Discord frames in the strawberry fields style.

Style, value, and comfort Spy Optic has it all to finish off all of your summer looks. Want to see for yourself check them out at SpyOptic.com

The post Spy Games: Spy Optic Releases New Sunglass Styles for 2013 appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Here’s an analogy I put together for what Stone Sour’s House of Gold and Bones, Part 2 sounds like. If Metallica’s Master of Puppets and Pink Floyd’s The Wall got together and had a baby, while concurrently Tool’s Lateralus and Queen’s Night at the Opera also had a baby, and then by some miracle those two offspring eventually got together and had a baby of their own, that baby would be named House of Gold and Bones, Part 2 (with the older twin being House of Gold and Bones, Part 1, obviously).

Red City is what kicks off the 12 track album. With the way this song sounds, Corey Taylor is obviously missing Slipknot. Halfway through, it sounds like a horror film, featuring harsh vocals from him that I haven’t heard since People = Shit from Slipknot’s Iowa. Once the song finishes, it goes into a sadistic sounding AM radio track. The sound effect isn’t scary itself, but the vibe you get from implies that Hannibal Lecter is going to turn around in a chair. Fortunately, after about 30 seconds (which I spent huddled underneath my security blanket telling myself “He’s not real” over and over), Black John starts. I don’t know much of the story in the song, but it has much the same feeling that My Name is Allen did and that’s fine with me. Once again, the guitar work is big and riffy, and chock full of melt-in-your-mouth leads.

Sadist is the next song, and it tells of The Human trying to move on with his life, but yet he somehow can’t. That’s really all I got out of it, but I’m impressed with the style of playing that Jim Root and Josh Rand expressed on the song. Josh Rand has described it as a lot of jazz chords, and as long as it’s not Kenny G, I like it. My favorite song of the whole record, Peckinpah (once again named after a character), seems to me like Mastodon had a hand in it. The song opens with these sustained arpeggiated chords, before they drop out to let the drums, bass, and piano handle the rhythmic and melodic duties. Then build back up to give a blood pumping, heart racing riff. Rinse. Repeat

Stalemate returns to the big choruses and aggressive verses that plagued Part 1, even going as far as to include a key change (which as a musician, I find to be the height of cheesiness. However, when performed correctly, they can work). It’s still very well written and works for the song, so I can’t really complain. Gravesend is a much better song though, and when the guitar really kicks in, it’s just kills.

’82 is where I can kind of understand what’s going on in the story again, and it explains that part of the problem for The Human is that he hasn’t let go of the past (I think this song can be summed up as Hakuna Matata), and that in order for him to make the right decision at The Conflagration (the event that takes place in the titular House), he needs to, well, to remember Hakuna Matata. Then we reach The Uncanny Valley. Not much to say, other than for whatever reason, it makes me think of Arizona (not that I’ve ever been to Arizona).

Now, we’ve reached what is basically the conclusion of the story. Starting off with the ethereal, otherworldly, or whatever other synonyms you can think of, Blue Smoke. Corey is once again left to his own devices with minimalist instrumentation. A cello, a bass, and some very token piano and slide guitar parts make up the musical backbone. It effortlessly leads into Do Me a Favor, the first single off the new record. Do Me a Favor has a sort of bounce to it that reminds me of high school jazz band (where I could swing as well as any other jazz great could) (actually I should rephrase that- I couldn’t). I know I haven’t mentioned it often, but Jim Root and Josh Rand have really done leaps and bounds better than any previous playing. This is also where we hear the reprises of songs from Part 1 that Josh hinted at in the months leading up to the release of the album.

The Conflagration is the event that climaxes the story. This is the song we’ve been waiting for. This is where Peckinpah and Allen battle, on the sides of good and bad repectively. This is where The Human makes his decision. This is where we are blown away with the audio assault of shredding guitars, thundering basses, and pounding drums. This is- wait ANOTHER piano driven ballad? Dammiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Okay, so it’s not all bad, but it was kind of disappointing that this song is The Travelers, Pt 3 (ironically, it contains a reprise of The Travelers), when it could have been a full on nuclear warhead of the ears. The title song of the albums wraps them up. And for this it seems that Absolute Zero and Gone Sovereign got together and had a baby, because all it is is reprises of those two. From the way the song starts (not the “gang vocals” but the chords and tremolo picked notes) to the pre-chorus portions (ripped off of Absolute Zero’s bridge) and the chorus (once again ripped off of Absolute Zero). However it is a fitting way to end one the best albums I have ever listened to.

I have to say it was an experience. Taylor, Root, Rand, Mayorga (the drummer), and Rachel Bolan (of Skid Row fame, who, after former bassist Shawn Economaki left the group, stepped up to record the tracks) have truly created a work of art. I give this a 10 out of 10, but keep mind, there are a couple of flaws.

Pros: Everything. The rhythms slay, the leads blister, the bass thunders, the drums pound, the vocals scream, and the acoustics do whatever the folk equivalent of being awesome is

Cons: Maybe a key change didn’t have to happen or a certain Conflagration could have left me more devastated than Kevin Ware’s compound fracture (tried to sneak it in there)

Overall: What can I say other than stunning? Nope, let me think for a second. Nothing.

The post Music Review: Stone Sour – House of Gold and Bones, Part 2 appeared first on TMR Zoo.

You can watch the Xbox reveal live at GameTrailer.com in their live stream, or via the embedded player below. The Xbox Reveal Event, featuring the first look at the next generation of the Xbox console, kicks off at 10am PST / 1pm EST and streaming has already started.

Some of the questions that will be answered today are “what will the official name of the system be?” (Xbox 720, Xbox Fusion, Xbox Durango, Xbox 8, Xbox Infinite or Xbox Infinity have all been kicked around) and “when is the expected release date?”

You can also watch the event via the embedded stream below:

Xbox 720 Reveal Event Live Stream:

I’m sure every gaming and non-gaming outlet will be reporting on the details after the reveal, but you can get the official work over at the official Xbox site, Xbox.com. For all of our gaming coverage, click here.

The post Watch the Xbox 720 Reveal Live Stream appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Mel Gibson’s ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, was interviewed on the Howard Stern Show this morning. Oksana was on the receiving end of those infamous Mel Gibson recorded phone rants amidst his meltdown. The pair have a child together and have been going through a very public legal battle.

Howard Stern has perfected the art of getting the most out of his guests, but this one was a challenge. You would think it would be easy with all the “dirt” surrounding Oksana and Mel, but getting any information at all out of her was close to impossible. Howard even admitted to the failed interview several times after she left the studio and in the following interview with Zach Braff.

Since you are not here for the Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva backstory, below is what you are looking for. Click any of the thumbnails below to see the full-sized hot pic of Oksana:

Oksana Grigorieva Hot Image Gallery:

According to Wikipedia, Oksana Grigorieva is a Russian pianist and singer-songwriter. She was born in Saransk, Mordovia, USSR, and raised in Ukraine and Russia. She studied music in Moscow and completed conservatoire studies in Kazan, before moving to London. After studying music at the Royal Academy of Music, she moved to the United States, with periods spent living in New York and Los Angeles, California. She taught music in the U.S., and patented a technique of teaching musical notation to children.

Grigorieva gained attention as a songwriter in 2006, after the song that she wrote, “Un día llegará”, became popular on the Josh Groban album, Awake. In 2009, Grigorieva’s music album Beautiful Heartache was released; the actor and director Mel Gibson, with whom she was romantically involved and had a child, served as executive producer. The following year, the couple had a widely publicized falling-out that eventually involved highly public legal proceedings and acrimony.

The post Oksana Grigorieva, Mel Gibson’s Ex, on Howard Stern (PICS) appeared first on TMR Zoo.

To celebrate the May 21st Blu-ray, DVD and streaming release date of Open Road starring Andy Garcia and Juliette Lewis, TMRZoo.com is giving away ONE copy of the Open Road Blu-ray combo pack, courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, to ONE lucky winner.

Open Road Synopsis:

Academy Award nominees Andy Garcia and Juliette Lewis join Camilla Belle and Colin Egglesfield in this heartwarming coming-of-age story. Angie (Belle) is a free spirit living on her own terms and occasionally waitressing to make money. But when she makes connections with a drifter (Garcia), a handsome cop (Egglesfield), and his sister (Lewis), she finds herself torn between her life of absolute freedom and being tied to people who care about her. Beautifully filmed and acted, it’s an inspiring film about love in all its many forms.

Giveaway Rules:

Entering the giveaway is simple, fill out the form below with your name and email address.

This contest is open to all residents of the U.S. and will close on June 20th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST.

You can enter this contest once every day until the contest closes.

The winners will be chosen at random and notified via e-mail. Multiple entries in one calendar day by any entrant will result in disqualification. TMR Zoo will not be responsible for lost or missing mail. Good luck!!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Visit our main contest and giveaway page to see all active contests running at the Zoo.

For more on this prize, check out the Amazon.com Open Road Blu-ray combo page.

The post Giveaway – Win the ‘Open Road’ Blu-ray Combo Pack appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Comedian April Macie appeared on the Howard Stern Show this morning for the first time since 2008. Her previous appearance was to compete in the “Hottest Funniest Chick Contest” where she was in competition with Whitney Cummings and Esther Ku. April won that contest, but fellow comedian Whitney Cummings has made several appearances on the Stern Show, and has seen more success, since the contest.

April says she has no ill feelings towards Whitney since the contest claiming, “I won the contest, but Whitney is winning at life.” Still, there seemed to be some underlying tension there when she admitted to a slight feeling of happiness when Whitney’s show was cancelled.

Howard asked April what she was up to lately and one of the first things she mentioned was that she recently hosted the AVN Awards… the Academy Award equivalent in the porn industry. Shortly after she discussed how her mom was the “town whore”, parading around the small community oiled up in bikinis and hot outfits.

We also learned that April dated former Stern Show guest Mitch Fatel, but they didn’t “swing” like he and his current girlfriend Jessica do.

Here are some visual goodies for your viewing pleasure. Sorry, we have not found any real April Macie nude photos as of yet:

Comedian April Macie Hot Pic Gallery:

Check out the preview clip of the interview from Howard TV:

You can find more out about April at her official website AprilMacieisHilarious.com. What do you think, did the Howard Stern Show pick the correct “Hottest Funniest Chick”?

The post Hot Comedian April Macie Returns to the Howard Stern Show appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Kyle Long signed a 4-year deal with the Chicago Bears, officially becoming an NFL player on Friday. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed as of yet. The Bears selected Kyle with their first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, which was 20th overall.

Yes, Kyle Long is a member of THAT Long family. Son to former Oakland Raider and current NFL commentator Howie and brother to Chris Long of the St. Louis Rams. Unlike dad and brother, Kyle will be playing on the offense side of the ball in the NFL since he was drafted as a guard.

Kyle joins Ziggy Ansah of the Detroit Lions and Kenny Vaccaro of the New Orleans Saints as the only first round draft picks from 2013 to be signed by their teams.

Since the 2013 NFL Draft was an odd one with only one quarterback, two wide receivers and NO running backs selected in the first round, anything can happen when it comes to these player contracts. The first round could sign very quickly… or the process could be drawn out through the entire summer with agents trying to get as much cash as they can in such a groundbreaking situation.

Why does it matter? The scenarios will come into play when you are making your selections in the “First Picked/Last Signed” contest. If you are not familiar with our contest, check out the contest entry page to see the rules and the awesome prize that we will be awarding this year.

The post Kyle Long Signed With the Chicago Bears – Contest Update appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Okay… so it actually sounds kinda cool, and the sonic fingerprint of the DeLeo brothers behind the “STP sound” is still there. But Chester, while being eminently suited for nu-metal vocal styles (don’t get me started on the limp musical direction Linkin Park has taken in recent years), just doesn’t cut it for me here. Sure, he’s a good singer, but it sounds like a) he’s trying – unsuccessfully – to channel Scott, and b) well, that’s it really.

At least Scott had the good sense to start a new band altogether when he split off to Velvet Revolver. But I get the sense that the DeLeo brothers, who have never quite been as squarely in the spotlight as Scott, would have trouble getting people interested in new projects that didn’t bear the name “STP” – but maybe they should try?

As far as I know, it hasn’t been confirmed that Chester will actually be joining the band full time, but with the publicity shots, the website splash, the recent live gig with him fronting, and the recorded song… it sure seems highly likely.

Let’s see what happens. 2013′s biggest WTF moment?! What’s your take??

Ed Lim is the chief blogger and founder of SixStringSamurai.co.nz – Gear talk for the similarly GAS-afflicted. GAS. No, it’s not something you get if you’ve eaten too many beans for dinner. Gear Acquisition Syndrome – if you’re like me, and can’t help buying cool guitars much like a magpie collects shiny bits of metal, then you’ve got it. Come hang out, and live vicariously through our reviews and soundclips. If you get sucked into the GAS monster even further, it’s not my fault…

The post Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington joins Stone Temple Pilots (New Song Preview) appeared first on TMR Zoo.

A stone sour is a drink made of one part whiskey and a splash of orange juice, with or without an addition splash of sweet and sour (I’ll be damned I might actually teach your guys something). Stone Sour is a band made up of one part rock and a splash of melody, with or without an additional splash of sweet and sour (not really). That’s how Corey Taylor and Jim Root describe their “side project (I’ll address that later)”. Following that recipe, they have created something worthy of putting the name “Stone Sour”on it.

Stepping away from the fact that their last two LP’s (Come What(ever) May and Audio Secrecy) weren’t really up to snuff, and just seemed like a reason to go tour for a few months, I really had no idea what I was getting into. I really had only come into contact with Stone Sour a few months before, and I hoped that this was able to tie me over until the new Megadeth record (Super Collider (which I will also review so stay tuned for that)) came out. Boy has it tied me over.

Gone Sovereign and Absolute Zero start off the two part concept album. Bringing in the “junk food” hooks that Taylor has so well integrated into almost every song he’s a part of, they sink their teeth into your ears and don’t let go until they bleed. And by bleed, I mean come back begging for more. They also represent the first portion of the Overture of the concept, that of a character, known as The Human, waking up in a strange world and finding himself in contact with a creature named Allen, being chased by zombies called Numbers with their leader Black John (this comes directly from the included short story).

Stone Sour - “Gone Sovereign” (Official Music Video)

A Rumor of Skin is the next song, which describes almost a trial like atmosphere in the verses, particularly with lyrics such as “The jury seems to be deadlocked”. It’s chorus, much like Absolute Zero as well as countless other Slipknot and Stone Sour songs, simply soars above what you expect from the heavy verse riffs and almost spoken lyrics. The Travelers, Pt. 1 breaks away to feature Corey playing some simple acoustic chords and providing a pleasantly passionate performance, which morphs into Tired (I believe following the same chord progression as well). Once again, as with the previous tracks, Jim Root’s guitar solo is as tasteful as it is intricate, and just makes the song work.

Now we start to get into the second half of the album, opening with the bastard spawn of 80′s thrash and 90′s alternative metals, also known as RU486. Follow that up with My Name is Allen (most of the characters of the story are mentioned in song titles), it gives you a double dose of adrenaline, which doesn’t get to fully express itself until the very last song, because as soon as Allen concludes, Taciturn, a slow acoustic driven ballad featuring a sorrowful Corey Taylor singing what almost appears to be a eulogy.

The last three songs are Influence of a Drowsy God, The Travelers, Pt 2, and Last of the Real. They are all very good, but it seems in the context of the entire album, they really kind of fall short. Influence, for example doesn’t bring over any of the talent that the previous songs have showed, particularly in the chorus, where Josh Rand and Jim Root opt to play simple held out power chords. The Travelers has the potential to really expand on the mini concept, but doesn’t do more than add some distorted guitar and drums with a little bit of piano. And finally, Last of the Real has all the energy and the lyrics scream “This is the New Metal Head’s Anthem”, but without the musicianship that was so well carried throughout the album.

I really went in here not knowing what to expect. I had to restrain myself from listening to any singles off of the record before the whole thing was released, and I’m glad I did, because the whole album is absolutely stunning, save some minor excusable flaws. I give it a 9/10, and urge you strongly to go buy the actual record, due to the fact that you get a bunch of other goodies as well (the first part of the short story, as well as the fact that the album’s packaging makes a house when combined with the second part). I also stated that I would address the label “side project” and I leave with this last notion: anyone who says that this is only a side project, deserves to get beat down. Taylor and Root wouldn’t have put this much work into these albums and given it to Stone Sour if they had considered the band merely a side project.

Pros: Pure stadium rock, with a focus on technical ability as well as anthemic vocal harmonies and choruses

Cons: Confusing concept, some songs fall short

Overall: I really wanted to pass this off like I did other albums in the last couple years, but I can’t it’s too good.

Please watch out for Part 2, appearing later this week.

The post Music Review: Stone Sour – House of Gold and Bones, Part 1 appeared first on TMR Zoo.

Rick’s Cabaret New York Girls wore skimpy bikini bottoms, cut-off baby tee-shirts, and high heels as the round card girls at the “Broadway Boxing” show held at BB King’s in Times Square. The girls strutted their stuff (oh, and the round cards) in front of a packed house of celebrities, VIPs and fans of prizefighting.

The DiBella Entertainment “Broadway Boxing” event featured an exciting eight-bout card. “The matches were great,” gushed Rick’s Cabaret Girl Kelsey. “Lou DiBella knows how to please boxing fans.”

Rick’s Cabaret Girl Brielle purred, ” ’50 Cent’ was one of the stars in the audience–he loves boxing, and I know he was checking me out – that’s cool cause I love his music!”

The official After-Party was held at Rick’s Cabaret NYC, where the boxing fans got to meet the Round Card Girls and over 100 other sexy Rick’s Girls. “They whistled and cheered for us at the matches, explained Rick’s Cabaret Girl Madison, “And at the club they got to see us do a few more of our moves up close, haha!”

Check out some of the action below. Just click any thumbnail image to see the full-sized version:

Rick’s Cabaret Girls at Broadway Boxing:

Rick’s Cabaret New York is well known for its beautiful showgirls (over 100 daily), luxurious setting, gourmet Full Menu Steakhouse/restaurant, and warm hospitality. It is a favorite with businessmen, celebrities, tourists, and pro athletes… oh, and us.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the next big after party or sporting event at Rick’s NYC, and check out their webpage at Ricks.com. For some additional related goodies, be sure to check out our scandalous celebrity nip slips, hacked photos and wardrobe malfunctions here.

The post Rick’s Cabaret Girls Hold the Round Cards at Broadway Boxing appeared first on TMR Zoo.

For those that don’t know, besides being recognized for a plethora of breweries and an un-funny show starring Fred Armisen (I tried to get into it! I really did.), Portland is also known for a local doughnut shop called Voodoo Doughnuts. If you click on that link, you’ll be taken to their homepage and if it doesn’t immediately start you both salivating and contracting diabetes then your screen resolution is set too low. One of the artisan doughnuts that they make is called the Bacon Maple Bar. It’s a raised yeast doughnut (those are the kind that aren’t like cake), with maple frosting and bacon placed lovingly on top. It’s the breakfast of champions.

For those that like syrup on their breakfast meats and naming the cavities in your teeth, this is a match made in heaven. I have a friend in Portland who fights himself daily to not go into Voodoo Doughnuts to sample their unending deliciousness. However, Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale has generally received less than positive reviews. I’ve heard that it tastes like everything from the “elephant ear” chew toys for dogs to “wet campfire” to “silly and surprisingly charming.” Well, it’s time find out for myself and hopefully accurately clarify for any other curious craft beer drinkers not fortunate enough to find a bottle to taste for themselves. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, I would like to point out the collaboration between two local landmark businesses and how cool that is. I feel that the camaraderie and collaboration are integral parts of the craft brew scene and that we all benefit from them in the long run. OK, putting the soapbox away… Let’s pour!

Aroma 11/12: With the promise of maple-slathered meats lying within, I couldn’t help but steal a sniff directly from the bottle. It immediately earned the response of, “Oh, shut up.” Not because it was that amazing, but because it smelled exactly like what it is supposed to smell like. In other words, a lot of maple and brown sugar. I quickly poured into the glass to see if a it remained the same and by and large it did. In the glass, it initially provides a well-blended balance between maple and smoke. Later on this smokiness would reveal itself to be more of the mesquite variety and not like that of peat. It rather smells like a McGriddle, but with more smokiness and likely less heartburn, which I attribute directly to the “Pepto pink” hue of the bottle. A faint sharpness (a distant, faded citrus?) of unknown origin shows itself from time to time and it could be simply the association in my mind, but there is a saltiness to be detected as well. Beer promises maple bacon doughnut. Beer delivers maple bacon doughnut.

Appearance 3/3: It pours a clear, bright copper with pale golden highlights. The head is a good size that starts out a pastel orange shade, but fades to a light almond color. It falls gently and crackles slowly like autumn fire.

Flavor 15/20: Despite the promise of sweet flavors rolling over the tip of the tongue, the first flavors are instead more crisp and like whole grain wheat. Right behind that is load of roast and smoke flavors and then… wait… where the hell is the maple?! One now easily tastes a slight sourness (that distant, faded citrus again) that was only barely present in the aroma and a lot of the neutral, crystal malts (at least that’s what I assume the C15 and C75 stand for in the ingredient list). This has all the makings of a decent brown ale with the smoke/roast notes, but they too quickly turn to that neutral, faint citrus sweetness. The swallow is barely bitter at all and finishes with little discernible flavor whatsoever. Even the aftertaste is a whisp of the smoke, but mostly those crystal malts. They’re still there.

Note: Don’t let this beer get anywhere near room temperature! It turns into a, smokey, salty, chore of a mess.

Mouthfeel 4/5: As a brown ale, this is not bad at all. It is mouth-wateringly carbonated with bubbles that are never prickly, but instead very gentle and lightly foaming. It provides more a very nice and refreshing mouth sensation that complements the crisp initial flavors of the beer quite nicely and helps them stand out. It holds the smoke flavor adequately, but the light body of the beer seems painfully inadequate to hold what should be some pretty sweet flavors (especially considering the lack of hops). Yes, I know that Rogue seldom issues a bruiser outside of their XS series, and in my mind are more known for issuing nuanced beers instead of powerhouses. However, I doubt that Voodoo Doughnuts is issuing pastries that are light on flavor and if amazing food is what you’re aiming for, you better damn well hit it. Light, refreshing, well carbonated. Great for a brown ale, but it serves poorly for the task at hand.

Overall Impression 6/10: What promise was shown with this beer! The aroma is as intoxicating and rousing as a good breakfast. The maple abounded and the bacon playfully floated past like tiny delicious magic carpets. I felt like Homer Simpson in the Land of Chocolate. Unfortunately, also like Homer Simpson I woke up to a rather disappointing reality.

Where the hell did all the maple syrup go? Everything was so promising and then all I get is a smoked brown ale with a very nice mouthfeel. Granted, things have turned out worse, but with how amazing the aroma smelled it was quite a fall back to earth. This lack of maple and the light body are my only two qualms with this brew.

Total 39/50: This is not a very flattering score. I do not agree with the folks who say that this beer is terrible or too smokey. Of course, this bottle is quite a bit older and the beer may be an entirely different animal straight from the tap. For those that find this beer too smokey, have a glass of Ardbeg’s Galileo scotch; then you will know “too smokey.” I am simply disappointed not to find more maple sweetness in the beer! If I were drinking this as a straight brown ale, I might have enjoyed it more; especially around the fall season when bonfires are rife and smokey porters & rauchbiers are in full swing. As it stands it’s a tasty brown ale (until it warms), a bit heavy on the crystal malts, with an excellent mouthfeel for that particular style. But doughnuts are sweet and I want sweet.

I hope that this review was helpful without all the hyperbole found in a lot of comparisons for this beer. I read a lot of reviews for this beer before I found it and still had no idea of what it might taste like. The reviews were all over the map. My two sentence synopsis? Beer promises maple bacon doughnut. Beer misses maple bacon doughnut.

Joel R. Kolander is the Cheif Blogger for Sud Savant, a beer-savoring blog for the rest of us. We’re not here to get plowed. We’re not here because we are world-famous beer critics. We’re here because we enjoy savoring a great beer with even better friends. Sharing great beer is just as amazing as finding it in the first place. Lets share!

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