Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a compound found in hops (the main ingredient in beer) that may help prevent cancer. The compound, named “xanthohumol” is being tested on “everything from preventing prostate or colon cancer to hormone replacement therapy for women.” According to the article, beer with higher levels of xanthohumol is already being developed for health conscious beer lovers. This is just further proof that beer is good.

Bursting onto the scene in 2000, Slim Devices takes the home theater business to the next level with their new SqueezeBox3.

Slim Devices entered the multiple zone home theatre business back in 2000 and takes it to the next level just 5 years later with their SqueezeBox3. A sleek design and a slew of new features make this affordable device (starting at $249) an excellent addition to any home digital music system.

I want to start off by stating that this device will not play music purchased from iTunes. Actually, no non-Apple device will. I admit I was naively excited when I saw “AAC support” in the SqueezeBox3’s list of features. However, after digging deeper, Slim Devices readily admits, “music purchased from the iTunes Music Store (’Protected AAC’) is encrypted and cannot be played back with Squeezebox until Apple provides the necessary hooks to enable this.” Users can still burn these files to a disc and import them into iTunes as MP3 files, but Apple, the leader in digital music, must address this issue or risk losing users to competing services.

Now that the ugly iTunes secret is out of the way, let’s review this thing. The new design by Fred Bould is a huge improvement over the router-esque machines Slim Devices usually produces. Available in white and black the SqueezeBox should fit well with any audio system and even passes the “It Better Not Clash with My New Coffee Table” wife test. Slim Devices offers both wireless (which also comes equipped with a wired option) and wired-only versions. Unless you are a caveman (apologies to any Cro-Magnons out there), splurge and get the wireless version for just $50 more so you can put the device anywhere and get rid of additional unsightly wires in your existing system.

Behind the scenes, Slim Device’s Open Source software, SlimServer, connects any digital music library to the SqueezeBox. It allows control of your music, track search and access to the device’s settings from your PC’s web browser. Additionally, the SqueezeBox3 is chalk full of features including a large selection of Internet Radio, alarm clock, graphic visualizers and RSS news reader. Users can access saved iTunes play lists and, for those super geeks out there that know what a Podcast is, the answer is yes, SqueezeBox can even play Podcasts through Podcast Alley.

The matching remote control, which coordinates with the device’s color (bonus wife points) does every thing a user would expect, including text input for setup and music search. For those of us that can’t see across a room, it even allows for adjustable display text sizes.

For the true audiophiles out there, the SqueezeBox3 has several options. It comes complete with a headphone jack, analog audio (RCA) jacks, digital optical output and digital coax output. If your system doesn’t support one of these outputs then you might want to upgrade from 8-track.

Bottom line, the SqueezeBox3 is a cost effective digital music networking device that should be at the top of every man’s Christmas wish list. The new design alone is enough motivation if you were on the fence over the previous versions and the new features should be enough to send any music lover to their order page. And, if you don’t have a clue what I am talking about, put down your club and buy one just to impress your geeky friends.

Gamer geeks around the world are gearing up for Microsoft’s latest console release as the Xbox 360 will be available tonight at midnight. If you haven’t pre-ordered one already, your chances of actually getting one are pretty slim, but follow this guide and you might find yourself in Xbox bliss this week.

Pay someone to stand in line for you (There are rumors that someone is actually auctioning off this service on eBay).

Go to a Walmart and get in line now. They are selling the consoles tonight at 12.

Camp out over night in front of your neighborhood Best Buy. Many stores are giving out “lottery” tickets at 6am.

Find the most obscure store in your area and get there an hour before it opens and pray you’re the only one smart enough to figure this one out.

Wait 6 to 8 months for the next batch to be ready.

Get to a store about 10 minutes after it opens. Wait outside for the guys who camped out to exit the store and take his (this may be illegal in certain states).

Buy a PS3 in the spring and forget about the Xbox.

Maureen Dowd, the author of, “Are Men Necessary?,” states that women need only 10-words to communicate effectively with men:

You
Big
Strong
Yes
Chips
Game
Beer
Man
Want
Great

As a man, I’m offended by this list and the author’s complete ignorance of the male psyche. The more accurate list is much more simple:

“Sex?”

an equally simple list for men to communicate with women:

“Shoes?”

I’ll be here all week folks…

“iBuzz Music Activated Sex Toy: A super-fun sex toy that plugs into your iPod! The music-activated vibrating bullet stimulates you in time with your favourite music.”

Sorry ladies, this “super-fun sex toy” is currently only available in the UK. However, the Audi-Oh is available right here in the States for less than $60!

Its not every day that you get a chance to buy a spy’s ride, but on January 20th you get a shot at James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 coupe. The car appeared in “Thunderball” and “Goldfinger” and hasn’t been for sale for 35 years. A $150 registration fee and a minimum of $2000 in expandable cash is all you need to get in the door and have a crack at this gorgeous and historical car. Of course you’ll need over 1/2 million dollars to actually buy it, but seeing it is easily worth the $150.

Thanksgiving is the ultimate male holiday. While women prepare the most satisfyingly outrageous meal of the year, men everywhere watch football until their eyes bleed. Whether its high school, college or pro, there is no lack of the world’s greatest sport on turkey day. Can you name another day when football, booze, naps, pie and turkey (not necessarily in that order) are required to define a successful holiday? But I’ve noticed an alarming trend over the years. Not long ago, it was taboo to run anything Christmas related before Thanksgiving. Christmas sales have been creeping up on Thanksgiving and have finally surpassed acceptable conditions. There was more Christmas related advertising on prime time television on November 14, 2005 than the entire TBS full-day airing of “The Christmas Story.”

Some people enjoy Christmas to the point that they don’t even notice the wholesale takeover of Thanksgiving. Fueled by Hallmark, Target and Old Navy, the onslaught of pre-holiday season advertising will only get worse. Soon retailers, looking to boost holiday sales, will sell Christmas branded candy for Halloween. Why go on vacation for Labor Day weekend when you can come to Macy’s 3-day “Get Ready for Christmas” sale? July 4th will be declared, “Half-way to Christmas Day,” fire-works will be replaced by twinkling lights and the world as we know it, will never be the same.

(Side note: while in the middle of writing this article (2 weeks before Thanksgiving), my wife sent me the following question via IM: “I know you think its too early for Christmas thinking but do you have any ideas for anyone for this year?” See how wide spread this issue is?)

While these scenarios may seem far-fetched it wasn’t that long ago that people would have laughed you out of town for wanting to go Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Today, this insane ritual is commonplace even though malls are packed tighter than John Madden’s thighs in a pair of jeans.

As men, we need to take back our holiday. Don’t buy anything until the last week before Christmas. Boycott TV channels that feature early Christmas advertising. Shut off your wife’s credit card until December 1st. And most importantly, lock up anyone willing to trek out to the mall on November 25th. Its for their own good. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. Thanks that we have food to eat. Thanks that we have football to watch. And thanks that Christmas is a full 4 weeks away!

Do your friends make fun of the time it takes you to chug a beer? Bottle Blaster is here to help. It looks like an inhaler, connects to the end of your beer bottle and helps you drink an entire bottle of beer in 3 seconds! This mini “beer bong” will have you stumbling in no time. Expect to see this thing popping up at frat parties and the 10 o’clock news as moronic freshmen inhale a few too many. You’ve got to give the company credit for their intelligent marketing tactics (see photo for example).

Richard Roeper, the Chicago Sun reporter and movie critic, recently made a “shocking” discovery: a “vulgar” hand gesture thats sweeping the nation. Roeper feels that the hand gesture, better known as the Shocker is showing up in too many public places. Comparing the Shocker to the Middle Finger, he implies that the Shocker has no place in main stream media.

Its obvious Roeper has not done his research. The Shocker is a term of endearment. A way for the world to show their appreciation for the women who truly love it. Giving someone the Middle Finger is an insult. Flashing someone the Shocker is a major compliment.

The Shocker has grown in popularity faster than the “hang loose” sign and should be enshrined in the hand gesture hall of fame. Its appearances at college football games and endorsements by celebrities like Winnie Cooper are just further evidence that this wonderful symbol is here to stay.

I’m sure you’ve had a beer before noon, but have you ever been paid for it? Jim Koch has. As brewmaster of the Samuel Adams line of booze products, Koch schedules beer tastings at least twice a day; One at 10am and another during happy hour. Koch is responsible for quality testing Sam Adams beer from all over the country and is envied by every beer-drinking man in the world, except for maybe Tommy Lee… for obvious reasons. Boston.com recently followed Koch around for a day to see how a man gets through the workday of drinking.