Posts with tag elvis

Love it or hate it with a passion -- the Hawaiian shirt has carved out its own little quasi-gimmicky place in the museum of fashion history. This week, we mourn the man who was credited with bringing us the ubiquitous button-ups: Alfred Shaheen. The Honolulu-based designer -- some may even call him a genius -- built his career on exporting the idealized laid-backness of the Pacific islands in the form a tacky little flowery shirt that changed resort styles forever.

If you're like me (pray that you're not) then you probably already watch TV much like Elvis did, what with the cape and the fried pork and the taking care of the business. There is only one thing missing, shooting the television. Yes, Elvis was killing his television long before Ned's Atomic Dustbin put a beat to it, and any self-respecting Elvis fan would love to follow suit. The only thing that has kept me from doing so is, a) we don't allow guns in the house, b) I LOVE my TV, and c) I'm a Beatles guy. Still, it's tempting (especially during American Idol).

Enter the Sharp Shootin' Remote Control. It's a remote control for your television that looks like a pistol. You change the channel by squeezing the trigger. You don't like a particular show? Put a cap in its ass. I know, brilliant.

Did I mention that it has sound effects? That's right! Not only can you enjoy the thrill of shooting your television, but your neighbors can realize their fantasy of living next door to an armed lunatic. It's a win-win. (The sound is not that loud and very fake)

In case you're more gunslinger than rock star, the remote comes complete with a western sheriff's badge. Live the dream, cowboy.

Nothing pulls a living room together quite like a campy coffee table book. One of my favorite campy coffee table books is Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour. An up-close and personal tour of the King's Memphis estate through the power of low-budget 3D pop-ups, you can relive all of the unfortunate memories of summer vacations gone awry without having to leave the comfort of the couch.

Filled with funny photographs and mementos, the Graceland book remembers Elvis in the best possible way -- with a wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

You've no doubt heard a lot about him lately. Remember, he won the Tour de France last Sunday? And remember, he staged an amazing comeback in the Alps last Thursday -- riding alone for something like 100 miles -- after absolutely cracking earlier in the race? And remember how, two weeks ago, it was disclosed in the New York Times Magazine that for several years he's been riding with a broken hip?

Sure, all that's amazing. But what I find most amazing about Floyd are his shades. On the bike, he rolls with the Oakleys as per a no doubt lengthy sponsorship contract. But off the bike, on the podium and in interviews, Floyd sports a less-than-sporty pair of sunglasses.

Is it an 80s thing? A Vegas thing? I don't know.

One thing's for certain: in a world of style-oblivious sponsored athletes, Floyd Landis does his own thing.