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Often times when a man is described as doing things “like a woman,” it’s meant to be derogatory. But when it comes to job interviews, a new study suggest that men would be wise to approach them like a woman if they want better results. Research from the University of Western Ontario showed that women performed better in interviews because they were more prepared. While they tended to do more worrying about the opportunity, that anxiety actually caused them to spend more time preparing by either reading how-to guides or practicing. Meanwhile, men minimized how concerned they were, didn’t feel like they needed to prepare as much and therefore didn’t perform as well in the interview. It’s not surprising to hear that women err on the side of caution and underestimate themselves. As for guys, we’re just straight-up cocky and believe it’s already in the bag. Hence less preparation and therefore less success. Regardless, men should tear a page out of the female playbook here. For more success in interviews, prepare better by reading about how to succeed, do practice interviews and build your confidence.

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“It’s still possible to make a big, fabulous, glamorous escapist movie,” says the Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, “but at the same time say something about the world that we’re living in.” Better known for dramas such as American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, Mendes has opened up about his decision to take on the iconic franchise in a new videoblog on the official Skyfall website. "My relationship with Bond began when I was about 9 or 10 years old. Casino Royale [made me feel] like it was a real man in a real situation again. It reminded me of how I felt when I watched the Sean Connery movies -- it wasn’t actually that difficult a decision.” The videoblog also gives fans a sneak peek at the Skyfall sets, as he shoots Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench in airports, underground lairs and the same exotic neon-lit Shanghai set from the first official still -- as well as on the streets of London, a first for Englishman Mendes. “Ironically, I’ve never made an English movie. I’ve made six movies, and this is the first time I’ve shot in this country, so I feel that the American years were my apprenticeship for doing a Bond!” Mendes also explained how he’s coped with the demands of making a huge action movie. “I think that the way any director deals with a big film is in tiny incremental steps. You can only do one day at a time. If you try to make the entire movie at once your head will explode!” Skyfall opens in North America in November.

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"It's A Man's World" is a column on anything and everything related to the modern man, by Ian Lang. If there are any topics you'd like to see addressed here, send them to us at editorial@askmen.com, or let us know in the comments section.There’s a quiet but growing rift in America that’s affecting us all. I’m talking about the divide between Baby Boomers and Millennials, specifically the Boomers’ ability (and apparent desire) to use their influence to continue to tip societal scales in their favor despite their ever-eroding relevance. In a world with decidedly finite resources, the Boomers steadfastly (and selfishly) exploit laws and societal norms to their advantage, and when they can’t, they use their power to create new ones. As members of my generation continue to struggle to reach “real” adulthood (bill-paying, job-holding adulthood), the issue is only going to grow in significance.First, a quick history lesson: In their seminal 1991 book Generations, historians William Strauss and Neil Howe characterize Baby Boomers as individuals born in the postwar years between 1946 and 1964 (apparently winning wars makes chicks want to do it). They were the beneficiaries of the high-flying economic times that followed WWII, and they can be real assholes. They tend to think of themselves as a special generation, very different from those that preceded them. To their credit, many forward-thinking marketers treated them as such because of their immense numbers, and as a result Baby Boomers have been a coveted marketing demographic since the day they popped out of their mothers’ hoo-has holding a Jack Kerouac book in one hand and bus tickets to Canada in the other.Millennials, meanwhile, are the children of the Baby Boomers (and probably some Gen X-ers who didn’t understand prophylactics) born between 1982 and 2000. We’re also sometimes referred to as the “Sexiest Generation” (citation needed). We are the beneficiaries of our Boomer parents’ affluence, and we can be real assholes. Because rebelling against the ideologies of our parents was something that our parents would have done, the Millennial generation is sometimes described as having “moved beyond” the ideological battles that spawned our parents’ counterculture movement. We reject our parents’ attitudes, but we also enjoy the same books and movies they do. We’re just, like, so over the whole rebellion thing.So, that’s part of the problem -- we’re not all that different. It’s not surprising, because when two entitled, nonconformist assholes exchange genetic contact info, the result is more often than not going to be a different flavor of entitled, nonconformist asshole. But there are also some key differences. In Generations, Strauss and Howe stratify each generation into one of four cyclical categories. A sample: Prophet/Idealist A Prophet (or Idealist) generation is born during a High, spends its rising adult years during an Awakening, spends midlife during an Unraveling, and spends old age in a Crisis. Prophetic leaders have been cerebral and principled, summoners of human sacrifice, wagers of righteous wars. Early in life, few saw combat in uniform; late in life, most come to be revered as much for their words as for their deeds. Hero/Civic A Hero (or Civic) generation is born during an Unraveling, spends its rising adult years during a Crisis, spends midlife during a High, and spends old age in an Awakening. Heroic leaders are considered to have been vigorous and rational institution-builders, busy and competent in old age. All of them entering midlife were aggressive advocates of technological progress, economic prosperity, social harmony, and public optimism.Sound familiar? Those are the two types that Strauss and Howe attribute to the Boomers and Millennials (respectively), and they seem awfully accurate to me. Obama was elected in large part due to the outpouring of support from my generation, and his campaign rhetoric could pretty easily be boiled down to that last sentence.The whole crux of the issue is the notion of crisis. Millennials are trying to gain a foothold in the midst of it, and the Boomers are facing the reality that your golden years aren’t so golden when a 401(k) that was once fatter than a Christmas goose (do people even still eat goose?) is now only worth a few shopping sprees at the dollar store. The resulting friction is due to the fact that the two groups’ respective priorities, and the policies that reflect them, are totally different. Boomers want the government to subsidize their medical care because it turns out getting old is bad for your health. Millennials would rather use that money to buy a bunch of overpriced organic food so they don’t get sick in the first place. Boomers built a corporate culture that demands patience, hard work and loyalty, which is convenient because it means no amount of brainpower and technological know-how will allow the Millennials to swoop in and render them obsolete. On the other hand, Millennials want a system that rewards curiosity and force of intellect, as well as one that indulges our shorter attention spans and allows us to constantly try new things.Where do I stand? Glad you asked. (I know you didn’t, but humor me, you dickhead. Also, stop having conversations with online magazine articles.) Despite my aversion to progress and anything that eschews buttons for touchscreens, I have to side with my contemporaries on this one. If nothing else, we have power in numbers (as proved by the last presidential election). My mutant ability to reproduce asexually aside, our population has grown, meaning that every two Baby Boomers have produced a few Millennials of their own. What I’m saying is, there is a metric sh*tload of us. We might not have financial control yet, but if history as viewed by Strauss and Howe is any indication, the next 10-20 years are going to be very good to us. Our parents exploited every advantage they had to make a prosperous life for themselves and their children. It’s only natural that we find a way to do the same. We should probably start with some clever email chains, as the Boomers absolutely love that sh*t.Hey, Baby Boomers, turn up your hearing aids, because we’re coming. But also, do you guys mind if I move back home for a while, just until I land on my feet? I got laid off. You know how things are in this economy.Help make Ian Twitter famous at @TheIanLang. 

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This article, by Jhaneel Lockhard, was first published on Business Insider.Introverts are often mistaken as being timid or afraid because they prefer to be alone or in small groups, says Lisa Petrilli, author of The Introvert's Guide To Success in Business and Leadership. They generally do well at tasks that involve brainstorming and get their energy from their "inner world" of thoughts, ideas, reflections and even memories. Even though the most outgoing people often get more recognition in the workplace, people who are introverted can level these unique strengths to get ahead in their careers. Make your work speak for itself The people who have the most impact aren't the ones who are promoting themselves. They're the ones that other people are promoting," writes Nancy Ancowitz, author of Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead . Introverts don't generally like the spotlight but if you do amazing work, others will sit up and take notice even if you are on the quieter side. Build a reputation on the results you achieve. Ensure you have an advocate "Most introverts I’ve worked with who have gotten promotions have had a boss or senior manager who really pulled for them. Use your ability to build strong, lasting relationships and do so with people who can make a difference in your career advancement," says Ancowitz. Take credit for your work Just because you're not shamelessly bragging about your accomplishments, doesn't mean you shouldn't take credit for the work you do. If you want your boss to notice what you're doing, resist the urge to disperse credit to "the team" all the time, and find a way to identify and strategically mention your individual contribution when it's appropriate, says Ancowitz. RELATED: How To Channel Your Creativity At Work

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Click here to follow AskMen Fashion on Twitter. A confident, cohesive sense of style starts not with the latest in Japanese jeans or a bangin’ blazer. Looking great begins with underwear -- the foundation of every man’s everyday dress routine. So it’s a wonder why underwear shopping falls dead last on most guys’ to-do list. Having a rep as the lamest gift-giving item of all time certainly doesn’t help. But after digging through these dos and don’ts, you’ll soon realize that learning how to wrap the family jewels the right way may just be the best present you could ever give yourself. men's underwear dos Do replace old underwear We’ve heard the statistic tossed around that eight years is the average length of time it takes men to replace their underwear. Whether or not that’s accurate (and we hope it’s not, frankly), no matter how long it takes you to replenish supplies, once a pair has seen better days -- a small hole, a tiny rip, a little fray -- toss it in the trash. Is this a heavy price to pay for a relatively negligible imperfection? Maybe. But wear and tear with underwear is a dangerously slippery slope. And as for those lucky boxers you’ve been holding onto since your frat boy days, clear a space in your sock drawer and lay them to rest -- forever. Do have a collection of men's underwear Men should have at least 10 pairs of underwear on hand at all times. That’s one for everyday of the week plus two additional for weekend nights and another thrown in for good measure or some sort of, um, emergency. Active guys -- the workout buffs, outdoor types and all-around heavy sweaters -- will need a few more to meet their needs. The opposite isn’t true for couch potatoes: Sitting around all day doesn’t mean you can get away with fewer. Do find your brand Variety is the spice of life, except, perhaps, when it comes to men's underwear. It can be difficult to find a brand that fits just right -- one that holds the goods in place without being too tight or too loose. But once you happen to stumble upon the right kind, it’s a good idea to stock up. Sure, you can go wild with different colors, super comfortable eco-friendly fabrics and maybe even a print or two. But your best bet is to always stay loyal to a single name that you know works for you. Besides, do you really want to be spending that much time shopping for underwear? Do wear a variety of styles So, while being a one-brand man is a definite do, it’s also important to have an assortment of men's underwear for various activities. Briefs provide the right support for almost every situation from bar to boardroom. But sometimes you just need to set things free come bedtime with a looser-fitting boxer. And then, of course, there’s the hybrid known as the boxer-brief, an ideal way to get both support and coverage for a hardcore workout. Keep each set separate so you always have the right pair ready to rumble. Do wash your underwear every time Did you know that dirty drawers typically carry up to a gram of fecal matter? Sick. Fortunately, the answer to keeping clean isn’t wearing a disposable diaper. Loose-fitting boxers won’t get you an extra day’s worth of wear either. Underwear should be washed after each wear, period. Use regular bleach if we’re talking whites since it packs a heftier punch than the color-safe kind. Ready for the men's underwear don'ts? That's next...

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I know what you’re thinking: If only there were some way to stop enjoying videos, music innovation apps and games on my iPad and get down and dirty with a spreadsheet. Microsoft hears your yearning and has a glass of Office water to douse your burning desires -- it will soon be launching Microsoft Office for the iPad. Let the games end.On the surface, this could look like an admission of tablet defeat to Apple, but these are different times for Microsoft. The days of using Office as a club to smash the competition are over. More and more people are using free, web-based Google Documents for sharing word processing and spreadsheets among coworkers, and Apple’s eating some of Microsoft’s lucrative Office pie with its Pages and Numbers apps, which have both desktop and iOS versions. If Microsoft is hoping to prevent a complete productivity coup, it has to be everywhere. Combining an iPad version with its Office 365 makes sense.This won’t be Microsoft’s first foray into the iOS App Store, and reports are that the iPad Office app works much like its OneNote app. Expect the price to be bargain-basement low, since Microsoft knows people aren’t going to pay $100 for something they can get for free from Google. Interesting times. Now get back to work.

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Carmelo Anthony has rejoined the New York Knicks, a team that has re-emerged as a power thanks to the antics of the previously unheralded point guard Jeremy Lin. Since becoming the Knicks’ starting point guard, the Harvard grad and D league castoff has ignited an international media frenzy, while getting a championship-starved fan base to drool from the mouth at what’s fast becoming one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of professional sports. But with the notoriously selfish Anthony eager to make an impact, many have wondered if New York’s old superstar can coexist with its new one. Despite the Knicks' loss to the Nets, the jury is still out. We think it must have been kind of awkward for Anthony to return to Linsanity, so here we imagine what their conversation would have been like before the Nets game.Carmelo: Yo, Jeremy. Where is everyone?Jeremy: We’re early, I guess. How’s the groin?Carmelo: Feeling good man, feeling good. Today’s definitely the day. I’m excited to get out there.Jeremy: That’s good news, Melo.Carmelo: Call me Carmelo.Jeremy: That’s good news, Carmelo. We’re excited to have you back.Carmelo: Listen, man, I wanted to personally thank you for carrying the load while I was out. You did good. The city loves you.Jeremy: Yeah, these last couple weeks have been pretty crazy. Derek Jeter called me last night.Carmelo: Derek called you?Jeremy: Yeah, just to welcome me to the brotherhood, and to remind me that us winners have to look out for each other in this town.Carmelo: Oh, yeah, of course [laughs nervously]. He called me too when I was traded here last year.Jeremy: Yeah, and that welcome dinner at Mayor Bloomberg’s house! How intense was that?Carmelo: You got invited to mayor -- I mean, yeah! So intense!Jeremy: Anyways, I’m just trying to stay focused on winning, despite how Linsane everything’s been.Carmelo: Things have definitely been Linsane around here. But Melo’s back now, so things can go back to being Carmelawesome.Jeremy: I’ve never heard that one before, Carmelo. Did you just invent that yourself?Carmelo: No, I didn’t just invent that, it existed before. You just never heard about it, I guess. With all due respect, Jeremy, this is my team. In case you forgot, I’m a five-time all star, a gold medal winner, and I’m married to the La La Vasquez, of La La’s Full Court Wedding fame.Jeremy: With all due respect, Carmelo, the Knicks were losing with you in the lineup, and have been Linning ever since I took the reins. I don’t see why we can’t coexist.Carmelo: ...co...exist?Jeremy: Yeah! Let our strengths complement one another. I’m a passer, and you’re a scorer. So if you get open, I can pass you the ball and you can shoot it. You know, like in a basketball game.Carmelo: I don’t have to pass back?Jeremy: Not if you have an open shot!Carmelo: So I can still be a star?Jeremy: We can both be stars.Carmelo: What about Amare?Jeremy: He can be our Chris Bosh.Carmelo: Can I come to Mayor Bloomberg’s house with you sometime?Jeremy: Of course you can, Carmelo. Of course you can.Carmelo: Hey, Jeremy -- call me ‘Melo.

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There’s a new wave of fear sweeping the nation, and it has nothing to do with a Greek bailout or a Middle East conflict. It’s called nomophobia, the fear of losing or being without your mobile device. Research from SecurEnvoy, which specializes in digital passwords, has uncovered that 66% of cell-phone owners are nomophobic. They live in fear of not knowing what might happen should they misplace their smartphone. To an extent, it’s not that big of a surprise. Nowadays, we are attached to our phones while walking, while in the elevator and even in the bathroom, and losing it would be like losing a good friend you spend most of your time with. The numbers show that women are a little more wary of misplacing their phones (70%) than men (61%), and that’s probably because of the naked pictures and sexting they’ve done. Meanwhile, men are more likely to have two or more mobile devices (47%) than women (36%), and that’s either because we just love technology or are cheating and don’t want to get caught. When first measured a few years ago, nomophobia sat at 53%, so it’s clearly on the rise. Are you nomophobic?

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The Watch Snob is in. What Is The Ultimate Hipster Watch? I live in L.A. and often find myself at evening events where the dress is upscale but casual (as in jeans, leather jackets and the like, but mostly of the Barney's persuasion). I feel like I have a decent collection of watches for daytime/business and more formal evening events, but just tonight, while I was at a more rock 'n' roll kind of event, I found myself wondering what a good watch would be for these environments? Neither my Rolex GMT nor my Patek Calatrava really seemed to fit. Any thoughts on a fine watch that can be worn at downscale -- dare I say, even "hipster"-- evening events, but where most people in the room are wealthy and wearing expensive yet informal clothing?First of all, let me unequivocally state that I am not a fashion consultant. Questions like yours ring as hollow as if you were asking me for the appropriate pattern pocket square to accompany your argyle socks. Ask me about the inherent merits of a fine timepiece, but please not as some sort of accessory to match your rock ‘n’ roll wardrobe. Still, your question amused me and I cannot resist a reply. Your so-called “downscale” events seem so utterly contrived that I envision a gathering of trust-fund hipsters arriving on fixed gear bikes with 35-mm film cameras slung over their shoulders. Let me guess, most of your friends are wearing vintage Hamilton army watches on canvas straps, and your Patek and Rolex just feel too bourgeois. It would seem to me that in this stylistic race to the bottom, the perfect timepiece would be a 1970s Casio calculator watch, preferably on a steel band. Be sure to wear it intentionally loose so it hangs off your wrist as you clutch your Pabst Blue Ribbon, lest anyone think you care enough to have it sized properly. I haven’t checked, but I’ll bet Barney’s sells special editions of these watches, marked up accordingly for you and your friends. What Is The Best Watch To Invest In? I'm looking to purchase a rose gold watch in the range of $60K to $80K. My preferred brands are FP Journe, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. My main criteria are an attractive, uncluttered appearance, a watch that I'll want to keep and then hand down, a watch that will largely hold (and possibly increase) in value, a watch that will suit me well for the next 15 to 20 years.Congratulations on being the exception in a week of otherwise inane questions. I also commend you for your taste in timepieces. All three brands are worthy of consideration in their own right. While all three will have watches that meet most of your criteria, Patek is the only one I can say with some certainty will hold (or increase) its value. But I am not a proponent of the timepieces-as-investments school of thought. Your other criteria are more important, and if you intend to hand this watch down, return on investment will be measured in other, more important, ways.Regardless, I think I have the perfect watch for you: the Patek Philippe 5146 Annual Calendar. Despite the presence of a moonphase, power reserve, date window, and day and month subdials, it remains remarkably uncluttered. The watch falls squarely in your price range, and you’ll surely want to hand it down to your offspring, assuming he is worthy. Question From A Watch Knob I just graduated from college and my parents gave me a Rolex watch for a present. I’m not a watch kind of guy, but I don’t have the heart to tell them that. So now I just wear the watch when I dress up or when I know I’m going to see my parents. But it keeps stopping when I don’t wear it, and I can’t be bothered to set the time, so I don’t. Is it wrong to wear it like that? I just check my phone for the time anyways.Every once in a while I see a question like this, and it makes me want to pull the plug and drive straight to Glashütte or the Vallée de Joux for a week of purification. The only hope I have is that your parents are more intelligent than you and didn’t waste their money on a real Rolex.

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It’s been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This article will give you some guidelines as to what constitutes a good breakfast for optimal leanness.At Charles Poliquin’s five-day Hypertrophy Camp, a student asked him for his single best dietary tip for optimal leanness, energy and sustained mental focus, and he shared a staple from his diet: the meat-and-nuts breakfast. The Meat And Nuts Breakfast Prior to learning this from Coach Poliquin, my contest coach, IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Ben Pakulski, introduced me to the rotating meat and nuts breakfast in prep for the 2011 WBFF World Championships, and I can testify to increased metal focus, less cravings, more focused energy, and my hardest and leanest physique to date -- a low 4% body fat.Why is the rotation of meat and nuts so effective? Fewer Cravings Throughout The Day The high-protein meat allows for a gradual rise in blood sugar and results in decreased cravings throughout the entire day. For more on why, read the article “The Effects of Consuming Frequent, Higher Protein Meals on Appetite and Satiety During Weight Loss in Overweight/Obese Men” in the journal Obesity, published in April 2011. This study followed subjects throughout the course of the day after they consumed either a high-protein diet or a normal-protein diet. They were required to report on their feelings of hunger, desire to eat and thoughts of food.  The researchers were able to prove that the consumption of higher-protein meals leads to a greater feeling of satiety, less preoccupation with thoughts of food, and a decrease in late-night eating. RELATED VIDEO: What's Better: Unhealthy Breakfast Or No Breakfast At All?   Blood-Sugar Regulation The nuts provide a great dose of healthy fats that allow blood sugar to remain stable for a longer period of time. You can read about the study, first published online in June 2011 in the journal Diabetes Care, which investigated the value of consuming 2 ½ ounces of nuts, rather than a muffin of calorically equal value. The study was lead by Dr. David Jenkins, one of the pioneers of the glycemic index. The study was conducted on Type 2 diabetics, and the subjects were divided into three groups. The fist group added 75 grams of nuts to their daily diet, the second group added a protein-fortified whole-wheat muffin and the third group added a half-serving of nuts and half a muffin. After three months, the group consuming all nuts reported drastic improvements in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, compared to the other two groups. More than that, the important blood sugar marker, HbA1c, showed statistically significant improvement in the all-nut group.  Rotate Your Protein Sources This food combination reduces food sensitivities that are known to increase cortisol in people. It’s very common for individuals to have allergies to beef, eggs, whey, casein, tuna, and oatmeal -- the typical bodybuilding staples. Most trainees do not have enough variety in their meat sources. Although beef is a great source of protein, you can become allergic to it if you consume it every day.One of my coaches, Charles Poliquin, suggests fixing this problem by substituting other meats and not eating the same protein source two days in a row. Oftentimes, after two to six weeks, the allergy to a given protein is gone, and the protein can be reintroduced to the diet.  Allergy testing is useful for almost everyone, since people are often unaware of how certain foods are affecting them. If you’re unable to get tested for allergies, varying your protein sources is your single best solution and will also result in increased energy levels and decreased sleep requirements. It should be noted that wild meat is better than domestic meat, because wild meats always offer better protein content than domestic meats. The famous American burger supplies 7.8 grams of protein per 100-calorie serving, while a serving of buffalo meat will give you 19.9 grams of the calorically equivalent serving.

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You've probably been the recipient of a fair amount of unsolicited advice over the years. But some of it must have stuck. After sifting through all the garbage, what actually helped you out in any way, made you see some clarity or influenced how you live your life? We turned to two Reddit threads -- What is the best piece of advice you know? and What is the best advice you've ever been given? -- to see what we could glean. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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AskMen UK put together this list of the greatest designers of our time.Designers literally shape how we see the world. Other than hermits living in caves in the Gobi desert, everyone encounters their designs, whether at work, at home, or just walking about. The vast majority of those designers will always remain unknown, their products long outlasting them. But for an elite bunch, their designs are so iconic, so famous and so beautiful that they themselves become well-known, shuffling out from behind their easels and MacBooks to show their faces to an awed public.Whether they sprinkle their magic dust over electrical equipment, buildings, homeware, watches, jewellerey, clothes or even a combination of those, they are the design powerbrokers, the people who do more than anyone else to influence how our lives look and what we aspire to. Here are ten of the best. 'The Idea' and the essence behind LINDE WERDELIN's watches and instruments explained by the two founders, Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. Craftsmanship, design, innovation, and quality are at the core of every LW timepiece and instrument.   With thanks to video producers Ichikoo Films.

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It’s Mardi Gras, but the party ends before it even begins. You get two black eyes after chanting “show your tits” at a group of girls on St. Charles Avenue. (Little did you know that one of them was the debutante daughter of a prominent attorney.)A few hours later, you find yourself passed out in a pool of vomit in Jackson Square after drowning your sorrows in Hand Grenades on Bourbon Street. And before you can finish relieving yourself on Andrew Jackson’s statue, you’re whisked away in handcuffs by the NOPD.It’s a sad tale of Mardi Gras revelry gone horribly awry, and, unfortunately, rookie mistakes like these happen every year.It doesn’t have to be this way. There’s plenty of fun to be had during the carnival season, and it helps to have some insider knowledge before you hit the streets. Here is AM's guide to finding the best places to party, how to stay out of trouble, and how to have the time of your life while doing it. Do: Arrive early Mardi Gras falls on February 21st this year, but it’s so much more than just a single day, with the big parades starting the preceding Thursday. For locals, the weekend before Fat Tuesday is a nonstop party, making the big day itself feel almost anticlimactic. If you just showed up, well, there's always next year. Don’t: Pee in the street This is a one-way ticket to Central Lockup. The cops will put up with a lot of boundary pushing -- underage drinking, lewd behavior, public drunkenness -- but public urination is where they draw the line. Do yourself a favor and stake out a bathroom for each parade. There are some port-o-potties along the route, but they can be hard to come by. (And by the end of the night, they can be downright disgusting.) Schools and churches along the route are a good bet and allow bathroom access for a small fee. Most of the bars and restaurants will let you use their facilities, although some only allow access every time you buy a beer, which can turn into a vicious cycle. Do: Plan around the must-see parades You haven't experienced Mardi Gras unless you've been to a couple of parades. Here’s a rundown of the best parades, or "krewes," that roll in the lead-up to Fat Tuesday:Thursday: Krewe of Muses -- an outrageous all-female krewe known for throwing glittery shoes.Friday: Krewe d’Etat -- political satire on parade.Saturday: Krewe of Endymion -- elaborate floats with lots of local attitude.Sunday: Krewe of Bacchus -- one of the “super krewes,” known for its opulent fiber-optic floats and celebrity grand marshals.Monday: Krewe of Orpheus -- music-themed parade founded by New Orleanian Harry Connick Jr. Don’t: Yell "show your tits" anywhere but on Bourbon Street The Uptown and Mid-City parade routes, especially mansion-lined St. Charles Avenue, are filled with families, and the locals don’t tolerate that kind of behavior -- even if all ages of people appear to be getting wasted. Wanton exhibitionism is mostly limited to the balconies on Bourbon. And should any ladies choose to fulfill your request, return the favor with a respectable pair of beads. Do: Venture outside of the French Quarter Of course you’re going to want to spend at least a few hours at Ground Zero. But Mardi Gras is a citywide party and should be enjoyed accordingly. St. Charles Avenue in Uptown New Orleans is where most of the parades roll, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with this area. Canal Street in Mid-City is where you can catch Endymion, not to mention some great restaurants like Mandina's and Ye Old College Inn. The Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods, just outside the Quarter, are known for their eclectic bars and free-spiritedness. This is your best bet for avoiding tourist traps. One word of caution: Crime is an unfortunate reality in New Orleans, so use street smarts. Stick to the parade routes and major thoroughfares, and check with a local before mapping out where you plan to walk.As for video cameras? That’s just bad karma, especially if you have a teenage daughter in your future.Read on for more Mardi Gras dos and don'ts after the jump...

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They say that hindsight is 20/20. In Nintendo’s case, it’s nine million over “screw the haters.” Today, Nintendo announced that it has sold five million units of its 3DS handheld in Japan, which makes it the fastest-selling console in Japanese history. Last month, it announced that it had sold four million 3DS units in the U.S. of Apparently Likes The 3DS Too.The 3DS had a dismal start in March 2011, and many predicted it would flop, especially given the increasing popularity of the iPhone as a casual portable gaming device. Sure, the 3DS’ August price cut (from 25,000 yen to 15,000 yen in Japan, and from $250 to $170 in the U.S.) probably had a lot to do with it shaking the critics, but no one saw this type of success coming.But that doesn’t make the glasses-less 3D handheld future-proof. The PS Vita just launched at the same price tag that the 3DS did just under a year ago, and it packs a bajillion times more hardware and a much better roster of launch games. It will be interesting to see if the different price points will see the Vita appeal to a more hardcore audience. After the ridonculous success of the Wii and now this, Nintendo obviously knows its intended market inside out. 

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Growing up, who didn’t want a teacher as sexy as Cameron Diaz guiding them through seventh grade? While many young guys love the thought of a teacher-student fantasy, a new study suggests that having a female teacher is not so hot after all. We’ve already discovered that schools aren’t built for boys, and now research from the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics finds that female teachers grade male students more strictly than they do female students. They tend to give boys worse marks than they deserve and are harder on them. The study took 1,200 British students aged 12 and 13 and asked them to place bets on how they’d do in an exam. The girls placed bigger bets when they knew that a male teacher was grading them, but they scored lower in that scenario. Meanwhile, the boys bet lower amounts when they knew a female was grading them, but they also scored lower when marked by the opposite sex. Overall, both types of teachers were more lenient with grading their own sexes. And you thought sexism only existed in the workplace.

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Click here to check out John Romaniello's fitness website.Over the last two installments of this series, I have shared some basic and intermediate training protocols with you. In the first part, we discussed high- and low-rep training. Both are good protocols that work well in traditional split routines. In part two, we discussed full-body workouts in general, and, more specifically, touched on two of the best: High-intensity training (HIT) and hypertrophy specific training (HST).Today, I am giving you two of the big boys. These are two relatively new but highly effective programming methods, each written by a top-tier strength coach. The systems you’re going to read about here fly in the face of traditional models. Escalating Density Training EDT is a training protocol developed by Charles Staley sometime around 2002. Since then, it’s taken off tremendously. As the name implies, EDT factors in training density -- the amount of work you do in a given time frame. Staley looked at training and muscle growth in a whole new way, at least relative to how much a person works out. While we generally look at mainly load (weight) and volume (sets x reps), Staley looked at density -- that is, the total amount of work completed within a specific time frame. In each successive workout, you aim to achieve more work in that same time period. Escalating density, get it? This was progressive overload in a whole new way. Here’s a bit of insight into how EDT is performed. The EDT Procedure Each workout consists of two 20-minute time frames separated by a short (5-10 minute) rest period. In each time frame, you’ll perform two exercises, for a total of four exercises per workout.In each time frame, the two exercises are performed in alternating fashion, back and forth, until the time frame has elapsed.After warming up the first two exercises, select a load that approximates a 10-12 RM for each exercise. Ideally, the weight used for each exercise should be equally difficult.When it comes to determining sets, reps and rest intervals, most people will find it most effective to do higher repetition (but not maximal effort) sets and shorter rests at the beginning, and then gradually progress to fewer reps per set and longer rests as fatigue accumulates. You might begin by performing sets of 6 with very short (15-30 second) rests. As you begin to fatigue, you’ll increase your rest intervals as you drop down to sets of 4, then 2, and as the 20-minute time limit approaches, you might crank out a few singles in an effort to accomplish as many repetitions as possible in 20 minutes.Pro tip: Do not perform early sets to failure, or even near failure. My recommended starting point is to do half of what you think is possible (like 5 reps with a 10 RM weight) at the beginning of the time frame. As the time limit approaches, however, you’ll find yourself working at or near failure as you attempt to break your rep record.Progression: Each time you repeat the workout, your objective is to perform more total repetitions in the same time frame. Apply the 20/5 rule: As soon as you can increase the total number of reps by 20% or more, start the next workout with 5% more weight and start over.And that’s essentially it. No preordained numbers of sets, reps or rest periods. It’s entirely up to you. Your job is only to complete the 20-minute work period and then improve on it the next time around.While I am not sure I'd go so far as to say Staley completely revolutionized training, I can say with certainty that he gave us a revolutionary training method. EDT was different than anything else when it first emerged, and I've used it myself and with a lot of my clients for rapid muscle growth. The workouts are quick, easily quantifiable in terms of progress and have something that I always try to incorporate into my programs: a built-in, intuitive method of progression.For advanced trainees, and anyone trying to put on some mass, I love EDT as an option.

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It’s been five years since Yvonne Strahovski first appeared as the sexy spy Sarah Walker on NBC’s cult favorite Chuck, and after its bittersweet finale earlier this year, the sparkling Aussie export is ready to move on. She'll appear in next fall’s highly anticipated Seth Rogen comedy My Mother’s Curse, but first we get to see a new side of her in a racy SoBe ad campaign in the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition that features the self-described tomboy covered in nothing more than a bucket’s worth of paint. Here, she discusses moving on from Chuck, what it’s like having a complete stranger use your body as a canvas, and why men should never, ever shave their chest hair. Congratulations on Chuck. Are you sad that it’s over, or excited to move on?The end was very bittersweet, but I think we’re all excited to move on. There were a lot of tears on the last day of shooting, and I think I was the most pathetic one, although Zach [Levi] was in close contention with me. But it is exciting to move on. It finished at the right time. I think five years is a great run, especially in this day and age when you see so many shows go up and survive less than six episodes. Given that we were always on the bubble, it’s a great victory shared amongst the cast, crew and fans -- especially the fans, because they were the ones that got us there. Talk to me about My Mother’s Curse, your upcoming comedy with Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand. It was really exciting! I auditioned for that and got it, and it was great working with Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen. I feel lucky that I got to work with some of the big legends in town. What was it like working with Seth Rogen?His laugh is the greatest thing ever. It’s so unique! He was very chill, and the dynamic between Barbra and Seth was great. I’m excited to see what they’re like on-screen. It’s a very cool combo.Why do you think so many Australians have found success in Hollywood?I think most of us come from a training background, so we studied it, and we have a real sense of the art of it, and most of us are trained to do an American accent, which is something you definitely need. I think, especially for males, they tend to be quite rugged and scruffy, and I think the industry here likes that kind of energy for their leading men.Let’s talk about the photoshoot you did with SoBe that appears in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.SoBe approached us, and I was immediately interested because I’m a fan of their zero-calorie drinks, and I knew about Ashley Greene’s campaign, and I loved those photographs. I had never done anything like this before, so it was the body painting aspect that got me interested in the first place.  RELATED VIDEO: 3 Things You Didn't Know About Yvonne Strahovski Was it awkward having a complete stranger paint your naked body?It was a little. I woke up at midnight; that was my call time. And I had a body paint artist, Rodrigo from Costa Rica, who was kind enough to bring his mother along to try and make me feel more comfortable about the fact that I had a straight male body paint artist, and she didn’t speak any English, so that was pretty funny. You sort of get used to it after that many hours. You sort of think, "Who cares?" and it looks so real you feel covered anyway. I really love the ways the photos turned out.How did your parents react?They were really cool, actually! They thought it was a great idea, and they really loved the photos.Yvonne Strahovski tells us what she looks for in guys, next...

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This article was originally published on Business Insider.You don't have to be a genius to come up with the best ideas that get startups off the ground and drive companies like Google and Apple. In fact, anyone can learn how to generate more big ideas. In the book The Idea Hunter: How To Find The Best Ideas And Make Them Happen, Boston College Carroll School of Management dean Andy Boynton and Bill Fischer, professor at Switzerland's IMD business school, examine the world's most successful thinkers and companies. They found that "habits and behaviors are more important than sheer brain power -- that it's not the brightest who perform the best, but it's people who have figured out how to really prosper in an idea-rich society," Fischer said in an interview with Inc.   We've highlighted some of the best takeaways from the book. WATCH: How To Be Creative At Work

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She’s hot. She’s cute. And she just so happens to be of another race. These days, dating someone outside of your own culture is hardly taboo, particularly if you live in a major city. But potential family issues aside, interracial dating can provide its own set of minefields, particularly when it comes to the pickup. Don’t use her race as a pickup line As a minority, I’ve encountered my fair share of men who think the easiest way into my pants is to use my ethnicity as a pickup line. The numerous times men have resorted to racial stereotypes to pick me up are endless. The problem is while these men may have good intentions, their execution is poor. They forget to take into account that women of other races are people too -- people who don’t necessarily walk around thinking about their ethnicity or nationality all day. If you’re white, do you think about your ethnicity on a regular basis? Do you think about how Italian or Irish or French you are? Chances are no, because there’s more to your life than just your ethnic makeup. Don’t assume you know what her race is As an added twist, no one really seems to know what I am. Guys try to discern what my ethnic makeup is, and my friends even take bets on what he’s going to guess. Usually it’s some form of Latina, often Mexican or Puerto Rican, but sometimes men branch out to Columbian or Chilean.Alas, I’m none of the above. I’m Indian.But that doesn’t stop white men from walking up to me in bars and saying “Hola!” or “Como esta?” Failing to relate to me as a person, they immediately use race as a cheap tactic to start up a conversation. One man even went so far as to say I’m sassy because of all that Latin blood running through me. I am sassy, but being Latina has nothing to do with it.Famed sex blogger and Chinese-American Lena Chen relates. “I wasn't even out of high school when men started telling me ‘Konichiwa, beautiful’ on the street.” Some men have even used more primitive methods such as “Hey, Korea!” or “You Thai?” Don’t act as though she’s not American, Canadian, Australian... Not all of these men are uneducated, dumb or otherwise ignorant. Everyone from lawyers, businessmen, police officers, and artists have asked me where I'm from, seemingly perplexed when I respond “New Jersey,” as if that couldn’t possibly be the right answer. “No, where are you really from?” they ask again. When I once told a man I was Indian, he responded by saying, “You’re not all Ganesh and stuff.”He was right. Funnily enough, I didn’t have eight arms or walk around in a sari. I was raised in New Jersey. I pepper my sentences with “like” and “omigod.” I have a predilection for classic rock, going to the shore and dive bars. My life is not a Bollywood movie. In fact, I don’t even watch Bollywood movies. I am more likely to be found joining every other red-blooded American singing “Don’t Stop Believing” at a bar than dancing to Bhangra music. For all intents and purposes, I am as American as anyone else. Yes, I am of Indian heritage and proud of it, but that’s hardly all there is to me. It’s one facet of my being.Chen agrees. “If you heard my voice without knowing what I looked like, you'd probably assume that I was a white, teenage valley girl. My idea of fashion is a leather jacket over skinny jeans, not a kimono or Sailor Moon outfit.”

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We've already talked about getting rid of bad company, and the need to repair toxic friendships or get out of them. The flip side of that is also true: Surrounding yourself with good friends is a great way to become a Better Man. Having positive people in your life can help you in many ways, and it's important to understand how these friendships work. Don't misunderstand -- we're not suggesting that you “use” your friends as a means to an end or for the way they benefit you. However, a good friendship can be like an alliance, with both parties getting support and resources to be their best, along with the good feelings and good times. Read on as we explain the power of good friends. Goal achievement We've talked in the past about toxic friends who may want you to spend time with them instead of working on things that matter to you. One reason, which few people will admit to, is that people often get jealous when those close to them achieve great success. Toxic friends don't want to get left behind, so they try to hold you back with them. A good friend can do the opposite, and together you can each achieve success in things that matter to you. Focus on friends who are able to be genuinely happy for you, and share their joy when things go right for them. Healthy competition We said in the toxic friends article that people are generally the average of their friends in interests, happiness and even income. That doesn't mean you're stuck in place, just that you should surround yourself with good friends who better themselves. As we get better, some of our friends can try to hold us back, but positive friends can actually cheer you on. Use your friends’ successes as motivation; help them achieve their goals and hit their milestones to motivate you. And when they hit a big success, and you feel that little flash of jealousy, use it. Be jealous of what they have, and use that energy in a positive way to go out and get yours. Look at the good things they have and promise yourself you'll achieve the same -- it's only a negative emotion if you don't take any action, and instead sit and seethe. Accountability If you've ever struggled to keep a commitment to yourself, accountability can help. Making your commitment known to other people gives you more incentive to stay true to your goals. People use accountability to stay on track all the time. From joining a weight-loss program to attending AA meetings, having other people aware of your goal makes it harder for you to blow off your promise. You can use a good friend as a one-man support group. Share your goal with your friend, and ask him to help you keep on track. If you've ever had a friend you work out with, you know how much this helps. If he doesn't have the same goal you do, you can still share. This could be as simple as getting together once a week for a coffee, and telling him about your progress. Having somebody you respect and who cares about helping you stay on track will keep you focused and encouraged when times get tough. And don't forget to reciprocate -- your friend likely has a goal he'd appreciate your help with too. Discover new things If you have friends who are curious about the world, you'll have the chance to benefit from their expertise. New music, great books and cool restaurants are great referrals you can expect from friends, and if your friends have good taste, this is basically a steady flow of cool new things into your life. And as great as things to consume are, good friends can also give you much more meaningful gifts, like experiences and values. The opportunity to try something new can be the key to getting you out of a rut and giving you anything from a great story to a new hobby. When friends invite you to something outside your comfort zone, jump at the chance. And learn about your friends' values. If you surround yourself with people of integrity, learning about the standards they hold themselves to can make you a Better Man. Learn what your good friends hold important  -- from styles of cuisine to the way they treat others, it's all stuff you can use. iron sharpens iron A good group of friends is one of the most important things a man can have. Countless studies on happiness have shown that meaningful relationships with others are vital to our well-being. And while it's fine to have a wide group of friends you enjoy being around, it's also important to have a core group of people you relate to on a deeper level. Your positive friends can open your eyes to the world around you, help you on your path and challenge you to live your best life. And you can enrich their life in the same way, so your friendship gives both of you more out of life. So start forging mutually beneficial relationships with your good friends today.

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