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TJ Carter

TJ Carter

Former Digital Trends Contributor

TJ Carter wears many hats, both figuratively and literally. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2011 with a degree in English and a Creative Writing minor. TJ has written and edited thousands of blog articles for businesses of all sizes, and has dabbled in podcasting, poetry, fiction, cartooning, and news satire. TJ is a native to the Portland area and it shows
— he loves biking, drinking craft beer, and growing facial hair.

Lobster on a plate

How to cook lobster the right way — boiling, grilling, and roasting

You don't have to go out to a fancy restaurant and shell out for lobster. With a little know-how, anyone can learn to make lobster at home.
tartan plaid kilt

Raise a Glass of Scotch to the Scots on National Tartan Day

April 6 is National Tartan Day in the United States, a holiday meant to honor the considerable contributions of Scots and Scottish-Americans to our society.
single on valentines day confident man

The Gentleman’s Guide to Being Single on Valentine’s Day

Are you going to be single on Valentine's Day? Big deal. Pour yourself a dram and check out this guide. We've got everything you need to feel like a god all on your own.
dirty jeans, how to wash jeans

How to Wash Jeans: A Beginner’s Guide

Sometimes that pair of raggedy old jeans just needs a good washing. Learn how to wash jeans the right way with this handy how-to guide.
grilled cheese

The Quest for the Perfect Grilled Cheese on National Grilled Cheese Day

On April 12, the nation will observe National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Learning how to make grilled cheese is a great way to honor this holiday.
how long should a tie be

How Long Should a Tie Be? (and Other Tie Rules)

The high pants, high tie look may have worked for Jimmy Stewart, but you don’t really see it much anymore. So how long should a tie be, exactly?
stocking a home bar

How to Set Up an Intoxicating Home Bar

Need help stocking a home bar? This guide can help you achieve an intoxicating home bar without breaking the bank.
what to order at a bar

What to Order at a Bar this Summer: a Beer and a Shot

Let Jim Palumbo, bartender at NYC’s Up & Up bar, and The Manual help you answer that burning question: what to order at a bar?
indoor grilling

Urban BBQ: Embrace Indoor Grilling With Kenyon’s City Grill

For help putting together an indoor grilling guide, we reached out to Mike Williams, Grill Specialist for Kenyon and purveyor of the almighty City Grill.
Dog Makeover

Homeless dog makeovers is a thing and we love it

Wahl and the Greater Good Foundation are teaming up to supply pet shelters with thousands of bottles of shampoo and all kinds of grooming supplies.
help clean up the planet while getting filthy drunk feature2

Help Clean Up the Planet While Getting Filthy Drunk

United By Blue and Klean Kanteen have recently teamed up to create a new line of pint cups and other high-quality stainless steel products.
find your aloha spirit with olukai footwear dudes

Find Your Aloha Spirit with OluKai Footwear

If you’re going to own a pair of flip-flops, we think you might as well get a pair that’s a cut above average. OluKai holds themselves to a higher standard.
take clean water with you on your next adventure

Waves for Water: Quenching the Thirst for Adventure

Waves for Water encourages surfers traveling to developing nations to pack water filters in their luggage, then distribute said water filters among people who really need it.
shred it up this arbor day with the collective casey morrow shakedown dustin damron1

Shred the Gnar This Arbor Day with The Arbor Collective

earth day round up treat yourself and the planet feature

Treat Yourself and the Planet With These Eco-Friendly Products

everlanes radical transparency is a boon to the garment industry feature

Everlane’s “Radical Transparency” Shines a Light on the Garment Industry

Everlane, an online clothing retailer, makes clothes shopping much less of a pain -- and not just in terms of price.
non-iron dress shirt

Twillory Releases New Dress Shirts for the Non-Iron Man

Twillory just released "SafeCotton," a revolutionary new type of chemical treatment for non-iron dress shirts. SafeCotton doesn’t have any of the harmful effects of formaldehyde.
feel good friday rebel nell cufflinkstap20

Feel Good Friday: Rebel Nell

Rebel Nell, a Detroit-based jewelry company, works directly with homeless shelters to help poverty-stricken women overcome barriers to employment.
feel good friday sunglasses made of discarded fishnets bureosunglasses

Feel Good Friday: Sunglasses Made of Discarded Fishnets?

In collaboration with the Chilean eyewear company Karün, Bureo has released The Ocean Collection: three handsome frames made from derelict fishnets.
warriors and quiet waters

Feel Good Friday: Warriors & Quiet Waters

Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation helps injured soldiers reintegrate into society through fly fishing the calm waters of Southwestern Montana.
feel good friday uniforms for the dedicated feature

Feel Good Friday: Uniforms for the Dedicated

Uniforms for the Dedicated, a Swedish menswear brand dedicated to sustainable innovations, makes clothes that inspire all sorts of good feelings.
helpfulpeeps logo

Feel Good Friday: Helpfulpeeps and the Karma Economy

Helpfulpeeps, a new social networking site, seeks to establish a “karma economy,” through which people can connect through good deeds rather than money.
duckworth

Feel Good Friday: Duckworth Wool

designer football

Feel Good Friday: Designer Footballs for Charity

style for soldiers

Feel Good Friday: Style for Soldiers

Emma Wallis, already well known for her top-quality bespoke shirts, has been making dress shirts for veterans of the British Armed Forces since 2007.
feel good friday thx donates 100 of profits to nonprofits feature

Feel Good Friday: THX Donates 100% of Profits to Nonprofits

The THX Co. -- a Miami-based social enterprise -- gives 100% of its profits to non-profit organizations.
feel good friday frey laundry detergent for men featured

Feel Good Friday: FREY Laundry Detergent for Men

FREY is ideally suited to cleaning classy men’s garments without inflicting damage.
feel good friday the 30 year sweatshirt sweater

Feel Good Friday: The 30-Year Sweatshirt

Have you had enough of cheaply made garments? The 30-Year Sweatshirt is guaranteed to keep its owner warm and stylish for at least 30 years.
feel good friday aviv and the power of thoughts bottle

Feel Good Friday: AVIV and the Power of Good Thoughts

In addition to making a delicious vodka, which is always enjoyable at get-togethers, AVIV has pledged to donate 10% of their profits to charity.
introducing the huckberry manual shop bold goods for gentlemen lifestyle image

The Huckberry-Manual Shop: Bold Goods for Bold Gentlemen

Whether you're in the mood for some holiday shopping or are just looking to treat yourself, consider stopping by The Manual Shop
the pen is merrier gifts for writers and creative types

The Pen Is Merrier: Gifts for Writers and Creative Types

Though your broke-ass writer friend will probably just write you a poem for the holidays, you might consider getting one of the following items anyway.
feel good friday bono and revo have a vision 4

Feel Good Friday: Bono and Revo Have a Vision

The $10 million Buy Vision, Give Sight campaign has set its sights on providing eye care to 5 million children and adults by 2020
feel good friday gifts that give back feature

Feel Good Friday: Gifts that Give Back

Instead of throwing your money into some mega-corporation’s coffers, consider purchasing gifts from one of these brands -- all of which give back.
5 outstanding holiday pop up shops from around the country ups

5 Outstanding Holiday Pop-Up Shops from Around the Country

For help finding gifts, we thought we’d present five excellent pop-ups shops. Gentlemen, feel free to share with your friends and family.
head high wines

Feel Good Friday: Head High Wines and Sustainable Surf

Head High Wines is a winery located along California’s North Coast. They've partnered with Sustainable Surf, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the waves.
made in america

The Manual’s Made in America Gift Guide

If you’re looking to go above and beyond this holiday season, take a quick look at these fine products -- all of which are made in America.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Find New Roads: The 2016 Chevy Camaro’s Excellent Adventure

In celebration of the 2016 Camaro, Chevy has embarked on what will surely go down as one of the most epic American road trips of all time.
get your indoor grill on with the revolution giveaway rev

Get Your Indoor Grill On With the Revolution Grill Giveaway

Kenyon and The Manual are partnering for a Revolution Grill giveaway. How would you like to do a little indoor grilling this holiday season?
feel good friday beyond type 1 and national diabetes month

Feel Good Friday: Beyond Type 1 and National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month, which makes now the perfect time to learn about the disease and the 371 million people affected by it worldwide.
tecovas western boots stylish handmade and affordable to boot zoom

Tecovas Western Boots: Stylish, Handmade, and Affordable to Boot

If you’re curious about how well you fill a pair of cowboy boots, then allow us to recommend a classic western pair from Tecovas.
nike auctions air jordans to benefit childrens health doernbecher ajs two pair bonus

Nike Auctions Air Jordans to Benefit Children’s Health

Nike will auction 12 Nike Air Jordan XIIs on eBay. 100% of the proceeds will go to child health care at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
the manuals best fall bags 2015 shutterstock 221612230

The Manual’s Best Fall Bags 2015

Whether you’re an outdoorsy type or a desk jockey, a daytripper or a world traveler, at least one of these bags should hold your attention (and your stuff).
feel good friday vodka for dog people tito and pups

Feel Good Friday: Vodka for Dog People

Tito’s is spreading awareness of Emancipet’s mission so they may increase the number of low-cost vet clinics in Texas and beyond.
best shirt jackets fall jacket header

Fall Style: Discount Shirt Jackets to Help You Stay Warm Yet Cool

To help you find some of the best shirt jackets out there, we thought we’d share several on-sale items from Huckberry’s Fall Shirt Shop.
holy catch phrase batman the original batmobile is for sale

Holy Catch Phrase, Batman! The Original Batmobile Is for Sale

Batmobile #1 is available for sale right now from Barrett-Jackson, the world’s leading collector car auction company.
Barefoot4Them

Feel Good Friday: Thousands Go Barefoot for the Shoeless

In an effort to raise awareness of shoelessness, Soles4Souls has organized the #Barefoot4Them campaign.
bucketfeet will rock your socks off and back on again

BucketFeet Will Rock Your Socks Off (And Back On Again)

More than 20,000 artists from 100+ countries have submitted unique designs that have ended up on BucketFeet shoes, and now, socks.
feel good friday looptworks and langlitz leathers waste not want bag

Feel Good Friday: Looptworks and Langlitz Leathers Waste Not, Want Not

Looptworks doesn’t harvest its materials from the Earth or from beasts of the field; rather, they get their materials from the scrap piles of classy brands.
venture deep into fall with fjallraven outdoor pants pacific north west  chris burkard 2014

Venture Deep into Fall with Fjällräven Outdoor Pants

Whether you’re a hiker, a backpacker, a mountain climber, or a city slicker posing as an outdoorsman, you’ll love these hardy outdoor pants from Fjällräven.
presenting luminoodle a brilliant versatile lighting solution camp hero

Presenting Luminoodle: A Brilliant, Versatile Lighting Solution

No, Luminoodle is not a cyborg relative of the labradoodle; rather, it’s a super-bright, 5-foot length of LED lights with a wide range of uses.