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Author: Carlos Greaves
IWC Gets Dark With Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Black Dial
IWC’s U.S. Navy-approved Pilot’s Watch Chronograph family is getting a new standard reference with a striking black dial.
Many of IWC’s Pilot’s Watches are trusted by aviators, but a special edition of the chronograph variant tied to 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick has been heralded by Captain Jim “Guido” DiMatteo, a former TOPGUN Commander who spent nearly 30 years flying fighter jets for the U.S. Navy.
“Robust and durable, it easily handles everything from being smacked against the inside of the cockpit during a dogfight to dramatic pressure changes, sustained G-forces, and even the intense accelerations and decelerations of catapult launches and arrested landings on aircraft carriers,” DiMatteo said in Rizzoli’s Air Time: Watches Inspired by Aviation, Aeronautics and Pilots, previously spotlighted in Maxim.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 shares almost identical DNA, including an IWC-manufactured, 231-part mechanical movement, which is visible through the sapphire glass case back and offers 46 hours of power reserve.
The 41mm dial is designed in the style of aviation instruments, with easy-to-read indicators like the stopped minutes at 12 o’clock, the minutes at 9 o’clock, the day/date aperture at 3 o’clock and small seconds display at 6 o’clock.
Available with either a black calfskin strap or a dressier five-link stainless steel bracelet, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 black dial is available to purchase from $7,600.
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Author: Maxim Staff
This Rare Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster Could Fetch Over $4 Million
Even as the automobile industry is transitioning into a techier all-electric age, the throwback roofless roadster design continues to thrive in ultra-exclusive supercars like the Ferrari SP1/SP2, Aston Martin V12 Speedster, McLaren Elva.
This Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, a 2010 example of which is up for auction at RM Sotheby’s, helped forge the template for those modern topless exotics.
Originally unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, this is by far the most extreme version of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, developed by Mercedes and its then-F1 partner McLaren.
Mercedes fans will recognize the “Sport Light Racing” abbreviation from the legendary, 1955 Mille Miglia-winning 300 SLR Gullwing, a prototype of which recently set the record at $143 million for the world’s most expensive car.
In the performance-focused spirit the classic gullwinged car, the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss—named for the Mille Miglia-winning driver—was 441 pounds lighter than the standard SLR McLaren and void of all creature comforts, including the roof and windshield.
This extreme diet obviously maximized the effect of the monstrous 650-horsepower, supercharged 5.5-liter AMG V8.
The desired results were achieved—Car magazine likened the acceleration and 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph time to “standing on the wingtip of a 747.” As for reaching the truly mad 220-mph top speed, the publication warned that only those “whose neck muscles can bear it” should make an attempt.
This example, one of 75 produced, is presented in “as new” condition with under 100 miles on the odometer. The combo of a metallic silver paint coat over a black and red interior serves as a modern twist on the 300 SLR’s racing livery.
This 2010 Merceds-Benz SLR Stirling Moss expected to fetch between $3.26 million and $4.35 million by the time bidding closes on February 8. Click here to learn more.
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Author: Maxim Staff
The Benefits of Resisting Instant Gratification
How easily can you put off getting something you want? This process—delayed gratification—demonstrates the ability to resist the temptation of an immediate reward in favor of a more long-term one later. It’s a concept that was central to a Stanford University social science experiment involving marshmallows. The aptly named Stanford marshmallow experiment, conducted by psychologist Walter Mischel in the late 1960s, showed that our ability to delay instant gratification is perhaps one of the most significant skills we learn. Let’s look at the experiment, the unsettling trend toward instant gratification, and how you can become more self-disciplined in this area.
The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment
The now-famous experiment tested the ability of young children to delay gratification by presenting them with a marshmallow and giving them a choice to eat it immediately or wait a few minutes to receive a second marshmallow. As each of the 32 children tested sat alone in the observation room with the treat in front of them, some covered their eyes, and others sang. They tried anything to take their minds off the marshmallow. Still, about half of the children gave in, while the other half proved disciplined enough to wait.
Over the next three decades, Mischel and his team regularly checked in with the participants to gauge their lives. The research revealed that those who waited for the second marshmallow tended to have better life outcomes, including higher academic achievement, increased social skills, and a greater sense of well-being. Those who didn’t were more likely to struggle with addiction, impulse control, and unhealthy relationships.
The Rise of Instant Gratification Culture
Social scientists who’ve widely studied this experiment for more than 50 years believe delayed gratification is becoming increasingly rare in American society. They’ve found that children today are less able to delay gratification than in the 1990s. Several factors, including the rise of technology and social media, provide instant gratification at the touch of a button.
Does this mean we’re doomed to continue these trends? Not at all, but the path ahead won’t be easy. In chapter seven of The Everyday Warrior: A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life, we write, “the modern world has conditioned us with on-demand entertainment, same-day delivery, and credit cards that allow us to buy what we can’t afford. Each time we scroll, eat, play, or shop, we receive a single dose of happiness. These activities cause our brains to release dopamine, the chemical responsible for experiencing joy and pleasure.”
The Work Begins
Although we’re battling a powerful chemical reaction in our brains, an overwhelming amount of research shows that the ability to delay gratification is a skill we can develop. Reversing this trend on a macro level requires enough people to change their behavior. As with all mass movements, it must start somewhere. Why not with us?
Here are three steps to delaying gratification:
- Train: Just as you’d train your body at the gym to strengthen your muscles and stay healthy, train your mind to resist daily temptation. Start small and build to more significant challenges. Maybe you want that new pair of running shoes you see online, and they’re only one click away. Tell yourself that you’ll buy them when you have the extra money, then do something else until the urge passes. The more you do this, the easier it’ll become.
- Five-Minute Rule: When the siren song of instant gratification calls to you, stop what you’re doing and spend five minutes making progress toward your goal. Have the urge to scroll endlessly on social media? If your goal is to read more, put the phone down and pick up a book. Five minutes is such a short amount of time that there’s no excuse not to do it, and you’ll be making progress as you learn to delay gratification.
- Practice Gratitude: When you appreciate what you have, the urge to acquire more diminishes. Take stock of the great things in your life and understand that giving in can delay your goals. Wanting a new car is not a problem (we all want nice things), but if your long-term goal is buying a house, then there are better choices than spending thousands on a down payment at the car dealership. Cultivating the right mindset will reduce the urge for instant gratification.
Hope for Millions
Although it was initially an experiment to test the effectiveness of rewards in delaying gratification, Mischel’s study turned out to be far more consequential. It demonstrated that the skills and habits we develop early in life continue to profoundly impact us throughout adulthood. The later research suggests that it’s never too late for growth, demonstrating that everyone can make better decisions, achieve their goals, and even increase their well-being. It creates a sense of hope for the millions who would have eaten that first marshmallow had they been a child in that study.
This article is an installment of the Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior series, which features advice, key interviews, and tips for living a life of consistent impact, continuous growth, and continual learning.
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Author: Mike Sarraille and Jason Boulay
‘Laverne & Shirley’ actor Cindy Williams dies at 75
Cindy Williams, who played Shirley opposite Penny Marshall’s Laverne on the popular sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” has died, her family said Monday.
(Image credit: Charles Sykes/AP)
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Author: The Associated Press
Super Bowl LVII Preview: Top Players to Watch as the Chiefs Take On the Eagles
Every Super Bowl is a treat, but Super Bowl LVII—Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on FOX—is shaping up to be an especially great one. The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the sport (as well as some other treasures), and the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most well-rounded teams the NFL has seen in many years. Watching a recently injured Patrick Mahomes try to solve an Eagles defense that had four players reach 11 sacks or more will be fascinating. It’ll also be thrilling to watch the Chiefs defense deal with a Philly offense that has found all kinds of innovative ways to torch opponents.
This Super Bowl will be power against power. It will also be “Kelce against Kelce,” as Chiefs superstar tight end Travis and Eagles stud center Jason put their parents in an exciting but awkward situation—which team do they root for? Here are six players worth focusing on as you watch the Chiefs and Eagles on Super Bowl Sunday.
Super Bowl LVII Preview: 6 Top Players to Watch
PATRICK MAHOMES. INCREDIBLE ARM STRENGTH.
: #CINvsKC on CBS
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/fM5ertlhHi pic.twitter.com/4cr5lJiSDr— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2023
1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Quarterback
Mahomes needs no introduction, but it’d be silly to talk about individual players in Super Bowl LVII and not gush about him for a moment. In the modern NFL, it doesn’t get better than what Mahomes and the Chiefs have done together in his first five years as the starting quarterback. He has yet to miss an AFC Championship, and this marks the third of what will, in all likelihood, be a long list of Super Bowl appearances. (He’s 1–1 to date.)
The Chiefs have undergone more change on offense this year than in recent seasons, but Mahomes’ continued presence has been the main reason they’ve kept scoring… and scoring… and scoring. Mahomes is a magician, and his talent gives the Chiefs a chance even when things aren’t going smoothly. To that end, he keyed a win against the Bengals in the AFC title game just eight days after suffering a high ankle sprain. When Mahomes is on the field, he’s a terror.
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Author: Alex Kirshner
Matt Butler has played concerts in more than 50 prisons and jails
“Reckless Son” is a one-man show by singer/songwriter Matt Butler inspired by the convicts he’s met while touring American prisons and jails.
(Image credit: Liam Trouchard/Matt Butler)
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Author: Phil Harrell
After cancer diagnosis, a neurosurgeon sees life, death and his career in a new way
Dr. Henry Marsh felt comfortable in hospitals — until he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. “I was much less self-assured now that I was a patient myself,” he says. His book is And Finally.
(Image credit: Image Source/Getty Images)
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Author: Terry Gross
Dear Pepper: Avert Your Eyes
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Author: Liana Finck
‘Hot Dog’ wins Caldecott, Newbery is awarded to ‘Freewater’
Hot Dog, by Doug Salati, is about an overheated pup who finds his calm on a trip to the beach. Freewater, by Amina Luqman-Dawson, is about two enslaved children finding freedom.
(Image credit: Knopf Books for Young Readers)
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Author: Teresa Xie