The May '09 issue of Esquire is all about "being a man." It's enjoyably chauvinistic, as only Equire can be.

One of the articles is simply a list of 31 things every man should own. Oddly, at least half of these items I've never even considered owning, but found myself wanting them. Badly. So that I can be a man, too. I guess they are doing right by their sponsors.

This list is definitely of the "pay more for quality" variety. Many of the items on this list could be had for cheaper than the prices displayed in the article – but are the potential medical bills worth it? The big FAIL of the article is that they send you directly to manufacturers' Web sites. In many cases you probably can find the same quality at a discount retailer or outlet, whether brick & mortar or online, and even the same brand for less money.

Anyway, here are my thoughts about some of the items.

Have, Need, Want

Jumper cables and wool blanket for the car – Definitely must-haves. Even though you would never let your battery fail you, having a pair of jumper cables in your car allows you to be the modern knight with shining headlights for the pretty dame who can't start her daddy's car on a cold winter night. Cover her with the wool blanket to keep her warm while you show off your manly prowess and give her a jump.

Passport – Without one, you can't take any more spontaneous weekend trips to Canada, which are still fun from time to time even if you're over 19. Which reminds me, I need to renew mine....

Road Atlas – Who needs a GPS? They're expensive and prone to theft; nobody's going to break your car window to snatch a Rand/McNally of your dashboard. For $200, which is the price of an older-model GPS, you can buy 13 years' worth of road atlases (at the current list price of $15, not accounting for inflation) and be mocked kick it old-school well into the 2020s. Or just wait until April each year and buy them at half price.

LED flashlight – Owning a good LED flashlight just makes sense, for both safety and economy, especially given the (much) longer battery life they offer over incandescent flashlights. But don't buy the $140 torch Esquire recommends, unless you happen to be part of a volunteer S.W.A.T. team that requires its members to purchase their own equipment. There are some decent "good enough" models out there for everyday and emergency use in the $20-50 range, and some of them are rechargeable which makes them even less expensive in the long run.

Joy of Cooking – In 2006, they released the 75^th anniversary edition of this classic culinary tome. Which means you probably can find a glut of older editions at used book stores and yard sales everywhere.

Card holder and money clip – Esquire suggests carrying your cards in a breast pocket, and putting your cash in your front pants pocket. This seems to make sense because it minimizes the risk of being stranded without money in case your wallet is lost or stolen. My traditional bi-fold wallet is getting a little ratty, and I've been considering going with a slimmer spinnaker cloth wallet or card holder from ALL-ETT since my cousin-in-law showed me his a little while ago. I almost never carry cash, but a money clip would be useful for when I do – though I would never be so ostentatious as to buy the $120 Cartier version Esquire recommends.

$1,000 hidden in your house – Definitely you should keep some cash around. Probably a few gold and silver coins, too, you know, for when the apocalypse comes. Hide it well, but remember to leave a little for burglars to find.

The others on the list all seem fairly reasonable and obvious. I didn't really disagree with any choices, although a few of them might not be necessary for everyone depending on your situation (e.g., I doubt I would ever own a chainsaw unless I happen to own or live next to a heavily wooded area). What others might you add?