Whether you’re returning from a fun night at the bars or waking up to a beautiful morning, there are few things nicer than watching the sun rise over the horizon on an exotic beach in Cancún. We’re here in Cancún as guests of Royal Holiday at the Park Royal Grand, an all-inclusive resort located in the heart of Cancun. These photos are from the sunrise this morning taken from the balcony of the hotel.

Royal Holiday is a vacation club with locations all over the world, offering a wide variety of experiences for its members. The hotel here in Cancún is beautiful, offering great food, and amazing pool and easy access to the incredible beaches that have made Cancún a famous destination spot.

Check back soon in our On Location channel for a full recap of our Cancún trip. Meanwhile, it’s time to get back to the pool and some Margaritas!

Men don’t like to talk about it, but there are times in our lives where things are less awesome than usual, and by that we mean that life is complete and utter shit. Being men, we’re not supposed to show when we’re down, but as the poet laureate Geena Davis once said (using her pen name Charlie Baltimore), life is pain. Sometimes it’s hard to hide when we’ve been wounded by the loss of a girl, or a job, or a family member. And since talking about our feelings is not the first choice for most men, many of us find solace in music, where someone else is doing the talking and all we have to do is listen. In private. Remember, that whole ‘not supposed to show when we’re down’ thing.

This summer, a golden opportunity presented itself to tell one of the musicians who gave us the proverbial pat on the back about what they had done for us. The man: Glenn Tilbrook, front man for UK pop giants Squeeze. The album: Play, the band’s 1991 debut (and swan song) for Reprise, a literate and moving collection of songs about love, loss, and hope. Tilbrook’s reaction to the news that he helped us through a rough spot: “Wow.” Apparently, someone else had told him the exact same thing about Play‘s magical healing powers. He thought it a weird coincidence that two people would have such a strong reaction to the album…

…which is complete nonsense, if you ask us. A quick survey on Facebook revealed that several people had the same emotional bond to Play that we had, at which point some other staffers revealed they had their own tales of woe, and the albums that saw them through it. Behold, the albums that, while they didn’t literally save our lives, at the very least got us through some heavy shit.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Let Me Up, I’ve Had Enough! (1987)

On the day after Christmas in 1986, mid-way through my junior year of high school, my family moved from North Carolina to central Pennsylvania, beginning a period of upheaval and ill will between me and my parents and siblings that took several years to address and heal. Music was my refuge, the thing that kept me on an even keel when all I wanted to do was either put my fist through something hard, or slip down into the fetal position and cry. What I really needed was some flat-out rock and roll, performed by a band that could play bee-you-tiff-lee or durrrrty, depending on what was called for.

In April of the the following year, Tom Petty and his merry band put out Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough), a record I connected with on levels both emotional and visceral. It had moments of sheer beauty (“Runaway Trains,” “It’ll All Work Out”), pure pop (“All Mixed Up,” “Ain’t Love Strange”), and rollicking good fun (“One of These Days,” “How Many More Days”). It also had, in the single “Jammin’ Me” and the title track, amped-up Stonesy rock that I would turn up loud in my bedroom, loud enough to piss off my family, enabling me, however briefly, to give my tormenters the auditory finger now and again.

It was a small modicum of revenge, but it meant a lot. The music also helped me feel that everything was going to be all right, which meant even more. -Rob Smith

Joe Jackson: Laughter & Lust (1991)

For the record, I wrote the intro to this piece, and told Glenn Tilbrook that he helped me through a blue period. The summer of 1991 was the lowest I ever got, having moved to Cincinnati to be with the love of my life, only to be rebuffed upon my arrival. Squeeze’s Play was my salvation, assuring me that breaking up is breaking my heart and showing me the door, but if I get it open, I’ll discover that there’s much more to life than this. Some days, though, Play just didn’t cut it. The songs were so even-handed and fair, and being 23 at the time, there were times when I simply didn’t feel so charitable. That is when Joe Jackson’s Laughter & Lust came into, um, play. Musically, it was one of the more upbeat records Jackson had made in years, but lyrically, it was pitch-black, whether he was attacking politics (“The Obvious Song”), the music business (“Hit Single”), nostalgia (“The Old Songs”) or, most commonly, her, whatever her name was. She had Joe completely out of his head, to the point where, on the song “Stranger Than Fiction,” he admits, “I love her so much I don’t even know what planet I’m on / Love her so much, I wish she’d just go away.” Testify.

There I sat, alone in my flea-riddled apartment, thinking about how many opportunities I had to not make this horrible decision, the girls who basically told me, “I could save you from all this.” I thought of one girl in particular, whom I’d met towards the end of my senior year of college and had me seriously examining what my current relationship was lacking. And wouldn’t you know it, Joe had written a song about that predicament, too. “The Other Me” is one of the best unrequited love songs you’ll ever hear, as Jackson reluctantly admits to a girl that “I know that she’s the only one for me, and you know that if I could split in two / The other me would be the only one for you.” Of course, I knew even then that the ‘she’ in question wasn’t the only one for me, but the pull of the familiar is strong. Warts and all, I still loved the girl. She was hard to walk away from.

Nothing exemplifies the differences between Play and Laughter & Lust better, though, than their final songs. Where Squeeze spoke of how “each day’s a hope, each day’s a prayer, that I’ll rebuild, that I’ll repair” on “There Is a Voice,” Joe Jackson sang of how he was drowning. And some days, it felt better to just give in and be sad. Yes, it sucked being heartbroken, but Laughter & Lust taught me that heartbreak was not unique to me, and that like all things, it would pass. And sure enough, it did. -David Medsker

I recently recieved a sample of the new Adidas fragrance for men called “Moves Pulse.” ‘What a package!’ was my first reaction when I opened the box. The look is edgy with a kinetic bottle design and crystal clear glass that shows the red tint of the goods inside.

I have been wearing “Moves Pulse” for quite a few days now and I must say it has a scent that isn’t overpowering but more of an easy confidence for those who strive to be their best. I feel Adidas has produced a men’s fragrance in “Moves Pulse” that fits those men who live a modern and fast paced lifestyle where fitness and health is a top priority. If you decide to go with “Moves Pulse” you won’t have to break the bank to feel and smell your best.

For all of those who want to express their creative talents, go to http://www.pulsefragrance.com/ and enter for a chance to win 15k for your school or 1k in gear. Hey, if that doesn’t pertain to you maybe send the info to friend.

Since McDonald’s launched the McGriddle breakfast sandwich back in 2003 I still haven’t found anything that compares when it comes to taste and convenience. You see the beauty of a Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddle is you get the great taste of pancakes with the hearty bite of an omelet.

It’s important to give yourself plenty of fuel before a long day at work, and the McGriddle can do just that. If you think an apple or a granola bar can hold you over till lunch, you might be sorely mistaken, aching for some sustenance before long.

The soft and warm pancakes buns with maple flavoring really set off this fast food masterpiece for guys on the run like myself. If you haven’t tried a McDonald’s McGriddle yet you’re missing out on a great breakfast wrapped in a very good price.

Finally. We’ve been putting this song on mix discs and playlists from the moment that OK Go lead singer Damian Kulash was nice enough to send us the band’s new album Of the Blue Colour of the Sky after a phone interview last December, and at long last, the Princealicious “White Knuckles” (dig that guitar in the break) is a single. This may not be the most eye-popping of the videos the band’s made for this record, but it’s still another impossibly well-planned one-take video. Plus, we’re guessing the band will tell you that this one was the most difficult to execute, given that they shared the stage with, to use a LOLcats expression, goggies. Lots of very well-trained goggies.

Bassist Tim Nordwind handles lip syncing duties yet again, and if they keep this up, people are going to think he’s the actual singer (psst! Kulash is the one that kinda looks like Hugh Grant’s little brother), but good luck paying attention the band in this one. With the exception of the chair dancing bit (it’ll make sense when you see it), the dogs are the stars from the moment two of them do three laps around their feet. To say any more would spoil the fun. Watch, and watch again.

And, as a bonus, here is OK Go drummer Dan Konopka getting into a staring contest with Animal. Yes, that Animal. Cheers.

Do you like great socks? My hand went straight up as I don’t care how good the shoes on my feet are I need great socks to keep the puppies happy! I found some of those great socks at www.zkano.com and once I had the chance to review a few pair I’m now a believer in what Zkano is producing. You see Zkano socks aren’t just extremely comfortable, they are made from organic cotton grown in Alabama. And, Not only is the cotton grown in Alabama but these great socks are made in Alabama as well.

I use the Zkano socks for everyday wear and for sports such as basketball and tennis and they are top notch and I must say that knowing a family business down in Alabama is producing these socks are an extra thumbs up. The styles I have are the Venture, Stride, and my favorite, the Tempo which are designed to provide comfort, extra breathability and a deep pocketed heel just to name a few features.

Check out all of the organic cotton socks at Zkano and you too will appreciate the extra care they put into the comfort of your feet!

Bear Naked Granola is an all-natural blend of whole grains and other natural ingredients and its premise is that it gives a person the energy to do anything. To that end, the company has begun a Facebook campaign for people to share videos of fun, wild and “totally ridiculous” sports activities. Sports teams or individuals are able to upload their videos.

But being that we review food products on here, we also asked for samples to check out. I’m not sure that I would do anything wild and crazy upon eating this granola, but it’s damn tasty. We tried the Bear Naked Peak Protein Original flavor and it’s not quite crunchy–but more “soft crunchy” if you can imagine that. Put it this way, it won’t cut your gums like some granolas do. It’s not overly sweet either. We also tried the Bear Naked “Fit” Vanilla Almond Crunch, and this one is a bit crunchier and has a maple-y undertone. It has just 4 grams of sugar, but because of that, doesn’t taste as good as the original flavor. But as for that original flavor, I might just eat the whole bag right now.

For more on Bear Naked’s video promotion and how you can get involved, please visit their website.

There has been a revolution slowly stirring in bars across the country and over the past decade that revolution has caught fire. Cocktail bars have sprouted up all over the country, offering the rarest of spirits and custom concoctions at the hands of the world’s best bartenders. The cocktail resurgence happened so quickly no one has taken the time to separate the wheat from the chaff, until now.

For its October issue, GQ traveled 34,462 miles around the country to bring you a list of the top 25 cocktail bars, lounges, and holes-in-the-walls of America. Seattle’s Zig Zag Café sits at the top of the list, with the following endorsement:

At Zig Zag Café, “patrons come for the easy conversation and the drink-all-day coziness. Above all, though, they come for the cocktails of Murray Stenson. The man is effortlessly talented, a bartender superhero. In fact, he may be the country’s best,” writes Kevin Sintumuang. “Each drink Murray pours is a mini-revelation, an introduction to rare spirits and a bold use of common ones.”

The Zig Zag Café is followed by these 24 bars:

2: Angel’s Share – New York
3: The Violet Hour – Chicago
4: Clover Club – Brooklyn
5: The Alembic – San Francisco
6: Death & Co – New York
7: PDT – New York
8: PX – Alexandria, VA
9: Comstock Saloon – San Francisco
10: Holeman & Finch – Atlanta
11: Tiki-ti – Los Angeles
12: The Patterson House – Nashville
13: Eastern Standard – Boston
14: Rickhouse – San Francisco
15: Anvil – Houston
16: Arnaud’s French 75 – New Orleans
17: Elixir – San Francisco
18: Columbia Room – Washington, D.C.
19: Cole’s – Los Angeles
20: The Whistler – Chicago
21: Drink – Boston
22: Pegu Club – New York
23: The Edison – Los Angeles
24: The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. – Philadelphia
25: Needle and Thread – Seattle

For drinking lessons learned, tips, and more information about each bar, pick up the October issue of GQ,available now on newsstands and on iTunes, or visit GQ.com.

Photo Credit: Mitchell Feinberg/GQ

If the strong critical support, the record-setting ratings, and HBO’s decision to renew the show for a second season the morning after its premiere is any indication, then yes, I’d say it has a pretty good chance. But first, it’s going to have to do a lot more than deliver a captivating pilot episode – one that was directed by Martin Scorsese, the man behind some of the best mob films of the last 20 years – if it ever hopes to reach the same level as “The Sopranos.”

One good episode doesn’t exactly make a great series, but you can definitely tell that the pieces are all there to create something really special. And to help make sense of all the corruption, backstabbing, and every sordid piece of back-alley business in between, Will Harris will be blogging “Boardwalk Empire” throughout the season. Here’s a brief taste from his post about the premiere:

“I don’t know about you guys, but I was sucked into the show almost instantly, in no small part because of Steve Buscemi. I mean, it’s not like I haven’t been a fan of his work for years, but it’s great to see him in the lead role for a change. He’s perfect for it, too: Nucky’s a guy who’s got a lot of power but isn’t necessarily the most intimidating fish in the pond.”

In addition, Bullz-Eye is currently running a “Boardwalk Empire” contest asking our Facebook friends to tell us about their favorite cinematic mobsters. The contest runs through next Wednesday, September 29th, and one lucky winner will walk away with a branded flask, a “Boardwalk Empire” book about the real-life characters, and a keychain flash drive preloaded with exclusive content. Head over to the official contest page to find out how to enter and then be sure to visit our “Boardwalk Empire” blog every Sunday night for a recap of all the latest action.