After losing the 6th consecutive race to my little brother in Need For Speed, I found myself searching for answers. Embarrassed and dejected, I came to the conclusion that the terms were unfair, that playing field would surely be level if I were allowed to use an actual steering wheel. Yeah, that’s it! Controllers are too fickle, too sensitive, too unlike actual driving; I, as an adult (of sorts), was used to commanding a vehicle with a wheel and pedals, not some slippery joystick. But, obviously, if i bought a console steering wheel, I’d be forced to put my rationalization to the test, risking further humiliation, this time without the cushion of an imagined handicap. I decided my video-game psyche was too fragile, my brother too freakishly good at racing games, to risk it. But, were I not a neurotic, digital sissy, the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel by Microsoft would be on my lap and at my toes right now. Sleek and responsive, with force feedback, pedals that don’t slip or slide, and a virtually immovable desk clamp– it’s top-notch hardware for top-notch software. Works with Project Gotham Racing 3 and 4, NASCAR 08, Dirt, Need For Speed Carbon, Test Drive, and Forza2. Disclaimer: neither this writer nor Microsoft can be held liable for the reader/buyer’s loss of face in the event of defeat at the hands of a younger sibling.

Buy: $100

“All I can do is be me, whoever that is.”  Fans of Bob Dylan will instantly respect the collage style biopic “I’m Not There“, directed by Todd Haynes.  The part of Dylan, or at least reverent caricatures of him, are played by a stunning collection of A-List actors.  Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and even Cate Blanchett give life to the Dylan legend in this film.  What saw a quiet release outside of the dedicated fan circles, “I’m Not There” was a critically acclaimed sleeper that is likely to become a DVD hit.  If this film was on your list, get it today– its out now on Amazon.

Buy: $22.99

Nine Inch Nails once again shatters the commonplace with a new album and a middle finger to the record industry.  NIN’s newest album, The Slip, was released today — for free — online.  The album includes ten tracks for a total length of 43:45.  The album is available in standard mp3 format and all the way up to audiophile quality 24-bit, 96kHz .wav format.  If you’re a NIN fan, or want your own piece of history, go ahead and download The Slip and celebrate the beginning of the end for the RIAA.

Buy: $Free

It might be wise to have your wits about you when throwing back shots of these liquors. The Hijos De Villa Tequila is shaped like a .45 stainless, and if you’re not careful it can do the same level of damage. The Scorpion Vodka speaks for itself. We have it on high accord that this vodka can sting you if you’re not careful… Bad puns aside, these are some dangerous drinks only suited toward those with big brass balls– or a love of fun gimmicks. They might be tough to find, but GearCrave will push you in the right direction. If you can find these liquors, feel free to invite us over for a drink!

Buy (Hijos De Villa Tequila): $59

Buy (Scorpion Vodka): $32

Fans of stouts like Guinness and browns like Newcastle will want to take note of this week’s Beer of the Week. For the uninitiated, the Porter is an English-style beer with a flavor in between a stout and a brown ale– with the dark, dry flavors of chocolate like a stout, plus the malty sweetness and light fruit release of a brown. While the standard porter recipe was created nearly 300 years ago in England, similar recipes are growing quite strong in the US. Brewers like Sierra Nevada, Rogue, Bells and Flying Dog all brew excellent porters. Today, however, we’d like to share an English porter with such history that you can actually taste a beer brewed 200 years ago. Enter the Original Flag Porter by Darwin Brewery.

The Original Flag Porter is brewed with actual yeast from the 1820s.  In 1825, a vessel sank in the English Channel while transporting barrels of classic English porter.  In 1988, these barrels were raised to find that the beer was preserved and the yeast was still alive.  Darwin Brewery got ahold of these barrels and used the yeast in a classic porter recipe from 1850.  The result is a stunning, smooth English porter that has won awards and acclaim from beer lovers all over the world.  If you can find it, buy it right away– these are going fast, as Darwin is rumored to have discontinued production due to a limited supply of the classic yeast.

Buy: ~$3.00/bottle

(image courtesy: laughing squid)

As the great Method Man once said, “Protect Ya Neck”. In this case, it might be a case of protecting ya “brains”– but we’ll keep the quote. We have one question for our GearCrave readers: are you truly prepared for a Zombie attack? What would happen if a new engineered virus were to break loose tomorrow and you were to be faced with an army of brain-hungry zombies as a result? Would you be ready? Sure, you could play Resident Evil all day and practice your head shots, but that skill won’t translate to real-time zombie onslaughts. You know what will get you ready? The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. This book is filled, from cover to cover, with Zombie defense plans, contingency practices and reviews of anti-zombie weaponry. You want to keep your brains inside that pretty little skull of yours? Get this book.

Buy: $11.16

Looking for the ultimate summer project? Sure, you could paint the house, clean the basement or hell– start a band. Why not think about a project that could ease your finances and your carbon footprint at the same time? EcoModder.com has the details on how to modify your car to run more efficiently, increase its MPG performance, even run on alternative fuels. Surprisingly, its not as difficult as you think. For example, you could buy a simple kit for nearly any production car of the last ten years that would take minutes to install and allow your engine to run on Ethanol. The possibilities are nearly endless, and the EcoModder community is a testament to this. Check them out, learn more about what you can do with your car, and find a way to save money and keep your conscious as green as can be.

Visit: EcoModder.com

We must admit, we’re totally addicted to TheSmokingGun.com– we love mugshots, whether they’re about celebrites, musicians, athletes, or even your average joe (or jane). We’d like to take that experience away from TheSmokingGun’s website and make it a little more accessible, like on our coffee table. Thanks to George Seminara, celebrity mug shots can adorn your living room or restroom for the max enjoyment of you and your guests. As you can see by the cover, this book is star-studded. Keanu, OJ, Mickey, Larry King and more fill these pages. While we do enjoy our celebrities, we really enjoy them when they’ve been very bad. Shame on you, Hugh Grant. At least it wasn’t a dude in drag, like our boy Eddie Murphy…

Buy: from $0.01 (that’s not a typo)

While the gamer world is abuzz with all things Liberty City, there is plenty of media release news for the rest of us. Two great films were released today to consumer media. While many of you are aware (and likely awaiting this release) of The Golden Compass, the independent film world is going wild for the release of The Diving Bell and the Butteryfly.  Check out the Golden Compass trailer for a refresher there, and for those who are in need of some well crafted, gorgeous foreign cinema, here’s the Diving Bell and the Butterfly trailer.

Buy The Golden Compass: $22.99

Buy The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: $18.99

Tuesday, ladies and gents– the biggest game of the year, the biggest title since, well, San Andreas hits the market. Grand Theft Auto IV will be available on Tuesday, April 29th at stores across the U.S. If you’ve got an XBOX 360 or a PS3 (and you aren’t a conservative member of congress), you’ve likely been waiting for this game since you bought your console. If you haven’t already pre-ordered, you’re in luck– JR.com has lowered their pre-order price for the 360 version to $49.99, the lowest price you’ll find on the web. You won’t find it anywhere else for under $57 at best. If you want to start playing GTAIV on Wednesday, pre-order your copy todya.

Buy: $49.99 (after $10 instant rebate)