While the design world is obsessed with digital screens today, there was once a time when knobs and dials were chic. Whether we look at those products as being fashionably retro or legitimately practical it almost doesn't matter. There's a simple elegance of physical hardware that feels great to the touch and when the quality, style, and sound produced by the device is spectacular. That's pretty much my review for the Tivoli Audio Model One BT and you could just stop here and visit their website to buy one, or you can continue reading to see how much I love this radio.

Watches are one of the few fashion statements that men are allowed to wear. They help define our look and make a statement - just like a bracelet. But they are also practical. As I look around today, it's an interesting time to be a man. The question is - what drives this resurgence of watch wearing? Is it simply that the watch is an interesting and practical gadget or is it that this is simply a fashion statement that society allows us guys to make without question?

I've been married more than 10 years at this point and I've learned a lot. Heather and I were among the first of our friends to get married and wow things have changed a lot since then. Advertising focuses on how the ring defines the woman or empowers her or shows her your love. Even their websites feature women's rings above men's. So when Heather selected my wedding band it was her choice among very few options. Even if there were options I frankly was never prepared to communicate my desired design the way she was with hers.

We've taken a look at some cool jobs this year - from Alligator Wrestlers to Truck Drivers - but I think at some point all of us have dreamed of being paid to play arcade games. Well,... that's exactly what Zach Feary does at Stern Pinball in Chicago. He's featured in the latest episode of the "1 in one hundred million" web series presented by Kronos.

Winter is coming and that means that you are about to put away your leaf blowers and string trimmers but also prepare your winter gear like snowblowers, chainsaws, and generators. When I was younger I thought it was simply enough to empty the gas from these machines and store them away where it was dry. While that's is still important, over the years I've learned that the harsh winter conditions need more preparation than this to ensure that my machines are ready to fire up again in the spring.

I know this comes as a shock to the devotes of craft beer here in San Diego and the rest of California for that matter, but Shock Top is actually pretty good. Not only does it taste great, but the company actually cares and has had a spirit of supporting innovation that is core to the existence of the company. Their most recent campaign though departs from simply creating innovative flavors like Pretzel Wheat and instead goes to support entrepreneurs and inventors who are working to create solutions to help conserve water. A couple weeks ago we were invited to join them as they celebrated the funding of a "Smart Shower" at the Dodgers / Angels game in Anaheim.

In a past life, I had a basement and mancave that was all my own... I had space to mount big speakers and the time to tune them perfectly for the optimal sound. Today though, I am unfortunately long past that stage and I now live in a loft. Not only do I not have a "TV room" to mount speakers, but if I did it would look strange and out of place hanging there. Plus, space is now a big concern so those big floor speakers of my bachelor days aren't practical either. I've heard of "sound bars" before but I never really gave them the attention that they deserve. I always assumed that they were either too expensive or not "that much better" than what I already had on the built-in speakers on my TV. Unfortunately,neither of those assumptions was accurate but now I am thrilled to be able to enjoy great sound quality in a very compact footprint thanks to the VIZIO Sound Bar that they sent me to test out.

It's back to school time and as I look around, I see so many cool things that the kids today have that I wish I did 20 years ago. Probably the biggest change I see is that everything today is digital and it isn't just a laptops. The kids today have tablets, photo frames, music players, digital cameras, and probably other devices that I'm just not cool enough to know about. Despite our age differences, there is some wisdom that I'd like to pass down to our kids and to the young guys out there to help them become King of the Campus.

Ever sat in a crowded area and wondered who might be looking over your shoulder at your laptop screen? Even if you aren't working on some top secret CIA documents, chances are you value your privacy and want to keep things just between you and your laptop. That's where the 3M Privacy Filter comes in and there are versions of it available for desktop monitors, laptops, and even mobile devices.

Raise your hand if you'll be taking a road trip this year. Probably most of you reading are planning a trip with the family or maybe out with the guys and you've likely thought about the importance of checking your oil before you go but it's also critical to consider the part that actually keeps you on the road and safely between the lines. Yup, that's right - I'm talking about your tires!

Shopping for our wives and mothers is tough and if you are like me, it is often super easy to transpose what "you want" with what "she wants". 

What is better than looking at a lovingly restored 1974 BMW model 2002? I would say enjoying the same car with an impressive clarion sound system at a private track with drift car champion Chris Forsberg!

It used to be that sunglasses were sunglasses. No matter what you picked you'd be 'OK'. Today though, we live in an age where the sun is something we need protection from and do so with sunscreen, UV clothing, and of course UV lenses. The sun is still our friend, but we need proper protection to help make things more pleasant so we can enjoy life safely. 

In the old days (not even 10 years ago!) it was simple, grab a pair of earbuds and you were set for listening to music. Today though, the options are limitless and major brands have dominated the market with audio products that are good, but frankly look and sound as if they were churned out of a corporate machine - rather than expressing the individual style of the wearer. That's where V-Moda comes in - and was designed by Val Kolton, a Chicago DJ who was inspired by the unique vibe found in Ibiza and the haute couture he found in LA.

Today, V-Moda products are designed to match both the discriminating style of the fashionista as well as the audiophile. Instead plastic parts, these headphones use industrial strength metal.

I travel a LOT and I have a bunch of wireless devices that I bring with me on each trip.

Over the past few months though, I've started to think more deeply about network security and who might be watching what goes through the network or who's connected to it. Additionally, I've started to see some hotels offering "free Internet" - for 2 devices and then charging more for multiple devices. Finally, even at the best and most trusted hotel it's simply frustrating to have to connect my devices each time I go somewhere. When you combine all three of these things together it's sometimes easier to simply just throw up a wifi hotspot on my phone and be done with it. Unfortunately, that tends to be slow and expensive - luckily, Netgear has created a solution with their Trek Travel Router.

My wife and I don't have kids - so our dog, Niki Belle, is our fur baby and child in probably more ways than a couple in a similar position might understand. When we first got her, we nervously prayed that she would be ok with doing road trips and were blessed that she indeed did not get car sick and was happy to curl up and relax or sit and look out the window. As anyone knows though, that's only part of the equation when it comes to taking care of your dog on the road. 

The classic bachelor party idea is certainly strippers or a sexy restaurant like Hooters or Tilted Kilt. However, one idea that is a blast for you and the guys would be to go to a shooting range. Shooting ranges can be found in pretty much any area around the country. While most shooting ranges offer "rental" guns, we think it would make a great present for the groom if the guys chipped in and bought him an awesome gun to fire off at the range. 

TruFuel has a simple mission - keep our engines running better, longer, with less hassle. That's a good thing since no one likes yard work :) It seems like a cruel plot that for most of us we spend all winter dreaming of the warm days of spring and summer and all the cool things we'll be doing... and then we discover that those halcyon days are consumed by mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges. That's just not fair! While nothing short of a gardener can completely eliminate yard work, TruFuel can help make things a bit easier and more manageable.

Travel isn't always the most "green" of activities. The very definition of it typically involves spending tremendous resources to get there - by car, airplane, or ship - and once you get there how often do you consider the environmental impact of the water consumed to keep that green so beautiful or where the wrapper from your burger will go once you toss it in the trash. This isn't meant to be a "downer" article, but simply an opportunity for us to look at some of the easy things we can do to travel more green this year.

The world of wireless earbuds is extremely crowded these days and while it is good for consumers, it is also increasingly difficult for brands to stand out. Some still rest on the fact that people will recognize their names while others are forging ahead with excellent audio quality, attractive looks, and innovative features at a very competitive price point. That's where Edifier stands and they continue to be one of our favorite brands with the introduction of the NeoBuds Pro.