New Year, new shoes, we often post kicks for looks and not function, but today we take a different approach and highlight some shoes purely from the perspective of function. In the end however, by using these kicks as intended you will look good when you wear them and when you take them off.

New Balance 860 2

(pictured in black and yellow)

First up and fresh is the New Balance 860. The 860 is an update of a previously successful New Balance stability trainer of the same name. Premium padding, mesh upper, support and advanced heel cushioning technology along with added features for shock absorption should serve well for overall use on the varied amount of terrain you come across while getting your run on.

The Alabama born Yelawolf, is a multifaceted talent that has spent a better part of the last decade living in various parts of the US while striving towards super-stardom. His first major label release, “Radioactive” may well be the cornerstone of a hugely successful career in entertainment.  However, that depends on who you ask. Radioactive has received mostly politically safe, yet positive reviews, but some consider Yelawolf’s Shady records debut missing the mark. Not because of lack of skill by Yelawolf, but by the unfettered efforts to make a pop record instead of a rap record that can go pop. Never mind the forced attempts craft a colorblind pop rap album, Yelawolf is a solid lyricist and some of those pop efforts are great songs. While some fans cling zealously to the music and lyrical style of early TrunkMuzik mixtapes, this new, Eminem stamped Yelawolf shows growth and shines, despite his efforts to stay in ‘bama mud.

A light has gone out in the world. Steve Jobs the man who help transform the world into the technological wonder that it is today has died. I felt a flush over my body when I received the news. To say I feel sadness would be remiss, because sadness is not a word capable of describing my feelings regarding this moment in our lives. This is a demarcation line in modern history.

This generation has been fortunate enough to receive the benefits of Steve’s imagination, ingenuity and passion first hand. With the foundation Steve laid future generations will undoubtedly reap rewarding harvests thanks to his ability to harness together the ideas of brilliant people and bring them to the world.

No doubt his family, friends, loved ones and competitors will miss him. A husband, a father, a friend and a fierce competitor who battled adversity, confronted competition and challenged the status quo. Steve changed an industry he also participated in building, redefined business and how we think about it and helped to set ablaze millions of minds across the globe, with ideas of what is possible when you still believe in your dreams and you have the tenacity to go after them.

Let us not simply mourn this day of losing the man we called Steve Jobs, but let us rejoice in the life of Steven and his enormous contributions to all of us. Friend, foe, every race, every creed and all in-between, some of us directly and others indirectly have benefited from his presence in the current era. Coming generations are fortunate to have his legacy to peruse and his shoulders to stand on as an able and firm foundation to help them reach their goals and to face coming endeavors yet untold.

Steve, thanks for your time here.

Quad-Core Sandy Bridge i5 and i7 processors that help you get projects completed up to 70 percent sooner, high-speed Thunderbolt ports for data transfer and FaceTime HD cameras for friendly video chat and business conferences that’s what the new iMacs are made of. Let’s not forget that the new Thunderbolt iMacs also have 3x faster graphics thanks to updated Radeon HD graphics processors and come with your choice of either a Magic Mouse or a Magic Trackpad. First, the MacBook Pro received the Thunderbolt upgrade earlier in the year, now the iMacs get the highly anticipated, Thunderbolt refresh.

Reebok has jumped into the real running, barefoot running movement with a competitor to the popular Nike Free Run, their own Reebok RealFlex. Taking an approach different from Nike when it comes to “barefoot running”, Reebok emphasizes foot strike and protection. With a low-profile construction and 76 individual pads on the sole of the sneaker to provide protection and a more accurate response, Reebok claims to have perfected natural movement. Reebok RealFlex

Touch and type together with no sliding, the new Blackberry 9900 and 9930 combine the benefits of an easy to use QWERTY keyboard with a capacitive touch screen display, 1.2 GHz processor, 8GB of memory on deck with room for up to 32GB if you need it, the new Blackberry’s mean business. NFC tech, so you can wave and swipe your phone for transactions, 5-megapixel camera to snap a few photos, HD video recording ability, accelerometer, built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the newest Blackberry OS, Blackberry 7.

As summer approaches, outdoor activities begin shifting towards those requiring no snowflakes. If you are lucky enough to reside near a decent body of water (beach, lake or perhaps a river), a bonfire can be a night to remember. With a cooler loaded with drinks, mouth-watering smores, and your kick-ass comrades, what more could you desire for the occasion? Well, if you desire to leave a smaller eco-footprint you are in luck because EcoSmart Fire Stix use “clean-burning” bioethanol. Other than removing the requirement of gathering, purchasing and hauling wood, EcoSmart Fire Stix are made of stainless steel and the best part, EcoSmart Fire Stix burn damn near all night on one fueling.

Four years ago, Portal was an astoundingly successful video gaming sensation. This year Valve, the company behind the original runaway smash, releases Portal 2. Bigger in practically every way; Portal 2 has expanded gameplay during single-player mode, introduces a new two-player co-op, expands upon the original storyline and adds even more intricate puzzles for you to solve and point your portal gun towards.

Unadorned sterling silver transformed into elegant cuff-links worthy of casual business luncheons or possibly a romantic dinner for two. Ebony antiqued enamel drapes across the sterling canvas creating glimmers of silver to harness the attention of onlookers. The buttoned back makes them simple to operate; the $300 price makes them something to not forget on the hotel dresser. Antique Oval Cufflinks