CONTENTS
Editorial: Reducing In Box Clutter.
Travel: Postalco Rain Cape.
Technology: Sony 48MP Phone Camera.
Stationery: Ölend x Octaevo.
Gadgets and Gear: Thousand Heritage Stealth Black Bike Helmet.
Books and Writing: Toilers of the Sea.
Miscellaneous: Skies of Fire: Book I.
PD: Store.
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
EDITORIAL: Reducing in box clutter
We are bombarded with a lot of information, offers and advertising. How much time do you spend sifting through emails, as well as checking Facebook and Twitter? Most of the information that you see is of little use to you and you will never use. So why do people persist in this ritual, sometimes on a daily basis and sometimes several times a day. How many emails are archived to look at "later", soon building into large numbers that in reality will never be looked at.
Try to catch up on Facebook and Twitter every few days. You will be surprised how the number of useless posts quickly diminishes; not posts from your friends but all those other posts that Facebook and Twitter decide you should look at. Likewise, why keep receiving emails from that store that you never buy from? Click unsubscribe to all but the few emails that you really find useful and are likely to read and use the information in them.
The result will be less fear of missing out and more time for things that really matter. You will find that you become engaged in your own life.
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
TRAVEL: Postalco Rain Cape
Rain capes were used by travellers for a long time. They are simple, easy to put on and cover the travellor without restricting arm movement. Perhaps that is why horsemen preferred it. The rain cape has fallen out of fashion, yet its convenience should not be overlooked.
Unlike other capes and raincoats which glue a stiff plastic or rubber lining to the cape, Postalco's rain cape is treated with Shear-Dry nylon, leaving it soft and flexible, and allowing it to "breathe". The latter feature is essential - PD recalls some raincoats where condensation on the inside made it just as wet as the rain on the outside. The Postalco rain cape is also more durable than others. The cape is available in a range of colours.
https://postalco.net/onlineshop/84120/
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
TECHNOLOGY: Sony 48MP Phone Camera
The race for the greatest number of pixels on your phone camera has just got a big boost. Many of today's cell phones take better quality photographs than stand-alone cameras. Sony has just upped the ante for phone producers by announcing the IMX586 sensor with a resolution of 48 megapixels. It should start appearing in cell phones in the near future.
[Above: 12 MP vs 48 MP. Photograph by Sony]
For the technically minded, follow the link for full details:
https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201807/18-060E/index.html
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
STATIONERY: Ölend x Octaevo
Looking for a simple but very stylish way to carry your stationery supplies, including laptop? Look no further than stationery supplier Octaevo. Octaevo is a favourite of PD's for its quality bright stationery supplies. The Mambo backpack is a welcome addition.
This limited edition back pack is the result of a collaboration between Ölend and Ocataevo, both of which are in Barcelona. The backpack is available in either navy blue or dark green.
http://www.octaevo.com/shop/index.php/olend-octaevo.html
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
GADGETS AND GEAR: Thousand Heritage Stealth Black Bike Helmet
PD is informed by MOTS (his Man-On-The Spot in the Asia-Pacific region) that some highly restrictive countries such as Australia actually force adults to wear bicycle helmets or face a large fine. If you must wear one you may as well do it in style.
Inspired by the simple helmets from the 1950s and 1960s,this unit is quite stylish. It has vents for air flow and also a pop-lock for securing the helmet to your bike. The only feature that PD does not like is the magnetic clasp (in his opinion magnetc clasps should be avoided when carrying electronic cards and tickets).
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
BOOKS AND WRITING: Toilers of the Sea
Victor Hugo, 1802-1885, was a famous writer, politician and social justice campaigner. His books continue to be read and made into films, however his fame really rocketed with the release of the musical "Les Misérables" in France in 1980 and subsequently in English where it shot to fame in the English speaking world.
[Above: Victor Hugo, photograph by Étienne Carjat, 1876, Bibliothèque Nationale de France]
"The Toilers of the Sea" was another popular book, written during his exile on the island of Guernsey.
The story is typical Hugo, combining romance, the rise and fall of fortunes, treachery and tragedy. Like his other books, it is a combination of novel, a lesson in history and culture, self-sacrifice and a study of human nature.
This is the story of a social outcast seaman who is secretly in love with a shipowner's niece, Déruchette, and the trials that he goes through in the hope of winning her hand in marriage. Woven into it is a lesson on the history, people, culture and geography of the British Isles.
Little known these days is that Victor Hugo was also an artist. He created paintings for this book.
[Above: Victor Hugo, La Durande, 1866]
PD was fortunate enough to have access to the Folio Society's limited edition which included all thirty-six paintings. The paintings had not been published with the book until this edition. This edition is now sold out.
[Photograph: http://extraordinaryeditions.com]
PD Rating: 5 paws out of 5. This story would make a great companion musical to Les Misérables.
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
MISCELLANEOUS: Skies of Fire: Book I
When "Skies of Fire" first launched it was featured in PD (GHOST_URL/specialist-periodicals-2-skies-of-fire/). PD has followed the progress of Royal Guard Captain Helen Pierce in her quest to bring the raider Delmonte to justice over the four issues of this dieselpunk airship story of loyalty and revenge that have been printed so far.
The story takes place in the Aquilan Empire, in the centre of which lies a monstrous, never-ending storm called The Expanse.
The main mode of transport is the airship.
If you missed out on these issues do not despair. The team is releasing a cloth bound book with all four issues plus extra material.
There is even a limited edition numbered and signed collector's edition.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1039309513/skies-of-fire-book-i?ref=discovery
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
PD: Store
X90 Planner
The X90 Planner has been thoroughly tested by PD and featured in PD: Cool Things 178: GHOST_URL/prowling-dog-cool-things-issue-178/
The planner is hard back but opens flat. It is clearly laid out and uses quality paper. It is undated, so you can start working on your goals immediately. There are 90 days in the planner, the ideal length of time to achieve goals.
From US $31.95 plus shipping. Local taxes may apply in your country.
BUY HERE: https://90xgoalplanner.com/?ref=107
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
Important disclaimer: Remember that crowd funding sites are not stores. You may decide to back this project and provide funds, however there is no guarantee that any project will be delivered - the rate of failure is about 10%. PD is in no way accountable for the success or otherwise of any project and writes in this column purely for entertainment purposes, and will in no way be held liable for any failure or money lost by anyone. It is a case of "buyer beware". It is a sad reflection on the era we live in that PD must resort to this type of disclaimer.
Note: Photographs and illustrations are from the relevant websites and are the copyright of the respective owners.
© 2018 Prowling Dog