CONTENTS
Editorial: Openbook
Travel: Loop anti-theft device
Technology: Curtiss Motorcycles Hera
Stationery: The Habit System
Gadgets and Gear: Hardcore Hardware MFE01 Rhino
Books and Writing: The Mystery of Three Quarters
Miscellaneous: The essentials to maximise your achievements
PD: Store
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
EDITORIAL: Openbook
Social network sites such as Facebook have been in the news for all of the wrong reasons, namely privacy breaches and intrusive advertising. Some people are trying to do something about it.
Joel Hernández from the Netherlands is launching a secure, open source platform called Openbook. Being Open source will make it accountable, as people can see what Openbook is doing. The creator promises no tracking and complete privacy. Openbook will not place ads, although subscribers can post ads.
Of course running a social network costs money. Openbook has come up with a different revenue model:
"Our revenue model will be based on a digital currency called Tip. It will be used to buy and sell goods and services, support content creators, subscribe to publishers, buy jacuzzis and more!
For every Tips transaction made in the network, we will take a small cut. Donations are the exception to this rule, we take nothing then."
Openbook is towards the end of its Kickstarter campaign, so get on board as a Founder now.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1520156881/openbook-privacy-friendly-fun-and-honest-social-ne#
https://www.open-book.org/en/home
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
TRAVEL: Loop anti-theft device
Travel is fun however pickpockets and other thieves are not. There are measures that you can take, such as having secret pockets that are attached to your belt and are tucked inside your pants, but what about your bag when you sit down at a cafe? The Loop is a simple way to tether your wallet, camera or bag to yourself, a bench or anything else.
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
TECHNOLOGY: Curtiss Motorcycles Hera
Curtiss Motorcycles, formerly Confederate Motorcycles, has been featured in PD: Cool Things on several occasions. This builder of avant-garde motorcycles has done it again with the announcement of the Hera, to be released in 2020.
Inspired by Glenn Curtiss’ 1907 land speed record-setting V8 motorcycle, the electric Hera has eight “cylinders” of high-density lithium-ion batteries.
[Photograph: The Motorcycle Illustrated, Feb., 1907]
For the curious: Glenn Curtiss' speed was 136,3 mph (219 kmh). Not bad for 1907.
https://www.curtissmotorcycles.com/machines
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
STATIONERY: The Habit System
Code and Quill is an established company that makes quality notebooks and was featured in PD: Cool Things issue 117. This is the company's first foray into the planner market.
The planner has the usual month-week-day planning system, to narrow your focus, helping you to achieve your goals.
Like Code & Quill notebooks this planner is top quality. Specifications include 100 gsm paper (most planners are 80 gsm or less), lay flat binding (many are not), a hard cover and ribbon book marks.
Need another compelling reason to buy it? How about this?:
PD will be reviewing this planner as part of his long term planner "road test".
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
GADGETS AND GEAR: Hardcore Hardware MFE01 Rhino
MOTS (PD's man-on-the-spot in the Asia-Pacific region) alerted PD to Hardcore Hardware, the Australian company that produces serious equipment, including the MFE01 Rhino.
This is a serious tool to have in your kit. Designed for "prying, digging, chopping, hammering, cutting, smashing rock, as a climbing aid, for defeating locks, smashing windows & windscreens and raking out their frames and as a load bearing device", this is the tool for rescue and survival operations, whether on the road or in the wilderness.
The tool is 320mm long and 170mm wide, and it weighs 765gm. You have a choice of black or desert colour.
http://hardcorehardware.com.au/hardware/mfe01.php
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
BOOKS AND WRITING: The Mystery of Three Quarters
Hercule Poirot has another case to solve. Like her two previous Poirot books, Sophie Hannah has done it again, seamlessly taking over where Agathie Christie left off (see GHOST_URL/hercule-poirot-returns/ and GHOST_URL/prowling-dog-issue-108/ for previous reviews).
This time Poirot returns home to find himself confronted by two separate people who received letters written by him accusing them of murdering someone he has not heard of. Nor had he written such letters. In total four people have been accused of the same murder.
Available at your bookseller.
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
MISCELLANEOUS: The essentials to maximise your achievements
PD has written a lot about planning and goal setting, however there are three essentials that most people have no time for yet will help you to maximise your achievements. They also happen to be the hardest to implement.
-
Plenty of sleep. Without adequate sleep you cannot function at your best, no matter how much you think that you can. You hear stories about entrepreneurs who survive on almost no sleep. Perhaps these people are genetically blessed, perhaps they nap throughout the day, however most people and dogs need a good night's rest.
-
Exercise. Being fit will help you last the distance and help to clear your head. The endorphins released will also improve your mindset. Time invested here will provide dividends.
-
Self drive. A determination to achieve will set you in the mood to reach your goals.
You have set up achievment goals; you should also set up these habit goals as a priority.
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: https://www.prowlingdog.com/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