Introduction
When weights are quoted on this page, they are usually accurate to 1/10 gram, as weighed on an Ohaus Scout Pro SP401 laboratory scale.
Lupine Lighting Systems Wilma and Betty
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
The Creature from Jekyll Island — A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
Software
Adobe Systems Photoshop, DreamWeaver, etc
(Click any of the ads below to go to the Adobe online store).
I use Photoshop nearly every day. I don’t much like Adobe support or the non-stop upgrade fees or the licensing hassles tying software to a computer, but the fact remains that Photoshop is the program to use for image processing.
Click
to buy Photoshop through Adobe
(if cost is a concern, get Photoshop Elements to start with)
All the pages at diglloyd.com were built using DreamWeaver.
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Lighting
Lupine Lighting Systems Wilma and Betty
Great for all around use, cycling, hiking, spelunking, search and rescue, etc.
Please see Headlamps and Flashlights.
PowerFlare
Please see Headlamps and Flashlights.
Surefire flashlights
Please see Headlamps and Flashlights.
Recommended books
This page lists books worth your time.
Perception and Imaging by Richard D. Zakia
A must-read for photographers. Why we see the way we do, and how you can make more compelling photographs understanding the way human vision (brain) works.
Secrets of High States by Jim Dines
A highly-unusual book that at first glance appears to be yet another photography book. The photography is extremely well-done, with careful avoidance of the technically excellent, but “formula” approach so often seen in other photography books. In the end however, it is really only supporting material for the text, which is philosophical in nature. It offers tremendous wisdom to those willing to approach it. My #1 pick.
Note: not available through conventional channels. May be purchased directly (while supplies last, and before the plates are broken) from The Dines Letter.
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
I’m sorry I didn’t read this book prior to the crash of my internet stocks!
This is really one of those “foundation” books key to understanding human folly. Be sure to read this book before investing in today’s Chinese stock market!
The
Creature from Jekyll Island — A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
by G.
Edward Griffin
Where does money come from and where does it go? Who makes it? What is “fiat money” and why is the eventual collapse of today’s banking system a nearly foregone conclusion? What does ”liquidity” really mean?
If you’re an investor, this book should be at the very top of your reading list. No discussion of politics or economics is complete until you understand how money really works—and this book lays it out in all its sordid details, starting with the historic creation of the Federal Reserve.
Secrets of Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson
Life is about negotiating. Whether it’s business, friends or even spouses, negotiating is one of life’s most valuable skills (the most basic skill is to realize that just about everything involves negotiation).
If you’re a parent, you’ll find that kids are amazingly good negotiators, especially with the “nibble” technique. You don’t want to negotiate? Well, at least learn about the hard-nosed and dirty tricks that car salesman will try on you—and take the stress out of your next car purchase. But negotiation isn’t limited to big purchases; it might mean a better table at a restaurant, an upgraded seat on an airplane or getting your 5 year old to do her chores.
You’ll find no better value for your time or money than Roger Dawson’s Secrets of Power Negotiating. I prefer the audio CD format (about $14), but it’s available in paperback and even SD memory card (MP3). Audio CD is great for that otherwise unproductive time spent driving.
I predict that if you take the time to learn just a portion of what’s in Secrets of Power Negotiating, you’ll save yourself a considerable amount of money (or equivalent) over the next few years. Not many things have that kind of return on investment.
Mac OS X The Missing Manual Tiger Edition by David Pogue
I’ve used Macs since 1983, programmed them professionally and own a number of them, all running Tiger. Yet this book was very useful to me.
In spite of its 840 pages, this book appeals to both beginning and experienced Mac OS users. It avoids the tedious baby-step explanations found in many computer books while still going over the important features. The key thing this book does is to explore the ways in which to make work more efficient while using any of the Mac OS features, describing all the handy shortcuts and workarounds that even advanced users will find useful. It will also server as a handy reference; there is no need to read it from cover to cover, or even to read the chapters in order; simply go directly to the topic of interest.
Gear
IbexWear “Shak” jersey/top
Please see March 9 2007 blog entry. Available
in various colors and in full or half-zip, this is the 100% wool garment for fall/winter/spring cycling, hiking,
skiing and all-around wear. It’s my number one favorite outdoor top. Full zip is very flexible, especially for
cycling, and more like a sweater; half-zip is more like a shirt. This is a “flatlock” knit
that won’t
pill or itch, etc. Fantastic. You can also order directly form IbexWear,
but check
amazon first
Policy
The products and vendors recommended on this page are ones I turn to when I need something, based on firsthand experience. In almost all cases, I recommend only products or vendor which which I have direct experience. However, I might suggest a similar product from the same vendor; eg a MacBook instead of a MacBook Pro, when it appears to carry the same “genetics”.
Vendor assessments are based on personal experience, but over time things can change. If you experience a problem, please report it to diglloyd.com so I can determine whether to withdraw my recommendation.
I seek out interesting, unusual, or particularly well-designed products, and when funds and need converge, purchase them through normal channels. Any ensuing review is strictly objective based on my own high standards for product performance. There are many examples of this in my blog.
Sometimes a product is simply returned when its performance or design is disappointing. In such cases, I almost always note initial observations in my blog, but I waste no further time reviewing it, since objective and useful reviews are time-consuming, and doing so for a product which I do not intend to use is a waste of my time. However, if a product is a particularly poor performer, I might choose to spend the time—see PowerMac G5 Internal Hard Drive Kits for an example.
All diglloyd reviews, free and paid are
always written because the product is something that I found interesting or useful, and all products are always
purchased through normal channels or on short-term loan.
Conclusions
The products and vendors recommended on this page are the ones I trust and value. No guarantee can be made that you’ll have a perfect experience, but my standards are very high, and I only add items to this page that have my strongest endorsement.
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