Recommendations
Here’s a list of things that I recommend without hesitation.
Computing – Hardware
- MouseRug: I bought a MouseRug mousepad while visiting NYC in 1999 and still use the same one today. The top doesn’t peel off, it’s made of microfibres that are aligned via electrical current and then fused into the rubber surface. A bit pricey, but well worth it, and makes any desktop look classy. The Persian MouseRug I use still has a completely usable surface, when I thought the colour was fading after ten years I gave it a wash and it’s almost as good as new.
- iPhone: I use my first generation iPhone so much that it’s embarrassing to admit. It’s the first thing I pick up in the morning, since the alarm clock functionality is superb (set multiple alarms, specify which day of the week the go off,) and it’s the last thing I touch at the end of the day, usually playing a quick game before bed. I get my weather from it, I get my mail from it. I surf it for answers when I’m watching TV, it’s my to-do list, it’s my contact book, it’s where I keep my recipes so I know what to shop for. It’s the remote for my stereo, it’s my calculator, I take photos with it, show photo galleries to friends, update Facebook and Twitter, read my RSS feeds, and it’s also a phone and iPod. Best of all, I bought it in the USA for $375 new and use pay as you go so my monthly bill is about $20. Once I can start paying for things at the store with it and unlock doors, I won’t need anything else with me.
Outoor Gear
- Helly Hansen Dry Glove Liner: These can’t be beat as a base layer glove. They are made of the same thin material as HH base layer line of clothing and are perfect for keeping your hands from being exposed to the elements while still fitting comfortably within any pair of gloves. This glove set is inexpensive ($14 CAD) and was actually discontinued three years ago before coming back on the market in 2009. They wick moisture away from the hands, dry quickly, and are light enough that I keep a pair packed with me year round.
- Olympus 8×21 RC I binoculars: I bought these based on a Consumer Reports recommendation and they’ve proven way more useful than I expected. Light weight at around 200g, compact, and extremely affordable ($75 US or less), these binos come with me whenever I’m in the field, and are as bright and powerful as the much bigger and heavier 7 x 35mm Tasco binoculars I inherited from my grandfather (those ones stay by the living room window). I have a lot of fun using them as a zoom lens for my camera. Downside? Haven’t found them in Canada so you need to get them shipped from the US.