Reviews of Books and Newsletters |
The reviews of books
and newsletters here can save you money, and/or can help you
confirm a decision to buy a book or to subscribe to a newsletter.

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Freedoms of the Air |
The meaning behind
terms such as 'third freedom' that are sometimes used to describe
airline routes and their negotiations with governments.

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All About Bird Flu and How to
Survive |
Is Bird Flu an
upcoming disaster that could destroy much of the world's
civilization (and population) or is the risk greatly overstated?
This three article series discusses
the underlying realities of Bird Flu and what you can do to
prepare and survive a Bird Flu pandemic, should one occur.

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The
Art of Positive Complaining |
A series of articles
on how to create winning complaints, both in person and by mail.

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Correspondence with ASTA |
An unsuccessful
attempt to get the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to
explain and defend itself in response to the regular criticism
from both me and travel agent readers.

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What Happens if an Airplane's Engines All Fail? |
Although exceedingly rare, such
events do occasionally happen.
Here's a report telling you what to
expect, prepared with the assistance of several airline pilots.
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Bentley Continental
Flying Spur
review |
Bentley's fastest
ever four door car, the new Continental Flying Spur manages to
combine unashamed performance with exquisite comfort and luxury.
The Flying Spur is definitely for
people seeking the ultimate driving experience.

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Bentley Continental GT
review |
It costs as much as a
single engine plane, and travels as fast or faster.
Although expensive, I consider this super car
to also be good value, and find it to exceed expectations in all
respects.

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Creating Your In-Car Emergency Kit |
A three page article
that comprehensively looks at what you should keep as part of a
general in-car emergency kit, and in an in-car First Aid kit too.
Applying this knowledge might save your
life, or that of a loved one.

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Looking After Your Hard Drive and
its Data |
Hard drives hold more
data than ever before, are smaller, and are cheaper. But,
alas, they are not more reliable.
Here's what you know to make sure
you're never caught unawares by a hard drive crash.

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Fire Prevention Planning and
Fighting |
Based on my own house
fire experiences, tips and strategies to reduce your fire risk
and to respond to a fire if it does occur.
A two part series that might save
your home and even your life.

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The Front Sight Firearms Training
Institute |
Here's a massive
series that tells you a huge amount about the Front Sight
Firearms Training Institute, what they teach, how to prepare for
their courses, what to bring, and whether you should attend or
not.
Not the usual sort of stuff you'd
find on this site, but an interesting and relevant thing for us
all to consider.

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All About Body
Armor and Bullet Proof Vests |
If you're considering
planning for self defense and home defense, don't just think
about the gun or other weapon you'll have. Consider also
defensive measures, and most particularly, a bullet proof vest.
This multi-part series tells you
everything you've ever wanted to know about bullet proof vests -
what they do, what they cost, whether you should get one, and
how to choose the best one for your needs.

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Annual Travel Technology Awards |
Readers vote for the
best new travel and technology items that we've covered here
each year.
Awards have been issued for
2005,
2004 and
2003.

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2009 Christmas (or anytime)
Gadget Gift Giving Guide |
Yet another annual
Christmas gadget gift giving guide with another 'Top
Ten' list of the best
items we've come across in the last year.
Prices range from $15 and up, with
most below $50. You're sure to find plenty of gifts for
all the 'hard to buy' people on your list.

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2007 Christmas (or anytime)
Gadget Gift Giving Guide |
Our fourth annual
Christmas gadget gift giving guide (not sure how we missed one
in 2006), with another 'Top
Ten' list of the best
items we've come across in the last year.
Prices range from $20 and up, with
most below $50. You're sure to find plenty of gifts for
all the 'hard to buy' people on your list.

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2005 Christmas (or anytime)
Gadget Gift Giving Guide |
Our third annual
Christmas gadget gift giving guide, this time featuring a 'Top
Ten' list (actually, 11 items, but who's counting!) of the best
items we've come across in the last year.
Prices range from sort of free up to
almost $200. Chances are you'll find plenty of 'must have'
items for your friends, family, and even yourself.

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2004 Christmas (or anytime)
Gadget Gift Giving Guide |
Looking for something
to give to the person in your life that already 'has
everything'?
Here's our 2004 selection of twelve innovative,
interesting, fun, and/or useful items, ranging in price from
free to $350. You're sure to find something of interest.

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2003 Christmas (or anytime)
Gadget Gift Giving Guide |
Looking for something
to give to the person in your life that already 'has
everything'?
Here's a range of six innovative,
interesting, fun, and/or useful items, ranging in price from
free to $350. You're sure to find something of interest.

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The Amtrak Funding
Scandal |
Why does the
government willingly give billions of dollars to the airlines
(even to ones that are profitable!) but begrudge every penny that
Amtrak desperately needs.
Read more about this scandal, and what
you can do to help encourage appropriate government action.

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Amtrak Answers |
Amtrak's critics in
Congress are once more blaming the troubled railroad company for
its chronic unprofitability, and demanding it either become
profitable or be broken up.
But who is really to blame for Amtrak's
problems? Could it be that Amtrak's critics are also the creators
of Amtrak's current impossible situation?

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The Government's Outrageous
Lie about High Speed Rail |
Amtrak's critics in
Congress are once more blaming the troubled railroad company for
its chronic unprofitability, and demanding it either become
profitable or be broken up.
But who is really to blame for Amtrak's
problems? Could it be that Amtrak's critics are also the creators
of Amtrak's current impossible situation?

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Danger - Your Amex Card Might be Declined |
Read my tale of
frustration and woe about how American Express converted me from
being a loyal and profitable customer, to now being a former
customer who avoids using an Amex card whenever possible.
When it comes to bad customer
service, the airlines could take lessons from American Express.

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