 |
 Scuba
diving and running DAK 2000 have a lot in common. They are both
highly technical. And, with both, you get to play with a ton
of electronic gadgets. I guess I really do 'live to explore'
new technology. And I love diving and running DAK 2000 equally.
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 BUBBLING
UP FROM DREW
Dear Old DAKonian Friend,
Thanks for checking
on me. I'm glad you cared enough to click this link. It was 4 years since I last
published the DAK 1 catalog and before I published the new DAK Catalogs. I hope
you missed them as much as I did.
We
all had such a great time testing, using and benefiting from
the new technology products, I hope you're as excited about
doing it again as I am. OK, so when I'm not running DAK Industries
2000 what am I doing?
First, the truth is
I wasn't diving all the time. I've really been working pretty consistently when
I was away. But, the ventures I've been involved in have only required brief,
intense spurts of energy so I've had time to get away in-between projects. I'll
share the projects with you in a minute. But, first let's talk diving.
I'm an avid/rabid diver/underwater
photographer. And frankly diving really is a lot like running DAK 2000. I
dive with a computer. All I learned about F-stops and photographing catalog products
with my 4x5 cameras applies underwater.
And from the scooters
I often ride to the diving tables I use, to the 2-3 cameras I dive with, it's
all about technology. B/W did you know that the word SCUBA wasn't even coined
until 1952? And it's first use as a verb was recorded in 1973. So, it just about
parallels the introduction and usage of our desktop computers.
I've dived with turtles, sharks and rays, and I've even been
bitten by an eel. Oh well. I've had some incredible underwater
experiences, a few of which we can share below. I often ride
"James Bond" type underwater scooters, which are a real kick.
But, it's the silence, the serene beauty and the incredible
fish that have so often driven me underwater since I was first
certified in 1970. If you love the awesome beauty of nature
as I do, check out a few of my pictures below.
From
Australia's fabulous barrier reef to Bonaire's incomparable
pristine shore diving, from Egypt's Red Sea adventure to Maui's
Ahihi Bay Preserve, I've witnessed some of the stunning wonders
of nature through my lens finder. One night I dove with 6 giant
10-foot manta rays. They were all around me rubbing up against
me. It's a night I will never forget. And I watch my video often.
And when I'm not in the water what do I do? I read electronics
manuals and texts. OK, everyone thinks I'm crazy. But, I really
do. When I was a kid, I used to read dictionaries and encyclopedias
for fun. (My wife thinks I shouldn't admit this in public. But,
it's me. And it's true.)
And now, it's not
unusual to find me warming up after a long dive reading the latest PhotoShop,
Fireworks or Window's user guide. And wait till you see some of what you can do
for less than $50 that I've learned from a manual on a flight to Maui below. See
my 2-monitor section below.
But, it's not all diving.
When I'm home I'm perfecting the newest bread recipe or grinding my own wheat.
We make my 87-year old dad a loaf of the oat-bran prune bread every week. Check
out Drew Kaplan Presents and you'll find both some exciting breadmaker add-ons
and additions that may surprise you coming soon.
I've
been involved in 2 dot-com startups, consulted for more
than a dozen of my technology geek friends, and even partnered
in an infomercial. When nobody needs me (translate wants me),
I'm off to the beach.
When there's a job
to be done, you'll find me in Seattle, Hong Kong or even Jerusalem. (Yes there's
an Internet startup I was working on there.) And you'll also find me just about
anywhere else where I can carry my notebook computer, get a connection to the
Internet, and hopefully find some nice warm-water diving.
Plus, my family's doing
great. We've never had so much time together. My two sons graduated college,
one with his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology (our resident rocket scientist.) and
the other with a degree in Marketing (our wheeler-dealer, maybe I'll learn a thing
or two). Anyway things are good and I'm loving running DAK, well, DAK 2000.com.
Thanks for spending a few moments checking on me. Honestly,
all I've really ever wanted to do was to get DAK 2000 started.
And now with your support, I've put my diving aside and traded
trips to Maui for trips to the Far East. (It's a lucky thing
for me that I love Peeking Duck.)
|
For
DAK INDUSTRIES, 2000, INC. Again, (That sounds good!)
Drew Alan Kaplan
President (Boy, it sure has a nice ring to it. President,
I like it.) |
P.S. Wander around the page below for a few minutes and
you'll get a more graphical idea of what I've been up to. Enjoy
the awesome beauty of nature, get a little travelogue, and pick
up a few computer tips. And thanks again for caring enough to
check in on me.
P.P.S OK here's a crass commercial plea. Please sign
up for the DAK2000.com Newsletter eMailing list so we can grow
really fast and get the best products cheapest. Just
Click Here To Become an eDAKonian, PLEASE? |
|
CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW
Get
a feel for the splendor of being underwater. Later I'll add
more of my shark and dolphin pictures and more great turtle
and octopus shots. Not enough time, not enough space. Oh well. |
It's turtle heaven in
Maui. Turtles are the beautiful clowns of the ocean. In Maui
they are abundant friends. Here's one playing with my scooter.
64K |
Here I go on my scooter with my video camera in Maui. With a
scooter you can cover a lot of ground and see a lot without
using up your air kicking. 40K |
The Octopus is a very intelligent creature.
This one is leaving. Check out the Frog Fish below him. 74K |
A Yellow Trumpet fish and an eel in the grass. (Not the one
that bit me.) 75K |
This ray was beautiful. Check out the dolphins and shark too.
59K |
Sea Horses are hard to find and harder yet to capture on film.
40K |
It's a kaleidoscope
of color. The Queen Angel is one of the most beautiful fish.
Bonaire 50K |
Is it a rock?
Only a mother could love a face like this on payday. Bonaire
73K |
School anyone?
Here I find myself in the middle of a school of Taape (4 Stripe
snappers). 65K |
Lion Fish
are amongst natures most elaborate fish. In Egypt's Red Sea,
I saw them 5 at a time. Wow! 43K |
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