It’s been a while since we talked about my Pearl Harbor Kit. To refresh, the US was caught unprepared for the Japanese invasion in 1941. I do not want to be caught without being ready for contingencies during my talks.

I bring a baggie with all the essentials I might need on a ship. I just found a new one. Let me introduce you to the Smk-link VP4560 Wireless RF Presentation Remote Presenter for Powerpoint (a mouthfull). It’s made by Interlink Electronics.

OK, so what is it? It’s a standard PowerPoint slide changer. Click it and you get to the next slide. BUT, it has a built-in timer. Just tap a button and it begins to count up in minutes/seconds. So, if your talk is for 45-minutes (as on most cruise ships), you just glance down at the device to know when you need to get off stage.

This is a lot easier than straining to see a clock that might read: 2:14 and try to figure out how much time of 45-minutes you have consumed. The laser is red and wimpy, so I still recommend getting a bright green laser. Just don’t point it at airplanes!

This cost me $34 at an electronics store. Hunt the web for the best prices. Well worth it. I kept my older clicker as a backup.