Ask HN: What do you take with you?
31 comments
I'm surprised at how many people carry a phone with them everywhere.
I treat my phone like a phone, and generally leave it at home. It has voicemail, so if you leave a message I'll call you back in a day or so. Unless I'm out of the country in which case you should probably just email me.
I mean sure, if I'm going to be meeting up with people it's nice to have along in case plans change. But for the most part I just don't want people to be able to break my concentration whenever they choose to.
I treat my phone like a phone, and generally leave it at home. It has voicemail, so if you leave a message I'll call you back in a day or so. Unless I'm out of the country in which case you should probably just email me.
I mean sure, if I'm going to be meeting up with people it's nice to have along in case plans change. But for the most part I just don't want people to be able to break my concentration whenever they choose to.
You must not get out very much if it takes a small poll online in 2010 to figure out most people carry a cell phone with them everywhere they go.
ah, to be single again....
I've found a compact camera to be a decent "portable photocopier". I'll have to sign something, or I'll see something I'd like to follow up on. "Snap" -- no problem.
Mine's a bit older but has (for the time) especially good light sensitivity, so that in most settings I can take a decent picture without flash (which would wash out a document): Fuji F31fd. I also had a Canon A640, until it was stolen. Much better lens, but a generation prior to vibration dampening and so the same shots were chancy at best. I guess anything with dampening would suit the purpose, though the Fuji gets 500 odd shots on a single charge.
P.S. If the document has sensitive data, make sure you don't lose the camera! (You might want to pop the storage card and carry it separately.)
Mine's a bit older but has (for the time) especially good light sensitivity, so that in most settings I can take a decent picture without flash (which would wash out a document): Fuji F31fd. I also had a Canon A640, until it was stolen. Much better lens, but a generation prior to vibration dampening and so the same shots were chancy at best. I guess anything with dampening would suit the purpose, though the Fuji gets 500 odd shots on a single charge.
P.S. If the document has sensitive data, make sure you don't lose the camera! (You might want to pop the storage card and carry it separately.)
I'm surprised how much shit people carry.
I keep it limited to a wallet, which has my I'd two credit cards and cash.
My blackberry bold 9000
And my car key. Sometimes a lighter/cigarettes
I keep it limited to a wallet, which has my I'd two credit cards and cash.
My blackberry bold 9000
And my car key. Sometimes a lighter/cigarettes
* two-currency wallet
* locking folding knife ($1 from Walmart so I don't care if the TSA steal it)
* Phone
* Car keys
* locking folding knife ($1 from Walmart so I don't care if the TSA steal it)
* Phone
* Car keys
Wallet, keys, a few kleenexes, and a wristwatch. Sometimes coins, if I expect to need them.
I have my power-three: money clip, phone, keys. When my wife drives (and leaves the keys in her handbag) I realise just how often I subconsciously check myself for all three when out and about.
I like a clean handkerchief - useful for everything from an acute bout of the common cold to the acutely embarrasing spillage of a colleagues coffee cup while on the phone.
As a boy, I always wanted to be the one with the string and the buttons and the matchbox full of interesting odds and ends in my pockets. It never happened, so the fixation remains. Perhaps a smartphone will solve that for me - Twine? They have an app for that!
I like a clean handkerchief - useful for everything from an acute bout of the common cold to the acutely embarrasing spillage of a colleagues coffee cup while on the phone.
As a boy, I always wanted to be the one with the string and the buttons and the matchbox full of interesting odds and ends in my pockets. It never happened, so the fixation remains. Perhaps a smartphone will solve that for me - Twine? They have an app for that!
Wallet, keys, phone, pocketknife and lip balm in my bag or pockets. Notebook (the paper kind) and MBP if I'm going to uni. I don't own a utility belt (although I would very much like to some days) because I keep my tools at work or in the car.
Cash, phone and keys with high odds of a camera or leatherman.
In my pockets:
Wallet, keys (inc utili-knife key), HTC EVO, gerber pocket knife, leatherman skeletool (carbon fiber edition), antihistamine tablets (due to severe allergies).
In the bag: MBP, power adaptor, 20' extension cable with several sockets at the end, belkin travel surge protector, spare battery (I have an old-gen MBP), beats-by-dre studio headphones in protective case, two pairs of v-moda bassfreq headphones, iPad, iPhone USB cable (for iPad), (paper) notebook + pen, DVI-to-VGA adaptor, epi-pen + antihistamine drugs, emergency Cliff bar for energy drops, business cards,.
In the bag: MBP, power adaptor, 20' extension cable with several sockets at the end, belkin travel surge protector, spare battery (I have an old-gen MBP), beats-by-dre studio headphones in protective case, two pairs of v-moda bassfreq headphones, iPad, iPhone USB cable (for iPad), (paper) notebook + pen, DVI-to-VGA adaptor, epi-pen + antihistamine drugs, emergency Cliff bar for energy drops, business cards,.
Wallet, phone, knife, keychain with mini-maglite. A mini-maglite is an eminently practical thing to have around--just as durable as a full sized maglite, powerful enough for most uses, and easy to carry around. It also makes a nice big keychain handle.
My bag traditionally carries more stuff: water bottle, MacBook, caffeine pills, pens, note cards, power adapter, highlighter, calculators, post-it notes, whatever paper I have accumulated since I last garbage-collected.
My bag traditionally carries more stuff: water bottle, MacBook, caffeine pills, pens, note cards, power adapter, highlighter, calculators, post-it notes, whatever paper I have accumulated since I last garbage-collected.
Caffeine pills? Please educate me on that.
OTC caffeine pills: 250-500mg caffeine (about 3-6 cups of coffee equivalent), with the difference being it's much cheaper than coffee, and more deleterious to your stomach. Less liquid, so it's much easier to dehydrate yourself, or get to dangerous (2-3g) caffeine levels. You might actually notice minor-league OD symptoms off 2 pills (500mg), and definitely at 1g.
Really, a bad idea. Modafinil (provigil) or ritalin (methylphenidate) or adderall (d-amphetamine salts) are probably safer physically than caffeine pills, but potentially more addictive.
Really, a bad idea. Modafinil (provigil) or ritalin (methylphenidate) or adderall (d-amphetamine salts) are probably safer physically than caffeine pills, but potentially more addictive.
OTOH, pills psychologically enforce the idea that you are taking a drug, whereas drinking coffee just feels like another beverage.
I only get generic caffeine pills, mostly because generic caffeine pills are amusingly called "Stay Awake". I wish all drugs were named in this manner.
I only get generic caffeine pills, mostly because generic caffeine pills are amusingly called "Stay Awake". I wish all drugs were named in this manner.
I make sure to always have a paper notebook with me. I use it for anything from to-do lists to scribbling software designs and ideas. Often, I open it on the bus and don't even write anything in it. It has become a kind of token or reminder in that it makes me focus on ideas or planning my day instead of just getting lost in random thoughts. Although the latter is also important from time to time!
Also, the current Economist. It's small and light and ensures I always have some good reading available.
Also, the current Economist. It's small and light and ensures I always have some good reading available.
No one is carrying around an iPad?
I have an iPad and carry it frequently, although usually also in the same bag with a kindle dx and 15 inch mbp. iPad is better for use waiting for flights for casual web browsing, or kindle app in unlit rooms.
Agree on the iPad for airport use. Most of the time my MBPro stays packed in my bag & I just use the iPads on planes these days. One thing that is a bit silly though is when you're reading an eBook & then during take-off/landing you sit around twiddling your fingers while everyone else continues reading their paper books.
Glock 19, 2 extra mags with floor plate extension. Kershaw ao knife, novatac edc 120 lumen flashlight. Blackberry 9700 with bes and free data roaming, nexus one w local sim. Keys w led flashlight. Identity card holder w 4 id cards and credit card and eagle cash card. Wristwatch. Hat w 100 bill inside, sunglasses.
Usually also either a vest or one of two shoulder bags with first aid and mags, sat phone, laptop and or iPad or kindle dx, some snacks, cisco console cable. Bigger bag (3 day assault pack or one size bigger) for trips, and spares in my car or the truck, and my trailer. I have a good point and shoot in most bags or on armor, and I have etymotics or ultimate ears canal phones. I also sometimes carry a canon in a dedicated d slr bag.
In civilization, largely the same, except sometimes ruger LCR 38 and or a sig mix and match with the g19 in some combination, or just knife and flashlight if carry is unadvised. Also I carry a wallet instead of ID holder.
Usually also either a vest or one of two shoulder bags with first aid and mags, sat phone, laptop and or iPad or kindle dx, some snacks, cisco console cable. Bigger bag (3 day assault pack or one size bigger) for trips, and spares in my car or the truck, and my trailer. I have a good point and shoot in most bags or on armor, and I have etymotics or ultimate ears canal phones. I also sometimes carry a canon in a dedicated d slr bag.
In civilization, largely the same, except sometimes ruger LCR 38 and or a sig mix and match with the g19 in some combination, or just knife and flashlight if carry is unadvised. Also I carry a wallet instead of ID holder.
From your bio : "Currently doing defense IT/medical contracting in the middle east."
Holy crap.
Have you been in any firefights ?
Holy crap.
Have you been in any firefights ?
Aside from people ineffectually shooting at my aircraft, not in years. I have had mortars land vaguely nearby though.
Almost involved in 3 possibly fatal car accidents in Kuwait earlier this year though, but luckily I am a fairly competent driver and swerved around or braked ... Riding a motorcycle in the USA would he great preparation for driving a car here.
Almost involved in 3 possibly fatal car accidents in Kuwait earlier this year though, but luckily I am a fairly competent driver and swerved around or braked ... Riding a motorcycle in the USA would he great preparation for driving a car here.
Please do an AMA somewhere, I'm sure you have tons of stuff to say and that should be pretty interesting imho
I think it would be super boring. I myself would not read a documentary account of my life.
Technically, it's basically either "learning how to do increasingly advanced satellite tech/eng work in the field, starting from a strong IP networking and sort of college ee/rf background" at the same time the industry itself was developing (late 1990s-mid 2000s). Also, political crap trying to deploy linux based servers on windows/activedirectory centric networks, with multiple layers of policymakers involved in every decision. Very very little worthwhile technology. The only people in the overall government space doing commercially-normal interesting tech seem to be TIGR, and for mostly-awesome (but still inferior to b2c webapps, by a mile!), Palantir.
On top of that, the whole sealand thing from 2000-2002, and anon ecash stuff in the caribbean from 1995 (mit) through 1999 or so.
Then, learning more about defense contracting and how the military works, having zero background to start, from 2003 onward.
And the "going to iraq thinking it would just be reconstruction and a technology land-grab, and it turns into a shooting war after the war itself is done" thing.
Combine that with generic startup things with somewhat more fraud and logistics problems than you'd face in the US, and living in a mix of crappy (iraq, afghanistan) and boring (5-star hotels in dubai and kuwait).
If you're interested in the war part, actual soldiers have way more interesting stories from iraq or afghanistan. For the tech part, the technology itself is really boring. For the military psychology part, just read catch-22 and slaughterhouse five.
Plus, writing it fully accurately would make me either look dumb or naive most of the time, and there are OPSEC and liability concerns detailing what other people have done or failed to do.
I think the most workable solution would be some kind of "techno-thriller" set in relevant places, but fictionalized.
Technically, it's basically either "learning how to do increasingly advanced satellite tech/eng work in the field, starting from a strong IP networking and sort of college ee/rf background" at the same time the industry itself was developing (late 1990s-mid 2000s). Also, political crap trying to deploy linux based servers on windows/activedirectory centric networks, with multiple layers of policymakers involved in every decision. Very very little worthwhile technology. The only people in the overall government space doing commercially-normal interesting tech seem to be TIGR, and for mostly-awesome (but still inferior to b2c webapps, by a mile!), Palantir.
On top of that, the whole sealand thing from 2000-2002, and anon ecash stuff in the caribbean from 1995 (mit) through 1999 or so.
Then, learning more about defense contracting and how the military works, having zero background to start, from 2003 onward.
And the "going to iraq thinking it would just be reconstruction and a technology land-grab, and it turns into a shooting war after the war itself is done" thing.
Combine that with generic startup things with somewhat more fraud and logistics problems than you'd face in the US, and living in a mix of crappy (iraq, afghanistan) and boring (5-star hotels in dubai and kuwait).
If you're interested in the war part, actual soldiers have way more interesting stories from iraq or afghanistan. For the tech part, the technology itself is really boring. For the military psychology part, just read catch-22 and slaughterhouse five.
Plus, writing it fully accurately would make me either look dumb or naive most of the time, and there are OPSEC and liability concerns detailing what other people have done or failed to do.
I think the most workable solution would be some kind of "techno-thriller" set in relevant places, but fictionalized.
Seriously, you can skip the whole tech part & just talk about your life. I'd buy the book. A good story can be written by just artfully stringing anecdotes together, just go ask Malcolm Gladwell ;-)
Do you write an online journal, or something?
I would love to read it no matter how infrequently you update. I think that you should think seriously about writing; your life would make for one hell of a memoir. It could even become an alternative career left to be pursued someday down the road.
If a well written book describing a life like that comes out then I would buy it hands down.
I would love to read it no matter how infrequently you update. I think that you should think seriously about writing; your life would make for one hell of a memoir. It could even become an alternative career left to be pursued someday down the road.
If a well written book describing a life like that comes out then I would buy it hands down.
"milbloggers" are much more interesting to read -- you can check michaelyon-online.com and freerangeinternational.com and find stuff linked from there. Generally someone who is on a 4-15 month tour blogs about it while there, and sometimes it is really interesting. Usually the people doing interesting stuff don't have time, though.
I blogged for a while (but it was all password-protected due to OPSEC issues). Then I mainly switched to just use quora.com to replace most of my other "recreational" computer time.
I blogged for a while (but it was all password-protected due to OPSEC issues). Then I mainly switched to just use quora.com to replace most of my other "recreational" computer time.
Could be hard to get into the grocery store/movies/mall with that stuff. Coffee shop, not so hard depending :)
I think my concealed carry permits in the US are good in about 40 states (WA NH NV UT FL NH OR ME MA). Aside from CA and NY, I basically avoid the others (IL WI IA NJ mainly).
It is slightly crazy, but I think I am going to Strongly Encourage that everyone in my next startup get concealed carry permits, plus own firearms, even though it is not at all core to the business -- mainly because friday afternoon at the range once or twice a month might be a fun team-building exercise.
It is slightly crazy, but I think I am going to Strongly Encourage that everyone in my next startup get concealed carry permits, plus own firearms, even though it is not at all core to the business -- mainly because friday afternoon at the range once or twice a month might be a fun team-building exercise.
Cocealed Carry is good in private establishments? I didn't think it was. Except Starbucks, of course.
Absolutely. It varies by state. In most states most private businesses can't prohibit concealed carry; in other states they can, but only with specific language on a certain size sign. Plus, if you violate, it's just "please leave". There are legal prohibitions against carry in certain places under state law (usually bars, schools, sometimes government buildings), and there are federal prohibitions at airports. Not carrying when you're going to be drinking, or at a place like a club where people will be bumping up against you, is probably a good and prudent idea.
If it is concealed, no one should know. Open carry IMO is a bad idea in a lot of places, and not something I would want to encourage. That is what Starbucks seems to have a problem with. Open carry is bad because it makes weapon retention a much bigger problem, plus it negates the "no one knows who MIGHT be armed" value of citizen concealed carry. Also, if I were doing open carry, I would feel obligated to carry something like a $3500 Les Baer 1911 or a Colt Python, vs. a $500 Glock.
If it is concealed, no one should know. Open carry IMO is a bad idea in a lot of places, and not something I would want to encourage. That is what Starbucks seems to have a problem with. Open carry is bad because it makes weapon retention a much bigger problem, plus it negates the "no one knows who MIGHT be armed" value of citizen concealed carry. Also, if I were doing open carry, I would feel obligated to carry something like a $3500 Les Baer 1911 or a Colt Python, vs. a $500 Glock.
Be short to post pics too. My daily stuff is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueace/3517491753/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueace/3517491753/
in pocket: iPhone 4, keyring (2 keys + office door tag), suit wallet, business cards.
in briefcase:
squared paper moleskine, car keys, pencil case (various 0.4mm pens, toothbrush, felt pen, lighter), wayfarer sunglasses, passport, business cards, 15" MBP & display port to vga adapter.
in briefcase:
squared paper moleskine, car keys, pencil case (various 0.4mm pens, toothbrush, felt pen, lighter), wayfarer sunglasses, passport, business cards, 15" MBP & display port to vga adapter.
Bike lock, clip on red bike light, camera (digital point and shoot) ipod, ipod cable, headphones every now and then. Pen and notepad. Bike stuff just stays in bag even though I commute by car/ walk to work.
I'm apparently pretty boring:
Ipod Touch, 2 Cellphones (work, personal), Thermos, lunchbox, and a bunch of papers for work. Small folding fan, three train passes and my business cards. Used to carry a pocket electronic dictionary with me until the clasp broke last week.
If I'm not going to work, I'm down to: Wallet, 1 cellphone, car keys. The ipod comes if I'm going somewhere with internet, or I think I might be bored.
If I'm not going to work, I'm down to: Wallet, 1 cellphone, car keys. The ipod comes if I'm going somewhere with internet, or I think I might be bored.
Wallet, keys, gym membership key fob, unironed handkerchief, coins, engine immobiliser remote control, five year old Nokia 3315 phone and a PDA. The PDA is usually a four year old Palm Pilot Tungsten E2 with a 1 Gig SD card full of author intervews, biographies and management podcasts. I also take a spare 1 Gig card wth more podcasts in case the first one runs out. Occasionally the PDA is a six year old Palm Pilot Tungsten E with music on its SD card.
Perhaps I'd better explain about the handkerchief. I discovered that, if I fold an unironed one, put it in my pocket and pull it out later, it looks like it's been ironed and is getting a bit crumpled whereas the truth is that it started out really crumpled and is getting flatter. Saves ironing and ends up looking the same.
Perhaps I'd better explain about the handkerchief. I discovered that, if I fold an unironed one, put it in my pocket and pull it out later, it looks like it's been ironed and is getting a bit crumpled whereas the truth is that it started out really crumpled and is getting flatter. Saves ironing and ends up looking the same.
[deleted]
Wallet, small phone, cigarettes, lighter.
[deleted]
If you're really interested in this, the best place I've found is the "Everyday Carry Forums", where they talk about this all day long: http://edcforums.com/. Here's my list:
In pockets:
* Wallet. I looked around for a looong time for the perfect wallet, then I found these guys: http://www.all-ett.com/. I use one with leather lining, and it's an amazingly thin wallet, but which looks like a regular one. Has space for all my cards (not that many), plus some money.
* Cellphone (Samsung Touch, a terrible phone I'm stuck with)
* Keychain - An openable metal ring for easy removal of stuff, which right now include: Car keys, house keys, 8gb flash disk, and an old CPLD chip from my former job with a hole in the middle.
In back pockets:
* Coins, rarely. I almost never keep coins on me, but sometimes you get stuck with them after cash transactions (I prefer credit cards any chance I can use them).
* Extra keys, if I need (taking a different car than my regular one, etc.).
Used to have or want:
* Used to carry a small LED flashlight (don't remember which), but it lost its battery and hasn't been replaced (sadly).
* Wish I had a small pen.
* Have a Leatherman Squirt pocket everything, but don't usually carry it around.
In pockets:
* Wallet. I looked around for a looong time for the perfect wallet, then I found these guys: http://www.all-ett.com/. I use one with leather lining, and it's an amazingly thin wallet, but which looks like a regular one. Has space for all my cards (not that many), plus some money.
* Cellphone (Samsung Touch, a terrible phone I'm stuck with)
* Keychain - An openable metal ring for easy removal of stuff, which right now include: Car keys, house keys, 8gb flash disk, and an old CPLD chip from my former job with a hole in the middle.
In back pockets:
* Coins, rarely. I almost never keep coins on me, but sometimes you get stuck with them after cash transactions (I prefer credit cards any chance I can use them).
* Extra keys, if I need (taking a different car than my regular one, etc.).
Used to have or want:
* Used to carry a small LED flashlight (don't remember which), but it lost its battery and hasn't been replaced (sadly).
* Wish I had a small pen.
* Have a Leatherman Squirt pocket everything, but don't usually carry it around.
Thanks! That wallet looks like just what I've been looking for.
eBay would appear to be the place to get them. Cheaper and, more importantly for me, international shipping.
eBay would appear to be the place to get them. Cheaper and, more importantly for me, international shipping.
I noticed that everyone here is using a MacBook Pro 15" laptop. Why is that?
Can't speak for everyone else, but personally:
The 2" of extra screen real-estate doesn't give me a huge benefit usually (not enough to put two windows side-by-side); but it does widen the laptop enough to make it harder to use in tight spaces (ie. airplanes), and it does make the laptop heavier.
On the other hand, at the time I bought my MBP, the 13" MacBook Pro was not a Pro. I'm honestly not sure what I would get these days. I might go for the 13", and get a bunch of external stuff (display, mouse, keyboard, but mostly the display).
The 2" of extra screen real-estate doesn't give me a huge benefit usually (not enough to put two windows side-by-side); but it does widen the laptop enough to make it harder to use in tight spaces (ie. airplanes), and it does make the laptop heavier.
On the other hand, at the time I bought my MBP, the 13" MacBook Pro was not a Pro. I'm honestly not sure what I would get these days. I might go for the 13", and get a bunch of external stuff (display, mouse, keyboard, but mostly the display).
I have a "seriously tore up" 15" MBP from spring 2008 which I carry with me for really mobile use, and a 17" 2010 MBP which sits in my "base" location for weeks at a time. I went that route, vs. the 15" HD, because I can't easily have an external monitor while being mobile -- otherwise, the 15" HD seems to be the best, coupled with an external 24, 27, or 30.
I am considering getting a 13" MBP or maybe an x301 or panasonic s9 whenever they next get bumped. I don't care for netbooks (too weak), but a long battery life small laptop would be a nice tool. The lack of a keyboard on the ipad cripples me; often, the blackberry is more useful.
I am considering getting a 13" MBP or maybe an x301 or panasonic s9 whenever they next get bumped. I don't care for netbooks (too weak), but a long battery life small laptop would be a nice tool. The lack of a keyboard on the ipad cripples me; often, the blackberry is more useful.
I have a 13" aluminum MacBook with external display, keyboard, and mouse, and highly recommend that setup. I downsized from a 15" PowerBook to 13" MacBooks long ago, and with the aluminum ones ("Pro" or not) they are fantastic machines.
Because it's a fairly sturdy machine that makes a great portable workstation? For me it's because I'm invested in the platform: whenever I start a new big project I get myself a new one. (Bonus if I can convince someone else to get me one.) I like how there is absolutely zero friction in the purchase decision: I already know what I'll get & I don't have to go through the agonizing process of configuring the machine. (both hardware & software) It's an expendable high-quality tool that gets the job done.
I mean, why Macs in general? I thought most people here were using some form of Linux, but I guess not?
Apple makes better hardware than most of the PC manufacturers. The only mon-Mac laptops I like as hardware are the Lenovo T, W, and X series. I have some IBM/lenovo laptops too. Some of the Panasonic business-rugged laptops (W, T, S series) are also nice, but driver support is often weak.
Linux itself on laptops sucks more than on any other platform -- driver support, ACPI/APM support, etc. all suffer vs. Mac. OSX is a pretty decent Unix OS (although since I use ubuntu for most of my servers, the slight syntax variation vs. linux gets annoying). I also really like having Keynote, Pages, and Numbers available -- OpenOffice just doesn't do it for me. And, I use Adobe CS4 (mainly Illustrator and Photoshop). And for a gui text editor, TextMate is nice. And OmniGraffle.
Basically, Mac commercial software is a big plus, but fundamentally it's about having a great working Unix laptop which requires minimal tweaking out of the box.
Linux itself on laptops sucks more than on any other platform -- driver support, ACPI/APM support, etc. all suffer vs. Mac. OSX is a pretty decent Unix OS (although since I use ubuntu for most of my servers, the slight syntax variation vs. linux gets annoying). I also really like having Keynote, Pages, and Numbers available -- OpenOffice just doesn't do it for me. And, I use Adobe CS4 (mainly Illustrator and Photoshop). And for a gui text editor, TextMate is nice. And OmniGraffle.
Basically, Mac commercial software is a big plus, but fundamentally it's about having a great working Unix laptop which requires minimal tweaking out of the box.
Linux is for computer specific hackers.
Mac is for hackers in general.
Besides, I'll get a MBP (you can't beat the hardware quality) and put Linux on it. So who's to say they don't have Linux on it?
Mac is for hackers in general.
Besides, I'll get a MBP (you can't beat the hardware quality) and put Linux on it. So who's to say they don't have Linux on it?
N95, EeePC 1005PE, Pilot G207 Black, a wallet containing essential wallet deelies and a towel.
iPhone 4, wallet, bag of tobacco, lighter, keys, and a portable HDD.
Palm Tungsten C (yes, really!) for reading books and studying Chinese, really crappy Windows phone, Sansa Fuze MP3 player (for listening to Chinese, not music), Canon SD790 pocket camera, small notepad in a nice flip pad with penholder, Harrap's Chinese Pocket Grammar, teeny wallet (basically just a little leather pocket with a zipper), ID badge for work, keys, coins, lint. I really need to either consolidate my electronics into one device or start wearing suspenders.
The Palm Tungstens were great machines when they were new.
There's a flickr group devoted to this: The Items We Carry http://www.flickr.com/groups/theitemswecarry/pool/
* Keys (car, house x3 [handle/deadbolt/back door], work office, various cards [library/discount])
* Phone (HTC Droid Eris, was great until VZW botched the 2.1 update)
* Wallet (always too full; I tend to accumulate receipts in here)
* Pen (Charcoal black Lamy Safari fountain pen. Never go anywhere without it)
* Moleskine (if it wouldn't look too out of place. I nearly always throw it in the car and take it in to many places)
* Phone (HTC Droid Eris, was great until VZW botched the 2.1 update)
* Wallet (always too full; I tend to accumulate receipts in here)
* Pen (Charcoal black Lamy Safari fountain pen. Never go anywhere without it)
* Moleskine (if it wouldn't look too out of place. I nearly always throw it in the car and take it in to many places)
Keys (obviously to get back home), Portfolio (With identity card, driving license, credit card and some cash), Mobile Phone.
That's all, what do I need else? (Sometimes I bring a Usb Flash)
That's all, what do I need else? (Sometimes I bring a Usb Flash)
Lunch bag: California innovations. It's big, so I carry inside that a water bottle, knife for apples, and keys.
Inside pockets: wallet, crappy LG phone, and my ipod so I can ignore others on the train.
I usually get the daily newspaper to occupy my time on the train otherwise.
Inside pockets: wallet, crappy LG phone, and my ipod so I can ignore others on the train.
I usually get the daily newspaper to occupy my time on the train otherwise.
A crappy cell phone i use to talk to other people, and a crappy Chinese mp3 player i use to listen to music. A fancy swiss army knife. A copy of K&R in my back pack(just in case). A pack of cigarettes and a lighter, occasionally matches.
These days, I've consolidated to a cashclip, an iPhone 4, and a key chain (with an innocuous 19-in-one tool set).
How about you?