Andrew Hale: IT Talk & Other Topics

I've never carried a pen on the regular. When I did, I had cheap BIC or the occasional Pilot G2. At the time, I was working night stock at a grocery store and used my pens fairly regularly. Now, I work in IT and most of the writing I do is digital (email, IMs, Powershell, blogs, etc.). However, I still have to sign for things. I receive packages at work and sometimes the delivery guy doesn't have a pen for me to use. I've been to meetings with important people from around my university campus where I need to sign in and I look unprepared by having to ask to borrow a pen to sign in. I'll go on job interviews (and at my level, I take notes) and I believe that using a nice pen could be the detail that sets me apart from other candidates. The reasons may not be great but they were enough for me to start carrying a nicer-than-a-disposable pen (but not a super NICE pen).

I've always carried my keys on my belt-loop via a cheap carabiner (you know, the ones that are stamped with "not for climbing" on them just in case). It was easy and it worked. However, I work in a rather quiet office and everyone knew whenever I moved thanks to my keys jingling. Pocket carrying keys with out a key ring is a recipe for lost key disaster and pocket carrying them with a key ring is a recipe for pocket tearing or leg stabbing disaster. What's one to do?

As a kid, I remember admiring my dad's wallet. It practically told a story in its appearance. It was filled with cards for various things, receipts and notes, money and checks. A man's entire life had to fit in a piece of leather. I was amazed and enthralled with it. (I can't explain it but I loved old cards, wallets, keys and other small things adults carry on their person for various reasons. As kids we can't wait to grow up and once you're grown, you can't help but think how simple life was as a kid.)

As a "computer guy", I've always built my own computers. It's really not that hard to do and you can get exactly what you want. However, building a computer isn't always the best decision for everyone. Below, I'll discuss MY OPINION on when to buy and when to build.