Things I carry II

I find sites like everyday carry and apartment therapy so fascinating - where you get a voyeuristic peek into someone's life and their ideas...maybe even a bit of their personality. For me it's partly seeing what different ideas people have and I'm always surprised by how I wouldn't have thought about something this creative or if done badly how I judge them just a little bit. Anyway, I posted something like this about a year ago. Time for an update.

• Keys - I don't really need to drive anymore since I live and work in San Francisco. I now take my BMW so I get to reduce the number of keys I take with me. Yay. I bought this happy face key chain a when I was at the locksmith. I like it.
• Wallet - found of Etsy. It's really thin which forces me to carry only what I need and nothing else:
• Drivers license
• Clipper Card
• Visa (Both personal, and corporate)
• Backup credit card
• ATM card
• Few business cards
• Cash
• Watch - MKII Vantage. Watches are great. Cell phones tell time better sure, but there's something really nice about a mechanical watch that doesn't use circuits, satellites and radio waves to tell time. It's an icon to a bygone era where accurate time was the foundation that made so many things possible. The little gears and mainsprings that make this possible are really amazing when you thing about it. I used to wear nato straps, but I think I stopped when I saw another dude at work with Rolex Sub on a blue stripped nato. Plus they start to smell after a while. I like these MKII watches because they're homage watches, that use really great parts (Omega uses some of the same) but don't have the price (or douchebagger) associated with some of the actual brands (not that I think Rolex is worn exclusively by douchebags, but I've met too many people that wear them just because it's a Rolex - Ok, I admit I'm a snob about a lot of things).
• Phone - work provides me with a bunch of devices I need to test and use. I'm using a Samsung SIII, but transitioning to a Nexus 4. What can I say that you haven't read in a review? Both great devices.

On a day to day basis. I normally take a few more things with me. Some headphones, my laptop, sunglasses, an umbrella, maybe a flashlight or whatever. I changed bags to an Osprey Orb Daypack. It's great, but since I bike to work often I stuck some reflective tags on the back.

After reading this post, it sounds like a product placement ad, but whatever.

S/CP/SH BatchMode

Totally stolen via some internet page. ssh and scp use the same -o "BatchMode". The scp -B option is also very handy, however scripts are already running and I'm not going to change them.

1. ssh -o “BatchMode yes” Usage Example

If you have the password less login enabled, following example will login to the remote host and execute the who command without asking for the password.

local-host# ssh ramesh@remote-host who

If the password less login is not enabled, it will prompt for the password on the remote host as shown below.

local-host# ssh ramesh@remote-host who
ramesh@remote-host's password:

If you use ssh -o “BatchMode yes”, then it will do ssh only if the password-less login is enabled, else it will return error and continues.

local-host# ssh -o "BatchMode yes" ramesh@remote-host Command

Batch mode command execution using SSH — success case

local-host# ssh -o "BatchMode yes" ramesh@remote-host who
..
[Note: This will display the output of remote-host's who command]

Batch mode command execution using SSH — Failure case

local-host# ssh -o "BatchMode yes" ramesh@remote-host who
Permission denied (publickey,password).

Note: If you didn’t use -o “BatchMode yes”, the above command would’ve asked for the password for my account on the remote host. This is the key difference in using the BatchMode yes option.

2. scp -B option Usage Example

If you use scp -B option, it will execute scp only if the passwordless login is enabled, else it will exit immediately without waiting for password.

$ scp -B file root@IP:PATH

SCP in Batch mode — Successful Case

local-host# scp -B /etc/yp.conf ramesh@remote-host:/tmp
yp.conf            100%   84     0.1KB/s   00:00

SCP in Batch mode — Failure Case

In this example, if scp is possible without authentication, the command will execute else it will exit as shown below.

local-host# scp -B /etc/yp.conf ramesh@remote-host:/tmp
Permission denied (publickey,password).
lost connection

EDC

Inspired by the site Everyday Carry, I'd like to give you a glimpse into what I carry, everyday.

• The bag - Osprey Daylight. The hydro pack area fits my macbook air perfectly. It's got enough room for my charger and a pair of clothes/shoes.
• Laptop - MacBook Air 13". Work issued. Awesome, though I'd love more power and battery life.
• Phone - Samsung Nexus S. T-Mobile. Best phone I've ever used.
• Micro USB cable. Sometimes you just need to charge it. Also, you can get the power brick adapter that's really small, I carry that when I travel overnight.
• iPhone headphones (w/mic). It's just the best headphones for me. Bonus the button works to play/pause music on the Nexus S.
• Glasses - Oakley Splinter. Rx. Black Polarized. I love these glasses. Oakley makes great fitting glasses, at lease for my face. Obviously inside the case.
• Book - Currently reading, Bill Bryerson
• Wallet - Coach Luggage. I don't know the model, but I think I've had this for at least 7 or 8 years. I like this one because it's got 6 card slots - choose wisely.
• Knife - Wenger Swiss Army Apprentice. I've had this for years. It's really handy.
• Writing - Moleskin Cahier softcover notebook
• Edibles - Whatever gum I can get. Always carry gum.
• Watch - Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 8500 (38.5mm, black teak). I have a NATO strap. More comfortable than the metal band. Yes I wear this everyday, it's a beautiful watch and while I have a cellphone, there is something amazing about this timepiece.
• Keys - 2007 Volkswagen GTI. Turbo...mmm.

X1 - Nerd Lust

Thinkpad X1 Review



Can I really move away from my Macbook Air, my 27" iMac (Quad-Core i7)? Can I? Ohhh I'd like to find out.