Articles On Information

EDC = Every Day Carry

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig60s-zc3WQa3zooqpFaParTCoJH93qs506OEmg1b_RI9v0fe93lI94k_gTfF-c7xFyYPMoNXMjU51N-qlz9zS2HQb7JsfZ35EifhPyV6wNJush9zQR3fs3TD0NfuX-JKg2hEGKQnvLJY/s1600/IMG_5404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig60s-zc3WQa3zooqpFaParTCoJH93qs506OEmg1b_RI9v0fe93lI94k_gTfF-c7xFyYPMoNXMjU51N-qlz9zS2HQb7JsfZ35EifhPyV6wNJush9zQR3fs3TD0NfuX-JKg2hEGKQnvLJY/s320/IMG_5404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I may need a guest writer for this entry because I am an absolute EDC novice. Most people have at least one EDC item on their person: car keys; a wallet; a phone; a prophylactic device (kids, don't ask); etc. I'm here to tell you that one item is not enough. According to well established EDC principles, you must keep on your person as much as humanly possible. Every. Day. To demonstrate, the picture over there to the right is exactly what my keychain looked like back in October 2011. I didn't carry anything else other than my wallet and phone. In fact, my theory at that time was "less is more." These days, "more is more."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQFUZNfc705p3ggkfjBfWWko2I1KAvvM7_P-ZIztwaZ0lIi78jDsvMYE-AiFrYwmYIaEvcfkywZGGosaQ2zp-npEMxF0OZfTqWv60jOBhf2uyAvku5eiaqcUBpFgY0Ry4rOJ4Tiw-Lk/s1600/IMG_5406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQFUZNfc705p3ggkfjBfWWko2I1KAvvM7_P-ZIztwaZ0lIi78jDsvMYE-AiFrYwmYIaEvcfkywZGGosaQ2zp-npEMxF0OZfTqWv60jOBhf2uyAvku5eiaqcUBpFgY0Ry4rOJ4Tiw-Lk/s320/IMG_5406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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October 2011 is when I acquired a decent keychain flashlight: the Photon X-Light Micro. At the time, I didn't even know what the acronym "EDC" stood for (what, "Electronic Direct Current"?). Nor did I care . . . I just needed a damn light to find keyholes and avoid walking into scooters, basketballs, rocks, Beyblades, and skateboards on the way to my car. The little light also proved to be very useful for certain situations, i.e., scenarios where one might say something like "I need some light." This light remains on my keychain to this day, as shown in my loadout picture.</div>
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Let me be clear that carrying a boad load of crap is a 180 degree paradigm shift for me because until very recently I liked the streamlined feel that empty pockets provide. In fact, my EDC gear is still fairly minimalist in comparison to the stuff carried by real EDC junkies such as the nice folks over at <a href="http://edcforums.com/" target="_blank">EDC Forums</a> or the people who show off their gear on <a href="http://everyday-carry.com/" target="_blank">Everyday-Carry.Com</a>. Honestly, my stuff is realistic and reasonably practical for MY needs.  I'm not a mechanic, I don't work outdoors, and I'm not in law enforcement. I don't need a pry bar or a pistol. I don't climb mountains and, therefore, don't need a rope cinching device. Sometimes I wish I was a border patrol car mechanic by day slash search and rescue volunteer by night so that I could rationalize more EDC gear, but "computer staring desk monkey" is reality. That reality doesn't call for much in the EDC department.</div>
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In the second picture, from left to right: keychain with Photon X-Light Micro and an HP USB drive; Moleskine softcover pocket notebook; Benchmade Mini-Griptilian knife; Zebra SL-F1 ballpoint pen; and FourSevens Preon P1 flashlight. Not shown are my wallet and phone (which I'm embarrassed to show because it's lame). I tend to unload my keychain when I'm at work or at home, which is why I always carry the Preon P1 flashlight in my pocket. I have other knives that I switch out from week to week, but I always try to keep at least one on me at all times, because that is the tool that gets the most use. For example, that knife was used to open the Amazon boxes for the USB drive, the Preon, and the Moleskine.</div>
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So that's a quick summary of how the EDC concept has invaded my life. Are there any essential items that I'm missing?</div>
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EDC = Every Day Carry

I may need a guest writer for this entry because I am an absolute EDC novice. Most people have at least one EDC item on their person: ca...

10:31 PM

The Acquisition Process Flow

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The theme of this blog relates to my thought process for getting interested in stuff. I thought that a self-explanatory flow chart would make sense. When I preview this post, however, the image of the flow chart is blurry. It might be readable if you click on it; I'm not sure. So this might be a failed experiment.</div>
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Even though I said the flow chart is self-explanatory, let me explain. The process begins with a seed of curiosity, which may come from a friend, a news article, a real world experience, a TV commercial, another blog, an Internet forum, etc. For instance, my interest in Japanese denim jeans came from a post I read on <a href="http://www.head-fi.org/t/445976/the-jeans-fi-thread" target="_blank">Head-Fi</a> of all places. The seed germinates into a round of preliminary research that determines whether or not I remain at least somewhat interested in the topic. If not, I'll just spend more time on Head-Fi, no worries. If so, the initial research becomes a whole lotta research, which typically makes me want to acquire one or more items (pens, ridiculously spendy jeans, headphones, whatever).</div>
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A normal person would just pull the trigger and buy something, especially if it's inexpensive like, say, a PEN that costs a buck fifty. Not me. I tend to get stuck in a loop of analysis paralysis during which additional research is performed before ultimately making a purchase. My theory is that informed consuming is the only way to go to prevent buyer's remorse and to ensure that you are getting the best possible product for whatever your budget might be. This sounds great in theory. In practice, however, it can become difficult for me to follow the "No" branch of the analysis paralysis decision box. Because I'm cheap. And because I know that I spend too much money on things that most people find stupid, compulsive, and/or excessive.</div>
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So there you have it. This is my process.</div>
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Update (about two hours after making this post): I am currently in the "Perform In-Depth Research" step regarding shaved ice machines. LOL, there goes my morning.</div>
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