/uses
A non-comprehensive list of things I’m currently using.
Hardware/Gear
M4 Macbook Pro
Primary computer is a M4 Macbook Pro, and as much as I would love to go Linux full time, it’s hard to justify getting rid of this thing. The performance and battery are just too good to pass up now, but I’ve been keeping my eye on Framework and their new Pro series.
Beelink SER8
I also have a small Beelink SER8 (aka “Benson”) that acts like my Linux desktop / home server, and it’s an absolute champ. 1TB SSD, 32GB Ram, and since it’s running Alpine Linux with XFCE, the energy and CPU footprint is razor thin. Opening up btop makes you wonder if it’s doing anything at all, but in reality it’s running over 12 different apps over the web through Cloudflare tunnels. Ricing my setup and slowly optimizing it has been so much fun, and it honestly make it a great general computing machine. I love jumping on this thing late at night, browsing the web, and tinkering with little tools.
Logitech MX Master 3S
Daily use mouse is the MX Master 3s; can’t go wrong.
ZSA Voyager
I’ve done several custom keyboards over the years which is such a fun hobby, but unfortunately I had to switch to a split keyboard due to my wrists. At the time the need was pretty dire and I needed instant relief, so I went with the ZSA Voyager.
FujiFilm XE4
Been doing photography for over a decade and in this stage of my life the FujiFilm XE4 fits my needs perfectly. The last thing I want to spend time doing is editing photos; I just don’t have the time like I used to. The film simulations on this camera are so good I just shoot JPEGs and pull them straight out of the camera; no editing at all. If you want to see some samples check out my photography site.
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
As I started getting into bird watching more I decided to invest in some binoculars, and the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 are fantastic. Rugged, waterproof, and very decent optics for the price point. For those getting into bird watching I highly recommend getting a nice pair of binoculars, it really does kick the experience up a notch.
Software
Here’s a quick list of some of the primary software I use on a day to day basis.
| Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Wezterm | Terminal Emulator |
| Nushell | Default shell (I know, I’m weird) |
| Berkeley Mono | Primary font choice |
| Commitmono | Secondary font choice (used in projects) |
| Starship | Shell prompt |
| Fling | Dotfile management |
| Neovim | Text editor |
| Tmux | Terminal multiplexer |
| Sesh | Tmux session manager |
| Yazi | File browser |
| btop | Resource monitor |
| Lazygit | Git TUI |
| Gum | Scripting utilities |
| XFCE | Linux Desktop |
| Helium | Web Browser |
| Tailscale + Mullvad | VPN |
| Macchina | System information frontend |
| Docker | Managing running apps on my home server |
| Raycast | Launcher/clipboard manager/everything |
| CleanShot X | Screenshot multitool |
| Jotts | Minimal markdown notepad |
| Feeds | RSS aggregator and reader |
| Posts | Micro blogging |
| Cellar | Wine log |
| Library | Book log |
| Bookmarks | Link manager |
| Sipp | Code snippets |
| Shrink | Image resizing |
| OG | Opengraph Preview |
EDC
I used to be way more into EDC (Everyday Carry) and collected quite a bit of gear, but over the years I’ve significantly slimmed down. The following list isn’t comprehensive but covers the items I actually use on a day to day basis.
Wallet
My wallet is from Saddleback Leather Company, and their marketing punchline “they’ll want it when you’re dead” has so far been true. I’ve been daily carrying this wallet for over a decade and it’s still going strong. Just one of those pieces of gear that you never have to trade out and I love it.
Watches
The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph, most well known for it’s origins in the movie Interstellar. I’ve always wanted this watch but could never justify spending the money on it. However, for over a year I worked on a SaaS called Orbiter which unfortunately didn’t have enough traction to remain viable. When we closed it down and refunded customers, we still have some funds left over and I decided to pick this up. It felt appropriate to celebrate what we accomplished, and not to mention the space connection between the two. I absolutely love wearing this watch.
I picked this G-Shock 5600 up for $60 and it’s an absolute tank, and perfect for when I need a beater. Whether its doing lawn work, giving the kids a bath, or just walking around the house, this thing just keeps going. Unlike most other G-Shock models, this one echos the original G-Shock and runs a bit smaller and thinner on the wrist, and I don’t think I would have bought it otherwise.
Knife
I have a long history with knife collecting, and as I started to have kids I began to sell more and more as I just wasn’t as interested or in most cases needed the extra cash. I am thankful for this Kershaw Iridium as it checks so many boxes for me, including the lock mechanism, D2 blade steel, titanium handles, overall an amazing deal for $60.
Pens
Old, true, and reliable. I absolutely love these little ballpoint pens. I have some capped and others that are knockback (clicker), and these pens just write. Smooth, minimal, even refillable! For my day to day writing these are my go to pens.
Every now and then I break out a fountain and write with that instead. Currently I’m using the Kaweco AL Sport in Anthracite with a fine nib. It’s a fantastic little aluminum fountain pen that just feels high quality. My only gripe is that it uses cartridges/converters rather than having a builtin piston mechanism. One time the converter came out of the pen and got ink everywhere, so I might eventually upgrade to Kaweco’s AL Piston. I also have a TWSBI Diamond 580ALR which I do love, but it’s just a bit large for a pocket pen.
My current ink of choice is Nagasawa Kobe in Museum Grey. It’s absolutely lovely and writes so well.
Notebook
I’ve been a Field Notes user for over a decade, and after a brief journey using a Travler’s Notebook (pun intended), I’m back on Field Notes. The thin, lightweight nature of these notebooks is ideal for carrying wherever I go. I’m particularly fond of the dot grid paper if I can get it, and I love collecting all the different seasonal designs that come out each year. I recently found a great way to add a folder pocket which you can check out here.