4 ms·

Interesting read. As a former 100% travel road warrior in semi-exotic places (data centers in developing countries), I'm very surprised he's checking in bags t

Interesting read. As a former 100% travel road warrior in semi-exotic places (data centers in developing countries), I'm very surprised he's checking in bags though, that's just asking for trouble. I presume it's the big hunting knife that makes this unavoidable, but is this really that necessary?

dist-epoch 3y ago
The knife is probably to deter someone messing with you thinking you're an easy target.
- BiteCode_dev 3y ago
  It's more that you need a robust versatile piece of metal. An ontario rat 7 will cut ropes, wire, wood, but also be a poor man rebar alternative, dig small holes in the ground, decapitate a snake, move things in acid or fire, slice bread, create an anchor, pierce pipes, slash tires, etc. For the form factor, it packs a lot. But as I say I rarely use it. It's like insurance. Maybe it's more like a totem at this point. Also my experience with showing off a weapon is escalation. And I'd rather stay very far away from physical conflict. Not for moral reasons, simply because it leads to outcomes I don't like.
neilv 3y ago
Maybe the Crocodile Dundee school of thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnosk4tWrg&t=10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnosk4tWrg&t=10s
jauer 3y ago
A bit above where he mentions checking a bag, he says: > But in our context, I am not a tourist. First, I need to perform, second, where I go I may not have shops. Or much of anything really. Just the supplies to stay functional without being able to rely on any local infra (food/water/shelter/medical) makes not having a checked bag challenging IMO. I'm on-roster with a tech NGO (sounds like he does something similar?) and travel with a duffel that gets checked in addition to my carry-on backpack. Backpack has "here and now" stuff. A change of clothes, lots of socks, laptops, GPS, satphone, granola bars. Basically whatever I need to live for a day or two and get started doing site surveys so I'm not totally useless even if the duffel gets held up or lost. Duffel gets _everything_(1) that I need to do what I've been sent to do, which gets bulky and usually makes airport security unhappy: Tools (EMT shears(2), multitool, screwdriver, wrenches to assemble VSAT dishes, ethernet crimpers, etc). Food/MREs for half a week of working hard, maybe a small drone if it's legal. Sometimes cable and network equipment if it's a small response and nobody is pulling stocks from UNHRD. Granted, I usually do field networking instead of coding, but the basic idea is the same. Sometimes you have to do the project even if it means sleeping in a house with no roof on an island with no power after a hurricane. 1. Technically, everything short of local transportation. 2. TSA doesn't mind the EMT shears, but airports south of the equator kept confiscating mine.
- a_t48 3y ago
  Did TSA care about the magnesium heaters in the MREs or did you fish them out first?
  - jauer 3y ago
    fished them out :)
- BiteCode_dev 3y ago
  That's exactly that yes. Also, duplication. I want laptops and hard drives in different bags in case of water, fire, mugging, etc The big hunting knife is not mandatory. As I said, I use it rarely. But I'd hate to be in a situation where I need it and not have it. Maybe it's also good luck charm at this point :)

dist-epoch 3y ago

The knife is probably to deter someone messing with you thinking you're an easy target.

BiteCode_dev 3y ago
It's more that you need a robust versatile piece of metal. An ontario rat 7 will cut ropes, wire, wood, but also be a poor man rebar alternative, dig small holes in the ground, decapitate a snake, move things in acid or fire, slice bread, create an anchor, pierce pipes, slash tires, etc. For the form factor, it packs a lot. But as I say I rarely use it. It's like insurance. Maybe it's more like a totem at this point. Also my experience with showing off a weapon is escalation. And I'd rather stay very far away from physical conflict. Not for moral reasons, simply because it leads to outcomes I don't like.

neilv 3y ago

Maybe the Crocodile Dundee school of thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnosk4tWrg&t=10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnosk4tWrg&t=10s

jauer 3y ago

A bit above where he mentions checking a bag, he says: > But in our context, I am not a tourist. First, I need to perform, second, where I go I may not have shops. Or much of anything really. Just the supplies to stay functional without being able to rely on any local infra (food/water/shelter/medical) makes not having a checked bag challenging IMO. I'm on-roster with a tech NGO (sounds like he does something similar?) and travel with a duffel that gets checked in addition to my carry-on backpack. Backpack has "here and now" stuff. A change of clothes, lots of socks, laptops, GPS, satphone, granola bars. Basically whatever I need to live for a day or two and get started doing site surveys so I'm not totally useless even if the duffel gets held up or lost. Duffel gets _everything_(1) that I need to do what I've been sent to do, which gets bulky and usually makes airport security unhappy: Tools (EMT shears(2), multitool, screwdriver, wrenches to assemble VSAT dishes, ethernet crimpers, etc). Food/MREs for half a week of working hard, maybe a small drone if it's legal. Sometimes cable and network equipment if it's a small response and nobody is pulling stocks from UNHRD. Granted, I usually do field networking instead of coding, but the basic idea is the same. Sometimes you have to do the project even if it means sleeping in a house with no roof on an island with no power after a hurricane. 1. Technically, everything short of local transportation. 2. TSA doesn't mind the EMT shears, but airports south of the equator kept confiscating mine.

a_t48 3y ago
Did TSA care about the magnesium heaters in the MREs or did you fish them out first?
- jauer 3y ago
  fished them out :)
BiteCode_dev 3y ago
That's exactly that yes. Also, duplication. I want laptops and hard drives in different bags in case of water, fire, mugging, etc The big hunting knife is not mandatory. As I said, I use it rarely. But I'd hate to be in a situation where I need it and not have it. Maybe it's also good luck charm at this point :)