I always carry an empty nalgene bottle with me when I travel. Once I get through security, I fill it up at a water fountain so that I can have water while I'm on the plane. I don't mind the taste of most tap water, so this works well for me.

In the linked article, I strongly disagree with the idea of doing away with the snack/candy machine. There have been multiple times when I'm unexpectedly had to work late when I've eaten dinner out of the snack machine. Sure, a pack of pretzels, snickers and a Coke isn't the best meal, but it will keep me going for…

I put my onions in the freezer for 15 or so minutes before chopping. That seems to help a lot. I figure it works on the same principle as the refrigeration technique, just doesn't take as much time.

@pearlandopal:

Especially if you live alone (or your entire household is traveling), don't forget about making provisions for your mail, newspapers and any other deliveries that you're expecting. One option is to have a trusted neighbor pick everything up every day. Or, if you trust the USPS, you can put a vacation hold on your mail…

I gotta disagree, at least in principle, with #6. Too many mornings of either waking up to annoying commercials or having the music become part of my dream caused me to always go with the buzzer alarm. But, I'm picky about my buzzers. I like something that's more tweety or ringing than the annoying, almost fire alarm…

Is it bad that I immediately thought hand and power tools when I read the headline. And then thought about my pocket knife, Stanley hammer with the yellow handle, mini vice grip pliers and #2 Phillips head screw driver?

Also useful:

Get to the know the secretaries, especially in your major department. Just like in the real world, these people know just about everything (or know the person who does) and can make just about anything happen. I regularly had issues with scheduling classes. Once I got to be on a first name basis with the…

You can also get a good workout walking/jogging/running up the stairs in a hotel. If you're brave and especially if you have time during the day, you can do some nice cross training by going up one flight of stairs and then running down the halls to the far stairway, up to the next floor and repeat.

I'd like an invite

Interesting study. I know that for me, I always feel uncomfortable and cramped in rooms/building with 8 foot ceilings. Part of that could be that just about everywhere I am during my normal day (home, work, church, gym) has at least 10 foot, if not 12 foot or higher ceilings.

For peak efficiency, I need 8 hours. Nine hours a night over a period of time leaves me feeling groggy and in need of an afternoon nap. Seven to seven and a half is okay for about five or six days, then I need nine or ten in a row to recharge. I can survive on six hours for about two or three nights (provided I…

I'm forced to walk about a quarter mile from my car to my desk each day. It's not much, but it's something. If I need a late afternoon (or early morning) jump, I'll walk down to a farther restroom or go for a quick walk around cubeville. I've also been known to do some pushups in the restroom, if I'm reasonably…

In college, if I was having a horrible day, I'd take a do-over. I'd put my pjs back on, crawl into bed and sleep for at least 30 minutes. Then I'd get up, shower, have breakfast, go through my whole morning routine. The day was always so much better the second time around. Of course, this was college when my…

I've been using Podiobooks for almost a year now and have really enjoyed it. I greatly enjoy JC Hutchinson's Seventh Son Trilogy (currently nearing the end of the second book) about a group of seven clones who have to stop the man from whom they were cloned from taking over/destroying the world. I also enjoyed…

Vacuum sealing a sleeping bag for any length of time is a bad idea. The reason sleeping bags keep you warm is that small pockets of air get trapped in the insulation. Your body heat warms the pockets of air (which are too small to promote convection, so they keep the little pieces of air in one place, not moving…

I used to regret overpacking, until I packed exactly what I needed for an overnight camping trip...and we got snowed in for an extra 36 hours. Now I'm more careful to make sure I have a few extra things. This includes always having at least two pairs of shoes (in case one gets soaked in a rain storm, has a sole…

Doesn't work great in my area of DFW. Lots of places that went out of business (some over two years ago).

Leatherman now makes a tool that doesn't include a knife. Theoretically, this should allow you to carry it on an airplane. http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools…