<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> aardwolfe that quip about the Starving Unprepared Citizens was great. You made my whole day. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I do have one earphone for my AOR 8200B Wide Range Receiver, which does pick-up TV and FM broadcast in addition to HAM, Public Safety etc. I don't like to have both ears blocked. I cannot hear when I need to. When I am on ambulance duty then I carry my PSB radio. I use a custom made earphone, since I need to monitor dispatch when I am at a football game or other noisy environment. The combo earphone and low profile mic makes some people wonder if I am Secret Service or some such thing. Never mind the prominent star of life and other EMS gear. These people must be the future SUC’s you referred to.

In reference to the Backpack:
I'm not certain exactly if it's "official" swiss army or not. I know it's not Victorinox (the shape around the red cross is a rounded square, not a shield). . . I thought there was another swiss army, and am not sure if it's "official" or not. It DOESN'T have a military-esque appearance.
The thing is incredibly well made, and has several handy pockets of the perfect sizes in the perfect places. It's made of ballistic fabric (dark blue) and has the swiss-army symbol (again, in a circular square, NOT a shield) plastered on several places of the pack. Being an EMT, I kinda like the whole red-cross appearance thing.
I understand the briefcase thing, but i must point out that my dad likes to "pad" his around with him (he's an accountant, and it shows [scratch that. . . he TEACHES accountants how to be accountants :-( . ])Regardless, i understand normal people not wanting to be associated with that type of person. :-) (I'm just kidding, please dont send me mean letters or hunt my family down if i insulted a loved one)
Earphones are infinitely handy for me for bus rides, computers in the library (the university library computers only have Jacks for headphones = no speakers), listening in on a friend's CD-player (I also keep a two-way headphone jack in the pack) and several other uses that ya can dream up yourselves. (also, if i get lost, i can use the headphone cord to make snares and catch squirrels to eat) (then again. . . If i got lost on campus and started barbequeing squirrels the dean would have a fit)
Might i suggest one of these devices they sell at Wally-World (Wal-mart, to those over 20) that kindof splits your keychain? Its kindof like two keychains that attach to each other, if that makes any sense. ya can put your main car key, house key, and maybe an office key on one side, and keep it in your pants. on the other side, you can keep the bulky car-remote, LED, mini-pocketknife, etc. Ya can detach them once you get to the office so the two or three keys you use most often can stay in your pocket unobtrusively, and you can still tote all of your keys when you need them.
just a few ideas...

Thorr:
Your backpack sounds like it might be made by Wenger, the other SAK company. Of course, why didn't I think of the college computer labs. Though most students I have seen have the headphones as earbuds cords don't reach far enough. <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'm at uni, so no problems with dress code or what we are allowed to carry back pack wise.

Personally I carry a 35litre pack, and have one side pocket dedicated to my PSK, small FAK, SAK (a Huntsman), Mini-Maglite, extra batteries, duct tape, spare hair band ( I have long hair), whistle and a lighter. My keys that have a Photon II on them are the only thing I keep in my pocket. (The pockets on womens clothes generally being smaller than on men's from what I can see. I couldn't keep half the stuff you guys carry in my pockets!)

The top pocket is dedicated as a 'handbag', i.e. I keep my wallet, tram pass/buspass, diary, phone, lipsalve etc. in.

The main pocket has my A-Z and all the paper, files and books I might need for the day.

The other pocket usually has my lunch/ bottle of water in.

Prepare for the invasion now - get and wear your AFDB now! They can be worn as a fashion statement or under your normal head-gear but wear it or you will never know why you should have!

All you need is this:

Pez kit.

Matt <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm disappointed- to "deflect" psychotronic waves (electromagnetic radiation) you really need to ground the beenie, and I see no mention here of the traditional trailing chain of paperclips that must touch the ground at all times...

And, there is a conspicuous lack of scientific studies as to whether the AFDB is at all effective against gravity waves.

Schwa, dudes. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

a girl ! i didn't knew you where a female ! a 35 liter backpack is pretty big, i got a 25 liter one. the pant pocket size depends on the model, mine work pants have very shallow ones, mine other pants have BIG pockets, it al depends on the design. most girls wear tight pants, they can't really fit big pockets in them, can you ?

Or you could just give up on the whole key chain thing and go fully modular. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I tried having a large keychain all the time, that didn't work. I tried those splittable things, but I could never decide on a pair of subsets of my keys to split into. They have 5 way etc ones, but they just look like an octopus with a few missing legs.

So, I started putting all the subsets of keys on separate spilt rings. Then I put them all on a key carabiner. I went through about 4-5 of the $1-$2 carabiners of various sizes and I think manufacturers (it's hard to tell on such cheap things) before I gave up. The only one that didn't break within 6 months was a thin brass one with a screw gate which I didn't like. I fidget with the gate a lot and the spring eventually dies. Finally I bought a Black Diamond real climbing carabiner and that's lasted about 14 months now. $5 seems to have ended the problem. It's a bit bulky, and I don't know the first thing about climbing but it works.

Of course, it's about twice the size of the non-climbing key-carabiners. So it's quite a large bulge in pants, but it's not a problem in winter with my shell jacket. That means I trim it down often, only taking what I need. When I need to look decent I have to leave the carabiner altogether and just take the truck key and it's RKE fob. Of course, that meant I couldn't carry the Micra or flashlight. I had to buy a Utili-key to clip onto the truck key. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Such is the life of a gadget freak.

Anywho, everything is separated:
* truck key with Utili-key
* key and security fob for the wife's Jeep
* house keys
* work keys and ACE token
* whistle
* Micra
* Pelican Mini MightyLite

I guess it works better than my wife's system (she's a teacher so she has a lot of keys): keep everything separate, and spend inordinate amounts of time looking for whichever part of it she misplaced today.

<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Guilty as charged!

The 35litres was because there was a time I was carrying a lever arch file as well as textbooks. I can fit lots of stuff in it as required. It also is a great size to go to the supermarket in (no flimsy plastic bags to split open) or to shove some clothes in and go away for the weekend. Its a Mary Poppins bag <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The pocket problem (that being the lack of pockets) is why most women carry handbags. Even my suit jacket doesn't have pockets <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> (except one tiny breast pocket that you can't fit anything useful into)! I really don't get fashion sometimes.