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[Miłosz Bolechowski wrote in to tell me that using Automator to change the date was silly because all of it can be done in Keyboard Maestro](http://www.fabryka-pikseli.com/2012/11/28/keyboard-maestro-i-data-w-nazwie-pliku/). This is a really complex version, but does work much faster than using Automator (my method).

I actually had no clue just how easy it was to grab files from Finder in Keyboard Maestro, so this is incredibly helpful to me long term as well.

Thank you to Miłosz Bolechowski. This is awesome.

*(You’ll probably need to translate the page, but the last link in the post is a zip to download the macro.)*

[Some common questions about my knife philosophy](https://brooksreview.net/2012/10/pocket-knife/), answered.

## What blade shape do you prefer?

A few people have asked about what my preference is on [the shape of the blade](http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-information-112.html). Overall I like the standard ‘drop point’ shape. It find it most comfortable to use and highly versatile.

The most common offering besides a drop point is the tanto — which I believe is mostly popular because it looks pretty cool. I’ve only had one blade that was a tanto, and I found it frustrating to use at times.

## Why not spend more money?

A lot of people want to know why I am staying under $100 and why I am not willing to pay for the best knife I can find. This is a good point as it is a break from the norm for me. Typically I’d never hesitate based on price, but I feel differently about spending big money on an EDC knife.

First, I view EDC knives as a tool. Because of this the most important aspect is utility. Secondly, I never want to be hamstrung over when and where to use my knife because I paid a lot of money for it.

There are a lot of instances where I will use my knife that could easily damage the cutting edge of the blade, or snap the blade all together. Things like cutting close to metal, or against metal, and prying are all things I would never do with an expensive knife.

Those scenarios don’t come up every day, but when they do I never want to feel like I can’t just use the knife as a tool to get the job done. I figure that one of those scenarios will come up a year where the knife is damaged, and I want to know that I can afford to replace my knife if it does get irreparably damaged. If I don’t feel confident I can afford to replace the knife, it is far less valuable to me as a tool.

For me, that means keeping the price under, or close to, one hundred dollars. This should vary based on your budget — there are some great knives to be had in the sub-fifty dollar range.

## What about the folding utility/box knives?

I have a couple of these and they are very popular with people that work in construction, but I think they are a very bad EDC choice. I have a few reasons I think these are a poor choice:

1. The blades are brittle. Yes the blades are sharp and cheap to replace, but they are very brittle and it is unlikely that you will want to carry extra blades with you.
2. These knives are typically bulky, this allows for changeable blades, but is also a weight and size factor.
3. This type of knife blade is disposable. These blades also cannot be sharpened and they are therefore a poor choice for a lasting knife. Even when a typical EDC is dull, you can still use the blade however, when a utility knife blade is dull it’s pretty much worthless — I’ve seen utility blades lose their point entirely. These blades are cheap and so is the steel used to make them — they don’t last long even if you rarely use your knife.

Overall these knives are not a good all around choice.

## Will you check out XZY knife I have, or want to buy?

Probably not.

[Over the long weekend the developer of iTorch contacted me encouraging me to try the latest, fourth, version of the iTorch app.](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itorch-pro-flashlight/id392550196?mt=8) The claim was that iTorch had been made to be the fastest gun, umm flashlight app, in the west.

[So of course I had to try it given all my past searching](https://brooksreview.net/2012/08/flashlight-iphone/).

What I found is that iTorch is incredibly fast. It really isn’t even a challenge (the free version is just as fast). And while I don’t like the icon, or UI, as much as I do in Lighty — the bottom line is that speed is far more relevant to me than design of a flashlight app.

To get an idea of how fast iTorch is, just launch your current flashlight app, quit, now relaunch. That relaunch speed — that’s just about how fast iTorch is.

I’ve added it to my home screen, replacing Lighty.

[Sam Barillaro purchased the Hard Graft flat pack for the retina MacBook Pro 15″ and he wasn’t impressed.](http://thetechedit.com/2012/11/why-i-returned-the-hard-graft-flat-pack-for-15-retina-macbook-pro/) [I really like mine](https://brooksreview.net/2012/10/flat-pack-2/). Barillaro has some very good comments on the flaws of this bag, but one I want to point out doesn’t strike me as accurate. Barillaro says:

>The shoulder strap is attached to the bag at a ninety degree angle. There is no hinge, so the strap can’t move around depending on where your holding your bag.

That’s actually not true. On all the smaller Flat Packs this is true, the strap is stitched in the 90° position, however on the retina MacBook Pro 15″ Flat Pack Hard Graft added a hinge. Here’s a picture of that hinge from my review:

Now it doesn’t seem like a hinge at first, you have to wiggle it to get it moving initially, but it is a hinge. Hard Graft had this to say about it when they announced the bag:

>It has two simple inside pockets and a nifty new detail – the straps have a secure screw hinge which makes it possible to adjust them to fit to the carry position that feels best for you.

That came from the email announcement that was sent out from Hard Graft. So while all of Barillaro’s points are very good, the hinge one is not accurate (unless I misunderstood what he was saying somehow).

One last thing I would note is that Barillaro doesn’t like that a charger doesn’t fit well in the bag — I agree — however I have also found that I rarely need a charger for my computer. Your mileage will vary on that aspect, but I think, with most modern Macs, that carrying a charger is more a safety net than a necessity.

Instead of putting on a bunch of items that we would all love to own for ourselves on a list, here’s some stuff that may be handy to buy for other people. ((Let’s emphasize the “may” portion.))

## Disaster Kit Items

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I am sure there are more than a few people in your family that would very much appreciate items that will help them stay safe in case of another disaster.

Personally I’d start with buying people a nice flashlight. I’ve mentioned a [couple](https://brooksreview.net/2011/10/amazon-item-surefire/) [before](https://brooksreview.net/2012/04/amazon-fury/), but they are pricey and likely not something that others would appreciate — not to mention they require hard-to-find batteries that make them a poor choice for disasters. [So let me introduce you to the Fenix E11 LED flashlight](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005GW8UC2/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). Some key features: runs at 105 lumens (that’s pretty bright) for eight hours off of just one AA battery and it is waterproof up to 6.5 feet of water. So in a flood, in rain, and in the dark this is great option to have at your disposal. The bonus part about this is that flashlights are handy even if you aren’t in the middle of a disaster.

Since we are talking about being prepared for wet weather, [may I introduce you to the dorkiest thing that I own: Outdoor Research’s Seattle Sombrero](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003P8QOV8/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). Personally I have the forest color. Now this is a rain hat, but you have a hood on your jacket, so why buy this? Well it is awesome. That’s why. You have full peripheral view, a dry head, a warm head, and it won’t easily blow off like so many other hoods. Seriously dorky, seriously great in the rain. I swear by mine.

Since I brought up Outdoor Research, [I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the Neoplume Jacket — as it may just be my favorite jacket I have ever owned](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008WPAUHI/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). It works great as a base layer under a rain shell, or as just a cold weather jacket. I love this thing — this is an updated version of the one I own. I wear mine most days from October to April.

The last disaster related item I will share with you is something that isn’t likely to be a great gift for everyone, but is awesome none-the-less: [Coghlans Fire Paste](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0045E120Y/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). This is basically napalm in a tube. Squirt it on some fire wood, light it, and boom you have fire. I know how to make a fire, but that doesn’t mean I want to dick around with a fire all the time — sometimes you just want a warm fire, and when you want that, Fire Paste is what you need.

## I’m the Tech Guy/Gal in the Family, I Have to Buy Gadgets

[I’d start by giving out a Doxie, the Go is the one I own a few of and they are great](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0053TRH2M/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). I use them for mobile employees and at home. [Doxie has the new One scanner coming out too](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008ASBFM6/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20), that looks like an even better option for a parent. A scanner is one of those things that you don’t think would be handy, until you actually have one and then you can’t get by without one.

[If you want a no-brainer gadget, the Apple TV is about as good as it gets](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007I5JT4S/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). Even if someone has one already, they’ll likely be pretty happy sticking another one on a different TV.

[Now, even though I don’t own a new one, I wouldn’t hesitate to give out a Kindle (not the Fire) to anyone in my family](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007OZNZQ0/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). It’s a great gift for people that are more low-tech as the learning curve is nice and easy. Not to mention it is a device that really doesn’t fail — so the support on it is also minimal for you. Just don’t be a jerk: buy the version without the ads — I mean “special offers”.

## The Last Ditch Things

Let’s say you just want to give someone a really solid gift, but they are impossible to buy for. [For that situation I present Mont Blanc’s Meisterstuck Classique Gold Rollerball](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00154QD60/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). I’ve had mine for over a decade. Yes, people don’t write as often anymore, but that’s all the better reason to write with something great when you do write.

Now, if that is out of your price range, [I re-present to you Air Swimmers](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005FYEAJ8/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20). My dad bought these for all of us last year and they are flipping awesome. Don’t get it for someone that can’t follow assembly instructions as you do have to build them — oh and you need helium to fill them — but they are really fun. Did I mention they are also cheap? They are.

—

I’m sure other’s will have more comprehensive options and guides out soon, but I wanted to offer you some (mostly) unconventional choices.

*(This post is a part of a series on Keyboard Maestro, [see more here](https://brooksreview.net/tag/KM-SERIES/).)*

This macro will allow you to select any file in Mac OS X and append the current date to the end of the file name. It is all done with one keyboard shortcut and no need to get to the editing file name mode. This is very useful for versioning files if you work outside of a version control system — or if you get a lot of files with the same name (images are one I constantly add this info to).

*What you need: Keyboard Maestro and Automator.*

## How To

We need to start in Automator and build a new workflow.

1. Open Automator and when prompted to create a new file select `Workflow`.
2. In the search field to the left, search for the action named `Get Selected Finder Items`. Drag that to the pane on the right.

*This action will tell Automator that we are working with the files you have selected and only those files.*

3. Search for another action named `Rename Finder Items` and drag it to the right pane. When prompted to add an action to copy the file first select `Don’t Add`.

Once you have this action in there you will be presented with a multitude of options to consider. Here’s how I have mine setup:

There’s some important things to note:

– Be sure to use spaces, dashes, or underscores for the separators so that you don’t break non-Mac tools (other operating systems and websites hate the forward slashes).
– You have four options of the date to grab: Created, Modified, Last Opened, Current. All the options work as expected, but the first three may not always result in the date you intended it to, for that reason I stay with the current date.
– `Use Leading Zeros` just means that August will be represented as `08` instead of `8`. I recommend turning this on for a more consistent file length.

4. Now you just need to save the workflow somewhere you remember and somewhere that you will not move it. (I have a dedicated Dropbox folder that I keep these workflows in.)
5. Open Keyboard Maestro and create a new Macro (CMD+n).
6. Set the trigger to `This hot key:`. Next you will need to click on the field below to record your new keyboard shortcut, personally I chose: `Control+Shift+Command+R`. Make sure `Is pressed` reads after the shortcut.
7. Next click to add a new action and search for `Execute an Automator Workflow`. Drag that action to the pane on the right to add it.
8. Click the button with the ellipses on it (the three dots) and select the workflow that you just saved in step 4.

You are now done. With a file selected you should be able to press your keyboard shortcut and have the date appended to it.

*Note: Pressing the shortcut more than once on any file will keep appending the date, be careful.*

## Advanced

You may have noticed that Automator doesn’t actually allow you to append the Date **and** Time to a file name — at least not in one fell swoop. This is easily added by opening the workflow back up in Automator and making these tweaks:

– Add another copy of `Rename Finder Items`, again selecting `Don’t Add` when prompted.
– Change the format from the date, to the the time and adjust settings to your liking.

This will now append the date first, followed by the time, and then the file extension. If you want the two reversed, simply drag the Time action above the Date action.

The nice part is that we don’t need to change anything in Keyboard Maestro and can keep playing with tweaks until we find the mix that is right for our intended use.