# What's on your desk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743 "2004-02-18T04:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/21 "2004-02-18T19:55:46Z")
Computer desk, besides 17" monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse: small stack of papers AM/FM/PSB/AIR radio _Onion_ article I printed out but never pinned to the wall dirty plate and silverware Other desk: phone, stapler, scotch tape, paper clip dispenser, etc. stacks of reports I got from the company library and still haven’t re-filed desk calendars going back about 3 years Cosmos/M CD Richard Strauss and Vaughan-Williams CDs Gripmaster® hand exerciser M&Ms dispenser empty Planters nuts can boxes of business cards I’ll never give out paper bag that I forget what’s in it probably the secret to cold fusion, buried under all those to-be-filed papers ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/22 "2004-02-18T20:19:43Z")
\*(4) 3-ring notebooks on company policy & crisis management \*Laptop \*Callmaster phone \*Swingline stapler \*pencil box filled with pencils & pens \*TimeZone clock that converts to 25 cities/countries time zones \*rollodex \*20oz Coffee mug \*(2) bottles of Poland Spring water \*(2) Dayquill \*ziplock bag of Cayenne pepper \*mouse & mouse pad \*bag of sugar-free Halls drops \*a ruler \*(3) Farside calendar cartoons \*A Robocop action figure \*a cellphone (being charged) \*a powerstrip ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/23 "2004-02-18T21:29:22Z")
Ok…on the actual desk, from right to left: –Specs on our latest product –Printer –Scissors –Box of tissues –Valentine’s Day card from the Mrs. –Random papers that I should be sorting through instead of answering polls –Notebooks –Half-eaten pack of Granma’s brand vanilla cookies –Paper clip holder (empty) –Ammunition stockpile (aka rubber bands) –Headphones –Paper clip chain –Canned air –“Movie-Of-The-Day” desk calendar –Pen holder –Tylenol Flu caplets –Bottle of GlareGuard monitor cleaner –Mouse –My laptop –The orange juice I’m currently drinking –About a dozen plants –Container of raisins –My [C.H.I.M.P.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/2940/) –The rock I stole from the Grand Canyon –Pepsi bottle top –A coaster –Pack of Post-Its –A Caesar’s Pocono Resorts Solid Gold Trophy (almost!) –Three stress balls (used for juggling, actually) –A mini-lightsaber –Gumby & Pokey bendables –Tape dispenser –I have no idea what the hell _that_ thing is –Hand-held blackjack game –Phone –Stapler –Stack of murder mystery novels –A copy of _The Expectant Father_ (not yet, but soon, hopefully) –A copy of Mike Nelson’s _Death Rat_ –Assorted magnets for sticking paperwork to my walls –Rack of work-related books –Basketball hoop –Collection of _Onion_ books –Bunch of Simpsons magnets –Big 'ol container of Twizzlers On the filing cabinets and cubicle walls: –A printout of [this](http://www.brunching.com/davemeeting.html) –An “It’s Happy Bunny” sticker (the “you suck big time” one) –Frigits Dexlue set –A mosaic portrait of Homer Simpson made from magnetic poetry words –A printout of my [all-time favorite news article](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_342986.html) (can you guess my name?) –Eight pictures of my wife (A bit much? Maybe. But, she’s a hottie, and I love her :)) –A picture of Emperor Palpatine –Pictures of Rick, Vivian, Neal and Mike –A Dilbert comic –Tons of random bits of info I need to be able to access quickly to do my job ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/24 "2004-02-18T21:33:05Z")
Whoops…how did I miss that corner? –My diorama of a Jay, Silent Bob, Walt Flannagan’s dog and Godzilla vs. Darth Maul, Lego Darth Vader, Lego Palpatine and Smiley Koosh Ball Man battle royal ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/25 "2004-02-18T22:26:39Z")
Mostly just the usual office supplies, plus a [Luttrell Psalter mug](http://www.msmugs.com/acatalog/Mclaggan_Smith_Mugs_Heritage_14.html), a picture of me and my sweetie, empty soda cans, a rubber chicken I bought at a boot sale over the weekend because of [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106449&page=5&pp=50) (not for the squeamish!), box of Kleenex, a tin of wintergreen Altoids, and half-a-stick of butter. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/26 "2004-02-18T23:00:18Z")
Work desk has all the the usual desk stuff: stapler, tape dispenser, computer, speakers, phone, etc., then… (right to left) Tech books notebooks 7 disk drives one CD-ROM drive three power supplies Sci-Fi anthologies DLT Cleaning tapes Assorted papers Empty lunch container Water bottle Swiss-Miss instant cocoa packet Opus the Penguine Stuffed Plush Small models: -Jupiter 2 -Chariot -B-9 (Lost in Space’s robot) -Space Pod -Eagle spacecraft (from Space 1999) -Lego race car Across the monitor: -Dilbert -Dogbert -Ratbert -Pointy-haired Boss -Catbert Yellow Intel Bunny-suit guy. Calendar (Dilbert) Soup Cup Larry Boy talking “action” figure (with Super-suction ears!) Magazines Cardboard box of Junk Three more disk drives Another DLT cleaning tape. Box of defunct floppy disks. Clutter? What clutter? And I just “cleaned-up” two days ago… ---
**Author:** ![Fnoonf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Fnoonf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fnoonf)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/27 "2004-02-18T23:37:46Z")
An uncashed check for $2.75, a pack of cigarettes, _The History of Germany 1815-1945_ by William Carr, _Perdido Street Station_ by China Miéville, two stacks of DVDs, a picture of my sister, a CD wallet, an empty water bottle and a ridiculous little Kirby figure. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/28 "2004-02-18T23:44:20Z")
22 blank CD-Rs _The Gulag Archipelago_, quarter-read. About 50 pence in coppers. A student composition for solo flute, photocopy. Nail clippers. Mug (empty) Wine glass (full) Crown cap. Floppy disk, which IIRC has a MyDoom fix on it. Permanent marker. Printout of my new address 🙂 Diary ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/29 "2004-02-19T00:06:23Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > white noise machine ? … ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/30 "2004-02-19T00:08:23Z")
When I saw this… > [@emekthian](#): > > Various notes and maps for the languages I’m creating, and the world they’ll go in …I wasn’t surprised to see this > [@emekthian](#): > > The Lord of the Rings book Did one inspire the other? ---
**Author:** ![UperCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c0e974/32.png) [@UperCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UperCow)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/31 "2004-02-19T00:16:59Z")
CRAP, crab tank, fish tank for when someone has babies, 2 betta tanks books cd’s scanner printer, school stuff(x100), pens that don’t work, more crap, 3 cats, bandaids, projects… ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/32 "2004-02-19T00:59:10Z")
Nope. I got the book as a Christmas gift when Fellowship of the Ring came out, but I’ve been making up worlds for longer than that. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/33 "2004-02-19T01:17:19Z")
I don’t so much have a “desk” as I do a “huge snake cage made of plywood.” I’ll go from right to left. -pile of lighters - dispoables and Zippos -ash tray -Happy Bunny energy drink (“All the energy you need to annoy everybody else”) -Happy Bunny figurine (“I hate everything”) -mortor and pestal (is that right? I never know whatthose things are called) -Ozuim -Tarot cards -big jar of Vitamin E (great lube for earlobe stretching) -2 glasses of water (why I have 2, I have no idea) -small potted pine tree -huge pile of pictures -random paper -random disks -game CDs - some in cases, some loose -cat collar -small snake cage -all my body jewelry (big pile) -generic Pop Tarts -empty Jones Soda bottle -empty can of frosting -nail file -Q-Tips -crackers -fish food Interesting, no? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/34 "2004-02-19T01:25:38Z")
> [@](#): > > -mortor and pestal (is that right? I never know whatthose things are called) ‘Pessal and mortar’ I think. But I am just guessing too. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743/35 "2004-02-19T02:18:48Z")
• Two gooseneck lamps, one attached and one freestanding; • Mail, sorted (sorta) into bills, stuff I need to keep and stuff I _should_ get around to looking at later; • Clock radio (defunct except for clock) • Inbox with journal, writing implements, notepads, scissors, tape, stapler, staple remover and a Schlumberger plastic gimme triangle with sides for measuring water saturation, % porosity and a four decade logarithmic scale; • 486 desktop computer which hasn’t been fired up in a few years, but on top of which sits my current monitor (tower is on the floor below) as well as keyboard and mouse/pad; • Dying Caller ID box; • Vertical file with once important stuff in it, supported in the back by a drumstick; • Forlorn stack of Zip discs; • Ashtray, pack of Marlboro Lights, lighter and a rum and tonic; • Shoebox for this year’s dealt with bills; • Photocopy of the hard part of a map I’m working on (not going to fool with it tonight); • A pile of business cards; • My Exhibitor badge from an exposition I attended the week before last; • Remainder of my hydrocodone 'scrip from my broken rib last month; • Another inbox, three-level with the top containing bank statements and stamps (34¢!), the middle containing flotsam and the bottom, jetsam; • Radio Shack telephone; • Owner’s Manual for my car; • $518 in coins, in various Tupperware-like containers, as well as, I’d guess, another uncounted ~$50 worth (what am I going to ever do with that collection?); • I left out a few things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-your-desk/229743.md?page=1)