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Geeky Valentine Gifts?
WouldUBMine asks: "My valentine is fairly geeky and instead of boring roses or some other generic gift, I am looking for something that may be a little cooler or at least interesting. The only site I know of that targets geeks is www.thinkgeek.com and they don't stock any valentine-specific products. Does anyone have any good ideas?" Valentine's Day tends to be just another day for me (and I'm sure a few of you are in the same boat). For those of you who still take part, what places, both on and offline, have gifts that communicate those special feelings for your favorite Geek, in just the right way?
...but asking slashdot what to get your loved one is much more personal, don't you think?
I managed to get my hands on a psx2, and I just gave her that for Valentine's day. I ended up giving it to her early (on Sunday) so we'd have more time to play with it. She loved it.
*ahh* How easy my life will be to have a wife who likes toys as much as I do.
Of course ...
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www.XXX-love-yyy.com is not very original, but you could probably imagine something better.
You could also eventually play on the suffix
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#include "coucou.h"
Seems like a good idea until you see the goatse.cx guy mass posted to every story. Some people just love to ruin it for everyone else.
here here The gallery
just bake cookies with her. its what we do every year. cut them out to spell things. My girlfriend isn't particularly geeky, so we usually stick with 'i love you' and our initials, but you might want to do:
printf("I Love You\n");
or something like that =)
I actually have pictures from last year:
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<A HREF="http://www.sdf1.cc/~harlan/photos/vday/vday
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For this alternate approach to St. V's Day, consider giving someone a hug, asking them out, etc.
I'm a fan of this anatomical chocolate heart. Only a geek could truly appreciate it.
Also on that site, brain shaped chocolate covered cherries and a heart gelatin mold.
They have those at RadioShack, you have to order it, and i think it's on page 216 of the catalog, but you'd have to check. The RSU number is: 12127031. I got one for my girlfriend last year, and she loved it.
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Spelling by m-w.com.
copyleft.net.
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Spelling by m-w.com.
uh...not quite.
Speaking of which, my friend(which, i guess can be called my girlfriend) are going on a trip the day after valentines to the observing site of the local astronomical society and do some observing et al :P
its copyleft.net
How about a t-shirt from copyleft?
This one seems like it would suit the occasion nicely!
Too bad you can include pictures in slashdot posts, oh well, you'll just have to follow the link.
I think it might be fun to decorate your sweeties hardware.Roses of any kind in a nice computer garland or chain might be just the thing. You could follow that up with a bit of nice software later in the evening as well. I once made a turquoise cap for my sweeties on/off button, it still makes her smile every time she touches it.
If your sweetie is in need of a smile I reccomend a gift from Seattles Archie McPheee, Where else can you get a Voodoo computer doll and x ray glasses! I think a nice screen border of rubber frogs or glow in the dark stars might be neat.
You can find photomount spay at camera shops. If you give the bottom of whatever a spritz with it you can stick stuff to a smooth surface without leaving any stickum when you peel it off later. Its great for photos, hand made cards, gemstones, and anything with flat surfaces. You can re position them as many times as you like to getyour best arrangement.
Have fun and the best to you & your sweetie, I' d like to hear how it goes with every body else as well.
-Daniel
Ownyourphone.com. Custom ringtones, cheap and easy
LED heart!!!
-Daniel
Ownyourphone.com. Custom ringtones, cheap and easy
Oh and not forgetting the handmade card :)
Aparently both the GF and Jess liked it.
And this is my pathetic attempt to make up for not being around on the day itself. I am not worthy of her.
Think Geek
Nothing says love like a slashdot T-shirt
Just make sure that you don't ignore the opportunity. Any idea is better than being empty handed.
In my case geeky-ness was bravado. And I sincerely doubt anyone would be offended to get a traditional gift. Like dinner out, flowers, or chocolate.
Weirdly enough, I'm irritated that I don't get anything for any of these holidays. I don't even like flowers. What I hate is the idea that I'm not worth the trouble anymore.
I've had the best results not by giving gifts, but by doing things.
;)
;)
One thing that works is you get rose petals and roses, and put them around their room, computer desk, etc. One good thing is that, if they are a geek, they will probably be checking their e-mail as they are trying to wake up. So put some flowers around their computer and change their desktop pattern.
Turning obselete hardware into something nice is always popular, of course.
But you should also just generally do some nice things for your valentine, and this works for even geeks. You just need to change the paramters of what you do. Providing them with what they would consider a nice dinner out is good for just about everybody.
And if you forget about the obligatory valentines day huggle and snuggle, you deserve to be a dateless one-handed IRCer.
Gentoo Sucks
All I ask is a warm bed, a kind word, and UNLIMITED POWER
You call it BSD? That's geeky!
Just because I can imagine doing a hippopotamus, doesn't mean I'd like to do it.
Download her favourite tunes from napster (be quick), burn em onto a cd, scan some picture of you both for a cover and hand it over
If your valentine is a woman, try the
orgasm device.
You will have more time for all-night coding sessions.
If you are worrried about the device substituting you, you could add some crypto so that it only runs under the proper authorization.
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Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death.
GW Bu
you mean spent alone with a case of good beer, wallowing in self-pity and tomorrow morning's hangover
No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
--Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
How about jewellery made from computer parts? Years ago a boyfriend gave me a burned-out simm which I made into a hairclip (you can buy the hairclip-backs in any fabric/crafts shop, then add some strong plastic fishing twine and glue, and you're set). This was my favorite hairclip for years, until I cut all my hair off and can't use it any more. Earrings shouldn't be hard to make either - again, the earring bits are available in any craft store. And you made it yourself! Big bonus points.
Does she need any hardware? I got a modem once from a boyfriend for Christmas ... that was another good present. OK, not so romantic in and of itself, but send her lots of loving emails over it and it could be...
One geeky thing I did once was put up a custom web page with a single red rose (animated gif, slowly rotated) and picture of a candle on a wooden crate, with romantic message and invitation to dinner that night (which I cooked) ... went over really well.
(Now if only I could find a nice geeky guy who'd appreciate all that effort! :p The best Valentine's Day I've spent to date was the one I spent in the university computer lab learning web page design.) [sulks]
Whatever you decide on I'm sure it'll be fine. But think about making some part of it yourself - even if it's just a web page - it really shows you took the effort and it means so much more!
... Pentapod
All I ask is a warm bed, a kind word, and UNLIMITED POWER
I know this may sound a tad wierd, but how about dedicating your entire day to your s.o.? When my girlfriend and I want to celebrate something, or even just feel close, we will take a day off work/school and do things we both enjoy.
If you live near Washington, D.C., how about visiting the Smithsonian museums? Or any museums in your area? Here in Tallahassee, FL, geeks (and normals) can go on tours of the National High Magnetic Field Lab (full of cool geeky equipment!) Or perhaps even just going to a book store and letting him/her run free to choose any book on any topic, without a budget? And while he/she is looking, how about picking up some sort of game book (like card games, or the like)? It's a great way to kill a day!
I often find that just spending time is often the best gift, and that the material posessions gained along the way are just icing on the cake.
The New Wazoo
("...yes sir, I am 17 years old.")
And your SO is geeky enough to accept and appreciate it...
Make an electronic heart - get a piece of perfboard, a bunch of red LEDs (and other assorted electronic parts - bias resistors, etc) - and wire up a electronic heart.
Use red-flashing LEDs for a trippy effect (might be expensive, but so is a diamond ring). If you are really good set it up to make a rotating pattern with the LEDs (like a marquee). If you want to try something even better, get a 16x1 HD44780 based LCD, a PIC stamp - have the PIC drive everything, put the LCD in the center, and put a scrolling message ("I Love You!" or similar) on it. Or put a picture of you in the middle of it...
One thing I did for Valentines day - because my GF isn't as geeky - was I built an automaton - a box with wheels and belts, pulleys, etc - and waving hearts on the top - powered by a little motor. I made it so you could remove the panels - it was all built out of balsa wood, painted - the whole thing - took about a month to construct and tune. She loves it to this very day (that was a few years back).
Really - anything you take time on, given with your heart - is what you want to give. Something that really says "I love you" - it could be as simple as a card you made - or a piece of jewelry, or a romantic evening out. Take the time and thought - and you will have a day to remember...
Worldcom - Generation Duh!
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Valentine's Day tends to be just another day for me
:)
Where I come from, it's called bitter singles day. It's usually best spent at home, alone, wallowing in self pity and the anguish of your loneliness.
Have a good one!