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Top SciTech Gifts 2002
Steve0987 writes "Scientific American has a list of suggested Christmas presents for the those technical people on your shopping list. There are a couple I might add to my letter to Santa." Um, I'd also like to add some wireless speakers, but the the coal from the Titanic seems a bit macabre.
The perfect gift is a job...
This frenzy about hitech gizmos makes me think about the introduction in HHGTTG.
A Soviet Whiskey class submarine.
Whiskey tango foxtrot, OVER
Sure, those pet tornadoes _look_ cute when they're small, but boy, they grow up - they grow up big.
Technical gifts are cool; that microscope on page 5 is exactly what I was looking for for my brother.
But they soon lose their charm, run out of batteries and end up polluting the environment with mercury, Lithium, Chlorine and other heavy metals.
SciAm should also promote more ethical gifts, such as adopting endangered animals, areas of threatened land and donations to trusts promoting research in to disease cure and treatment.
It's cliched, I know, but christmas is far too commercial but I hope simple things like this can reverse the trend
Tom's Hardware Guide has their list up, too. Nothing spectacular, but looks like some neat ideas if you're stuck.
In mathematics, one does not understand things, one merely gets used to them.
--VonNeumann
I get that in my stocking every year.
Here's a better idea: Buy Nothing Day.
Dear Santa,
I've been a really good geek this year. I have studied the intricacies of the quantic string field network and built a beowulf cluster out of my old Apple II. I have also helped my school to install their own park of budget PCs and given classes to the senior citizens in our town's retirement home.
So I think I deserved that Terabyte HDD system I saw online [pricegrabber].
Maybe your elves can built it. I have some schematics for it. Pr0... er... pencil holder schematics are becoming really big, with the internet and all, you know, Santa?
Yours,
Geeky Geeks.
The ENIAC Demo Competition
...but it does get better.
I particularly liked the Cat-a-pult, though I'm sure they caution "not to be used with real cats". He-he-he...
I would like a server that can survive a slashdotting.
I think Santa should give one to the people at Scientific American as well.
Sci/Tech gifts are easy to think of!
Now someone come up with a list of flowery/cute/thoughtful gifts for my girlfriend!
(No, really. I post to Slashdot and have a girlfriend. Incredible but true.)
Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
Well that is assuming that they transmit at 2.4Ghz, which I assume they do. Everytime Britanny hits a high note, the ftp connection to the warez site will drop. Oh wait, she can't hit high notes so I guess you're safe.
A grammar checker ?
I ran accross http://www.scitoys.com in an earlier /. article. Not only do they have some pretty cool items but they even tell you how to build a lot of them them yourself if you don't have the cash. I bought a Gauss rifle (http://www.scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/magnets/ga uss.html) for my boys. I can't wait for Xmas.
A Zany-Brainy exclusive:
Cause Kids learn best when they're having fun.
Pagans MC "Little Cooker" Organic Chemistry Kit (Ages 8 to 80)
Who needs a wimpy chemistry set when you can give your child a leg up on the competition with our super-fun crash-course in organic chemistry?
Your child will learn the Ephedrine reduction technique and the German technique to turn Pseudoephedrine into pure organic gold.
When the experiment is over, simply call the Pagans at 1-800-GOT-METH and we will safely "dispose" of the harmful end product and award your child cash prizes and a Pagan "Little Cooker" merit badge.
(Pseudoephedrine, rusty bathtub, and HAZMAT team not included.)
My two favorite endangered animals donation sites are the Bat Conservation International and Duke University Primate Center's Adopt-A-Lemur program.
Um actually, the microscope was on page four. If you RTFA, then you might have seen on page five:
- Adopt a Whale
- Sponsor a Big Cat
- Blue Planet (documentary)
Or are there specific whales/big cats that are not politically correct to adopt, and therefore don't count?
Karma: Neutered (Mostly affected by lack of balls)
Still haven't found presents for the science fans on your list? Before you brave the cold and the holiday crowds again, take a look at our favorite geek gifts to give and get this year.
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That time has come once again when Scientific American editors wrap up their holiday shopping. Okay, actually we're far from done. We admit it. But in our annual mad dash for this season's best science and technology presents, we have turned up quite a few terrific gifts--from pet tornadoes and weather stations to million-year-old fossils and ancient pyramid kits.
Grouped into five categories below--wearables, novelties, toys, gizmos and other stuff--this collection has something for the geek in all of us. How would Dad like a watch with a built-in universal remote control? How about a chemistry set of delicious bath soaps for Mom? Have a nutty relative who, so far as you can tell, lives in a cave? Give him a bona fide bat detector. Or a lump of coal--from the Titanic. Happy browsing! --the Editors
Wearables
Tied to Science
When you have to tie one on, it might as well be scientifically stylish. Josh Bach offers several options among its offerings of colorful silk ties for $39 apiece, including cartoons of atoms, moon phases and rocket ships.
http://www.joshbach.com
Double Helix Bracelet
Wear your feelings about science on your sleeve--and at the same time commemorate the upcoming (March 2003) 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick. The bracelets are fashioned from spring steel and then silver plated. They come in three sizes and prices ($6, $10 or $15). There are also "hematite" and multi-color finishes available.
http://www.carolynforsman.com/product.cfm?item_
Smart (Alec) T-shirts
Want to advertise your smarts before you even open your mouth? Some of these T-shirts should do the trick. The Bell Curve shirt shows the simple graph used so often for grading--and nicely points out the wearer's superior spot at the far end of the scale. Another T, in a lovely shade of turquoise, conveniently shows more digits of Pi than you will ever need.
http://store.thecoop.com/cgi-bin/coopstore.stor
Space Station Crew Cap
Is someone on your gift list out of this world in one way or another? Give them this black baseball cap, identifying them as a crew member on the space station. The back of the hat features the IMAX logo.
http://store.thetech.org/spacstatcrew.html
Midas Remote Controlled Watch
Think of it--a universal remote control attached to your wrist at all times. No TV will ever again escape your will, at least not if it's within 20 feet. This watch's database covers every make/model of TV and cable receiver imaginable. What does such power cost, you ask? Only $39.99.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/5a7b/
Novelties
Aged Well
Fossils, skulls, and large insects are among the offerings at Maxilla and Mandible online. When we looked, for instance, the 350 million-year-old fossil trilobite was a steal at $56. Also available was a modern wildebeast skull with graceful black horns ($360), and an impressive specimen of a giant scorpion ($100). Prices and offerings vary.
http://www.maxillaandmandible.com/
Titanic Coal
Need to fill stockings for bad children, large and small? Well, for a mere $21.95 you can give them a piece of coal from the engine room of the most famous shipwreck, the sinking of the Titanic. Each lump comes with a certificate of authenticity.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/scimall-usa/titanic
Test-tube Spice Rack
For the chemist-cum-cook, this set of glass test tubes in a matching silver rack makes it easy to brew up just about anything in the kitchen. Cork stoppers keep spices fresh.
http://www.gourmetbistro.com/glastestubsp.html
Bath Science
Fill your tub with a variety of potions and lotions from chemistryset.net this season and keep the beakers and vials for later use. The delicious soaps, bath bombs, mineral salts, aromatherapy beads and candles from this site are all you need to dissolve holiday stress.
http://www.chemistryset.net/
MC2 Frame
Hand-made, hand-painted and cast in bonded porcelain, this beautiful frame is a nice way to display your photos of Einstein--or anyone else you hold near and dear.
http://store.yahoo.com/msichicago/16-538.html
Surveyors' Bearings
Antique scientific instruments can be very pricey. But there are some high quality, accurate reproductions available that will put less of a dent in the pocketbook. The classic surveying compass, for example, was patented by Colorado mining engineer D.W Brunton in 1894. It quickly became the standard instrument for explorers mapping new lands and territories and charting coastlines. This faithful replica has a solid polished brass casing that opens to reveal folding peep sights; on the inside of the lid is a mirror with a centre line. The case is heavily constructed from a machined casting, with brass screws and hinges. It comes in a leather case with stitched seams and brass strap fastening.
www.simplysuperbgifts.com
Signed by Chuck Yeager
In 1947, Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, flew into history when he became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. The Bell X-1 Rocket Research plane he piloted. You can't give someone the original X-1--its at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum but you can give them a 1:32 scale model autographed by Yeager. The model is handcrafted of mahogany and presented on a wooden display stand.
www.smithsonianstore.com
Astronaut Autographs
The moonwalker astronauts are now in their 60s and 70s--and most will likely be gone before humans return to the moon. But space buffs can still get the gift of a living remembrance of those heroic journeys in the form of NASA photographs autographed by the astronauts. For example, a signed and authenticated 16-by-20 copy of the famous photo of Neil Armstrong reflected in the faceplate of Buzz Aldrin's helmet can be purchased for $299; framed for $459.
www.novaspace.com
Toys
Rocket Car
Forget the run-of-the-mill remote-controlled models from Radio Shack. This two-foot long speed machine runs on pure vinegar and baking soda. You might want to send Fido outside before you fire 'er up.
http://store.thecoop.com/cgi-bin/coopstore.stor
Pet Tornado
Speaking of pets, why not keep your very own storm around for a, well, sunny day? No need for walks, bones, scratching posts, flea collars or pigs ears. Just spin the cage and watch a baby tornado form. At $4.50, it makes a great stocking stuffer.
http://store.yahoo.com/msichicago/pettornado.ht
Cat-A-Pults
Watch mechanics in action as Newton the foam cat flies from one catapult to the next. This set contains five catapults, each with 25 adjustment settings to control the cat's trajectory up to distances of eight feet, and 10 actual Newtons, for a total of 90 feline lives.
http://store.yahoo.com/
explo/catapults.html
Pyramid Building Blocks
Reconstruct Tut's tomb with this 67-piece block set. These hardwood blocks come in 18 different shapes, making it far easier for you to engineer a pyramid than it was for the ancient Egyptians.
http://www.smithsonianstore.com/product_detail.
Talking Globe
Learn geography plus national anthems and songs. This globe asks more than 10,000 questions and grades your answers. You can create custom quizzes at different skill levels and track scores for up to four players.
http://www.smithsonianstore.com/product_detail.
Ant-omology
Like chemistry sets, the holidays wouldn't be the same without some budding entomologist getting an ant farm. This escape-proof set up allows kids to watch these industrious arthropods through the walls of a round-walled clear container with a snap on magnifier for closer viewing. "Sugar Cement" puts nutrients into the sand while making it cave-in resistant and spurs the ants to greater activity. A mail-in coupon brings the ants to their new abode within 2 to 4 weeks. It also gives parents a chance to reconsider.
www.scientificsonline.com
Designer Molecules
Molecular models may be the Tinker Toys of the 21st century. Here's a kit that contains an extensive assortment of 480 atoms molded in polypropylene. Three hundred flexible vinyl connectors represent the bond "linkages." Double and triple bonds are easily constructed. Anything from an acid to an enzyme is easily fabricated. And even if its not the next blockbuster designer drug, the models are nice to look at.
gallery.bcentral.com
Unraveling DNA
It's been 50 years since Watson and Crick figured out that the DNA packed in all living cells was coiled in the form of a double helix. But few people have actually seen this stuff of life. Here's a kit that can give amateur experimenters a look by extracting the DNA from onion cells. By following simple instructions users can see the DNA precipitate from solution and lift it out of the test tube. In the process, they learn about cell lysis, denaturation, precipitation, super coiling, high molecular mass, and the double stranded helix.
www.books4kids.com
Gadgets
Portable Solar Array
If the batteries in your CD player or cell phone run dry on a clear, sunny day, just plug the little gadget into iSun, a portable solar charger offered by ICP Global Technologies. The size of a small book, one iSun generates about two Watts of electricity, enough to power a Walkman, cell phone or PD. Each unit costs $79.99 a piece, and they can be linked together like a daisy chain to power hungrier devices.
www.icpglobal.com
Backyard Weather Station
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Go one step farther and make your own forecast. These professional weather stations feature anemometers to measure wind speed and direction, rain collectors to track daily and accumulated rainfall amounts, temperature and humidity sensors and much more. They transmit their readings to remote LCD console/receivers that can be placed up to 400 feet away.
http://www.weathershop.com/davis_wireless.htm
Bat Detectors
No, this isn't a giant bat-shaped spotlight you project into the night sky. This palm-held gizmo is the bat-hunter's equivalent to a fish finder. For beginners, Bat Conservation International, Inc., which brings you the Swedish-made devices, suggests the E-5 Microbat model, with high/low frequency capabilities for detecting most bats through a speaker or headphones. For around $89, it comes with belt clip, battery and instructions.
http://www.batcon.org/catalog/catp3.html
Time Flows By
Here's new twist on the time-honored hourglass egg timer. The Bubble Timer is a polished two-inch acrylic cube that reckons the minutes by the lazy ascent of a bubble through a tube. Depending on the face the cube is set on, the tube has three inclinations--and hence counts out three different times: ten seconds, one minute or five minutes. Invert the cube to repeat the measurement.
bubbletimer.com/
Don't Party Without It
No need to fear the consequences of overzealous holiday celebrating is you are carrying this Digital Alcohol Detector. This compact personal breathalyzer uses advanced semiconductor gas sensor technology to approximate the percent of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from your breath. Blow into the mouth vent and within 10 seconds a precise reading, in increments of 0.01 percent, ranging from 0.00 to 0.19 percent BAC.appears on the LCD display.
www.scientificsonline.com
Atomic Time
With the ExactSet clock there is no reason to call the phone company for the correct time. This compact travel clock sets itself automatically to the radio signal from the US Atomic Clock in Colorado. In addition, the clock incorporates two alarms, time/day/date display, indoor temperature, and low battery indicator. It even has an eight minute snooze for an indisputable wakeup call.
www.weathertools.com
Solar Observer
Here's a safe way to look at the surface of the sun. The Sunspotter is a wooden, folded-Keplerian telescope that uses a system of mirrors and a powerful 62millimeter objective lens to project a brilliant three-inch solar image onto a white viewing screen. Sunspots can be easily tracked as they appear and move across the solar disk. Tracing the images provides an hour-by-hour or day-by-day record of the solar cycle.
www.scientificsonline.com
Bright Beam
Almost everyone has a flashlight--or too many--but the X5 LED Long Distance Flashlight adds a new dimension. Its powerful beam reaches 120 feet but, unlike conventional flashlights, it illuminates that darkness in full spectrum color by combining the light from five LED bulbs. The distinctive blue beam can be seen more than two miles away at dusk or dark. Its aircraft-grade aluminum case is virtually unbreakable, completely waterproof (up to 150 feet), and shock proof.
shopping.discovery.com
Digital Microscope
Another old standby children's gift--the optical microscope--is going digital. The C2D Microscope connects to a PC and can magnify objects up to 220 times their actual size. The software can record both stills and video. Like its mechanical forebears, the kit also contains dissecting tools and prepared slides.
store.yahoo.com
Other
Adopt a Whale
For only $54 dollars, you can help support research on killer whales and claim one for your very own or for a friend. The killer whale adoption program from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center sends you an ID photo and biography of your whale, an adoption certificate, a CD featuring the sounds of British Columbia's killer whales and newsletter about the research program. You choose your whale from a pull-down menu: Balaklava, Clio, Echo, Izumi, Nimpkish, Whisky and pals are waiting.
http://www.clamshell.org/
Sponsor a Big Cat
For only $25, you can sponsor a jaguar, snow leopard or Siberian Tiger and get a bunch of great goodies as well. The Wildlife Conservation Society will send you a limited edition T-shirt, one year of their magazine, a brief history of your cat and information about what WCS is doing in its habitat to help protect wildlife. For $35 or more, you'll also receive a quarterly newsletter.
http://wcs.org/bigcats/#whichcat
Blue Planet
This hauntingly beautiful journey beneath the sea made documentary history. From giant whales to tiny coral polyps and the strange organisms that live in the abyssal deep, it contains scenes never before captured on camera. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, it stands as a definitive exploration of the ocean's most breathtaking habitats, from its deepest recesses to its frozen deserts. The entire series is available in a boxed gift set of four DVDs. DVD extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews, photo galleries, fact files and a Blue Planet music video.
shopping.discovery.com
For the geek you want to get outdoors, get a basic Garmin eTrex GPS unit for around $100, then point them to geocaching.com. It's a fun geek activity, but maybe not suited to all geeks during the winter months. I'd be caching this weekend, except that I live in NH and it's about 10 degrees outside. (No, I'm not a New England native.) During the summer and fall, I had a great time hunting caches.
Even if they don't want to cache, it's still a neat geek toy.
That the top gift for too many /.'ers would be "a love life". :)
(yes, I'l take one too, Santa)...
Could someone tell me what is the message they are trying to get to retailers?
"Stop selling me so much stuff?"
"Thanks but I'll go shopping on Saturday/Sunday after Black Friday?"
The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Karma hit be damned, don't buy anyone a damned thing. Draw them a picture. Write them a letter. Fold them an oragami barn complete with animals.
I realize the point of this post is to be informative and this is a tech/nerd site. So be it. I'm suggesting that the best tech gift you can give someone is more of your time which, I might point out, is going to be spent working -- as opposed to spending time with them -- to earn the money for that runaway consuermism, optical, wifi, 3D, open-source imbedded OS GPS-capable caffienated, programmable biometric teeshirt.
Yeesh.
My
Limekiller
Does the bat detector come with a rabies vaccine?
HH
ps don't mod up as funny
Don't buy gifts for people, any idiot can wield a credit card. Instead, build something for someone. Use Legos, use paper (origami, cards, poetry), grab that game boy sowing machine and make clothes for someone if that's what you think they want, but don't just buy stuff. Make it meaningful, and stuff. Something that you put time and heart into will be appreciated much more than the stupid "duh, i bought you this because it was 15% off, here's the receipt if you don't like it" bullshit that capitalist pigs foist on us for their own pleasure. Or something.
And while I'm being cantankerous, I have a grand idea: why don't we be thankful before we worry about Our (ok, maybe your, but I'm still a little confused here) Savior's birthday?
[o]_O
I would like my karma set back to a numerical score. I know you and Cowboy Elf are hard at work for Slashdotmas, but that is my wish for the year. I have been very good and not trolled all year long.
dr_dank
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
Before y'all descend onto the site to buy yourself a little radioactivity, Cash'n'Carrion WILL NOT SHIP OUTSIDE OF THE UK. Various reasons listed here
If I remember my nuclear physics correctly, Tritium (Hydrogen-3 (1 proton, 2 neutrons)) decays via a weak Beta-particle emission into Helium-3 (2 protons, 1 neutron). This beta particle, which is not energetic enough to make its way outside of the glass tube in which the tritium is stored, exceites the phosphor on the inside of the tube causing it to glow in one of several cool shades. As Tritium has a half-life of the order of 4500 days, these things should last a good few years (they suggest atleast 10) before the glow fades.