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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.
Sure, those pet tornadoes _look_ cute when they're small, but boy, they grow up - they grow up big.
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
Here's a better idea: Buy Nothing Day.
in the good old days, geeks were hoping for a girlfriend as a Xmas present..
now they're hoping for a job. I told you having a girlfriend was expensive..
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
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!
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.)
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)
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.
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
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?