Scientific American's Sci/Tech Gifts for 2003

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Scientific American's Sci/Tech Gifts for 2003

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Thursday November 20, 2003 @04:16AM from the making-a-list-checking-it-twice dept.

Rick DeBay writes "Scientific American has come out with their Sci/Tech gift list for 2003. I think they did a good job, even the selections in the under $25 category are quite tasteful and dignified. And what Sophisticated Lady wouldn't be overjoyed at unwrapping a genuine Swarovski crystal accessory? My personal favorites fall in to those well-worn categories, 'Imprisoning Small Creatures for Amusement' and 'Getting Someone Else to Clean-Up.' The frog and shrimp farms fufill the first, and the domestically-challengeds' favorite Roomba the latter. Seriously, there is a mix of interesting gadgets, products that should never have been made, refugees from Sharper Image, and humorous geek stocking stuffers. It is unlikely that you could go wrong."

22 of 240 comments (clear)

Re:My gift to Sci Am by The+One+KEA · 2003-11-20 04:24 · Score: 2, Funny

How about a totally melted CPU? ;-)

Google hasn't cached it yet.

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SCREW THE ADS! http://adblock.mozdev.org/ Proud user of teh Fox of Fire - Registered Linux User #289618
Dear Santa, by mikesab · 2003-11-20 04:25 · Score: 3, Funny

I would like Windows .Net server for Christmas. And more ram.
Your's Truly,
Slashdot Website
Santa.. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-11-20 04:27 · Score: 4, Funny

Santa, I want a smell-a-scope, and a bending unit, and a virtual Internet, and a pony, and a death clock, and... Oh wait, you want REAL geek gifts :-(

Forterss of Insanity
Blogzine
Give the gift of llamas! by Guano_Jim · 2003-11-20 04:27 · Score: 5, Funny

Check out Heifer International.

For under $25 you can give a gift to a hungry family that will help them sustain themselves for a lifetime. You buy "shares" of animals that the organization then gives to the family.

The gift recipient on your end ( mom, dad, sis, whoever) gets a card detailling your contribution in their name. Great stocking stuffers. Nothing says "I love you" like a share of water buffalo.

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3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
1. Re:Give the gift of llamas! by ObiWanKenblowme · 2003-11-20 05:13 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  It's like the old saying goes: Buy a family a dinner, they eat for a night. Buy a family a water buffalo, they all get trampled and have to be airlifted to the nearest trauma center.
  
  --
  Obvious exits are NORTH, SOUTH, and DENNIS.
2. Re:Give the gift of llamas! by operagost · 2003-11-20 06:20 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Everybody's got a water buffalo.
  Yours is fast, but mine is slow.
  Oh, where do we get them, I don't know,
  But everybody's got a water buffalooooooooooooooo!
  
  I took my buffalo to the store.
  Got his head caught in the door.
  Spilled some lima beans on the floor.
  Oh, everybody's got a --
  
  Asparagus: Stop! Stop this instant! You can't say everybody's got a water buffalo when everyone does *not* have a water buffalo! We're going to get nasty letters in the mail saying, "Where's my water buffalo? Why don't I have a water buffalo?" and are you prepared to deal with that? I don't think so! Just stop being so silly!
  
  Narrator: This has been silly songs with Larry. Tune in next time to hear Larry sing ...
  
  Larry: Everybody's got a baby kangaroo.
  Yours is pink but mine is blue.
  Hers was small but --
  
  Asparagus: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
What Slashdot Wants! by Davak · 2003-11-20 04:27 · Score: 4, Funny

Santa Slashdot:

Please give me a Swiss Army PDA Phone with MP3, GPS, Wireless, and GameBoy emulation all in one. Oh, and please include the linux plug-in adapter as well.

Davak

PS. I've been a good little Karma Whore this year.
My recommendation: by breon.halling · 2003-11-20 04:29 · Score: 4, Funny

Might I suggest 120 laser pointers?

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"Yeah, well, Dracula called and he's coming over tonight for you and I said okay."
Re:Shrimp Farm? Big Deal by Walterk · 2003-11-20 04:35 · Score: 2, Funny

Lame. They're only G-rated. I'll wait for the X-rated sea monkeys.

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"If anyone needs me, I'm in the angry dome."
Off by one error by Walter+Wart · 2003-11-20 04:40 · Score: 2, Funny

The choclate brain was cute. But the people at SciAm, as Maxwell Smart would have said, "Missed it by that much." There was a perfectly good choclate heart right there on the same site. Which gift would have more wow-factor? Especially left on your sweetie's doorstep in a little puddle of chocolate sauce?

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The man who never alters his opinion is like the stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the Mind -- William Blake
Sea monkeys make a nice deterrent to interuptions. by xC0000005 · 2003-11-20 04:45 · Score: 5, Funny

Sea monkeys are also an effective way to ward off visitors. Keep a nine volt battery near the tank and every time a co-worker interupts, shcok a few. Then say "This little guy just paid for your interruption." You won't have to do this often. If the answer is documented somewhere, shock them twice.

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www.voiceofthehive.com - Beekeeping and Honeybees for those who don't.
Re:Lame by Anonymous Coward · 2003-11-20 04:53 · Score: 2, Funny

my beloved wrapping the cord around my throat and tightening.
Hey, don't knock it before you try it!
Pyrex Mugs Rock! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-11-20 04:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Waitress! I said 400 mL NOT 480 mL!!!
Gotcha! by HarveyBirdman · 2003-11-20 04:58 · Score: 3, Funny

Should you by accident have a girl in your life, handing her that mouse is the quickest way to get rid of her.
So give it to her right after sex, then, when she wants to "cuddle"?

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--- Ban humanity.
1. Re:Gotcha! by Chewie · 2003-11-20 05:38 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  So give it to her right after sex, then, when she wants to "cuddle"?
  
  Slow down there, professor. First, we've got to get to the sex part. Then we can figure out what to do after.
  
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  49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6F 6F 20 6D 75 63 68 20 66 72 65 65 20 74 69 6D 65 2E
Buy a DVD! by Pope · 2003-11-20 05:12 · Score: 2, Funny

Look Around You
For all those with a fondness for British humour, 80s TV shows, and jokes about the biggest number, this one's for you.

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It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
Re:Come on, it's not even December yet... by GoofyBoy · 2003-11-20 05:29 · Score: 5, Funny

>For the past couple years, when people have asked what I wanted for Christmas/birthdays/other occasions, I have said "nothing".

I used to say that. "Thank you, but I'm ok." now I just say "Pr0n. And not that crappy domestic stuff either."

They stopped asking me what I want and just send a nice card.

--
The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
Re:They missed the _amazing_ by Abcd1234 · 2003-11-20 05:39 · Score: 2, Funny

My only question is, when will he come out with a klein bong?

Didn't read the FAQ, didja? :)
Re:Sea monkeys make a nice deterrent to interuptio by bobroberts · 2003-11-20 06:14 · Score: 2, Funny

You, sir, are a BOFH. Bravo!

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// // Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. // //
A spammer by wowbagger · 2003-11-20 06:27 · Score: 2, Funny

I want a spammer for Christmas.

And some soundproofing foam.

I already have the duct tape, the soldering iron, the needlenose pliers, and the wallplug ending in bare wires.

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www.eFax.com are spammers
Re:Here's my list by tiled_rainbows · 2003-11-20 06:38 · Score: 4, Funny

You know, sometimes the moderation is the funniest thing about a post. Informative? Informative???

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evil math within Nature's Cubic Creation!
Re:Here's my list by zod1025 · 2003-11-20 12:00 · Score: 2, Funny

I doubt you'd know how to "instantiate" a baby if a pregnant woman fell on your penis.

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-ZOD-