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Scientific American's Sci/Tech Gifts for 2003
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."
How about a totally melted CPU? ;-)
Google hasn't cached it yet.
SCREW THE ADS! http://adblock.mozdev.org/ Proud user of teh Fox of Fire - Registered Linux User #289618
I am buying Beyond Fear for lots of people this Christmas.
Read Epic the first RPG novel.
I had a "Shrimp Farm" almost three decades ago. But it had a much cooler name, This was truly a great gift.
I would like Windows .Net server for Christmas. And more ram.
Your's Truly,
Slashdot Website
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
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.
3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
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.
I'm pretty much a gadget geek. Here are some of the things that I want for Christmas:
1) Job, so that I can buy these things for myself. Being laid off sucks.
2) Something for my daughter, besides the bare necessities.
3) Something for my wife. She works hard because I'm laid off.
4) December's mortgage payment.
5) November's property tax payment.
6) One night of uninterrupted sleep.
7) A two-month contract, just enough to get through December
8) A month contract, just enough to get through November.
9) A week contract, just enough to pay my phone and electric bill.
10) All the above for my friend, who's worse off than I am.
I stopped dreaming about dual Opterons about six months ago.
Might I suggest 120 laser pointers?
"Yeah, well, Dracula called and he's coming over tonight for you and I said okay."
ACME Klein Bottle!
OTOH, they did say science lovers, not topology geeks...
*chuckle* thinkgeek sells it too...
fugee indeed
I got this....
"Error Occurred While Processing Request...
The most likely cause of this problem is that the server is not currently running. Verify that the server is running and restart it if necessary. "
We toasted it.
"We all know that Crap is King" - Don Henley
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?
The man who never alters his opinion is like the stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the Mind -- William Blake
Why not instead participate in Buy Nothing Day, instead of buying more useless stuff that nobody needs?
Howabout the one that no longer has PC PS2 connectors on their computer? (RTFA)
My girlfriend is fairly sophisticated, but if I gave her that, she'd probably question my sexuality.
I'd insist on buying a wireless version for the lady in my life.
Not because of any superior ergonomic factors, but because Bluetooth would remove the risk of my beloved wrapping the cord around my throat and tightening.
My god, they're going to have to find a new measurement for bad taste now that thing's rolled into town.
Best wishes,
Mike
Top Sci/Tech Gifts 2003
25 great holiday gifts for science lovers of all ages
Who says there's no science to gift giving? Tell that to the geek on your list whose bemused smile at "yet another acrylic turtleneck" is but a thin veil for his real desire for a James Watson Bobble Head doll.
Once again, we have left no stone unturned in ferreting out the very best gifts for the science lovers in your midst. What's under those rocks, you might well ask. Well, the South American Longhorn Beetle Collection for one, mounted quite elegantly in your choice of frames in one of our most attractive present selections. What's more, we've got a one-pound, anatomically correct chocolate brain for hungry minds, an at-home forensics lab for the pint-sized Sherlock, and, at long last, a clever contraption that will help your loved ones to divine their dogs' most profound emotions. For your very nearest and dearest, consider a self-orienting telescope, a Swarovski crystal-studded computer mouse, or Sony's AIBO ERS-7, the latest and most astounding in robotic pet technology.
Scientific American.com stands firm in the belief that there truly is a science to gift giving. We've done the research--now you furnish the results! --The Editors
Special thanks to Melissa Kirsch for her assistance in producing this section
GIFTS UNDER $25
A Crick in His Neck?
Best known for his contributions to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the structure of DNA, James D. Watson has never been so memorably depicted as in the form of the Watson Bobble Head. Bearing an uncanny likeness to the scientist himself, the doll's head lolls hither and yon delightfully, perhaps unsteady with the weight of all that knowledge! A mini-model of the famous double-helix clasped in his tiny hands, the figurine is a must-give for the biologists on your gift list.
James Watson Bobble Head $21.95
Not Just for Hydrochloric Acid Anymore One need not be a chemist to enjoy drinking that morning joe from a beaker! These sly Pyrex mugs sport handles, unlike many beakers in the lab, so your loved ones won't burn their hands on the vessels' steaming hot potions. This addition is also useful for science teachers, as students can watch the transfer of liquids without the demonstrator's hand blocking the view. The mugs hold up to 400 milliliters of coffee, tea or corrosive chemicals.
Beaker Mug $10.95 ($59.95 for set of six)
Food for Thought
Studies abound detailing the effects of chocolate on our nervous systems. But we've yet to see a scientific study on the results of consuming a chocolate brain. Now you can find out when you give the gift of an anatomically correct one-pound solid milk chocolate brain to all the neurosurgeons, med students, brainiacs and knuckleheads on your holiday roster. Potential organ donors should note that warm climates require express shipping for their brains.
Chocolate Brain $16.95
The Hypochondriac's Teddy Bear
There's nothing adorable about a sore throat in real life, but when it's magnified a million times, rendered in plush and given a set of button eyes, there's no denying it: this is one cute microbe. Joined by his other stuffed friends The Common Cold, The Flu and Stomach Ache, these pals from the Under the Weather Collection make a wacky gift for kids and adults alike. Each four-inch-tall critter is accompanied by an image of and information on the actual microbe it represents, lest anyone get too cozy with their darling little illnesses. Just as much fun is the Maladies Collection, which includes cuddly Bad Breath. Kissing Disease, Athlete's Foot, and Ulcer.
Plush Microbes $19.95
Quiz Show
For all those budding geniuses, here are endless hours of riddles, number games and word puzzles from the folks at the stratospheric-IQ society, MENSA. Choose from three different sets of elegantly designed quiz cards. At just about the size of your average index card, they're great for long car trips, sleepless nights or a post-dinner parlor game.
MENSA Mindbender Quiz Ca
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.
www.voiceofthehive.com - Beekeeping and Honeybees for those who don't.
The sphere is also scriptable. You can change its color by making HTTP GET requests to the sphere-controlling server. Although I'm not gonna plop down $150 for it, I think having a glowing sphere telling you how much email you have (green no mail, yellow some, red too much) would be pretty cool.
And what Sophisticated Lady wouldn't be overjoyed at unwrapping a genuine Swarovski crystal accessory?
While it's interesting looking, I'd rather have a USB mouse that isn't round. I also wonder about how well that finish holds up. And the price is a bit steep for me.
What is with this trend? Wired devotes at least ten pages a month to hawking gadgets. Popular Science too. Now Scientific American? Guys - we already get the Sharper Image catalog in the mail whether we want it or not - please stick to reporting on science.
Hey, don't knock it before you try it!
Why, it's that's scientific holiday known as Christmas! :-)
Don't *make* me sing Christmas carols at you!
--- Ban humanity.
I was in the mall last weekend. So was Santa. Yes, it seems that the christmas shopping season starts earlier every year. No, I no longer call it the "Christmas Season", it's now the "christmas shopping season".
Now, I see christmas gift ideas... "stocking stuffers" on Slashdot.
Yes, this is off topic.
This year, I'm doing my best not to buy anything for the chirstmas shopping season. I don't need an excuse to purchase something for my significant other. I'm not about to spend $20 on little pieces of plastic that will be tired of within a few hours for my niece.
For the past couple years, when people have asked what I wanted for Christmas/birthdays/other occasions, I have said "nothing". I have everything I *need*. I'm well educated, I have a job, and I'm in the process of getting back into physical shape. I also like to think that I have a good life and I'm happy. Do I need the latest games, toys, and distractions? No. If I needed it, I'd buy it myself.
This frustrates a fair number of people. "What do you mean you don't want anything?!? I need to get you something!" No, you don't. Save your money. One day you may need it to visit a dying loved-one. One day, you may not have a job anymore.
A friend and I have an understanding. I never buy anthing for him, he never buys anything for me. It's the only way that we don't feel like we stiffed each other. It's been working quite well for 6 years now.
Anyway, I don't really have a point. Just a collection of ideas I wanted to share. How do you people feel about the chirtmas shopping season?
Beware TPB
I got the Rokenbok starter set about two weeks ago, had so much fun with it got the "garage kit", ordered a few other parts on "special" from the website.
Helluva fun product and something you can do with the kids as well...
myke
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
Waitress! I said 400 mL NOT 480 mL!!!
I haven't mustered up the nerve to actually drop $80 for one of these yet, but they would definitely impress at parties!
Slashdot "libertarians": Small government for me, big government for those I disagree with. -1, I disagree with you
So give it to her right after sex, then, when she wants to "cuddle"?
--- Ban humanity.
The New York Times has an article on techie gifts too.
Read Epic the first RPG novel.
Now we've moved from not RTFA to not RTFP (post)! Did you understand the parent post? You donate to the organization, and your donation is used to buy a llama, a cow, a chicken, etc. If it's a chicken, for example, a poor family is able to raise chickens, get eggs, and generally be better off. It's nothing like those Christmas cards you buy from a charity organization -- the poster was saying you can donate in someone else's name and in return receive a nice "thank-you" type of card. You know? One of those gift-card type things? A small piece of inexpensive cardboard?
My goodness, I don't know why I'm bothering. If you couldn't even understand the original post, I don't know how I can simplify it to the point where it will make sense to you.
And it was moderated as Funny! Okay, mildly amusing to think of llamas...but don't you know this is actually a genuinely good thing? They provide for all manner of other animals, and they're actually useful and well thought-out concepts.
ARRGH!
Um, I think I'm mixing up two things there.
But anyway, buy practical gifts. Nothing wrong with that. Why does it have to be junk or nothing? Why always the two extremes?
I know that *I* simply cannot get enough socks.
--- Ban humanity.
Extremely cruel, but I can't stop laughing....
This little guy just paid for your interruption
Oh man... ROFLMFAO!
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
Huh?
This is a "teach a man to fish" outfit. They buy livestock -- chicks, pigs, ducks, llamas, whatever -- for poor people. Instead of getting a few meals, they become part of the local economy, becoming producers of meat, fur, eggs, milk, wool, etc.
It's a better deal than just buying food.
And nothing stops you from donating to Heifer (or similar outfits) AND donating to a local food bank.
I did both this year.
Stefan
It was slashdoted when there were only 2 comments visible. Possibly before that. That's when I tried to access it at least.
Not everything is analogous to cars. Car analogies rarely work.
No no no no! "Tobacco Pipe"! It's a very important nomenclature distinction!
;^)
News for Geeks in Austin, TX
This outfit sells an amazing variety of stuff, ranging from surplus crap to scientific instruments:
http://www.sciplus.com/
The item descriptions are a lot of fun to read as well.
Post#1
Post#2
Not everything is analogous to cars. Car analogies rarely work.
India wouldn't take you anyways. They're smart and won't let Americans work for them because they like to have an economy not based on sports teams and hollywood and monopolies. Sorry if this sounds like a rant but it's true. I would like to move back to Canada but I have hope this country will get back together. Sad really.
Der Tod ist der einzige Weg hier raus!
For all those with a fondness for British humour, 80s TV shows, and jokes about the biggest number, this one's for you.
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
Green: Nominal traffic Yellow: High traffic Red: Slashdot panic!
The only Swarovski crystal accessory I want comes gift wrapped in a 30mm tube, perfect for pointing rifles at distant targets very accurately!
Elgon
Grrrrrrrr!
Drill baby drill - on Mars
I think computer users/nerds, above all others, seem to get sucked into the mindset of buying the newest, shiniest gadgets, often only to throw them away in a couple years. I am not saying that I am completely above a consumer lifestyle, especially when it comes to new hardware ;) , but I think there is some truth in the calls to restrain the rampant buying of crap.
The desire to buy things that one does not need is often manufactured...
Xmas season starts as soon as stores take out the Halloween stuff off of their shelves, to replace them with Xmas seasonal shiat.
Wired did this recently and used up about half the magazine. This is not why I subscribe. I want long, informative articles on new trends, research, and innovative people; not a rehashing of the latest Hammacher Schlemmer catalog.
The woman in your life would really like one of these.
The ______ Agenda
I, for one, have to torment myself every year in order to come up with something remotely thoughtful...
What is the Slashdot crowd planning to get for the non-geek people in their lives?
If the submitter thinks that these should never have been made, then why does thinkgeek sell them Here?
Well, it IS running ColdFusion.. whatta ya expect?
My sig can beat up your sig.
People have been complaining for at least 50 years that christmas shopping season starts earlier every year. If that was true, it would be back in at least September by now. Truth is, it still starts in mid November, like it always has.
The fact that people perceive it as starting earlier is pretty interesting. I read an article about it once, but I can't find it on the net in 5 minutes, so I'll just claim it emphatically for now!
You, sir, are a BOFH. Bravo!
//
[shamless plug] Check out other electronics and computer deals at Retail Retreat
I try to keep the content fresh daily. Thanks for taking a look!
" You, sir, are a BOFH. Bravo!"
No, a TRUE BOFH would not use a wimpy 9 volt battery on shrimp.
A true BOFH would use a 9000 volt cattleprod on the luser interrupting him.
www.eFax.com are spammers
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.
www.eFax.com are spammers
The amusement value for these would be better if they had more variety in diseases, but still, the Maladies selection isn't bad for gifts. A shame they don't come individually; I can think of a lot of people I could give ulcers to, but not too many I'd want to give Kissing Disease to...
Slashdot's token middle-aged housewife
Is scientific america feeling the effects of being slashdotted ?
If the dollar is an "I owe you nothing", then the Euro is a "Who owes you nothing." - Doug Casey
...geek stocking stuffers.... Umhm, I know some geek trouser stuffers every of you could give a try http://www.autopr0n.com
Moderating 101
Let's not forget that in addition to Christmas and Kwanzaa, we've got my birthday coming up. This is an important celebration that we should not forget. And don't go cheap on me - this list of $25 and less items is unacceptable. Spend some damn money on me! You can't take it with you!
I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
All in all, what I get doesn't matter too much. I mean, I probably have one of the bigger budgets in the family, so without Xmas my money would have probably just gone to getting stuff I wanted anyways.
However, Christmas is one of the few times my family (distributed around the province) generally all get together, and thus the only time we have to give everyone gifts. There's also a challenge in finding things that will be a geniunely nice surprise for those I'm shopping for.
Yes, for the stores I'm sure it's about money money money, but that doesn't mean it has to be like that for me. The other thing to consider is Xmas employment, while for some businesses it's about major profits, for others it's about breaking even, or at least making the business worthwhile. The shopping season keeps a lot of people employed, as it is often the making/breaking point for many smaller businesses.
I have no idea what you're responding to, but if you said culture instead of economy, you'd be more better.
Note to PKD fans: this site contains a slightly disconcerting article about the latest book to movie Paycheck, featuring Uma Thurman and Ben Affleck (or something).
Just have it glow red the moment SCO puts out a new press release. Buy SCO. Have it glow red the moment IBM puts out a new press release. Sell SCO. Stop bitching about pump-n-dump and start making money instead.
Klein Bottle Coffee Mug
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, it doesn't go away." - Philip K. Dick
When you take a telescope with a price that low, and subtract the cost of the electronics, you aren't leaving much to spend on quality optics. So you get a crappy view. Better to save your money for a 6" dobsonian reflector, or a good pair of binoculars. Or be prepared to spend a lot more money for a good computer-guided telescope.
-aiabx
Just this guy, you know?
Sigh... I remember when Scientific American actually carried articles about science rather than consumption. Nice meaty ones, too, with pictures of molecules and stars and everything. Of course, you can say the same thing about Communications of the ACM and IEEE Spectrum, too. Of course, that was back in the 60's & early 70's. I guess they've been growing people a lot dumber since then. Gotta spend the money on eye-candy and dumbed-down writing or the stupid won't buy/read.
That is all.
If you want a real geek toy, then get a real live pinball machine from The Sharper Image:
c tv iew.jhtml?pid=56605000&pcatid=2&catid=201
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/produ
Only $4,995 for The Simpsons: Pinball Party!
At least mafia-owned pizzarias make excellent pizza. Compare to Bill Gates.
snap-together models (less easy!)
Nah, the coolest tech gift has still got to be a TiVo to hack.
:)
:)
The problem is, TiVo is such a cool toy that your gift will go unhacked as he/she enjoys the joy of TiVo. So to remind them what they can do, be sure to get them a copy of Hacking TiVo.
Of course if you don't want to go giving a gift that large, you can always just give the book.
..Jeff Keegan
seven syllables explain TiVo: kee gan dot org slash ti vo
Hmmm, no. What happens is that some terrorist organizations *do* have access to surface to air missiles, and *are* willing to use them against military (or civilian, for that matter) transport planes.
:)
Sadly, it is not "alarmist crap" at all. Portable SAM systems are easy to find, and affordable too. This was true before Sep. 11th, and will be true in the future. You can get them from ex-USSR countries, Ethiopia, Erythrea, Somalia, the Balkans (duh!), among other places. A russian-designed SA 7 Strella missile shouldn't cost more than a hundred thousand dollars (launcher + one missile). These are manufactured under license in many countries: Russia, Pakistan (methinks), China, etc...
This is true regardless of your opinion on the so-called "war on terror". The fact that the US and the UK lied about Irak and overplayed the "war on terrorism" stuff, doesn't make the terrorists less "real". (Or does it?)
(interestingly I typed down "SA 7 Strella" even before I read the CNN page you are pointing at; see, this is far from being new, and I had read about these years before the beginning of the "war on terror")
Just my 2 piastres (typing this from Cairo, Egypt
Hello! I'm a disaster waiting to happen!
Strange that so many of the professional economists credit the improving economy to the tax cuts. How does this fit into your rant?
Strange that so many of the professional economists credit the improving economy to the tax cuts. How does this fit into your rant?
You know how on fighter jets the pilot can turn on the afterburners to get a temporary boost in speed? Those are the tax cuts. Thing is, you burn up fuel faster, and only buy yourself a temporary reprieve. You still have to worry about gravity, or forces which counter your thrust; in this case, that's the huge ($500 billion) trade deficit, the huge budget deficit, increased interest payments, and the shifting of real wealth overseas via jobs. The Fed can only do so much; interest rates are already at historic lows, and going lower will probably not help the economy much. Average wages (taking out the top 1% of wage earners) have gone down, adding to the loss of real wealth in the US.
Sure, we could have bought outselves some time. And the vagarities of international finance are difficult to interpret and impossible to predict. But the financial situation of the US, and many developed western nations, is increasingly shaky. Bush's wreckless -- indeed, destructive -- policies have done nothing to better the financial health of the nation.
You didn't answer my question. PROFESSIONAL economists who don't have an axe to grind seem to think the economy is improving, and instead of addressing that, you site specious arguments. Hiding behind poor analogies doesn't change one fact, consensus among REAL economists (not slashdot readers with an axe to grind) seems to be that the economy is improving. You don't refute that, you don't explain it, and you attempt to dismiss it by saying "well that's gonna change you just wait and see, trust me on this one." Clearly you're a partisan who isn't interested in facts, only rhetoric. One last thing, you site "destructive policies." Would those be the same policies that have shown an increase in consumer confidence, new construction, a decrease in jobless claims, and no increase in inflation? I would hate to see your idea of constructive.
After reading the article I stopped by Brookstone and picked up one of the Eco-Spheres after work. It a little lackluster given the price, but it's really fascinating. 4 little 1/2 inch shrimps running around in a little glass sphere muching on green algae. They're supposed to live 2-5 years and there's a small change they will reproduce. Basically its the pet for people who can't even keep plants alive (yep, that's me).
fanatical?
(religious fanatics?)
"Go to CNN [for a] spell-checked, fact-checked summary" -- CmdrTaco
At that price it should float out onto the water and round up intruders.
You didn't answer my question. PROFESSIONAL economists who don't have an axe to grind seem to think the economy is improving, and instead of addressing that, you site specious arguments.
a) Professional economists rarely agree on anything, b) read this. It's from that rabidly socialist commie axe-to-grind newsmag the Economist, and even THEY think American fiscal policy has some issues that have not been addressed by the administration. These issues cannot be ignored without consequences. You must pay the piper eventually.
Interesting quote:
In their most recent poll, members of the National Association of Business Economists described the federal deficit as the biggest problem facing America's economy. A bipartisan coalition of three economic think-tanks--the Committee for Economic Development, the Concord Coalition and the Centre on Budget and Policy Priorities--recently declared that, without a change in course, the next decade might be the "most fiscally irresponsible" in the country's history.
Look man, despite what you seem to think, people can wish for the same goal -- a healthy, robust American economy -- and differ about how best to pursue that goal. This does not mean they have "an axe to grind". The Bush administration is not removed from criticism, and trying to defend it against any and all criticism, however justified that criticism might be, just winds up hurting both the President and the country as a whole.
Time to slashdot Cliff Stoll :-)
http://www.kleinbottle.com/
Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
The reason it appears that you have an axe to grind is that in the face of convincing evidence, and a consensus among an unusually large number of economists you fail to cite any of the improvements that the tax cut is credited with causing. How else should one interpret that? And by the way, you still haven't addressed that point. Just admit it, and I'll concede all of your other points. That being said, I don't agree with Bush's economic policies, and think they are dangerous, although probably for reasons different from your own. I didn't vote for Bush, he's not a very good president in my opinion, but he gave me MY money back, when the alternative was to keep it and waste most of it. Seems fairly simple to me. One last thing, to address a point brought up earlier, I don't care about jobs going overseas. If you happen to choose to work in an industry with jobs that can be exported, you have no one to blame but yourself. You can always start your own business, which is still a viable option in the US.
What is a chatbot?
"Go to CNN [for a] spell-checked, fact-checked summary" -- CmdrTaco