I'm stumped when friends and family ask if I have a wish-list for presents. I don't know about others, but I'm hard to buy for (mp3s and ebooks have killed the traditional, non sock, options), vouchers are the safe bet, but leave the giver feeling like they're handing over a small amount of cash with no personal meaning.
So, what do you all do, and what are the HN equivalent of Buzz Lightyear dolls of 2010?
The stuff on the lists, by the way, will break your heart. Used shoes (size 11)?
EDIT: Just to torture myself:
How about this one, though? :( http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ibanez-Artist-Guitar-1978-2622-S...
I do typically get a few gift cards for restaurants from family members - these are nice because it lets me and my wife have a nice meal out. That's a key right there - the gift is providing me a nice experience, not a 'thing' to house and maintain.
What I've started to do - as a bit offputting as it seemed at first - is sending pics of my gift-card meals to the giver. It's a way to let them know we did actually use the gift, and that we had a good time. It gets around the giver feeling like they just handed over cash with no personal meaning. For other sorts of gift-cards, I will send an email or phone call thanking them and letting them know what I selected.
As 'impersonal' as this may be, it's the best balance I've come up with.
Side note: The emails and pics feel strangely a bit like old-fashioned 'thank you' notes that my folks tried to get me to write as a kid after birthdays. I hated that experience, and when I didn't do it I felt like I was a bad kid.
Between getting older and getting computerized, I'm much more willing to follow up with email. I don't mind the process of thank you notes, but I hate writing by hand, even as a kid.
In my time, we had no real options (well, typewriter I guess) so I was forced in to writing by hand, which I was (and still am) horrible at. I can't write more than a few lines before my hand aches and the writing is illegible (even to me).
tl;dr: I wish I'd had email as a kid and been mature enough to use it to keep in touch with well-meaning family members.
Failing that, t-shirts. Cotton whites are fine although I send along a few links to some 'funny' shirts I'd wear for those who want to get me something a little less generic.
* Possibly an e-reader, although I still can't decide between the Nook and the Kindle right now.
* Hopefully not too many gift cards to specific stores, since I never seem to use them. I know I'll inevitably receive some.
* Almost anything from ThinkGeek, like these Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets that I want to try: http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/ab3f/
They're fun though, I suggest getting a group of friends who are interested and setting up a buffet for everyone to sample from (single ingredient or simple foods work best, and try various beverages too).
If you're really stumped, maybe think of something you don't like to shop for (clothes, bowls&plates, a lamp, laundry detergent? boring household stuff) and ask for that and let them pick what type.
This is not the reason why people get each other gifts.
The reason some X is dumb rarely has to do directly with the reason proponents of X say X is great, but rather with something they don't think about.
A nice, small tube amp.
I'm unlikely to get either since I haven't made these wishes known to anyone who's going to be buying me anything. In any case, they're both the sort of thing you're better off buying for yourself.
http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1,bkv:f&tbo=p&q...
(query is for "attic greek" restricted to "full text available".)
> I found it disappointing that they limit the height to 10
> ft above the ground.
Of course the radio might be too weak for any sort of serious teleoperation.
PS: I made this site a few years back: http://whychristmasisbullshit.com/
The prevalence of gift giving using consumer credit is just dumb, moreso when it's crappy gift cards that don't mean anything. Only spending time with family during Christmas doesn't feel genuine, and the arbitrariness of getting time off for the holidays is irksome to anyone who is aware of how fabricated the holiday is. Call me scrooge too if you like, but I agree with most of the stuff listed.
http://mrdoob.github.com/three.js/examples/materials_cars.ht...
(needs WebGL capable browser like Chrome 9 dev channel or Firefox 4)
http://www.amazon.com/EcoSphere-Small-Sphere-4-inches/dp/B00...
(I have two kids, for what it's worth.)
FWIW I want one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nauticalia-Copper-Pot-Still/dp/B0049...
I'm trying to convince the wife that a 'purely ornamental' (due to UK legislation) still used in a 'demonstrative manner' should fit in a small two bedroom starter house. Somehow the fact that I don't want to cook meth in the house after seeing breaking bad seems to count against me with her...
http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Parmer-Rotary-Evaporator-System-V...
Looks like smaller "bath capacity" and smaller temperature range (5C-90C)
I got a very similar product made by the same manufacturer from Costco for a friend's kids, and I don't think that they're worth it. The one I got came with a whole bunch of plastic balls (think xkcd) which were a nice touch and the tents make for good ball pits. Unfortunately, the tent was so flimsy that a toddler can tip over the entire thing just playing around inside.
Most of the time I was there and the kids were playing with the set, I had to sit inside the tent and anchor it down while the kids were running around, and even then it was tough because the entire tent would start shifting around. It was fun for a while, but I would imagine most parents/babysitters wouldn't want to do this every time their kid(s) wanted to play.
It would work just fine if you figure out how to anchor it, but I can't think of many kid-proof/safe ways to do that without bending the whole tent out of shape.
Nice headphones are always in high demand, as are a plethora of interesting books.
What about something useful to your job? A new keyboard? How about a new bag to carry your laptop?
I recently bought a DSLR and I'm also asking for a new lens.....
Failing that, a ton of books -- my Amazon wishlist is pretty up to date (if anyone's interested: http://amzn.com/w/OW6V76NBR5HF);
An iPhone 4, which I'm avoiding buying for myself since I have a perfectly awesome Nexus One, but which I wouldn't mind being given;
And a Garmin, for the upcoming London Marathon.
Then there's my other Christmas list, the one with the SSD featured prominently on it… ;)
Realistically, I'm going to end up buying the first two for myself, but will probably get the books from my parents and a few friends to whom I send my Amazon list.
If you want to buy me a xmas present, donate to Tor, Wikileaks, Wikipedia, Caring for Cambodia, Unicef, ffii.org... It will make me happier than gifts.
There are people starving, our privacy is dying, world is changing, help it move the right way.
What I'd value personally: high quality outdoor clothing. I'd be happy if it was just a merino wool pair of socks. I'm tired of buying cheap jackets and want to finally invest in a good layering system for wintertime outdoor fun.
I like books/music, and things that get me out of the house.
What I hate: Best Buy gift certificates. I usually end up donating these to someone else.
The ones from two years ago are still going strong, despite my walking around a lot in socks, at home.
Edit: Although the particular line I purchased are not the very heavy, thick socks that one may sometimes want for outdoor wear.
* Clothing (socks, plain tshirts, a nice pair of jeans, a coat?)
* No more gadgets, I have enough of that.
* A toaster (mine broke recently and I loves me some burned bread!)
http://citizun.com/profile/ryan-glasgow
Funding for my startup works too.
2) anything from here: http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3CLNZ1QEZAO6S/ref=cm... (the first page of the list especially)
3) a new timing belt for my Camry