Here’s Fractalspin‘s top picks for geeky-yet-cool gifts for dads this year. There’s also a giveaway for a special edition Sage on Black Neuron Tie (pictured above) by Cyberoptix. To enter, you need to comment on Fractalspin’s wall and tell them “Who’s your favorite dad?”
Greeting cards are in full circulation during the holiday season, and I had been thinking a while about something that would be geeky and retro, so I went searching for old-school punch cards.
A punched card (also known by various synonyms) is a piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions. Now almost an obsolete recording medium, punched cards were widely used throughout the 19th century for controlling textile looms and in the late 19th and early 20th century for operating fairground organs and related instruments. They were used through the 20th century in unit record machines for input, processing, and data storage. Early digital computers used punched cards, often prepared using keypunch machines, as the primary medium for input of both computer programs and data. -wikipedia
You can grab a set of them at Fractalspin: Punchcards.
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Check out these notebooks and address books in the form of a SIM Card, the SIMBook Notebook & SIMBook Address Book. Thankfully, they are useful in that they are not to scale–they are both 3.25″ x 5.5″. $6.00 at Fractalspin.
Here are some cool things that would be nice to have!
Korg KP3
A great tool for live performance, the KP3 allows you to control multiple effects parameters and manipulate samples in real time. On stage or in the studio, these gestures and moves can become powerful and expressive performance elements. More than a processor, the KP3 is a complete instrument allowing you to manage, recall, and play back samples; sample on the fly; and add dynamic processing to any audio signal or to the samples themselves. The KP3 comes equipped with 128 great-sounding effect programs Sure, the traditional essential effects are there – delays, flangers, etc., and they sound amazing. But using newly developed algorithms, the KP3 also provides fresh, exciting effects such as a grain shifter, decimator, a vintage analog style filter with a tone-bending drive circuit, and expanded EQs that are controlled directly from the pad. And moving beyond effects, there are also drum grooves and even RADIAS-inspired vocoder and synthesizer sounds that can be played free-form on the X/Y pad. WANT!
Pedobear Plush
Ah, the sweet dreams to be had to cuddle up the infamous child-chasing Pedobear.
Uh, or, um–not. The cuddly inviting Pedobear actually has more nefarious deeds in mind, so watch out, young’ns!
Although the lulz would be had, it’s definitely not a good gift for kids under 16.
M Audio X Session Pro Mixer DJ Controller
I had the earlier version of this to control Traktor. It was lightweight and did its job, so the new version would be good to have for more laptop-based performances where there aren’t vinyl turntables. The M Audio X-Session Pro USB MIDI controller is the easiest way to bring traditional DJ mixer-style control to the world of computer DJing and live performance.With a single USB connection, you get dedicated tactile controls for volume, pitch, EQ, cueing, transport and a crossfader. As a class-compliant USB MIDI controller, you can use it to control applications like Ableton Live, Traktor DJ Studio or any software that supports MIDI Learn, enabling you to bring DJ-inspired crossfades and filter sweeps into your live performances as well as studio productions.
Techno Fashion
The first roadmap into the relatively uncharted frontier of fashion and technology. And like any new world, this is one fraught with excitement, expectations and unknown potential. Comprehensive in scope and vision.’ Surface ‘Cerebral fashion gets the scholarly treatment by a writer intent on deconstructing the work of such artists and designers as Issey Miyake, Hussein Chalayan, Mandarina Duck, and Lucy Orta. Quinns book focuses on fashion as a multidisciplinary artform that encompasses architecture, interior design, and even camping equipment. Armed with thorough research and surprisingly personal interviews, Quinn makes fashion look smarter than the clothes could ever make the man.’ Black Book ‘Quinn’s book insightfully excavates the terrain of contemporary fashion and technology. From digital-display dresses to remote control couture, computerized clothing and i-Wear (intelligent wear), Quinn investigates the fusion of fashion with communication technology, electronic text.
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
I’ve read and worked from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything and loved his recipes and instruction, so his vegetarian version should be awesome. Author of a dozen bestselling cookbooks and beloved columnist for The New York Times (“The Minimalist”), Chef Mark Bittman bookends his award-winning modern classic, How to Cook Everything, with How to Cook Everything: Vegetarian the ultimate one-stop resource for meatless meals. Refreshingly straightforward and filled with illustrated recipes, this is a book that puts vegetarian cuisine within the reach of every home cook. You’ll want to spend countless days in the kitchen with Bittman’s latest culinary treasure.
1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs
Great inspiration! Often, the small, delightful details make a piece shine, similar to the way unique buttons on a white shirt can give it an entirely new look. This book explores 1,000 of these embellishments available to graphic designers across all kinds of projects, from books to brochures, invitations to menus, CDs to annual reports. Exacting photography, which is accompanied by credits outlining the vendors and materials used, focuses on these details. This book invites designers to literally shop for ideas. Content is organized by type; if you?re in the market for an unusual binding, turn to the bindings section to see a wide collection of fresh ideas. Other topics covered include fasteners, graphics, unique materials, embossing, debossing, specialty inks, type treatments, interesting color usage, add-ons, die cuts, and much more.
Bendable LED Branches
I want a ton of these in different heights to decorate with! Too cool. The 36″ lighted branch has 5 LED lights and is the middle branch in the image above. These are LED lighted bendable branches. The branches work off a battery pack which is sold separately. The battery pack will power up to 3 of the branches at one time on 3 AA batteries. It has an on off button and a button if you want them to blink. The branches are beautifully crafted with hand-wrapped stems that are bendable into any shape you need. Use to light your wedding cake, ice sculptures, create unique centerpieces.
Oh and there’s lots more cool stuff! Here’s my Amazon Wishlist
OK, I’ll admit CDs in general are pretty boring and kind of outdated now that broadband and MP3s are standard. However, Matt Moldover of Controllerism fame has definitely spiced up the concept of the CD with his latest release of original work that’s also a theremin-like toy (!) The track names are even embedded in the circuitboard. Mad hot. Get this thing! It’s available in 3 editions at $10, $25, and $50 in varying degrees of awesomeness.
Pac-Man Candy
Ah, Pac-Man, you were my gateway drug. When I was in preschool my mom would take me along to her bowling league meetings every week and plop me down on a bar stool in front of Pac-Man where I would obsessively guide him through the maze, chomping away at yummy dots. Next up it was Haunted Mansion on the C64 and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on the Apple IIe in my early school years, and then Super Mario Bros. and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? on NES in my junior high years. High school found me in front of a 486 playing games I downloaded from BBSs, namely Wolfenstein 3d and Doom. In college I would giggle at the Unix game Hunt the Wumpus and then promptly switch into graphics mode for Descent, Duke Nukem, and Quake 2 on the LAN. At some point I bought a Dreamcast to play Tony Hawk 2, Ecco the Dolphin, Soul Calibur, and Rez. Post-college I remember switching gears from freelance graphic design projects to play Hitman 2 and the Myst series. These days I’m busy with work, music and DJing, but I’ve occasionally been known to spend a bit of time in Kingdom of Loathing. So, Pac-Man started my game-association memories. Now you can fondly recall the 80s and your own game-based personal timeline with either Pac-Man lemon, Blue Ghost raspberry, or Red Ghost cherry candy.
More new stuff: New retro candy: Pac-Man, Zelda, SMB; Playstation Portable Sours
Here is a great science project-inspired Valentine’s Day card from one geeky-yet-considerate husband with a sense of humor to his overworked wife. Click on the image for a bigger version so you can read the hypothesis, variables, and eventual conclusion.
My hypothesis is that if I help with the kids when I get home from work, Mindy will be happier than if I sit on the couch, or check my email. Turns out my hypothesis was correct. (Shocking!)
Here’s a pair of earrings + gift card combo that I made with some leftover Swarovski crystal rhinestones I had.
Here’s a cute way to send a friend a handwritten note and a new pair of crystal earrings! This note card features a snowflake-decorated ribbon and label on the front attached with a blue brad. The ribbon conceals one pair of Swarovski crystal post earrings and the inside has a paper insert for note-writing. Each comes in a zip poly bag with a metallic silver envelope.
$12 on Etsy.
Here’s a list of a bunch of stuff I’ve been digitally collecting and hoping for IRL versions for a while: Liz McLean Knight’s Wishlist. Some highlights:
Back in the day, way before Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and Rock Band, there was a rhythm game that had you getting down to Latin grooves and shaking your maracas. That game was Samba de Amigo. Grab yourself a Dreamcast on Ebay, score the special maraca controllers, invite some peeps over and you’ll have a party that’s worth blogging about in the days to come, not to mention some hilarious photo opps.
Ah, the warm yet fashionable addition of intersected integers makes an outfit complete. This cool little company (literally Little Factory) based out of Hong Kong churns out a typographical phantasmagoria of laser-cut accessories (you can get uppercase or lowercase letters instead of numbers if you prefer to roll ASCII). Downside is that you have to wait a week after ordering for your stuff to ship, which is assumably so that all the little laser gnomes have time to cut out your design from a sheet of ultrasuade.
Bigger events obviously require more money but that doesn’t necessarily have to come from ticket sales alone. If you’ve got a targeted demographic within your audience you’ve got an asset to other businesses who would love to ride along on your coattails to awesomeness. This book delves into doing all the things that appeal to the things that corporate wants to see. Good to add to the reference shelf.
Triumph of the NerdsAlthough the ending is a bit dated on this 1996 talking heads documentary (re: future potential of the Internet), it seems to be an insightful yet playful documentary on the start of the PC revolution. It features interviews with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Steve Wozniak and interesting bits of trivia along with highlighting the accidental nature of the revolution (it’s based on the book Accidental Empires). If you prefer a more dramatized version, go with Pirates of Silicon Valley (which I own. thanks, Beth!)
1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs
When I’m in product design or promo / marketing mode and need to come up with something physical that’s extra special this would be the go-to book for me. It’s a design inspiration book that focuses on the small, yet exciting details of a piece. In the 1,000 series, this book focuses on embellishments available to graphic designers across all kinds of projects, from books to brochures, invitations to menus, CDs to annual reports. And it’s organized by type; if you are trying to come up with an unusual binding, turn to the “bindings” section to see some ideas. I own the 1,000 Greetings book and it’s gorgeous so I can drool over this one in anticipation.
Sure does look like one, though? Well it’s actually a ceramic cup with a heat-resistant silicone lid that you can use over and over again, unlike the actual version that’s made out of paper and just adds more trash to the planet. Anyone who does anything thought-intensive and in front of a computer realizes the value of caffeine to the process. A hilarious mobile coffee delivery system will make the perfect gift.
What the Bleep!? – Down the Rabbit Hole (QUANTUM Three-Disc Special Edition)
If you’re the armchair physicist sort who flips out over the metaphysical ramifications of Schrodinger’s cat and yet still likes to be entertained then you’ve got to snag this highly produced documentary. Yeah it’s got the sensory-challenged Marlee Matlin as its dramatized protagonist (which can make for some giggle-stifling moments, for the sake of brutal honesty) but it’s likely a choice based on some higher motifs. And when you can toss discussion about motifs into a documentary that’s downright special (and not as in -education) and posits theories that uses the assumptions behind quantum physics as its springboard it’s nerdy yet fun. And how often does that intersection happen?
OK this is a blind rec here–the title and cover did it for me. As long as there is plenty of glossy aspirational photography count me in.
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
If you DJ or–in some fashion–support those who do, this book will be a great way to contextualize the profession. This book provides a history of the DJ and the music forms that DJs have profligated since the advent of vinyl as a medium of auditory stimulation and satisfaction. The history that this book attempts to recount isn’t an end-all-to-be-all, but it covers enough ground to satisfy even the most discriminating electronic music lover like yours truly.
Really, who couldn’t find a use for ten grand?