Season's greetings,<p>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.<p>So, what do you all do, and what are the HN equivalent of Buzz Lightyear dolls of 2010?
I had a cherry '79 Yamaha SG2000 on my list; but it occurred to me that there are plenty of people who for whom that $1500 would go a lot further than it would providing the fifth (admittedly nice) instrument to hang on my wall. So I'm taking part in a local charity that collects wish lists from the indigent/desperately poor and I'm going to put that $1500 into making their Christmas' less shitty.<p>The stuff on the lists, by the way, will break your heart. Used shoes (size 11)?<p><i>EDIT</i>: Just to torture myself:<p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230556612914&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1138wt_1141" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=23055...</a>
I'm not sure there's anything on my holiday list, as in, anything I would like to receive from others. I've never been very good at receiving gifts, and there's little anyone could provide for me in terms of material 'things' that I actually want to own. Don't get me wrong - there's material things I <i>want</i> - but no one in my gift-giving circle is able to afford <i>those</i> things :)<p>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.<p>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.<p>As 'impersonal' as this may be, it's the best balance I've come up with.<p>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 <i>hated</i> that experience, and when I didn't do it I felt like I was a bad kid.<p>Between getting older and getting computerized, I'm <i>much</i> more willing to follow up with email. I don't mind the process of thank you notes, but I <i>hate</i> writing by hand, even as a kid.<p>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) <i>horrible</i> at. I can't write more than a few lines before my hand aches and the writing is illegible (even to me).<p>tl;dr: I wish I'd had email as a kid <i>and</i> been mature enough to use it to keep in touch with well-meaning family members.
What's wrong with socks? Seriously, socks are a great present - I always need some.<p>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.
* A kinect sensor so that I can have some fun coding hacks for it.<p>* Possibly an e-reader, although I still can't decide between the Nook and the Kindle right now.<p>* Hopefully not too many gift cards to specific stores, since I never seem to use them. I know I'll inevitably receive some.<p>* Almost anything from ThinkGeek, like these Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets that I want to try: <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/ab3f/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/ab3f/</a>
Christmas gifts are dumb. If I wanted something in gift price range I would have bought it for myself already. I'm not living paycheck to paycheck.<p>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.
I've started asking for non-tangible gifts recently. Things like piano lessons, sailing lessons, rock climbing gym membership, Flickr Pro subscription, etc.
A good introductory classic Greek (Attic) textbook.<p>A nice, small tube amp.<p>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.
I have waaay too much "stuff", so I usually strongly discourage anyone from buying me anything. Trying to give things away instead. Anything that can fit on a hard drive is OK though.
I'm trying to convince my girlfriend to purchase <a href="http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/" rel="nofollow">http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/</a> for me
Is anyone else just kinda over Christmas by now? I dont see why we have to have a specific date to give someone a gift, or spend time with our family or enjoy a nice meal. Then again, everone calls me scrooge this time of year.<p>PS: I made this site a few years back: <a href="http://whychristmasisbullshit.com/" rel="nofollow">http://whychristmasisbullshit.com/</a>
I'm hoping for an EcoSphere - kind of like Sea Monkeys for grownups, or maybe it's just like a tiny aquarium that never needs feeding, just indirect light and making sure it doesn't get too warm.<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/EcoSphere-Small-Sphere-4-inches/dp/B000068ZIC?&camp=212361&linkCode=wsw&tag=g03de-20&creative=380801" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/EcoSphere-Small-Sphere-4-inches/dp/B00...</a>
I work on a 30-45 min work / 20-30 minute break schedule. It really helps me to prevent burnout, but I need something to do every 45 minutes for 20-30 minutes, so I'm asking for an xbox.<p>Nice headphones are always in high demand, as are a plethora of interesting books.<p>What about something useful to your job? A new keyboard? How about a new bag to carry your laptop?<p>I recently bought a DSLR and I'm also asking for a new lens.....
Some more spare time. Please.<p>Failing that, a ton of books -- my Amazon wishlist is pretty up to date (if anyone's interested: <a href="http://amzn.com/w/OW6V76NBR5HF" rel="nofollow">http://amzn.com/w/OW6V76NBR5HF</a>);<p>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;<p>And a Garmin, for the upcoming London Marathon.
Anything related to the production and consumption of coffee and tea. Mugs and the like fit nicely in the gift price range, allow the giver to express themselves a bit, and are easy to collect and enjoy. Really, who doesn't love an awesome mug?<p>Then there's my <i>other</i> Christmas list, the one with the SSD featured prominently on it… ;)
A suit (my current black one is wearing out), a new desktop computer (the old one was in storage for a few years and died), and a few specific hardcover books.<p>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.
I'm not a Christmas person. I don't want people spending hard earned money on me unless it's something I really want, otherwise I think it's a waste of money. I am fine with cards or trinkets. My dad is getting me a plane ticket to fly home, that works.
A friend of mine has a very nice wishlist:<p>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.<p>There are people starving, our privacy is dying, world is changing, help it move the right way.
most of my family is trying to be more minimal, so we stopped giving each other gifts years ago unless it was something important (baby, etc), or something they needed but was easier for someone else to find.<p>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.<p>I like books/music, and things that get me out of the house.<p>What I hate: Best Buy gift certificates. I usually end up donating these to someone else.
I've always been interested in robotics, but I've never actually built one, so an Arduino, servos, and some sensors are at the top of my list. I really want to build an autonomous quadcopter.
* Books (politics, philosophy, scifi, fantasy, etc...)<p>* Clothing (socks, plain tshirts, a nice pair of jeans, a coat?)<p>* No more gadgets, I have enough of that.<p>* A toaster (mine broke recently and I loves me some burned bread!)
I'll take anything on my Citizun profile<p><a href="http://citizun.com/profile/ryan-glasgow" rel="nofollow">http://citizun.com/profile/ryan-glasgow</a><p>Funding for my startup works too.
1) tooth whitening- brightsmile or whatever the best in-house solution is (I <i>hate</i> applying the disgusting gel)<p>2) anything from here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3CLNZ1QEZAO6S/ref=cm_wl_sortbar_o_p_page_1?_encoding=UTF8&page=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3CLNZ1QEZAO6S/ref=cm...</a> (the first page of the list especially)<p>3) a new timing belt for my Camry