I promised some people I would come up with some gift ideas for my birthday, as I am apparently impossible to buy for. Trying to think of things to put on such a list, I’ve come to the conclusion that they are right. Following are the only material things I can think of right now that I actually want. It really is too bad I’m not Buddhist.
- USR 56K* V.92 Performance Pro Modem. Modems 101 (feel free to skip): this is an actual modem, as in not a winmodem. A winmodem is a controller-less modem, meaning that there is no processor on the modem and it uses your CPU to do all processing. An actual modem allows people with <1 Ghz processors some hope of actually achieving connection speeds of 56k. Also, winmodems are Evil. Tip: the special online direct-buy only price of ~$80 can also be found at, of all places, your local Wal-Mart.
- Copyleft <body> shirt, Aqua, Large. When it’s back in stock, that is. (I’m going to keep asking for this until either someone gives it to me or I get my own credit card.)
- Other clothes? Gift Certificates?
- Blank CDs, preferably Memorex, preferably a little stylish.
A few other things, separated because they cost way more than I feel comfortable spending, or asking someone to spend, on myself. Also known as ‘Things I’m now going to secretly lust after, now that I’ve thought of them while making out this list, thanks.’
- 64 MB (or 128 MB) 72-pin EDO Ram SIMMs (×2). These currently cost about as much as one of Elton John’s wigs, and I need two of them.
- iRiver iMP-350 or similar portable MP3/CD player with radio tuner. Sony does make such a beast, btw, but the usability factor is unknown, as I can’t find verifiable reports of anyone on this continent actually buying one.
Also, did you know that the EFF had an Amazon referrer code? I present to you the EFF-Amazon link thingy bookmarklet. Invoke it on any Amazon product page, and it will give you a copy/pastable URL with the EFF referrer code.