C3P0 Tape Dispenser [Pic]

Hmmm… something seems not quite right with that C3P0 tape dispenser, but somehow, I can’t put my finger on it…

200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes – The Joy of Stats

Hans Rosling’s famous lectures combine enormous quantities of public data with a sport’s commentator’s style to reveal the story of the world’s past, present and future development. Now he explores stats in a way he has never done before – using augmented reality animation. In this spectacular section of ‘The Joy of Stats’ he tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers – in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Hans shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.

Cyber Monday: A Marketing Creation

On the Monday after Thanksgiving, retailers are keen to sell a lot of stuff. Including, it appears, the idea that there’s something inherently special about the day.

It’s a well-established tradition that the day after Thanksgiving is “Black Friday”, with many retailers (particularly of electrical goods) selling goods cheaply. While waiting in line from the early hours may seem crazy, the existence of the sales at least makes sense: many Americans who have a rare weekday holiday want to get away from relatives who’ve outstayed their welcome, and with Turkey Day over, are ready to begin the countdown to Christmas.

But the idea that Cyber Monday represents the online equivalent may be overhyped. As CNN points out today, the phrase only dates back five years and was created for use in a press release by Shop.org, a trade association of online retailers.

The only real evidence in that release of a claim was that 77% of online retailers reported a substantial increase in online sales on the day, though it wasn’t said what this was in comparison with. And the explanation for this rise? Apparently shoppers waited until they got back to work to sneak a few minutes on broadband connections in the office to do their shopping, rather than on dial-up modems at home.

That’s a kind explanation, albeit one that’s looking shakier five years of broadband take-up later. To be fair, retailers can’t really admit that any pattern is more likely a case of people being so dejected at returning to the office after four days of overindulgence that bargain hunting is more appealing than spreadsheets.

In reality, though, Cyber Monday isn’t *that* big a deal. Most of the figures touted as evidence of the day bringing an annual boost to sales are simply comparing one Cyber Monday with its predecessor, not with other days of the year.

CNN quotes internet traffic monitoring and analysis firm ComScore as saying that usually Cyber Monday is in the lower regions of the top 10 days for visits to online retailers. Last year was an exception (it placed second for the year), which appears to be a case of economic confidence being so low that people really were showing unusual levels of bargain hunting.

Of course, that they thought to do so on the Monday after Thanksgiving suggests the marketing phrase may have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You might play too much when… [PIC]

I’m a bit surprised World of Warcraft didn’t end up on there instead…. but I guess this is still appropriate!

[Via Amazon]

10 Gifts for the Geeky Gal Under $50

If you’re like me, thinking about gifts this season is a little stress-inducing. While the recession is technically over, here in the states, many of us are still feeling the crunch. And while I like to try and make most of the gifts we give during the holidays, that’s not always practical. The truth is, time these days is about as scarce as unobtanium.

Avatar reference aside, rather than going blue in the face this holiday, rest easy. I’ve compiled a list of 10 gifts perfect for the geeky gal in your life. Don’t be swayed by stupid commercials proclaiming every woman wants a diamond or a car. Geek girls know better. We have a sophisticated palate, tempered by years of geek immersion.

Literary action figures: I happen to believe that you can never be too old for action figures, and it certainly doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy. A quick glance up at my office shelf reveals some Ninja Turtles and Hobbits. But to up the ante, there’s the Jane Austen action figure, as well as a plethora of others, including Charles Dickens and Shakespeare. There’s also a Librarian action figure, if your lady is into books as a career. For roughly $10 a pop, you don’t have to choose!

Long Underwear from L.L. Bean: Got a geek gal in your life who’s a costumer? Someone who likes the really retro look? L.L. Bean has some darling long underwear–just add a cap and slippers and she’ll be ready to re-enact Twas the Night Before Christmas. If you live in a cold climate, there’s nothing so nice as really warm, snuggly pajamas. I think these are absolutely adorable! Not to mention, kinda-sorta sexy.

Urban Decay’s Eye Potion: First, it’s a potion. And potions are awesome. So it won’t make you fly or restore your HP, but Urban Decay’s Eye Potion performs a near magical task: it prevents eyeshadow from flaking off or caking. Like me, many geek gals love dressing up, whether it’s in costume or otherwise. Spending lots of money on eyeshadows that just don’t stay on is frustrating. But for $18, this eye potion (personally tested and approved by yours truly) is honestly nothing short of a miracle. Makeup stays in place all day long, and looks fabulous. A perfect stocking stuffer! Urban Decay, in general, is one of my favorite makeup lines. You should check out their whole set of offerings for other gift ideas.

Pwn That Shower Soaps from Darkness Studios on Etsy: For whatever reason, the holidays always provide a proliferation of good smelling gifts. And soaps are usually on the top of that list. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but does everything have to come from Bath and Body Works? Through the magic of Etsy, and the curious thought processes of Etsy artist rainbowdarkness, we have soap with dice in them. Yep, d20s. Beautiful? Sure. Functional? Definitely. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d feel a little more excited about facing my day if I started off with a d20 lather. Hee hee. Also check out her potions necklaces. Tres geek chic.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal: This is a fantastic little book. The premise is simple: what if there was magic during Jane Austen’s time? And what would her novels be like, if there was? The resulting book reads like Austen penned it herself, yet retains Kowal’s talent for character and setting. It’s witty and whimsical, a welcome departure from traditional fantasy. Plus, it’s got a good heap of romance, too.

Serenity PVC Minifigs: No, these are not action figures. But who can resist Mal, River, and Jayne together for under twenty dollars? I certainly can’t. Honestly, do I have to say more? Shiny. If you want to add to the awesome, you can always purchase the comics from Dark Horse.

Octopus Brooch from BeanDoll on Etsy: Yes, I have a problem when it comes to cephalopods. No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. A cursory look on Etsy tells me that I’m far from alone. I’m particularly partial to this octopus brooch by BeanDoll, which seamlessly blends my love of all things tentacled with the steampunk aesthetic. Plus, it’s my favorite kind of jewelry: a pin! Not to mention it’s a total steal at $14.00.

Hermione’s Wand: Is your geeky gal Potter fan? Does she adore Ms. Granger like no other? Believe it or not, for only $35 you can buy a replica of Hermione’s wand from the Noble Collection. While this isn’t made of wood, like some of the far more expensive ones, according to the reviews it’s pretty darn impressive.

Artist’s Imagination Locket from Anthropologie: Sure, Anthropologie might not be the first place you think of for cheap or geeky. But the quirky clothing (and accessory) company has really found its way to my heart. Their unusual items often hearken to my geeky side, and this little locket is no exception. The outside looks like a landscape scene from a Jane Austen novel (and you’ll find many geek gals love our Jane Austen, see above ) and inside is a locket. The perfect blend of artistic and romantic, sure to get you a kiss or three under the mistletoe. And at $48, a very decent price point.

T-Shirts from Her Universe: I ran across the Her Universe booth when I was at Dragon*Con earlier this year, and fell in love immediately. Not only do most geek t-shirts not come in women’s sizes, but they’re just not designed with women in mind. While I can’t say that the Star Wars Prequels rank terribly high on my list, I do have to say that their Art Nouveau inspired Padme t-shirt makes me squee like an Ewok (see top picture). Gorgeous, just gorgeous. Most of their t-shirts hover around the $30 mark, and they’re both trendy and geeky. A total win in my book. Not to mention, Her Universe also looks as if it will start carrying jewelry, soon. Truly worth a stop on your holiday shopping list.