Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 08, 2008, 07:28:12 PM
Anyway, how about listing items that you've given, received or think would make interesting, useful, even educational and/or entertaining? 
I'll start it off with the next post...The first one that comes to mind (because I just finished reading the 'adult' book) is the young adult or children's version of "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. If you go to Amazon through the <author's site>, they'll get 7% of the price back for their work. More bang for the buck! :clap:Next?(Krissel butting in here to add to Jim's request... If you see an interesting item or a great sale on something you think might appeal to a TSer or their family, post a link here or describe the item.)
Post by: RNKIII on November 08, 2008, 07:55:14 PM
I know that the book is currently out as a movie by the same name, have not seen it... don't know if I will, as I don't want to have my 'vision' of the story mis-interpreted by some one else...
my $.02
Bob K. rnkiii
Post by: kimmer on November 08, 2008, 11:51:15 PM
QUOTE
I know that the book is currently out as a movie by the same name, have not seen it... don't know if I will, as I don't want to have my 'vision' of the story mis-interpreted by some one else...
my $.02
my $.02
Bob, add my 2-cents to that sentiment as well. If I've read the book, I seldom like the movie.
Now for the topical stuff ... hehehe
For ages 9-12: Inkheart (2003) · Inkspell (2005) · Inkdeath (2008) by Cornelia Funke. Delightful books.
For everyone: Pop-Up books! I think Robert Sabuda is tops, but there are others that are good.
Robert Sabuda at Amazon
Also at Amazon:
The Amazing Pop-Up Geography Book
The Pop-Up Book of Phobias
Sea Creatures: A Squirmy, Scary, Prickly Pop-Up
Lots more at Amazon (9902 and counting).
Post by: Frances144 on November 09, 2008, 08:56:51 AM
Tantrix
Trax
Continuo
We have the first two and they are great.
Also Traffic Jam
Janga
Highly recommended and very entertaining!
Great games for everyone
Post by: kimmer on November 09, 2008, 01:55:18 PM
QUOTE(krissel @ Nov 9 2008, 01:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Jim, I had planned on starting a thread with ideas for holiday gifts, great sale prices, etc. but you beat me to it, except yours is for the little ones.
Hope you don't mind if I start another more generic thead and link to this one.
Hope you don't mind if I start another more generic thead and link to this one.
Yes, a thread for shopping for the adults on our lists. Please.
And maybe we could pin both of them for now?
Post by: Gregg on November 09, 2008, 02:20:10 PM
.... a stick
Post by: krissel on November 12, 2008, 02:54:22 AM
This looks reasonable and fun.
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=...amp;dcaid=17653
Post by: krissel on November 14, 2008, 06:29:50 AM
http://www.cafepress.com/d_21k_57
Post by: Paddy on November 15, 2008, 12:19:56 PM
You can find some good deals on Playmobil in their discontinued section. Target also has some great deals.
Lego, of course can be found just about everywhere.
I agree with the choice of the Cornelia Funke books. Another wonderful series for slightly older kids - say 10 and up, depending on their reading abilities, is the Philip Pullman His Dark Materials series (there are a number of ways of buying this series - this is just one of them) And don't watch the movie of the Golden Compass - it's just not the same.
If you have a preteen/young teenager who enjoys really imaginative, funny and somewhat absurd tales, Terry Pratchett's books are good. There are a lot of them to choose from!
Post by: krissel on November 19, 2008, 03:49:37 AM
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/20...?EXTKEY=I5B0A18
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 19, 2008, 04:49:50 PM
What scares me about those helicopters is the spinning blades and the possibility of them hitting an eye of anyone in the room or house! "You know you'll just shoot your eye out [with a BB-gun]!"
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 25, 2008, 04:02:26 PM
QUOTE
Subject: Holiday Gift Cards
I wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be honored after the holidays. Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as bankruptcy Planning. Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about.
I know some of these are true. I can't say all are checked, but you can look on www.snopes.com to check BEFORE you buy a gift card.
I wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be honored after the holidays. Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as bankruptcy Planning. Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about.
I know some of these are true. I can't say all are checked, but you can look on www.snopes.com to check BEFORE you buy a gift card.
- Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
- Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
- Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
- Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
- Cache will close all stores
- Talbots closing down specialty stores
- J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
- Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
- GAP closing 85 stores
- Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
- Wickes Furniture closing down
- Levitz closing down remaining stores
- Bombay closing remaining stores
- Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
- Whitehall closing all stores
- Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
- Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
- Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
- Macys to close 9 stores after January
- Linens and Things closing all stores
- Movie Galley Closing all stores
- Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
- Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
- JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
- Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
- Wilson Leather closing down all stores
- Sharper Image closing down all stores
- K B Toys closing 356 stores
- Loews to close down some stores
- Dillard's to close some stores
Post by: kimmer on November 25, 2008, 09:12:11 PM
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/storeclosings.asp
Here's the disclaimers/adjustments that I saw:
2. Ann Taylor- 117 stores are being closed (out of 966 locations. Restructuring announced in 1/08)
4. Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January (closed 29 out of 376 stores and opened 10 new ones between Jan-Sept 08)
5. Cache will close all stores (closed 14, still has 295 stores and opening more)
6. Talbots closing down specialty stores
7. J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
6 & 7 combined: (already dumped Talbots Kids, Talbots Mens and U.K. stores and has closed an additional 28 Talbots stores out of 1400 total stores. Talbots just announced that they are trying to sell off the J. Jill stores. No announcement that they are closing the J. Jill stores and the they are still opening new stores and selling and redeeming gift cards.)
8. Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots) (Is it owned by Talbots? I didn't find any mention of this. It did close all it's d.e.m.o. stores and has not announced plans to close any of its core Pacific Sunware outlets).
9. GAP closing 85 stores (closed 17, opened 37 during 3rd quarter of 08; will close 115 stores and open 100 more locations in balance of year)
13. Bombay closing remaining stores (all stores were closed and liquidated in 1/08, but new ownership still operates stores in Canada)
14. Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January (closed approx. 105 out of 2130 retail outlets in 2008 -- half of them kiosks and half stores. Also opened approx 100 new outlets in 2008.)
17. Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January. (reacquired by Disney in 3/08 and closed 98 out of approx 335 stores)
19. Macys to close 9 stores after January (closed 11 out of approx 850 stores in 2008)
21. Movie Galley Closing all stores (Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video: emerged from bankruptcy reorganization in 5/08 and currently operates approx 3500 stores)
22. Pep Boys Closing 33 stores (closed 31 stores in 2007, still has approx 570 stores)
23. Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores (announced in 1/08 that it would close 125 out of 1400 stores).
26. Wilson Leather closing down all stores (mall-based stores closed. Outlet stores and e-commerce acquired by AM Retail (subsidiary of G-III Apparel Group) which operates 119 Wilsons outlets in the US. They will honor gift cards at the outlet stores and web site)
28. K B Toys closing 356 stores (emerged from Chap 11 reorganization in 8/05)
29. Loews to close down some stores (Lowe's still expects to open between 115-120 new stores in 2008, with more planned for 2009. No further closures are planned.)
Personally, I detest giving gift cards and/or cash. It's cold and impersonal and when family "demands" it -- it shouts greed. This year I bought pop-up books and some other things and will be mailing off packages. Too bad if they want cash.
Post by: krissel on November 26, 2008, 06:50:33 AM
When I retired a number of years ago, the teacher's group gave us each some gifts and one of mine was a $200 git certificate to Comp USA. I kept waiting til there was something I needed that I couldn't get online cheaper and over time I misplaced the actual card. I did have the number written down but that wasn't enough to use it, the physical card was necessary.
Then Comp USA went out of business. I could not find the card in time to use it at the store in my area before it shut so I thought, oh well, lesson learned.
Then, while cleaning last year I found the card. Just on a lark I went to the newly reopened Comp USA website which represents some stores in Florida and Texas only. Believe it or not they had a form to fill out to return unused gift cards. I sent it in to them and amazingly I received a check a few weeks later for $200.
Post by: kimmer on November 26, 2008, 12:10:32 PM
When we moved we had over $300 in gift cards to places that were only in CA. They wouldn't give us money for them, so ... we made up farewell gift packages to our dentist, eye doc and a few others and gave away our "presents". They all had a blast and we got some wonderful notes from them all thanking us and telling what they ate and how much fun they had. At least the gift cards weren't wasted.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 26, 2008, 02:49:43 PM
Post by: rhiannon on November 30, 2008, 09:42:19 PM
I wanted to drop in and thank Kris for putting up the URL to my CafePress Shop, I really appreciate that... and to draw your attention to an item I debated on adding or not as it is only available for shipment to the US. Well most of my customers have been from the US so I thought... "wot's the problem?" Duh!
I've added the itty bitty Flip Mino and Flip MinoHD Camcorders you can get now, they're quite new to CafePress... these are mine:
http://www.cafepress.com/d_21k_57/6248314
http://www.cafepress.com/d_21k_57/6168704
The prices show in CAD $ to me because you can choose now from a few currencies... which I think they did as well to offer more options for shipping etc.
No "chapter 11" for me quite yet, so long as I make a few sales a month to cover the rent!
Season's Greetings!
Dreambird
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 01, 2008, 02:15:37 PM
Post by: kimmer on December 01, 2008, 07:44:41 PM
At "The Store", you'll also find a deal on 2 Christmas albums (1963 & 1966) combined onto one CD.
http://www.thenewchristyminstrels.com/index.htm
Cool stuff for those of us who enjoy the folk music of old.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 01, 2008, 09:22:12 PM
Or, maybe it's just re-mastered tapes converted to aiffs... "Folk" music jest ain't the same! 
Post by: kimmer on December 01, 2008, 10:02:37 PM
Many of them are from the original gang and they are together and singing and doing concerts. Don't sound too bad. At least to my aged ears. Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 02, 2008, 08:27:22 AM
QUOTE
the original gang and they are together and singing and doing concerts
I guess that's possible as long as the wheelchair ramps aren't too steep! I certainly enjoyed their style, humor and harmony back in my much younger days! OK, I now have found what I'll ask Santa for this year! Got a brochure in the mail yesterday and presented it to Judy, telling her she had no more shopping to do for me! :claphand: I'm sure most of you have her the name "Abercrombie." Well, he/she/they have teamed up somebody/thing called "Kent" and have set up a fabulous adventure experience I'm sure we'd all enjoy!
Africa: Desert Kingdoms & Natural Splendors
- Days 1-4: New York City to Ethiopia
- Days 5-7: Serengeti National Park
- Days 8-10: Mauritius
- Days 11-13: CapeTown
- Days 14-16: Mala Mala Game Reserve
- Days 17-18: Vitctoria Falls
- Days 19-20: Mali
- Days 20-23: Marrakech to USA
"Privileged Access" "The finest accommodations" "Expert guidance"$84,895 double occupancy | $8,225 single supplement.
AND "all major credit cards accepted" Does hat mean I can't use my Sam's card?
So, if you don't hear from me from Feb 14 through Mar 8 of next year, you know where I am...and it won't be in Africa!
For more information, visit: <akprivatejet.com>edited after doing some math...
Post by: kimmer on December 05, 2008, 07:29:59 PM
1. If you have a map lover on your list, or someone who is planning (or hoping) to travel to either Oregon, the Sierra Nevada's, Alaska or Chugach State Park, they might like one of these maps from David Imus, Cartographer. He lives in Eugene, Oregon and is known the world over for his detailed, accurate and beautiful maps. They come as foldable for the car, poster size for the wall, or laminated.
http://www.imusgeographics.com/
2. How about a spiffy ornament for someone's tree? Bronner's carries this HUGE selection of Christmas stuff, and there's still time to have it shipped.
If I lived near Frankenmuth, Michigan, I'd be visiting the place starting in July. We purchased several shatterproof ornaments for our tree from Bronner's and we're happy with the quality.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 09, 2008, 05:11:02 PM
Post by: krissel on December 12, 2008, 12:04:01 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/technolo...cir&emc=cir
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/12...ogue-chart.html
Post by: krissel on December 16, 2008, 03:39:39 AM
http://www.cafepress.com/techsurvivors
The new 2009 calendar is ready as well. You can check out each page below the cover view.
http://www.cafepress.com/techsurvivors.90566748
TS makes no profit on any of these items. We do it just so you can brag about your membership.
Post by: kimmer on December 16, 2008, 08:01:05 PM
Post by: krissel on December 16, 2008, 11:05:28 PM
I've since changed the image so they should show up OK now.
Post by: kimmer on December 17, 2008, 03:07:16 AM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on December 22, 2008, 11:50:03 AM
Post by: RHPConsult on December 23, 2008, 03:09:08 AM
The handiest gadget I've come across in at least 5 years. Not exotic, just the neatest idea since microwave popcorn. Why?
- No more moving of hotel room furniture to find enough plugs in one convenient connection
- Charge everything, from a MacBook to an iPhone to a TomTom to . . . whatever
- has a rotating plug to forestall "lean-out" from the wall, and potential disconnects . . .e.g. I plug-in both my MacBkPro adapter and an Airport express and it maintains its "balance" against the wall of any hotel room