It's That Time Again

I'm starting to get the usual requests for what I want for xmas gifts, so that must mean it's time to make my Public Service Announcement about The Things I Want.

And no, this isn't a shameless plug for gifts.  I'm talking about the online wishlist.  Most people I know have an Amazon wishlist, but a few people also have a Best Buy wishlist or a DVD wislist, or a paper wishlist, or even no real wishlist at all.  The Things I Want is a service that allows you to compile into one convenient location, anything you might want from anywhere - even if you can't find it on the web at all, like hugs and backrubs or someone to do the dishes.

Rather than attempting to maintain multiple wishlists at Amazon and X-Treme Geek and NewEgg and Blockbuster and Barnes & Nobles and the dozens of online clothing and shoe stores that I shop at, The Things I Want uses a little browser plugin that gathers the data of items I want into a single online wishlist.  I can then choose to make it public, or private, separate them into several lists like my General Wishlist and my Adult Wishlist (which is private to avoid my parents accidentally seeing the porn or vibrator type items - if you want to see it, you have to create an account and request "guest access" from me), or even password protect my lists.  Some people I know have family accounts, with a separate wishlist for each of the adults and each of the kids.

Plus, The Things I Want lets me put in items that aren't available for purchase on the internet, and I can prioritize from "I Must Have" all the way down to "Don't Buy This For Me" and request several of the same item, such as multiple packs of rechargable batteries.  When people purchase something from my list, they have the option to enter into the list that the item has been purchased, either anonymously or by signing their name.  This way, much like a wedding gift registry, no one else will buy the same item.

I use this list year-round to keep track of things that I might purchase for myself when I get a spare bit of cash.  I don't have to bookmark dozens of websites, or try to remember where I saw that thing last month that looked cool but now I can't remember where I saw it.  I can also attach tags to the items, so I or my guests can look only at movies, or clothing or computer parts that I want. 

When other people I know create their own account, I can give them "guest access", which allows them to see any private lists I might make, and it lists their wishlists in my Friends sidebar, so I can refer to their lists easily without bookmarking or trying to remember profile names.

I'm a big fan of the wishlist, even for adults.  I always hated receiving gifts from family whom I knew meant well, but who didn't seem to know me very well, and I had to pretend I loved it while surreptitiously trying to find out where they bought it so I could return it.  I also don't like asking outright what someone wants as a gift because very few people will actually tell me.  It's considered rude, or something, to just honestly admit that you are desiring this particular item and hope someone buys it for you, even when someone is asking because he actively desires to buy you something.  So we get into this annoying little "oh, you don't have to buy me anything" game.  Now, when someone really does not want me to buy them something, that's one thing, but the whole gift-giving-obligation thing means that, when my family buys me a holiday gift, I'm expected to get them one in return.

I'm not going to get into the whole obligation issue here, or whether or not I (or anyone) should buy or refuse to buy holiday gifts.  That's another rant.  Suffice to say that there are times when everyone really does want to buy a gift for someone else and there are times when everyone sees or hears about a product and desires to have one for themselves.  The Things I Want is a pretty good service for keeping track of items that I want to own someday and telling me what other people want to own someday.  And if someone just happens to want to buy me something, they have a way to get me exactly what I want.  And if I just happen to want to buy a gift for someone else, I can turn to a list and get exactly what they want.

The Skeptologists

The Skeptologists is a TV pilot hoping to become a regular TV Show that features skeptical and science-based cast members. This show is hoping to compete with such drivel as Ghost Hunters and other credulous shows our society is forced to endure that do not offer any skeptical or science-based logic and critical thinking skills. Think Mythbusters with fewer explosions. And they need your help!

Raise your voice! Let it be known that it’s time for a TV series that focuses on the real, the intelligent and important advances in science, critical thinking and skepticism. The Skeptologists will be pitched to major networks soon, and they want to give the programming executives a sense of what kind of support they will receive if they invest in a TV series of this kind. They have started an email campaign to have fans of the show write-in in support of this show idea and let us know why you would watch a show about critical thinking, science and skepticism! They will compile the emails and present to the executives along with their all-star cast, entertaining pilot program and solid production background to seal a great TV deal to give the Skeptics of the world a show they can stand behind, and be proud of! Take a moment, and send a brief email to skeptologists@newrule.com. Your email will be collected and will help support the show. Email addresses will not be collected or used for any other purpose.

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We are The Skeptologists.
We're not willing to just accept stories of the paranormal or supernatural. We want proof.

Whether in the field or in the lab, we'll literally put these theories to the test in the hopes that one day we find real proof that something can't be explained and there is more to life than we have experienced.

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Here Be Dragons

Here Be Dragons is a free 40 minute video introduction to critical thinking. It is suitable for general audiences and is licensed for free distribution and public display.  I highly recommend watching it when you have the time.  It was produced by Brian Dunning, the writer of the book, and host of the podcast, Skeptoid:

More Memes

Thanks to summer_jackel  for the meme
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( A collage of my journaling! )