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Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
One of the goals of Scientific Computing’s annual gift guide, in addition to providing you with
interesting and eclectic gift suggestions, is inclusiveness. While the most obvious reflection of
that is the diversity of items we suggest, as well as ensuring that there is at least something in
everyone’s price range. However, beyond that, we recognize that our readers reflect a
diversity of religions and cultural backgrounds, which is why we refer to this as our holiday gift
guide. Whether due to a fluke or an even ancienter appreciation of the onset of winter and
the associated renewal festivals, many cultures have significant events somehow associated
with the winter solstice. As we approach the October holidays of Samhain, Halloween, All
Souls Day, the Day of the Dead and others, it also serves as a reminder to wrap up this years
holiday gift guide. So whatever your beliefs or traditions, welcome.
Traditionally, we start the gift guide off with a series of musical selections. This is both to
reduce the stress that many associate with these holidays, as well as to introduce our gift
giver and giftee to artists that they might otherwise never be exposed to and expand the
range of their musical experience. My personal philosophy is to ignore the arbitrary labels
that music companies or critics assign to a given style of music and instead explore the
diversity of music and make your own eclectic selections. Because we all have had different
life experiences, the music we enjoy will be different for each of us. I’ve found that within
each music ‘genre’, even if I tend to avoid the overall genre, there are always artists and
performances that I find that I enjoy. Fortunately, these days, you don’t have to blindly select
things. In addition to frequently being able to check out CDs from your local public library,
there are numerous online services that legally allow you to explore other artists and genre
labels, not to mention YouTube with all of its music video postings, many posted by the artists.
Remember, these are artificial labels, that not only tend to lock audiences into a particular
musical style, but performers as well. I don’t think I know of any performer that is fulfilled by a
single category of music. Most of them are influenced by multiple artists and a range of
styles, which they frequently like to play. Sometimes this results in fans, which remember is
derived from fanatics, being upset with performers, because they feel that they’ve betrayed
them if they take up a different style, forgetting that the artist must follow their own muse. A
classic example of this is when Richie Blackmore left Deep Purple to form Blackmore’s Night.
From some of the fan and reviewer reaction, one might think he’d signed a contract with the
devil. However, the majority of reviews that I’ve followed up on, show that when the reviewer
steps back and allows the music to stand on its own, the majority like it. In most cases it is
not that the performer has dropped one style for another, but instead has merged several of
their interests to create something new.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
The first of this years Illustration 1 ‘This is the Sound’ by Cellar Darling, Courtesy of
selections is This is the Nuclear Blast America.
Sound, by CELLAR DARLING .
Distributed by Nuclear Blast America, this new band, consisting of veterans Anna Murphy
(vocals, hurdy-gurdy), Merlin Sutter (drums) and Ivo Henzi (guitars & bass), ushers in a New
Wave of Folk Rock, confidently fusing heavy alternative rock with strong folk influences and
poetic lyrical tales’. Released on June 30th 2017, this is the bands debut album, however,
each of them has over 10 years of musical and touring experience with their last band,
Switzerland’s most successful metal act to date, the chart-topping ELUVEITIE. (This is the
Sound; CELLAR DARLING; DIGIBOOK Import, Item number:105947, $20.99; CD, Item
number:105946, $9.99; BLACK VINYL DLP, Item number:105948, $24.99; Nuclear Blast
America)
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
The Misbehavin' Maidens… I recently came across this primarily a cappella group
performing at RavenCon in Williamsburg, VA. As with some of the other groups that we’ve
featured before, this group thrived in the D.C. underground music scene before obtaining
wider exposure. The group is formed by a quartet of women who first met while working in a
pirate themed bar in D.C. While that may not sound like an auspicious beginning, if this group
were a Sweet Adeline's quartet, I have no doubt that they would be international winners,
assuming that they weren’t disqualified due to the topics of their songs.
Their slogan of Lewd lyrical lasses with tight chorals and loose morals, might clue you in
a little bit right there. Not to suggest that they might be slightly misrepresenting themselves
with the above slogan, from my conversations with them, I think their morals are just fine. I
blame this disconnect on the English, for shipping all of their Puritans over here during
colonial days. That act still has society totally askew, with many people talking in a way
contradictory to the way they act. If you were to play one of Misbehavin’ Maidens song’s for a
As the Maidens themselves put it, The Misbehavin' Maidens are a bawdy, nerd-folk comedy
band comprised of four women from the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area with a love of
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
They can sometimes be found entertaining at a variety of pirate themed events, Science
Fiction/Fantasy Conventions, and various venues in the D.C. area. Their first album, Busted,
containing 10 tracks, was released in August of 2015 to great fan enthusiasm (Busted; The
Misbehavin’ Maidens; Streaming + Download, $10; CD – Contact Directly). To this was
recently added Sloppy Seconds, released in April 2017, containing 13 tracks (Sloppy
Seconds, The Misbehavin’ Maidens; Digital Streaming + Download, $10; CD – Contact
Directly). Both of these albums were self produced and funded via Kickstarter 3 campaigns.
Some of the songs in their repertoire they’ve written themselves, others have been adapted
from classic sea shanties, either by themselves or others.
The next artist up is Destini Beard with Midnight Syndicate. This offering consists of two
different CDs as well. Pairing the gothic horror soundtrack musicians Midnight Syndicate
with Destini Beard’s alluring and haunting vocals, the first of these is The Dark
Masquerade. To borrow from the albums description, “The Dark Masquerade pulls you into
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
Their next pairing is the 14 track A Time Forgotten. Consisting of a balance of fast paced
suspenseful songs and contrasting soft ballads, this is a theme album telling the story of a
tragic hotel fire and the guests demise in the early 1900’s and the evil presence holding their
souls prisoner. This is juxtaposed with the story of a young girl from the present, traveling to
the once elegant Victorian hotel, to be reunited with her departed one true love. As the album
copy continues, What comes next in “A Time Forgotten” takes a chilling turn into the
unknown”. (A Time Forgotten; Destini Beard with Midnight Syndicate; Signed CD, $12.99;
iTunes, $9.99; CD Baby, Download, $9.99, CD, $9.97, Signed Dark Masquerade and A Time
Forgotten CDs, $15)
While these albums are described as “reminiscent of many classic horror movies and tales”,
they also feature a haunting beauty all their own. A Time Forgotten also includes an eight
panel fold out, containing the full lyrics of all the 14 songs contained in the album.
While all of the above recordings have things to recommend them, I know that some of you
out there would like an option of an album consisting of Christmas Carols. I can understand
that, with so many radio stations playing Christmas songs solidly from Thanksgiving to
Christmas it is easy for the Christmas spirit to be burned out in you, I hope you won’t mind me
offering you something with a slightly different twist, Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering. It
features such classics as Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy, Carol Of The Bells, Greensleeves,
Coventry Carol, and more, as well as
a number of the artist’s own
compositions.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
(Christmas: A Ghostly Gatherng; Midnight Syndicate; CD, $12; <Note: All orders will include a
set of three (3) limited-edition Midnight Syndicate Christmas postcards (while supplies last);
All orders over $10 will receive a Midnight Syndicate 20th Anniversary Coin α (again, while
supplies last), Price includes free shipping within the USA.)>
Now what, you may well ask, does all of this have to do with Christmas music, unless you are
working on a Tim Burton film? Well, like Jack Skellington, Midnight Syndicate has decided
to take over another holiday. It is easy to anticipate that the results will be depressing
arrangement of songs converted to one of their horror releases. However, while the first track
suggests that this might be the case, Midnight Syndicate is just playing with your
expectations, as they seldom perform the predictable.
While the tone of the remaining songs does range from grim to celebratory, this is because
they mine the Edwardian and Victorian concepts of Christmas, which included a long tradition
of ghostly tales told around the fire. This album does not make the mistake of attempting to
splice Halloween elements into traditional songs, but instead transports us back to what
Christmas was. As other reviewers have described this album:
• “Midnight Syndicate’s take on classic Christmas carols is like nothing I’ve heard
before… beautiful yet haunting.” 4
• “True re-imaginings of the Christmas songs you’ve heard so many times before…. For
a moment I forgot that I was listening to a Midnight Syndicate record and got swept up
in the majestic awe captured here…. This album defies the conventions of the
Christmas albums that flood the airwaves. Bursting with creativity and imagination… a
perfect alternative for anyone looking for a truly unique listening experience this
holiday season.” 5
• “What sets this apart from other “dark” Christmas offerings, is that Goszka and
Douglas don’t try to add a Halloween flavor to Yuletide tunes at all, but instead plumb
the rich history of the 19th century Christmas Ghost Story genre. This is a Christmas
album, through and through, not a Halloween disc in a Santa suit. There is a purely
enchanting, joyous and (dare I say it) merry element that invokes a feeling of mystery,
while still warming the soul. It’s the musical equivalent of looking out the window onto a
cold winter’s night, while curled up next to a fireplace.”6
• “The soundtrack as a whole ranges from dark and sinister to absolutely beautiful and
symphonic while painting a picture of a vast wintry landscape with the moon high
above and a medieval castle in the distance. (Midnight Syndicate) continues to not
disappoint.”7
• “This album is a must have …The music is at times somber and morose, hauntingly
beautiful, and even devilishly playful, but it is at all times very entertaining.”8
α To take advantage of this special offer, add the coin (PRODUCT CODE: MS-20A-C1)
to your cart along with an additional merchandise purchase of $10 or more. At checkout,
enter the coupon code 20ACOIN. The coin may be ordered as an individual item for $5.
Thank you for your support! Midnight Symphony.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
Still, some people prefer a gift that is more substantial than a string of bytes that you can
download or encode onto a plastic disk. For those giftees, Desert Steel has a number of
products that may be a perfect fit for them. Perhaps the best way to get an overall grasp of
their products, is to let Desert Steel describe them.
Each piece begins as a flat sheet of steel. It is then cut, folded and
welded together to create a beautiful piece of art. We want to
realistically represent some of nature’s most beloved icons with
unparalleled creative detail and lasting durability to enjoy no
matter where you live.
Their products range from basic steel fire pits, to agaves, cacti, flowers and trees. In terms of
size, they range from just over a foot in diameter and a little over a foot tall for their Pine
Cone Luminary and their flowers vary in size from about a foot wide and a yard tall to
approximately a foot wide and 1 ½ feet tall. For those wanting something more substantial,
they also produce larger
pieces, such as their 14’
Palm Tree, 6 ½ foot
Saguaro Cactus Garden
Torch, and 14' Seven-
Arm Saguaro Cactus.
They offer many different
types of flowers. Options
include Garden Torches
with refillable canisters,
Solar Powered LED
Garden Lights, and Bird
Feeders. I think it is safe
to say that they make
something that will fit
anyone’s needs, whether
large or small.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
will have to fluff it up on opening. The 3.5” diameter base of the unit is open, so that you can
insert an LED light or candle, which are not included. This is one of their smaller products,
measuring 15” tall by 13” wide. While you could probably fit a “tiki torch” type canister within
the luminary, Desert Steel does not recommend it, as soot deposits will rapidly develop inside
the piece and it will get “gross”. However, they say that a 3” candle/light works perfectly. The
best option would be a glass jar candle but other 3” diameter candles will work just fine.. Due
to its size and construction, you can use it indoor or outdoor year round. The fact the core of
the Pine Cone Luminary is a steel grid, and the ‘leaves’ provide a protective barrier around
it, I’d think this would allow you to enjoy the light of a candle without having to worry about
any of your furry friends sticking their nose or tail into the flame. (Pine Cone Luminary; Desert
Steel; $60; NOTE: Free ground shipping for orders over $100)
With this ring, fabricated by their Geek Dot Jewelry division, you can be fairly certain of its
uniqueness, as it consists of the giftees name, motto, or whatever you desire written in
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
Gallifrean! When ordering the Gallifrean Custom Signet Ring, the first step is to specify
whether you are ordering the men's version (Gallifreyan Custom Signet - Gents) or the
women's version (Gallifreyan Custom Signet – Ladies) of the ring.
Once you have selected the required style, simply specify the ring size, which alloy you wish
to have the ring fabricated in and the preferred background. Both versions are available in
sterling silver, 14K white gold, 14K yellow gold, and platinum. There may have been talk of
adding a neutronium version, by that will be unavailable until at least their next generation of
fabrication technology!
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
fulfill. It is therefore wise to order your ring as soon as possible, if you don’t want your giftee
disappointed (unless you already have a Tardis). You might enjoy exploring more of their The
Good Doctor Collection or that of one of their other fandom groups. All of their lines of
fandom jewelry are quite beautiful, particularly some of the engagement rings. One thing I
must say, Paul Michael Design goes to great lengths to be non-discriminatory, including both
Star Trek and Star Wars collections, as well as Zelda, Wonder Woman, Serenity, Black
Widow...
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
As a key is a unisex item, it doesn’t really matter whether your giftee is male, female, or even
an alternate gender type. However, note that the chain that comes with this key, is fabricated
from small silver links, to allow it to be looped through the key. In some instances, a giftee
might prefer a heavier chain of some type. As it is unlikely that a larger chain could be looped
through this key, you might require the addition of a silver ring to mate the key and chain.
While appreciating the luster of the Gallifrean Custom Signet Ring and the Sterling Silver
Doctor Who Inspired TARDIS Key Necklace , perhaps you are looking for a lustrous gift
that has more of a scientific aura around it. In that case, let me suggest the Flux Original: A
Scientific Toy That Feels Like Magic, manufactured by Feel Flux Kft.. In terms of
components, the Flux Original
is about as basic as you can
get, consisting of a precision
machined cylinder fabricated
from a premium alloy containing
99.99% copper and a spherical
Grade N52 Neodymium
magnet, although it does come
with ancillary items, such as a
display stand and a storage
bag. As the copper cylinder is
subject to oxidation from finger
oils, each unit is wrapped with a
flush suede leather band of
your choice (Graphite Gray,
French Beige, or Dark Brown)
for handling. As simple as that
may sound, this ‘toy’ is
recommended only for those 14
years old or older. The
Neodymium sphere is capable
of holding a weight of 13 kg, or
just under 30 pounds. The
implications of this are that it
should be kept a minimum of 30
cm away from medical
appliances, watches, phones
and other electronic devices, as
well as hard drives and other Illustration 10 Flux Original: A Scientific Toy That
storage devices. It also must Feels Like Magic,by Feel Flux Kft.. Courtesy of Feel
be handled with care around Flux Kft..
other magnets or iron
structures. Due to the strength of this magnet, if you were foolish enough to place your hand
against a steel object, such as a steel door, and release the magnet within a foot or more of
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
the door, it could gain sufficient velocity to break a finger, or worse. (Flux Original: A Scientific
Toy That Feels Like Magic; Feel Flux Kft.; $99.00 plus $12 Flat Rate 1-2 day Express DHL
Worldwide Shipping Service)
Flux Original is perfectly safe when you ensure that the enclosed directions are followed, so
please do yourself a favor and both read and have your giftee read the full instruction sheet,
located along with the storage bag within the compartment at the top of its shipping and
storage container. It is also recommended that you only play with the Flux Original above a
soft surface, such as a carpet. As the magnet is both very heavy and very brittle, it can
shatter or cause indentations on other surfaces.
Okay, after doing my best to ensure you read the directions and follow them properly, you
might well be thinking, what’s the big deal? After all, a copper cylinder isn’t magnetic, so what
difference does the strength of the magnet make? The big deal is that this pair of devices,
instead of being used to demonstrate magnetic attraction and repulsion, is used to
demonstrate a more subtle affect that most people are not familiar with. This can be
illustrated visually by dropping the magnetic sphere through the hole in the copper cylinder.
Unlike the general expectation, the sphere doesn’t just drop through the length of the cylinder,
but rather slowly floats down through the cylinder. No batteries, No strings, No magic wand or
concealed circuitry!
What you are observing is the practical manifestation of Lenz’s Law. The changing magnetic
field from dropping the ball into the tube induces a magnetic field within the walls of the tube.
Faraday’s law of induction describes how this changing magnetic field induces voltages
inside the wall of the tube. Since the tube is composed of a highly conductive alloy, this
voltage creates eddy-currents that flow around the tube. These flowing eddy-currents
generate a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the ball. Lenz’s Law states
that this induced magnetic field is always directed to oppose the motion that generated it.
The faster the motion of the ball, the stronger the opposing force, The net result of all of this
is that as the pull of gravity accelerates the ball, it generates an increasingly strong opposing
magnetic force in the tube, so instead of simply falling through, the ball gently drifts down
through the tube as all of the forces reach equilibrium. It’s a fascinating display to observe,
and serves as a reminder that what we may intuitively feel is obvious can be completely
wrong!
While not reviewed in this gift guide, Feel Flux has several other magnetic products. What
might be the most interesting of these to a potential giftee, is what they call Skill Flux ($49).
Rather than copper, this cylinder is machined from a highly conductive aluminum alloy. While
not subject to tarnishing, like the Flux Original, the Skill Flux is also wrapped with a leather
band or your color choice (Smooth Graphite Grey, Deep Red, or Snow White). The resulting
dynamics of this alloy are much faster than those of the copper version. This difference in
dynamics allow one to perform a wide range of challenging tricks. The Skill Flux can also be
purchased with a double pair of cylinders, called the Skill Set ($79).
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
Moving on, I’m sure that everyone, including your giftee, has a slew of micro USB cables
around, many of them entirely non-functional or worse, only working part of the time and
under certain conditions. This is a very good formula for generating frustration, potentially
even rage. To help protect your giftee, those around them, and potentially even yourself, I
highly recommend gifting them with a pair of [2-Pack] Anker 6ft / 1.8m Nylon Braided
Tangle-Free Micro USB Cable with Gold-Plated Connectors for Android, Samsung,
HTC, Nokia, Sony and More (Red) from Anker Technology Co. Limited. <NOTE: I would
like to point out that I am not the one that named these products!> Fabricated around a core
of wide diameter 28 / 21 AWG data and power wires it can charge devices around 7% faster
than most standard cables and sync at speeds of up to 480Mbps. Protected by a bright red
braided nylon shield and strong
stress reliefs in the cable
connectors, these cables are
extremely durable. The
compact design of their
connectors ensures that they
are usable with almost any
protective case. They are
compatible with virtually ALL
Android & Windows phones &
tablets, including Samsung,
HTC, Motorola, Nokia, LG,
Sony, PS4, Xbox, PS Vita,
Nintendo DS, and GoPro. ([2-
Pack] Anker 6ft / 1.8m Nylon
Braided Tangle-Free Micro USB
Cable with Gold-Plated
Connectors for Android,
Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Sony
and More (Red), Model Number:
AK-B7116091, ASIN:
B01DEMTOQ6, Anker
Technology Co. Limited, $9.99)
The heavier conductors in this Illustration 11 [2-Pack] Anker 6ft / 1.8m Nylon Braided
cable result in a somewhat Tangle-Free Micro USB Cable with Gold-Plated
stiffer cable than many on the Connectors for Android, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Sony
market, which consequently and More (Red) manufactured by Anker Technology Co.
results in them not tangling. Limited. Courtesy of Anker Technolgy Co. Limited.
Additionally, both cables in this
two pack come with integrated hook-and-loop restraints, to make storage exceptionally easy.
To top it off, these cables are backed with an 18-month warranty.
Also from Anker Technology Co. Limited is their Anker USB 3.0 Aluminum 13-Port Hub +
5V 2.1A Smart Charging Port with 12V 5A Power Adapter [VIA VL812-B2 Chipset]. It is
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
compatible with Windows 8 / 7 / Vista / XP or Mac OS X 10.2 and above. In addition to the
2.1 A that the Smart Charging Port can deliver, the Data Ports all support an output current of
up to 0.9A. However for maximum performance, connected devices should not exceed a
combined current of 8A. Unlike many, this hub sports a solid aluminum case, making for great
heat dissipation, while still weighing only 215g / 7.6oz. It’s physical dimensions are quite
compact, measuring 195 × 46 × 26mm / 7.7 × 1.8 × 1.0 in. The charging port has its own
power switch mounted on the end of the hub, while each data port sports a separate data
transfer indicator, which emits a blue light when active. Additionally, each data port has its
own current limiting circuitry, so
between that and the aluminum
case, you will not generate the
excess heat that can melt and
deform some plastic cased hubs.
(Product Name: Anker AH241 USB
3.0 13-Port + 1 Smart Charging Port
Aluminum Hub, Product Model BW-
U3039A, Model Number: AK-
68ANHUB-B14A, ASIN:
B00GSLMTQ8, Anker Technology
Co. Limited, $79.99)
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
headers on these boards allow them to be stacked, so that you can connect multiple
Expansion Boards at the same time. Another point to keep in mind is that the sizes of these
modules can be deceptive, as many of the pictures are not to scale. For instance, the Onion
Omega2+ processor board covers the area of about 1/3 the size of a standard credit card.
None of these boards are shipped with manuals or data sheet, however, all of those can be
downloaded from the products web page, along with additional technical information and, in
some cases, suggested projects. One CRITICAL point to remember when using these
components is that the Omega is designed to operate optimally with a stable 3.3 VDC power
supply. The docks include circuitry to condition the incoming power from the micro USB
connection. However, a lot of common components, shields, and boards are designed to
work from a 5 VDC power supply. If proper level shifting circuits are not installed between
these two, you can easily damage the Omega’s I/O ports permanently. It is particularly
important to remember this when attempting to interface the Omega with devices in the
outside world, where the giftee may have no control over the applied input voltage.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
and 32MB of onboard flash storage. (Onion Omega2+ IoT Computer, Item # DEV-14431,
SparkFun Electronics, $9.00)
This memory can readily be expanded by populating the microSD card slot on the underside
of the Omega2+, such as with SparkFun’s microSD Card with Adapter – 16 GB (Class 10)
(microSD Card with Adapter – 16 GB (Class 10), Item # COM-13833, SparkFun Electronics,
$19.99). The Omega2+ has dedicated pins for USB 2.0 and Ethernet as well as 12 GPIO
pins that can be controlled by the user. These GPIOs can support the I 2C, UART and SPI
serial communication protocols. Note: The Ethernet support in the Onion Omega2+ IoT
Computer, is just the software support, to employee it, you will need to add an Expansion
Board containing the actual hardware interface (Item # DEV-14441). No additional hardware
is required to access the Wi-Fi, as this main board incorporates its own antenna.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
Breadboard Dock for Onion Omega gets around this problem by acting as an adapter,
effectively converting the 2 mm pin spacing to 0.1” spacing. This allows you to plug the
Omega into the dock, and the dock into the breadboard, mapping all of the pins of the Omega
to the breadboard, so that the giftee can prototype any kind of circuit they want on the
breadboard without soldering anything. The biggest drawback of this particular dock is that it
does not contain a socket for any of the expansion boards. (Breadboard Dock for Onion
Omega, Item # DEV-14436, SparkFun Electronics, $10.00)
The Expansion Dock for Onion Omega is probably the dock that the majority of giftees
would find most useful (Expansion Dock for Onion Omega, Item # DEV-14439, SparkFun
Electronics, $15.00). It allows you to plug the Omega into the Dock, as well as any of the
Onion - Omega Expansion Boards, which we will discuss shortly.
As illustrated in the accompanying image, this dock breaks out all of the Omega’s GPIO pins,
running the signals to the adjacent connector socket. It is into this socket that the pins of the
expansion boards plug. This dock also provides for the attachment of a USB device through
the female Type A USB connector. It is powered via a micro USB connector, which also
provides communication to your host computer or terminal.
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
connection or using the I2C bus protocol. The only thing that might be considered a drawback
to this dock is that the spacing of the expansion connectors does not allow you to attach an
Arduino Shield and an Onion Expansion Board simultaneously. (Arduino Dock R2 for Onion
Omega, Item # DEV-14438, SparkFun Electronics, $20.00)
This dock also includes a barrel jack for connecting an external power supply, primarily to
power the Arduino and associate shields. While one reason for this is to avoid overloading
the driver for the micro USB, it is also required to provide 5 VDC for the Arduino and attached
shields. While the dock incorporates proper level shifting circuitry between the two
processors, please keep in mind my earlier warning regarding mixing components that require
different voltage power supplies!
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Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition
Submitted as the Scientific Computing Holiday Gift Guide – 2017 by Dr. John R. Joyce, Contributing Editor
some of the Omega’s I/O pins. (Proto Expansion Board for Onion Omega, Item # DEV-14443,
SparkFun Electronics, $5.00)
This expansion board is rather different from most of the other Onion - Omega Expansion
Boards in that it isn’t designed to control any external devices. Instead, the OLED
Expansion Board for Onion Omega is designed to allow the Omega to report status and
operational result back to the external world. With a resolution of 128×64 pixels, this
expansion board adds a low-power 0.96″ monochrome OLED display to your Omega. It is
capable of displaying text, images and even animations. 21 characters can fit on each
horizontal row, with seven rows in total. Additionally, a single command enables built-in
scrolling animations, where the contents of the entire display can be scrolled to the left, right,
or diagonally left or right. (OLED Expansion Board for Onion Omega, Item # DEV-4442,
SparkFun Electronics, $15)
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projects and in-depth tutorials showing some of the many ways that you can employ these
components to develop your own unique creations. While this kit is designed to be an
introduction, don’t make the mistake of thinking of this as ‘just a toy’ with no practical purpose.
Whether you are thumbing through current electronics magazines or the latest fashion or
health magazines, you’ll discover that wearable electronics is not just a fad, but has been
strongly adopted by various designers, fashion, engineering, and medical, as well as serious
hobbyists. While some of the justification for that is just to enhance the visual appearance,
you will also find that various people have incorporated it into their products for safety,
enhanced functionality, and in some cases to have the garment actually change form based
on what it detects.
As is tradition, we’ll wind up this years gift guide by recommending several books that we
hope will grab both your and your giftee’s attention. The first two selections might stimulate
your giftee’s interest in wearable circuits by demonstrating some of the things that are
possible and how to go about creating them. Particularly with these beginning projects you
can be a rookie at electronics, computers, and sewing. You don’t even have to have a
specific interest in these skills at all, other than to use them as tools to assist you in what you
are interested in!. For some people, it might be
looking to take their cosplay to the next level,
while for some it may just be to make them more
visible at night, while for others it could be
anywhere in the cornucopia in between. Also
keep in mind that the components included in this
kit are effectively just the tip of the iceberg in
terms of the components available from SparkFun
and other vendors that you can incorporate into
wearable circuits. It is exciting to watch the
reaction when someone completes their first
project, whether they are an adult or a preteen.
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While you can of course, jump into this book anywhere you want, to fill a specific need in a
project, I was pleased to see that the book did not appear to overly focus on any one aspect
of fashion tech, which is a very vague topic that can cover an awful lot of ground. Instead, as
this book was designed so that it could be used either as a text book or to help the individual
engaged in Costume Play (Cosplay) or fashion design, the book discusses the optimal
approaches to take in terms of designing and fabricating their project, whether for a Cosplay
project or a high fashion gown, as well as anything in-between. (Practical Fashion Tech:
Wearable Technologies for Costuming, Cosplay, and Everyday; Authors: Joan Horvath, Lyn
Hoge, Rich Cameron; Publisher: Apress; Pages: XXII, 268; eBook: ISBN 978-1-4842-1662-0,
$29.99; Trade Paperback: ISBN 978-1-4842-1663-7, $39.99; ©2016 )
To successfully do that, they make few assumptions regarding the readers background, no
matter where they are coming from, and actually start with a brief history of fashion and
costuming, as well as explaining their design philosophy and the factors that you need to
consider when going into a project. The 13 chapters of this book build upon each other, so
that by the time you are finished you should be comfortable in working with both electronics,
computer programming, and fabrics. In all areas, it starts with the basics, introducing hand
sewing, then moving on to threading and using sewing machines, as well as when to use the
various stitches. With electronics, it starts with the basic components and circuits, before
working up to more complex projects. Even when it starts merging these fields, they start
simple and work their way up.
Actually, this book goes well beyond working with just ‘fabrics’. It also reviews the use of 3D
printers, making a mold or casting, using sensors and servos, how to determine where to
place sensors and switches, etc. For more advanced projects, it includes the use of Laser
Cutters, construction techniques for Foam Armor, Vacuum Forming, and use of Worbla 9.
They continually emphasize the importance of planning and discuss it in relation to the
projects being worked on. Can the wearer move in it? If you attach Y first, how will you
attach X? How to lay out the circuit path and calculating your electrical load budget for sizing
the required battery/batteries. When winding up the book, they perform an exploration of the
way that practical fashion technology is already being exploited. At many points throughout
this book, they include external links to additional resources. In fact, the entire Appendix B
consists of a long series of links to additional resources for each chapter.
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The book is broken down into three different sections, with various numbers of chapters. The
first section provides a background
to the history of wearables, both
factual and fictional, including an
examination of the earliest examples
of actual wearable computation
devices. It also examines how
popular culture, particularly in the
form of science fiction props, has set
the stage for the launching of
various new technologies.
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The final section is an in-depth examination of presently popular wearable devices, along with
an examination of currently active research fields, including body modification, and
speculation regarding realistic future developments in this field along with their potential
impact on society.
I think this is a worthwhile and interesting book, but because of it’s broader topic, I think that
the tutorials are more superficial than in Practical Fashion Tech. But there are a number of
places where it explores new areas, such as the current crop of protective fabrics. It’s
possible that I’m being too harsh on this book,
as I can see where those with little technical
background could benefit from this books
approach, such as its examination of depth
cameras. So, I believe that it is useful and
although to some extent, the two books overlap
and complement each other, if I were forced to
choose just one, I’d be more inclined to go for
Practical Fashion Tech. I believe that it’s
multiple authors, coming from very different,
but intersecting, backgrounds, helps ensure
their accurate and in depth coverage of the
field. However, you can easily draw your own
conclusions, as excerpts from both books are
available on the Apress web site. Remember
that the intent of the two books is slightly
different, so which will make a better gift in
large part depends on what your giftee is
interested in.
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While these tails contain the expected ingredients of murder, mayhem, and mystery, they also
come with what is described as a supernatural twist. Now, this does not negate Holmes’ logic
or deductive reasoning, it comes down to what is defined as natural and supernatural. Is the
supernatural really separate from the natural, or is it just something that we currently can’t
explain?
Whenever you attempt to write off something as supernatural, and presumably impossible, it
might be wise to keep in mind Clarke’s Third Law10: Any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from magic. Another way of describing this phenomena is Leigh Brackett’s
comment10: Witchcraft to the ignorant, … simple science to the learned.
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Publisher: The Forgotten Drawer; Trade Paperback Edition: ISBN-10: 1548447943, ISBN-13:
978-1548447946, 290 pages, ©2017, $14.99; Kindle Edition: ASIN: B073GCQHMR, File Size:
1027 KB, ©2017, $4.99)
So suspend your sense of disbelief, lay back in your recliner, in front of the fireplace with a
glass of wine, and get ready for a thrill ride while appreciating the things that have changed
and those that have remained the same in this alternate world. As Gilbert’s business cards
read, “Your imagination is my playground”. Have fun! To play fair, I feel that I should point out
that this is just book 1 of a planned trilogy, so don’t anticipate everything being wrapped up,
nice and tidy by the end of the book.
Gilbert’s other activities include his noble self sacrifice of maintaining the sites Fail-Flix on the
web, Facebook, and YouTube. In describing these sites, he refers to himself as writing
“reviews on bad movies (mostly horror) that may or may not have slipped by without being
noticed. If you're looking for a good laugh, welcome! If you're looking for recommendations on
academy award winning blockbusters, prepare to be disappointed.“. Many of these reviews,
along with other editorial comments, have been collected and published in book form,
available on Amazon as Fail-Flix: Bad Movies Beware!11. Remember, his attempts to save
your sanity may be endangering his own!
I hope you’ve found at least a few potential gifts in this years edition of Scientific Computing’s
holiday gift guide, or at the very least, enjoyed your tour of it. So, until next year, Happy
Holidays!
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References
1 Dead Rhetoric. June 2017 Album of the Month – Cellar Darling’s This is the Sound. Dead Rhetor.
2017; published online July 10. http://deadrhetoric.com/randomness/june-2017-album-of-the-
month-cellar-darlings-this-is-the-sound/ (accessed Oct 22, 2017).
3 Shay KJ. Group kickstarts first CD by raising $5K on first day. Gaz. Dot Net. 2015; published online
Jan 9. http://www.gazette.net/gazettecms/story.php?id=11318 (accessed Oct 27, 2017).
4 Wullkotte N. Midnight Syndicate Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering Review. City Blood. 2017;
published online Oct 23. http://ohioshaunted.com/ghostlygatheringreview/ (accessed Oct 23, 2017).
5 Brinson J. The Cryptic Corridor: ‘Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering’ - Midnight Syndicate. Cryptic
Corridor. 2015; published online Dec 15. http://crypticcorridor.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-
ghostly-gathering-midnight.html (accessed Oct 23, 2017).
6 The Gill-man. Ramblings From The Black Lagoon: Midnight Syndicate’s Christmas Album! Rambl.
Black Lagoon. 2015; published online Dec 16. http://thegill-man.blogspot.com/2015/12/midnight-
syndicates-christmas-album.html (accessed Oct 23, 2017).
7 Apan T. Tiffany Apan’s Blog: Into the Labyrinth...: Halloween Blog Hop: MUSIC REVIEW of Midnight
Syndicate’s A Ghostly Gathering. Tiffany Apans Blog. 2015; published online Oct 31.
http://tiffanyapanwritingproject.blogspot.com/2015/10/halloween-blog-hop-music-review-of.html
(accessed Oct 23, 2017).
8 Cobb RD. CD Review: Midnight Syndicate Offer Up A Chilling Yule Tide Album With ‘Christmas: A
Ghostly Gathering’. INSCMagazine. 2015; published online Oct 27. http://theinscribermag.com/cd-
review-midnight-syndicate-offer-up-a-chilling-yule-tide-album-with-christmas-a-ghostly-gathering/
(accessed Oct 23, 2017).
11 Gilbert JH. Bad Movie Beware!: Over 100 movies that no human being should watch. Ever.
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1511783052/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_hist_1 (accessed Oct 29, 2017).
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