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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

Permutations in Holiday Gift Selection and Acquisition

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

Admittedly, some people will


prefer a general type of music
over another. It would be a
dull world if we all liked and
disliked the same things. So
while I will recommend a
selection of recordings here, I
also highly recommend that
you go one line and listen to
some of the suggested
recordings, whether it is on the
artists web site, the record
companies web site, or a
general site for musical
exploration, such as Last.FM
or Pandora. A thought to
keep in mind though is that in
some areas, when people are
offended by a piece of music,
it frequently reflects one of
their own biases, which might
be worth encouraging them to
explore.

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)

As quoted in Dead Rhetoric1:

This is the Sound is a real treasure. Ethereal, intoxicating, magical –


there’s plenty of descriptive words that you can shower Cellar Darling’s
music with, but for any fans of folk or melodic metal, this is one album
you simply need to check out for yourself and soak it all in. A gorgeous
debut.

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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

Illustration 2 ‘Busted’ by The Misbehavin’ Illustration 3 “Sloppy Seconds by The


Maidens’, Courtesy of The Misbehavin’ Misbehavin’ Maidens, Courtesy of The
Maidens. Misbehavin’ Maidens.
randomly selected group, the reactions would
probably range from complete outrage from those with a fondness for legislating morality, to
people literally rolling on the floor laughing. If you happen to pick-up on the incongruity
between some of their lyrics and what popular society claims to promote, perhaps you’re
discovering something and I’d encourage you to give it some serious thought!

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

feminist, sex-positive music, LGBTQIA+ representation, parodies, drinking & fandom


references for the 18+ geek crowd 2. Let’s just say their songs are at least ‘Rrrr…’ rated.

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

Illustration 5 ‘A Time Forgotten’ by Destini


Illustration 4 ‘The Dark Masquerade’ by
Beard and Midnight Syndicate. Courtesy of
Destini Beard and Midnight Syndicate.
Destini Beard and Midnight Syndicate.
Courtesy of Destini Beard and Midnight
Syndicate.
a story of gilded romances and the foreboding
shadows that lurk within your darkest nightmares. Let the music summon you to another time
and place, where dreams aren't always make-believe.” (The Dark Masquerade; Destini Beard
with Midnight Syndicate; Signed CD, $5.99; iTunes, $5.94; CD Baby, Download, $4.99, CD,
$7.99, Signed Dark Masquerade and A Time Forgotten CDs, $15)

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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.

The twist here, is that this album is


the work of a duo known collectively
as Midnight Syndicate. This band
consists of the artists Edward
Douglas, founder, and Gavin
Goszka, with 2017 marking the
twentieth anniversary of this group.
Widely known for their Gothic fantasy
and horror soundtracks, they appeal
to a wide range of audiences, ranging
from those who consider them to be
Gothic music pioneers to those who
consider them the first haunted house
band. Their music has transformed
the Halloween music genre and has
become synonymous with the
October holiday season. They were
responsible for creating the first
official sound track for legendary role Illustration 6 ‘Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering’ by
playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Midnight Syndicate. Courtesy of Midnight Syndicate.

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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.

They were kind enough


to ship two of their
smaller items to us (as I
don’t have any room for a
14' Seven-Arm Saguaro
Cactus). The first of
these, which I can see
using year round, both Illustration 7 Steel ‘Pine Cone Luminary from Desert Steel.
indoors and outdoors, is Courtesy of Desert Steel.
their Pine Cone
Luminary. It is 100% powder coated, both inside and out, so it will not rust or corrode. No
assembly of this unit is required, however, it does come flattened for shipping, so your giftee

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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)

Classified as one of their ‘Flowers’, is


the Heliconia Bird Feeder. Its bright
red petals provide a bit of tropical
color to help your giftee make it
through the winter. It’s carefully
engineered, so that to fill it, you
simply pour the bird feed into the top
petal and it cascades down to fill the
others. This tropical ‘flower’
measures 42"H x 12"W x 4"D. Its all
steel construction with rust and UV
resistant paint ensure that
maintenance will be minimal. This
feeder will work with a variety of seed
types, so by careful selection of the
type of bird seed you add, you can
alter the type of birds attracted to it.
(Heliconia Bird Feeder; Desert Steel;
$60; NOTE: Free ground shipping for
orders over $100)

If you are looking for a gift with some


bling appeal, Paul Michael Design
offers a signet ring. You have no Illustration 8: Helconia Bird Feeder from Desert
doubt seen signet rings before, Steel. Courtesy of Desert Steel.
frequently showing the initials of the
owner. A signet ring can be made in almost any design, but the most frequently encountered
type consists of the owners initials or a family crest, perhaps with the family name or motto
encircling it. However, lets be honest, there are likely thousands of people with the same ring
design, so there is little uniqueness to it.

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!

The available backgrounds for


the Gallifreyan Custom
Signet - Gents are oxidized
(black), black enamel, and
blue enamel. Breaking the
symmetry, the Gallifreyan
Custom Signet – Ladies ring
is available with oxidized, black
enamel, blue enamel, and red
enamel backgrounds.

One thing to consider when


selecting the particular alloy
that you want the ring cast in,
is that while the price definitely
increases with these more
expensive alloys, you should
also take into account the
relative hardness of these
alloys. Sterling silver will do a
serviceable job, but over time
will show scratches and dings.
If you are looking to give a gift
as an heirloom, past down
from one person to the next, it Illustration 9 A computer generated representation of the
might be prudent to opt for the Gallifreyan Custom Signet – Gents, a Signet Ring engraved
more expensive, but harder, in Gallifreyan. Engineered and Fabricated by the Geek Dot
materials. Jewelry Division of Paul Michael Design, Courtesy of Paul
Michael Design. Appearance will vary with phrase.
As these rings are custom
made to order, if you are thinking of giving one as a gift, it would be prudent to place your
order early. As all of their jewelry is made to order, they normally request you allow 4-6 weeks
production time, although shorter turnaround times are possible. If in doubt contact the studio
directly to see if they can still work your request into the production schedule, but as the
holidays approach, it is not unusual for a backlog to develop, so orders can take longer to

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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...

Now that they’ve received their Gallifrean Custom


Signet Ring, it is only natural that they’d like to
show it off. As it is logical that only a Time Lord
(Time Lady?) would possess a ring incorporating
Gallifreyan script, it would also be logical that they
have access to a T.A.R.D.I.S. (TARDIS)

Now if they have access to a TARDIS, it is also


only logical that they have a key to it. After all, it
would be negligent and highly dangerous to allow
primitive Terrans to access technology like that.
Fortunately, through highly classified technology
(i.e. They wouldn’t tell me!), Jewel Envy is
capable of meeting this need, allowing one to
purchase the required Sterling Silver Doctor
Who Inspired TARDIS Key Necklace for your
giftee. The actual key is 1.3” long by 0.35” wide
and 0.14” thick. To make it more difficult to lose, it
comes with your preference of either a 17” or 19”
silver chain looped through the key, so your giftee
can safely wear it around their neck. The design
and fabrication of the key was performed by
Amanda Henderson of Jewelust, one of the
goldsmiths at Jewel Envy and the one who
designed the marvelous Dr. Who inspired Crack
in Time and Space Ring that we featured last
year. As Amanda commented, “This TARDIS-
shaped key is made of sterling silver, and
engraved with Gallifreyan writing that says "clock
wise". It is a pun to remind you which way to turn
the key, and because the Doctor is wise“. (Sterling
Silver Doctor Who Inspired TARDIS Key Necklace;
Jewel Envy; $90 Canadian plus harmonized sales Drawing 1: Sterling Silver Doctor Who
tax (HST) [Cost in USD fluctuates with the Inspired TARDIS Key Necklace by
conversion rate, but usually is around 76 USD]) Amanda Henderson of Jewelust.
For those desiring to obtain a key in gold or with an Courtesy of Jewel Envy.
alternate chain, please contact the studio directly.

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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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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)

Once again, we welcome SparkFun


Electronics to our gift guide. While
there are multiple entries below, the
majority of these are different
component options for
experimenting with the Internet of
Things (IoT) and are part of the
Onion family of products..
SparkFun classifies the Onion
Omega boards they carry into three Illustration 12 Anker USB 3.0 Aluminum 13-Port
different categories: Mainboard, Hub + 5V 2.1A Smart Charging Port with 12V 5A
Dock and Expansion Board. The Power Adapter [VIA VL812-B2 Chipset]
Mainboards are the heart of the manufactured by Anker Technology Co. Limited.
system, the actual computer itself. Courtesy of Anker Technology Co. Limited.
While it is conceivable that you could
use the Mainboards by themselves, it is highly recommended to use it with one of the various
Docks available, as this greatly simplifies powering and communicating with the Mainboard.
The various Expansion Boards allow you to easily add I/O and other functions to the
Mainboard, which generally is what the IoT is all about. In the following section, I’ll describe
some of the boards in the various categories. Note that these are not the only Onion boards
available, SparkFun carries their entire line. There is no need to purchase all of the available
modules to create a working system. In most cases, one board of each class will be enough
to get your giftee started. The Expansion Boards category is the only one in which it might be
prudent to purchase additional boards, depending on the interests of your giftee, as the

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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.

The Onion Omega2+ IoT Computer is Onion’s


top-end Linux-based WiFi development board
designed to enable makers of all skill levels to
build connected hardware applications. Plug in
your Omega, and it will boot the OpenWrt
operating system right away, allowing you to
develop in your favorite programming language,

Illustration 13 Onion Omega2+ IoT


Computer from SparkFun Electronics.
Courtesy of SparkFun Electronics.

create web applications and interface with a


variety of hardware with minimal time and effort
spent getting started. The Omega2+ is built
around the MT7688 System-on-Chip (SoC)
Illustration 14 Kinston microSD Card
module, which features a 580MHz MIPS CPU,
with Adapter – 16 GB (Class 10)
supports 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, as well
(microSD Card with Adapter – 16 GB
as 10M/100M wired Ethernet network
(Class 10). Courtesy of SparkFun
connectivity, and operates at 3.3V. This board is
Electronics.
populated with 128MB of DDR2 DRAM memory

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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.

While the basic dock, called the Mini Dock for


Onion Omega will supply power to the board
and allow it to communicate over the USB
interface, as well as allow you to connect to
various USB devices, it does not provide support
for any other input or output, so I would not
recommend this dock. The optimal dock for your
giftee will depend on what they are likely to use it
for. I’ll describe several of the available docks
below, along with some of their suggested uses.
All of these docks include a Reset switch, to

Illustration 15 Breadboard Dock for


Onion Omega from SparkFun
Electronics. Courtesy of SparkFun
Electronics.

easily return the board to its factory default


condition.

The Onion Omega main boards can not be


directly used with solderless breadboards, such
as SparkFun’s PRT-09567 or PRT-12002 due to
Illustration 16 Expansion Dock for the fact that these breadboards have sockets for
Onion Omega from SparkFun pins with a standard 0.1" spacing, while the
Electronics. Courtesy of SparkFun Omega has a 2 mm pin spacing. However, the
Electronics.

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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.

Another dock available in the Onion


line is a rather specialized one,
called the Arduino Dock R2 for
Onion Omega. As one might
suspect, this dock features an
ATmega328P microcontroller
programmed as an Arduino to act in
tandem with the Omega as a
coprocessor. This dock also
exposes all of the GPIO pins of both
the Omega and the microcontroller.
The Wi-Fi abilities of the Omega can
be used to facilitate wireless
programming of the ATmega328P
using the standard Arduino IDE. All
of the microcontroller pins are
accessible and arranged in the same
fashion as the Arduino Uno, allowing
you to not only quickly port Arduino
projects, but allows the recipient to
reuse any existing Arduino Shields
Illustration 17 Arduino Dock R2 for Onion Omega they may have. This dock also
from SparkFun Electronics. Courtesy of SparkFun includes provisions allowing the
Electronics. ATmega328P to communicate
externally through a Serial UART

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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!

Here is the section where the Omega system


can really be customized. The Onion - Omega
Expansion Boards category includes not only
boards designed to plug into the expansion
connectors on several of the docks, but also
include some additional devices that you can
plug into the USB A female connector on the
dock. A plus for devices using the expansion
connectors is that these board include pins on
the bottom and sockets on the top, so that you
can stack multiple expansion boards together.

Illustration 18 Proto Expansion Board


for Onion Omega from SparkFun
Electronics. Courtesy of SparkFun
Electronics.

The simplest of these boards is the Proto


Expansion Board for Onion Omega, as the
board purchased literally does nothing on its
own. This board simply provides a small
soldering area for prototyping and a 30-pin
header that plugs into the Expansion Dock.
This provides you with full control over what
kind of project you design for your Omega!
Depending on your giftees needs, they can Illustration 19 OLED Expansion
prototype an entire circuit on this board, or Board for Onion Omega from
they could simply use it to mount a SparkFun Electronics. Courtesy of
specialized connector to allow access to SparkFun Electronics.

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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)

Stepping away form the Onion


series for a moment, SparkFun has
also provided one of their LilyPad
Sewable Electronics Kits. This is
an excellent kit for getting started
with fabric/flexible/wearable circuits.
While the projects included are
relatively simplistic, they are there to
help you develop the skills required
for designing wearable circuits.
Once your giftee has gotten up to
speed with the included projects,
they can easily re-purpose all of the
components from the kit into a
project of more interest to them. This
kit encorporates a SparkFun
LilyMini ProtoSnap board, which
includes a processor that can readily
be reprogrammed by your giftees
using the standard Arduino IDE to
support their own personal projects.
Illustration 20 LilyPad Sewable Electronics Kits (LilyPad Sewable Electronics Kits,
from SparkFun Electronics. Courtesy of SparkFun Item # KIT-13927, SparkFun
Electronics. Electronics, $99.95)

If you are concerned as to whether


this item is suitable for a particular giftee, I suggest checking out SparkFun’s Welcome to the
LilyPad Sewable Electronics Ecosystem and E-Textiles web pages. The former link includes
links to tutorials that cover many of the basics, such as ‘What is Conductive Thread’, ‘Sewing
with Conductive Thread’, ‘Checking for Conductive Thread Short Circuits’, ‘Caring For Your
Project’, and more. The later link, in particular, contains multiple links to more complex

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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.

We’ll start our examination with the book


Practical Fashion Tech: Wearable
Technologies for Costuming, Cosplay, and
Everyday by Joan Horvath, Lyn Hoge, Rich
Cameron, which is part of Apress’ ‘Technology in
Action Series’. According to the publishers web
site:

Fashion tech can require skills in


design, pattern-making, sewing,
Illustration 21 Practical Fashion Tech: electronics, and maybe 3D
Wearable Technologies for printing. Besides the tech skills,
Costuming, Cosplay, and Everyday by making a good costume or
Joan Horvath, Lyn Hoge, Rich accessory also requires
Cameron. Courtesy of Apress. knowledge of the intangibles of

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what makes a good costume. This book is a collaboration between two


technologists and a veteran teacher, costumer, and choreographer.
Regardless of whether you are coming at this from the theater costuming,
sewing, or electronics side, the authors will help you get started with the
other skills you need.

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.

Another book in Apress’ ‘Technology in Action Series’ is Crafting Wearables: Blending


Technology with Fashion by Sibel Deren Guler with Madeline Gannon and Kate Sicchio.
This book contains some valuable information for those working with wearables, but feels like

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it is taking a shallower, but wider, look at the concept of wearables. As an example, it


includes discussion of a number of current experiments in body modification that some
independent researches have been pursuing. This includes the implantation of magnets in
the fingers and Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) under the skin, as well as
advanced work with interactive prosthesis, basically, early versions of a Cyborg. (Crafting
Wearables: Blending Technology with Fashion ; Authors: Sibel Deren Guler with Madeline
Gannon and Kate Sicchio; Publisher: Apress; Pages: XXIV, 216 ; eBook: ISBN 978-1-4842-
1808-2, $29.99; Trade Paperback: ISBN 978-1-4842-1807-5, $39.99; ©2016 )

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.

The author describes the second


section of this book as containing
the majority of the ‘wearable
recipes’. This includes an
examination of the techniques
developed by researchers and
hobbyists as they pertain to
wearables. Additionally, launching
from an examination of current
textile manufacturing, it progresses
to learning about basic sewing and
pattern making techniques. As with
Practical Fashion Tech it then
features some tutorials for sewing
circuits and approaches for
fabricating various ‘soft’ sensors.
The section ends with a review of
the common materials used by those
working in the e-textile field and the
recommended applications of those Illustration 22 Crafting Wearables: Blending
materials, along with how wearables Technology with Fashion by Sibel Deren Guler with
are altering current manufacturing Madeline Gannon and Kate Sicchio. Courtesy of
practices. Apress.

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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.

For those fans of the legendary Sherlock


Holmes, who think they’ve read it all, I suggest
gifting the book Curious Incidents: More
Improbably Adventures, edited by A. C.
Thompson. Following the dictum that once
you have eliminated the impossible, whatever
remains, no mater how improbable, must be
the truth, Holmes and Watson are faced with
cases that take the concept of improbable to a Illustration 23 Curious Incidents: More
new extreme. All it takes is for someone to Improbable Adventures, courtesy of
redefine what is impossible and what is not. Mocha Memoirs Press.
(Curious Incidents: More Improbable
Adventures; Edited by A. C. Thompson;
Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press; Trade Paperback Edition: ISBN-10: 0984004297; ISBN-13:
978-0984004294; 238 pages, ©2016; $14.95; Kindle Edition: ASIN: B01MUEELMA; File
Size: 3131 KB; ©2016; $5.99)

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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.

The 15 short stories in this book will


explore alternate universes, histories,
and futures to solve cases currently
viewed as dealing with the
supernatural. Whether dealing with
cyborgs, vampires, or time travel!

Rounding out our selection of books


is Gaslit Insurrection: Clockworks
of War, Book 1 by Jason Gilbert.
This is just a book to relax with and
unwind, exploring Gilbert’s
imaginative world. No project, no
problems to solve. In part Science
Fiction, Alternate History, Steam
Punk, Fantasy, and Magic. There is
even an homage to the hardboiled
school of crime fiction, giving it a bit of
a film noir quality.

This book follows the adventures of


private investigator Kane Shepherd,
called in to investigate a series of
strange murders. Murders of young
women, all blood missing from their
bodies and the bodies cooked from
the inside out. It doesn’t take long for
Kane to realize that this case is much
larger and dangerous than he
thought, as he’s swept into a
tourbillion of conspiracy, corruption,
Illustration 24 Gaslit Insurrection: Clockworks of bloodshed, and potential revolution.
War, Book 1 by Jason H. Gilbert. Courtesy of (Gaslit Insurrection: Clockworks of
Jason H. Gilbert. War, Book 1; Author: Jason H. Gilbert;

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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.
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