From the reasonable to the absurd, here’s (sort-of) a wish list:
Update: Just in case someone is actually thinking about buying me anything, I’ve marked items I’m already getting from someone.
Spook Country by William Gibson (ca. $10 – GOT IT) “Despite a full complement of thieves, pushers and pirates, Spook Country is less a conventional thriller than a devastatingly precise reflection of the American zeitgeist, and it bears comparison to the best work of Don DeLillo. Although he is a very different sort of writer, Gibson, like DeLillo, writes fiction that is powerfully attuned to the currents of dread, dismay and baffled fury that permeate our culture. Spook Country– which is a beautifully multi-leveled title — takes an unflinching look at that culture. With a clear eye and a minimum of editorial comment, Gibson shows us a country that has drifted dangerously from its governing principles, evoking a kind of ironic nostalgia for a time when, as one character puts it, “grown-ups still ran things.” In Spook Country, Gibson takes another large step forward and reaffirms his position as one of the most astute and entertaining commentators on our astonishing, chaotic present.” –Washington Post |
Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton (ca. $10 GOT IT) The organization of letters on a blank sheet, or screen, is the most basic challenge facing anyone who practices design. What type of typeface to use? How big? How should those letters, words, and paragraphs be aligned, spaced, ordered, shaped, and otherwise manipulated? In this groundbreaking new primer, leading design educator and historian Ellen Lupton provides clear and concise guidance for anyone learning or brushing up on their typographic skills. |
Reverso by Petzl (ca. $27 GOT IT) Belay device for the leader or the second, descender. For use with single or double ropes. Multipurpose device: belaying the leader, one or two seconds, or as a descender | Attachment point for direct attachment to belay (for belaying one or two seconds in self-braking mode) | Separation of ropes for easier clipping of alternate points and avoids crossing of the ropes when rappelling | Grooved spacers allow excellent control of the rope for rappelling and lowering. Weight: 80 g. |
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Closed-hole mesh fabric keeps you bone-dry and the soft feel makes it virtually disappear from your back |
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just imagine MEN IN SPANDEXI’ll spare you the visual
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Arm (ca. $20-30 GOT IT) and Leg (ca. $30-40 GOT IT) warmers Seriously, how else is one supposed ride through the seasons??? |
Ninja mask (ca. $20-30 GOT IT) This gift, aside from making you look like a ninja, can also be quite useful in the winter by protecting your face from the elements (although real ninjas would just not let it phase them). What’s also pretty cool is that I absolutely didn’t see this coming. At all. Thank you Stephen & Stacey. I had honestly not ever thought about getting myself a ninja mask as I am currently in the process of growing a pretty manly pirate beard, but I have to say it is pretty damn cool and useful. I love useful gifts. |
Good road helmet (Giro) (ca. $80-180 GOT IT) Carbon rib cage reinforcement creates incredible strength capable of crushing concrete as if it were cotton candy, while remaining so light it feels like gentle rays of sunshine dancing on your head 26 strategically placed NASA-developed vents deliver such extraordinary ventilation, your skin will appear 10 years younger while wearing this helmet. I’ve heard it’s even capable of curing cancer 5-piece, in-mold shell offers durable protection only second to that one military base that was built under that one mountain. Seriously, it’s that good Roc-Loc 4-fit system ensures a no-slip fit so comfortable, babies all over the world are leaving their mothers bosom for this helmet. In the near future you may start hearing the phrase “Fits like a Giro helmet!” because gloves will be obsolete, figuratively as well as literally. I’m serious, you could be buck naked, wearing nothing but this helmet, and you wouldn’t get a single scratch on you. The above review may or may not be entirely accurate, but that’s at least what I expect from a 180 dollar helmet. |
Super Monster T by Marzocchi (ca. $1,600 still waiting) The all-new, totally redesigned, Monster’s can best be described in a single word: Monstrous! When it’s time to go bigger than your insurance deductible allows, it’s time to take a Monster for a ride.
I’m not sure if I can explain just how monstrous this thing is. My bike has 4 inches of travel (that’s how far the fork — or any suspension — compresses on impact) which is fairly standard for most cross country bikes. 6 inches is considered a lot of travel and 8 inches is huge. An 8-inch travel bike is purely for downhill racing. And then you have this thing: 12 inches. That’s like my bike, with a downhill racing bike on top of that. Why do I want one? I don’t, I’d have no use for it …. unless, of course, I had something like this: |
The Santa Cruz V10 (ca. $6,000-7,000 no takers?) After revolutionizing the downhill race world by mating the seemingly incongruous concepts of bottomless long travel performance with extraordinary pedaling efficiency, the V-10 became the Gold Standard of the DH circuit. For 2008, this no-compromise race machine has undergone further transformation. Thanks to some very careful redesign of the aluminum frame sections and a carbon fiber upper link, the new frame weighs in almost two pounds lighter and offers lower standover than the old one. The suspension has been revised to sit higher in its travel for a livelier ride, resulting in a lighter, tighter package with 254mm (10 inches — remember what I said about 12 inches above? Same goes for 10) of rear wheel travel and razor sharp handling designed to do one thing: cut the fastest, most direct line to the top step of the podium. Yes, I know, quite ridiculous. |
12.17.2007 at 3.04 am
wish i knew of this list earlier…. since i won’t be able to get you anything in time for Christmas, you WILL be updating this list –in the event that you get some stuff for Christmas– right??…. i’ll check back on it. ;-)