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Paul's 2018 Holiday Gift Guide |
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by Paul Arnote (parnote) Ah, already? Yep. It's that time of year again. It's time to start thinking about holiday gifts for those on your holiday gift list ... or maybe even something special for yourself. No matter what holiday you celebrate (or even if you don't celebrate the holidays), this time of year offers up some amazing buys that are hard to pass up. The gift ideas here represent what I think might make great gift ideas for the holidays. Similar gift idea lists from Meemaw and YouCanToo reflect their ideas for holiday gifts. We each have varied interests, and those holiday gift lists will reflect those varied interests. The items we choose to list reflect items that either we think would make great gifts, or items that we wouldn't mind receiving ourselves as gifts. As such, the lists are highly personalized and flavored with our varied interests, so you may (or may not) agree with all of our selections. All prices are in U.S. currency, and may or may not be available to you in your location, thanks to import/export restrictions, local laws, duties, VATs and other such governmental nonsense. So, with that out of the way, let's get started with my holiday gift guide. By the way, this is my 10th annual holiday gift guide for The PCLinuxOS Magazine.
SOG Countertop Knife Sharpener  Whether it's used in the kitchen or in the field, one thing knife users know is that a dull knife is a more dangerous knife. When a knife dulls, we try to compensate for the lack of a sharp edge by applying more and more pressure to the knife, hoping it will eventually perform its designed task to cut something. But as we apply more and more pressure to a knife, it's easy to pass right on by that tipping point where we lose control of the knife, making the chance of getting cut by the now-out-of-control knife exponentially higher. A sharp knife glides easily through material (within reason), allowing you to maintain absolute control over the knife, thus greatly lowering your chance for personal injury from an out-of-control knife. Rely on this newest generation of SOG® Sharpeners to turn dull knives into razor-sharp cutlery tools in a flash. Simply set the Sharpener on any flat, non-porous surface and activate the suction. Just a few passes, and you've got a clean knife edge, just like new! For single or double-edged blades. 2 1/2" x 2 3/4"h. Weighs 3 ozs.
Lansky Quadsharp Portable Sharpener  The Lansky® Quadsharp Portable Sharpener ensures the correct sharpening angle, even in unfavorable outdoor situations. It gives you the option of using four different angles (17°, 20°, 25°, and 30°) that allow the exact level of sharpness for your unique cutting requirements. In just three to four strokes, turn a dull, dangerous, blade into primo operating perfection. It uses Lansky's legendary Controlled Angle System, has a ceramic benchstone (800 grit) for polishing, and features convenient, compact storage.
Amazfit Bip Smartwatch by Huami with All-Day Heart Rate and Activity Tracking, Sleep Monitoring, GPS, Ultra-Long Battery Life, Bluetooth, US Service and Warranty (A1608 Black)  Smart watches have become all the rage, but they are expensive, regardless of the platform (Android or iOS). The Samsung Gear S2 watch sells for $140. The Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness watch sells for $150. The Ticwatch S Smartwatch-Knight sells for $200. And forget about the Apple Watch. It's selling price starts in the hundreds of dollars, and goes up from there. By the way, this item comes from my own Amazon Wish List. Finally, Amazon partnered with Huami and created the Amazfit Bip Smartwatch, an affordable smart watch for everyone else, selling for under $80. Amazon and Huami didn't skimp on the features, either. Not only does it do what you expect a watch to do (keep/tell time), but it also displays SMS text messages and app notifications from your mobile device (no, you cannot respond to SMS text messages at this price point ... yet). Additionally, it receives one-way notifications for emails, incoming phone calls (prompting you to take action on your smartphone), as well as alerts for Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Snap, Slack, weather forecasts, and other mobile apps. The optical heart rate monitoring and built-in GPS allow you to accurately track in real-time your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. Special sport modes (running, treadmill, cycling and walking) give you even more detailed insights into your most frequent activities. The Amazfit Bip is lightweight, weighing in at a very light 1.1 ounces (32 grams). It's also IP68 dust- and waterproof. A 2.5 hour charge lasts 30 days.
AIFUDA 3 Pcs Car Dashboard Pads Non-Slip 11" x 7", Anti-Slip Ripple Sticky Dash Grip Mat for Coin Phone Key Sunglasses - Black  Today's cars and trucks have dashboards made of hard, slick vinyl and plastic. Don't try to store anything on the dash, because whatever you put there will slide all around when you accelerate, decelerate or corner. Your item(s) won't stay on the dash for long, anyways. These 11 inch by 7 inch (28cm x 18cm) "sticky" mats are 3mm thick mats of soft latex rubber (please, pass on these if you have a latex allergy). This item is for a package of three sticky mats, so you'll have enough to place one in all of your vehicles. The underside grips your dash without the use of magnets or adhesive. Place your items – glasses, keys, sunglasses, phones, small tablets, GPS units, radar detectors, etc. – on the mat, and the days of your items becoming airborne or skating across your dash are over. The top side of the sticky mat will grip most any non-porous item you place upon it. Should it become dirty, just wash it off with soap and water, dry, and use over and over.
Original Lensball Pro 80mm, K9 Crystal Ball with Microfiber Pouch, Photography Accessory  Whether you do film or digital photography, whether you use a dSLR or a smartphone camera, Lensball Pro can help take your photography to new heights of creativity. It is a gorgeous photography sphere made out of high-grade optical crystal that allows anyone to dive into endless creative photography possibilities. You can capture a 180-degree view of your surroundings, right in the palm of your hand and it is so simple that anyone can use it. Furthermore, Lensball is perfectly suited for any kind of camera, smartphone or professional high-end camera. Their mission is to give you the best product that makes it extremely easy to discover totally new perspectives and ways to express your creativity. Lensball makes for a truly great gift. It's stunning yet incredibly simple to use, and suited for every photographer, amateur or professional. Plus it arrives in a beautifully designed package including a carrying pouch.
Package includes:
Weston Original Jerky Gun  Make delicious, homemade jerky and sausage! And who doesn't like good beef jerky and meat sticks (except for a vegetarian)?! For easy, reliable use, count on The Original Jerky Gun from Weston®. With an easy-squeeze trigger, everyone in the family can get in on the jerky-making process. And with multiple attachments for snack sticks, strips and sausage, there's a recipe for everyone to enjoy! Features:50
PCLinuxOS 16 oz Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug  This insulated travel mug features durable double-wall stainless steel construction, designed to keep a 16 oz. beverage hot or cold for hours. It features a spill-resistant lid that has a convenient carry handle on the lid. Measuring 7.25"x3.5", this coffee tumbler fits most car cup holders for an easy commute. Hand wash only. A portion of all sales goes to help support PCLinuxOS.
Vinyl Oval Sticker (10 Pack)  Show your support for PCLinuxOS by placing these oval vinyl stickers on your laptop's lid, on the side of your desktop, or even on back bumper or window of your car. Printed on durable 4 mil vinyl with premium inks to resist the sun and elements, your message will last and last. The 3" x 5" stickers are available with a white or clear background. A portion of all sales goes to help support PCLinuxOS.
The GorillaBox - The ChimpBox's Bigger Brother 
 Make a donation, either in your name or in the name of your favorite PCLinuxOS user, to help keep PCLinuxOS going. While PCLinuxOS is free (as in beer), the cost of producing it is not. There are costs associated with having the necessary equipment, internet service, servers, etc. PCLinuxOS does not have any large corporate sponsors, and it certainly isn't backed by the unlimited funds of a billionaire. The development of PCLinuxOS is driven by its community, and carried out by dedicated volunteers. Any amount is appreciated. We at The PCLinuxOS Magazine would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. |
