Happy Valentine’s Day to my fellow geeks
By Mariah Smith
MSU Computer Applications and Services
Valentine’s Day is perhaps the hardest holiday for computer geeks because it requires two things we are not overly fond of -- public displays of affection and people.
Christmas tends to be a very easy holiday for us because we can do all of our shopping online. Birthdays are much the same. Valentine’s Day often requires a conversation with a florist, which is usually someone we don’t know. Because ordering flowers online doesn’t really count as a carefully chosen, personal gift, it usually isn’t an option.
If your special someone is a computer geek, here’s what you can do to make Valentine’s Day a success. First, reduce expectations. Yes, maybe they should be able to guess the perfect gift for you, but don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen, or you’ll be dead before you receive it.
Second, be very specific. Hints are not helpful, but a wish list on Amazon.com is. Consider establishing an account on Pinterest.com, which gives you the ability to “pin” photos of things you like to a board that you can share with others. It usually includes a link back to the website where the photo originated.
Third, opt for lunch instead of dinner and always choose a booth. Computer geeks are a lot like mafia members: they want their backs to the wall, and they want to be as far from other people as possible. Crowded restaurants at night are sure to make your valentine hyperventilate.
If you are trying to decide on the perfect gift for a computer geek, beware! Numerous gifts are marketed for the computer geek, but most fall very short. For example, one website touted the perfect gift for a geek: bacon-flavored chocolate. While many geeks do enjoy bacon and chocolate, the combination is, quite frankly, atrocious.
Opt instead for a brainteaser or anything that requires them to put something together. They are called “computer geeks” for a reason. Anything in the Star Wars or Star Trek genre is an option, but confusing the two is absolutely taboo. Don’t attempt to gift them if you do not understand the difference between the two. Remember that Star Wars is coming out in 3D very soon.
You could always say “I love you” in Klingon, but this is a test to see how much you are paying attention and if you really care. There are no words for “I love you” in Klingon because Klingons do not love. You can, however, say “I love you” in binary code. You’ll need to Google “I love you + binary code.” It will return a list of zeros and ones. Each set of eight numbers represents one letter in the phrase.
If the thought of Valentine’s Day has you feeling down, consider using a Smartphone app to help remind that special someone that he or she has things to do. TouchNote Postcards is an app that lets you create and send real postcards made from your camera photos. Another app, Send eFlowers, allows the geek in your life to send flowers from the comfort of a Smartphone.
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Released: Feb. 9, 2012
Contact: Mariah Smith (662) 325-3226
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