Secret Santa troubles

[apocalypse]

Hey guys,

I've been roped into doing secret santa this year. I got someone that works on the other side of the office, I didn't even know he existed until yesterday. But, I have to get him something that costs roughly $20. All I know is he is a senior programmer.

Does anyone know what senior programmers like or have any ideas that they have done for a secret santa. It can't be anything offensive or pornographic unfortunately.

I know this is a longshot but I'm outta ideas.

[MoP]

our senior programmers like plush toys and raving rabbids, dunno if that helps

[Rick Stirling]

Could you not ask the guy that sits beside him?

(no porn? It's PC gone mad)

[Mongrelman]

I didn't think programmers were interested in anything other than porn.

You could try some cheapy usb device, like a usb coffee cup heater.

[Jackablade]

Isn't the objective of Secret Santa to get something completely useless and ideally impractical to carry around to after work drinks that they then have to thank you for?

[Mister Sentient]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/accessories/5a65/

Morning after soap for programmers. Ain't crunch a bitch?

[killingpeople]

A polycount shirt?

[Mister Sentient]

A polycount shirt?

Do programmers even hang out on Polycount?

[killingpeople]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0764549979.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[greenj2]

Someone at my last job got me a small preserved crab in a solid, plastic cube....yeaaaaaah. :S

When in doubt, personally, I find a gift-voucher from a popular music/electronics store is a good bet.

[notman]

Do programmers even hang out on Polycount?

*waves hand*


As for ideas... thnkgeek was a good suggestion. Otherwise get him a cool movie, like Ironman or Dark Knight.

[danr]

get him one of those wine glasses that hold an entire bottle

generic catch-all present that never fails. Even if they don't drink wine they can use it to keep shiny pebbles in

[caseofchill]

If you hurry over to the Thread of Awesomeness, you can still get your hands on a drawing of a spider valued at $233.95. Sure it's worth more than $20, but he might not know its true worth. Other than that, how about finger paints or maybe stuff for sock puppets?

[flaagan]

Think-geek gift voucher?

Or, if you really want to be as open-ended as possible, you can get Visa gift-cards that are accepted pretty much everywhere as vouchers; much better than limiting it to any one store. We actually started doing that at work when we do contests.

[Sectaurs]

Someone at my last job got me a small preserved crab in a solid, plastic cube

hot shit! sounds fucking awesome.

we do the whole "yankee swap" deal at work. people bring small children to the party and let them choose, which makes wrapping up porn a little awkward. but it's cool, 'cause they can exchange it...

[maltuna]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8q-elxC6gU

[John Warner]

what about some neat little system-of-perfection toy, like those hanging steel balls, or something like that?

[pliang]

Money would be a good item, they're for sale you know.

[Jesse Moody]

Best Buy gift card...lol

Or just walk by the dudes desk. Who knows maybe he collects action figures or something. Just walk by or go with a gift card or something. Who doesn't like best buy?

[notman]

A local guy started selling these: http://www.8776shipit.com/

It's around $20

[Mark Dygert]

Buy him something that costs 2.00 and move the decimal yourself, dude your an artist you can at least do that. Then go have a good time with the 18.00 you have left... Well as far as that will get you anyway...

[apocalypse]

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I was going to resort to money : / I think a voucher of some sort is do-able. The Xmas party isn't far away so maybe something I can get him online that won't take long to deliver. I might throw in that spider pic too :)

Thanks again for the help.

[gavku]

Someone at my last job got me a small preserved crab in a solid, plastic cube....yeaaaaaah. :S


...ahhhhhh...... Colobus he gave us hours of joy.

[Mister Sentient]

LOL. Talk about an awkward christmas present...

http://www.popularprick.com/smalltalk.htm