11 cheap gifts guaranteed to impress science geeks

6. Gallium

Gallium is a silvery metal with atomic number 31. It's used in semiconductors and LEDs, but the cool thing about it is its melting point, which is only about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you hold a solid gallium crystal in your hand, your body heat will cause it to slowly melt into a silvery metallic puddle. Pour it into a dish, and it freezes back into a solid.

7. Miracle Berries

By themselves, Miracle berries don't taste like much. The reason to eat them is that they contain a chemical called miraculin that binds to the sweet taste receptors on your tongue, changing their shape and making them respond to sour and acidic foods.

The upshot of this effect is that some things you eat taste spectacularly different. Straight Tabasco sauce tastes like donut glaze. Guinness tastes like a chocolate malt. Goat cheese tastes like cheesecake. After about an hour of craziness, your taste buds go back to normal, no harm done.

Good lord, I submitted my bookmarks to Diigo late on Friday and I *just* got the email that said they were done. OK, 2000+ bookmarks mostly consisting of SGA fanfic might take awhile, wow!

Well, I have applied for my own job (again). Pity the job description and questions did not more closely resemble the actual job I do 40 hours/week 52 weeks/year.

I can't tell if the difference is just stupidity on someone's part, or if they're trying to change the job itself. Which would be a problem, say I.

Anyway, it's done.

And now the sudafed is wearing off, joy. Is today over yet?

Why is the sky leaking so much? Jesus, LA. Be, you know, LA. And, lord, the flooding of intersections. Also, my inability to use an umbrella.

The post office was really empty at lunchtime. Why didn't I take my parcel to mail? I only went to pick something up. D'oh.

I think my middle sister is having a break down. I'm seriously concerned with her mental health and I'm not sure what to do. She's been depressed about losing her full time job last summer, dealing with being a temp and making less money. But she's belligerent one second and weeping the next when I talk to her. I told her to go see her doctor about some anti-depressants and she yelled, "I don't need a fucking pill, I need a fucking job!" and then hung up the phone.

I think I'm going to try to call her husband.

"I don't need a fucking pill, I need a fucking job!"

They're not mutually exclusive! In fact, the right pills can make the job hunting way more successful.

(Note to all the narcotics officers lurking: I mean ADs, not speed.)

Ugh. I know the feeling of thinking real life will fix your mood, not pills. But in the meanwhile? Pills totally fixed my mood, or made it bearable. It's just really hard to hear, sometimes.

I've been reblogged by goodstuff! I feel like I've made it now.

ugh, Cashmere, yeah I think checking in with her husband is a good idea.

I am having A Day. All work related. FEH!!!!!!!!!!!

It's probably not helping her either that the pervading sentiment these days seem to be, "Not having a job is your fault and medicating is being weak and that's probably why you don't have a job." It's really mean and so hurtful to people, and I'm sorry your sister has internalized it.

They're not mutually exclusive! In fact, the right pills can make the job hunting way more successful.

That's what I told her! She's in no shape to go job hunting. She's upset with herself because six months ago, she could have taken unemployment and gotten job retraining paid by the state. She chose, instead, to take the temp gig and now they won't release her from the job. She's 48 years old with no degree. I understand why she's upset and depressed. But if she doesn't get her shit straight, she's going to keep being miserable.

You'd think she's listen to me--the only sister of hers with actual experience with ADs. They've saved me and made me an easier person to live with.