Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Secret Santa 2021

MadHatter - 9-9-2021 at 11:49

I realize that it's early in the year but I'm hoping for another
Secret Santa. Last year was the 1st time I participated and
I thoroughly enjoyed it ! My bear treat cards seemed to be
a big hit. I think I'll go with moose this year. BTW, the bears
have been visiting this summer. Several paw prints found in
the yard.

j_sum1 - 9-9-2021 at 14:52

I was planning on kicking ths off in a about a month.
I am looking forwrd to it too. :)

valeg96 - 20-9-2021 at 04:21

Hopefully it will start soon.. this year I have a lot of stuff to give away hehe

teodor - 20-9-2021 at 04:53

By the way, last time I didn't get anything from Santa and it was quite sad. So, I am not sure I will participate this year.

Texium - 20-9-2021 at 05:28

Who was your santa supposed to be? Did you bring this up with j_sum last year?

teodor - 20-9-2021 at 06:08

I've got an email with an excuse from my Santa that he didn't have time to prepare before Christmas and an invitation to wait a bit more. So, I expected it well after the end of the previous campaign and also was even glad to get it in Summer but nothing.

Texium - 20-9-2021 at 06:16

If you never received anything and it wasn’t because of covid related shipping problems, that sender should be blacklisted from Secret Santa going forward.

teodor - 20-9-2021 at 06:24

You are right. And j_sum, of course, can figure out who he is and what was the reason, So, probably, I don't need to add something.

valeg96 - 20-9-2021 at 10:02

On a similar note I would like for it to start earlier this year because I'll emigrate in december so I'd rather send it way beforehand. Also I still don't know if my 2020 pupil figured out what the mystery chemical was /sad

DraconicAcid - 20-9-2021 at 10:28

I have, in other forums, been guilty of failing at Secret Santa. But now it's too easy to order something online and have it sent directly. No wrapping, no heading out to the post office. Even I can do it!

valeg96 - 20-9-2021 at 10:50

Here in Italy the postal service is so absolute shite when it comes to post offices (bad opening hours, lazy incompetent boomers and confused system) that these last years they implemented a service where you do everything at home and the postman picks up the box at your address. And there are websites that now allow you to select carriers and services without even having to deal with them. You can literally send a box from your bed.

violet sin - 20-9-2021 at 19:22

I never figured out who my secret Santa was for 2020, but I enjoyed greatly the gifts. I've not had any time to reason on the mystery samples, as my labs been closed down and we were planning on moving. But they will not be squandered, as I greatly enjoy a good mystery.

On a slightly paranoid note, I think receiving the gift(s) a bit early to let them "quarantine" from strange hands, sounds comforting.

One serious note... If you have not managed to get your parents to take a vaccine... DO NOT LET IT SLIDE. The results are grave, for some.

vibbzlab - 20-9-2021 at 20:41

Is it possible for an Indian Chemist like me to participate in this event?

Herr Haber - 21-9-2021 at 06:03

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96  
Also I still don't know if my 2020 pupil figured out what the mystery chemical was /sad


AH HA !

So that was you :)
I didnt get to do much chemistry this year unfortunately. Lots of crap to think about, lawyers to hire, Xanax to eat...

I still have it, with both enveloppes not opened. You did it so nicely it would have been disrespectful just to open the enveloppes and be done with it.
The tube and enveloppes are on my living room table and on my "to do list".

You sent me something else that was quite funny. I have something similar to send you. I think I kept your address. Surprise surprise !

On my side, I dont know if my Santa (David Jr) received his parcel.
Or maybe he just doesnt like Teflon.

Please find me a Teflon lover for 2021 !

njl - 21-9-2021 at 07:17

Same boat Herr, I never heard from if my pack was received.

Syn the Sizer - 21-9-2021 at 07:41

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber  

I didn't get to do much chemistry this year unfortunately.


I was in a similar boat, lots going on, and I haven't gotten a chance to read the book my Santa sent me.

valeg96 - 21-9-2021 at 12:53

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber  
AH HA !
So that was you :)
I didnt get to do much chemistry this year unfortunately. Lots of crap to think about, lawyers to hire, Xanax to eat...

I still have it, with both enveloppes not opened. You did it so nicely it would have been disrespectful just to open the enveloppes and be done with it.
The tube and enveloppes are on my living room table and on my "to do list".


Yes, I had to write all of my personal info on the shipping documents and the username is pretty much revealing once you link the two. It's fine if you haven't tried it, I was a bit concerned you would throw it away because it looks a bit gross and grimy but it's a pretty nice one!

[Edited on 21-9-2021 by valeg96]

j_sum1 - 21-9-2021 at 14:42

Give me two weeks from today and I will crank this baby up.
Open to all.

Send me a message if there is any ongoing fallout from last time. I gad thought that all issues had been resolved. I can dredge up data on who had whom if that is needed. But it will be a dredge: I have had a file cleanup.

See you after my holiday.

SWIM - 21-9-2021 at 20:47

Quote: Originally posted by vibbzlab  
Is it possible for an Indian Chemist like me to participate in this event?


Secret Santa is world-wide.
Why I myself shipped a package 8000 miles year before last.

Unfortunately, It was the wrong package. However the recipient was very understanding. (Sorry about that, C------x.)

Santa is a fairly international guy: He was either Turkish or Armenian, but nowadays everybody seems to think he's Dutch.
(My Armenian grandfather once told me this is because Europeans might be uneasy with the thought of an Armenian or Turk sneaking down their chimney in the middle of the night, but I think he was joking.)

teodor - 22-9-2021 at 02:48

Quote: Originally posted by SWIM  

Santa is a fairly international guy: He was either Turkish or Armenian, but nowadays everybody seems to think he's Dutch.
(My Armenian grandfather once told me this is because Europeans might be uneasy with the thought of an Armenian or Turk sneaking down their chimney in the middle of the night, but I think he was joking.)


Everybody in the Netherlands knows that it is not Santa himself who uses the chimney.

SWIM - 22-9-2021 at 21:11

Well, a small assistant would make a lot of sense.

I think the original near eastern guy just tossed a bag of gold coins down some young woman's chimney so the family would have a dowry for her.

Disclaimer: The lives of the saints is not my area of expertise.

woelen - 22-9-2021 at 22:58

In the Netherlands we have "Sinterklaas", who is not the same as "Santa Claus".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

This is celebrated at the evening of December 5, not on or around Christmas.

DraconicAcid - 23-9-2021 at 07:03

He's not the same only because we anglophones took your tradition and changed it up a bit.

teodor - 23-9-2021 at 08:39

In Russia (and Ukraine), Saint Nicholas day is 19 of December that almost matches 5 December in the Netherlands considering the difference 13 days between julian and gregorian calendars. Actually, he died 6 of December (and as any saint is celebrated by the day of his death). There is nothing common in the Russian celebration of this day and the dutch celebration except making presents to children, the name similarity, and the day.
Also, we have no connection between Saint Nicholas day and Christmas, also in soviet times both were prohibited and replaced by another character - Ded Moroz, which became the attribute of New Year celebration. At present time most of the people celebrate only New Year (with Ded Moroz or Santa Clause by choice) because Saint Nicholas and Christmas are connected with Christian tradition only so they are celebrated only by a small part of the population. But because the day of traditional, julian Christmas 7th of January) and gregorian Christmas doesn't match and 2 celebrations have different traditions, some people celebrate also Christmas on 25 December but differently. Also those who celebrate Christmas on 7th January according to church tradition (keeping 40 days fast before this day) celebrate the "old New Year" 14 of January because they think it should be celebrated with more drinking and eating than the church tradition allow it at 1st of January (at the period of a strict fast).
So, you see, it is both similar and different.

arkoma - 23-9-2021 at 08:43

Quote: Originally posted by Syn the Sizer  
Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber  

I didn't get to do much chemistry this year unfortunately.


I was in a similar boat, lots going on, and I haven't gotten a chance to read the book my Santa sent me.


You should go ahead and meet Friday.

@vibbz--Live in the US,and have sent to the UK and Canada, and had a Santa from Oz one year, so yes, very much international!

I love this time of year!

karlos³ - 23-9-2021 at 10:56

Thats so great!
I would love to join, but can't say yet, I want to mobilise a few friends with similar interests first.
Please give me a week, then I can say for sure :)

And least year was really great :)
Quote: Originally posted by SWIM  

(My Armenian grandfather once told me this is because Europeans might be uneasy with the thought of an Armenian or Turk sneaking down their chimney in the middle of the night, but I think he was joking.)

Nooo my fucking sides are in orbit :D

Also cool we have an indian chemist among us, but I wonder why we have only one?
By the amount of indian papers we must at least have a hundred :o

Syn the Sizer - 23-9-2021 at 12:20

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma  
Quote: Originally posted by Syn the Sizer  
Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber  

I didn't get to do much chemistry this year unfortunately.


I was in a similar boat, lots going on, and I haven't gotten a chance to read the book my Santa sent me.


You should go ahead and meet Friday.

@vibbz--Live in the US,and have sent to the UK and Canada, and had a Santa from Oz one year, so yes, very much international!

I love this time of year!


I absolutely plan to, I move into my own place Oct 1st and have the book out and ready to start so I don't need to dig through boxes to find it in the new place.

I greatly appreciate it and as well as everything else.
Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  
Thats so great!
Also cool we have an indian chemist among us, but I wonder why we have only one?
By the amount of indian papers we must at least have a hundred :o


Vibzz is a great chemist too, his videos are awesome and he has a way of teaching like an instructor. I know in the Discord there are a bunch of Indian chemists so there has to be some here too.

Indian papers are almost as plentiful as German papers lol.

Really the 4 countries I see the most from are US, Germany, China and India. What I like about many Indian papers is they are often in English or you can sometimes find a translation easy.

Chinese papers are never in English, and even sometimes Google translate makes no sense. I have a photo somewhere where it said along the lines of "Add 10mL of children's tears to the solution", do they have to be tears of joy or tears of fear?


Syn'

[Edited on 23-9-2021 by Syn the Sizer]

karlos³ - 23-9-2021 at 13:05

Quote: Originally posted by Syn the Sizer  
I have a photo somewhere where it said along the lines of "Add 10mL of children's tears to the solution", do they have to be tears of joy or tears of fear?

Proof! :o
Or it didn't happen :o

I offer an old pharmacy bottle(photo of course) containing 1-phenyl-2-propanone in return :P

MidLifeChemist - 23-9-2021 at 14:01

I'm looking forward to participating this year!

JJay - 23-9-2021 at 18:32

I am definitely interested.

teodor - 24-9-2021 at 00:12

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  

Also cool we have an indian chemist among us, but I wonder why we have only one?
By the amount of indian papers we must at least have a hundred :o


The number of scientists in the university and the number of amateurs is not necessarily correlating for some countries. It could be either the case when there are no scientific positions available, so the people who do chemistry are mostly hobby/amateurs (and sometimes they are very advanced), or the other way around - if you can do something interesting in chemistry you can get a good position but have no time or money to do the same as a hobby.

j_sum1 - 24-9-2021 at 01:53

I know of at least two Indian chemusts active on the board at the moment.
For SS, the more engagement from more people, the more fun it is.

Johnny Cappone - 24-9-2021 at 09:45

Can anyone explain to me what Secret Santa is and how it works? :P

karlos³ - 24-9-2021 at 10:19

This is secret santa, I think it is a very thorough explaination: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Santa

Oh... now I get why I received mine in time for sinterklaas! :D
(thank you again :))

charley1957 - 2-10-2021 at 13:48

I’d just like to know if my recipient ever got his stuff. Never heard a word from him after the initial message. I’ll still be contributing this year though.

Syn the Sizer - 2-10-2021 at 15:37

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  
Quote: Originally posted by Syn the Sizer  
I have a photo somewhere where it said along the lines of "Add 10mL of children's tears to the solution", do they have to be tears of joy or tears of fear?

Proof! :o
Or it didn't happen :o


It appears I misremembered it was just tears not childrens tears.

File_20210706-064725.jpg - 180kB

Sorry for the digression

[Edited on 2-10-2021 by Syn the Sizer]

karlos³ - 2-10-2021 at 16:27

Oh, and please sign me up too.

I asked friends who are here too, but since our forum is down the last days, well...

How long will it be open up to register?

And, j_sum, do you handpick the recipients actually? :o
Because if so, then that's great and also I'm impressed.... but I actually ask because if, I can and will put up more details in my request if its not too much.
Maybe someone from a country where they don't have exactly the same sweets durings christmas :D

Or wait, even better, so while we're at it I just ask here :D
What are typical christmas sweet things or such from or associated with Germany, something you'd also like to receive?
I actually have not really an idea whats considered typical on the outside.

DraconicAcid - 2-10-2021 at 16:58

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  

Maybe someone from a country where they don't have exactly the same sweets durings christmas :D

Or wait, even better, so while we're at it I just ask here :D
What are typical christmas sweet things or such from or associated with Germany, something you'd also like to receive?
I actually have not really an idea whats considered typical on the outside.


I would say mead or Holunderbeerwein, but those can't be mailed overseas. Or the dry ingredients for Gluhwein.

karlos³ - 3-10-2021 at 05:25

@Syn, pharmacy phenylacetone bottle pic attached, as promised :cool:
Quote: Originally posted by DraconicAcid  

I would say mead or Holunderbeerwein, but those can't be mailed overseas. Or the dry ingredients for Gluhwein.

Thank you the inspiration, and crazy!
There you happen to be born as, live in, and in general, are german your whole life and only last year the thought occured to me, while drinking a glühwein "damn, christmas would suck without glühwein" and now I hear about that!
I would have thought other people else would drink other hot alcohol containing things... local warm alcoholic drinks we do not have here...

So christmas does for you not actually smell like bratwurst and glühwein?
Thats really something to swallow... :o
We were once in breslau, poland, and it was just as it is here, but its just a step over the border.
Else, no, christmas I've always been in my country.

But really great, thank you, this bit has already helped to kickstart my creative thinking :)
(but keep em coming nonetheless :P)

phenylacetone pharmacy bottle.jpg - 35kB

DraconicAcid - 3-10-2021 at 08:48

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  

Thank you the inspiration, and crazy!
There you happen to be born as, live in, and in general, are german your whole life and only last year the thought occured to me, while drinking a glühwein "damn, christmas would suck without glühwein" and now I hear about that!
I would have thought other people else would drink other hot alcohol containing things... local warm alcoholic drinks we do not have here...

People will have mulled wine here, but it's not nearly as universal as it is in Germany, and one generally has to collect all the spices and make it from scratch.

karlos³ - 3-10-2021 at 11:58

Quote: Originally posted by DraconicAcid  

People will have mulled wine here, but it's not nearly as universal as it is in Germany, and one generally has to collect all the spices and make it from scratch.

Always used mulled wine interchangably, I thought its the english equivalent, but I guess not?

Wow, I guess those ready-to-use glühwein spice mixes(just put into the wine while warming up) would be huge for exportation then :o
Like a tea bag, but no, not "like", actually they are tea-bags.

Good that I know that in advance!
Next christmas I am going to make a million or even seven, by exporting a few tons of those to the states! :D
But not to get rich of course.
View this is an humanitarian act.
You guys can't live on like this any longer, I am appalled, but also, my heart is broken because of the many americans who went from crip to grave without at least once a year for just a month being able to have sweetened hot alcoholic beverages sold (and socially acceptably drank) at every corner, next to a bratwurst vendor.... :D

Mhmmm bratwurst... alright.... I think I got all the drool wiped off and out of the keyboard...

It turned autumn so quick, and all the christmas sweets are available already, also, its freezing cold at times.
And I have to admit, I am also getting into the mood, slowly.
Guess it was the same for MadHatter when he opened the thread :)

DraconicAcid - 3-10-2021 at 13:02

Yes, mulled wine is simply the English term for Gluhwein. You can find the tea-bag things for mulled wine, but they are hard to find. Mulled wine isn't popular enough for the importers to ship in a lot of it, and it's too hard to find for it to become really popular.

And most of the continent has repressive liquor laws that say you can't drink in public without risking fines, so buying a mug of mulled wine at an outdoor Xmas fair isn't going to happen.

basement - 3-10-2021 at 22:46

I haven't participated much on this board, however I really like the idea of Secret Santa and would love to participate :)

[Edited on 4-10-2021 by basement]

j_sum1 - 4-10-2021 at 00:23

Quote: Originally posted by basement  
I haven't participated much on this board, however I really like the idea of Secret Santa and would love to participate :)

[Edited on 4-10-2021 by basement]

Great!

Watch this space. In all likelihood I will see my way clear to opening this up this Thursday.

valeg96 - 4-10-2021 at 06:31

I don't remember what was in the form last year but I suggest you add a small section if we have special items to give, so you can do better pairs. Some of us are overflowing with glassware or chemicals... this year has been especially lucky!

[Edited on 4-10-2021 by valeg96]

Oxy - 4-10-2021 at 14:10

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  

What are typical christmas sweet things or such from or associated with Germany, something you'd also like to receive?


Hand grenade:D

[Edited on 4-10-2021 by Oxy]

Syn the Sizer - 4-10-2021 at 15:24

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  

Great!

Watch this space. In all likelihood I will see my way clear to opening this up this Thursday.


Ooh, I'm impatiently waiting :D

Herr Haber - 5-10-2021 at 08:02

Quote: Originally posted by karlos³  
Quote: Originally posted by Syn the Sizer  
I have a photo somewhere where it said along the lines of "Add 10mL of children's tears to the solution", do they have to be tears of joy or tears of fear?

Proof! :o
Or it didn't happen :o

I offer an old pharmacy bottle(photo of course) containing 1-phenyl-2-propanone in return :P


https://www.theregister.com/2008/09/15/innocent_drinks/

Not what Syn said but do I still get the prize ? :)

karlos³ - 5-10-2021 at 13:11

Ew thats disgusting :o
What did they think? Did they even think? Oh man... :D

Yes, you are free to download the picture of the prize(above) too :)

j_sum1 - 9-10-2021 at 16:11

Ok everyone. This thing is up and running again for this year. :D
The link for the sign-up thread and further discussion is here. https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=15...

DraconicAcid - 9-10-2021 at 17:54

I'm signed up.

One thing I should have added to my wish list, if my SS lives in a country other than North America or the Eurozone...
I have a lab where my students are supposed to measure six identical objects such as coins, and I keep a number of sets of coins on-hand for those who don't bring their own. I've got Eurocoins, Ukrainian ones, some old German pfennig and Czech 50 heller. If I could add another set of six (or more) coins of the same nationality and denomination, that would be really cool.

SWIM - 28-10-2021 at 09:08

I see from the Wikipedia posting that Nicholas was of Greek descent, not Turkish or Armenian.

You learn something every day.

I suppose now somebody's going to tell me that Sinterklaas didn't invent the glass frit!