merchimerch: (Default)
merchimerch ([personal profile] merchimerch) wrote2005-05-08 10:49 am

(no subject)

I have a question for the math/science/computer geeks on my friends like (especially you, fallen). My brother's thesis defense is May 12, and he is graduating in June with a Ph.D. in pure math. I need to get him a graduation gift. It needs to be available via online shopping for obvious reasons, and reasonably priced (read about $20). Anyone have any ideas?

Also, it is strawberry season here. I just got 2 kilos of strawberries for under a dollar. It's cobbler time!

[identity profile] fallen42.livejournal.com 2005-05-08 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, that's a tricky one, I've never bought a PhD grad gift before. My sense ses tell me you can go one of 2 routes. You could try to find him something serious that will celebrate his entry into the professional world (for instance laywers traditionally recieve a very nice breifcase for a graduation gift), or you could go for something fun. The professional gift might be a little tough to figure out for a newly minted mathematician since our tools are primarily our brains. For fun stuff, you could try looking at www.thinkgeek.com.

What field of pure mathematics is he studying? What is he planning on doing after graduation? One thing you and others may want to consider is having a whole bunch of people chip in to send him on a much deserved vacation trip.

[identity profile] merchimerch.livejournal.com 2005-05-08 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
unfortunately no chipping in is necessary, his fiancee w/a trust fund is taking him to Hawaii. I'll definitely check out think geek.com. He was doing topology for a while, and I think that he's slipped into being more of an algebrist of some kind (it is all way to much for my humanities brain).

Thanks for the tip!

[identity profile] spam42.livejournal.com 2005-05-08 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
If he's a topologist, he may appreciate some of these items:

http://www.kleinbottle.com/

[identity profile] fallen42.livejournal.com 2005-05-09 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Good thinking!

[identity profile] merchimerch.livejournal.com 2005-05-09 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
wow that is definitely the perfect gift for him. Wish I had the $80 for the Klein Stein, since drinking is his favorite hobby. I probably will get one of these for him.

Yay for having math geeks on my friend list!