The Kickstarter "Ooops, It's Almost Christmas" Wishlist

In case you've never heard of it: KickStarter is a real cool website that helps people realize their creative ideas by Darwinian process:

1. Have an idea? 2. Put it on Kickstarter. 3. It's a good one. 4. Strangers give you money! 5. Success.

Below are my No.1's for awesome gifts. I know that we're cutting it real close to Christmas with this list, but don't worry. None of this stuff exists yet. The idea here is that you pledge to fund these people's ideas on their Kickstarter pages, and in a few months you get the product at cost. So (1) you're getting a sweet deal, (2) the giftee will be among the first to own a unique gift, and (3) you're helping another human being make their dream come true. #HolidaySpirit

Here's how the list works. I'll tell you about a thing, how much it costs to get one, when you can expect it, and whether or not it's fully funded already. On Kickstarter, products that don't meet their funding request don't get made. So fully funded means good to go. Don't be afraid to place a bet though, a lot of these products are brand new.

What it is: HiddenRadio is a wireless AM/FM radio and Bluetooth speaker system. Besides looking real nice, the HiddenRadio can reach over 80dB in volume, and interacts with smartphones, tablets, and computers over Bluetooth. If absolutely necessary (for example: if time traveling to the 1990's) HiddenRadio also has a 3.5mm input jack for all your heirloom wired gadgets.

What it costs: $99 bucks with FREE global (!) shipping included. Retail price is set for $175.

When you get it: ETA is March 2012

Is it funded: Way funded! $394k on a $125k goal. Project ends on Jan 18.

What it is: Don't Panic iPad case is a clever little iPad cover that asks just one thing of its owner: Do you want to relax? Yes? Then you're all set. It's got magnetic closure and a strap that hooks over so it can stand up at any angle. The Don't Panic case is made of felt or leather in a bunch of different colors for you aesthetes out there.

What it costs: Just $80 (plus $15 s/h for international orders).

When you get it: ETA is February 2012.

Is it funded: Totally funded. BUT! The Kickstarter is about to end! Better hurry!

What it is: PID-Controlled Espresso Machine gives you real-deal espresso whenever you want it, and you don't have to be a barista to use it. Proportinal-integral-derivative (PID) is some doohicky that helps maintain steady temperature and pressure while pulling a shot. That means you get a good shot every time. If you can't impress people with your coffee skills, impress them with your good sense in getting one of these beauties early on.

What it costs: $200 on a $300 retail price. But if you consider that Americans drink 3.1 cups of coffee drinks per day at an average price of $2.45 a drink that's an annual savings of over $2,500 dollars!

When you get it: ETA is March 2012

Is it funded: Very funded! The project closes on Jan 20.

What it is: Crypteks USB uses a ton of unintelligible technical words and phrases to make your information aggressively secure! Awesome! It's a USB thumb drive super-noid combination lock made of solid-aluminum alloy. You get to choose your password out of a possible 14,348,907 (#tinfoilhelmet) combinations. In addition to being ultra-sure that nobody is reading your yet unpublished Sci-Fi/Thriller cum Epic Poetry Saga you'll look like a spy in a movie to all the clueless Starbuckians around you.

What it costs: $130 for the 8GB. $160 for 16GB. US shipping included.

When you get it: ETA of Dec 2011

Is it funded: Yep! But it's closing on Dec 23, so get it if you're gonna.

What it is: Ferrite Interactive Liquid Sculpture is the coolest desk ornament this side of The Sharper Image (i.e. the cool side). In blunt: It's a glass tube, a magnet, and some goop called ferrofluid. Further, it's totally Awesome Science Art! Ferrite's design is clean and futuristic. Inside is this ferrofluid stuff that gets all cartoony when exposed to magnets. Just watch the video. It's some out of this world goop in a tube. Perfect for not working at work while impressing your peers with your eye for design!

What it costs: $100 for the Ferro miniature sized model. $150 for the biggie.

When you get it: ETA Jul 2012

Is it funded: No! Not yet. But with $17k on a $30k goal and 46 days (ends Feb 3, 2011)to go it's a safe bet.

What it is: Booze Books! I mean, what more is there to say? Let's put aside any harshities about destroying books, and instead look at the facts:There are over 130 million books in the world. Most of these have been published in numerous copies. That's like a billion tons of books. Amazon is selling 1 million Kindle devices per week now. Obviously, we don't want all these books to go to waste. So! Turn them into Booze holders. Done!

What it costs: $100 for your choice of Bender Bound Booze Books, a glass flask, and handmade background paper imported form Nepal (?).

When you get it: ETA Feb 2012

Is it funded: Funded at nearly 4x the original goal. The project ends Dec 31.

What it is: Twine is a little plastic block that uses the internet to notify you when stuff happens that you care about. I'm all about the marriage of our cyber and meat spaces. I think they're a good fit, and I want to help hook them up. Only problem is that they're super nervous and they don't drink! Thank god for Twine. What I would do with Twine: (1) Not go upstairs when the bathroom is occupied. (2) Put my neighbor's number in to get a tweet every time the music is too loud. Yeah. I'm a grump. (3) One up every mundane post on Facebook by attaching it to my door and having it update my status every time I 'Opened My Door Again!'. But really, the whole point of the Internet is not just porno and cat pictures anymore. It's to make life easier, more efficient. Soon you'll be seeing loads of new products come out that connect to the internet to do just that. But Twine allows us to upgrade some of our older stuff (of which we have tons!) so that 'perfectly good' becomes 'good as new'. #stokedonTwine

What it costs: For $99 you get one Twine. Also, batteries. Beat that Teddy Ruxpin. Holding your dead body in my small arms was the saddest Christmas Morning of my life.

When you get it: ETA Mar 2012

Is it funded: Whoa! Is it ever! $375k on a $35k goal. You've got till Jan 3 to get yours.

Are you a fan of < Kickstarter? Share your favorites with me @44carib #kickstarter

Happy Holidays!