Secret Mount Vinokurov #11: Sign Up Here

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:18 am

This is our eleventh year of "Secret Santa," renamed after everyone's favorite formerly really angry quiz bowler.

This is open to everyone on the forums. If you're under 18, get your parent(s)/guardian(s)'s permission to participate.

There are only three rules:

* Buy your partner a gift, preferably costing no more than $20. Make sure it's a good present; "comedy" bad presents are, almost always, just terrible presents.
* If you sign up, give your partner a gift. Failure to do so will result in open mocking of you.
* Don't give your partner an inappropriate gift. This is a site that is, in large part, aimed towards high schoolers. Don't be stupid.

When you sign up, include 3 to 5 presents you'd like - I'm going to advise that you be somewhat general with this. "Video games" isn't too useful; "PS4 games" is better; "PS4 action RPGs" is also better. I'd say "Fallout 4" is less than optimal, because of possible issues with this and the lack of creativity for which it allows.

If, for some reason, you don't want to be partnered with a person you really don't like, email me about it (don't post, unless you really want to draw attention to yourself). My email is listed in my forum profile, click the button to send me a message.

FOR EASE OF USE: Use the following template to sign up!

Name:
Email:
Present requests:

So, for example:

Name: Fix It Felix, Jr.
Email: [email protected]
Present requests:
1) Q*Bert-ese language guide
2) Blue hat
3) A new hammer. Golden, please.

In the style of years past, if you would like to share a funny holidaytide story while making your post, you are free to do so (though not required by any means). Alternately, you could write a brief verse on holidays, in the manner of some respectable poet. This is currently in the high school section, so keep that in mind.

Signups will be open until December 10th 11:59 PM EST, following which assignments will be emailed and you'll have two weeks to purchase and send a gift before the 25th.

That's it! Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy Hannukah/Happy Kwanzaa/Happy Festivus/Happy Decemberween

(Special thanks to Vasa Clarke for running this last year, and George Berry for doing so in this past; apologies if I'm forgetting others)

Mike Bentley · Post by **Mike Bentley** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:19 am

Name: Mike Bentley
E-Mail: [email protected]
Gift Ideas:

I enjoy books on the history of technology, consumer culture, art history, history of videogames (stuff in this series is great, although I already own I Am Error, Super Power, Atari Age and Racing the Beam: https://mitpress.mit.edu/category/disci ... me-studies). Microhistories (https://www.goodreads.com/genres/microhistory) are also interesting, although I've read a couple of them so look for either a very recent or somewhat obscure one. Another good option is the best history books here: http://www.historytoday.com/history-tod ... books-2017

Apart from that, I also enjoy novelty t-shirts that would be fun to wear at a quizbowl tournament (size medium). Or vaguely quizbowl related gifts for a 6 month old. I also like hot sauce.

Golran · Post by **Golran** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 12:35 pm

Name: Ian Drayer
E-mail: [email protected]
Gift Requests:
I'll do this again! Recently I've gotten really into jigsaw puzzles (1000+ pieces, moving towards 2000+), and I could use a tchotchke for my desk (the drinking bird from a few years ago has sadly dried up and stopped drinking, prefer one that doesn't make a lot of noise like the Newton's Cradle). I would also be interested in a funny page-a-day calendar for 2018.

Aaron's Rod · Post by **Aaron's Rod** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 6:40 pm

Name: Alex Damisch
Email: [email protected].
Requests:
1. Any foundational ~thought~ text (especially [political] philosophy, which I know little about) that isn't a total bore to read
2. Regional candy or sweet things of any kind, especially if you're not form the Midwest
3. Whatever music you think is interesting that isn't ridiculously canonical/popular (I love new stuff so burn me a CD!)
4. Novelty socks. I guess I wear a men's 5.5?

(edited again for some other info Fred asked for)

heterodyne · Post by **heterodyne** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:41 pm

I'll sign up.

I'd like anything from Univocal, Dalkey, or the Stanford Meridian: Crossing Aesthetics series, excepting Suicide by Leve and A Tomb for Boris Davidovitch, as I've already got those.

If books aren't your vibe I also enjoy cosmetic products (like an interesting lip or nail color) and colorful socks.

Also, food. [email protected]

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:59 pm

Regional foods/drinks, basketball t-shirts, modern Latin American/Eastern European history books. Email: [email protected]

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 7:34 am

I've updated the OP. Apologies for the delay.

Charbroil · Post by **Charbroil** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:02 pm

Name: Charles Hang
Email: [email protected]
Present requests: I'd enjoy either a short sleeve tennis polo (XL or XXL) or my giver's favorite book, with a slight preference towards the polo (because I already have too many books). You're welcome to surprise me with the color, styling, etc. on the polo, if that's the gift you choose.

Post by **Auks Ran Ova** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 6:44 pm

Name: Rob Carson
Email: [email protected]
Present requests:
1. As always, local food or drink specialties (or just your favorite thing) are fun.
2. Magic cards. Please enable me.
3. A wallet multi-tool like this, since I lost the one I had :(

Auroni · Post by **Auroni** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 7:08 pm

Auroni Gupta
[email protected]

1) Cultural, intellectual, or social history books, especially good ones that you can find about the Middle Ages
2) Novels from fancy press archives (Dalkey, NYRB,
New Directions, etc)
3) Steam/PC games that are good
4) A poster that, given my interests, you think I'd display in my room

Panayot Hitov · Post by **Panayot Hitov** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 11:50 pm

Paul Kirk-Davidoff
kirkp AT carleton DOT edu
old VHS tapes, new dvds, old books, new books are all appreciated

Post by **Kouign Amann** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 9:50 am

Copy and pasting from last year because this seemed to work pretty well:

Kouign Amann wrote:Name: Aidan Mehigan
Email: [email protected]
Present requests:
1. A book on (some aspect of) American religious history.
2. A book on some aspect of architectural history. The more niche/specific/weird, the better.
3. A "thought-provoking" indie game (I think I still have a Steam account). For the past few years, I haven't played as many games as I did when I was a kid, but whenever I've picked up something like Braid, Papers, Please, etc, I've been pretty happy. The shorter and artier, the better.

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Sun Nov 26, 2017 12:01 pm

Name: Jakob Myers
Email: [email protected]
Gift Ideas:
1) A history of Ethiopia, Somalia, or somewhere Middle East-y or a "classic" ultra-canonical historical text like Making of the English Working Class (but not that specifically)
2) An EU4 expansion pack. I only have Common Sense and Conquest of Paradise because I'm cheap (my steam username is geojakob12 if you decide on this)
3) A novel that's in the world or non-France, Russia, Germany, Italy, or Britain Euro lit canon. Surprise me.

magin · Post by **magin** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:02 pm

Jonathan Magin
[email protected]
I'm interested in unusual classic books (not anything that would ever be asked about in quizbowl); good jazz albums that you can't find on YouTube; and warm, comfortable socks (men's sock size 10-13).

Tejas · Post by **Tejas** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 2:22 pm

Tejas Raje

Any of this history books here (http://www.hup.harvard.edu/news/books-of-the-year.html) would be good except for This Vast Southern Empire. Otherwise, any novel from 2000 onwards that I may like.

[email protected]

marianna · Post by **marianna** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 4:00 pm

Marianna Zhang
[email protected]

I'm excited to do this! Any of the following things would be lovely. For fiction, contemporary stuff preferred, but anything goes.
- crew/trouser-length socks (my shoe size is a women's 6 if that matters)
- a novel with an unusual narrator or narrators (eg a non-human animal, a fetus, an inanimate object, a landscape, etc)
- a detective story with weird philosophical stuff going on (in the vein of Borges or Auster but not them)
- a story written as a response (eg postcolonial, feminist, etc) to a canonical work (eg The Penelopiad but not that)
- a nonfiction book about the history of some idea or concept

Thanks, and happy holidays!

CPiGuy · Post by **CPiGuy** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:20 pm

email: [email protected]

things I would like:

-- a unique or interesting map (i.e. one of those Soviet maps, or a road map of some part of the US from the 1930s, or something along those lines)
-- a cool nonfiction book about science (anything by Sam Kean, Oliver Sacks, or Mary Roach, or something like that, would be great -- although I've already read Stiff)
-- some sort of "strategy/puzzle" video game (cf. Factorio, Cities:Skylines, Poly Bridge; that kind of genre; I'm not sure if "strategy/puzzle" is the best descriptor but hey it's all I've got)
-- an Asterix or Tintin book in French
-- something else, if you know me enough to think I'd like it

Thaumatibis gigantea · Mon Nov 27, 2017 12:04 am

Rebecca Rosenthal
rebecca.the.rosenthal (atgmaildotcom)
I would love any of the following: a book you enjoyed (not about science, preferably), a nice or silly pair of socks (women's 10 if they're sized), art prints/postcards and/or fancy chocolate. Or a nice reusable water bottle. :)
I enjoy art history, anatomical diagrams, maps and Greco-Roman-y stuff if you're looking for more specific tastes!

1992 in spaceflight · Post by **1992 in spaceflight** » Mon Nov 27, 2017 4:44 am

Name: Jacob O'Rourke
Email: [email protected]
Requests:

1. Anything from The Great War store, that isn’t Martin Gilbert’s The First World War and the plain black The Great War t-shirt (https://shop.spreadshirt.net/thegreatwar/ and http://astore.amazon.com/thegreatwarchannel-20).
2. Any book from this list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gkr ... sp=sharing.
3. A shirt or sweater you think I would wear at a quizbowl tournament (Men's size 4xl).
4. Any book you think I should work.
5. A poster you think I would enjoy having in my room.

naan/steak-holding toll · Mon Nov 27, 2017 1:32 pm

Name: Will Alston
Email: [email protected]

Requests:
1) Postcolonial literature
2) A systematic biography / analysis of one particular philosopher
3) Some kind of travelogue that teaches you history in one way or another

Mahavishnu · Post by **Mahavishnu** » Mon Nov 27, 2017 3:39 pm

Name: Tracy Mirkin
Email: [email protected]
Present Requests:

1. A burned CD with a variety of your favorite songs (no country pls)
2. A history of South Africa or the Netherlands (preferably focusing on time period post-Middle Ages for the latter).
3. An Eastern or Southeastern Asian (though not Japanese) modern (post-1900) collection of short stories

t-bar · Post by **t-bar** » Mon Nov 27, 2017 4:34 pm

Name: Stephen Eltinge
Email: [email protected]

I would love:
1) Warm, colorful socks (men's size 10)
2) A book about the NBA, especially NBA history; I am fairly ignorant on this topic but would like to know more
3) A book about the history of some place in the Americas--any place and any time period, but a slight preference for more recent over older
4) A poster depicting an interesting map, chart, or other creative visualization of data, especially something historical

Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:38 pm

Name: Dylan Minarik
email: [email protected]

1. A critically-acclaimed indie game on Steam (my steam ID is QBKOCF if you plan on going down that route). Something along the lines of Undertale or Cuphead (both which I have not played), but I'll play something of any genre.
2. An entry from the 33 1/3 series of books on an album that you think I would like.
3. A book on 20th century history of any sorts.
4. A t-shirt you think I'd wear to a tournament (men's XXL)

If you know me super well and can think of something I would really like that's not on this list, I am happy with being surprised too

merv1618 · Post by **merv1618** » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:28 pm

Adam Sperber
[email protected]
100% gift satisfaction rate

Ideas:

A novel or history book you love (be selfish!)
Motown or good folk albums
A fun board game
Foodstuffs, spices, yummy foreign delights
Something LA Rams-related

I'll echo Dylan: if you know me well enough, freestyle as you see fit

Fado Alexandrino · Post by **Fado Alexandrino** » Tue Nov 28, 2017 3:18 pm

Joe Su
[email protected]

- I like board games, but know that I got Set, Love Letter, and Coup as various Secret Santa gifts over the last several years. I'm bad at lying games.
- I play Magic: the Gathering, but for the purposes of this I don't want any cards or anything digital.
- Sciency apparel/accessories (my shirt size is men's L/XL)

When I was in grade 6 my class organized a Secret Santa and I gave my person my leftover Halloween candy.

Dantooine is Big! · Post by **Dantooine is Big!** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:10 am

Name: Young Fenimore Lee

Email: [email protected]

Present requests:

1) Stuff related to music I love – take a look at my last.fm for reference. Vinyls??? T-shirts???
2) Philosophy books are good! I enjoy continental philosophy a lot, but of course, anything more modern and analytical is much appreciated. (I have "Existentialism is a Humanism" and Discipline and Punish, but more books by those authors would be pretty cool of course)
3) Tea related stuff! I've been buying a lot of loose leaf tea recently, so maybe a buncha tea filters or a mesh ball or a cool mug or something like that? Up to you!

Last year, I got a copy of El Aleph in Spanish and Discipline and Punish. It was a good time of the year.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:04 am

Today is the last day to sign up!

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:04 pm

I'll sign up as well.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:47 pm

Thanks to my incredibly quick gifter, Jakob Myers, for the game Dominion!

1992 in spaceflight · Post by **1992 in spaceflight** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 1:26 am

I've ordered my SMV partner their gift. It should arrive between December 26th and January 10th.

Charbroil · Post by **Charbroil** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 2:20 am

I just ordered my gift; it should arrive early next week.

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Sat Dec 16, 2017 6:09 pm

Thanks to Mike Bentley for getting me A Brief History of Seven Killings! I'm about to embark on a 6 hour flight so this is much appreciated.

CPiGuy · Post by **CPiGuy** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 8:18 pm

I've sent my partner their gift -- it will arrive in three parts because Amazon is mean.

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 8:54 pm

Thank you mysterious stranger for the barbecue sauce.

merv1618 · Post by **merv1618** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:37 pm

Granny Soberer wrote:Thank you mysterious stranger for the barbecue sauce.

That stuff is a joy from my childhood! Also I'm shocked it got there so quickly.

Mike Bentley · Post by **Mike Bentley** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:33 am

Sit Room Guy wrote:Thanks to Mike Bentley for getting me A Brief History of Seven Killings! I'm about to embark on a 6 hour flight so this is much appreciated.

FYI there's another part of the gift coming.

Tejas · Post by **Tejas** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 4:06 pm

Thanks to Aidan Mehigan for Dispelling The Darkness, I'm looking forward to reading it!

Aaron's Rod · Post by **Aaron's Rod** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 6:54 pm

My gift is also coming in two parts; one should arrive on the 22nd, and the other between Christmas and New Year's (whoops, sorry).

Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:17 am

I received Steam gifts of Cuphead and Oxenfree from Ian Drayer today. I've heard great things about both, and am looking forward to playing them. Thanks a bunch, Ian!

On that note, I'm dropping my gift off at the post office tomorrow morning, so it should arrive by Christmas. I also received a package that was intended for someone else due to a mishap on Fred's part- I'm forwarding it to its intended recipent as well.

Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Dreams · Tue Dec 19, 2017 3:45 pm

Robert Williams Avenger wrote:I received Steam gifts of Cuphead and Oxenfree from Ian Drayer today. I've heard great things about both, and am looking forward to playing them. Thanks a bunch, Ian!

On that note, I'm dropping my gift off at the post office tomorrow morning, so it should arrive by Christmas. I also received a package that was intended for someone else due to a mishap on Fred's part- I'm forwarding it to its intended recipent as well.

And now Oxenfree is being given away for free:
https://www.gog.com/game/oxenfree.
Unfortunate.

Golran · Post by **Golran** » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:20 pm

Well that's unfortunate timing. Either way, enjoy the games!

merv1618 · Post by **merv1618** » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:32 pm

Iamteehee wrote:
Robert Williams Avenger wrote:I received Steam gifts of Cuphead and Oxenfree from Ian Drayer today. I've heard great things about both, and am looking forward to playing them. Thanks a bunch, Ian!

On that note, I'm dropping my gift off at the post office tomorrow morning, so it should arrive by Christmas. I also received a package that was intended for someone else due to a mishap on Fred's part- I'm forwarding it to its intended recipent as well.
And now Oxenfree is being given away for free:
https://www.gog.com/game/oxenfree.
Unfortunate.

Think of it as a gift for everyone! I've wanted to play this for a while.

Dantooine is Big! · Post by **Dantooine is Big!** » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:20 pm

My gift will be arriving on Thursday.

Post by **Auks Ran Ova** » Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:39 am

Sent my gift at last! Part of it should get to its recipient on Friday; the other part will be there between then and the 28th.

Also thanks to Tejas for the sweet wallet multitool replacement! Will have to make sure the, uh, saw blade isn't an issue flying, lest I lose this one too. I am also informed that there's another part to the gift, so thanks in advance for whatever it might be!

CPiGuy · Post by **CPiGuy** » Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:02 pm

Thanks to whoever got me a copy of "Empires of the Word" by Nicholas Ostler -- I'm looking forward to reading it!

Dantooine is Big! · Post by **Dantooine is Big!** » Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:17 pm

Thank you to whoever got me the clamping mesh ball! Apparently, the second part of my gift was out of stock and I'll get it later, which is totally fine – thanks so much!

Golran · Post by **Golran** » Thu Dec 21, 2017 10:44 pm

Thank you to a mystery sender for a map of Los Angeles puzzle, I'm excited to get it put together! Thanks also to Dylan for forwarding it when it was delivered to him.

t-bar · Post by **t-bar** » Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:17 am

Thanks to Dylan Minarik for the Munch- and Hokusai-themed socks!

I have purchased my gift and will mail it tomorrow.

Charbroil · Post by **Charbroil** » Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:55 am

Golran wrote:Thank you to a mystery sender for a map of Los Angeles puzzle, I'm excited to get it put together! Thanks also to Dylan for forwarding it when it was delivered to him.

This was mine! I wanted to combine your love for puzzles with your love of Los Angeles; I hope I succeeded!

Thaumatibis gigantea · Fri Dec 22, 2017 5:26 pm

My bad- my gift should be there a few days after Christmas!