The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Sam — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:53:57 -0000

When I was still in the military and deployed in Iraq, we got one of those monkey things in a care package and had so much fun flicking it at each other in the shop. It fell in nasty spills and sand, it went missing for a while and showed up disgusting and stinky. It got sooo nasty and smelly, it was that much better to see someone slammed with it, (unless it was you!). And the eee eee monkey sound followed by an Ahhhh F****. hehe Gooood times. Makes me want to buy another one!!

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Carl — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:03:29 -0000

Hey Tim, LOVED the book, it's my new bible. From the few tidbits of the PX method included in the 4HWW, my reading has vastly improved. How can I get my hands on a copy of the program?

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Fazilet B — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:26:38 -0000

Hi Tim

I read your book.It was great.I was already having that lifestyle :) (working a few hrs a week and travelling all around the world)

Now I have to do something major in my life.I have a new project that has the potential to carry me whereever I want.The problem is it has to start webbased and I am a total dummy in webmarketing etc but I looked through www.marketingexperiments.com to get a starting help ..Oh boy, they /you(I dont know who is in there) charge a lot of money and I am absolutely no new york times or reuters.I am just a beginner who likes to use adwords or create great traffic etc without being screwed by costs.

Now I am not even sure if you d ever reply to this when you re playing with spiders in Uruguay but I need your help.I hardly have anything to offer in return in traditional money wise .I meanI assume what I can pay would be trivial for you ...

I am a turkish female, 33, living in LA at the moment and has to work out this medical tourism business for Turkey. It's my passion to help these uninsured americans suffering from joint pains and cant afford to have surgery here(I personally suffer a bit from aching knees )So I have a great niche marketing project .All the others try to do all operations in a lot of different countries.Anyway this is a very rewarding but hard work .I just need to optimize web skills (which I currently have none )which would help me to make a good start.

What can you suggest me to do ?Like I said my budget is pretty limited for the time being but if my website starts off well the budget will not be a problem in the coming 12 months.

I d be extremely grateful if you can refer me to people that can help me to start marketing my website(someone is already making the actual site now ) or if you are interested in the subject yourself (that d be the big thing in the coming ten years outsourcing medical care globally)you can join in too.

Anyhow I already wrote too much....with the hope that you will actually read this mail and respond ...have safe travels back home .....fazilet

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jose Castro-Frenzel — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:18:32 -0000

Everyone loved the gifts,

Including myself, I got myself like 3 or 4 items.

Looking forward to Christmas List 2008.

Pura Vida,

Jose Castro-Frenzel

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Karl — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:57:33 -0000

Hey, has anyone used the Victorinox bag as a carry-on? I assume Tim doesn't check luggage, but 24" seems bigger than the max carry-on size for some airlines.

Anybody?

- Karl

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jim Sprouse — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:40:23 -0000

I played with a slingshot cow last weekend, I loved it! Your book was the best ones I have read all year. Read it twice, in fact. Thanks for writing it.

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Design Dyke — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:40:42 -0000

Sometimes consumerism gets me down, particularly around this time of years.

There are other ways to give at x-mas:

http://designdyke.vox.com/l...

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Tim Ferriss — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:48:00 -0000

Hi Jose,

My quick answer (See my next blog post as well)? I like CA more than NY, but I still LOVE NYC in small doses. Otherwise it turns me into Woody Allen, which isn't my idea of fun ;)

Tim

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Rich Brownsdon — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:54:18 -0000

Hi Tim,

Your geek present from popular science made me laugh! But It sounds really good actually, I hope Santa brings me one too.

Rich

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jesse Hines, Vigorous Writing — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:13:13 -0000

Tim,

#10 may be a shameless plug, but it really is a great gift--one of the best gifts I bought myself this year. Your focus on the 80/20 principle and only working on what matters from start to stop without distraction have been among the ideas that most impacted me this year.

I read the 4-Hour Workweek at least twice, and often skim it when I feel I'm losing direction in my goals or wasting too much time. It's a good refresher to focus on what really achieves results with intense focus and let the rest slide--I constantly need that reminder. Great book.

Merry Christmas,
Jesse

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Holli Margell — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:54:14 -0000

I gotta add my praise for the Bumble Bars #2 - I've loved them since they first came on the market. My son loves them too (he's just past 1.5 years old, so getting him hooked on "healthy" candy bars is wonderful). Though, for those with nut allergies, this wouldn't suffice.

As for the Lara Bars - I agree, they get sticky, the only cure so far is to drink water after consuming.

Cheers,
Holli

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Raza Imam — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:14:57 -0000

Tim,

Nice post. I just got this list today and thought that you and your readers might like it. It's 40 creatively simple gift ideas.

http://thinksimplenow.com/c...

Best,

Raza Imam

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Erik Cox — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:09:41 -0000

Hey Tim,
You never cease to amuse... nice list!

#4 - I looked on Amazon for Michael Thomas course in Japanese, but I guess his method has not expanded to that yet. I currently have Pimsleur's Japanese course for beginners, but always looking for the best way.

Erik

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jose Castro-Frenzel — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:31:35 -0000

Hey Tim,

Thanks for the Christmas gift ideas, I just bought some items from amazon and am getting some of your books as gifts. I am in the middle of deciding whether to move to NYC or California, in your experience which do you think would make the most sense for an entrepreneur?

Best

Jose

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Kasha — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:17:30 -0000

Hey Tim,

Are you fan of Evelyn Wood's speed reading program??

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Scott — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:48:19 -0000

Hey Tim,

Great fun post. I know your site is devoted to experiments in lifestyle design...and its great. You mention that you love traveling...especially to Buenos Aires. Do you ever invest in real estate into your investment mix? Like a cool pad in BA or in Bangkok? I was just curious to see if you still do the short term rental thing while there or if you may have an apartment of your own. Maybe too personal...just that I would try anyway! Thanks for doing what you are doing :)

###

Hi Scott,

I've been tempted many times, but I have not bought anything overseas. When I run the numbers, it just makes more financial sense to rent, and -- as much as people think I'm a risk-taker -- I don't like investing on speculation. Unless I have an information advantage, I believe in efficient markets. Soooo... I do have real estate in CA and NY, but not overseas.

Good question!

Tim

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

James Bird — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:38:03 -0000

Thank tim. I went and got my little sister the flying monkey. I also got my dad the Planet Earth DVD set. According to amazon though they won't be here until mid January so that kinda sucks but whatever.

James

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Hi James,

Mid-Jan -- yikes! I recently upgraded to Amazon Prime, and the 2-day delivery is well worth it, if you have a few extra dollars around. It might be possible to upgrade before your current order is slated to ship.

Happy holidays :)

Tim

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Lalla Mira — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:11:36 -0000

We don't celebrate X-mas in Morocco -since we are Muslims-, but there are signs of it everywhere in downtown.
I found out about the flying monkey on the Internet a few weeks ago, and asked someone in the US to send me a few to gift to my nephews and nieces in our own celebrations, that are for soon as well.

I wonder who won the weekend planning challenge.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to everyone in advance.

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Nickolove Lovemore — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:07:44 -0000

An intriguing gift list with something for every taste and every budget. I particularly like the idea of the Griffin Evolve Wireless iPod Dock. I am certainly going to have to be more creative with my gift lists in the future.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Nickolove

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jagdu — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:48:52 -0000

I agree, the 4HWW books makes a great gift. We were just talking about it on my forum and reminded me that I needed to order a few as gifts.

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jose Castro-Frenzel — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:24:25 -0000

The Victorinox bag is really cool. My business partner and I bought 2 before we went on our trip to europe. They really really sturdy and have all sorts of pockets and compartments. This is definitely a good investment.

Best

Jose Castro-Frenzel

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Jeff — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:01:10 -0000

The slingshot monkey makes the greatest dog toy in the history of the world. There's just something pleasurable in seeing a little dog bite the little monkey and make it scream.

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Valentin Pertsiya — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:18:07 -0000

Start business in Russia
(as you recomended in your book and at your site, I am writing to your blog)

Dear Tim!

Thank you for book and ideas.

I want to translate all materials of PX Method in Russian and sell it in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other Russian speaking countries. If you are interested in this please send me your demands.

I am an entrepreneur and businessman. I've been managing a branding company BrandAid ( http://blogbrandaid.com - sorry, in Russian) for 7 years. Two offices - Moscow and Kiev (Ukraine), 40 employees. I am author of two books (the last one - http://book.pertsiya.com/en....

I want to start my "escape" process and believe that "PX" can be one of the paths to new life :)

Thank you in advance,
Valentin Pertsiya

###

Hi Valentin,

I wish I could, but the PX Method is not shipping! The page you saw is just a mock-up for people to use as a model. I need to make that clearer, but I'm sure you'll find another muse.

Good luck and thanks for writing!

Tim

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Sciamachy — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:10:14 -0000

No 5: Looks like a great bag, but it's hideously expensive compared with similar luggage. eBags do a similarly specced bag for a mere 69GBP (which gets an 8.9/10 score on durability) whereas the Victorinox one retails at between 260 & 299GBP in the UK.

Re: 10 Random Gifts That Please Almost Everyone

Kris — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:13:13 -0000

Most of all (not mentioning 4HWW of course ;) ) another good idea is to give anything made by yourself - starting from a postcard ending on whatever you are good at...