We can all stop pretending that we don't care about getting gifts for our birthday or the holidays, and we have some "Star Trek" gift ideas that can help if you are a bit stuck on what to get those around you.
Yeah, spending time with those we love is very important, and blah blah, but gifts are fun, and they're an excellent way to show people you love them, and sometimes you pay attention to what they like.
Whether you live in the Star Trek universe or good old regular Earth, getting a gift for someone can show that you care about them, no matter the price. Finding the perfect gift for someone can be like a sport. But it can be hard and confusing. After all, even Spock found the perfect gift for Captain Kirk's birthday—even if the message was a bit confusing.
KIRK: It had the virtue of never having been tried. Oh, by the way... thank you for this.
SPOCK: I know of your fondness for antiques.
KIRK: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Message, Spock?
SPOCK: None that I'm conscious of... except, of course, happy birthday."
Needless to say, I think Trekkies will like these presents.
Star Trek Transporter Heat Changing Mug
Transporting is still not a reality. Dispersing someone at a molecular level and rebuild them in a different location still seems scary and way in the future. But, we have something that comes close.
This heat changing mug has Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Uhura start at the transporter room and appear on a Planet's surface when you add your favorite coffee or tea. The colder the weather gets the more appropriate this gift is, so it's perfect for a Holiday party. Energize!
Star Trek Next Generation Enterprise Necklace
In The Next Generation, the Enterprise is so important that it even gives birth (yes, that was a weird episode for all). But the Enterprise has become a character in its own right.
This tiny version of the USS Enterprise is the perfect stocking stuffer or for that person that won't leave their house without their jewelry. And goes well with any outfit. Plus, it is one way to remind people where their loyalty stands.
Star Trek: The Original Series Adult Coloring Book
A coloring book is a great gift for all those creative Trekkies out there. Let your imagination guide you and see in how many colors you can picture Captain Kirk. Each picture places your favorites in different adventures. This book is also perfect for children who are looking to join Starfleet when they grow up and continue getting inspired by their creativity.
Star Trek Spock with Ears Crew Socks
Socks are fun. Spock socks are even better. Even Star Trek fans love getting new socks during the Holidays. These are some fun ones with Spock's iconic ears. And, they are perfect to wear even with your nicest suit to add a bit of... personality.
Star Trek TOS Rock Mood Light
This officially licensed lamp by Wand Company is so cool! The mood light can light up in several colors and it's controlled by a phaser. So, every time you turn the light on you can feel like your stunning a Romulan without any actual violence involved.
Star Trek Insignias Collectible Buttons
Help them collect all Star Trek logo buttons and use them with their favorite denim jacket. You can even give them said denim jacket if you need another less sci-fi oriented present. Plus this can become a tradition and you can gift them different pins and buttons each year. You never have to think of what to get them again. So we gave you two present ideas... you're welcome.
Starfleet Academy Class Ring Replica
Being a part of Starfleet is a dream of many. That starts with education. And, if you're looking for a gift for your favorite student what better accessory than a class ring? Particularly for someone who is going into any STEM field, maybe a future engineer?
Get all that academic bling!
Star Trek Voyager Authentic Communicator Pin and Ranking Set
Again, pins are buttons might just be the best small gifts. These pins are perfect for the minimalist in your life. Usually, Star Trek accessories can be a bit dramatic and colorful. So, these pins are perfect if you want to hide the communicator in your work attire. The ranking set looks great with all jackets, and it's an easy way to have a subtle reminder of your favorite Starfleet officers.
Star Trek Discovery Command Training Program T-Shirt
Let's be honest, jeans and a t-shirt is the perfect everyday attire. And you can never have enough t-shirts in your closet. This is perfect for those Trekkies who can't wait to be in command. Wear this to any sports practice and you will definitely show who is ready to be captain. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's a really comfortable t-shirt.
Star Trek Captain's Log Notebook
For the creative writers out there or people who want to journal for self-care, this notebook is perfect! It will make you feel like Captain Picard if Captain Picard had to write the logs instead of recording them on the computer. Who knows maybe the next Gene Roddenberry in our midsts, and this might be the notebook that starts a whole new series.
So, whether you are throwing the best "Star Trek" themed Holiday party, a Klingon ritual, or you are celebrating your best friend's birthday these gifts that focus on "Star Trek" themes will definitely get you some friendship points. Or honestly, get some of these gifts for yourself because you deserve to treat yo' self every once in a while.
- The Perfect 'Trek' Presents for Dad on His Big Day ›
- 19 Best Star Trek Gifts: The Ultimate List (2019) | Heavy.com ›
- 12 Logical Gifts for the Trekkie in Your Life | WIRED ›
- Best Star Trek gifts - 10 ideas for the biggest fan - Radio Times ›
- Best Star Trek Gifts - 25 of the Most Awesome Star Trek Themed ... ›
- 17 Star Trek gifts we want right now | Popular Science ›
- Gifts for Star Trek Fans: Amazon.com ›
- 'Star Trek'-inspired gift ideas for the Trekkies in your life ›
- Star trek gift | Etsy ›
- 20 Great Gifts For Star Trek Fans – CBS New York ›
Of course, most of the time, it was “just a phase". And looking back, those phases are regrettable, to say the least. Here are some prime examples of that.
SirGergoyFriendman asked:
What was your biggest/most regrettable "It's not a phase, mom. It's my life." that, in fact, turned out to be just a phase and not your life?
The enthusiasm of a young person can lead to some unexpected changes that parents are just not ready for.
Hi, Wheeljack!
I was VERY into The Transformers when I was a wee lad in the 1980s. One day, I decided to change my name to the name of my favorite Autobot. My name was lame, and I wanted an awesome Transformer name. And I was VERY insistent that my parents only call me by my new name. Calling me by my 'old' name would cause a big fat tantrum on my part.
So for the better part of a week, my poor parents had to call me Wheeljack.
Very 2008.
Ariana Grande Shrug GIFGiphyMy cat-ear phase. I wore cat ears every single day. Everywhere. I had like 20 pairs of them. Now everyone thinks I'm a furry.
I find that very cute and wouldn't have thought you'd be furry. Even if you'd had cat mittens. I think my suspicions would have started if you moved a bit like a cat, displayed catlike grooming habits or got a cat mask.
Not gonna lie, that car sounds cool.
I went to a car show once as a teen, and the only newer car there was some chick's PT cruiser. It was hot glittery pink, and at the time I was obsessed. I insisted that one day I would have a hot pink car, with pink seats, pink dash, pink carpets, etc. I was pretty heavily goth at the time, so my parents just rolled their eyes.
These phases can often lead to some very strange fashion choices.
That’s commitment.
When I was a teenager (early 00s), I was waiting for my mother to pick me up and was wearing one of those sh!tty sports wristwatches. It was itching me so I took it off for a second, but then she arrived and because I was struggling to get it back on my wrist, I looped it around the equally sh!tty chain I had around my neck in a rush to get out the door.
My mom asked me about it in the car, and I told her this was my new style and I planned to wear it like that every day. She rolled her eyes.
I wore that watch on a chain around my neck every single day for 3 years or so. There are even professional family photos where I'm wearing it because I refused to take it off.
One day, the chain broke and I lost the watch. I was in high school at that point anyway and it was a major lady repellent, so... phase over.
Not everyone can be Eminem.
slim shady eminem GIFGiphyBaggy pants, being a rapper someday and being a professional skater.
When I was about 14 and Eminem was starting to blow up I bought myself a keyboard with a synthesizer. It cost like $200 which was all the money I had saved up. It finally came (this was way before amazon prime and such) and I tried rapping.
My sister told me "you're effing horrible" and I gave up right then and there.
This should be a sin.
I used to button the top buttons of polo shirts.
I must say, this is probably the worst one I've read.
Looking back at our regrettable choices, all we can do is cringe.
An optimistic look at bad tattoos.
check me out season 3 GIF by PortlandiaGiphyBeing a tattooer. Regrettable because of those poor people who have my awful doodles on their bodies.
Take heart! My favorite tattoo is the one I drunkenly got my buddy to do in his living room one year during March Madness! It's dumb and frankly mediocre? But such a good story and has such good associations I smile every time I see it.
RIP Fredro’s.
My friend and I decided we were going to open a bar in Jamaica with exotic snakes in glass cages in the walls at each booth. We convinced ourselves it would be amazing for at least two years in college. It was going to be called Fredro's.
My entire family made fun of me for it. Once we got out of college, we realized it was not feasible and joined the office grind. We're also two white guys with no ties to Jamaica.
Talk about cringey.
I wore a top hat with an anime pin on it for around a year. Met one of my current best friends while wearing it, idk how he could bear to speak to me after that.
My weirdest phase was probably when I insisted on wearing knee-high rainbow socks to school every day. But honestly, I don't regret it. I rocked those socks, and I wish I still have a pair.
To all the people out there cringing over their past selves, remember that you were just a kid, and to be easy on yourselves. After all, we've all been there
Yet, too often, manufacturers who oversell their products fail to deliver what is promised and are inevitably left with angry customers who want their money back.
Whether the merchandise was defective or ridiculously overpriced, strangers online shared some of their worst purchases when Redditor BooksMcGee asked:
"What is the worst product you ever paid money for?"
Short Life Span
"This NERF gun that's supposed to shoot tennis balls for your dog. I bought it cause I thought you could load 3 at a time and shoot them far, but it's just one and it's super loud and the gun broke after like 4 shots (reading reviews later, this was a common issue)."
Lame Pets
"There were these toys called squiggles when I was a kid and the commercials made it seem like the toy was alive. It looked like you would get this crazy little fuzzy worms as pets that would follow you around an so sick tricks and listen to your every command. It was really just a piece of fluffy string tied to another piece of string with googly eyes on it. People may say that it was supposed to be a magic trick but they should also explain that to a 5 year old who really wanted a pet."
Card Value
"Not their fault, but I paid $70 for a Yugioh card hours before it was limited to one copy. Probably dropped to $20 by the end of the day."
These purchases were bad for your bum.
"A bicycle that literally fell apart before I made it out of the parking lot."
Not Worth Sitting On
"Joybird brand couch. Was so terrible, we returned it. Still hard to believe, we returned a freaking couch."
Going Nowhere Fast
"A 2000 VW Beetle (used)."
"Biggest piece of sh*t that literally had to have just about everything replaced before 100k miles and would still break down every time you left the driveway to the point where the tow-truck driver knew us on a first-name basis."
Expensive Lemon
"An Oldsmobile Achieva from one of those buy here pay here places. I should have known better, but I was young and thought I was getting a good deal. I had the thing for about 5 months, I drove it for maybe 3 weeks. The rest of the time it was either in the shop, or in my driveway waiting until pay day so I could afford to fix whatever broke on it this week. Eventually told the dealer just take it, I'm not paying for it any more. He said nope, and I will make sure your credit is ruined. I said well you sold me a lemon, do you really want to go this route? He came and took it. Never reported anything to credit. I heard he got sued by several other people who sold sh**ty cars too and eventually went out of business."
"Always amazes me when I see them driving around still, I can only assume there's enthusiasts who just love repairing horribly designed cars."
– zerbey
These Redditors were not convinced what they ingested was edible.
Bad Cereal
"A box of plain Cheerios. Thought they were honey nut, poured a bowl, was very disappointed."
"If I wanted to taste cardboard, I'd just eat the box."
– gor8884
Space Pizza
"A burnt frozen pizza at the air and space museum cafe in DC. I Don't wish that experience on anyone. There are some amazing restaurants in DC, don't settle."
– Alseids
The following electronics just gave off a bad charge.
"Asus Transformer Pad TF700"
"This was one of those early 'high end' Android tablets that was grossly underpowered, and it showed. Thing was slow as sh!t in no time flat. Rookie mistake investing into shiny new tech while they were still working all the bugs out. Think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $350-400 for it..."
– Luke5119
Bad Apple
"macbook pro 2018 13" touchbar. 2 years old and dead (battery). they're asking $300-$400 to change the battery. malfunctioning keyboard with double presses and missing presses. that's a lot of money for bad design."
Chilly Reception
"Past winter my old room heater broke down and I had to buy a new one. Went to a store nearby and somehow got convinced to buy a very costly heating device.. It's also my fault, since there were some sligthly cheaper options around, but nope. I wanted the expensive one thinking it will make my small room a volcano with little to no effort/cost (that's also what the seller told me). Long story short the device wasn't doing ANYTHING. No significant temperature changes, too much space, a weird noise, and was doubling my previous device in utility cost. I still gloom over those 80 euros.."
Some of my disappointing purchases was clothing, but only because I purchased them online. Unless they are a brand I'm familiar with, I'm usually fine with buying new jeans off of their websites.
But when it comes to graphic tees only available on specialty shops, an M-size shirt is not necessarily the same size as those found in other reputable stores.
I bought a medium sized T-shirt from a boutique store online because I loved the look of the design. But when it arrived, the supposed medium fit me like an XL.
At least I gained a fierce cleaning rag from this impulsive purchase.