Thank you to my parents who got me the Useless Box from Think Geek for Christmas! What is it you ask? Here’s their description:
Ok, so it’s a black box, sort of shiny, with a switch on top. But what does the switch do? Does it launch a nuclear attack? Does it terminate someone you don’t know somewhere in the world? Does it make bacon magically appear? You stare at it over and over, hour after hour, until you can’t take it anymore. You turn it on. And out of the box, a little finger pops out and turns the unit back off. That’s all it does, and the smile on your face is proof it works. Presenting, the Useless Box Kit.
So why did I want one? Mainly because it’s a do-it-yourself electronic kit. Not difficult but still requires manual assembly of the motor, switches and battery kit (soldering involved).
I’m a tech geek but I’ve never really gotten into hardware assembly. I built my own desktop computer in college but even that is largely plug and play parts and then making sure the software and drivers work for everything. This was my first adventure into anything truly electrical and powered (albeit a very simple journey). The only purpose is the journey.
Although the cackling that comes out of me every time I flip the switch was also well worth the time.