Christmas Gift Ideas for your Russian/Ukranian Family

[mox 298]

I....can't.....say....it. It's just too easy

Yeah...I didn't catch it until the editing timer ran out, so I was sorta hoping nobody would catch that. Nicely done sir.

[slim 1,514]

[KGSodie 0]

Natasha really wants to buy a nice watch for her Mama (please ignore my post in the superstitions topic regarding watches as gifts - apparently, there must be a daughter/mama exception) but worries to no end about getting it safely to her, though 'customs' inspections where apparently items of value are regularly replaced...

[mox 298]

Natasha really wants to buy a nice watch for her Mama (please ignore my post in the superstitions topic regarding watches as gifts - apparently, there must be a daughter/mama exception) but worries to no end about getting it safely to her, though 'customs' inspections where apparently items of value are regularly replaced...

Hehe...if you can at all get an explanation on the exception to the watch rule I'd be interested to hear it.

Most packages I've ever sent were fine. I think electronics are the biggest theft items, but since they x-ray most (or all?) packages, any jewelry is going to show up. Depending on the price of the watch, it might be worth shipping DHL. And of course there's always the courier route if you know and trust somebody going that way.

[KGSodie 0]

Yeah, visiting DHL to make some inquiries is on my to-do list. Thanks, Mox!

[Ilya R. 0]

dolce and gabbana

Armani Exchange

Georgio Armani

Bebe

[GiGii 4]

I need help finding podstakanik (Russian tea glasses). My friend Tanya has a burning desire to fill her house with these (little metal holders with handles and a heat proof glass that fits inside). She had closets full of them in Russia but after 15 years in America she can't go back to get them. I found some Russian stores on line that sell them for crazy prices ($70 ea) but know they must exist somewhere for a lot less. I looked everywhere for them in Russia last Sept but nobody there wants "that old junk". Anybody know where I can find these? Also the replacement glasses.

I found a slightly smaller variety of these glasses at Macy's last year. I think they were like $12-16 each.

For those sending jewelry, I heard if you tape the box with silver tape, it doesn't show up the contents on the x-ray... and may decrease risk for theft.

[mox 298]

Sock puppets are apparently making a come-back this year. Or maybe that's just an inbred Canadian hick thing.

[slim 1,514]

For those sending jewelry, I heard if you tape the box with silver tape, it doesn't show up the contents on the x-ray... and may decrease risk for theft.

Sounds like a MythBusters episode waiting to happen!

I'm not 100% sure, but I'd be willing to bet it has no effect what-so-ever on the X-ray. Probably just one of those urban legends that makes people feel better when they send stuff. It's also way easier to see if it's been tampered with when that big silver tape is cut open or removed. Maybe that's where it really comes from.

[mox 298]

Sounds like a MythBusters episode waiting to happen!

Yeah, it's about the most retarded piece of advice I can think of, right after "sure, go ahead, get involved in a land war in Asia." The coating on "silver tape" is typically a tiny layer of mylar which has far less density than even human skin. The number of x-ray particles that would be reflected or absorbed isn't even worth considering, and it probably wouldn't even show up as a slightly darker band on the package. Common sense (and I realize this is in short supply in Calgary) says that if something as silly as "silver tape" blocked x-rays, we could do away with all those heavy lead aprons they make you wear at the dentist's office. And even in a bizarro universe where "silver tape" did block x-rays, it would make your package even more subject to further inspection, not less.

Edited December 10, 2008 by mox

[Brad and Vika 129]

Sounds like a MythBusters episode waiting to happen!

Yeah, it's about the most retarded piece of advice I can think of, right after "sure, go ahead, get involved in a land war in Asia." The coating on "silver tape" is typically a tiny layer of mylar which has far less density than even human skin. The number of x-ray particles that would be reflected or absorbed isn't even worth considering, and it probably wouldn't even show up as a slightly darker band on the package. Common sense (and I realize this is in short supply in Calgary) says that if something as silly as "silver tape" blocked x-rays, we could do away with all those heavy lead aprons they make you wear at the dentist's office. And even in a bizarro universe where "silver tape" did block x-rays, it would make your package even more subject to further inspection, not less.

Exactly. If customs cannot see inside the box by conventional means - they are usually then compelled to open it instead.

And how do you know so much about silver tape and mylar?

[mox 298]

And how do you know so much about silver tape and mylar?

Heh. Some years ago I was involved in an amateur rocket project, and I was on the recovery system team. We looked at a lot of different materials, including mylar. I learned more about mylar that summer than any human should have to know.

But still, it shouldn't take any knowledge beyond high school science to realize that x-rays are not going to be thwarted by shiny tape. A couple days ago I'd have said "even a mouth-breather from Calgary could tell you that," but I guess not.

[Fuzzified 0]

I sent Ira a bunch of new barbells for her tongue (couldn't find ANY decent ones in Ukraine) along with a letter. she got the letter but none of the barbells made it.

$60 down the drain

[Brad and Vika 129]

I sent Ira a bunch of new barbells for her tongue (couldn't find ANY decent ones in Ukraine) along with a letter. she got the letter but none of the barbells made it.

$60 down the drain

Was the package taped with silver mylar kryptonite? If not, I am sure that was the problem

[Brad and Vika 129]

And how do you know so much about silver tape and mylar?

Heh. Some years ago I was involved in an amateur rocket project, and I was on the recovery system team. We looked at a lot of different materials, including mylar. I learned more about mylar that summer than any human should have to know.

But still, it shouldn't take any knowledge beyond high school science to realize that x-rays are not going to be thwarted by shiny tape. A couple days ago I'd have said "even a mouth-breather from Calgary could tell you that," but I guess not.

And I forgot to mention - even if silver tape did magically foil (see what I did there) airport x-ray machines, the presence of the stuff alone would trigger closer inspection, no?