Ah yes, the Christmas season is upon us. I love this time of year with all the lights, happy faces and good cheer. It’s nice to re-connect with friends and family while sharing optimism for the future.

Retailers are in full swing, bombarding my mailboxes with great deals and slick discounts. While lots of people are crazy for latest iPhone (or Galaxy), big screen or even a new car, my requests are generally quite modest. I focus on more utilitarian and some might say “unconventional” items. The Dr. Torq moniker and writing the “Off-The-Shelf Hacker” column are not-so-obvious hints to the types of things my secret Santa will find on my list.

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