(Mostly) Offline Valentine's Day Activities for Geeks

Playing with gadget-y gifts isn't the only fun a techie can have on Valentine's Day. From judging the hottest programmers to geek movie faves and an interactive scavenger hunt, we've got you covered.

By Ashley Laurel Wilson
Thu, February 12, 2009

CIO — Valentine's Day doesn't have to include red roses and Frank Sinatra. Technology influenced activities—like geeky movies underscored by a love plot line, and online-based activities—bring new flair to this year's holiday.

Leading up to Valentine's Day, Dailycandy.com is running a contest called "Get with the Programmer", which currently notes the top 11 hottest tech guys nominated by site readers. The goal of the contest isn't dating, but Dannielle Kyrillos, editor-at-large of DailyCandy.com, says that she doesn't doubt it will generate romantic interest in the nominees. Over 900 tech guys were nominated and the top 11 were chosen by humor, their humble nature and those who were "delightfully geeky". Though team did receive an image of a guy with a computer over his "database", he was immediately disqualified for the entry's inappropriate nature, Kyrillos says. "Loving tech boys isn't superficial."

In fact, the DailyCandy.com editorial team invented the contest based on their love for the boys of their tech department. Winners of the "Get with the Programmer" contest will be announced on February 13th, and both the winning nominator and nominee will receive a notebook computer with a 60 GB hard drive—and perhaps even a love connection.

A little geek love in a movie is enjoyable too. If you're in the mood for romance, but not quite the Cinderella kind, then maybe watching movies geeks fall in love in a movie is just right for you.

Computer geek movie Electric Dreams is a 1980s movie about a man and an Apple computer vying for a woman's love. Another 1980s computer geek movie, though with only a romantic sub-plot, is Weird Science, a movie about two boys using a computer to make their dream woman. A more modern movie of this genre,Hackers, also has a romantic twist. And of course, there is the relatively new tech movie favorite WALL-E, which is about a waste collecting male robot from Earth who falls in love with a sleek female robot from a space cruise ship.

While watching movies is a relaxing way to enjoy Valentine's Day, leaving love notes and actively searching for love in a fun way may be perfect for those wanting more hands on excitement.

Letterboxing, is when a letterbox owner setts up a letterbox and provides clues for letterbox seekers to find it. Letterboxing originated in the 1800s when an English gentleman left his calling card in a hidden spot in Dartmoor, England, inviting others to contact him or leave their own calling cards. Yet today, letterboxing clues are left in known letterboxes or online. Once a box is found, the letterbox seeker is welcome to open the box and leave a small message, picture or stamp. This is also a great place to leave small Valentine's Day gifts or cards.

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