Hey- I loved Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. It begins with The Golden Compass which is stupendous. Read it before 12.7.7-when the movie comes out. It's got a great gadget called the Aleitheometer. I'm hoping it will show up on the Gadgeteer some day soon.

Well...this isn't non-gadget but it involves getting up and taking your gadget out of doors at least. Gadget: GPS What: Geocaching.

What a great excuse to get up, go somewhere you haven't been-even if it's only two miles away - and use a gadget.

My favorite things to do in SF:

Go to Nieman Marcus, walk in the door and look UP. Find out the story it's worth it. If you have time for lunch go up four flights to a classic "ladies who lunch" adventure. That's also where you'll find the plaque explaining the history of what you're going there to see.

If you love fine fabric go to Britex which is just a block or so from Niemans. Four floors of stuff you'll never see anywhere else under one roof.

Check out the Sutro Baths, then walk toward the back of the (FREE) parking lot. Go down the path through the woods and you end up on vista of the gate and the bridge. You can sit on an old cannon platform. And while you're there eat a burger at Louies-they only take cash

Go to Fort Funston and watch the hang gliders soar 500 feet off the water! Phew!

I went to MacWorld in 1987, it was great then. I bet it's great now.