Year of the Monkey Badge: Hong Bao

28 Jan 2016

Celebrate Chinese New Year with element14!

Day Two: Hong Bao

Nimen hao! As we draw another day closer to the Chinese New Year, we're ready with our second look at how electronics engineers and makers can get the most out of the Far Eastern festivities.

And as you know, it's the Year of the Monkey, so in order to win our time-limited badge, all you need to do is stop by to read and comment on each of our New Year blogs. The badge will only be available to earn until February 23, after which you'll have to wait 12 years before it comes up again (given the cycle of the Chinese zodiac).

Money Makers

Giving money as a present is quite normal in China, and it tends to be handed over in small, vividly decorated red envelopes called hong bao ("red treasures"). If anyone out there hates shopping as much as I do, the notion of adopting hong bao as a valid gift option will sound pretty appealing.

Anyway, shopping aversions aside, the practice of giving hong bao made us wonder if this was a tradition that could inspire the innovation that synonymous with the Year of the Monkey. For today's addition to your badge earning efforts, we're looking for great projects or concepts that revolve around money, gifts and payments.

It could be as simple as a motorised piggy bank, or as complex as a Bitcoin mining BeagleBone Black. Whatever your idea is, just remember to harness your inner monkey and (mischievously) blow our minds!

Top Comments

Parents

mcb1 over 8 years ago

I'd like to see a new tradition on element14 community of passing on any roadtest or other products that you have finished with.

We've seen some good 'gift' giving by some who have no further need already, but it would be nice if it extended further.

Mark
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Workshopshed over 8 years ago in reply to mcb1

Got a couple of giveaways for Wednesday's meeting
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jack.chaney56 over 8 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Hi Andy,

Please understand that due to age (really, really old) and experience (time served in purgatory), a significant number of my comments are tongue in cheek. I would like to thank you for the invitation, and if I am in London on the day of a meeting, I believe that I would enjoy the chance to meet with you gentlemen enormously. But as you say, a special trip from Michigan to London for a short meeting, would not be cost justified (saying that, without it sound like, meeting with you folk isn't of high value indeed). I jest with friends, because I like to say, there are two kinds of people; pickable people who receive humor and are able to laugh at themselves, and then those that have no humor, who I consider despicable.

Jack
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Workshopshed over 8 years ago in reply to jack.chaney56

Jack, would it help your decision not to travel 6000km if I said there was a pub next to the venue?
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jack.chaney56 over 8 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

That is what my kids call a "dad" question. When you know the answer before you even ask. I long for a good kidney pie and a pint, but alas, I can't make it happen. (They just don't make proper scones over here either). I will hold on to your invitation until I am able to attend, and commend the great work of all the members of the site.

Jack
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DAB over 8 years ago in reply to jack.chaney56

Hi Jack,

If you are in Michigan, then you are fairly close to me.
A Trip to Dayton, Ohio would provide you with a chance to see the Air Force museum and I have a great pub about a mile from my house.

DAB
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jack.chaney56 over 8 years ago in reply to DAB

A veritable stone's throw. I live in Clarkston and work in Ann Arbor. I have a college friend from Lima, and lived in Medina/Cleveland for a while, and used to take the kids to Toledo Sports Arena, the Zoo, and COSI - Home when it was still up in Toledo.

This is great,
Jack
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jack.chaney56 over 8 years ago in reply to DAB

A veritable stone's throw. I live in Clarkston and work in Ann Arbor. I have a college friend from Lima, and lived in Medina/Cleveland for a while, and used to take the kids to Toledo Sports Arena, the Zoo, and COSI - Home when it was still up in Toledo.

This is great,
Jack
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