> As a kid, I loved going through the bins of electronic components, trying to figure out how they'd all work together in a circuit.

They sold a "1000-in-one" electronics kit that came with a book that would teach you all that you needed to know to get started with a lifelong addiction to electronics parts. My grandpa gave me one as a birthday gift one year, and thus began my early addiction to Radio Shack. ;)

I had a couple of those, usually for Christmas, including one with hex keys and 4-bit CPU that you could program. Much better than the "snap circuits" that the kids have these days.