Last Minute Shopping List !

Back home from Florida — its a 60 degree temperature swing from Fort Lauderdale to NYC — and I suddenly realize that I have some shopping to do.

I assume many of you are also behind on this most wasteful holiday of consumer spending frenzy.

Here are a few items that are on my list for those of you who have been especially nice:

• The 2000 Year Old Man: The Complete History: (3 CDs, 1 DVD about $50);  Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks are two of the funniest guys on the planet, and its amazing how much mileage they get out of this routine. Great for anyone who appreciates classic comedy  (Anyone I know who would appreciate this already owns it)

• Above the Bones Because you can never have too much Reggae: Imagine Jack Johnson with an even deeper Reggae groove, and that’s the most recent CD from. Strong lyrics and good melodic hooks abound on this mellow reggae debut from (His even mellower 1999 self titled debut, Mishka, is also worth a listen).

• Family Guy – The Total World Domination Collection: Its got 22 Discs, so the $79 price is reasonable — but I just cannot pull the trigger on this one for myself. (Fitz — does this interest you?)

•  The decade’s best unread books: Looking for a few names off of the beaten path? These publishing insiders have identified the 10 best books that unnaccountably never made the ‘best of’ or bestseller lists, but should have:

The Spare Room by Helen Garner (2008)
The Secrets of the Chess Machine by Robert Löhr
Cervantes’ Don Quixote ( John Rutherford’s translation)
Mutiny by Lindsey Collen (2001).
Barefoot Soldier by Johnson Beharry VC (2006)
War Reporting for Cowards by Chris Ayres (2005)
Born Yesterday  by Gordon Burn  (2007)
Black Juice by Margo Lanagan (2006)
Journal by Hélène Berr (2008)
Boy A by Jonathan Trigell (2004)
The Three of Us by Julia Blackburn  (2008)
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

Go read the Guardian for the inside scoop as to why these books are so deserving.

• Don’t forget all the free ebooks at Many Books.net; Download some favorties, and email them to your favorite reader (If they are too big, you can use a download site for assistance)

• Etón American Red Cross ARCFR600R: Hand cranked, no batteries — its the perfect gift for your favorite Dollar Bear/Gold Bug/end-of-worlder. It comes with a  Solarlink Digital AM/FM/SW/NOAA S.A.M.E. Weather Radio with Flashlight, Siren, Solar and CellPhone Charger

• Hey, I found the perfect gift for Mike Taibbi:

• John Hardy does some interesting things with silver; If his prices ever come down, Mrs BP might get lucky!

• I’ve been very impressed with the coffee I get from a simple French Press from Bodum; if you know a coffee drinker who shuns the pricey hi tech coffee machinery, this is the perfect gift — along with a few pounds from your favorite coffee roaster — for them.

• And lastly, because I was a such a good boy this year, I’m putting this on my wish list:  Maxi Marine watch from Ulysse Nardin:

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(Mrs BP, this is NOT a hint)

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Sweet! Almost done shopping . . .