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 . . .
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December 17th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
The good ole days of classic comedy. Wish someone would put some on TV like the classic channel or something. How bout some Who’s On First?
here’s more comedy: http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/morgan-stanley-to-transfer-buildings-to-lender/?partner=yahoofinance —- Homeowners can’t do this but MS can? LOL The only thing differentiating this from a foreclosure is lack of litigation, lol.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Hmmm a 17k watch… *Sigh* maybe one day I too will be deserving.
~~~
BR: I showed the watch to Mrs. BP, who laughed so hard she peed herself.
Guess I wasn’t THAT good . . .
December 17th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
If you’re looking for some great, high quality, American made products (apparel, accessories,etc.), check out some of these companies –
http://www.acontinuouslean.com/the-american-list/
December 17th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I was fine with that post, until the watch.
It’s an impressive toy, to show to other boys — and of course, if the past year has taught us anything… wasn’t it that competition, possession and consumption is what life’s all about?
Isn’t it?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Oh, those French presses are tasty, but you might want to read up on cafestol.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I have one of those squid….
December 17th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Please, don’t ask me to imagine anything about Jack Johnson. Take vacuous lyrics, pre school melody, get high and shake vigorously and you have Jack Johnson. Predictable and boring. He makes “don’t worry, be happy” sound deep and pithy.
~~~
BR: I totally disagree: His first 3 albums are good clean fun. Melodic hooks, well written pop.
Give them an objective listening to, and you will find a great singer songwriter.
I think he can be his generation’s James Taylor . . .
December 17th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Holy shit BR,
a 17k diver watch?
I’m getting a $2700 guitar and had to practice Van Halen for a month to deserve it,
did you practice your Cousteau?
~~~
BR: heh heh — No, it’s just on the wish list! (and the leather band means its not a dive watch)
December 18th, 2009 at 1:04 am
I heard somewhere that family guy is the most watched program for kids between the ages of 6 – 11. In 15 years those kids launch on the world.
……God help us :(
~~~
BR: Its totally NOT a kids program. Parents should not be letting 6 to 11 year olds watch this!
December 18th, 2009 at 1:17 am
HTCMSI: Are you saying things are better now?
December 18th, 2009 at 5:18 am
rub it in why dont you! all the poor saps who lost their jobs and your braggin about shopping! shame on you
December 18th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Yes, I still shop, and as we have since before we were married, we exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve.
I am sorry people lost their jobs (I’ve been writing about it for 7 years now) that does not mean I am going into self imposed consumer exile.
You need to get over your shock and stop mourning . . .
December 18th, 2009 at 9:57 am
i have added mishka to my cd wish list. if anyone else is intersted in adding more reggae to their collection, my fave i was turned on to this year is Prince Fatty’s ‘Survival of the Fattest’. the prominent cut here is ‘milk and honey’, which i believe would be a bright spot on anyone’s ipod.
I am in somewhat agreement with you on jack johnson, until his most recent release. i found it disappointing, compared to his previous works. i gave it a couple of spins and it never quite grabbed me.
~~~
BR: Agreed!
December 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am
This aeropress has a few benefits over a french press:
1. has a paper filter which reduces cafestol
2. is much easier to clean
3. unbreakable, unlike the glass Bodum
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
(amazon: 314 of 395 reviews are 5 stars)
December 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Real men don’t drink coffee, ESPECIALLY from a foo-foo French press.
Drink Espresso, it’s 99% acid free, (you can’t believe the acid in regularly brewed coffee beans, not good for your stomach), it’s ten times more tasty, and drunk black with a bit of sugar for those with a sweeter taste, is toot sweet. Get yourself a top notch basic expresson maker and your life will improve immensely.
Just sayin’…
December 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Mishka is pleasant, easy-listening reggae. It’s a bit too filtered for my tastes.
There is no shortage of great reggae releases out there– Prince Fatty is quite good, as Jack notes above. Check out the Blood & Fire label for crucial 70′s reggae reissues (try any of their sampler discs or the Blood and Fire All Stars).
~~~
BR: In my best of music list for 2006, my favorite boxed set for the year was This Is Reggae Music: The Golden Era 1960-1975.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Great list.
I bought myself this LL Bean fleece lined hoodie… it’s like wearing butter. Bought one for the Mr. He’ll like it even better than the expensive stuff I bought him.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=fleece-lined-hoodie&categoryId=62106&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=505569&cat4=505484&shop_method=pp&feat=505569-tn&np=Y
December 18th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
JamesR Says:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am
This aeropress has a few benefits over a french press:
1. has a paper filter which reduces cafestol
2. is much easier to clean
3. unbreakable, unlike the glass Bodum
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GXZ2GS/thebigpictu09-20
(amazon: 314 of 395 reviews are 5 stars)
James makes a good point-out, these Aeropresses are underloved, and, as a +, are good for Camping/Picnics/Tailgating
December 18th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I think it’s Matt Taibbi.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
instead of the squid you should give him gonorrhea
http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/clap.html
:)
(EDITOR: the plush toy )
December 20th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
[...] No worries, we can still help you get your shopping done. So far, I have tried to steer you away from Gift Cards and towards some price war items. I also suggested some sale items and other gift ideas. [...]