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Great Expectations

Smart  holiday gifts are just a click away

By Patricia Kutza

There’s usually at least one person in your circle of family and friends who seems more prescient than the rest when it comes to holiday gift giving.  She has an uncanny sense of what all her gift recipients will really appreciate.  I’m not talented in that way but I do know quality when I see it.  So here’s my unabashedly biased roundup of gift ideas that I am know will please someone on your list.  Exactly who THAT is …is up to you to decide.

So take a trip up the various floors of my recommendations.  There’s no waiting at the cash register nor fighting for the last item on the shelf!

1st floor – Books

Mileage Pro:  The Insider’s Guide to Frequent Flyer Programs.
You might have to flip a coin on this one because undoubtedly you have more than one gift candidate who will be the perfect fit for this gem.  Published by long-time travel content management company OAG and written by two travel reward program specialists, this book doles out strategies for leveraging those frequent flyer miles that have become travelers’ second currency.  They explain in detail how the various mileage loyalty programs work, the best ways to exchange miles among these programs and tips for when it makes sense to convert miles into money.

O’Reilly Press
If you have had the occasion to read my past roundups, than you know I am a great admirer of O’Reilly Press.  While many of their titles cater to technology  geeks  O ‘Reilly also carries  titles that span the many subniches of digital multimedia, with books appropriate for various levels, from novice, intermediate on to advanced users.

PHOTO RETOUCHING WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
One of my favorite family photos’ chronicles my parent’s wedding trip to Niagara Falls.  Years of languishing in a shoe box have left this shot in worse shape than it deserves. This book teaches how to use Photoshop to resuscitate it. It does so in a unique format that shares the techniques of several French artists as they perform their photo restorations.  Their comments plus the descriptive images are valuable reminders that staying loose while making creative decisions can reap wonderful results.

CREATING PHOTOMONTAGES WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
Here’s another title from their Designer’s Notebook series.  It would be a wonderful gift for your Photoshop-using traveling buddies who like to press the boundaries of conventional photo images by combining aspects of each in fresh and innovative ways.

ILLUSTRATIONS WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
Consider these pages inspiration infusion:  the colors, the commentary, and of course, the technique…lots of food for thought for illustrators, graphic designers and photographers.

2nd floor – Games and Useful Small Stuff

NAMITS
With US-based automobile gas (at least temporarily) at more reasonable prices, folks are once again planning road trips.  Since not all roads are created equally scenic, it’s smart to carry along NAMITS, various word games for audiences that range from ages 4 to 100!  They are designed to be  ‘kid proof’, meaning that they are cleanable, waterproof and tear proof.  Contained on a ring, they also foil those game-lovers who tend to lose game pieces.  The original NAMITS game, subtitled the Original Game of Think, has garnered a multitude of awards and their Travel and Junior versions are also gaining favorable attention.

AIR TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
As undeveloped countries fund tourist programs, travelers have the opportunity to visit places once off limits due to politics or economics.  With these nascent programs often come creature-comfort tradeoffs.  That’s when a product like AIR TRAVEL ESSENTIALS really comes to the rescue.  Packaged in a plastic bag are such necessities as a miniature sized first aid kit, emergency poncho, toilet tissue, duct tape, hand sanitizer and a host of other products.

Minimus.biz, the parent company,  also produces  military care packages.  Individual mini items for personal, pharmacy, food and drink needs can also be purchased at their website

3rd floor – Electronics

Spot Guides (Mobil Travel)
Remember when Mobil Travel Guides were the paper companion you could rely on to point you to quality destinations.  They’ve now gone digital, producing area-based Spot Guides.  Each of these guides offers in-depth destination content that can be browsed, via hyperlinks  or exercised interactively by continuously searching for points of interest based on the traveler's current location and preferences.   Interactive links are available to connect guidebook content with corresponding map locations.

The guides, maps, and software can be downloaded at the Earthcomber site, the mind behind this interesting technology.  The product is compatible with  Palm(TM)-powered smartphones and PDAs. Versions for Windows Mobile(R) handhelds, Blackberry(TM) devices, and more common cell phones are expected to launch shortly.

4th floor – Luggage

Travelin Toiletries Kit – by Rick Steves
Rick Steves has become a staple of public television, distributing common-sense travel advice..  He has extended his brand with a line of Travel Gear.  Like his on-air commentary, his travel accessories focus on making the travel experience comfortable and affordable.  This Kit is designed to hang just about anywhere with plenty of pockets, mesh embellishments and sturdy Cordura fabric exterior.

Signature  Luggage– 22”
Like legions of other travelers,  whenever possible I prefer to carry my luggage aboard.  This piece is well-designed with  a garment carrier throughout the upright range. There are  two large outside zipper pockets, interior tie-down straps for content stability, a zip-out shoe pocket, an ‘add-a-bag strap’,  a well-constructed,  lightweight aluminum telescoping handle that  locks in an upright position and  double ball bearing wheels.

Contact information:
MILEAGE PRO:  The Insider’s Guide to Frequent Flyer Programs
By Randy Petersen and Tim Winship
$19.95 plus S/H (and applicable tax)
www.mileageprobook.com

PHOTO RETOUCHING WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
CREATING PHOTOMONTAGES WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
ILLUSTRATIONS WITH PHOTOSHOP:  A Designer’s Notebook
Designer anthologies
$24.95
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

NAMITS
$9.95
www.namits.com  

AIR TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Kit#K01-0489906-9000
$22.67
http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=7591
CustomerService@minimus.biz.

Spot Guides (Mobil Travel)
Priced between $10.95 and $14.95
www.earthcomber.com.

Travelin Toiletries Kit – (Regular)
$24.95

Signature 22” luggage
$179.00
www.kivadesigns.com (for dealer locater)
1-800-645-8818

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