And some shopping suggestions for the holiday season…

Disclaimer: I link liberally, so watch the currencies if you use the merchants here.

Budget Buddies

Courtesy gifts. Small good intentions without being too extravagant (and making things awkward). Or simply for the cash-strapped. It’s the thought that counts. Seriously.

Music is always good. Here are some suggestions (old, new and somewhere in between):

  • LOVE The Beatles: Plenty of their greatest in a brilliant arrangement that’s certainly not what you’ll expect, but everything you’ll love.
  • Neon Bible The Arcade Fire: Sweeping, Springsteen-esque, operatic and beatifully orchestrated, the Canadian band’s second album is absolutely fantastic.
  • Icky Thump The White Stripes: A return to the guitar-driven melodies proves triumphant for the duo, who always seem to be able to produce something special.
  • DYLAN Bob Dylan: Perhaps not for the die-hard Dylan fan, but for folks new to his music, this collection will no doubt prove wonderful.
  • A Night At The Village Vanguard Sonny Rollins: One of the greatest live jazz albums of all time, and a great excellent introduction to the music.
  • The Crane Wife The Decemberists: A sprawling album with some of the wildest arrangements you’ll hear. It’s like Jethro Tull, plus Pink Floyd, plus Shakespeare, plus… Well, it’s actually quite like nothing else I know.
  • Chaos And Creation In The Backyard Paul McCartney: I’m not such a big fan of the recent Memory Almost Full, but his previous album was a definite winner.
  • The Reminder Feist: One of the best albums I’ve heard this year. Smooth, subdued and splendid, it just crawls under your skin and infects you, in a good way. Beautiful.
  • Live At Filmore East The Allman Brothers Band: Duane Allman.
  • Blues Singer Buddy Guy: This acoustic blues album is neither fancy nor feeble. It’s Buddy Guy taking it back to basics. The result is pure, unadultered, and a brilliant piece of work.
  • Live In Dublin Bruce Springsteen And The Sessions Band: The best live album I’ve heard this year. A boat-load of fun.

For the dog lover, how about Catherine Johnson’s Dogs? [via Amazon]

If you have geek friends, I’m sure they won’t mind a Mini Solar-Powered Car. [via ThinkGeek] No, it’s not expensive.

Can’t go wrong with a Domo-Kun Plush. [via Tenacious Toys] (Though I haven’t ordered from the site before, so look it up a bit first.)

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road seems like a strange book to suggest for Christmas, but despite its apocalyptic setting, the book is really a tale of the greatest human qualities; a statement about love and kindness; a testament to human goodness. Perfect for Christmas.

Moderate Moolah

Just to show that how much someone else means to you, or the depth of your money pocket. Or both.

A Nintendo DS Lite seems perfect for just about anyone. This includes that girl you’re pursuing, that nephew you like quite a bit, dad, or that buddy to trade Pokémon with. Include an appropriate game.

The Make Controller Kit is a modular programmable controller board that controls just about anything. [via The Maker Store]

An iPod Shuffle suits just about anyone so it makes a pretty good general sort of gift suggestion, because it’s pretty, and pretty small. It’s not too expensive too. And music’s something everyone can get into.

The new iPod Nano is more expensive, but I’m a big fan of the design and I think it’s a perfect gift for the ladies.

The Lexar SSD is a memory solution that is geeky and convenient. [via Lexar]

Extravagant Expenditure

For the rich and the special someones.

If you’re looking to share a love of photography with that special someone, I think you probably won’t go wrong with a Nikon D40x. [via Nikon Singapore]

I must say that it doesn’t actually appeal to me, but the Sony Ericsson-Fossil MBW-100 is a watch that I’m sure many guys would want. [via Engadget] I’m not actually sure if you can find it here, but ask, or order. I think it might make it in time.
It’s all the rage these days, so I’m sure no one will mind a Nintendo Wii. Bonus marks for including Super Mario Galaxy.

Nothing spells extravagance like a good HDTV, like the Sony KLV-40X300A. [via Sony]

I might be on Etymotics, but I’ve heard great things about Shure’s E4c. [via PriceGrabber.com]

And that’s all we’ve got. Hope it helps with the shopping.

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