Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Part 2: For the Driver

Still fretting on what to buy as a gift? If you're gift receiver is a car driver, here are a few ideas...

1. AAA membership - who hasn't been locked out of their car? or, less frequently, run out of gas? A AAA membership goes a long way. And did you know that you don't have to be the driver to use the benefits? Just a passenger in the car.

2. Avoid arguments with a portable GPS device!Yes, let's not stop and ask for directions. Just listen to the GPS device tell where to go.

If your friend has a Tilt smartphone the other option is to buy a software GPS solution such as from TomTom

3. What about an old school security device - The "Original" Red Club

Good luck!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Part 1: For the Photographer

Does your friend, lover, or spouse spew words such as Canon EOS 40D

or Nikon D40? Then, here are some suggestions of some great last minute gifts.

1. The book cover you see is Rick Smolan's latest coffee table book titled Blue Planet Run It's a great new book with photos from around the world looking at the "crisis" around the loss of drinkable water.

2. What about helping your friend or mate to take better photos? If you are in the U.S., there is a great series of photo training called "Digital Photo Academy" With beginner to advanced courses, you're sure to find something that fits.

3. For some creative fun, there is the Original Lensbaby and a nice book such as The A-Z of Creative Photography and The Creative Digital Darkroom

4. Do you ever get tired of watching your loved one stop during a vacation trip to sit down and switch camera lenses? The small digicams of today have great flexibility and lots of zoom, but digital SLRs require different lenses. Sigma has come out with Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens which has a lot of flexibility, and should help your loved one and you enjoy a non-stop visit to Paris or Tokyo.

Enjoy!