4. Supreme Court Nomination
Campus Progress’ last-minute holiday gift guide.
Tuesday December 20, 2005Back in the day, you could just wrap up a couple of turtle doves, a partridge in a pear tree, pick up a card from Hallmark and you were all set for a happy holiday. With the recent bird flu scare, holiday shopping has never been trickier.
Luckily, the fine folks from Campus Progress have put together a list for last-minute shopping. We focused on gifts that make a difference. They don’t have to preach, lecture, scold, or shame – just something with an idea, an edge, a commitment to making 2006 a better year.
And when you give it, Friends at Fox, it’s cool with us if you say “Merry Christmas” – if you’re giving it someone who actually celebrates Christmas. If you’re giving it to people who don’t celebrate Christmas, use some common sense. Jeez.
1. Arts and Entertainment
Ironweed is a new mailbox movie club, featuring independent movies that probably won’t find their way in to your Netflix queue. Self-described as a "progressive film festival on DVD," Ironweed hooks you up each month with a couple of movies that you won’t have a chance to see anywhere else, even though you should. In addition to the films, they drop in a little something extra for you each month. This month they sent out “Wetback,” a documentary that follows the footsteps of immigrants traveling from Nicaragua to America, and the DVD comes along with a vial of actual water from the Rio Grande. Don’t drink the water, but definitely watch the DVD.
2. War and Peace
After a solid year of red state vs. blue state analysis from TV pundits, it’s time to finally settle the score. The Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots pits a red robot and a blue robot against each other in a fist fight. The loser’s head pops off, and for some reason it makes you giggle. If only Hamilton and Burr had gotten this toy in the winter of 1803. Maybe we could quell the bitter partisanship just a bit if we sent these to the Hill and maybe to Fox News for good measure.
*This toy is not recommended for pacifists, or those who play Risk and attempt to form multilateral peace negotiations.
3. Environment
Is somebody on your shopping list such a treehugger that they’re clinically diagnosed as a dendrophiliac? You might be able to temporarily distract them from all of the chopped-down Christmas cedars and firs with these gardens-in-a-bag. The seeds for the gardens come in leak-proof brown bags, and all you have to add is a little bit of water and sun/desklamp light. Currently available organic herbs include Basil, Oregano, Italian Parsley and Chives.
Also available: Viola, Good Luck, Lavender, Alpine Strawberry and Mini-Tomato. This gift is perfect for any corporate friends you have who might need a friendly reminder that Mother Nature is pissed.
4. Supreme Court Nomination
Last year’s hot gift in the Supreme Court niche was an all-expenses-paid hunting trip with Cheney and Scalia. Well, this year’s gift recommendation is even awesomer. Join Campus Progress’ campaign to stand up against right-wing extremism on the Supreme Court. Tell your giftee to tell the world that Samuel Alito’s America Is Not Our America. Your t-shirt comes with your $75 donation to support the work of Campus Progress and the Center for American Progress. (We’re working on an a la carte option if you just want to buy the t-shirt – stay tuned.)
5. Philanthropy
Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast
Not only will your friends thank you for the excellent authentic NOLA sounds (like Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dirty Dozen Brass Band) on this album, but the proceeds of this album will go to Habitat For Humanity to aid those affected by the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster. It’s like a double gift.
6. Technology
The iPod Nano might be the sole reason that the idea of Intelligent Design has some merit. Buy one for someone you really really love and then fill it up with podcasts from NPR, Democracy Now, Slate, Supreme Court Watch, Air America, or whatever else you feel like listening to. And don’t forget some rocking stocking stuffers! Check out tunes from some of Campus Progress’ favorites: Sufjan Stevens, Ted Leo (our pick: download The Sharkbite Sessions), Foo Fighters, M.I.A., and Johnny Cash.
We’re just waiting for an iPod ad featuring a booty-dancing Joan Baez silhouette. Please, Santa.
7. Soda
For our readers who are too lazy to cook anything for the holidays (or too untalented), buy some Jones Soda holiday packs, which come in two different flavor sets. One contains gems like Brussels sprout with prosciutto, turkey & gravy, and pumpkin pie. The second pack offers broccoli casserole, smoked salmon pate, corn on the cob and pecan pie. We had the Thanksgiving set here at the office and they were gag-inducingly accurate and strange. Lest you think we forgot about the whole making a difference part, Jones Soda is donating proceeds from their holiday soda packs to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center and Toys for Tots. Oh, and the sodas are vegetarian and kosher.
8. Education
One of our country’s most well-respected news journalists, Ron Burgundy, once said, “I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.”
This just proves that books make an excellent decorative gift. Oh. And if you get bored, you can read them too. Check out Dave Zirin’s musings on the intersections of sports, culture, and politics in his book What’s My Name, Fool! Or, Kurt Vonnnegut released a great collection of political essays called A Man Without a Country that will make you laugh to keep from crying. And if you missed any of the great ideas fellow progressives offered this fall in our reading list, now’s a great chance to pick up some highly recommended reading material.
Have a Happy Holiday!