For the future politician, the Facebook addict, the paparazzo, and more, The Daily Beast selects the perfect last-minute gift for every unique person in your life.
This sleek lamp doubles as a bookend. Its sheet-metal structure reflects bright but soft light, making it a perfect bedside-table or desk companion.
$539; shop.gessato.com
Was that cute girl you saw at the Jeffrey Eugenides reading actually toting an old copy of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities? Or was it Kate Spade’s book-size clutch brilliantly reimagined to evoke the classic novel? Be prepared for this enviably chic accessory to spark more intellectual commentary than the usual “That’s so cute!”
$325; katespade.com
You signed on to Facebook to quickly scan the news feed. Three hours later, you’re clicking through your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend’s profile photos. Now Facebook-trolling Mac owners can kick the habit with an app called Anti-Social, which blocks social-media sites on computers. Without the distraction of “friends,” you might actually get something done. When the software’s running, the only way to beat the system is by rebooting your computer—a waste of even more time. If The New York Times’s Larry Carlat had had access to Anti-Social, he might not have resorted to committing “Twittercide.” For such dire cases, we can only hope the software will soon be adapted for smartphones.
$15; antisocial.cc
Whether you’re sitting by the pool or driving cross-country, power up your mobile device with the Ray Solar Charger. It includes a suction cup that sticks to your windshield and a built-in kickstand for when you’re not on the move. What’s more, the charger tilts to the sun to absorb the maximum amount of rays. Now, that’s innovation.
$40; uncrate.com
We’re not promoting illegal activities here, but if you want to learn the tricks of the hacking trade, take a few notes from Kevin Mitnick’s book Ghost in the Wires. Back in the '90s, Mitnick was one of the FBI’s most wanted computer criminals. He was eventually charged with computer and wire fraud and spent nearly four years in prison. Today he’s head of Mitnick Security Consulting, a company hired by corporations to hack into their computer systems, target security vulnerabilities, and fix them. He may be one of the hacking good guys now, but Mitnick still uses hardcore software. High on his holiday wish list is the USB Rubber Ducky, a deceptively cute attack platform that can break into any computer, change settings, and steal data—all in a matter of seconds.
Ghost in the Wires
$16; amazon.com
USB Rubber Ducky
$80; hakshop.myshopify.com
Forget “hiding” outside Scarlett Johansson’s apartment with your conspicuously large SLR lens. The iPhone Telephoto Lens makes it easier to capture images at a distance without all the hassle and negative attention. Though it’s small enough to fit in your pocket, the Telephoto has 8x more magnifying powers than your iPhone camera, making it easier to nonchalantly catch SJP strolling through Manhattan’s West Village.
$35; photojojo.com
They start young these days, often thanks to parental influence (think Shiloh Jolie-Pitt wearing a mini version of her dad’s signature fedora). Your hipster friends in Williamsburg have likely already outfitted their kids in Converse and destroyed jeans, but they can never have too many graphic tees.
$36; darlingclementineshop.com
Think you can recite every Best Picture winner from the last 10 years? Test your trivia skills with Taschen’s Movies of the 2000s, a new volume of more than 140 film entries from the decade, including movie analyses, actor and director biographies, and memorable stills. The 2000s saw the development of 3-D films like the Oscar-winning Avatar, along with other special-effects masterpieces including the Lord of the Rings series and Inception. The tumultuous decade also inspired socially and politically conscious films like The Hurt Locker and Bowling for Columbine. Another section pays tribute to the most noteworthy indie and art-house films—so prepare to test your recall skills for Juno, Mulholland Drive, Dogville, No Country for Old Men, Black Swan, and more.
$40; taschen.com
Mean Girls meets High School Musical onstage in Lysistrata Jones, a contemporary riff on Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata. The original tells the story of how one woman persuaded her fellow female Athenians to withhold sex from their warrior husbands in attempt to end the Peloponnesian War. The modern-day adaptation is set at Athens College, where the men’s basketball team hasn’t won a game in years. Lyssie Jay, who dates the team captain, makes it her mission to rouse the Spartans to victory. The musical combines classical references with a guilty-pleasure, Glee-like plot that might even convert the most faithful Book of Mormon fans.
From $97; broadway.com
You won’t find this at the Apple store. Hand-knit in beige cotton using a traditional Greek lacemaking technique, this iPod holder is a crafty alternative to mass-market InCase covers.
$74; eshop.com
Daily Beast tech editor Dan Lyons recommends the TurtleBot, “a programmable little robot aimed at hobbyists and hackers.” The TurtleBot is a gadget lover’s dream that Lyons describes as “a Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner with a netbook computer and a Microsoft Kinect game controller attached on top.” It’s all about the software, which allows you to program TurtleBot to do things like bring you food when you’re too lazy to get off the couch.
$1,499; store.clearpathrobotics.com
Courtesy of Willow Garage
This luxury mobile mansion will unapologetically break the bank. You’ve cruised the Mediterranean in your yacht, flown your private jet from New York to Fiji (and made a pit stop in the Seychelles on your way back)—now it’s time to head west in Marchi Mobile’s eleMMent Palazzo. This diesel-engine monster is actually eco-friendly, but your friends don’t have to know that. They’ll be happy exploring its two floors, serving themselves cocktails at its various bars (yes, there are several, one of which converts into a couch at the push of a button), or cooking a gourmet meal in its fully equipped kitchen. All automatic functions can be accessed on an interior touchscreen panel or, alternatively, from a mobile control unit with streaming video that allows you to keep an eye on your Palazzo from afar.
$3,000,000; marchi-mobile.com
Even the most articulate politicians occasionally stumble over their words, but the ability to recover seamlessly can sway a vote and, in some cases, seduce an entire population. On the other hand, one “Oops” moment can sour public opinion and forever sully a reputation. For the aspiring pol who never took Public Speaking 101, the Art of Public Speaking: Lessons From the Greatest Speeches in History DVD will teach them to hold forth à la Abraham Lincoln. Featuring video footage of some of history’s great speakers, the DVD version of this popular course at the University of Kentucky is the next best thing to enrolling in the class.
$40; thegreatcourses.com
Unless you’re Tim Tebow, making the leap to the NFL can be a challenge. Practice your Hail Mary with this handmade rawhide football, crafted from rough leather designed for layman hands.While it looks like a collector’s item, it’s meant to be tossed around in the backyard.
$115; store.kauffman-mercantile.com
Tested and approved by sex educator and researcher Debby Herbenick, who counts this waterproof tickler among her favorites, the We-Vibe Touch is no ordinary vibrator. Don’t be fooled by its shapely contour and soft-to-the-touch silicone exterior: the We-Vibe Touch boasts a powerful engine that will get your whole body buzzing. Since some prefer a gentle caress to a full-on rumble, the We-Vibe offers multiple speeds. Men get a real kick out of it too.
$90; we-vibe.com
What’s better than getting a half pound of crumbly Humboldt Fog one month and a block of tangy Cashel Blue the next? Murray’s Cheese of the Month Club throws in a bonus for a perfect pairing—like sweet date chutney to make that Pecorino really sing, or Marcona almonds to go with Manchego. And you thought the Wine of the Month Club was cool.
$500 for a year; murrayscheese.com
An acclaimed chef and current host of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, Hugh Acheson is credited with putting a new spin on Southern cuisine. Acheson prefers cooking with local ingredients, like Anson Mills’ yellow hominy corn. Grown in South Carolina and bred more than 150 years ago, this heirloom specialty makes exceptional grits. Acheson is a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance (a.k.a. the Cornbread Nation), and loves its eponymous hats. But any locavore or fan of Southern cooking can pull off the cap, distressed by hand in Alabama.
Henry Moore Yellow Hominy Corn
$50 for 10 pounds; ansonmills.com
Cornbread Nation cap
$38; billyreid.com
