Last Minute Gift Guide 2012

HolidayLAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE

DECEMBER 2012

Time’s Running Out

A production of the Mid-Valley Media’s Advertising Department

HolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayHolidayDECEMBER 2012

HolidayDECEMBER 2012

A production of the Mid-Valley Media’s Advertising DepartmentA production of the Mid-Valley Media’s Advertising DepartmentA production of the Mid-Valley Media’s Advertising Department

Gifts for college students:Practical & personal presents

Old school, new fun:Timeless toys

Quick pick llst:How to beat the clock

Gifts for college students:Gifts for college students:Practical & personal presents


Quick pick llst:How to beat the clock

Gifts for college students:Practical & personal presents


Quick pick list:How to beat the clock

A production of the Mid-Valley Newspapers' Advertising Department, December 11, 2012 2 A production of the Mid-Valley Newspapers' Advertising Department, December 11, 2012

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The iPod Touch and iPod Nano get funky refreshes – just in time for the holidays | by CTW Features

iPods: The Next Iteration

The hard critique against the iPod Touch was that it was just an iPhone with out the phone. That stops now.

The new Touch is thinner and lighter then ever, at less than a quarter-inch thick and just 3.1 oz. Part of that is thanks to an anodized-aluminum body, the same material used in Apple’s MacBook line.

But just like its cellular-based kin, the Touch also received an upgrade to a 4-inch Retina display, giving more widescreen space to game, browse, watch movies and swipe through your music library.

The new Touch, available in 32GB ($299) and 64GB ($399) models, also unveils new line of colors – black, silver, pink, yellow, blue and a (Product) Red model.

Where the iPod Touch kept its kinda-like-the-iPhone appearance, the iPod Nano underwent the most radical – and fun – transformation. The Nano now is about the size of a credit card – about 3-by-1.5 inches – and is just 0.21 inches thick. The new format allows it to expand the touchscreen introduced on the

last Nano model. The screen now offers six icons for Music, Videos, Fitness (with Nike+ integration), Podcasts, Photos and Radio (FM only).

Now available only in a 16GB ($149) model, the Nano comes in the same colors as the Touch, in addition to green purple.

iPod Touch

iPod Nano

A production of the Mid-Valley Newspapers' Advertising Department, December 11, 2012 A production of the Mid-Valley Newspapers' Advertising Department, December 11, 2012 3

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So we’ve done the hard work for you — we polled

local book experts for their recommendations on the

best book gifts of the 2012 holiday season. From kids’

books to cookbooks to just-released literary works,

we’ve got choices for everyone on your list.

Recommendations from Jon Munster, manager, The Book Bin:

• “Cloud Atlas,” by David Mitchell. Munster said this book is currently popular because a movie based on the book, directed in part by the makers of the “Matrix” series, was just released.

“Cloud Atlas” weaves a variety of narratives and travels through a variety of genres, from history to science fi ction to noir thriller.

• “Chronicles of Downton Abbey,” by Jessica Fellowes and Matthew Sturgis, or “The Unoffi cial Downton Abbey Cookbook,” by Emily Ansara Baines. This popular BBC series,

shown in the United States on PBS, is releasing a new season of episodes in January. If you’ve got a fan who can’t wait until then, try one of these books that are related to the show.

• “The Lands of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin, or “A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Offi cial Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook,” by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer.

If you’ve got a fantasy reader on your gift list who has already devoured Martin’s epic “Game of Thrones” saga, now you can give them “Lands of Ice and Fire,” a companion book of myths from the series; or a “Game of Thrones”-inspired cookbook so that they too can enjoy feasting on trout wrapped in bacon or honey-spiced locusts. Mmm … locusts.

Recommendations fromScott Givens, owner of Browsers Books in Albany and Corvallis:

• Any classic novel with a nice binding, beautiful illustrations, or something else that makes it special. “For me, it’s much more enjoyable to read a book where some care has been taken in the binding and typography and layout,” Givens said.

• A used book with an interesting history. Sometimes, it’s not so much the book itself as the story attached to the book. For instance, Givens recalled a customer who wanted to buy a book about Freemasonry for his brother, who was a mason. He was able to fi nd a book about masonry that

Books make wonderful gifts, but it can be hard to pick just the right one. | by JENNIFER ROUSE

The Book Bin Ha

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scott Givens, owner of browsers' bookstore, poses with a handful of classic novels in corvallis. (amanda cowan | corvallis Gazette-Times)


had also been previously owned by a Linn County sheriff who was a mason and had signed his name in the book. “The guy was just thrilled because of that piece of history,” Givens said.

• Science fi ction classics. “A lot of the old school science fi ction and fi ction about the paranormal is really popular right now,” Givens said. “There’s a lot of interest in zombies right now, and Frankenstein is the original.” “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, and science fi ction by Jules Verne are all popular, Given said. These would make a good gift for the reader who has exhausted “Harry Potter” and the “Twilight” series and is ready to move on to something more.

From Pamela Moeller, events and marketing coordinator, Grass Roots Books & Music:

• “Flight Behavior,” by Barbara Kingsolver. This novel by popular

literary novelist Kingsolver was just released this month. It tells the story of a young mother who feels trapped by life in her rural hometown, and how her life changes when she discovers a scientifi c anomaly on her family farm. “It’s highly anticipated, and a lot of staff members enjoy her work,” Moeller said. “Her last book, “Lacuna,” did really well for us, so we’re expecting it to be really popular.”

• “The Oregonian Cookbook,” by Katherine Miller. Released this fall, this cookbook is a collection of the best recipes from the Food Day column in the Oregonian. “Cookbooks are always good, and this one has a local edge,” Moeller said.

• “Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-Up Adventure,” by Matthew Reinhart. Even as the fan community reacts to the news that Luke, Leia, and their companions are now owned by Disney, true believers can revel in a spectacular 3-D rendition

of the “Star Wars” universe. “This would be good for any fan of Star Wars, of any age,” Moeller said.

• “The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7),” by Jeff Kinney. This novel, released Nov. 13, is expected to a be a big seller this year. “This is an enormously popular kids’ series,” Moeller said. If you’ve got a young reader on your list, chances are they’ve heard of lovable loser

Greg Heffl ey, the protagonist of the “Wimpy Kid” books, and will be happy to join him in “The Third Wheel” as he navigates the terrifying experience that is a middle school dance.

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books by authors such as Mary shelley, bram stoker and Edgar allan poe are available at browsers' bookstore in corvallis. (amanda cowan | corvallis Gazette-Times)


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With the price of getting an education these days, ask a college student or recent

grad what’s the best gift they could get this year and

you might just hear: “Money: Cold hard cash.”

Well, that is a gift that is sure to be appreciated. But if it seems a little impersonal, here are some other options brainstormed by fi ve current students at Oregon State University, and another fi ve recent Northwest college grads, sure to bring a little holiday cheer – and to provide the opportunity to watch your student actually unwrap something this year.

Rain gearRain gear? That doesn’t sound very

fun or festive, you might be thinking.

But consider lugging a full bag of books and a laptop several miles around a sodden campus daily while dodging puddles, construction sites and the endless tangle of bikes and pedestrians in a pouring rain. Doesn’t sound very fun, does it?

Make the grade this year with practical, personal presents | by Nancy Raskauskas

Gifts for college students

oregon state University sophomore George pope rides a longboard through

campus. a student may be pleased to see nontraditional transportation under the tree.

amanda cowan | corvallis Gazette-Times

oregon state University sophomore


Brighten your students' day and help them get to class warm and ready to concentrate with a pair of cute rubber boots (check Coastal Farm & Ranch, Bi-Mart and Fred Meyer, for starters), high performance raingear (think brands such as The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, Helly Hansen, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, etc.) an umbrella in their college colors or a brightly colored waterproof backpack or courier bag (Consider DAKINE or Timbuk2 for their varied color combinations and durability).

Gift certifi cates to the college bookstore for licensed university apparel were also on several students’ lists -- one of the few times when students don’t mind dressing like each other. Plus, the gift certifi cate can also be used for textbooks and supplies.

Rain and winter wear are gifts that will defi nitely get a lot of use, and

were the top request among OSU students interviewed. One student

even asked for a pair of fl uffy socks to wear while studying. You thought they’d never ask, right?

TransportationSpeaking of getting around campus …

Soup up your student’s road bike or campus cruiser with a tune-up, fenders, new lights and the biggest baddest lock and cable you can fi nd. Knog makes a great super bright LED that can be easily wrapped around handle bars and seat posts and removed when the bike is parked. Also, if they aren’t wearing one already, a gift certifi cate for a helmet can help preserve all that newfound college knowledge in the event of an accident.

If a bike isn’t a possibility this year, consider a scooter or skateboard.

Holiday Gifts

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canoesskisbootspolessnow boardsbicycleshelmetsbike accessoriesstocking stufferssunglasses

kayaksski wearcasual wearaccessorieshiking bootsbackpacksclimbing gearand more!

cute rubber rain boots are among the popular gift ideas for students this holiday season. amanda cowan | corvallis Gazette-Times

oregon state University junior connor Torris strolls through campus with an osU jacket

and umbrella. amanda cowan | corvallis Gazette-Times

Continued on Pg 8

Patagonia, Columbia, Helly Hansen, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, etc.) an umbrella in their college colors or a brightly colored waterproof backpack or courier bag (Consider DAKINE or Timbuk2 for their varied color combinations and durability).

bookstore for licensed university apparel were also on several students’ lists -- one of the few times when students don’t mind dressing like each other. Plus, the gift certifi cate can also be used for textbooks and supplies.


The Razor scooter fad which had its heyday around 2000 is still alive and well with those looking to cut through the crowds and make it class on time. You can still see the silver scooters with their brightly colored Rollerblade wheels all over campus, and they can be folded up and taken inside most university buildings, further saving time otherwise spent at the bike rack. You can fi nd various versions of the Razor available for $17 to $60.

Is your student more coordinated than most? Help them pick out a longboard to cruise around campus on. They’ll be in good company on sunny days. Local board shop The Uprise in Corvallis has a variety and stocks wheels and local expertise. Peak Sports also carries a great selection. Be prepared to spend more than $100 for a board with nice wheels – after all, longboards are also works of art.

‘Smart’ gearIf your student has their heart

set on a new laptop, tablet or smartphone, they probably started dropping hints months ago. Pay attention! Don’t kid yourself into thinking that a similar product buy

another brand will suffi ce. In fact, this is probably the one area of holiday shopping where it’s worth spoiling the surprise in order to be sure that you and your student will be happy with the outcome.

Shop together and remember that student discounts at large retailers and at the college bookstore might mean that it makes more sense for the student to be the one to actually make the transaction. Picking something that boots up quickly and that your student can type, text or write quickly on is a must for taking notes in class. Think long-term about needs that may arise in their fi eld of study for software.

Not ready to throw down the cash for a new Apple iPad with Retina display ($499), Google Nexus 4 ($199-$299), ultrabook (various models: HP, Sony, Samsung, Dell, Apple, etc., up to $1,200), eReader such as a Kindle Fire or Nook

eReader (both $159), or new smartphone? Never fear, there are still plenty of fun and affordable ways to support your student’s tech needs.

These days, everyone is living life to their own soundtrack. Headphones and earbuds are ubiquitous on campus. Earbuds can also be an important tool for students to listen to lecture notes or watch lecture videos, and to carve out a place to concentrate in noisy commons or on the city bus. Skull Candy is an inexpensive brand with endless color options ($9.99 to $36). Get them a pair to leave in their backpack and another for their desk. If your student uses a smartphone such as an iPhone, Android or Samsung Galaxy, consider buying earbuds with a built-in mic that can double as a hands-free device.

You can also re-style their existing phone with a new case. For iPhones consider the Speck line ($24 to $34), colorful “confection” cases with some models that double as card holders for IDs and credit cards. For the phones that live a rough life, look into brands such as Otter Box, Lifeproof and Bombproof.

Caffeinate/hydrateReusable coffee cups and water

bottles are a way of life on campus – giving students a tangible way to show environmental responsibility, while also providing yet another outlet for personal style.

Package a metal, glass or BPA-free spill-proof container with a gift certifi cate to a local coffee shop or package of tea. For water bottles, toss in a few stickers or decals that could be used to decorate the bottle.

RelaxHelp your student recharge during

winter break by sharing a touch of luxury. Share a morning of spa treatments such as massages or pedicures or a new haircut. Perhaps purchase bath products fancier than they could usually afford, such as high-quality shampoo and conditioner. A nice dinner out or ingredients for an aspiring chef are also great options. When it comes to food, homemade anything is also big hit over the holidays. Whether they admit it or not, they probably have missed your cooking.

Practical necessitiesLooking for stocking stuffers or

small gifts for the fi rst few days of Hanukkah? Here are a few of the more practical ideas put forward by the students and recent grads:

• Printer paper/ink

• Screen cleaning wipes

• Space pens (“You can write at any angle with them, so if I'm reading/taking notes before bed, they're awesome”).

• Car accessories: air pressure gauge, air fresheners, mini tool box, college license plate frame

• “The gifts of time helping look for scholarships and then proofreading essays and applications.”

I give upStill can’t think of anything to get

your college student? It's not too late to buy gift cards (iTunes or Amazon.com are pretty universal). Even ones for gas and groceries will get rave reviews.

Or, simply pull out the cash. Green never goes out of style.

Continued from Pg 7

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smartphone, they probably started dropping hints months ago. Pay attention! Don’t kid yourself into thinking that a similar product buy

($199-$299), ultrabook (various models: HP, Sony, Samsung, Dell, Apple, etc., up to $1,200), eReader such as a Kindle Fire or Nook

eReader (both $159), or new smartphone? Never fear, there are still plenty of fun and affordable ways to support your student’s tech needs.


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Sixty years ago, when French electrician Andre Cassagnes came up with the idea for a toy that used a joystick, glass and aluminum powder to draw pictures, he probably had no idea it would provide joyous playtime for children decades later. Today, Etch A Sketch is a household name that even made headlines during this year's political season. How does such a simple toy still have so much popularity?

Toys that stand the test of time "draw you in, challenge you and remind you why you're amused every time you play with them," says Scott Eberle, who writes the Play in Mind blog for Psychology Today and co-authored "Classic

Toys of the National Toy Hall of Fame," (Running Press, 2009). Etch A Sketch entered the hall of fame in 1998.

Classic toys foster learning and encourage creativity, Eberle says. To make the hall of fame, a toy must

attain "icon" status — with wide recognition, respect and longevity — and display innovation.

Toys that are creative or engage the imagination are more likely to become a timeless hit with children, says Phil Wrzesinski, owner of Jackson, Mich.-based Toy House & Baby Too toy store. He says his top sellers are usually interactive and open-ended, providing many ways to play.

"A lot of modern toys, everything is sort of scripted out for the kids and the play patterns are not as random," says

Tim Walsh, author of "Timeless Toys,"

(Andrews McMeel, 2005). Walsh invented the board game Blurt and is a fan of toys such as crayons, LEGO and Play-Doh that allow a child to create and build anything that their mind conceives.

Forego the fads this holiday season and seek out toys that have withstood the test of time. | by Taniesha Robinson, CTW Features

Old School, New Fun

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Toys that stand the test of time "draw you in, challenge you and remind you why you're amused every time you play with them," says Scott Eberle, who writes the Play in Mind blog for Psychology Today and co-authored "Classic

Toys of the National Toy Hall of Fame," (Running Press, 2009). Etch A

Continued on Pg 10

baRbiE i caN bE... pREsidENT $14barbie is running for president and standing on her own two feet this year — literally. barbie i can be... president doll is the fi rst to stand without support in barbie's 53-year history.

ETcH a sKETcH courtesy of The strong/National Museum of play

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Adrienne Appell, trend analyst for the Toy Industry Association, cautions holiday shoppers in search of a special

toy for a child to avoid "watch-me" toys. "They're fun and they're cute for a little while, but they

don' t really captivate the children or hold their interest." The best toys allow for play that evolves and changes.

Author Scott Eberle makes an exception for wind-up toys such as a Jack-in-the-Box and cheerful figures that a child can bring to life with a few twists of a key. "As you set them in motion they seem to spur imagination rather than vitiate and degrade it," he says.

"One of the tenets of a timeless toy is that kids love to play with it repeatedly," Walsh says. "They don't play with it once and say, "Oh OK, I'm

bored. That's enough of that. "They come back to it again and again."

Repeated-play value is the key factor for toys to continue entertaining children beyond the holiday season, let alone decades. And, to find the right toy for little ones and big kids alike, toy store owner Phil Wrzesinski encourages gift-givers to seek out help from their local toy store. "Your local, independent toy store is going to know these kinds of toys," Wrzesinski says. "This is what we all do. We talk about not just what's cute and what's going to be a good seller but what fits our mission and what's going to be a great toy."

Analyst Adrienne Appell encourages gift-givers to pick a toy that resonates with them personally and then share that experience with the child they're buying it for. "That creates new memories," she says.

Walsh agrees: "When a toy or game can last ten or fifteen years and you start to see a second generation of people playing it, it starts to have more meaning because there are memories involved."

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Continued from Pg 9

scRabblE FlasH $30it's the old word-building game you love with

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TWisTER MaNia FoR XboX 360 KiNEcT $20Gamers must bend and twist their bodies with lightning speed to match the shapes of silhou-

etted objects on screen. yes, the muscle-pulling risk remains an essential part of gameplay.


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Here are some choices on the 'fl y'. | CTW Features

Quick Lists

HD Heroes Bring Home a Big-Screen Hero Superheroes, bigger and more vivid than life, are here to stay. Just ask Joss Whedon, whose fi lm, “The Avengers,” became the third highest grossing movie of all time this year, with a worldwide gross of over $1 billion. Add in Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-man” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” and 2012 marks the year superhe-roes offi cially transitioned from nerdy pastime to bona fi de pop culture royalty.

The Avengers (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo, $39.99

Spider-Man: The High Defi nition Trilogy (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), $92.95

The Dark Knight (Warner Home Video), $12.96

X-Men Trilogy (Fox Home Entertainment), $59.99

Watchmen (Warner Home Video), $7.99

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Warner Home Video), $49.95 –

Blade Collection (Alliance), $64.98

Superman: The Movie (Warner Home Video), $19.98

The Incredibles (Buena Vista Home Entertainment) Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy, $45.99

Iron Man (Paramount), $29.99

Children’s Books And Then What Happened?What happens when Daisy’s ball is destroyed? When all the lights go out? When a family must fl ee their homeland? Adventure happens, that’s what – and so does discovery, learning and joy. Buy a child and book, and ask to share an hour. Here, a few of 2012’s best, for tots, teens and you.

A Ball for Daisy, Caldecott Medal by Chris Raschka, (Schwartz & Wade Books,2011) $16.99

Blackout, Caldecott Honorby John Rocco, (Disney Hyperion Books, 2011) $16.99

Grandpa Green, Caldecott Honorby Lane Smith, (Roaring Brook Press, 2011) $16.99

Me… Jane, Caldecott Honorby Patrick McDonnell,(Little, Brown and Co. div. of Hachette Book Group, 2011) $15.99

Dead End in Norvelt, Newbery Medalby Jack Gantos, (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011) $15.99

Rotters audio book, Odyssey Awardwritten by Daniel Kraus, narrated by Kirby Heyborne(Random House audio, 2011) $35

The Notorious Benedict Arnold, YALSA Awardby Steve Sheinkin, (Flash Point, 2010) $19.99

Inside Out & Back Again, Newbery Honorby Thanhha Lai (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2011) $16.99

Breaking Stalin’s Nose, Newbery Honorby Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt and Co., 2011) $15.99

Where Things Come Back, Printz Awardby John Corey Waley (Atheneum, 2012) $8.99

E3 Game Critics’ WinnersThe Last of Us (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best Console Game, Best Action/Adventure Game, Special Commendation for Sound

Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PSVita, PS3)Best Handheld/Mobile Game

XCOM: Enemy Unknown(Firaxis Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)Best PC Game, Best Strategy Game

Halo 4 (343 Industries/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)Best Action Game, Best Online Multiplayer Game

Injustice: Gods Among Us (NetherRealm Studios/WBIE for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U)Best Fighting Game

Need for Speed Most Wanted(Criterion Games/EA for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)Best Racing Game

FIFA Soccer 13 (EA Canada/EA Sports for PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Best Sports Game

Dance Central 3 (Harmonix/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)Best Social/Casual Game, Best Motion-Simulation Game

Star Wars 1313(LucasArts for TBD Platforms}Special Commendation for Graphics

Watch Dogs(Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)Special Commendation for Graphics Special Commendation for Innovation

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A production of the Mid-Valley Newspapers' Advertising Department, December 11, 201212

Happy Holidaysay you and yours have a wonderful holiday season and a great new year.M

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Last Minute Gift Guide 2012