Christmas List 2009

I know several people want to see this, so for the first time I thought I'd just put it here, so I can simply send around a link.  As usual, I do not expect to get all the things on this list, I just try to give people a lot of options if they want ideas.  Also, since I'm a recent college graduate getting by on what freelance jobs I can get for the time being, cash is clearly greatly appreciated as well!

Computer-y Things...

Rain Design M-Stand

Stylish and functional stand for more easily using my laptop on a desk.  (Solid aluminum - the whole thing acts quite nicely as an enormous heat-sink!) More information here:  http://www.raindesigninc.com/mstand.html

$44.90 here:  http://raindesigninc.com/store/index.php

USB 2.5" SATA Drive Enclosure.

Needs to work with SATA (not IDE or ATA) drives, and needs to be bus-powered.

For example, something like this: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/ES2.5BPU2S/

iTunes Gift Cards

Not only music, but I can also buy apps for my iPhone using these.  Small ones are really all that's necessary - I wouldn't know what to do with $50 in iTunes credit!

Movies...
Star Trek on Blu-Ray (the new movie, just came out in stores)
Yes, there is a Blu-Ray player in the house now.  Blu-Ray is pretty.  :-)

Watchmen (5-disc deluxe set.  DVD is probably fine for this.)

Books...
XKCD Volume 0
Geeky web-comic thing.  I couldn't explain if I tried.
Can be purchased here:  http://store.xkcd.com/   ($18)

A few from Steven King's "Dark Tower" series
Haven't read any of them, but heard great things.  Been around for a while - can probably even find them in used bookstores.  Probably best if I read them in order, so the first few are the best bets.

1. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982)
2. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
3. The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
4. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997) - Locus Award nominee, 1998^[1]
5. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003) - Locus Award nominee, 2004^[2]
6. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004) - Locus Award nominee, 2005^[3]
7. The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004) - British Fantasy Award winner, 2005^[3]

And of course, last but not least...

The Pie-In-The-Sky-Impossible -Wishlist!
(wherein I dream of things I most definitely shall not receive.)

New Video Camera!
"Low-end" option:  Canon HV-30 or HV-40  ($600-$800 probably)
"High-end" option:  Canon EOS 7D  ($1900... plus the accessories to turn it into a viable video solution.  aka - audio adapters, shoulder mounts and the like)

A post-production job!
'nuff said.

An apartment!
ditto.