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Remember when we thought 2020 was a “cool sounding” year?
You know, something akin to Amy Poehler’s “cool mom” character in Mean Girls. But it turns out 2020 was in fact not a “cool mom”. They were pretty uncool. I said last year that we had to “get through” Christmas to get to the “cool year”, but I think the feeling of how to “get through” is so much more important this time around. And yes, I believe the alcohol and sugar needed will be just as important too (or healthier coping mechanisms, I don’t know).
Anyway, capitalisms head is rearing, so let’s dive into some ahhh…RECOMMENDATIONS for Christmas pick-ups for people you like or something!
The Good Registry
It’s funny that I lead with The Good Registry after taking a stab at capitalism and consumerism. But maybe that’s the point? The Good Registry reduces waste by charity! How? Well you’re helping give to charity on behalf of the person you’re gifting it too. And it can just be a card or e-mail. WASTE NEGATED.
With 65 NZ charities to pick from, I’m sure you’ll find something for whoever you’re getting this awesome gift for. And hopefully they see the beauty in the charity.
Check out The Good Registry here.
FitBit Sense
WATCHES. Help you watch time. In this case though, they do so much more and FitBit has been ahead of this curve for some…time. So is its latest watch, the Sense, staying ahead? Well it apparently brings “an innovative sensor and software technology with the world’s first electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor on a smartwatch to help manage stress”. That sounds super useful in the year 2020 right?
Along with this “EDA”, it also “offers advanced heart rate tracking technology, a new ECG app and an on-wrist skin temperature sensor – all powered by 6+ days’ battery life”. If this is true, then that sounds like a week of peace and tranquility.
Check out more of the Sense here which has an RRP of $579.95.
2000ft Above Worry Level
A BOOK. Yes, a book. I’ve followed Eamonn Marra on social for a while, and his honest, insightful and often humorous takes are most appreciated in this current hellscape. With 2000ft Above Worry Level, you get an “episodic novel piloted by a young, anhedonic, gentle, slightly disassociated man” whom “occupies the precarious spaces in which many twenty-somethings find themselves, forced as they are to live in the present moment as late capitalism presses in from all sides”.
Garnering quippy reivew quotes like “It was about page three of 2000ft Above Worry Level. A feeling burst inside me: the joy of recognising something so beautiful and complicated” and “A wonderful comic shagpile with a dark seething underlay”, then this may just be the perfect book for 2020.
You can pick it up here for $30.
PlayStation Plus 12 Month Membership
IT’S A RUNNING GAG FOLKS! That’s right, the PS+ subscription is back again, still in 12 month form. It’s about as annual as this list is to be honest.
With the release of the PlayStation 5, the Plus service came in clutch with cloud saves, and a FREE PS5 game on release. And just what was the game? MOTHER F*CKING BUGSNAX. That sh*t was Grade-A Game Of The Year material, but The Game Awards wouldn’t let you know that. Anyway, along with the PS5’s backwards compatibility with the PS4, it also meant the last 2 months of titles have been playable on your new console, padding out your library further if you’ve been picking up the Plus games monthly.
And oh, you also get the PlayStation Plus Collection as a PlayStation 5 owner and those games…those games are ICONIC.
Pick up your PS+ 12 Month Membership here.
The Cook’s Night Off Christmas Catalogue
Cook’s Night Off allows you to buy one meal, which gives one meal. They then decided to expand this ideology to their Christmas Catalogue which includes a range of goods which benefits KidsCan.
YES, MORE CHAIRTY.
With items ranging from chocolates and wine, right through to a Rayglass boat which includes a fishing trip with All Black Scott Barrett (I honestly hope someone buys this), there’s a host of things to give and receive! It really is the best of both worlds.
Check out the CNO Christmas Catalogue here.
And that’s that!
I was gonna do a gag about the PlayStation 5 console, but I know that’s a sore point for some gamers. But also you should definitely pick up Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate on PS4 and PS5 (it just knows) as it was a much-needed and fun experience to end the year with.
OH! And Assassin’s Creed Valhalla! Again, it knows if it’s PS4 or 5 and I’m having so much fun roaming around ye old England which is apparently vast, but not too vast. It’s also kind of spooky too (cause witches).
And while I could pad this list out further, I won’t. I think this snippet of what you could pick up this Christmas is good. But the best thing you’ll get from it this year, and maybe every year, is family. That will be your greatest gift. Having them safe, with you, to celebrate this life together in what has simply been a year.
