Trends for December 3, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 | 8:12 a.m.

Claus for the cause

The holidays are upon us, but between the nation's tragedies, war and anthrax scares, it may be tough to muster much Christmas spirit this year.

Still, you'd be hard-pressed to visit northpole.com and not feel at least a little warm and fuzzy. The animated site, created in 1996, is full of fun stuff for children that adults may also enjoy. Kids can e-mail letters to Santa Claus with the help of Bif, the elf who mans Santa's Mailroom (the jolly one responds within a couple of hours by sending an e-mail of his own). Visit St. Nick's living room to hear him tell personalized stories, or sample his CD collection.

Also on the site is the Northpole Weather Station (five-day outlook: snow and blustery winds); Mrs. Claus' Kitchen, with recipes for all sorts of goodies; and the ubiquitous Toy Shop.

There's even a charitable side to northpole.com: Instead of selling advertising, the site donates banner ads to such organizations as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Light 'em up

Or maybe you already are bursting with holiday cheer except when it comes to the thought of tackling the loathsome task of teetering on a rickety old ladder in the cold to hang lights on the house.

This year, don't bother. A new lighting system, called Wind-O-Lights, has made it so you needn't even set foot outside.

The system, made of PVC pipe, can be installed in nearly any size window, without tools or fasteners. It hangs in a symmetrical line and can be stored while still assembled once the holidays are over.

Wind-O-Lights costs $19.95 (plus $4.95 shipping and handling) and can be ordered by calling (800) 803-4370.

Say what?

Looking for the perfect gift for that slightly twisted friend or relative who finds guilty pleasure in things the rest of us consider morbid? Well, search no more.

"Famous Last Words" (Pomegranate Communications, $17.95), by Alan Bisbort, features the parting shots of a slew of historical figures, literary types, movie, television and book characters and a handful of pop-culture icons.

Here are some of the quotes. See if you can guess the departed who muttered them:

"There is nothing more I should do to it now, and therefore I am not likely to be more ready to go than at this moment." President Ulysses S. Grant

"I don't need bodyguards." Union leader Jimmy Hoffa

"You cursed brat. Look what you've done. I'm melting ... melting." Wicked Witch of the West from 1939's "The Wizard of Oz"

"I have it good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general." Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain

"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day." Scarlett O'Hara in 1939's "Gone With the Wind"

"It was fun." Capt. James T. Kirk of "Star Trek"