Below are a few recommendations to make the process a little less daunting. Most of these sites take credit cards, but if you're really in a pinch, I suppose you could always pick up the phone...

For the Herc or Xena wannabee, get thee to the Cyber-Finn Shopping-Center. Here you will find standard-issue Finnish gifts such as hunting knives and hand-carved wooden cups, but the unique beauty here are these stunning reindeer swimsuits made from real reindeer hide. Fuzzy yet waterproof, these fashionable bikini suits are available for both women and men.

Perhaps there is someone on your list in search of a used ambulance. God knows, these sporty vehicles are an efficient way to travel, and are perfect for the person on your list with a penchant for moving, hauling gear, or carting wounded or dead bodies around! Head on over to Lee's Ambulance Sales for a huge selection of used ambulances — fully loaded! From classics to clunkers, they have them all!

Everyone knows a budding mad scientist. Why not treat your favorite Einstein-to-be with one of these fine home-made Van der Graaf generators? Created out of everyday household objects, these little beauties are tested for reliability in inventor Jeff's garage! He also sells custom-made, gold-plated ceramic re-entrant spherical electrodes and 1.5 Microamp ammeters to increase your generator's performance. While you're there, check out his trippy levitation experiment wherein he uses electrical charge to levitate a little piece of foil. Whoa.

For your favorite NRA member, I will let you in on some of my favorite gun sites. Start at Valkyrie Arms Ltd, where you can launch a MIDI file of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries to serenade you while you browse. You'll find a few choice munitions, but selection isn't really their forte. But hey, ambience counts for a lot in this crazy competitive marketplace.

When you're done looking around there, head on over to Survival Enterprises, where you'll find a tasteful array of collectable military weapons, refinished commercial rifles, shotguns and handguns. You won't want to miss their voluminous links page for a foray into their selected "'politically incorrect' (yet patriotically proper)" site recommendations.

Oh, and if your beloved gift recipient has special ammo needs, check in with Dangerous Dave, the Old Western Scrounger — my favorite purveyor of cannons, bullets, and both center- AND rim-fire ammunition, bar none.

Okay. Enough gun yack. How about something for the exotic pet on your list? Hedgehogs, hermit crabs, ferrets, chinchillas, sugar-gliders, and other animals you might never have heard of will delight in the myriad Playwheels, ChewTunnels, and Critter Cookies — as well as special food scoops, organic corn-cob litter, and hanging "sleeping accommodations" available at Balanced Innovations. You can feel extra smug about your purchase here, as a portion of the sales of some items goes to support rainforest conservation efforts.

And finally, what about your favorite scatologist who likes animals but can't deal with live ones? You'll no doubt want to visit Poopets where you can order a whole host of lovable little animal figurines. Sculpted from 100 percent cow dung by the Amish community in Lebanon, New Jersey, these have such enchanting names such as "Turdles," "Bowel Owls" and "Dung Bunnies." Also provided is a small history of the Amish, including a fairly explicit description of their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, their "steam-powered site" is still a little too wimpy to support an online ordering form. But don't despair; they have a phone number so you can call in your PooPet order directly...

Hope this helps you in your holiday shopping this year! (See, the Web really IS good for something...)