Presents for Profs, 2004

Give your prof a dose of cheer this holiday season with this little USB-powered Christmas tree. Just 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall, the tree's LED cycles through a rainbow of festive colors – red, bright blue, light blue, green, purple, and white. Compatible with PC, Mac, Sun, and Playstation2. ($14.99; http://store.pcpowerzone.com)

Proudly display the molecular structure of your favorite pick-me-up on this glass mug. It's the gift that says, "I know my caffeine." ($7.99; http://www.thinkgeek.com). If you need more of a morning boost, consider a new delivery route: a shower with caffeinated soap. It's no joke: ShowerShock soap carries about 200 mg of caffeine per wash, absorbed through the skin. ($24.95 for set of three; http://shopping.rednova.com) Or, there's the caffeinated candy sampler. Perfect for the dissertation-writing grad student, the sampler includes nine varieties of caffeinated gum and mints. ($19.99; http://www.thinkgeek.com)

A doormat with a cool, funky retro pattern? No. Continuing ...