Jon Carroll, SF Chronicle columnist, has added his gift giving ideas, in case you need ideas in his column today, strangely titled, "Your 2011 Gift Guide".

His suggestions:

Shoes

Canned goods

Automobiles

Airplanes

Massages, spa days, et cetera

PG&E Bills

And pliers and towels.

Wonder if anyone has written poems about Christmas gift ideas? Guess I'll google that. 

Second question: is there a gift list app? There must be. There's over half a million apps for the iPhone and this was probably a natural. When the phones came out, people probably brainstormed what apps could be created and went nuts. Let me google it....

Yes, there is! There are many. I've been trying to think what apps I would put on my phone. I have a Blackberry and I have apps. It has twenty apps pre-installed. I use the calendar, email, browser, and the game. The game isn't much, bouncing a ball off bricks to break the bricks, but it's a useful diversion in an airport waiting room when I've read my book and magazines, another good argument for the Kindle, Nooks, iPads and the like. Finish one, turn to another. When I travel, I usually have a couple computers and power supplies, which take up space. I then add a book and a few magazines. Meanwhile, additional books and magazines will find travel time in my checked baggage so I'll have reading materials during my stay and return trip.

Jon's tongue-in-cheek gift guide can be found at http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/