A great gift: The BOGO Flashlight

This Christmas is looking pretty interesting. On the one hand, we have the recent discovery that many of our consumer goods are coated in lead, heavy metals, sarin, dioxin, and various other substances that will cause our flesh to melt off at the slightest touch. On the other hand, we have the equally surprising discovery that enormous amounts of debt that people can't afford to pay back can lead to trouble. In the middle, we are also being reminded, once again, that the Holidays are about something more than the mere accumulation of material goods and consumption of fattening foods.

So it looks like this Christmas will focus on a return to values.

If you're looking for something a little more values-oriented, you might check out the BOGO flashlight. BOGO, which stands for "buy one, give one," produces waterproof, durable, solar-powered flashlights that it is attempting to distribute to needy groups around the world. The brainchild of Mark Bent, a former diplomat and oilman, the BOGOlight can give seven hours of light on a single recharge, and will last up to three years.