Language Lessons: ($189) Whether your colleague is going to begin working with your organization’s Japan division or you want to help the kids in your family reconnect with their Lithuanian heritage, language lessons are a great option. www.parlo.com www.berlitz.us

Visual Thesaurus ($11.95/yr for online version; $29.95 for desktop version) How many times have you sat back and read your newsletter copy only to discover you’ve used the word “extremely” 10 times in the same article? For writers, editors, students and those weekend novelists, the Visual Thesaurus makes the perfect gift. Improve the reading, writing and communication skills of those around you. www.visualthesaurus.com

		The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte ($40) You just learned you’re going to be in charge of your organization’s employee attitude survey next year. Need a little help thinking outside the bar chart? Pick up a copy of The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. This book presents 250 illustrations of the best (and a few of the worst) statistical graphics, with detailed analysis of how to display data for precise, effective, quick analysis. www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/books_vdqi

MediaPost Opt-in E-Newsletters (Free) Is someone on your holiday gift list a media or advertising junkie? The perfect gift for them is one of the free e-newsletters available at www.mediapost.com. The site’s portfolio of five daily and six weekly email newsletters includes Research Brief, Just An Online Minute…, Online SPIN, Real Media Riffs, Around the Net, Email Insider and MediaDailyNews. www.mediapost.com

communication | problem solving | learning | relaxation | just plain fun