Welcome to the silly season, when marketers decide their company's products make great holiday gifts. As InformationWeek's Master of Disaster, I get e-mail from all sorts of folks who think I should say nice things about their products in this here blog. Sometimes they try just a little too hard to make their products topical.

Today I opened an e-mail from emergancylifeline.com claiming to offer "Great Gift Ideas." Turns out it's selling survival kits.

Much as keeping some food, water, and a first aid kit around the house and/or data center might be a good idea in earthquake or hurricane country, a great gift idea it's not.

While I smiled and wrote thank you notes to Aunt Charlotte for the itchy wool socks she knitted for me throughout my childhood, I really wanted an Erector Set.

I just can't see saying "Oh, boy, survival food bars! Just want I want for Hanukkah."