Christmas Stollen

Highlights: Covers a wide range of difficulty levels-from simple stencils to more complicated projects, like quilted placemats. Contains decorating craft ideas ideas for everything from the front door to the table, such as wreaths, table linens, centerpieces and other festive accessories. Includes recipes for mouth-watering breakfasts,appetizers, side dishes, breads and desserts like candies, cakes and cookies.

Xbox 360, shown with wireless controller, is a sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system

Under the Hood
Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor loaded with 10 MB of embedded DRAM, 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and Unified shader architecture. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.

The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 60GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.

Control your Gameplay
Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.

Xbox 360 can manage your games, your online friends, and your personal digital library

The Media Experience
All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.

Go Live
A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to Xbox Live. The Xbox Live Silver Membership included with the console lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. You can also update to a Xbox Live Gold Membership at anytime for even more benefits. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.

What's in the Box?

• Xbox 360 console
• 60GB detachable hard drive
• Wireless controller
• Xbox Live headset
• Standard AV cable
• Ethernet cable
• Detachable faceplate
• Xbox Live Silver membership

About Victorinox
In 1884, Swiss cutler Karl Elsener set up shop in Ibach-Schwyz, installing a waterwheel in Tobelbach Brook to run his grinding and polishing machines. Thus began what would become the international brand name Victorinox, a combination of Victoria, for Elsener's mother, and "inox," or stainless steel. Today, Victorinox produces watches, luggage, clothing, and, famously, Swiss Army Knives. The original product dates to 1897, when Elsener patented the Swiss Officer's and Sports Knife he supplied to the Swiss Army. Following World War II, American servicemen and women shopping in PX stores shortened the name to Swiss Army Knife, which lives on in English-speaking countries around the world and has become a metaphor for versatility.

Aretha Franklin's multitude of loyal listeners will be thrilled that the wait for such a momentous project is over and has been truly worthwhile. Released through DMI Music, "This Christmas Aretha," shimmers and sparkles as the acclaimed artist puts her definitive stamp on a mix of 11 traditional and contemporary classics associated with the holiday season. Aretha Franklin herself produced three tracks and arranged and added her inimitable touch as a pianist to two tracks ("Silent Night" and "14 Angels"). Award-winning producer Tena Clark (whose production credits include Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and a multitude of other major artists) masterminded seven cuts.

Track listing:

1. Angels We Have Heard On High

2. This Christmas

3. My Grown Up Christmas List

4. The Lord Will Make A Way

5. Silent Night

6. Ave Maria

7. Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The One You Love)

8. 14 Angels

9. One Night With The King

10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

11. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Looking for the perfect Barbie Girl? Be sure and check out our full selection of Barbie Girls and accessories at Amazon.com.

The world seems a lot smaller these days thanks to connective technology such as MP3 players, cell phones, PDAs, the Internet, and more. So what better way for girls to go global than with this Barbie Girl device? Barbie has been at the forefront of trendsetting for nearly 50 years and now she's offering today's young girls a way to share their passion for fashion, music, and chat with their bffs.

At barbiegirls.com girls can create their own, personalized online space--everything from designing a "room" to creating a character--where they can then play games, chat with gal pals, watch videos, and even shop with earned virtual money. Word filters, moderation tools, and other safety features ensure that the virtual world stays friendly and fun to all visitors, but the added security and benefits of this Barbie Girl device are ingenious.

The Barbie Girl device is basically an MP3 player with attitude. First, it offers a range of customizable fashions and accessories, delivering the next generation of fashion doll play. Second, it is a music device with 1GB of on-board memory. Third, the Barbie Girl device acts as a "key" for girls who have a room on barbiegirls.com. Girls who have this device and who have physically connected them into one another's computer docking stations can become "best friends" and chat in "secret." It's a more personal touch to the site experience and an extra layer of safety for parents. The device also allows its user to unlock additional pets, games, hangouts, fashions, and more online.

This Barbie Girl Device is mostly green, comes with two hairstyles, two faces, a skirt over leggings, a dress, a halter top, and two pairs of shoes that can be interchanged to match the owner's current mood and style. The tech gadget also includes adjustable earbuds, a belt clip, and a durable storage case so it's easy to take everywhere. Additional packs of fashions, pets, and accessories are sold separately and offer the ability for girls to make their Barbie Girl as unique as themselves.

Tech Specs

• 1GB on-board memory
• Expandable miniSD slot that holds a memory card up to 2 GB (sold separately)
• The device can play any non-DRM-encrypted MP3 or WMA files
• Comes with Windows Media Player 11
• Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery that charges via a USB port

Recommended system requirements

• Broadband Internet connection
• Windows XP or Windows Vista
• DirectX 9.0 or above
• Pentium III 800 MHz or above processor (or equivalent)
• 512 MB RAM
• 200 MB free hard drive space
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or later with SP1 and Macromedia Flash Plug In
• CD-ROM drive
• USB 2.0 Port

The millions of gamers who fought their way through the horror of Tristram's catacombs in the original Diablo realized that all was not well after their hero destroyed the demon's physical body. Diablo II opens with a vivid animated vision of that mad, doomed hero, who unwittingly spreads chaos as he moves toward a fate of Diablo's choosing. With the original character classes gone, players choose from a new cadre of champions: the Barbarian (can wield two two-handed swords at once, one in each hand), the Necromancer (raises the dead to fight his battles), the Amazon (master of bow and spear), Paladin (holy crusader), and Sorceress (wielder of elemental magic). These warriors follow a diabolical plot through four acts, and each act is roughly as big as the original Diablo.

Diablo II looks and behaves very much like Diablo. Players are assigned quests by nonplayer characters and adventure through dark catacombs and crypts. Hordes of vile monsters assail the hero, who survives by force of arms, powerful spells, and through the use of varied and exotic magic items. Randomly generated dungeons guarantee fresh adventure each time a new game is started. But unlike the original game, characters must fight their way through the above-ground wilderness before entering a dungeon. Fortunately, some of the frustrations of adventuring have been lessened in Diablo II, thanks to the new ability to run and the clever implementation of "waypoints" that let your character quickly travel to and from the safety of town.

Along with the new character classes comes a new character skill system. As in the original game, players improve their character's ability scores as they kill monsters and gain experience. But unlike the original game, players get to add specific skills, spells, and powers each time they advance. For example, after gaining a level you could choose between taking a skill that improves your attack speed or a skill that allows you to scatter your foes with a mighty shout. With this customized advancement system it is unlikely that two high-level characters, even characters of the same class, will be alike. Instead of progressing along a set path, you can choose skills and powers that complement your own particular playing style. Interestingly, this new customizable class system closely parallels the changes made in the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

Other enhancements include a method for creating and customizing magic items, 3-D accelerated spell effects, anticheat multiplayer code, and a place to safely store excess money and equipment. But even without these tweaks, even without the sophisticated story line and all the cool new features, Diablo II is just a great game. The sound, music, and graphics combine to create a tantalizingly eerie setting. Players will willingly let their game-playing hours slip well past reasonable bedtimes, suffering bleary-eyed classes and meetings in exchange for "just one more" magic item, dungeon level, or character skill.

Diablo is back. Say hello to the game that will once again dominate gamers' computers, and say good-bye to your free time. --Michael Fehlauer.

Pros:

• Diabolical, engrossing story line told through brilliant cutscenes
• All five of the new classes are distinct and fun
• Fantastic music and sound effects
• Random dungeons allow unlimited replayability
• Millions of magic items, including rare items and sets of unique magical equipment

• Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, significant other, job
• Virtually no improvement in graphics