It’s Christmas time and North American shoppers are hitting the malls and the Internet, in search of the perfect Christmas gift. Retailers are happy to meet the demand, and stores are all decked out to entice shoppers into the Christmas spirit. For the indecisive giver, gift cards abound. With pre-loaded plastic, it’s now possible to give a loved one a gift of everything from groceries to gasoline. One hotel chain this year is offering gift cards loaded with up to $100-thousand dollars. Catalogues are also big at this time of year. Luxury retailer Nieman Marcus suggests their idea of the perfect Christmas present for the person who has everything: a trip into outer space. While charitable organizations have gotten into the catalogue business as well, inviting shoppers to purchase everything from livestock to clothing for poor third world families. World Vision is one of those organizations offering an alternative to the consumer gift-giving trend.