If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

There's an old saying that it's better to give than to receive. This is a prime exampe of why old sayings are stupid.

It's a total load of crap, as anyone who's ever received a digital video recorder knows.

If you haven't had the pleasure of playing with one of them, it's the name for the kind of product that TiVO makes. And let me just tell you that they're absolutely incredible.

It records live TV, so you can pause or rewind it if your phone rings or your laxative kicks in or whatever.

It can also be set to tape stuff in the future, using an on-screen program guide, and exactly one button.

Yes, you can do similar stuff with a VCR, but the tapes fill up, and besides, then you've got it on tape. You can equip a DVR with a DVD burner, and then you can build your own library of "The Look For Less" shows, or if you're less sophisticated, old "Seinfeld" episodes, without waiting another 14 years before the millionaires agree on terms and stop trying to screw each other out of royalties.

I got one as a wedding present from my brother, but you don't actually have to go through with something as insane as that.

If you've got a few hundred bucks and some rudimentary computer knowledge, you can build your own. If you have a few hundred more bucks, you can put that DVD burner in there as well.

If you don't have a few hundred bucks, go out and rob a bank or something. This will change your life.

Imagine, never rushing home to make sure you don't miss the first three minutes of "Match Game" on the Gameshow Network. If Brett Somers coughs up a tar-loaded lung, you'll be able to enjoy it over and over again.

Now I ask you, isn't THAT really the greatest gift of all?