Yuletide spirits notwithstanding, chances are that at least some recession-induced tension will be sprinkled around many Christmas trees this year. And since nothing releases tension better than humor, feel free to strategically drop any of these one-liners to lighten the mood:

“;Times are tough. I'd run to my panic room, but it was repossessed.”;

“;My fridge is full of old, bad investments that no one will think about touching. Think the Treasury will bail me out?”;

“;I gained so much weight this holiday season, Congress now considers me too big to fail.”;

“;On the bright side, it'll be a lot easier to find the nearest soup line with my new GPS- enabled iPhone!”;

Ha-ha ... ahem.

They're funny because they're true. Or rather, they're not that funny because they're too true.

Unfortunately, many 2008 eggnog hangovers will have to be followed fast by 2009 job-hunts, forcing many to travel to parts unknown in efforts to bring home the bacon.

Here, then, are some gift ideas for those who will have to live out of suitcases in the coming weeks, pulling out their Sunday best for Monday-through-Friday morning interviews:

Clear Card (http://www.flyclear. com, $199 a year): Is there someone in your family who travels so much that when they finally get home, they tend to leave their breakfast plates on the front porch and refer to their youngest son as “;Concierge”;?

If so, get them a card that offers express service through about 20 of the nation's busiest airports. Armed with such a piece of plastic, they need only pass it through a kiosk before an attendant magically appears to walk them to the front of special security lines, getting them to their gate in only a few minutes, rather than scores of them.

Unfortunately, to finish sign-up your loved one must go to an enrollment center (often in airports) in one of a dozen states.

Still, that's a small price to pay to feel as spoiled as a Bond villain.

Slingbox Pro HD (slingmedia.com, $300): Face it, with the possible exception of laughing hysterically at the hairdos of random local news anchors, TV stinks on the road. The Slingbox offers weary, lonely travelers precious relief. Once installed on your home TV, it streams your familiar cable or satellite system (plus DVR content) to your laptop via the Web.

Kensington K38032US Portable Power Outlet (amazon.com, $29): Remember back in the '70s when the only electrical things you took to a hotel room were a Waterpik, a fondue pot and maybe a lava lamp?

Now, travelers are forced to power up so many gadgets with their various extension cords, docks and power supplies that their rooms end up looking like the brain stem of that evil, tentacled computer Richard Pryor built in “;Superman III.”;

This portable power outlet centralizes all your mobile power needs with three standard wall outlets, two USB ports and surge protection. Plus, having all your gadgets intersect makes it less likely you'll check out with one or more of them forever dangling fully charged under the bathroom sink.

» Next week: More gift ideas.