Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gingerl said 8:18AM on 4-03-2008
animals can sence more then humans. so bring a dog along with your new cell phone come see our puppies http://www.superstarpuppies.com
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Chrissy said 9:58AM on 4-03-2008
Ghost busting with your cell phone!!! K uh, maybe someone should tell the cell phone companies that there's no such things as ghosts or poltergeists. And while they're at it, tell the knuckle heads that actually go out and buy the crap that they're knuckle heads!!! Apparently they don't know it, or they wouldn't be buying ghost busting cell phones.
And then there's the "Oh my god, that's what the government is doing with our tax dollars?...giving it to idiots who go out and try to detect E.M.F.'s." I'm moving to Europe!
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R O C K Y said 10:11AM on 4-03-2008
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I HAD A VISITAION SEVEREAL MONTHS AFTER MY WIFE DIED.
DURING THE LAST MONTH OF MORNING FOR MY WIFE I HAD A STRANGE OCCURRENCE ONE EARLY MORNING. I WAS SLEEPING WITH MY RIGHT ARM EXTENDED WHEN I FELT SOMETHING WARM CLASP MY HAND, A WARM KISS ON MY MOUTH, AND A FINAL KISS ON MY FOREHED. BELIEVE ME.......I DO NOT JOKE AROUND ABOUT THAT......ALSO ONE EVENING, AS I SAT WITH FRIENDS, THE LIGHTS IN THE KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM STARTED TO FLICKER ...AFTER I MENTIONED HER NAME.......BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
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david said 8:46AM on 4-08-2008
when my dad died on 10/8/08 he asked me to take him to his home to die 45 min later he was gone...well 2 weeks latr i was at my computer with the heater on 85 and a cold wind went into my left ear..yes thier are ghost..nothing since but my dad stop by to say i love and im with you if you need me..so in closing dieing not so scary anymore..and i dont take life and money so serious..i'm 50 so i'm close
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Ruth Copinga said 4:07AM on 4-06-2008
I don't understand why people deny what has been proven to be true.
I always gave my husband Daisies, he was dying and I wanted him to the beauty while he still could. He used to sing the song I'll bring you a daisy a day to me. When my children and I came home after the funeral there on my pillow lay a daisy, the next one was left on my computer where I spend a lot of time since he passed away. I live alone, my children have homes of their own, no one but my husband and I new what the daisies meant to us. I have felt him touch my face and sit on the edge of the bed. I even have a picture I took six months after he passed away and he is sitting in that chair.
I have experienced paranormal activity since I was 15 yrs. old, I came very close to dying at that age and I assume the ability to pick up on ghosts, spirits, whatever you want to call them is what I received instead of dying.
Surely most of you have had things happen in your life, you just can't explain, open your minds alittle and you will be amazed. I don't have to explain all of this who those that know and believe, for those that can't believe or except these things, I am truly sorry for you.
Willows
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grammy said 12:46PM on 4-03-2008
I guess it's hard for anyone to believe in the life after death, but some of us have had our own experience with love one's after they have died.
When my my guy had die, I ask from the power to be, if he had went to heaven. After returning from the funeral home, I came into the house and it had a strong smell of men cologne in the air. My daugther and I both mention that my son had use way too much before he left the house. But, when he got home we mention why was he wearing so much cologne and he said, " I don't have any on". Well that statement spook me, and then I realize my guy must had came back to let me know he was okay.
Behind that day, he alway seem to come to comfort me by letting me know he's there. He woud shake my bed, or turn off the lights. I left that house, but I'm sure he's still there.
So, you see I do believe in ghost, just don't never want to see one, because I would lie if I said, "that wasn't a real ordeal to deal with".
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Amanda said 1:34PM on 4-03-2008
Well, when I was small, I would say probably 5-6, my brother and I were laying in our beds in an upstairs bedroom. Our bedroom was right across from the attic door. That attic door flew open and hit the wall. We were freaked out. We counted to three and ran past the door down the stairs. OM gosh I was so scared. My dad went upstairs to check everything out. He thought maybe a window was open in there. What I don't understand is that the door locks from the outside and no windows were open. This is the same room that my cousin and I saw a girl sitting at the edge of the bed when we woke up at the same time in the middle of the night. I also saw someone looking at me from outside a 2 story window. Since then my only encounter was about 3 weeks ago. I was soaking in the tub. Everyone in the house was sleeping (since this is the only ME time I get) and I heard someone knock on the bathroom door. I was so freaked out I opened the door and expected my son to be standing there. Nobody was there. So I made our dog sit in the open doorway.
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J. Shell said 2:08PM on 4-03-2008
Oh ye of little faith...boo
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teresa teresa said 10:02AM on 4-04-2008
Hey for Chrissy go ahead and move to Europe they have more ghosts there and more investigators lol. I know ghosts are real I have like many others had an experience. For anyone that doesnt believe you cant chage their mind. My hubby was this way until one morning something whispered in his ear and touched his face,. That did it for him lol
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Mike said 10:13AM on 4-04-2008
I have always been a skeptic about everything paranormal, and I've got some advice for the other skeptics. When you lose someone close to you, your opinion will probably change. I lost my father 2 years ago. He had a stroke and wasn't himself for several months, and we couldn't communicate. When he passed away, he contacted me 2 days later. Think what you want, but you will see. My mother lost her parents about 5 years ago, and experienced some paranormal events over a few months that would have absolutely came from her parents. We are all skeptics and still hardly speak about these events, but they really did happen. Maybe it has something to do with people that you are very close to, maybe there is a short period of time when this can happen, but I know of these cases and while I can't prove it, I know what happened.
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David W. Doubet said 11:43AM on 4-04-2008
Those are not spirits, ghosts, angels, or demons your hearing in your cellphones; they are tellapathic white supremists. It happened at the Super Bowl in Detriot (Pittsburgh vs Seattle). They started becoming tellapathic 300 years ago. They are mustly German Nobles who would not marry below their social status or people that spoke a different European language. The first group of tellapaths were the Persians (Province of Araya)after the time of Alexander the Great defeated Darius III. The Mongolians killed them all; that is why they invaded Central Europe & North America. They never invade Arabia (destroyed Bagdad twice. The Mongolians invaded northen India because the Persians settled there in 1100 BC. The Persians were also white; that is why the Neo-NAZIs, Klan, and Skinheads started calling themselves the Arayan Nation to unite with all the tellapathic whites. Incest is what creates a tellapath; remote gene in 2 nearly identical DNA strands.
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CHARLENE THOMPSON said 9:38PM on 4-29-2008
OUR GHOST IS FROM A LARGE CHARCOAL DRAWING OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRL. SHE HAS BEEN AROUND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, BUT SINCE WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SHE CAN DO A LOT MORE THINGS AND DOES NOT STAY WITH THE PICTURE. I ASKED HER NAME AND WHILE DOODL ING WROTE CARRIE ANN WESTON.SHE PLAYS WITH LIGHTS AND UNPLUGS THE AUDIO ON OUR DVD WHILE WE ARE WATCHING MOVIES.
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Anita said 11:51AM on 4-04-2008
Everyone at one time or another has had personal experiences with the after life even if they don't want to admit it. I, myself, have had many, I am a spiritualist medium and so was my mom, grandmom and great grandmom. It was normal in our home to see and hear and know things. Ask yourself, especially after loosing a loved one, have you dreamed of them talking with you? Have you smelled them in some way whether it be cologne, maybe something they always cooked or smoke if they were a smoker? They are saying "hello" as best they can. They are always around you, the body falls away but the Spirit lives on. Your loved one's protect you everyday and come to you many times whether your aware or not. Believe me they are there, I've seen them since I was eight years old.
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graziella said 11:44PM on 4-10-2008
replying to..anita...i read your comments, and i too believe in all of this, but recently, 9/25/07...suddenly, tragically, we lost our youngest of three sons..with no warning or present illness. he was so very special, loved his family, friends, work, and his life, with a passion...he was an inspiration to all who ever knew him, he was a devoted family member, and was the cement, and savoir to his family, he was magical, amazing and truly the most beautiful, loving , charming, kindest young man, that God ever created. The loss have been sudden, crushing and impossible to bear. each day, the pain only gets worse, because i am left with a million questions, and no answers. Is there anything that you can help me with...He was everything that was good in the world, his loss to his family, has left us with a void, and such emptyness that is impossible, for me to imagine a life, without him...He was everything, the sun, moon, stars, and air we breathe. He was a Glorious Person, all of his Life. When ever anyone would meet him, he would lift people up off of the ground, with his amazing loving qualities, the most beautiful eyes, and of course, his Magical personality....so many wonderful qualities and spiritual gifts, too numerous to mention here.
You said you are a medium, do your abilities reach out to others, or are your powers only with your family??
Can you please email me, if you can feel my pain, and see anything about what we lost??
Thank you, I came across this story quite by ..accident.
Becky said 12:16PM on 4-04-2008
Oh all of you out there saying you're non believers I guess you don't believe in THE HOLY GHOST!!! Hello THE FATHER SON & THE HOLY GHOST!!
Well I have to say I do believe there are ways to communicate with those we've lost and they definitely try to communicate with us! I have had many experiences myself and I have to say I feel sorry for those of you out there with such little faith!!! It's sad to see so many people with so little faith!!! As for you Chrissy, Teresa is right if you go to Europe you'll find a lot more GHOST HUNTERS AND HAUNTINGS!! You obviously don't pay to much attention to history!! I feel sorry for you that you have such a closed mind and such a lack of faith!!!
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rebecca said 1:17PM on 4-04-2008
I always hear about people who are mediums, but how do you find one you can trust and where can you find one?
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Lauren said 11:09AM on 4-07-2008
Rebecca, you should check out Mary Jo McCabe she is a "medium" of sorts...she communicates with her "guides" in order to connect with your loved ones who've passed. I've had a one on one with her and have also been to see her in a group setting. She used to live here in Baton Rouge, LA, but she has since moved. Check her out on the web. She is amazing and a wonderful person with a very unique gift. Good luck.
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grace said 7:00PM on 4-12-2008
Seems that every house I lived in since I was 12 yrs old, had ghosts in in, my mom was the same way about seeing things to , my Dad also saw a lot of things, the all happened when we lived in tenn. also in Miama, Fla. the mobile home I live in now, is also haunted, that is inBalm, fla. It's most of the time it is doors slamping, that started after my son passed away in sept 2007, it's what he used to do a lot to get my attention. they cannot hurt you, just like to be a pest mostly.guess the dont sleep in heaven. what do you think?
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Teresa said 9:55AM on 9-03-2008
My dad died in a car wreck in 1971, he was 51. I was 11, my mom was 48. The day we put him in the grave, that night my mom had just went to bed, worrying about how she was going to pay the bills. She tells the story of daddy appearing beside the bed, plain as day and told her, "everything is going to be alright", then he was gone.
Also, when I was 16 hadn't had my license long. While fiddling with the radio, I ran off the road into a ditch, no seat belt on, windows down, I should have been thrown from the car. But I felt strong hands on my shoulders, that kept me in the car. I know this was my dad, who had been coming to me in dreams. I DO believe in spiritualism. Thank God.
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Zander said 11:29PM on 9-05-2008
Does anyone know anywhere else to download that software? The website doesn't exist. I happened to stumble uopn it while searching for a program that will let your webcam detect apparitions, but i don't know if anything like that is available. This sounds good though
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