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.
There have been a number of cool Google Maps hacks, and while some are useful, many are just for fun. A new map-based application from the National Sex Offender Registry website familywatchdog.us definitely falls into the useful category. The site already uses Google Maps to display sex offenders and, today, will launch a new service to enable parents to get the same maps of sex offenders via cell phone. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
xcon said 11:59PM on 2-05-2008
There was once a time not so long ago when these things were rare. But people made a big deal out of every little infraction...and the laws got tougher. Then the crimes got worse. And the laws got tougher. and the crimes got even worse. Today it is not unusual at all to hear about 5 or 10 people being massacred, for a whole family to be slashed up like butchered hogs. Common for children to be murdered. And in this society which exclaims for the "protection of children", even the police use TASERS on TODDLERS. But I will not know what a sex offender is, by your definition. Because the Police Officers who raped Abner Louima with a plunger handle...they are not regarded as rapists. They do not need to register their faces on any website. And in this society which locks people in prison and then cheers as they rape each other...how can you look yourself in the mirror and not realize that YOU are a rapist by proxy? This is a very complex problem, and it will destroy the USA because we have turned our backs on God and Justice.
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Daniel Gaunt said 5:43AM on 2-06-2008
someone training to be a teacher had a wee down a back alley during a night out at around 1am. the police saw him, he was arrested and put on the sex offenders registar. He is a now a sex offender. but do you really think he is a danger to anyone?
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
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Maria said 5:17PM on 2-06-2008
This is important: Just what was the crime? A friend was biking, parked his truck in far corner of parking lot, was changing from sweaty bike shorts into comfortable shorts, trying to be discreet, watched him get into truck with shorts and step out in jeans, called police - he admitted to changing inside truck cab. Because he was in a public place he now has to register as a sex offender. Another case...15yr old girl with 17 yr old boyfriend, he turns 18, her parents get mad..you know the story, now he is a registered sex offender. Oh by the way as soon as she turned 16, she spent all her time with him, they are planning on marrying as soon as legal. The facts are not always as they seem. In no way do I excuse the pervs that harm small children, casteration is the way for them
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xcon said 10:20PM on 2-07-2008
The American justice system is so backwards and counterproductive it is truly a comedy of errors. Or perhaps a comedy of tragedies. One thing is for sure....when people talk about their pet victims they are NOT referring to the hundreds of thousands of people who are doing time in prison who were also victims of child sexual abuse. They clamour about children this, victims that. But if you get locked up for something you cease to be a victim. Seems like the definition of victim is very flimsy. Hating pedophiles makes about as much sense as hating people with cancer or diabetes. Being a pedophile is a sickness. An illness. A horrible curse. And although I am not one, I will say that hating them will not heal them.
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Paula said 8:21PM on 5-10-2008
Some of the laws do need to be changed. BUT I AGREE...once you are convicted...because these are the laws which are still currently in place, right or wrong...everyone has the right to know. To those who think they don't...how would you feel if your child, mother, brother, or sister was raped or molested? Would you feel the same way?
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Nicole said 10:17AM on 7-07-2008
I agree with you Paula
Mario said 1:38PM on 7-17-2007
Mapping sex offenders on cell phone? Why stop there? Map ALL criminals on your cell phone, then we can start mapping the different races of people too.
I have never seen a group of people more villianized, ridiculed and harassed then sex offenders. I would think murderers would be somewhat of a problem...
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Nicole said 10:22AM on 7-07-2008
I think we should know on cell phones , computers and newspapers where there are sex affenders at all times to keep children and adults safe. There should be branded! All sex affenders should be castrated when they get convicted before they get released from jail so they can't hurt anyone again. Once a sex affender always a sex affender. From what I have learned they do it once, they will do it again Being notified anyway possible is wonderful. No breaks for them on my part.
Nicole
Markus said 3:35PM on 7-17-2007
Mario, I couldnt agree more. While i never condone anything that anyone who is convicted of a sex crime does, it is so unfortunate to see how for some reason sex offenders arent allowed to have a second chance as free citizens who have paid their debt and who were deemed BY A COURT OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES that they are fit to be meaningful members of society. And the other thing is, while incarcerated, many sex offenders go through treatment for their problems, unlike almost all other crimes except for possible AA and NA. So wouldnt that mean that a lot of them are better fit for the streets than most criminals who just serve their time and get out and do it all over again cause they havent learned a thing? I dont get it.
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james said 5:39PM on 7-17-2007
The two of you, Mario and Markus, sound like maybe you are close to the 90 day check-in with the authorities. OBVIOUSLY, you have not had a child be sexually attacked by one of these scumbags. When you commit a crime of this nature, you give up your rights that we all hold dear, and, whether or not you like it, will always come under the scrutiny of both the public as well as law enforcement. Don't delude yourselves. Murderers, rapists, cyber thieves, armed robbers,
and the like who have committed these crimes will always have a shadow following them, right or wrong. Aside from all that, the likelihood of a sex offender repeating the crime after they get out, after 'therapy', is as likely as saying that it will rain someday. DON'T DO THE CRIME IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME, as they say, and in the case of sex offenders, this would be for the rest of their lives. It's too bad all the bleeding hearts out there whine so loudly about how their rights have been violated or stripped down. Maybe you all should consider how a child or any person feels when they have their rights as human beings violated and stripped down when they are raped or molested(that's really what we're talking about here, isn't it?) For those few who have picked up a girl or guy in a club/bar, and swear they didn't know they were under the age of majority (18 for all you scumbags out there), keep your dick in your pants and it wouldn't happen. You guys get no pity from me. YOU screwed up your own lives, SO QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT AND DEAL WITH IT!
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Abby said 10:10AM on 7-24-2007
James,obviously you have never been wrongly accused of anything in your life! You must be loved by all. There are some people whether they be "so-called" sex offenders, murderers, robbers, etc. who have been WRONGLY CONVICTED and have served time for being innocent! Just because you ARE proven guilty in a court of law does NOT necessarily make it true! Depending upon your race and your geographic location...if you so much as look at someone wrong, you could be a sex offender! I do hate it for you if one day you are ever accused of such a horrible accusation. Good luck trying to prove your innocence. Just because someone says you did something to them and they happen to be a juvenile (teen) doesn't necessarily make it true. You could be so hated by that person that all that teenager wants to do is get you in trouble...what would you do then? It's your word against theirs and because they are a kid/teen, of course, the courts will side with them. Children and teenagers do lie especially if they are upset with you. Someone could say they were touched in their "privates" and there's no DNA in that instance. How do you defend yourself? Just remember, not everyone accused is truly guilty! There's always that fine line between true guilt and innocence...
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art said 8:39AM on 7-20-2007
James,I understand where you're coming from with personal experience, but at the same time, both Mario and Markus both make points that are more accurate and less biased than yours.
If you could, please enlighten us with the source of your obviously factual quote: "the likelihood of a sex offender repeating the crime after they get out, after 'therapy', is as likely as saying that it will rain someday." Have you read any studies on the matter, or do you just listen to the evening news? Any person who does his research will see that the likelihood is significantly lesser than that, and for some younger offenders coupled with therapy, a minimal percentage will re-offend.
Also, Megan's law is not unnecessarily an effective child protection tool, and many states are now investigating the actual merit of registries. NJ is one of them. Search the New York Times for articles about it.
Also, the age of majority is not 18 in all places. Some states have the age of full consent as low as 16; again, NJ for example.
And regardless of the crimes that an individual commits, they are still a human being, and as such, have rights. The rights of criminals with exponentially higher recidivism rates, like burglars, drug dealers/users, and and even murderers are not trampled in the way that sex offenders are. In certain cases, yes, the public should be aware. But in many more, that only creates the environment of fear that people thrive on: the media, prosecutors, and you. If your rights were infringed upon, you would be the last one to "QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT AND DEAL WITH IT". The media attention on sex offenders only helps their ratings, not the community at large, not the offender, and certainly not the victim.
All that said, my point is that this is a largely misunderstood subject, where information comes from sensationalizing or uninformed sources. Before you form opinions, look at actual studies on the topic, or, think of the people involved, not just the victims.
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Loren said 6:23PM on 7-26-2007
It is true that sex offenders are the only ones that cannot be rehabilitated. I have heard this from numerous sources. I am sure that you can google it to find some actual hard core statistics. I agree, that it would be nice to be able to track other types of criminals, but the ones that would qualify as needing to be tracked, are already in prison or on death row. The ones that prey on helpless, young children need to be SERIOUSLY watched because for some reason, our judicial system doesn't think that they should be put in prison for life. The way that I look at it, is that the offender shouldn't care that his/her name is broadcasted to the public and their neighbors. Afterall, they didn't do anything wrong, right? It goes back to the saying, "If you haven't done anything wrong, then you shouldn't have anything to hide." I think that everyone has the right to know who is living next them and has the right to know what type of people are involved in you and your childrens lives. I am a single mom and these days, I actually feel obligated to run the name of my date through the data base just to make sure.You can never be too safe. You may think the guy is interested in you when it is really your son or daughter he is trying to get to. Neither I nor anyone in my family has ever been a victim, thank goodness, but I am very thankful for the new laws and very thankful for the dedicated folks who strive to protect our children.
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Mike said 1:49PM on 6-22-2008
loren, Please go to the Dept of justice web site. Look at this page and learn something. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rpr94.htm Look who is the least likely to re-offend.
Here is a polatition who finally admits how much of a big lie our government oficials have been telling all of us. What for i wounder? Money, Votes HHHMMMMM. http://theparson.net/so/mythology.htm look at this one, it might help you understand how much your loving politians and media have been LIEING TO YOU at not only the cost of American citizens freedom but at the cost of the Constitution and Bill of rights. http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/03nov_recidivism_high.htm The government thrives on scare tactics in order to make money and stay in power. It continually strives to prove to us how much we need it. Even at the cost of it's own citizens.
Mike said 2:03PM on 6-22-2008
loren, Please go to the Dept of justice web site. Look at this page and learn something. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rpr94.htm Look who is the least likely to re-offend.
Here is a polatition who finally admits how much of a big lie our government oficials have been telling all of us. What for i wounder? Money, Votes HHHMMMMM. http://theparson.net/so/mythology.htm look at this one, it might help you understand how much your loving politians and media have been LIEING TO YOU at not only the cost of American citizens freedom but at the cost of the Constitution and Bill of rights. http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/03nov_recidivism_high.htm The government thrives on scare tactics in order to make money and stay in power. It continually strives to prove to us how much we need it. Even at the cost of it's own citizens.
Rosie said 10:49PM on 8-06-2007
Well, here is an interesting tid bit of information. 25% of sex offenders are innocent. Once someone is accused of this crime whether they did it or not there best bet is to just plead guilty. I personally think there is something wrong with the system.
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Andy Martin said 3:35PM on 8-06-2007
No, actually the assumption that "therapy" works for sex-offenders is wrong. Much of what passes for treatment is really lacking in any medical or scientific basis. It is mostly based on AA's "12 step program", which in turn is closely modelled on the beliefs and practices of a religious cult called the Oxford Group. It is really scandalous that this Pseudo-religious snake oil is held up to be legitimate treatment for anything. AA was found to be no better than no treatment at all in the most rigorously conducted trial to date (by Vaillant) and the results of applying a variant of AA's method to treating sex-offenders have been that they became slightly more likely to offend. Sex-offenders are notorious for their recidivism.
The only people to benefit from administering "treatment" to sex-offenders are the therapists who make a living out of it.
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Dan Mesfin said 5:47PM on 8-07-2007
My father was wrongly charged, convicted and then sentanced for 8 years and put on the sex offenders register. If anyone dared to publish his details on such a website I would personaly burn their house down and kill all of there family. The whole legal system has gone haywire and doesnt even begin to consider that maby the accused are inoccent. I understand parents concerns but it isn't always the offender to blame, in alot of cases evidence is fabricated and exagarated and infact the so called "victim" may have encoureged the offender by the way he or she acted or dressed. I know im going off the point but i'd like to say one more thing. IF YOU ARE INOCCENT YOU WILL NEVER WIN, THE MORE YOU DENEY THE CHARGES THE MORE DANGERIOUS YOU ARE SEEN TO BE, BUT IF YOU REALLY ARE INOCCENT DONT GIVE UP, KEEP ON FIGHTING AND DONT GIVE IN BECAUSE IN THE END YOUR REAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL STICK BY YOU AND WILL TRULEY KNOW THAT YOU ARE INOCCENT.
Dan Mesfin, 15 years old
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ange said 12:30PM on 8-27-2007
WHAT????? Feeling sorry for the Devil himself? YOU FREAKS! SICK.SICK.SICK.
They should NEVER get a second chance. In fact they should be put down like the MAD DOGS they are.
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Mimi said 1:28PM on 8-27-2007
Child molesters shouldnt be allowed to walk the streets with our children. Once they have taken a child's trust and twisted them for life they deserve nothing -- no freedom, no choices, no second chances with our children
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