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.
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack said 11:32PM on 7-23-2008
It always seems as though Mississippi imposes the strictest and most insignificant laws in this nation.
Reply
hall monitor said 9:43PM on 7-23-2008
Some interesting Pro's and Con's of this story can be found on http://detentionslip.org. The leader for crazy school house news.
Reply
Gary Math Professor said 12:57AM on 7-24-2008
I have a facebook account and have been invited by several students to become friends. I always decline, and if I see them in school afterwards, and they ask about it, I just tell them I prefer to keep my private and business lives separate. In general, it is a bad idea. However, I know some of my colleagues do it.
Gary NYC
Brooklyn, NY
Reply
Stacy said 2:48AM on 7-24-2008
I totally agree with this. I'm a substitute teacher, and although I've gotten to know some students in the classroom and will speak to them if I see them outside of school, I definitely don't want to become buddies with them! Plus my private, adult life is none of their business unless I choose to share that information with them. My experience with students, especially at the high school level, is that they can be cruel and downright spiteful, and private information in the wrong hands (i.e. a student you've pissed off or who doesn't like you) is NEVER a good thing. I know some colleagues of mine (full-time teachers I have gotten to know) who are quite chummy with many of their students (texting, emailing, communicating through myspace or facebook), and it's pretty creepy if you ask me. It just seems like poor judgment and like it could lead to a heap of problems. Just better not to open the can of worms.
Reply
ipodrulz said 8:42AM on 7-24-2008
Im gonna be the first student to post and say this is just stupid... Can you really treat teachers as a different being? What makes a teacher any different from a stranger on the street, or a family friend? I go to a school were teachers and stundents can actually hang out with each other. Outside of school they're just older friends... we have their cell phones, we have them on Facebook, we have their address, but no one has been raped. I think my teachers are just professional enough to understand that different environments require different attitude and behaviours.
Reply
Tara Singletary said 12:34PM on 7-24-2008
Actually, Stacy makes some very good points. "ipodrulz," a teacher IS different from a stranger on the street, or a family friend, because a teacher holds your future in their hands, assuming you are in high school. A teacher holds the key to your grades, which will determine what college you can get into, which will affect your whole life. Brown-nosers, suck-ups, "pets" and "favorites" are found in both adult and student spheres; the only difference is that for adults, the gain is money, and for students, the gain is a good grade. It's called "conflict of interest."
As for the article bringing up the subject of "listening to the Police too much," you don't need to dredge up a quarter-century-old, fictional song for the subject of teacher-student sexual relations. Do the names Mary Kay LeTourneau and Debra LaFave ring a bell?
But mostly, I think this is just amusing. What MATURE adult really wants to hang out with a kid anyway?!
Reply
matt said 1:14PM on 7-26-2008
Some adults do enjoy leading and developing kids (e.g. Boy Scouts, Girl scouts, Campfire Girls, Boys and Girls Clubs and other similar civic-minded organizations).
X said 3:46PM on 7-24-2008
This has been a rule in my large Alabama school system for many years now. We, also, may not email even parents using anything other than the school system's provided email address for us. The causes of these rules came as a result of reported electronic harassment from kids & parents toward teachers; teachers selling grades; sexual misconduct between teachers & students; and other inappropriate behavior. Some schools, such as the one where I presently teach, do not punish teachers who break the system rule; they have the social networking or texting/cell phone and outside email contacts with our high schoolers. As a result, we have had the problems the rule is meant to prevent.
Reply
MikeL said 4:45PM on 7-24-2008
I believe this is all interpreted by what level of education it is. Anything involving High School and below, students and teachers should be conversing mainly through the school, and email. Other than that, no outside influence is needed.
On a college level or higher, I believe that all forms of communication could be used (except address, thats a bit weird) . Id have to say I stay in touch with my students via email and phone, in case they need a letter of professional reference or help on an assignment or just a general question about something that was going on during class, or to setup a tutoring time.
When it comes down to Facebook, and Myspace that does cross the line between professional and personal.
Reply
Becky said 5:31PM on 7-24-2008
It always made my skin crawl a little when my teammates treated my high-school coach like more of a friend than they treated me. They had his MySpace and his cell phone , they'd send him texts and he'd send them right back. It never went "over the line," but I think they could have been doing something a lot more productive with their time.
I agree that students and teachers should keep their work and social lives private.
Reply
Baron said 5:31PM on 7-24-2008
I heard about this on the radio the other day (since it isn't far away from us in Jackson) and I think it is a fine idea. I am not long out (well, longer than I like to think) of college and my wife and several of her friends are teachers. Our friends that are teaching high school have been hit on, asked to the prom, had personal phone and cell phone numbers stolen, bashed on myspace and facebook, etc. There is a line that a teacher can't cross with a student and social networking really blurs that line. For the student that just posted, you have to realize that a teacher is in a position of authority and there are different rules for someone in that position. Otherwise, a 21 year old teacher coming out of college could legally date 18 year old high schoolers that they are teaching and that is just not cool. On the other hand, since my mom was worked in the school and I was fairly involved with academics (it also helped that it was a small town and many of my teachers were parents of my friends), some of my best adult friends were teachers. Again, it's just a different day and age.
Reply
Maria said 9:40PM on 7-24-2008
As a high school teacher for 11 years, I always turn down 'friend' requests of my current students. They are very understanding when I explain it's not appropriate and they do not want to get me or themselves into trouble.
However, my students and their parents do have my cell number for emergency purposes and I am proud to say that none of them has ever taken advantage of that. I direct the marching band and there are occasions where we are on trips where the kids are separated from me (in amusement parks, for example). If a group gets lost, or a student is hurt or is ill, they contact me if necessary and even the first aid station at the park has my number. These are not social calls, but sharing numbers has been helpful on numerous occasions.
There is a professional way to establish boundaries without the school system having to get involved. It helps to establish a quality relationship with the students and their families so that you can communicate freely when necessary. It's very sad that there are those who overstep these boundaries who necessitate regulations that cast an air of suspicion on educators.
Reply
cindie said 11:18AM on 7-25-2008
I am a high school cheerleading coach and every member of the squad as well as her parents have my cell number and email. I talk to the girls on a regular basis. It is good for them to know I am not far and know what is going on in their community.
I also use my cell to let them know about practices etc. We have a great system. Usually the cheer captain texts everyone about an event, and when they get the message, everyone is required to say "ok" or got it, etc. I do the same thing if I am sending out information. Then, we only have to make phone calls to the ones who didn't reply. Do you have ANY idea how much time that saves?!
Also, I can talk to a parent quickly, only about the issue at hand, and at the same time I am doing other things with a text message instead of a phone call which can turn into a long drawn out conversation!
Just my two cents. Maybe they should put some guidelines on the restriction.
Reply
jim said 11:10AM on 7-25-2008
Come on people, there is NOTHING wrong with students and teachers hanging out. There is a BIG difference between hanging out and dating!!!
GET REAL!!
Reply
R Bizzle said 5:03PM on 7-25-2008
I am on both sides of the fence.I am a middle school teacher. I dont give out my cell number to students. I dont want them calling me except if we are on a field trip or something. I do have a Myspace and Facebook and I only add students once the school year is completed. Then they all want to be my friends on Myspace. I think its ok. There are some former students that I will be friends with once they are older and I want to keep in contact with. Teachers are regular people; we poop just like everyone else. That position of power statement is another debate...I think the bigger issue is that when I was a kid, we never saw our teachers outside the classroom, let alone calling/texting. Nowadays, my students see me at the mall, out on dates and they are more excited to see me outside the class than I am to see them. I have some coworkers who call there students, give them rides and such, but that is going to far I think.
Reply
Chelsea said 10:43PM on 7-30-2008
Alright, now I'm from Florida. I know, home to the - it's okay to sleep with your students - teachers that this country knows and loves.
But I have my teachers numbers and text them on weekends and have gone to movies and stuff with them. I don't see the big deal in it. I mean, I'm eighteen now, but last year and the year before - 16/17 - I did the same thing. I have this teacher, he's 24, and handing or going to the movies, dinner, with him is no different than with my friends.
Neither is sending a "WTF R U UP2?" text.
I just don't get this Mississippi rule.
Reply
Sam said 11:39AM on 7-26-2008
Even after the student is no longer a student, it can really be trouble.
http://mydearestreader.blogspot.com/
Reply
Chase said 10:35PM on 7-26-2008
Yeah, this is possibly the dumbest rule I've ever seen. Like someone else said teachers are just like any other person you meet and as long as teachers maintain themselves in a professional way then what is the problem. There are many other positions than teacher that require responsibility and they dont restrict them when they possibly require it even more... In fact new law cops can't have friends either, nor can judges, or any other job with responsibility. Wouldn't want that temptation of making friends to alter your choices. Really this law idiotic and state law should stop trying to control peoples personal lives. Government wasn't meant to change your personal life it is to maintain order, protect us, and to regulate our economy. If a person is irresponsible maybe don't hire them to work at your school. If they are responsible then what is the problem.
Reply
Virginia said 7:16PM on 9-24-2008
As a parent of a teenage daughter that just graduated from school this year and ran off with one of her teachers that is 22 years her senior, I do agree with this ruling. This should have been passed a long time ago. Teachers should not have a relationship with any student outside of the school grounds.
Reply