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.
Another day, another warning about the dangers of public Facebooking. We've seen how college applicants are getting shafted, as have seen other cases where employers are snooping at employees' profiles. Now we have a case of a teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina who stands to lose her job thanks to comments and pictures posted on her Facebook profile.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Freon said 3:29AM on 11-14-2008
There is a new protest group on Facebook with regards to this topic:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48599976390
The opposition of free speech by superintendent Peter Gorman of Thomasboro Elementary, who called for the said teacher to be fired, (and by other losers like him) is deeply disturbing. Free speech is an extremely important liberty, the violation of which should be vigorously protested and never ignored. To be clear, it doesn't matter whether Thomasboro Elementary is actually ghetto or not - I sure hope it's a wonderful school; it's the right to call it ghetto that matters.
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KK said 11:39AM on 11-24-2008
I am all for free speech, but how about a little discretion from these teachers? I am taking a guess here that they are younger, less experienced teachers. The guiding rule should be if its something you wouldn't say at work, it probably shouldn't be out there on the web. How about being a role model for your students? Out of all my friends I am one of the few who does not have a social site profile, and the reason is I don't want my personal life spread all over the web for my students, administrators or anyone else to see. I may not be doing anything inappropriate, but I want my life to be MINE, not everyone's to see. Otherwise how can I be a role model or a credible mentor to my students? People say the sites are for keeping in touch. Then use plain old email for your racy, rude, or otherwise inappropriate comments. Once you put something out there on the web, it can be copied over and over and over. It will never go away.
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eyelesscreature said 5:06AM on 12-03-2008
People need to get real. Posting something on Facebook shouldn't be grounds for dismissal from any type of employment, whether it be teaching or anything else. It seems like everyone is forgetting that teachers (the ones that teach your children) are human as well. I agree that perhaps comments such as those should be kept to one's self, but whose business is it if someone wants to voice their opinion?
The problem with society is people take offense to too much and want to make a big deal out of it. Aww... Did it hurt your feelings? Big deal. Cry me a river, build a bridge, and GET OVER IT!! Everybody whines about what people say. There are a lot of people frustrated with their job. There are many factors that influence that, and if someone doesn't like their employer, or the way they do business, it is within their rights to voice that opinion. Who cares if the employer doesn't like it. I'm sure the employee doesn't like working in a bad neighborhood surrounded by people that piss on walls and have no respect, and think that things are going to work according to them. What if the employee doesn't have an alternative?
Furthermore, what an employee does "off the clock" so to speak, is not any business of the employer at all. The employer doesn't own the employee. And the employee doesn't have to surrender all of his/her rights just because some idiot higher in managment thinks he's God. Not everybody actually gives a damn whether or not their kid's teacher has "suggestive" poses on her web page. Even so, if you're worried about it, don't let your kids view those types of pages, and there will be no problem. People need to grow up and mind their own business. If someone wants to post their life story on the web, more power to them.
And if people are worried about their 3rd grader seeing a picture of their teacher, they would have a damn stroke if they only knew what that child sees and hears every single day at school. C'mon folks. Get real... When I was in 3rd grade, children were making out in restrooms and everybody was using profanity and stealing pencils. Bullies attacked in groups and drugs were already being toyed with. A picture of a teacher sticking her ass up in the air was of no relevance. So, please, get real.
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Will said 3:53PM on 2-09-2009
Ditto!
SRB said 2:46PM on 2-06-2009
There is no privacy in facebook, regardless of how you limit access. If you post something, it is public domain, and can be used against you. Companies by the hundreds access facebook to deem candidates as morally qualified, or not. These people, ESPECIALLY teachers, need to use their brains when posting information about themselves. And not just on their pages. Pictures on others' pages can be used against you...If you need advice on not shooting yourself in the foot career wise, google MICHAEL PHELPS...DUH....
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analyst said 6:21PM on 2-06-2009
Little tantrum effeminate PC dictators engineering our society. She pointed a gun at the camera? Who doesn't have a camera that can be set to auto? Boy, they are such heroes to have detected this teacher and disciplined her. Wow, we are so safe now due to this moronic police wannabe set brooding over our kids.
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di said 11:33PM on 2-08-2009
It is the person's down time but teachers are role models for
the students.
Gun violence takes children's lives here in the USA.
But down there don't they belive in Guns?
The right to bare arms?
It isn't a Northern State and Guns are sold and used a lot for hunting and such.
Privicy setting is a no brainer..... at least he wasn't posting kidie prorn or any pornography maybe he should get suspended but loose his job don't think so we do have freedom of speech and the right to bere arms it's part of the consitution I believe. Most of the weapons used to kill come from the south the gun laws are so laspe down there.
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