Times are tough and the chances of you getting (or giving) a fully-equipped laptop with all the extras this holiday season are about as slim as the new MacBook Air.

But don’t despair. There are still plenty of cool gadgets out there that cost around $100 or less.

The five products I selected here–the new Apple TV, a pocket camcorder, a Logitech HD Webcam, TomTom’s entry-level GPS and a Wacom tablet–all make great gifts, but they really just scratch the surface.

In order to stick with the $100 price limit, I did not include e-readers here but with price on Amazon’s Kindle Wi-Fi down to $139, it is likely to be a very popular gift this holiday season.

The older Nintendo DS Lite is also approaching $100 with the newer models (the DSi and DSi XL) on the market and a 3D version in the pipeline for next year.

I also left out mobile devices that require a monthly fee, but if that’s not an issue, there are many good smartphones and mobile hotspots that you can get for $100 or less with a contract as well.

No doubt when Black Friday rolls around, there will be even more tech gifts that fit within your budget too.

• Apple TV

This is one of those rare cases where the sequel is better than the original.

Just in time for the holidays, Apple went back to the drawing board for the Apple TV, redesigning the device inside and out, slashing the price to $99 and adding new features such as high-def TV show rentals and Netflix streaming.

The revamped Apple TV is much smaller than the old model–it no longer has a hard drive-and it is designed to slip easily and unobtrusively into your home theater. Apple TV receives video and other content over 802.11n WiFi (or Ethernet, if you prefer) and outputs it via HDMI. It comes with a minimalist remote, but you can also use the free Remote app with your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.

The excellent Apple TV interface makes it easy to navigate quickly through content, which centers around iTunes and Netflix but also includes access to other services such as YouTube and Flickr. AirPlay, a new feature that is part of the iOS 4.2 update, promises to let you push any content playing your iPhone to Apple TV.

The selection of TV shows is still very spotty–Amazon’s Video On Demand service has a broader selection-but overall the new Apple TV is a great gift for Apple fans.

• Flip Ultra HD Pocket Camcorder

HD pocket camcorders have become a popular category, with solid models available not only from Pure Digital, which makes the Flip and is now part of Cisco, but also from the likes of Kodak and Sony.

While these are much less expensive than traditional camcorders, most pocket camcorders-including the latest Flip Ultra HD and Flip Mino HD-cost more than $100. But I’ve included them here because if you shop around you can find last year’s models for less than $100.

For a little extra, you can pick up the latest version of the Flip UltraHD, which shoots 720p. It is available in either one-hour version (4GB) for $129 or a two-hour model (8GB) for $179-both in white or black. Both models shoot video with surprisingly good quality, but the two-hour version can capture video at 60 frames per second and has electronic image stabilization, making it a better choice for fast-moving subjects.

The included FlipShare software makes it easy to edit video and upload it to YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter and MySpace.

The beauty of the Flip Ultra HD is its simplicity. It won’t match the quality of a standard camcorder, but for quickly capturing video anywhere, anytime it is tough to beat.

• Logitech C510 HD Webcam

At around $60, the Logitech C510 HD webcam is an inexpensive upgrade for laptops (or desktops) that lack an integrated Webcam or have an older VGA camera.

The C510 has a 2-megapixel image sensor that is capable of capturing 720p video or still images. The camera comes with its own video chat software, but it also works well with Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and Google Chat.

The Follow My Face feature works exactly like it sounds, keeping the camera centered on your face as you move around. RightSound filters out ambient noise and enhances voice quality and RightLight auto-compensates for poor lighting conditions, resulting in crisp, and clear 720p video calls-provided your hardware meets the minimum system requirements.

Logitech’s software also offers simple one-click uploads to sites such as YouTube and Facebook,–features now found on nearly all Webcams-and effects that you can add to videos (you can download additional effects from Logitech’s site).

• TomTom Ease GPS

TomTom’s entry-level GPS doesn’t have the bells and whistles of more expensive PNDs, but it will get you from point A to point B, and it has some nice features you wouldn’t expect in a unit that can easily be found at places such as Target for less than $100.

The Ease has a 3.5-inch QVGA color touchscreen and it comes in three different colors (black, white and red); TomTom also sells replacement covers in other colors. TomTom’s standard interface can be confusing, but this model includes simplified interface and the home screen has two basic choices: Plan route and Browse map.

But the Ease also has some advanced features found on more expensive PNDs including a text-to-speech engine that reads street names aloud when giving turn-by-turn directions; TomTom’s IQ Route’s technology, which uses historical speed data to create smart routes; and Map Share, a free user-generated map corrections network.

TomTom’s Home software lets you download (or upload) these Map Share updates, get map updates, manage points of interest and create custom routes, Because the Ease does not have a card slot, you can transfer these updates to the unit using a USB to mini-USB cable.

The performance of the Ease is rock solid, and because it is compact and gets around 3 hours of battery life, it is also easy to carry around.

You can occasionally find TomTom’s higher-end units for around $100, and these offer added features such as lane guidance, more points of interest and maps of Canada and Mexico that some users may want. But for the price, it’s hard to beat TomTom’s Ease and it makes a great gift for someone who has never used a GPS before.

• Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch

Long before touchscreens made it big, Wacom was cranking out professional tablets for designers and digital artists. Not surprisingly, the company is pretty good at it.

Its latest line, the Wacom Bamboo, is designed to reach a broader audience and consists of three base models. The Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch CTH460 ($99) comes in black, and has both multi-touch and pen capabilities. It has a 4.9 x 3.4 inch active touch area, and a 5.8 x 3.6 inch active pen area. It includes with Adobe Photoshop Elements and Nik Color Efex Pro software.

The Wacom Bamboo Touch CTT460 only has touch input and the Wacom Bamboo Pen CTL460 only has pen input. Both look identical to the Bamboo Pen & Touch and each costs $69. The Bamboo Pen also includes a copy of Corel Painter Essentials 4. CNET reviewed Wacom’s flagship model, the Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch, which costs more ($199), but is larger (7.5 x 5.1 inches for touch input, 8.5 x 5.4 inches for pen), comes in silver and Corel Painter Essentials 4, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Nik Color Efex Pro software.

But the basic features are the same as in the smaller version. The Bamboo provides multi-touch controls for Windows and Mac OS X and the pressure-sensitive stylus works great for simulating brushstrokes in painting programs. The device automatically switches back and forth between touch and pen modes depending on which is in use.

If the recipient is a Mac OS user, you may also want to consider Apple’s Magic Trackpad ($69), but Wacom’s Bamboo Pen & Touch offers more features.

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Visit our Top tech gifts under $100 for some simple ideas for dad.

Gifts.com has a great selection of the coolest gifts for dad. They offer a selection for every type of dad out there so take a look this year and get something one of a kind that truly says “my dad”. This website has a selection for the guy’s guy, the geek, the devoted dad and so much more. This is a one stop shop for the dad of many styles and faces, this is a can’t miss online store for the well rounded all American dad.

If your dad is into sports, drinking with his buddies, poker nights and his everyday attire is jeans and a ball cap think a guy’s guy kind of gift this year. Get your dad a one of a kind NFL Grill Cover. He’s always decked out in his favorite team so why not personalize his equipment too he’ll love the thought and will be able to show off his favorite team all while keeping the grill cozy through those winter months. If your dad loves to grill, an NFL grilling branding iron could be what he’s been wanting. When he grills this summer he’ll show support for his favorite NFL team every time. For that special dad of entertainment help him show his loyalty for his favorite team by getting him a portable refrigerator for sports fans, he’ll always have a cold brew or drink handy while showing off his loyalty for that team he really loves. These gifts are unique and multi-purpose pieces of function, not only does he get to grill and have a cold beverage which he loves but gets to do it with the support he loves to give his sports team.

What family doesn’t love their geeky dad. Computers, technology and new gadgets. If this describes your dad take a look at the geeky dad link on gifts.com. Check out the Virtual Portable IMAX Theater Experience for your dad, a wide screen 52″ 16 by 9 virtual movie experience right from his iPod is one item that he’ll be sure to pack every time he’s on the go. If your dad is the geeky professional type think about getting him an HP Mini-Notebook keep him plugged in with this new feature letting your on the go dad have the electronic world at his fingertips being able to access anything from email to the worldwide web there will be no stopping him.

Visit our Top tech gifts under $100 for some simple ideas for dad.

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Laptops or notebook computers are the ultimate high tech
gadgets of our time. They offer a tremendous amount of
technology in a small versatile machine: you can surf the
web, you can watch movies or play games, you can create
graphics or do a spreadsheet, you can write your next novel
or write your latest school report, you can listen to music
or connect directly by webcam to all your friends… anywhere,
anytime. These are just a few of the things you can do on your
laptop.

And those are all good solid reasons why you should be
considering buying a laptop if you’re in the market for
a personal computer. Now here are some reasons why you
should make that laptop purchase ONLINE.

1. Convenience

Buying your laptop online is very convenient. You can sit in
your living room and order one of these technical marvels
within a few minutes. Granted, visiting your local mall or
tech shop will give you an opportunity to examine your
future purchase first-hand, but for many buyers in distant
or remote locations this is not an option.

Online shopping makes it convenient for everyone to buy
their laptop, no matter where they live. It gives everyone
the same deals and specials that they normally would not
get without the Internet. It is a form of ‘Shopping Democracy’
in action.

Forget long drives to a busy mall, high gas prices, crowded stores…
ordering and buying your laptop from the comfort of your living
room or your home office offers great convenience and satisfaction.

2. Better Selection

Shopping online for your notebook offers you a greater
selection. Actually, these days just about any laptop
invented can be bought online. Your selection will be much
greater than you can get in a brick and mortar store.

Most major laptop stores and manufacturers have online outlets
so finding a merchant to suit your requirements will be very
easy to do. Finding and configuring your perfect laptop will
be much simpler if you do it online. You can take your time
and you won’t be rushed by impatient customers waiting in the
line behind you or frustrated by a pushy sales clerk in front
of you!

3. Laptop Reviews

Perhaps, one of the best aspects of buying your laptop on
the web, are all the reviews and customer ratings you can
examine before making your final decision. The Internet
is a vast warehouse of reviews and customer ratings on
the products you want to buy. Third party review sites
and online notebook guides are also helpful when you’re
looking for general information on purchasing a laptop
or computer.

Many online stores have customer feedback and reviews
which are extremely helpful. Whether positive or negative
these reviews will guide you in making a better purchasing
decision. So you should take full advantage of these online
laptop reviews and sites.

4. Comparison Shopping

Compare before you buy. Another obvious benefit of buying
your laptop online, you can compare all the different prices
and stores before you buy. The Internet makes this much
more convenient than driving around in the real world
to four or five stores just to get the best price.

Online shopping offers you a great chance to do some
serious comparison shopping before you buy. Surf
around and save your money.

5. Best Pricing

Online stores offer very competitive pricing, mainly
because there are no overheads or expenses these stores
have to keep. Everything is automated and computerized
which can mean bigger savings and lower prices for
anyone buying online. It is more like buying from a
warehouse outlet than a retail store. You will
get a lower price.

Keep in mind, any online store will have a huge consumer
base (the whole world in most cases) that their volume
levels may be extremely high so offering lower prices
is within reason and good business.

6. Laptop Coupons

Many major online laptop sellers such as Dell, HP, Toshiba
do offer online coupons and special sales which can mean
tremendous savings or discounts for the average buyer.
In many cases these coupons or deals are only available
online so it really pays to buy your laptop from the web.

7. Free Shipping

Free shipping is also offered by many online retailers
and notebook manufacturers. This is another reason
why buying online can prove beneficial. UPS or next
day shipping is often available, although if you’re
having your laptop configured or created to your
own specifications it usually takes longer to receive
your purchase.

So the next time you’re thinking about buying a laptop,
consider buying it online. It will not only be more
convenient but you will also have a wider selection, better
pricing, and all the reviews and customer feedback you
will need to make a wise decision. Moreover, it doesn’t
matter where you live, you can comparison shop to find
the best deal to suit your needs. Plus, if you check around,
you can get free shipping thrown in as an extra reason
to buy your laptop online.

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If you’ve seen so-called “smart houses” with remote controls for lights, heating and cooling, security, home theater, and even window shades, you’ve probably been amazed–I know I was!  I wondered what these home automation prices where and if I could afford it.  I was surprised to find out that these systems are not just for high-end homes.

After a lot of research on all the different technologies available for home automation and the home automation price for each of them, I discovered that Z-Wave technology was the way to go.  According to other home automation gurus, Z-Wave ranks among the best because it caters to many high-priority issues, notably reliability and security.

- Reliability: Z-Wave is extremely reliable and well supported due to its wireless mesh networking system. Upon sending a command to a receiver, devices acknowledge reception of the message, and if the transmitter does not receive the confirmation, the message is sent again.

In case of a second failure (say, because of interference), the intelligent system looks for other transmission alternatives by routing the command to the intended receiver using other nodes. The message is then relayed to another Z-Wave device found within a 40-meter radius of the transmitter.

Not only does the mesh network work to perfection, but it also ensures full coverage of large spaces, without requiring bridging devices.

- Two-way communication: Two-way communication allows controllers and software to sense whether lights are on, off, or dimmed within the network. This gives you the ultimate control over your home; after all, nothing is more convenient than having everything automated from one central control panel.

- Limited interference: While powerline signal strength decreases as you add more devices to the network, wireless mesh networks work in the opposite way – and, in fact, the more devices installed in the network, the stronger the signal strength becomes.

The system also avoids command collisions and interference, as the nodes make sure that there is no ongoing messaging traffic within the network before they start transmitting data.

- Wide range: Z-Wave uses the 900 MHz range for better performance, as it contains less traffic in comparison to the 2.4 GHz band. The 900 MHz range allows signals to be stronger and transmit through longer distances with more power.

The maximum operational range between two devices is approximately 45 meters (150 feet) indoors, and over 150 meters (500 feet) outdoors. All devices, except those that are battery-operated, act as repeaters, transmitting messages from node to node until it reaches its final destination. Therefore, if switches are too far apart to communicate directly, you can fill in the gaps with compatible electrical receptacles or plug-in modules.

- Complex commands: While UPB and X10 are mainly limited to lighting products – and are produced by few manufacturers – Z-Wave products are wide-ranging and diverse, from HVAC systems to sprinkler systems.

They’re manufactured by numerous major companies, thus covering applications related to lighting, window coverings, touch screens, alarms, motion detectors, universal remote controls and numerous other home control management platforms and software.

I decided to get the Vera Z-Wave Controller: Home Automation Price for under $300!  Plus, Vera can slash your energy bill by 1/3 by making sure your lights, appliances, and heating/cooling systems are on only when needed. Home control software for the PC computer is complicated and requires you to leave your computer on all the time using up to 600 watts of electricity. But Vera uses only 6 watts and is very simple. There is no software to install and no computer skills are needed. Vera also cuts out the “vampire” power that appliances, like TV’s, consume even when they’re turned off. And Vera presents you clear charts visually showing where your energy is being used: in which rooms, by which types of appliances, at which times of day, and day of the week. Vera is the only mainstream home security + monitoring solution that uses the same commercial-grade secure network that banks use for online banking, so you can be assured no hacker can spy on you. The Vera also lets you securely control all the devices in your home using your mobile phone or any web browser on the Internet.

Additional Information About Z-Wave

Z-Wave works very smoothly and is easily installed, but one can’t deny that it rises a bit on the scale of home automation prices. Generally, a typical homeowner could outfit a house with a basic Z-Wave system for around $400-$600, (The Vera and several appliance modules and light switches) which is close to double the home automation price of an X10 system. Many consumers, however, feel that Z-Wave’s speed, reliability, flexibility and range of applications are well worth the extra expense.

After having used my system for about a year now, I can say that it has more than bought itself with all the electricity it has saved. I have included so links and prices below to give you an idea of what it would cost you to get started.

Explore the Vera to get started on your Home Automation Project at a Great Home Automation Price:


 

 

 

 

 

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In deference to another, rather infamous top 10 list on this great site, I would like to explain what the worst things you do as a patron that make your dining experience horrible for your waiter and the restaurant staff in general. This list will not be about tipping, paying your bill, or money in general, because none of those actually have anything to do with waiting on you or contribute to your dinner. Not tipping and not paying your bill is inexcusable, but maybe you were very nice, very polite, and just happen to be stingy, who knows? But after starting my waiting “career” at IHOP in Compton, CA, and currently waiting tables at Chart House in Malibu, I know exactly what the worst things anybody can do to ensure that I will want to punch them in the face. And here they are:

10. Seating Yourself

I don’t care if the host is missing, I don’t care if you’ve been here before, I don’t care if you know the owner. There is a rythym and reason for where you are sat. It’s about equality among the waiters, so no one person gets more tables than the other, and about who is available. If you’re rushing to sit down and can’t wait for the host/hostess, it’s a safe bet you want to get started right away, even if it’s just a glass of water. Thing is, you don’t know the restaurant sections and you don’t know who is busy, who is ready to serve you. Just because you’re ready to sit down, doesn’t mean I’m ready to bring you drinks. Maybe I have three tables already, maybe I’m in the middle of taking another order for someone who DID wait to be seated. What makes you so special? I can appreciate a bad host and I don’t want you to wait, but when you ignore the rest of the patrons who did wait, it’s simply being rude and not a good guest. Another thing, you don’t know what tables are reserved. Half-full restaurant with a table by the window open? Probably a reserved table, so don’t go just sit there because you think you ought to, or because you’re trying to impress your date that you “don’t need to be seated”. Yes, you do. There is an organization that starts with the host and ends with the bill, don’t screw with it for the sake of impatience.

9. Not Complaining

Things can go wrong during dinner. The food wasn’t cooked right, I took too long, I didn’t get the right order, you meant to order something else, etc. etc. Please don’t smile at me as if nothing wrong when something is. There are few worst feelings than when someone at my table is very nice and polite, then complains to the manager or online after the fact. If you’re not having a good time, I want to know about it right away. If I can’t fix it, I will find someone else who can, even the manager. It’s human to make mistakes and I make them all the time, don’t pretend I’m doing a great job if I’m not, I’m a professional I can take criticism. What happens when you complain later is that it makes me look really, really, really bad. It seems like I didn’t care or didn’t notice that you were having a bad time, and nothing is worse than your manager thinking you ignore your guests. You get yelled at, you lose shifts, you get smaller sections, sometimes you even have to go back training. All because you were too afraid/polite/nervous to speak up. But if you’ve been acting nice and not complaining, how would I know? Don’t be afraid to be honest with your waiter, and a truly good waiter will not take it personally, solve your problem, and we can all move on.

8. Offering Life Plans

Okay this one is tricky and people always do it with the best intentions. After a great meal and good service many guests ask me if I’m still in school, what did I study, what do I “really” want to do? And you know what, if I wanted to do something else I would be doing it, maybe I already am. You are not a guidance counselor and if you actually are, I don’t care. I appreciate you thinking that I can do more than “just be a waiter”, but you don’t know how hard the job is, or hard it is to wait on you. You know why you don’t know? Because I make it look easy and that takes skill. Waiting tables is not my life plan, but I take pride in what I do and I take extreme pride in doing it well, that’s just my work ethic and any good waiter feels the same. Please don’t bring into the conversation that waiting tables is below my abilities or not something to get “stuck doing”. I don’t like having to justify my job, and I don’t like having to explain my life plans to a stranger anymore than you do. I know you mean well and I know that it’s a compliment in many ways, but it feels like being talked down to, and it truly is. You wouldn’t say “so what do you really want to do” to a mechanic, a plumber, an electrician, or any other skilled-worker job. Serving tables is a skill-based job, and I am a skill-based worker, please regard me as such.

7. Examining other Patron’s Food

Every now and then I’ll have a tray food and someone stops to ask me what the dish is. Great question, I want to tell you about it, I want to showcase our menu. Then this someone will put their face to the dish, and smell it. Don’t do that. It’s not your food, it’s not on display. If I’m on the floor with food it’s because I’m bringing it to someone, someone who probably doesn’t want to see you stick your face in their food. Of course the solution seems easy, I just don’t let you do it, but how can I do that if you seem reasonable, if you seem polite. I like to answer questions and I like to help our guests, but people that do things like this make me paranoid. Use your eyes only please, no noses and, if you can believe it, no fingers. Yes it has happened, do not be one of those people.

6. Not Asking All at Once

If you want lemon, more napkins, a side of butter, and more water, great, let me do all that for you. If you ask me for each of these things one at a time in the same 2 minute period, go F&^% yourself. Everyone does this, I’ve done it, and it doesn’t seem like that big a deal but if you’ve ever uttered the phrase or been with someone who had to say “Sorry, I promise this is the last thing I’ll ask for”, then you or the person you’re with need to learn how to behave in a restaurant. Running me back and forth because you think of ten things you have to have right now is like a child asking for things from Santa Claus. And I will regard you as a child. If the dish is incomplete or the restaurant is busy and I haven’t been around, I’m sorry and I understand, but that goes back to number 9, just let me know as soon as possible, don’t wait until I’ve brought you food and then make me do laps. It slows down the dining process, slows down my pace overall, and makes you look difficult to me, the cook, the manager, and the other guests.

5. Getting Upset That I Don’t Sing Happy Birthday

When I worked at IHOP, I sang Happy Birthday. When I worked at a sushi restaurant and beyond, I didn’t. Not every restaurant is like that place your parents used to take you when you were a kid. Maybe it seems cruel and unfair that I don’t want to (and don’t have to) sing to you now, but we all have to grow up sometime. Don’t take it personally and don’t act like I owe you a song, this is not American Idol, this is a restaurant and we have our traditions and policies. If our policy is not to perform for you, not my problem and certainly not my fault. I’m sorry you’re disappointed but I’m not so sorry I’m going to sing or “make an exception”. If you go somewhere else next year because we didn’t sing or give you free dessert, by all means please do. Granted this is mostly an issue with college aged patrons, and when you’re in your early twenties and learning that the world does not revolve around you the way it did at home or in college life seems unfair. Because life is unfair, but I am not.

4. Not Understanding That We Are Closing

You have every right to come in and be served right up until our posted hours. However, if we close at 11, and you come in at 10:59 and ask for dessert around 11:45-12:00, guess what? We probably can’t do it because our pastry chef probably went home. Blame the restaurant all you want, you come in for “last call” at your own risk. Yes we are open and yes we are serving, but the longer you stay the least likely our full menu is available. It’s about controlling hours for labor cost, it’s about food safety violations for storage and cleanliness, it’s about basic electricity and gas bills. We are a business after all and unless you’re willing to spend the money to pay to keep everyone and everything on until you’re done, respect the fact that you came in at the last minute, so you get last minute options. Whether you came in or not we would be closing down because that’s how we run the restaurant. Don’t get mad, don’t be disappointed, if you want full service and full options, ask before you decide to order at 10:59.

3. Walking your Child

We are not a daycare, this is not a place to teach your children to walk. Do it outside or better yet, at home. Almost every night some parent either lets their toddler run around or holds their hands while they walk around. Not a good idea. Lots of people rushing, lots of plates, trays, glasses, forks, knives, and many other non-child-proof materials are flying about. I don’t want anything to happen to your kid, and you certainly don’t want anything to happen to your kid so don’t tempt fate by waddling behind your toddler in a crowded restaurant. Dangerous, careless, and rude to the other guests.

2. Customizing Your Meal

We have a menu for a reason. Chef offers specials for a reason. You are not the cook and this is not your kitchen. Making something vegetarian or switching the starch, no problem. Adding different sauces, baking instead of grilling, salmon instead of chicken, get out of my face with that stuff. Tell me what kind of meal you’re looking for and I’ll find it, or not. Just because you’re sitting at a table doesn’t mean I have to serve you exactly what you’re thinking of. There is a concept behind the menu and there is a concept behind the meals. If none of them are what you want go somewhere else. If you don’t want to leave, be brave and try something new. Telling me to go ask the chef won’t work either, trust me when I tell you we don’t make it this way and we don’t offer those options. It’s not good business to tell a guest “no”, so if I’m telling you we can’t do it, it’s not because we don’t want you to have a good time, it’s because we simply aren’t what you’re looking for. Respect that. Accept it. Don’t blame us for not being your mom’s cooking.

1. Snapping your Fingers

Honestly this happens pretty rarely, but it shouldn’t happen at all. I am not a dog, I am not a child. I am another person doing their job as best they can and there is no reason to treat me this way. If it’s busy and you can’t get my attention, I apologize. But if you snap your fingers at me, then you don’t want service, you want a slave. I have many other guests during the night, I don’t need you. The restaurant doesn’t need you. You are one among many, not the master of your table and certainly not of me. Snap your fingers and I might break them off, and I’d be completely justified. Try snapping your fingers at your significant other sometime, or your parents, or the police when you need them. Let me know how that turns out. If you can’t treat me with basic respect then you are a jerk, and I hope you don’t come back.

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Here are ten products that most of us use on a weekly basis that have absurd markups: some range to over 5000%! If we all band together to stop buying these ridiculously overpriced products, they will have no choice but to lower their prices! Read on to save money and join the anti-markup movement!

10. Cosmetics

The thing that many people forget about makeup is what it’s made out of. Make up is usually around 80-90% dirt! The other ingredients usually consist of oil and wax. People pay ridiculous amounts of money to put dirt on their face! Fragrances are added to make them smell nice; but it’s still clay or dirt. A couple grams of dirt will sell in a fancy department store for $20-30. The actual cost of the product is the cost of walking outside picking up a handful of clay, grinding it up and adding fragrance and putting it in a little fancy case. Then it can be sold at a huge markup.

With the proliferation of designer makeup brands and competitive companies, luxury and name brands of makeup have become popular. The old adage says: you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig; and you can put dirt in a fancy jar; but it is still dirt. Consider making your own makeup at home (it sounds hard, but it’s not). “Recipes” for creating homemade makeup are everywhere on the internet and can save you money.

Read more:
http://www.pvsoap.com/mineral_makeup_ingredients.asp

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/fashion/01skin.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2

9. Bottled water

Bottled water; what a ripoff! Someone decided to take one of the world’s most plentiful resources and cover it with plastic and charge $3-4 a bottle! Bottled water is commonplace at convenience stores, beverage machines, and in the cooler at basketball games. But why? When did we stop drinking from taps and drinking fountains and switch to polyethylene coated H20? When bottled water splashed onto the market, it was being marketed as a healthy alternative to soft drinks.

But it has evolved into an issue of convenience. Instead of using a reusable bottle, it is now easier to grab a prepackaged disposable bottle of water and drop it off in the nearest garbage receptacle when finished with it. But is it any different from tap water? Some companies market their water as being the “purest” or “cleanest” but in fact, all water must comply with federal regulations of cleanliness regardless of whether it is being drunk out of a plastic bottle or from the tap. Water can usually be attained for free at most places.

Bottled water is a corporate success story; they took a readily available product (one of the most abundant resources on the planet!) and packaged it into a popular product that everyone is willing to pay for. But it hurts the consumer’s wallet; not to mention it’s horrible for the environment.

Read more:
Fiji Water Scandal

8. Greeting cards

The markup on a greeting card is around 100-200%; which is pretty modest considering some of the more vicious markups on other products. But retailers spend very little money to produce this product, so the unsold products do not hurt the bottom line as much as say, an unsold car. Greeting cards are one of the best items to mark up because they are so cheap, and unsold merchandise does not dramatically affect the bottom line.

Paper is cheap, but paper with some sappy writing on it is expensive. It’s a retailer’s dream product! A little piece of paper with some writing on it that can be sold for three or four bucks. Recently, electronic greeting cards (also called e-cards) have proliferated and can be found on the internet for free. On Amazon.com, 20 packs of blank greeting cards are available at a cost of $10.99 for a cost of 55 cents per card. Next time you want to save some of that paper in your wallet when it comes to getting a greeting card, choose to use your own greeting card! It will be more meaningful and will cost less.

Read more:
http://www.greetingcard.org/about.php?ID=2
http://www.amazon.com/Hallmark-Blank-Greeting-Half-fold-Premium/dp/B000E5N0MG

7. Mattresses and furniture

Ever notice how mattresses and furniture are always on sale? Well there’s a reason for that. Furniture salesmen receive a higher commission if they sell their product at MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price); usually a minimum of 20%. If they sell their product at MAP (minimum advertised price) they receive a minuscule 7% commission. If you were a salesman, which price would you sell it at? Do your research and find out what the product is actually worth, then buy it. Markups range from 200%-400%. Buying an expensive mattress might make you sleep better right away, but it could leave you tossing and turning at night in the long run.

The best thing to do to avoid being duped at a furniture store is to shop around a lot before you make your final decision. There is often a wide disparity in the price for the same product between two competing stores; it all depends on the MSRP, the MAP, and the honesty of the salespeople.

Read more:
http://consumerist.com/2007/09/the-furniture-industry-is-a-secret-cabal.html
http://www.realgoodfurniture.com/furniture-shopping-secrets/

6. Restaurant drinks (wine and soda)

Wine has an astonishing 300-600% markup. If you can forego that glass of wine with dinner, your wallet will thank you. What’s even more shocking is that the average markup is even higher for soda. A 12 ounce glass of soda costs the restaurant nickels, but it is sold for dollars; and it is half filled with ice! It’s no secret that you can buy a soda from a soda machine for between fifty and seventy five cents and that same soda will cost $2.75 in a restaurant.

Lately there has been talk of adding a hefty tax to soda because it is unhealthy. So it’s only going to get more expensive. If you’re tired of whining about wine and sniveling about soda, maybe it’s time to choose water instead! (But not bottled water!)

Read more:
Overpriced Drinks & Other Things We Hate

5. Brand name clothing

Brand name clothiers rely on the advertising power of humans as walking billboards as well as conventional marketing strategies for the advancement of their products. The cost of looking good rises every year as more and higher end clothing brands are created. The cost of the clothes doesn’t change; only the label on the back does, and that’s what changes the price on the tag. The markup can be 500-1000%, depending on if it’s an up and coming brand name clothier or an established Italian sounding name brand.

The trendy and fashionable know what the price of looking “hip” is, and it is seldom cheap. Apparently the label is worth paying the extra money, because high end clothing retailers continue to thrive, even in hard economic times. The popular names and symbols that are associated with major clothing companies are hard to escape from, as they are literally everywhere. People will pay big bucks for “the look,” even if it costs them an arm and a leg to clothe their arms and legs.

Read more:
http://nbainsidestuff.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/brand-name-shoes-clothing-are-stupid-ripoffs/

4. Jewelry/diamonds

The glittery rocks that cost a fortune are subject to volatile changes in price and high markups. Although the industry average markup varies widely, (100% to up to 1000%) it’s probably not a good deal regardless of where the jewelry is purchased. Jewelers thrive on the uneducated buyer, so it is wise to do research before buying to settle on a good price and product. Ridiculously cheap or expensive jewelry should raise a red flag because it is probably of substandard quality. It’s always a good decision to find out what the same jewelry’s price is at other stores. That information can be used as a negotiating tool.

Also, a diamond over $1000 should come with a certificate certifying its legitimacy from the Gemological Institute of America. Don’t let these rocks rock your monthly budget or you may find yourself in the hole.

Read more:
http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/jewelry-stores.html

3. Glasses frames

Why A little scrap of metal costs hundreds of dollars is one of life’s great mysteries. Yet eyeglass wearers continue to get smoked at the optometrist when they squander huge sums of money for frames that hardly weigh an ounce. The markup can be as high as 1000%! Consider perusing the internet for alternatives before spending hundreds of dollars on frames.

Never buy accessories at optometrist’s offices because they are heavily marked up. Clip-ons, glasses cases, and other eyeglass accessories can usually be purchased for a very reasonable price on the internet. Don’t pay for products at the eye care office before looking over the internet; or you could end up looking at it in hindsight and regretting it; and hindsight is 20/20.

Read more:

http://3mew.wordpress.com/2006/11/10/eyeglasses-stores-are-for-suckers/

2. Movie theater popcorn/candy

It’s no secret that popcorn and candy are expensive at the movie theater. It doesn’t take an Alan Greenspan to deduce that movie theater popcorn has a high profit to cost margin. Concession sales only make up about 20% of total sales in movie theaters but make up to 40% of the average profit. Why? Because movie theaters need to sell overpriced food to keep ticket prices low. If ticket prices were high, no one would come in the doors and subsequently spend money on snacks. So the price of admission is cheap, but the snacks are where movie companies make the highest profit margin.

So what is the average markup of movie theater popcorn? 900-1200% according to Richard B. Mckenzie, author of “Why popcorn costs so much at the movies” and an economics professor at UC Irvine. Better stick to sneaking your snacks in.

Read more:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/news/1001/gallery.americas_biggest_ripoffs/2.html

1. Prescription Medicine

Prescription medicine tops the list of highest markups. The sky high cost of prescription medications is crippling the economy of the United States and keeping necessary medicines out of the hands of those who need it most; people living on fixed incomes with acute or chronic health issues.”A bottle of tamoxifen, used to fight breast cancer, costs $360 in the United States.

It costs $60 in Germany,” according to U.S. House Representative Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri. Canada and European countries’ prescription medication prices are regulated by government imposed “ceiling” prices; essentially a limit on how high the prices can get for medicines. They also negotiate directly with drug companies. However, no such price controls exist in the United States and we are paying 200%-5600% markups on essential medicines such as Prozac and Xanax! These two medicines are taken long periods of time; for depression and anxiety disorders respectively, which means that the patients that use these prescriptions will be shelling out thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime to obtain them.

Award winning Detroit reporter Steve Wilson exposed dozens of Detroit area pharmacies for illegitimate price gouging on the prices of their generic drugs. They were buying them at rock bottom price and selling them at an average of 900-1200% markup, depending on the medicine. The local pharmacies were found selling Vasotec, a blood pressure medication for $60 when it cost them $6 to buy the generic version. Similar markups were found at most of the pharmacies in the area; except one. The solution: Costco wholesalers consistently had the best prices with mark-ups between 86 and 423%, not 3,000 to 5,000% according to Florida WFTV reporter Barbara West, who conducted an investigation similar to Steve Wilson’s. Be wary of the cost of prescription medications when buying from local pharmacies, as they may be interested in your wealth instead of your health.

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Top ten lists typically include a food that is part of an entire category that deserves recognition. Broccoli makes the list. In reality, the family to which broccoli belongs should be included. I’m all about eating for health and pleasure. What if you don’t like broccoli? Finding an equally healthy alternative you like is important.

And many lists don’t explain why a food is on it. What can these foods do for me? When people understand the “why,” they are more likely to make the effort to include healthy foods.

Below you’ll find the first five on our Top Ten Healthiest Foods to Eat Now.Tune in next week to get numbers six through ten on our list!

The Top Ten Healthiest Foods To Eat Now: One through Five

1. Cruciferous (Brassica) vegetables

The cruciferous category includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale, chard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, collard and mustard greens, turnips, bok choy, kohlrabi, rutabaga, horse radish, and a few other vegetables. Cruciferous veggies deserve the top because they are master detoxifiers. (1)

The cells in our body, especially in the liver, have “detoxification factories” in them called enzymes. The factories constantly work to process the things that can damage the body.

Cruciferous vegetables can speed up enzyme processing of toxic compounds. They make the body a more efficient detoxifier. Plus, cruciferous vegetables balance hormones in a favorable way. (2) This may reduce risk of hormone-related cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers.

2. Berries

No matter the color or shape, you can’t go wrong with berries. Blueberries often make the list, but don’t forget about blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. All berries are loaded with anthocyanins (an-tho-sigh-ah-nins).

Anthocyanins limit cellular damage by blocking inflammation and oxidation in the body. (3) This is key to preventing a host of chronic conditions including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and chronic pain. Would you rather pop an ibuprofen tablet or eat a daily handful of juicy, delicious berries?

3. Apples

Unfortunately, apples often don’t make the list, but they should. Want to shed a few pounds? Eat apples! Adding apples to your weight loss plan can help you eat less and lose more weight than if you didn’t eat apples. (4)

Apples contain pectin, a soluble fiber that selectively lowers LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. This improves the cholesterol ratio. Cholesterol ratio is more important than total cholesterol when it comes to heart disease risk. (5)

Apple peels are rich in polyphenols (pahl-ee-fene-ols), including one called quercetin (kwer-seh-tin). Quercetin is a potent antioxidant. It encourages damaged cells to die, lessening the chances they develop into cancer. (6)

4. Citrus

Nutrients in oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and tangerines are anti-inflammatory and help support the integrity of the connective tissue in the joints. (7) Got arthritis? You’ll want to make citrus a regular part of your diet. Plus, the vitamin C in citrus is more easily absorbed by the body than isolated vitamin C. (8)

If you are eager to reduce your chronic disease risk – and who isn’t? – look no further. Citrus has a mind-boggling number of healthful actions in the body. Nutrients in citrus suppress new cancer formation, block carcinogenic (cancer-causing) compounds from reaching vulnerable cells, and transform carcinogens into less toxic substances. (9)

Citrus flavonoids have anti-blood clotting, antioxidant, and pro-blood vessel relaxing actions. All of these lead to lower heart disease risk. And through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, citrus flavonoids appear to ward off degenerative brain diseases. (9)

5. Green Tea

The latest studies show that green tea polyphenols rev up metabolism to aid weight loss, regardless of the caffeine content. This beverage also has been linked with reduced risk of everything from heart disease to osteoporosis and obesity.

Green tea has a double benefit for battling obesity as well. It seems to promote body fat loss from the mid-section. This is the type of fat most closely linked with metabolic syndrome and diabetes. (10)

And for beating cancer, you can’t beat green tea. Studies associate regular green tea consumption with reduced risk of many cancers, including those of the breast, prostate, and ovary. (11)

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Mind you, we’ve been married since high school, so some of this is funny and some of this is “too-bad-it’s-true” – we have made every parental mistake in the Book of Parental Mistakes. No matter what you read here, know it’s coming from someone in the trenches doing the every day difficult thing of parenting.

This “Top Ten” is a bit of an homage to David Letterman, with #1 being the top thing you do not want to say to your kids.

Top Ten Things Dads Say To Their Kids…But Shouldn’t

10) Do you want cake for breakfast? I’m pretty sure Bill Cosby said it has all the food groups – milk, eggs, grain… and icing.

9) Quick! Put away the Wii, mommy’s home!

8) This is between me and you, but mommy’s crazy.

7) Can I borrow a couple of bucks? I’m out of (insert vice here).

6) Don’t let your mother catch you doing that!

5) Do you have enough allowance saved up to bail me out? I’m in the County Jail.

4)…Yes, the same jail as last time.

3) Alright, kids, now that mommy’s gone – no more chores! We’ll clean up before she comes back from the retreat.

2) What? Mommy’s home early from the retreat?! I told you to keep the house clean! You’re in trouble, now!

And the #1 thing dads say to their kids…but shouldn’t, is:

1) Leave me alone, daddy’s working.


Alright, if you didn’t catch it, #1 really is the only serious item on the list. Sure, there’s a bit of truth in each item – well, mostly – but telling our kids we’re too busy to spend a few minutes or seconds with them a day isn’t funny.

What this does is send a clear message that, “You aren’t as important as this fiat-money I’m working for, and I don’t care how much it depreciates.” OK, really, you get the drift. If you’re a dad reading this list, do yourself and your kids a favor: spend time with them. Don’t make them play second fiddle to anything (within reason).

I say all of that because it’s easy to let time and opportunity slip away. Before you know it, one day bleeds into a week… bleeds into a month… a year… a missed graduation because of overtime… a missed homecoming or first day at college. Time flies when you’re making money, and then what?

Then you may be facing some alone time in a retirement home, wondering why nobody visits. Really, payback can’t be pretty. Do something each day, at least each week, to let those kids know you care about them. Forget the economy for a minute and think of your children for a second. Love ‘em like there’s no tomorrow. One day there won’t be.

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1. Spoken Street Names. Of the top ten GPS features, this one is absolutely necessary! With this feature you never have to take your eyes off of the road to look at your GPS. It tells you when to turn and the name of the street you’ll be turning onto. Nothing could make traveling by car simpler. Or Safer. The last thing you need while driving is another distraction to take your eyes off the road.

2. Real Time Traffic Reports. This can be a useful feature to help you avoid traffic accidents and construction, but you need to be aware of the downsides before you buy based on this option. First, this feature may only work in certain major cities. Check the manufacturers web site to see if your area is covered. Second, you may be required to buy an additional receiver for this feature to work. Read the packaging carefully. And third, you may have to pay a subscription for this service. Some units are now offering this feature for free with purchase.

3. Routing Option. Some GPS units allow you to set up for multiple points on one trip before you even start driving. Some units will let you know when there is a toll road on your route and give you an alternative route to avoid it if you want.

4. Detour Feature. When you have a GPS unit with real time traffic reports, it can warn you of traffic backups and provide alternative routes. If that feature is not available to you, some units have a manual detour button you can use when you notice traffic starting to slow down. At this point it would provide you with an alternative route.

5. Bluetooth Compatibility. This is a cool top ten GPS feature. If you have a Bluetooth enabled cell phone you can sync it with your GPS unit to make and receive hands free phone calls through the internal speaker in the GPS. It can also display the caller ID on the GPS’s screen.


6. Screen Size. As of right now GPS units come with screen sizes ranging from 2.5 inches to 7 inches. The smallest units allow for ultra portability but can be difficult to see and type addresses on. The largest units are really easy to see and type on but can take up more room than necessary and are bulky to carry around. You can definitely get by with a 3.5 inch screen, but a 4.3 inch is optimal.

7. MP3 Player. If you already have an mp3 player or a cell phone with music capabilities this feature may be overkill. If not, you could turn your GPS into a multitasking device. Some units have an expansion slot for an SD card for extra memory. You can then use your GPS as a portable music player.

8. Video Player. In order to use this feature you would need to download videos to your GPS from a computer or from an SD card. Obviously this has nothing to do with navigation, but it could be a nice feature to preview your family videos while on a trip.

9. Photo Viewer. This top ten GPS feature basically turns your GPS unit into a digital picture frame. As with video, you would have to download pics from your computer or an SD card.

10. Predictive Data Entry. This top ten GPS feature is common on most models, but is still worth mentioning here. When you start typing in a destination, the unit will predict and list destinations similar to what you’re typing. This just helps to find and input your destinations faster.