Blog Archives for December 2013

This year, ad executives used ballerinas to sell booze, '90s nostalgia to sell a browser, and a suicidal cat to sell a car. Confused? So are we.

A new IRS ruling has caused much frustration amongst restaurant owners and servers, and could possibly end a practice that's bugged many restaurant patrons for years. At the center of this controversy is the automatic gratuity, that compulsory charge that many eateries tack on to your bill when you dine with a large group of people.

If there's one area of modern life that's almost as confounding as choosing a diet, it's hunting for the right audio components to build a killer stereo system or home entertainment center. But if you stick to these six tips, you can put together a quality home entertainment center on the cheap.

Despite adamant claims that gifts would arrive in time for Christmas, it appears that many people were left empty-handed for the holidays. And while UPS and others scramble to complete all those backlogged deliveries, some retailers are attempting to make amends with customers.

Do you know just what your favorite online stores know about you? In the wake of the Target compromise we wanted to get a better idea of how retailers gather and use consumer data, so we turned to an expert to find out.

Target made waves earlier this week when it announced that as many as 40 million credit and debit card numbers had been compromised via in-store purchases. In response, CEO Gregg Steinhafel announced that the retailer would offer 10% off all in-store purchases this weekend, as an apology for the ordeal. Is that enough?

Chicago is a favorite vacation destination for many because it has the glamour and attractions of a large metropolis and that friendly, down-to-earth Midwest vibe. There's something for everyone in Chicago — theater shows, cool music venues, and countless dining options, whether you'd like to try dishes from famous chefs or you want a classic Chicago hot dog and deep-dish pizza (no matter what Jon Stewart says). So pack your bags! We're going to Chi-town.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Google, Twitter, Windows, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

Target confirmed today that it experienced a security breach between November 27 and December 15, and as many as 40 million credit and debit card accounts might have been compromised. In a twist though, the hack occurred in-store.

Where Kmart tried to shock shoppers into its stores with this year's holiday ad campaign, its sister company Sears seems to have something else on its mind: the retail chain's increasingly ghost town-like atmosphere.

Search giant Google recently purchased Boston Dynamics, a military-grade robotics company. Besides getting some cool robots to play with, we wondered why Google would be interested in this company. In this brief — yet lively — video, our experts discuss the possible uses for Google killbots robots~!.

Ever watch a holiday movie in which someone is given an awesome gift and you find yourself coveting it? It happens to us rather frequently, so we decided to put together this ultimate wish list based solely on items that are only available to people in holiday movies. (Mostly!)

The issue of holiday tipping has left many folks wondering how big (or small) a tip to leave (or not leave) as part of the yearly ritual of playing Santa. To get a handle on holiday tipping etiquette, we talked to a few experts and found out that by following a few simple guidelines, you can spread extra holiday cheer to the folks with whom you interact every day without going broke.

Why chance ruining the holiday by getting your kids toys that'll harm them? That's not very cheery and in the spirt of things! To make sure you don't spend Christmas in the E.R. check out W.A.T.C.H.'s list of the season's 10 Worst Toys.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about iPads, Batmans, Windowses, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

Sometimes we wonder whether Santa's elves keep quirky magic dust hidden in the North Pole workshop that can turn certain toys into collectibles. To find out more about when and why toys turn valuable, we talked to the owner of a Chicago collector's store and asked him which collectible toy lines are of the most valued.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Windows, YouTube, Doctor Who, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

If the face is the window to the soul, then here's what Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's face-window was revealing about his inner thoughts during his much talked about 60 Minutes interview.

Seiki is poised to break some records this December when it releases its latest 4K HDTV, the ultra-cheap 65" SE65UY04. And while big-box retailers may use this "cheap" 4K HDTV to lure shoppers, we think early adopters should wait at least a few weeks before making any purchase.

Gift-giving is in full swing. And for most of us it means following the time-honored tradition of wrapping and unwrapping tokens of appreciation. But this year, such gift-giving is taking on additional meaning. Retailers like Warby Parker, Toms, and Threads are offering customers the opportunity to not only shop for themselves or their loved ones this year, but also for the less fortunate — at no extra cost. These buy one, give one programs will not only satisfy your desire to do good this holiday season, but they're also great alternatives to giving a family a goat.

Recently, CBS aired a 60 Minutes interview with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in which he revealed that his company plans to create autonomous flying drones that will deliver packages within 30 minutes of when an order was placed. In this video, our deal experts discuss the feasibility and desirability of such a scheme.

Everybody take a deep breath: Black Friday has come to an end. While there are still some Cyber Week sales to consider, we can at least close the book on Black Friday 2013. And as we do so, we've got some amusing tidbits (Did you know that one of the hottest deals of the week was a towel?) as well as some major gripes to share.

Before you personalize and laser-cut a message in to the back of that new iPad you bought as a Christmas present, stop and think about what each character may be doing to the device's resale value.

Ready to do a few DIY projects? Check out these Editors' Choice Cyber Monday tool deals. Grab a 192-piece mechanics tool set for only $85, save $66 on a miter saw, or pick up a selection of hand tools for $2 each.