As someone who typically ends up frustrated on Black Friday, I must admit that I couldn't help but check many of the Black Friday "leaks" that have been bombarding the Internet. It's like pressing a button that says "DO NOT PRESS!" I just can't help it.

Apparently, though, I'm not the only one. Google data shows that the "upswing" for Black Friday searches started two weeks earlier this year, according to an article in the Advertising Age. Meanwhile, the number of shoppers who plan to get their Christmas shopping started on Black Friday rose to 16 percent this year from 10 percent last year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (there's an International Council of Shopping Centers?).

Still, some are projecting Black Friday to be just that — black. Nielsen, the NPD Group and the National Retail Federation have all released buzz-killing predictions as far as sales. I'm no economist but I don't need to sleep at a Holiday Inn last night to figure out why. (As Bill Clinton once so eloquently put, "It's the economy, um, you not-so-smart person!")

Meanwhile, Retrevo's Director of Content Andrew Eisner is predicting many "mediocre deals" masquerading as Black Friday bargains. These include discounts that aren't as big as they seem to be and the pushing of outdated items.

Now, one can't fault someone for thinking Eisner's comments may have to do with Retrevo promoting its own product and pricing analysis (not to mention its Black Friday Real-Time Resource Center). Still, I know from personal experience that he also kinda' has a point. Fortunately, Google and the entire Interwebs is your friend so you can do your due diligence in researching products before pouncing on a deal.

As for me ... well, while I'm always tempted to line up in the cold with complete strangers just for a chance to get a good bargain, the reasonable person that resides in the little room in my mind always steps up in the end and tells me that it's better to go to bed and sleep on these things instead. Still, I understand the allure of the ever-powerful Black Friday deal. What about you?

Photo by Jason Hidalgo

In looking at portable DVD players as About.com's portables guide, one of the things I've learned is that companies who make the devices apparently hate names. And when I say names, I mean just basic names.

Forget simple names like Wii or Walkman. Instead, all you get is a mish-mash of letters and numbers that is just about as easy to remember as the name of that bad guy in the Superfriends cartoons who you have to trick to say his name backwards. Now, I'd tell you what the dude's name is. But I honestly can't remember it — just like the name of many of these portable DVD players out in the market today. I don't know about you but I'm guessing there's probably a reason why Apple didn't name its iPod the JXCSF1000945@.

Kindle, BlackBerry Bold, PlayStation — those are all easy-to-remember names that help establish mindshare within the market. But (insert generic letters and numbers here)? Hold on while I get a pen and paper.

Which brings us to my latest portable DVD review: Toshiba's SDP93S. Like the Sony DVP-FX930 I reviewed before it, the SDP93S is an excellent player. I just hope you can remember what either those two are called when you try looking for them at your favorite retailer. On that note, please feel free to check out the Toshiba SDP93S review.

Photo by Jason Hidalgo

It isn't quite "We Are the World." But I finally managed to do my part — for the children — and get my kids' electronics guide up.

I actually plan to add more devices as I review worthy gadgets that make the cut. So think of this list as a living, breathing organism that will continue to evolve over time.

In the meantime, please check out the guide as I've spent many a late night testing, writing, and testing again to get the guide up before Thanksgiving. (Cue violin music here.)

If not for me, then at least do it — for the children.

GIFT GUIDE: Cool Electronics For Kids

Photo by Jason Hidalgo

What happens if you try googling "Google books" and "preliminary?"

Well, if you do it as of this posting, then you'll actually find out that a federal judge in Manhattan just granted preliminary approval to a revised settlement between Google and groups representing authors and publishers.

For those who haven't heard, the lawsuit came about as a result of Google's efforts to make digital scans of books available online via its Google books initiative. The suit was filed by authors and publishers who complained about potential copyright violations and non-compensation.

The preliminary approval is already sparking all sorts of debate ranging from the scope of the settlement to options for authors who may not necessarily want to settle. The revised settlement itself came about due to concerns expressed in some circles, including the Department of Justice, that the original pact was uncompetitive and favored Google too much.

Anywho, reading up on all the legal talk surrounding this case has made me hungry and sleepy. Now I can't decide if I should eat or sleep. Maybe I should google for a solution online.