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In this issue

Dec. 1, 2008

Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings

Mark Steyn: Whodunit!?

Nov. 28, 2008

Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be

Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now?

Nov. 26, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership

Andrea Simantov: Shades of life

Nov. 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence

The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast!

Nov. 24, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!'

Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends

Nov. 21, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters?

Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank

Nov. 20, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness

The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto

Nov, 19, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality

Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them?

Nov, 18, 2008

Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason

Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster?

Nov, 17, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason

Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit?

Nov, 14, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia

Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead

Nov, 13, 2008

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic

The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla

Nov, 12, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers

Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks

Nov, 11, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad?

Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate

Nov, 10, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built?

Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist

Nov, 7, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality

Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy

Nov, 6, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism

The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes

Nov, 5, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors

Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie

Nov, 4, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law

Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East

Nov, 3, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart?

Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything?

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review May 21, 2008 / 16 Iyar 5768

Want a free laptop? I'm still waiting

By Vicki Lee Parker


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) Despite countless warnings that nothing in life is free, many of us continue to fall for the promise of something for nothing.

With money tight in many households, offers of free laptops, iPods, gift cards and even medication sound even more alluring. But the reality is far from the promise.

In the past year, the Federal Trade Commission has charged dozens of companies with violating advertising laws and reached settlements amounting to millions of dollars, said Claudia B. Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Federal Trade Commission.

It's not fair to say that all companies that advertise free products are operating illegally. But even legitimate offers can come with strings attached and fine print that you must read carefully.

You might have heard one radio pitch by a company called I Want My Free Laptop. The ad makes the deal sound so simple. It claims that the company can afford to offer free laptops because all the traffic the giveaway draws to the Web site generates publicity for sponsors.

So I logged onto www.iwantmyfreelaptop.com to find out just how free it is.

The home page is designed to get you excited, asking you to choose which computer brand you want. My choices included a Sony Vaio, Apple MacBook and Toshiba Satellite.

Next, I had to type my e-mail address to continue. Once I finished a marketing survey, I would be on my way to getting my free laptop.

Nearly two hours later, after completing about a half-dozen surveys, I came to a screen that indicated that I had to purchase three products at a discount to continue. When I read the big print, it appeared that I was getting cheap Disney DVDs. But I saw in the fine print that I also was signing up to buy five DVDs a year - for more than $20 each.

I stopped there. I didn't get a free laptop. But I did get other freebies: about 30 e-mail messages a day and daily phones calls from sales people offering to sell me things I had said I liked in the surveys.

Dale Baker, president of TheUseful.com, the company that runs the Web site, said that purchases are not required to get the free laptop and that I must have done something wrong. He said I could have called the customer service number on the Web site and someone would have guided me through the site. He said his company has given away thousands of laptops.

Beverly Baskin, president of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina, wasn't surprised by my story. Her office regularly gets complaints about free offers.

"`Free' is a relatively elusive term when it comes to online offers," Baskin said. "If you are willing to jump through some pretty extreme hoops, give your name and e-mail information ... expose yourself to countless sales pitches and unwanted ads, you may eventually get a laptop."

But use "extreme caution in responding to a too-good-to-be-true offer."

You can check the companies out at the FTC (www.ftc.gov) or Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) Web sites.

And don't ever get blinded by that powerful word: free.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

Vicki Lee Parker is a columnist for The News & Observer. Comment by clicking here.

Previously:

Put an escape hatch in your travel plans
Put up or shut up for card companies
Don't fall for rebate check scams
Recall agency needs help
Account can help you save
Gift refund made him feel cheated
7 gifts to build wealth
Dump your bank escrow account, earn some interest
Enticing e-mail may lead to viruses, ID theft, malware
Ask to receive discounts
Learn from a con man
Nitrogen: pricey way to keep tires pumped
Buying private health coverage
Better Business Bureau ramps up
Two beeps, one item: Listen for overcharges
Recalls: What to do next
Do your homework before home repairs
To tip or skip it: Gratuity must be earned
Advice is free, if you look
Hire a cleaner who won't clean you out
Teach children smart money tips that will keep them busy all summer long
Warning: Don't trust the ATM
Reasons to beware of ‘We Buy Homes’
Too wise to fall for a scam
Untethering cell phone from carrier
Re-check your credit card rewards
Treasure might be buried in medical bills
Tax-time saving tip: Free filing is available
College money is waiting; don't procrastinate
Extended warranties rarely worthwhile
Too busy for tax planning? It'll cost you


© 2007, The News & Observer Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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