Whether you are looking for that rare gift for your mom or your husband, you can go to the usual places, like the mall or smaller department stores, but have you checked out any local flea markets? The change of pace from the usual insanity of the mall could help you keep an even more open eye to that great gift.

But what are you supposed to look for and what questions should you be asking yourself when you peruse the local flea market? What should you be suspicious about? Is there something the vendors aren't telling you because it's still very possible you could get hosed. To be safe, here are some things you should also keep in mind.

Would you be more apt to buying a light bulb if you you KNEW it would save you $165 in energy costs? Seems like a no brainer, the answer would be YES! But what if that light bulb was $60? Was there a bit of a hesitation? 

The US Department of Energy has aimed to get an more energy efficient alternative to the 60-watt incandescent light bulb. They found one and it was created by Philips. NOW...that being said, would you buy a light bulb that was $60?

She's 53 and she says she feels better than she did 20 years ago. Who is it? It's Madonna! How does she do it? Well, outside of spending $86,000 on her face, she does it by following a strict diet from her personal chef, Mayumi Nishimura.

Chef Nishimura has written a cookbook for those of us who want to follow Madonna's path to youth, but don't have the *ahem...funds to do so.  So you're probably thinking, "there are tons of cook books out there, what makes this one so special?" Honestly, the best way to describe it...good bacteria.  If you're a little sketched out on a diet that depends on bacteria, notice how good Madonna looks and that might change your mind.

Traffic. Just the word alone makes you want to pretend to honk a horn or slam your foot on a brake. What about the thought of NEVER having to drive in traffic again?  it sounds like something out of science fiction...the "self-driving" car; but, it's closer than you think.  

Many cars today have park assist and/or sensors that tell you when you're getting too close to an object and although it makes driving a lot easier, it would seem that not driving all together isn't necessarily a bad idea.  Continental Automotive Group is turning that idea into a reality as they test a self-driving car that could be licensed to drive on public roads. Triumph of science or triumph of our patience while sitting on 285?