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Another real world activity quickly moving online -- gambling. On Thursday Nevada became the first state to legalize online gambling, narrowly beating out its longtime rival, New Jersey. Delaware and California are also likely to follow.  So now you won't have to leave the comfort of your couch to have the casino experience -- minus the showgirls and cirque de soleil. But what does it take to win online?

To answer that, we turn to the Wizard of Odds, Michael Shackleford, an actuary and a former professor of casino math at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Besides wagering at home in your pajamas, does gambling online have an advantage?  

"Assuming a fair game, the odds are generally better online. I attribute that to lower overhead costs with running an online casino. With slot machines, in Las Vegas they generally return anywhere from 88-92 percent whereas an Internet casino will usually from 93-97 percent. The odds are significantly better online in my opinion," says Shackleford.

DATA FROM: Wizard of Odds

But what risks come with Internet gambling?

"Basically the casinos are on the honor system to give you a fair game and I and other watchdog websites have busted casinos often for cheating. Often the way it works out is a player will post a log file of his play, or video of his play, and say this is just ridiculous how much I'm losing. As a mathematician by training, I can look at the log files and analyze what is the probability that a player would lose as much money as he did assuming a fair game. Lots of times the results are just off the chart. Like, the probability of luck this bad in a fair game being one in trillions," says Shackleford. "The regulation is very feeble. I think it's up to independents like me to keep an eye on the business."

How easy is it to cash out winnings online?

"With a good Internet casino, you have to click withdrawal, how much do you want to withdraw, and a check will be on its way," says Shackleford. "With a good casino -- not every Internet casino is a good casino. Some of them may not be you at all. Some of them may drag their feet and make you nag them a few times. For the most part, Internet gambling is unregulated."

Shackleford says Internet casinos subscribe to this philosophy: They want a player's deposit to last a long time and for him or her to get a lot of fun and entertainment out of their money (but eventually lose it). If a player has gotten a lot of entertainment out of their money, he or she is likely to be happy and make another deposit.

Shackleford offers these tips to succeed at online gambling:
1. Look for a good bonus that you can play on a low house advantage game.
2. The two best games to play in an online casino are usually Blackjack and Video poker (Craps is not bad either).
3. Remember that it's fun and to keep it in moderation.

The controversy began when a piece of graffiti on a London wall appeared at a Miami auction house. The piece of art is scheduled to fetch up to $700,000. The community in London said its sale would be immoral. Now, after a tug of war, a stenciled rat has appeared nearby.

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Sequestration doesn’t just refer to budget cuts. You can sequester juries during trials or carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Catholic cardinals are sequestered to choose a new pope.

“It’s all about being kept separate,” says Mignon Fogarty, better known by her online handle Grammar Girl and the author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. “It comes from a Latin word that means to remove or separate or keep in a safe place.”

Sequester was first used in reference to budget politics in the mid 1980s. Under President Ronald Reagan, the economy was doing well, says Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. “But both parties were worried that domestic spending continued to grow, but taxes had been cut significantly.”

So Congress passed the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. It set targets for deficit reduction and said that if Congress and the President couldn’t agree on how to meet those goals, the money would be automatically taken away. With that, the sequester was born.

Just like now, Zelizer says politicians might have used the word sequester to talk about budget cuts without actually having to say budget cuts.  

“It’s inside-the-Beltway rhetoric that’s being used intentionally to try to keep some of this inside the Beltway,” he says.

Senator Phil Gramm from Texas (R), now retired, thinks the name is crystal clear.

“To me, sequester conjured up taking something off the table, withholding something,” he counters.

He’s the “Gramm” in the title of the law and the one who put sequestration in the bill.

“It’s always helpful if when you invent a term, if it already conjures up what you’re try to say,” he adds.

Gramm says the term was actually suggested to him by then House Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-TX). They also considered “impoundment,” but it had already been used for something else.

Now, Gramm stands by both the name and the idea behind it: That sequestration should be a last resort, a final backstop on overspending.

“If a sequester is what you got to do to get people’s attention, I would do it,” he says.

While Gramm says he’s more proud of raising two sons, he doesn’t mind being known as the father of sequestration, too.

The idea is that brown tree snakes will eat these snacks from the sky. Then, it's hoped, the snakes will die because the mice will be laced with painkillers. The active ingredient in those drugs should be toxic to the snakes.

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Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a pole in NASCAR's elite division, but that doesn't mean her No. 1 position at the start of Sunday's Daytona 500 will give her an edge. Experts say that a 40-pound weight advantage might not help either.

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Today, Olympic medalist and double amputee Oscar Pistorius was granted bail. Pistorius was arrested nine days ago after the shooting death of his girlfriend. You’ve probably heard about this story...in fact, you’ve probably heard a lot about this story. The media frenzy around Pistorius is in full swing -- and some people are even calling this the next O.J. Simpson trial.

Entertainment analyst Robert Galinsky says another O.J. trial might be a stretch, but the Oscar Pistorius story is almost tailor-made for the media.

"Here comes a real-life hero," says Galinsky. "This guy who has overcome being a double amputee, he’s created a success story for himself by being an Olympian, and something major like this happens, it’s a bonanza for the media."

News networks have gotten very skilled at making stories like these -- whether they be natural disasters, celebrity scandals or shootings -- into mega-news events, says Aram Sinnreich, a media professor at Rutgers University.

"These stories all have this kind of car crash quality to them," says Sinnreich. "Like, you don't want to look, but you can't look away." That translates into big ratings and ad dollars. Sinnreich cites the recent story about the stranded Carnival Cruise ship. "CNN actually saw a 74 percent ratings boost during their several day coverage," he says.

Those ratings bumps have now been baked into the business model of 24-hour cable news, says Robert Thompson, a professor of TV and popular culture at Syracuse University. Thompson says networks learned how to make a news event into a media blitz during the murder trial of another famous athlete: O.J. Simpson.

"Many people point to that as the real moment when we reached maturity for this kind of coverage," says Thompson. "These kinds of stories, in effect, become cottage industries."

Thompson points out that O.J.’s trial meant months of gavel-to-gavel coverage -- lawyers and witnesses became mini-celebrities and news stories themselves. Thompson says you just can’t get that kind of mileage out the Greek debt crisis or the dreaded sequester.

Today, Olympic medalist and double amputee Oscar Pistorius was granted bail. Pistorius was arrested nine days ago after the shooting death of his girlfriend. You’ve probably heard about this story...in fact, you’ve probably heard a lot about this story. The media frenzy around Pistorius is in full swing -- and some people are even calling this the next O.J. Simpson trial.

Entertainment analyst Robert Galinsky says another O.J. trial might be a stretch, but the Oscar Pistorius story is almost tailor-made for the media.

"Here comes a real-life hero," says Galinsky. "This guy who has overcome being a double amputee, he’s created a success story for himself by being an Olympian, and something major like this happens, it’s a bonanza for the media."

News networks have gotten very skilled at making stories like these -- whether they be natural disasters, celebrity scandals or shootings -- into mega-news events, says Aram Sinnreich, a media professor at Rutgers University.

"These stories all have this kind of car crash quality to them," says Sinnreich. "Like, you don't want to look, but you can't look away." That translates into big ratings and ad dollars. Sinnreich cites the recent story about the stranded Carnival Cruise ship. "CNN actually saw a 74 percent ratings boost during their several day coverage," he says.

Those ratings bumps have now been baked into the business model of 24-hour cable news, says Robert Thompson, a professor of TV and popular culture at Syracuse University. Thompson says networks learned how to make a news event into a media blitz during the murder trial of another famous athlete: O.J. Simpson.

"Many people point to that as the real moment when we reached maturity for this kind of coverage," says Thompson. "These kinds of stories, in effect, become cottage industries."

Thompson points out that O.J.’s trial meant months of gavel-to-gavel coverage -- lawyers and witnesses became mini-celebrities and news stories themselves. Thompson says you just can’t get that kind of mileage out the Greek debt crisis or the dreaded sequester.

Tell Me More host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar crack open the listener inbox. This week, they clear up a Presidents' Day misunderstanding, and see if the idea of Legos for girls really has legs.

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President Obama's plan to jump-start the economy starts with increasing the minimum wage and avoiding sequestration. Host Michel Martin talks about those challenges and others, like rising gas prices and expanding waist lines. She's joined by NPR's senior business editor Marilyn Geewax and Wall Street Journal economics reporter Sudeep Reddy.

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South African Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail, but the hearing brought to light bizarre details about the murder charges against him. So will the case turn into another O.J. Simpson fiasco? Host Michel Martin asks the barbershop guys for their thoughts.

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For one of these night photographs to turn out, the stars have to align — almost literally.

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Kids whose parents have talked to them about the dangers of drugs are more likely to think that using isn't OK. That message can become mixed when parents bring up their own experience. There's no need to lie to a child, but parents should be careful about offering too much information.

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If you can't tell what politicians in Washington are talking about, you're not alone. But eventually terms such as "sequester" and "reconciliation" can become less impenetrable, if only because of their constant repetition.

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It’s better for me to go ahead and admit up front I’m a cheap guy. I love a deal, so when I recently had to switch dentists and found one offering $25 American Express gift cards to new patients, I noticed. It wasn’t the main factor in my decision, but it definitely didn’t hurt.

Soon I had clean teeth and $25 I could spend almost anywhere. Or so I thought. The gift card was declined at a restaurant, grocery store and gift shop.

These cards issued by MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are known in the industry as general purpose gift cards. In theory, you can use them anywhere credit cards are accepted, making them more flexible than, say, Best Buy or Apple gift cards. But in practice, spending general purpose gift cards can be a hassle, something more and more Americans are learning as the popularity of these cards surges.

“The largest complaint that we keep hearing is the inability to use up all of the funds on the card,” says Michelle Jun, a senior attorney and gift card expert at Consumers Union. “And we have heard this complaint again and again.”

Preparation is key for any shopper who wants to be sure to spend every last dime on a general purpose gift card. Card companies and experts offer these 7 gift card tips to make sure you’re not leaving any loot behind:

1. Know your card’s balance, which you can quickly check online or by phone.

2. Gas pumps may reject a gift card if its value is below a certain amount. Stations do this to prevent drivers from buying more gas than they can pay for. Pay inside the station before pumping.

3. In restaurants or other places where you sign for a tip, the merchant's system will typically preauthorize a charge 20 percent or higher than your bill. That’s to make sure you can pay the tip. This can screw up a gift card transaction and possibly freeze your money. It may be easiest not to use general purpose gift cards when dining out.

4. If your gift card won’t cover the whole bill, tell the store exactly how much is on it. Then pay the difference via cash or credit card before they swipe the gift card.

5. If a store can’t process this kind of split transaction, try a workaround. Ask if you can use your general purpose gift card to purchase a gift card for that store. Store point-of-sale systems are designed to accommodate combining store gift cards with other payments (In fact, CEB TowerGroup finds that the typical consumer ends up spending 30 percent more than the gift card is worth. So stores make sure not to lose out on this extra money). Then you can complete your purchase combining that entire store gift card with your own credit card.

6. Communication is vital. Your success in spending your entire balance may hinge on how well you can explain all of this to a teenage cashier. Know your facts and be clear and polite in telling the cashier what you need done.

7. Finally, keep the card in your wallet so you remember to use it. There are literally billions of dollars locked away unspent on gift cards forgotten in junk drawers or accidentally discarded. Spend the money as soon as possible.

My complaint was bigger. I wasn’t able to spend any of my funds. After my third denial, I called AmEx’s customer service line to see what was going on. Following a lot of button-pushing and waiting, I finally had a guy in New Delhi with some answers. The rep's phone name was "Andrew."

In unfailingly polite speech over a crackly line, he calmly explained that the restaurant had swiped my card. And even though it didn’t take the money, the swipe put a pending charge on my card for the full amount. That effectively put all my money in purgatory. “Andrew’s” explanation was apparently inspired by the Book of Genesis.

“It stays for seven days,” he intoned. “On the eighth day, on the eighth calendar day... if the merchant does not claim the funds, then this amount comes back on the card automatically.”

This frozen-funds phenomenon is exactly the opposite of what these general purpose gift cards claim to offer: flexibility and convenience. If you have a gift card to Best Buy or Amazon, you’re stuck spending it there. General purpose cards from AmEx and others should work almost anywhere. That promise is part of why this type of gift card is growing.

CEB TowerGroup forecasts general purpose gift cards will add up to $42 billion this year. They surpassed retail-store gift cards in 2011. Analyst Brian Riley says they became especially popular during the recession, when people wanted cards that could be used for basic needs like groceries and gas, not just splurges at electronics and clothing stores.

It’s not just card recipients who get frustrated about them. General purpose cards aren’t exactly a great deal for the giver either. Unlike store gift cards, general purpose cards are packed with purchase fees, ranging from $2 to $6, says says Janna Herron, who surveyed gift cards for Bankrate.com.

“That means if you were buying a $25 gift card, you have to pay, you know, $28 to $29 to get the gift card. Whereas with the store branded cards, you just pay the $25,” she says.

CEB TowerGroup says the average gift card is worth $45. So to put that on a general purpose card, you could pay a whopping 13 percent premium. That’s why last Christmas, Herron gave a couple relatives store cards instead.

"I'm a little bit frugal and I didn't want to spend the extra $2 to $3 for a gift card and that extra $2 to $3 could be used for a stocking stuffer for my son," Herron explained.

Herron and Jun at Consumers Union both recommend a check or cash instead of a general purpose gift card, though of course it’s best to avoid mailing cash.

It’s not that credit card companies are trying the make the cards difficult to use. In fact, they love it when people use them. Every time a card is swiped, AmEx and all the rest take a cut of the sale from stores.

“The primary money they’ll make on it are the transaction fees going through,” says CEB TowerGroup’s Brian Riley.

The $25 on my gift card is now unfrozen, so I’m hoping I’ll have better luck finding somewhere that’ll let me spend it.

Mark Garrison: I’ll admit it. I’m a cheap guy. So when I had to switch dentists and found one offering $25 American Express gift cards to new patients, I noticed. It wasn’t the main factor, but it definitely didn’t hurt. Soon I had clean teeth, and 25 bucks I could spend almost anywhere. Or so I thought. The gift card was declined at a restaurant, grocery store and gift shop. Michelle Jun at Consumers Union says many people run into problems with these cards.

Michelle Jun: Lately, the largest complaint that we keep hearing is the inability to use up all of the funds on the card. And we have heard this complaint again and again.

I wasn’t able to spend any of my funds. After my third denial, I called AmEx’s customer service line to see what was going on. Once I had pressed lots of buttons and waited, finally I had a guy in New Delhi with some answers.

Andrew: Sir, my name is Andrew and how may I help you?

The restaurant had swiped my card, but it was declined. Even though the restaurant didn’t take the money, the swipe put a pending charge on my card for the full amount. So all my money was in purgatory. Andrew’s explanation was apparently inspired by the Book of Genesis.

Andrew: It stays for seven days. On the eighth day, on the eighth calendar day, the pending charge is, like, if the merchant does not claim the funds, then this amount comes back on the card automatically.

Having your funds frozen is just one problem more and more consumers are learning about as these general purpose cards grow in popularity. CEB TowerGroup analyst Brian Riley tracks gift cards.

Brian Riley: During the recession is really when they tweaked up a little bit faster than the others.

General purpose cards surpassed retail store gift cards in 2011. Riley forecasts they’ll add up to $42 billion this year. We’ll have some tips in a moment on making sure you’re able to spend your share of that. But it’s not just recipients who get frustrated about them. General purpose cards aren’t exactly a great deal for the giver either. Janna Herron surveyed them for Bankrate.com. She found they’re packed with purchase fees.

Janna Herron: That ranged between $2-6 depending on the gift card. And so that means if you were buying a $25 gift card, you have to pay, you know, $28-29 to get the gift card. Whereas with the store branded cards, you just pay the $25.

CEB TowerGroup says the average gift card is worth $45. So to put that on a general purpose card, you could pay a whopping 13 percent premium. That’s why last Christmas, Herron gave her nephew a Best Buy store card instead.

Herron: I’m a little bit frugal and I didn’t want to spend the extra $2-3 for a gift card and that extra $2-3 could be used for a stocking stuffer for my son.

She and Consumers Union’s Michelle Jun both recommend a check or cash instead of a general purpose gift card, though of course it’s best to avoid mailing cash. It’s not that credit card companies are trying the make the cards difficult to use. Quite the opposite. The analyst Riley points out that every time a card is swiped, AmEX and all the rest take a cut from stores.

Riley: The primary money they’ll make on it are the transaction fees going through.

But to actually make that gift card transaction work, you need to be prepared. Card companies and experts say to avoid missing out, know your card’s balance, which you can check online or by phone. If your card won’t cover the whole bill, tell the store exactly how much is on your card. Then pay the difference before they swipe it. Your success may hinge on how well you explain this to a teenage cashier. Again, Bankrate’s Janna Herron.

Herron: You might find that you might have to do things a little differently and it might be more inconvenient than you thought it would be.

Gas pumps may reject a gift card if its value is less than required to fill up your tank. You should pay inside before pumping. Restaurants typically preauthorize a higher charge than your bill to make sure you can pay the tip. This can screw up a gift card transaction, so it may be easiest not to use general purpose gift cards when dining out.

In New York, hoping I find somewhere that’ll let me spend that $25, I'm Mark Garrison, for Marketplace.

It’s better for me to go ahead and admit up front I’m a cheap guy. I love a deal, so when I recently had to switch dentists and found one offering $25 American Express gift cards to new patients, I noticed. It wasn’t the main factor in my decision, but it definitely didn’t hurt.

Soon I had clean teeth and $25 I could spend almost anywhere. Or so I thought. The gift card was declined at a restaurant, grocery store and gift shop.

These cards issued by MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are known in the industry as general purpose gift cards. In theory, you can use them anywhere credit cards are accepted, making them more flexible than, say, Best Buy or Apple gift cards. But in practice, spending general purpose gift cards can be a hassle, something more and more Americans are learning as the popularity of these cards surges.

“The largest complaint that we keep hearing is the inability to use up all of the funds on the card,” says Michelle Jun, a senior attorney and gift card expert at Consumers Union. “And we have heard this complaint again and again.”

Preparation is key for any shopper who wants to be sure to spend every last dime on a general purpose gift card. Card companies and experts offer these 7 gift card tips to make sure you’re not leaving any loot behind:

1. Know your card’s balance, which you can quickly check online or by phone.

2. Gas pumps may reject a gift card if its value is below a certain amount. Stations do this to prevent drivers from buying more gas than they can pay for. Pay inside the station before pumping.

3. In restaurants or other places where you sign for a tip, the merchant's system will typically preauthorize a charge 20 percent or higher than your bill. That’s to make sure you can pay the tip. This can screw up a gift card transaction and possibly freeze your money. It may be easiest not to use general purpose gift cards when dining out.

4. If your gift card won’t cover the whole bill, tell the store exactly how much is on it. Then pay the difference via cash or credit card before they swipe the gift card.

5. If a store can’t process this kind of split transaction, try a workaround. Ask if you can use your general purpose gift card to purchase a gift card for that store. Store point-of-sale systems are designed to accommodate combining store gift cards with other payments (In fact, CEB TowerGroup finds that the typical consumer ends up spending 30 percent more than the gift card is worth. So stores make sure not to lose out on this extra money). Then you can complete your purchase combining that entire store gift card with your own credit card.

6. Communication is vital. Your success in spending your entire balance may hinge on how well you can explain all of this to a teenage cashier. Know your facts and be clear and polite in telling the cashier what you need done.

7. Finally, keep the card in your wallet so you remember to use it. There are literally billions of dollars locked away unspent on gift cards forgotten in junk drawers or accidentally discarded. Spend the money as soon as possible.

My complaint was bigger. I wasn’t able to spend any of my funds. After my third denial, I called AmEx’s customer service line to see what was going on. Following a lot of button-pushing and waiting, I finally had a guy in New Delhi with some answers. The rep's phone name was "Andrew."

In unfailingly polite speech over a crackly line, he calmly explained that the restaurant had swiped my card. And even though it didn’t take the money, the swipe put a pending charge on my card for the full amount. That effectively put all my money in purgatory. “Andrew’s” explanation was apparently inspired by the Book of Genesis.

“It stays for seven days,” he intoned. “On the eighth day, on the eighth calendar day... if the merchant does not claim the funds, then this amount comes back on the card automatically.”

This frozen-funds phenomenon is exactly the opposite of what these general purpose gift cards claim to offer: flexibility and convenience. If you have a gift card to Best Buy or Amazon, you’re stuck spending it there. General purpose cards from AmEx and others should work almost anywhere. That promise is part of why this type of gift card is growing.

CEB TowerGroup forecasts general purpose gift cards will add up to $42 billion this year. They surpassed retail-store gift cards in 2011. Analyst Brian Riley says they became especially popular during the recession, when people wanted cards that could be used for basic needs like groceries and gas, not just splurges at electronics and clothing stores.

It’s not just card recipients who get frustrated about them. General purpose cards aren’t exactly a great deal for the giver either. Unlike store gift cards, general purpose cards are packed with purchase fees, ranging from $2 to $6, says says Janna Herron, who surveyed gift cards for Bankrate.com.

“That means if you were buying a $25 gift card, you have to pay, you know, $28 to $29 to get the gift card. Whereas with the store branded cards, you just pay the $25,” she says.

CEB TowerGroup says the average gift card is worth $45. So to put that on a general purpose card, you could pay a whopping 13 percent premium. That’s why last Christmas, Herron gave a couple relatives store cards instead.

"I'm a little bit frugal and I didn't want to spend the extra $2 to $3 for a gift card and that extra $2 to $3 could be used for a stocking stuffer for my son," Herron explained.

Herron and Jun at Consumers Union both recommend a check or cash instead of a general purpose gift card, though of course it’s best to avoid mailing cash.

It’s not that credit card companies are trying the make the cards difficult to use. In fact, they love it when people use them. Every time a card is swiped, AmEx and all the rest take a cut of the sale from stores.

“The primary money they’ll make on it are the transaction fees going through,” says CEB TowerGroup’s Brian Riley.

The $25 on my gift card is now unfrozen, so I’m hoping I’ll have better luck finding somewhere that’ll let me spend it.

Mark Garrison: I’ll admit it. I’m a cheap guy. So when I had to switch dentists and found one offering $25 American Express gift cards to new patients, I noticed. It wasn’t the main factor, but it definitely didn’t hurt. Soon I had clean teeth, and 25 bucks I could spend almost anywhere. Or so I thought. The gift card was declined at a restaurant, grocery store and gift shop. Michelle Jun at Consumers Union says many people run into problems with these cards.

Michelle Jun: Lately, the largest complaint that we keep hearing is the inability to use up all of the funds on the card. And we have heard this complaint again and again.

I wasn’t able to spend any of my funds. After my third denial, I called AmEx’s customer service line to see what was going on. Once I had pressed lots of buttons and waited, finally I had a guy in New Delhi with some answers.

Andrew: Sir, my name is Andrew and how may I help you?

The restaurant had swiped my card, but it was declined. Even though the restaurant didn’t take the money, the swipe put a pending charge on my card for the full amount. So all my money was in purgatory. Andrew’s explanation was apparently inspired by the Book of Genesis.

Andrew: It stays for seven days. On the eighth day, on the eighth calendar day, the pending charge is, like, if the merchant does not claim the funds, then this amount comes back on the card automatically.

Having your funds frozen is just one problem more and more consumers are learning about as these general purpose cards grow in popularity. CEB TowerGroup analyst Brian Riley tracks gift cards.

Brian Riley: During the recession is really when they tweaked up a little bit faster than the others.

General purpose cards surpassed retail store gift cards in 2011. Riley forecasts they’ll add up to $42 billion this year. We’ll have some tips in a moment on making sure you’re able to spend your share of that. But it’s not just recipients who get frustrated about them. General purpose cards aren’t exactly a great deal for the giver either. Janna Herron surveyed them for Bankrate.com. She found they’re packed with purchase fees.

Janna Herron: That ranged between $2-6 depending on the gift card. And so that means if you were buying a $25 gift card, you have to pay, you know, $28-29 to get the gift card. Whereas with the store branded cards, you just pay the $25.

CEB TowerGroup says the average gift card is worth $45. So to put that on a general purpose card, you could pay a whopping 13 percent premium. That’s why last Christmas, Herron gave her nephew a Best Buy store card instead.

Herron: I’m a little bit frugal and I didn’t want to spend the extra $2-3 for a gift card and that extra $2-3 could be used for a stocking stuffer for my son.

She and Consumers Union’s Michelle Jun both recommend a check or cash instead of a general purpose gift card, though of course it’s best to avoid mailing cash. It’s not that credit card companies are trying the make the cards difficult to use. Quite the opposite. The analyst Riley points out that every time a card is swiped, AmEX and all the rest take a cut from stores.

Riley: The primary money they’ll make on it are the transaction fees going through.

But to actually make that gift card transaction work, you need to be prepared. Card companies and experts say to avoid missing out, know your card’s balance, which you can check online or by phone. If your card won’t cover the whole bill, tell the store exactly how much is on your card. Then pay the difference before they swipe it. Your success may hinge on how well you explain this to a teenage cashier. Again, Bankrate’s Janna Herron.

Herron: You might find that you might have to do things a little differently and it might be more inconvenient than you thought it would be.

Gas pumps may reject a gift card if its value is less than required to fill up your tank. You should pay inside before pumping. Restaurants typically preauthorize a higher charge than your bill to make sure you can pay the tip. This can screw up a gift card transaction, so it may be easiest not to use general purpose gift cards when dining out.

In New York, hoping I find somewhere that’ll let me spend that $25, I'm Mark Garrison, for Marketplace.

The Oscar Pistorius case has tapped into two long-running and emotionally charged issues in South Africa: the fear of crime and violence against women.

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He may have been ousted from office, prosecuted for fraud, corruption and having sex with an underage prostitute but he’s back! Italian media magnate and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is seeking re-election at the polls this weekend.

Perhaps even more surprising:  He could conceivably win high office again.

“It’s still unlikely but it’s not impossible any more,” says Vincenzo Scarpetta of the Open Europe think tank. "Berlusconi has made a remarkable political comeback. He has been able to gain ground in the opinion polls, largely thanks to his anti-austerity campaign.”

Berlusconi has promised to reduce some of the taxes imposed by the previous government; he’s even pledged to refund the hated property tax paid by many homeowners late last year. And he refuses to accept the need for radical reform to shake-up Italy’s inflexible labor market. His message is proving popular with many Italians at a time when there is widespread weariness with budget cuts and falling living standards.

Franco Pavoncello of John Cabot University in Rome says Italians  are undoubtedly suffering:

“GDP’s going down. It’s negative. Unemployment is growing constantly. Shops are closing left and right. You know the country is on its knees," says Professor Pavoncello.

But if Berlusconi wins the election, Italy’s plight might worsen:

“It would put the frighteners on the markets and all the European institutions. And it would cause major problems for Italy and the European Union” says James Walston of the American University in Rome.

If Italy abandons austerity and reform, markets may drive up its borrowing costs again. The eurozone debt crisis -- now dormant -- could be rudely reawakened. Victory for a coalition of pro-reform parties seems more likely than a Berlusconi win, but markets won’t fully relax until the results are in.  

A glass of wine can be a welcome sight after a long day watching the kids, but fruit fly moms use alcohol from fermenting fruit to protect their offspring from marauding wasps. That's just one of the ways the tiny flies are using booze to survive the slings and arrows of existence.

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The Jets quarterback reversed a decision to attend the opening of a new facility for the First Baptist Church in Dallas, whose pastor has disparaged other religions and homosexuals.

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At a Jewish service at the Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz funeral home in Cleveland Heights, friends and family share stories about the man they call “Joe.”

“And as you might’ve guessed, a week or two later, you know what happened,” smiles one relative. “One of the kids turned the table on Joe, and put a pie right in his face, and we had that on camera as well.”

I saw scenes of fondness and remembrance -- smiles and tears. But the thing is, I wasn’t really there. Some of the mourners weren’t either. We were watching an online video stream, some from Arizona, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Cindy Saltzer is Joseph’s daughter. She’s glad the funeral was available online.

“My family... they did not want to have that,” confides Saltzer. “I think they thought it might have been intrusive, but they originally did not want to do it, and I did. I thought it was a good idea.” 

In the Jewish religion, burials are done quickly. In Albert Joseph’s case, it was two days after his death. Normally this means costly, last-minute airfares or long, stressful drives. But in this case, Saltzer arranged a webcast with the funeral home, with an on-demand link for those who could only see it later. 

“And we got wonderful responses, wonderful letters from people who saw it live,” Saltzer says. “Even one of my dad’s elderly friends... figured out how to do it, and watched it live.” 

Funeral director Michael Kumin says he installed the projectors, screens, and computer equipment two months ago, at a cost of $22,000. The funeral home doesn’t charge extra for the service, which gives them a leg-up on competitors.

Kumin says out of the last 80 services, about a third included webcasts... like one where a brother Skype-d in from Florida.

“And bigger than life, we had the brother sitting on that screen... in front of his computer so we saw him,” recalls Kumin. “And he spoke to everyone here. He said the things he wanted to say about his brother that came from his heart, and when it was all over, the rabbi continued, we put the screen back up, and the service continued as if someone had just walked out of the family room to step up on the podium and speak.”

Interest in online funerals is growing. One company, National Webcast, says demand has shot up 250 percent from 2011. But Sara Marsden says some funeral homes are worried.  She’s editor-in-chief for U.S. Funerals Online.

“We will see a lot more funeral homes close down, unfortunately,” says Marsden. “Because I think the more we can access online services, we’re not going to be traveling on the same basis to visit funeral homes.”

In short, less revenues for funeral homes from chapel space, services, and caskets. 

But not everyone thinks the online trend means the end of traditional services. Daniel Berry runs a couple funeral homes in the Cleveland area. 

“I don’t think it’s ever going to replace the value of the human touch, the presence of a friend or family there at the funeral home to comfort and share the grief with the family,” says Berry. “Which is why we have calling hours, why we have funeral services, why we memorialize the individuals.”

Still, for Cindy Saltzer, emailing the link of her father’s service to friends made her happy.

“It was a beautiful service,” she says. “My dad was an outstanding man, and I just wanted to share it with people who would’ve wanted to see it.”

Saltzer’s husband Michael, argues online services will benefit those tight on for cash, too sick or too old to travel, as well as relatives in the military.

“I really don’t see a downside, and since we have the technology, why not take advantage of it, and use it so other people can be a part of it and experience it?”