Face it. The year is 2009 and every dad is a geeky dad because you no longer have to use a slide ruler to be one. Technology is super-accessible, but it’s key to find dad gadgets that are truly easy to use. By now, every list contains an iPod, but how many of these little babies can you own. Sadly, they aren’t evolving fast enough to require a new one every year. If you have a dad who has an iPod and can’t get enough music, an iTunes gift card is a nice touch. Still, it says, “I know you so little, all I could do was give you some money,” which is certainly not a good sentiment to write in a card. And, for some beleaguered dads, a gift card of any sort is just another...

Yes, dads, don’t expect quite as many ties or chocolates this Fathers Day. Your celebration is yet another victim of the recession. However, note this: while moms “get” more on Mom’s Day per capita, spending on moms in 2009 was expected to be down 10% while spending for dads only will dip about 5%. Americans are expected to spend an average of $90.89 on gifts for dad, down slightly from $94.54 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $9.4 billion. Highlights from NRF’s 2009 Father’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey include: Consumers will spend the most ($1.9 billion) on a special outing such as a dinner or even a sporting event. Clothing still ranks...

Here are five solid camera choices for Fathers Day 2009: For HD Lovers: Canon PowerShot SD780 IS – Photos and HD Video. $280 Birdwatchers and long-distance viewers: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – Longest zoom for a point and shoot at 12X. $400 Most portable: Sony DSC-T700 Cyber-shot – Tiny and flat with 4GB of internal memory but only a 4X zoom. $400 Most brand conscious: Leica C-LUX 3 – It’s a Leica, and very good, but the price shows it. $600 Budget conscious: Nikon Coolpix S220 – Good basic camera, but don’t expect a lot of bells and whistles. Biggest camera buying hint this year. Compare sensor size not megapixel quantity. That will determine...