Publix Yellow Advantage Buy 10/30-11/19

Manufacturer's coupons expiring 11/19/2010:
Free McCormick taco, low sodium taco or fajita seasoning mix WYB 2
Free Renuzit Adjustables 7.5 oz. WYB 3

Publix coupons expiring 11/19/2010:
Free Publix 24 oz. pancake syrup WYB 2 any Krusteaz pancake mix 24-32 oz. or belgian waffle mix 28 oz.
Free gallon of milk WYB any 3 Kellogg's Mini-Wheats 15.8-24 oz.
Free Wanchai Ferry frozen meal or Macaroni Grill frozen meal 24 oz. WYB 1
$1.00 any 2 Sierra Mist Natural 2 liter
$1.00 Gatorade Prime 4 pk./4 oz. or Gatorade Recover 16.9 oz.
$1.00 Garden Lites All-Natural Souffle 7 oz.
$1.00 any Orville Redenbracher's Poppycock
$1.50 any Pepsi 2 liter WYB any 2 Orville Redenbacher's gourmet popping corn
Free Orville Redenbacher's gourmet popping corn oil WYB any 2 Orville Redenbacher's jars
Free Sparkle 2 giant roll paper towels WYB Quilted Northern soft & strong or Quilted Northern ultra plush bath tissue 18 double rolls
Free Air Wick single base scented oil warmer WYB 2 single Air Wick scented oils or 1 twin pack
Free Publix GreenWise Market chlorine free liquid bleach 96 oz. WYB Green Works natural laundry detergent 45 oz.
$1.00 Ziploc container 2-4 ct.
 
Thanks Slickdeals

General Mills & Kraft Price Increases Soon

Better stock up on cereals now even if you don't need to quite yet, as these price increases may make the days of free or $0.25 cereal over.
 
 
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- General Mills Inc. (GIS) is raising prices on some cereals and baking products, the clearest signal yet that food makers will pass some price pressure from higher commodity costs on to retailers and consumers.
General Mills is instituting "low-single-digit" percentage price increases on select cereal brands and slightly higher increases on some baking products, such as flour and baking mixes, spokeswoman Kirstie Foster said.
Separately, Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) is also starting to raise some prices, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday, though the scope of Kraft's increases wasn't immediately clear. A Kraft spokesman declined comment Wednesday, but the company recently said it would selectively raise prices on some brands to offset commodity costs.
New price increases would come at a time of still-widespread caution among consumers, who are still jittery about the pace of the economic recovery. It could also put some retailers in a bind. Supermarket operators, who have expressed caution about consumer confidence, will have to decide whether to raise shelf prices or sacrifice profits.
General Mills will raise prices on select cereal brands starting Nov. 15, the spokeswoman said, affecting about a quarter of its cereal business in the U.S. Specific brands weren't disclosed, though the spokeswoman said it would be the first price increase on many of the cereal brands in more than three years. General Mills' brands include Cheerios and Lucky Charms cereals and Betty Crocker baking mixes. Price increases on the baking brands will go into effect Jan. 3.
Kroger Co. (KR) and Safeway Inc. (SWY) executives have said in recent weeks that they expect to be able to pass along such increases, although other supermarket chains such as Supervalu Inc. (SVU) are engaged in another round of price cuts in stores to keep shoppers coming in.
Supervalu on Tuesday said it was going to run another round of price cuts, a direct response to declining sales and market share. The new strategy comes as a major supplier in the past week told Supervalu that it will raise prices "across the board," Supervalu Chief Executive Craig Herkert told analysts Tuesday. A Supervalu spokesman declined comment on which supplier warned the company of higher prices. (This company owns Save-a-lot and CUB foods)
 
By Anjali Cordeiro and Paul Ziobro

So I've Got This Garage Sale Coming Up...

and I'm not really sure how to proceed. You see, I've never had a garage sale and I've probably only gone to about 3 in my whole life. My parents never had garage sales, but I did observe my sister in law having a garage sale once maybe. I'm a total noob.
 
I know garage sales are supposed to be the thing that frugal people embrace, but I've always had to work 8 to 4 weekdays and never had the opportunity to attend sales on the first day. And Saturdays are for sleeping in late, not getting up like a school day and driving around strange neighborhoods in the dark. Even when I ride my bike around on the weekends and see a sale, I just glance over and keep going. Plus they seem like a lot of work. In my opinion its easier to just post a picture on craigslist. I've sold thousands of dollars of stuff on craigslist in the past but the stuff I need to sell just doesn't seem worth it.
 
So a friend of mine lives in a community that is having a neighborhood yard sale on the first weekend of November. She invited me to bring over anything I want to sell, since she's done this a bunch. I thought it would be a good way to get rid of those golf clubs I lugged down to FL and haven't used in fifteen years, and the old vacuum cleaners and of course some stockpile stuff like scrubbing bubbles, swiffer starter kits and BBQ sauce. I don't have the big draw items like kids toys or clothes, or tools. So, I'm not really sure what will go and what won't. I also don't know how to price the stuff so that it goes, but not giveaway.
 
Here's what I'm thinking I need to get set -
 
1. Tables - I do know that I need to get some tables, which I can borrow. I can get a couple Card tables, and a plastic round outdoor table. Plus I can use some extra plywood from remodeling to make more tables with horseshoes. I have a small 5x8 trailer I can put all this stuff on, or borrow my neighbors pickup truck.
 
2. Items to sell - I can box up razors, toothpaste, BBQ sauce, swiffers, scrubbing bubbles, candles and air fresheners and all the other stockpile stuff I'm not using as quickly as I want. I also have sporting goods like roller blades, scuba equipment, nerf footballs, golf clubs. I have a box of Tshirts I culled out from the dressing room to donate, so I'll try to sell them too. Also a chainsaw and an electric leaf blower, and a couple vacuum cleaners.
 
3. Advertising - I'm wondering if it would be good to take pics and place the items on craigslist a week early to see if there is any interest at a higher price. Then I can direct the buyer to the yard sale. Do you think this would work? I could also place an ad in the garage sale section with a map to direct people to this sale.
 
4. Pricing - Is it better to put price tags on stuff or just tag the table like $1 Table. Or should I just put color stickers on everything and then I know if the red sticker is $0.25 and the blue sticker is $1, etc. Do you think people will switch stickers? I would also have a price list of everything so I can see what sold for what (being the analyst I am) and to verify the prices.
 
5. Troublemakers - what about the people who will annoy me and just try to basically steal my stuff? Granted I don't have a use for most of it, but I would rather give it away to the Salvation army for free than sell it to a cheapskate for ten cents. What about the people who will try to steal stuff, do I need to watch for that? I have an ipod Nano I want to sell since I have several, and I want people to see it but not steal it. Should I wear it with my arm strap with a for sale note on it?
 
6. Signs - I'll make a couple directional signs, plus some price signs for my tables.
 
7. Freebies - I'll have leftover Halloween candy to give away to buyers, plus I can sell SOBE water or something to thirsty people.
 
Any tips you have from your experiences would be great. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm going to start gathering stuff and packing it up this weekend.

My Garden

We just ate some yummy zuchinni from our garden with dinner tonight. It was our first harvest from the earthbox, but there will be more to come. It's funny with zuchinni how they can be 4" long one day, and then 8" the next and then over a foot long and as thick as a log in a week.
 
We're looking forward to some yellow squash, green peppers, tomatoes, much more zuchinni and cucumbers.  Our celery is kind of weak but maybe it'll grow soon.

Publix Sneak Peek 10/21-10/27

BOGO's
Juicy Juice All Natural 100% Juice, Assorted Varieties, 64 ounce bottle, BOGO $3.29


Butter Loaf Cake, From The Bakery, 12 ounce Loaf, BOGO $4.49

Doritos Tortilla Chips, Assorted Varieties, 11.5 to 12 ounce bag (Excluding Baked) BOGO $3.99

Oscar Mayer Meat Wieners, Regular or Premium or Bun Length, 16 oz Package, BOGO $2.99

Fresh Express Salad Blend, or Greens, Assorted Varieties, 4.5 - 12 ounce bag, BOGO $3.99

General Mills Cereal, Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Kix or Reese's Puffs, 11.25 to 13 ounce or Golden Grahams or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, 16-17 oz box, BOGO $3.89

Quaker Oats, Assorted Varieties, 18 oz package, BOGO $2.55

Aunt Jemima Syrup, Assorted Varieties, 24 oz Bottle, BOGO (No Price Listed)

General Mills Fiber One Cereal, Assorted Varieties, 14.25 to 17.25 ox box, BOGO $4.29

Knorr Sides, Assorted Varieties, 3.8 to 6.4 ounce pouch. BOGO $1.29

Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix, or Decadent Cake Mix or Dessert Bar Mix, Assorted Varieties, 12.9 to 21.5 ounce box, BOGO $2.69

Ocean Spray Juice Cocktail or Juice Drink, Assorted Varieties, 101 to 101.4 ounce bottle, BOGO $5.39

Mid's Homestyle Pasta Sauce, Meatless, Meat or Italian Sausage, 32 ounce jar, BOGO $4.59

Del Monte Tomatoes, Assorted Varieties, 14.5 ounce can, BOGO $1.39

Ken's Steak House Dressing, Assorted Varieties, 16 ounce bottle, BOGO $3.29

Bumble Bee Premium Albacore Tuna, In Water, 5 ounce pouch, BOGO $2.89

Mt. Olive Sweet Relish or Pickles, Selected Varieties, 30 ounce jar, BOGO $3.99

Deer Park Spring Water, 6 Pack, 24 Ounce Bottles, BOGO $2.99

Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers, or Party Mix or Snack Mix, Assorted Varieties, 9.75 to 14 ounce box, BOGO $3.29

Thomas' English Muffins, Assorted Varieties, 11-13 ounce Package, BOGO $3.49

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies, or EL Fudge, Assorted Varieties, 8.5 to 15 ounce package, BOGO $3.49

M&M Chocolate Candies, or Snickers Minis, M&M's. Snickers, Twix Fun Size, or Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, and Twix Minis, Assorted Varieties, 30-42 ounce bag, BOGO $9.99

Pepperidge Farm Cookies, Assorted Varieties, Soft Baked or Chocolate Chunk, 7.2 to 8.6 ounce bag, BOGO $3.39

Arnold Whole Grain Bread, or Grains & More, Health Full or Country, Assorted Varieties, 24 ounce loaf, BOGO $3.89

Tombstone Pizza, Assorted Varieties, 18.1 to 29.5 ounce package, (Excluding Stuffed Crust and Brick Oven) BOGO $5.79

T.G.I. Friday's Appetizers, Assorted Varieties, 22.3 to 30 ounce box, BOGO $8.99

Breyers Ice Cream, Assorted Varieties, 48 ounce carton, BOGO $4.99

Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough or Mix or Ultimate Cookie Dough, Assorted Varieties, 16-16.5 ounce package, BOGO $2.89

Dial Bar Soap or Coast, Assorted Varieties, 3 count, 4 oz package, BOGO $1.87

Earth's Best Organic Baby Food, Assorted Varieties, 6 Months 7 Up, 4 oz Jar, BOGO .87

Kibbles 'n Bits Dog Food, Savory Chicken & Beef Flavor, Original or Mini Bits, 4 lb bag, BOGO $4.99

Carbona Carpet Cleaner, 2 in 1, Oxy Powered, Biodegradable, 22 ounce bottle, BOGO $4.89

Hershey's All Time Greats Snack Size, or Hershey's Reese's Candies, Reese's Lovers Assortment or Hershey's Scare & Share, 24.17-27.8 ounce bag BOGO $8.99

Nestle 100 Fun Size Candy Pieces, or Wonka Monster Mix Ups Assorted Candy, Assorted Varieties, 53.3-56 ounce bag, BOGO $10.99

Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks, Value Pack, Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo! 20 Pouches, 18 ounce box or Sunkist Mixed Fruit, 24 pouches, 21.6 ounce box, BOGO $3.99

Nestle Ultimate Scream Fun Size Candies, or Classic Scream or 3 Fun Size Bags or Wonka 200 Pieces, Assorted Varieties, 32-44 ounce bag, BOGO $8.49

BAKERY
Custard Pie, Egg or Cocunut, $4.99
Assorted Donuts, 4 Count 8-14 ounce, $2.29
Water Rolls, 12 Count, 14 ounce package, $2.99
Decorated Cupcakes, 6 Count, $3.99, 12 Count $6.99
Carrott Bar Cake, 19 ounce, $4.99
Italian Five Grain Bread, 16 ounce Loaf, $2.89

DELI
Boar's Head Turkey Cranberry Whole Sub, $5.99
Publix Top Round Roast Beef, $6.99 lb
Boar's Head Black Forest Ham, $7.99 lb
Boar's Head Colby Jack Cheese, $7.09 lb
Publix Deli Large Turkey Cobb Salad, $5.39
Snack Factory Pretzel Chips. 7.2 ounce package, (Excludes Chocolate and White Chocolate Varieties) 2/$5
8 Piece Fresh Chilled Mixed Fried Chicken, $4.99. Hot $5.99
Publix Deli Old Fashioned Deli Beans, 32 ounce, $2.99
Carrot Bar Cake, 19 ounce Size, $4.99

DAIRY
Publix Yogurt, Assorted Varieties, 6 ounce cup, 20/$5
Daisy Sour Cream, Pure & Natural, 24 ounce cup. 2/$4
Horizon Organic Milk, Assorted Varieties, 1/2 gallon carton, 2/$7
Publix Shredded Cheese, Assorted Varieties, 8 ounce, 2/$4
Publix Crumbled Cheese, Feta, Gargonzola or Blue Cheese, Regular or Reduced Fat, 4 ounce pkg, $1.99
Publix Sour Cream Dip, Fench Onion or Ranch, 16 ounce, $1.29

FROZEN
Bird's Eye Frozen Vegetables, Includes all varieties and sizes, 7.5 -32 ounce bag or 4 count bag, 50% off
Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bars or Ice Cream Sandwiches, Sundae Cones or Frozen Yogurt Bars, Assorted Varieties, 12-24 ounce package, 2/$7
Snickers Ice Cream Bars, or Twix, Assorted Varieties, 12 ounce box, 2/$6
Publix Parker House Yeast Rolls, 15 pack, 14 ounce bag or Frozen Ready to Bake Buttermilk Biscuits, 12 pack 2/$4
Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Entrees, or Healthy Choice Meals, Assorted Varieties, 9.5-12.3 ounce box, 4/$10

GROCERY
Uncle Ben's Long Grain 7 Wild Rice, or Whole Grain, Assorted Varieties, 4.4 to 6.7 oz box, 2/$3
Del Monte Fruit or Fruit 7 Gel, 4-pack, 3.75 to 4.5 ounce cup or Fruit Chillers, 8 count, 2 oz tubes, Assorted Varieties 2/$4
Campbell's Condensed Soup, Assorted Varieties, 10.5-11.5 oz can (Excluding Won Ton, Cream of Shrimp and Oyster Stew) 10/$10
Starbucks Coffee, Assorted Varieties, 11-12 ounce bag, $6.99
B3G1 12 Pack Selected Canada Dry. 7-Up or A&W or Diet Rite, 12 Ounce cans, 4/$10
Selected Coca Cola Products, 2 liter, 2/$3
8 pack selected Coca Cola Products, 12 oz bottles, 3/$11
Nabisco Ritz Crackers or Munchables Pretzels, Assorted Varieties, 12.25-16 ounce box or Fudge Covered Ritz, 7.5 box 2/$5
12 Pack Selected Coca Cola Products, 12 oz cans, 3/$12
Lay's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Assorted Varieties, 8.5 ounce bag. 2/$5
Lipton Tea, Assorted Varieties, 12 pack, 16.9 ounce bottles, $4.99

HEALTH & BEAUTY
Jergens Moisturizer, Assorted Varieties, 2 to 21 oz package, 40% off
Dove Hair Care Products, Assorted Varieties, 7-12 ounce bottle, 2/$6
Cover Girl Foundation or Concealer, Pressed Powder or Blush, Assorted Varieties, $2.00 off
Mitchum Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, Assorted Varieties, 1,7-3.4 ounce package, 2/$5
Crest Toothpaste, 4.2, 6.2 or 8.2 tube or Oral B Advantage toothbrush, 1 ct, Assorted Varieties, $2.19
One A Day Supplements, Assorted Varieties, Multivitiam 50-200 count bottle, 25% off
Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons or Playtex Sport, 18 count box, $3.49
Theraflu Medicine, 6 ct box or caplets, 24 count box, 2/$7
 
Thanks Slickdeals Publix Thread (check back here later for matchups)

Thoughts On Employment

This article was published about a month ago, and I've also read various other sources about the same problem, finding a job when you're unemployed and older. The chances of finding another job in your field is slim to none, and you may be involuntarily unemployed the rest of your life. If this happens, are you ready for it? It's a long time until you qualify for social security, or your pension if you're lucky enough to have one, and there are penalties for withdrawing your retirement savings for many more years.
 
Its scary to think that perhaps the scoundrel Rick Scott actually has believers and may get voted in as new Governor of Florida. Life will suck if that happens, especially since I'm a civil servant of the State of Florida - the very group of employees that Rick Scott would love to minimize and eliminate from the world. If the wrong person gets in office and the legislature cuts government staffing, I may lose my job. And as an older worker approaching mid century vintage this is not cool. If I were one of the unemployed, would I get rehired? A growing trend is that companies only will consider employed people as candidates for their openings. I think I have a pretty good chance compared to other candidates even if my competition is younger. Here are a few ideas on how to keep yourself competitive in the job industry.
  • Stay Healthy - I mentioned how to stay healthy earlier and I believe that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand. If you keep yourself healthy and you "look" healthy, you'll be more attractive to employers. They may assume you are healthy if you look and act healthy. This means less medical expenses for insurance and less sick time and lack of productivity. If you smoke, don't let your employers know - don't waste time at work out by the smoking area.
  • Keep Up Technologically - one sure difference in our society with age groups is the use of technology. The younger crowd uses it. Most older people shy away from technology because they don't understand it. This is a key factor in your hiring potential - do you know how to operate a computer, can you figure out all the features on your cell phone, can you figure out how to scan and send a document on the copier at the office? Do you know how to use a lot of the features and programs on your computer - like all the Microsoft applications and email and the Internet? If you don't, you're not going to get the job because there are a ton of people who know that stuff.
  • Be Interesting - It seems to me a lot of younger people prefer to text or email rather than talk to friends. Social skills are lacking and this will hurt them in the workplace, this is where you can have the advantage. If you have manners, know etiquette, are polite and yet interesting to talk to, you will succeed in the interview. A person who "fits" and doesn't seem to have outward hangups or is opinionated and set in their ways will succeed at work and be easier to train. You can always be taught the job skills needed, but you can't expect to learn people skills on a job. Interviewers look for people skills.
  • Use Your Brain - I mean outside of work. Keep your critical thinking skills sharp by reading and writing, not just the newspaper either. Write a Blog. Do crossword puzzles or cryptoquips, or for me I calculate my coupon grocery shopping trips and organize my coupons. This is no easy feat as most of you know. Anyway, it helps to think on your feet, and do math in your head when you're shopping.
  • Face Reality and Change What's Wrong - If you are obese or ugly or stupid, you can change. You can lose weight, or use makeup and change your hairstyle, or start learning (or pretend you know what you don't) if you are stupid. No matter what your problem is, you can work on it. You may not want to face the fact that you're a bitch to get along with and that you hate minorities - but you need to. Reality is perception. If others perceive you to be offensive in some way they won't want you around. You may have no clue why you don't get any jobs after you've had interviews - and there is a reason. You need to find out what your problem is and deal with it.
  • Act Younger - if you do the things you liked to do when you were younger, you'll feel younger. One thing I do is ride my bicycle almost everyday. Its carefree and there's that sense of danger and riskiness being out on the road with all the crazy drivers. Its like being on a roller coaster ride at Busch Gardens - but its real life. Its fun and I love how it makes me feel high when I ride really hard and get all pumped up. You could also try wearing some clothing you liked when you were younger, some shoes or a new hairstyle. All these things will help you act younger and seem younger. It will make you smile.
So, that's my take on it. I hope any of you out there who are unemployed take all this thought with a grain of salt, I know every situation is different and we all have circumstances that are beyond our control. But, there is probably something you can do to improve your chances of getting a job. Just figure it out and do it.

Publix Health & Beauty Advantage Buy 10/16-11/5

It looks like its that time of the year again for Phazyme, Vivarin and Sominex for our moneymakers. There is a $2 off MQ in the 10-10 RP that stacks with the PQ to give some overage. I remember Phazyme being about $3.49 each, and the Vivarin and Sominex are about $2.99, so each gets you around a dollar of overage.
Publix coupons expiring 11/5/2010:
$2.00 Centrum or Caltrate any 60 ct. or larger
Free Schick Hydro shave gel WYB any men's Schick Hydro razor
$1.00 Listerine mouthwash 1 - 1.5 liter or any size whitening rinse
$3.00 Tylenol Precise 2.5 oz. cream or patch 3 ct.
Free Nexcare first aid tape or adhesive bandage WYB 1
$3.00 Zyrtec 14 ct. or larger or Zyrtec-D 12 ct. or larger
$3.00 chilren's Benadryl 4-8 oz., 10-18 ct. or children's Sudafed PE 4 oz.
$2.00 Robitussin 4-12 oz. or 10-20 ct. or Dimetapp 4-8 oz. or 20 ct.
$1.50 Breathe Right 10 ct. or larger
$2.00 any Preparation H product (excluding 10 ct. wipes)
$5.00 any 2 mix or match: Os-Cal, Citrucel, Ecotrin, Feosol, Geritol, Tagamet, Debrox, Vivarin, Gaviscon, Phazyme, Sominex, Gly-Oxide, or Contac
$3.00 Poise 30-72 ct. or Depend for Men or Women 14-48 ct.
Free Publix reuseable bag WYB GE Energy Smart 10W, 13W, 20W, or 26W soft white spiral CFL 1 pk.
$5.00 any Net 10 phone
$5.00 any DVD $12.99 and up
$1.00 any Rubbermaid food or beverage storage

Items in Flyer:


Sundown Naturals Vitamin D 100-300 ct, or 2 oz, Fish Oil, 60-200 ct, or CoQ-10 25-60 ct, 33% off
L'Oreal Men's Expert Eye Roller or Vita Lift Moisturizer, 6.99
L'Oreal Men's Expert Comfort Max Balm or Hydra Cleaner, 4.99
L'Oreal Healthy Look Hair Color, 6.99
Caress Body Wash, 15-18 oz, 3.49
Dove Men+Care Body Wash, 13.5 oz, 3.49
Infiniti by Conair You Curl Cone Styler or Pro Dryer, 29.99
Finesse Shampoo or Conditioner, 24 oz, 3.99
Finesse Mousse, Hair Spray, 7-8.5 oz, 1.99
Conair Hair Brushes, 1.00 off
Thicker Fuller Hair, DEP, L.A. Looks, got2b, or Zero Frizz Hair Care, 4-20 oz, 25% off
Listerine Whitening Strips, 56 ct, 14.99 (in select stores)
Listerine Whitening Pen, 1 ct, 9.99
L'Oreal Vive Pro, 13 oz, Vive Pro Glossy or Studio Styling, 1.7-8.5, 2.99
L'Oreal Kids Haircare, any 9 oz, 1.99
NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit, includes 50 premixed packets, 8.79
Delsym Night Time Cold & Cough, or Multi-Symptom, any 4 oz, 7.99
Stridex Pads, 70-90 ct, 2.99
Kanka Softbrush, 3.99
Publix Dual Action 25 ct, (Compare to Pepcid Complete), 4.99
Blistex Lip Ointment, Deep Renewal, Simple Essentials, or Five Star, 1.39
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm, 0.15 oz, 0.99
SpinBrush Sonic Pro Clean, 1 ct, 12.99
SpinBrush Pro Clean or Pro Whitening, 1 ct, 6.49
Emergen-C Health & Energy Booster, 30 ct, (excluding Emergen-C Immune Defense and Joint Health 30 ct) 7.99
Elations Ready-to-Drink 6 pack, or Powder 7 packets, 6.99
Special K Meal Bars, 6 pack, 2/$10
Special K Snack Bars 6 pack, 2/$7
No Nonsense Knee Highs, 2 pair pack, 1.39
No Nonsense Support or Control Top, 1.99
Genesis Today Vitamin Chews, 30 ct, 8.49 (in select stores)
Hefty EZ Foil Bake & Broil Pans, select items, 0.99

Thanks to Slickdeals Publix Thread

Is Your Phone Number Posted on Facebook? Probably.

In an article by the guardian Uploads from iPhones using the Facebook app will push all your contacts onto Facebook's servers - where they'll be matched against any and everyone. Worried at all?
 
Facebook: contains more phone numbers than meet the eye
If you have a friend on Facebook who has used the iPhone app version to access the site, then it's very possible that your private phone numbers - and those of lots of your and their friends - are on the site.
The reason: Facebook's "Contact Sync" feature, which synchronises your friends' Facebook profile pictures with the contacts in your phone.
Except that it doesn't do that on your phone. Oh no. Because that would be wrong, to pull the photos down from Facebook and put them on your phone. That would breach Facebook's terms of service.
Instead, what Facebook's app does it that it imports all the names and phone numbers you have on your (smart)phone, uploads them to Facebook's Phonebook app (got a Facebook account? Here's your Phonebook).
Pause for a moment and go and look at it. Did you know those numbers? Did you collect them? Despite the reassuring phrase there - "Facebook Phonebook displays contacts you have imported from your phone, as well as your Facebook friends" - it's absolutely not true. I know because there are numbers there which I don't have. OK, perhaps the people who own them added them; but that's not clear either. So how did they get there? Because it only takes one person to upload another person's number, and the implication is that it's going to be shared around everywhere.
The implications are huge, and extremely worrying. All it takes is for someone's Facebook account to be hacked (perhaps via their phone being stolen) and lots of personal details are revealed.
Kurt von Moos, who first wrote about this earlier this year (since when Facebook has revised its privacy statement, but not altered what goes on in this way) says that there are a number of reasons to be concerned. As he puts it:
"1) Facebook doesn't warn users that they are uploading their phone's adress book to Facebook. In fact, because Facebook doesn't sync contact numbers or email addresses TO your phone, most users wrongly assume that Facebook Contact Sync only syncs user pictures. In reality though, they are pumping your address book, without your consent."
Facebook says you can remove your mobile contacts, but it's not clear that that will remove your mobile if someone else uploads it.
von Moos continues:
"2) Phone numbers are private and valuable. Most people who have entrusted you with their phone numbers assume you will keep them private and safe. If you were to ask your friends, family or co-workers if they are ok with you uploading their private phone numbers to be cross-referenced with other Facebook users, how many of them do you think would be ok with it?"
He also points to even more egregious problems: (a) can you be sure how Facebook, or its advertisers or partners or whatever it becomes down the line, will use that data? (b) why is it that Facebook takes all your mobile numbers, rather than matching names of contacts with names of friends? (c) sometimes, it gets the matches wrong - and incorrect (or faked) data that people have given to Facebook as their "contact" details (such as hotels or businesses) gets linked as being a "friend", or the lack of an international dialling prefix messes up the match, and means again that someone who you don't know is identified as a "friend" or contact.
von Moos concludes: "There are some contacts and phone numbers who's privacy I simply refuse to risk on the Web. Facebook has taken and continues to take liberties on behalf of their users. Their perception of privacy and their users perception of privacy is often very different. I don't think this is maliciousness on Facebook's part, but it does show me that Facebook is painfully out of touch with the needs and beliefs of their CORE users, who are still wary of the openness that a Web 2.0 lifestyle entails."
It's not clear whether the official Facebook for Android app does the same. We'd be interested to hear from you if you've noticed this with the app.
So - beware: Facebook quite probably has your details. More of them, in fact, than you might have thought.

An Icy Decision

Earlier this year we remodeled our kitchen by gutting it and getting new cabinets, counter tops and appliances. Except for the refrigerator. Being the frugal type, we decided to wait until the 2003 Kenmore side by side broke down before replacing it. Well, decision time is upon us, as the ice maker quit working this past weekend. We were being frugal in our decision to avoid replacing the water filter cartridge just because it was 6 months, so we usually wait until the water dispenser quits working or we notice less than fresh tasting water to replace the filter. Once it happened that the ice maker stopped working, and when we replaced the water filter it started working again. It was our hope that this was the case this time.
 
So we purchased a new filter from Amazon with some Swagbucks gift cards, and it arrived the next day. When we replaced it nothing happened. We waited 24 hours like it says in the owners manual, and still nothing happened. It looks like the ice maker problem is not due to the water filter - we've got bigger problems than that. As I was looking through the refrigerator documents, I found a receipt from 2004 where we had Sears come out and fix the ice maker under warranty. The labor and parts for the sensor module service visit were $235.
 
So now we have a few choices to get our ice now.
  • We can do nothing and just make ice using old fashioned ice trays. (NOT! I might do this for a temporary while but geez there is technology out there now!)
  • Attempt to research the problem using Google, buy the parts online and fix it ourselves. This is a fairly likely scenario from what little checking I've done and the cost of the parts should be about $60.
  • Call Sears to fix the problem with a service call. Not likely - means time off work and paying probably at least $300 toward an old fridge.
  • Get a new stainless steel fridge to match all the other new appliances. This may be a premature choice since refrigerators should last about 10 years. Ours is only 7 years old, there should be plenty of life left in it. However, the old one could become our stockpile and soda fridge, allowing us to get rid of the two other dorm size fridge and freezer we have.
  • Get a used stainless steel fridge from craigslist. I've seen used but practically new ss fridges for as little as $500 on craigslist. However, DH is still injured from the motorcycle collision, and can not possibly assist in moving an appliance. This choice would have to wait.
 Oh, the joys of living. If any of you have any ideas, I'd love to know how you'd handle this dilemma.
 
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