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Old 02-25-2010, 08:38 AM   #21
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What's the deal with the Facebook fans thing? Are there any disadvantages of pimping yourself out and saying you are a fan of something you're not, just to get a free item?

There are some neat things on HeyItsFree.com, thanks Freebird. Here's the best so far:

http://www.heyitsfree.net/2010/02/03...ts-photo-book/
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Old 02-25-2010, 09:13 AM   #22
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What is your threshold, and BTW, any tips on where the freebies are these days?
One cent. They're all around you but you have to look for them.

Spouse was stationed at Lajes Azores in the 1980s. The command was so small that all hands did the daily FOD* walkdowns-- even the officers. She had about 18 months' occupational training in the skill of spotting small objects laying on the ground.

25 years later, on our walks she can still spot a coin on the ground at 20 feet. Inspired by her fiscal example I've managed to improve my detection threshold, but I'm going to need a lot more practice. We even vary our walking routes to avoid overfishing the same waters.

There's no fiscal necessity (as far as I can tell), but I enjoy the competitive challenge and the entertainment factor.

As for the "eeeuw" factor, Amy Dacyczyn used to desensitize frugal newbies by asking them if they'd pick up a $20 bill laying on the ground. Then she'd ask if they'd pick it off the top of a dumpster. What if it was hanging out from the dumpster lid? How about sticking out from under a trash bag laying on top of the pile in the dumpster under the lid? What if they had to break open the bag? What if the bag was filled with rotting food?

Picking up where Amy left off, we could take that exercise even further. What if the bag contained human waste? Radioactive waste? What if the dumpster divers were wearing gloves?

I suspect that the only things holding people back are (1) high probability of death or personal injury, not just a possibility and (2) degree of certainty that a $20 bill is actually in the dumpster.

Or with apologies to George Bernard Shaw, we're not trying to figure out our occupation. We're just trying to settle on the price.

*FOD = Foreign Object Damage to aircraft engines. Personnel walk down a runway in line abreast and pick up anything laying on the ground that could get sucked into a jet intake.
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Old 02-26-2010, 01:22 AM   #23
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"Discount" goods. Is Golden Computing still operating? I used to fly to HK, get a room at Chung King Mansions $16-20, hit Golden Computing for a few, "errr, ummm" disks and fly out feeling like I had scored bigtime. Maybe some antibiotics and a few other more exotic meds.
I must confess, I have not been to Chung King Mansions for years. It's a lot more upmarket than it used to be - a function of rising property prices and the PRC tourist boom. The competition to sell counterfeit entertainment and software is pretty intense but a lot of people go to Shenzhen for it.
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Old 02-26-2010, 03:47 PM   #24
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I'm about to participate once again in one of my favorite freebie activities~retirement seminar with lunch as a reward for listening to the fellas dog and pony show. Great daytime entertainment and a free lunch @ County Line BBQ.
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Old 02-26-2010, 04:18 PM   #25
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I'm about to participate once again in one of my favorite freebie activities~retirement seminar with lunch as a reward for listening to the fellas dog and pony show. Great daytime entertainment and a free lunch @ County Line BBQ.
I may have to visit Texas yet. Got any more secrets?
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Old 02-26-2010, 04:25 PM   #26
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...a free lunch @ County Line BBQ.
Be sure to wear a black armband: County Line co-owner found dead in car
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Old 02-26-2010, 04:36 PM   #27
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Be sure to wear a black armband: County Line co-owner found dead in car
Gully-washer? I was just listening to an upbeat video about it by Paula Dean's sons. Sad.
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Old 02-26-2010, 04:43 PM   #28
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Be sure to wear a black armband: County Line co-owner found dead in car

I've been down that road a time or two, but never in a flooding situation. As you know, South Texas and low water crossings/bridges are not a place to be on a stormy night.

The irony is that he died at the Bexar/Comal county line.

RIP for the rib king.
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Old 02-26-2010, 05:04 PM   #29
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Wonder if he could have gotten out if he had one of those little hammers that breaks glass with him? There are always these types of drownings on the news down there. Sad...very...and sounds like a horribly frightening way to die.
Always heard County Line was good food, but, unfortunately, never got there when I lived in Texas. Next time I get there I'll make a point to go.
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Old 03-03-2010, 09:02 AM   #30
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I'm trying something else I got from the HeyItsFree.com web site. It's SwagBucks.com (that link includes a referral from me). I'm not sure it's worth it, but it doesn't seem to be a scam. Here's how it works. You use their search engine instead of Google, and you get points that can be turned in later for Amazon gift cards or merchandise. They make their money because they can display ads, and, I presume, keep track of what you search for.

swagbucks.jpg

I wouldn't do this, and I prefer google (although the search engine uses results from google), but here's how I use it. I wrote a macro (macroexpress.com) which does a search via Swagbucks every 30 minutes, and I run it when I'm sleeping. So every morning I wake up with 10-20 new swagbucks (1 swagbuck = about 1 cent ). I have 119 swagbucks so far ($1.19 -- I'm rich!). I could get one $5 amazon gift card every month.

There are also other ways to get swagbucks. As I say, I'm not sure it's worth it, but if you want to sign up (this is the part where I sell out my friends), do it through this link:

swagbucks.com: Swag Store

and I will get swagbucks for the referral!
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Old 03-03-2010, 09:08 AM   #31
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Not to mention all the freebies you can get around your birthday!

Birthday Freebies - Free Stuff for Your Birthday

We will be dining out a bit more in April
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