Freebies Saturday: July 30, 2011

It is time once again for this weeks Freebie Saturday. I make every effort to make sure that the freebies I list are real free offers. If you have to answer a survey and then go through 50 pages of ads to get the so called free item, I consider that spam. That is why I make every effort to make sure that those websites are never included in my list.

1. Armani is giving away free samples of their new Armani Code Sport. This cologne has various seductive scents that every woman is sure to love. Armani Code Sport features mint which gives its explosive flavor to a surprising and unusual top note. Spearmint, peppermint and wild mint create an unexpected bouquet that exudes freshness. Then it is topped off with hints of citrus. Try yours today by allowing their Facebook application access.
   
   
2. Bath and Body Works is giving away free samples of their Paris Amour body lotion. Simply print this coupon and bring it into your local Bath and Body Works to get your free samples. This lotions has scents of a dreamy blend of French tulips & pink champagne. No purchase necessary, but is only valid until July 31st so you need to get yours this weekend.
   
   
   
3. STAKK’D is giving away free samples of their energy boosting drink mixer. STAKK’D is a natural, flavorless and colorless beverage mixer made with pure caffeine and a Vitamin B Complex that can be added to any drink. Unlike other liquid caffeinated products and energy drinks/shots STAKK’D is not bitter, has no terrible taste or aftertaste. Give it a try to see if it works for you.
   
   
4. Kashi has two free samples available to those who are interested. You can choose from Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Cereal or Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bar. Personally I requested the granola bar, but both sound amazing so good luck choosing.
   
   
5. September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. For Men of 40 (like me) two free tests could be a life saving experience. That is why if you live in the Austin, TX area you should check out these FREE Prostate Cancer Screenings. Which include both the PSA blood test and rectal exam. Appointments are appreciated but walk-ins are welcome.
   

September 10, 2011 St. David's North Austin Medical Center 12221 N. Mopac Expressway

September 17, 2011 St. David's Round Rock Medical Center 2400 Round Rock Ave.

September 17, 2011 St. David's South Austin Medical Center 901 W. Ben White Blvd.

September 24, 2011 St. David's Medical Center 919 E. 32nd Street

September 24, 2011 St. David's Georgetown Hospital 2000 Scenic Drive

All screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 888-868-2104 or 512-478-3627 to make an appointment


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Changes To The Happy Meal

McDonald's announced Tuesday (July 26, 2011) that they were making changes to the Happy Meal soon.

With growing pressure to help in the fight against childhood obesity, McDonald's is changing the Happy Meal.
- KXAN-TV

The changes? It will add apple slices to its Happy Meals and reduce the portion of French fries beginning in the fall. This will result in the loss of choice of apples or fries. My question is, how can they reduce the size of the fries? They already serve the small fry. Does this mean they will be creating a "Kids size" fry or will the small fry get smaller? This is a question that seems to go unanswered in all the press reports that I read about this topic.

I do read of people supporting the move like first lady Michele Obama.

First lady Michelle Obama called the change a positive step toward solving childhood obesity.
- KXAN-TV

While others have reservations.

“McDonald’s is taking steps in the right direction,” Louaillier said. “But we should be careful in heaping praise on corporations for simply reducing the scope of the problem they continue to create.”

Louaillier’s group has been trying for some time to get the restaurant to retire Ronald McDonald, the Globe said.

- Third Age

Personally I think this group of Louaillier's is out there. In no way should Ronald be retired. What do they expect the Ronald McDonald's House to change their names and remove all images of the clown? Please! The Ronald McDonald house is a charity started by McDonald's for the families of sick kids. Why should they ever get rid of a clown? The image of a clown brings joy to kids faces. Let's get real. The clown has nothing to do with health issues. Okay now lets get back on track with the the subject of this post.

Other criticisms that McDonald’s hasn’t gone far enough in trying to trim childhood obesity include the disappointment that the restaurant will still include toys with each meal. Toys foster powerful connections between children and the fattening meals, the New York Times reported.

“McDonald’s is not giving the whole loaf, but it is giving a half or two-thirds of a loaf,” said Michael F. Jacobson of the Center for Science in Public Interest.

Similarly, Marion Nestle—a New York University nutrition professor—called the changes at the restaurant a “sham,” in part because McDonald’s is not targeting soda in Happy Meals.

“They’re going to get huge publicity for this—an ounce less of French fries,” she said. “I’m not impressed.”

- Third Age

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My name is Kevin, and that's what I think. What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

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Speed Things Up With a Swipe

By: Jason Collazo

Life just got a little bit easier for merchants and small businesses using Credit Card Terminal. Up until now, this leading point-of-sale app could only perform keyed transactions. But with the introduction of Credit Card Reader, merchants can perform swiped transactions as well. Just plug the reader into your iPad’s dock and speed up your transactions, while at the same time lowering your chance for errors. Credit Card Terminal is available for your iPhone too.

Arguably the biggest boon to those running a small business, since the advent of ecommerce, Credit Card Terminal has turned your iPhone, or iPad, into a virtual cash register. Setting up your business to accept credit cards can be both complex and costly, especially for the small business owner. There are accounts to be applied for and arranged, fees to open accounts, monthly fees, and transaction fees.

Many merchant accounts can also have a Minimum Processing Fee or Minimum Discount Fee, which requires the merchant to pay a penalty if a certain quota is not met for the month. Credit Card Reader has very little, if any, set up. Most small businesses using iPad for credit card billing will already have Terminal on their iPads, simply plug Credit Card Reader into the iPad’s dock, perform the one time set up, and you are ready to start swiping. Less error-prone than entering the information by hand, it is the speed at which transactions can now be performed that is the big seller: 2-3 seconds on a fast Wi-Fi connection and 10-15 seconds on slower connections. In most cases, you can continue to use your phone for business calls while you are processing a credit card swipe. Your billing is typically deposited into your account within two business days.

You can also collect signatures with the reader, as customers can either sign using their finger or a Pogo Stylus can be purchased for a more familiar feel. Many retailers no longer require a customer’s signature, especially on lower priced charges. However, a signature can come in handy, especially in cases in which customer disputes occur. Reader can process MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American

Express cards from practically anywhere; although it would be wise to check with your phone provider about area service and out-of-area charges.

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Thank You Very Much

We would like to give a big shout out to the newest Sponsor of this blog. A site that offers a free course in technical analysis of stocks.





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Austin Mayor pushing to ban plastic bags at Austin stores

Austin retailers and grocery stores could no longer offer plastic bags at checkout counters under a ban Mayor Lee Leffingwell and two other City Council members will propose today.
- Austin American-Statesman

Austin isn't the first city to consider such legislation. In California, the ban started in San Francisco in select stores; if pending legislation goes through, it could soon expand to all stores not only in the city, but in the entire state. A similar ban exists in coastal Brownsville, TX as well as North Carolina and was recently passed in Portland, OR.

According to the article the Mayor says that the ban would be phased in gradually, but doesn't mention when it would start.

Leffingwell said he thinks paper bags should still be an option at checkout counters because they're included in Austin's curbside collection program for recyclables and they don't gum up recycling machinery as plastic bags do.

But he said retailers may want or need to charge a fee of a few cents per paper bag to compel customers to get in the habit of bringing canvas or reusable bags.
- Austin American-Statesman

Austin attempted to ban the bags in 2008 but stopped short after large retailers complained.

Austin city leaders, led by then-Council Member Leffingwell, nearly enacted a plastic bag ban in 2008 and then held off when six big retailers — H-E-B, Randalls, Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Whole Foods — agreed to try to reduce by 50 percent the amount of plastic bags they send to landfills. (Whole Foods later stopped offering plastic bags at checkout.)
- Austin American-Statesman

So will the council pass it this time? After this last election the only conservative council person lost a run off election to a more liberal candidate. We eill have to wait and see what actually transpires in the next few weeks.

the author is employed by Randall's (a Safeway Company) and owns stock in both Safeway and Austin based Whole Foods
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Austin Mayor Wants to Ban Plastic Bags

Austin retailers and grocery stores could no longer offer plastic bags at checkout counters under a ban Mayor Lee Leffingwell and two other City Council members will propose today.
- Austin American-Statesman

Austin isn't the first city to consider such legislation. In California, the ban started in San Francisco in select stores; if pending legislation goes through, it could soon expand to all stores not only in the city, but in the entire state. A similar ban exists in coastal Brownsville, TX as well as North Carolina and was recently passed in Portland, OR.

According to the article the Mayor says that the ban would be phased in gradually, but doesn't mention when it would start.

Leffingwell said he thinks paper bags should still be an option at checkout counters because they're included in Austin's curbside collection program for recyclables and they don't gum up recycling machinery as plastic bags do.

But he said retailers may want or need to charge a fee of a few cents per paper bag to compel customers to get in the habit of bringing canvas or reusable bags.
- Austin American-Statesman

Austin attempted to ban the bags in 2008 but stopped short after large retailers complained.

Austin city leaders, led by then-Council Member Leffingwell, nearly enacted a plastic bag ban in 2008 and then held off when six big retailers — H-E-B, Randalls, Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Whole Foods — agreed to try to reduce by 50 percent the amount of plastic bags they send to landfills. (Whole Foods later stopped offering plastic bags at checkout.)
- Austin American-Statesman

So will the council pass it this time? After this last election the only conservative council person lost a run off election to a more liberal candidate. We eill have to wait and see what actually transpires in the next few weeks.
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7 Ways to Save On Summer Travel with Your Credit Card

By: Jason Collazo

Summer - The sun, the sand, hopefully in some far-away vacationland. We save all year long just to ensure a few weeks of fun frolicking along some sublime shoreline, or seeing some ancient ruin through the lens of our digital camera. There is also a sort of tacit agreement with ourselves that it is fine to spend the money now on a vacation; this is what we’ve been saving it for. So yes, we loosen the purses strings a little in the name of well-deserved enjoyment, but still there are ways to save a little money even when traveling the globe and your credit card can help.

1: Frequent Flyer Miles: The most obvious way in which your credit card can save you money on vacation is using the frequent flyer miles program. Big credit card spenders and those who travel for business probably have no problem racking up those flyer miles. But even those who may not have a lot of miles in the bank can benefit now from the solicitations of many credit card companies featuring signup bonuses which offer frequent flyer miles.

2: Cash-Back Rewards Cards for Gas: While no one likes another rise in gasoline prices, using your credit card that gives you 5 percent back on gas can be a real money saver. Make sure to sign up for this perk if your card requires it. It would make sense to have this benefit in hand before you plan a road trip this summer.

3: Hotel Cards: Hotel programs can be a better value than frequent flyer miles. These programs can be offered with no capacity restrictions or blackouts, so do check out these great money saving programs.

4. Currency Conversion: Many credit cards will charge a foreign transactions fee for purchases made outside the U.S. Using a card which doesn’t charge this fee will not only save you the 1-3% fee, but you could also walk away with a very competitive exchange rate on goods purchased.

5: Avoid Gas Altogether: Not everyone flies across the pond on vacation. City dwellers often are content simply to drive a couple of towns over; their main concern being simply to escape the cacophony of the city. Gas prices being what they are, this can sometimes be as expensive as a short plane jaunt. Look for public transit options. Most cities and states offer some intrastate, as well as interstate transportation, and the pricing can be quite a big savings over gassing up your car.

6. Opt for Off-season: Another way to lower the cost of your vacation is to avoid traveling during peak times. Being a little flexible with your scheduling can lead to great savings. You don’t have to put off your summer vacation until the dead of winter, but avoiding peak holiday weekends and nudging your plans a little closer to May or September may put some extra money in your pocket to spend once you arrive. And booking your expenses with your reward card will earn you points for the next vacation.

7. Staycation: A new term to join the lexicon in these financially insecure times, a Staycation is pretty much what it sounds like: stay at home and enjoy. Save money on airline fees, hotel fees, just about everything by staying at home and planning all those things you always mean to do, but never seem to get around to doing. Treat yourself and your family to a nice dinner out in a place fancier than you normally would dine. See a show, go play tennis. Just be sure to avoid the temptation to fall into your daily routine, remember: you are on vacation, who cares if the carpets are vacuumed or the dishes are done?
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Thanks For becoming a Fan of JMC Ministries

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JMC Ministries Christian/Gospel / Christian / Instrumental Members: Jeremy and Miranda Caverley  > PLAY SONGS      > SHARE SONGS     Share  Dear Friend, Thank you for joining and becoming a fan of JMC Ministires.  Now that you are a fan you will receive updates every month on what JMC Ministries is doing as well as exclusive free music downloads for just being a fan.  If you would like to promote JMC Ministries click on the Street Team link and become a promoter for JMC.  We hope you enjoy being a part of JMC. God Bless JMC Ministries Jeremy and Miranda Caverley http://www.jmclive.com UPCOMING SHOWS JMC LIVE Chillicothe, OH Sat Jul 23 11 09:00 PM Tickets JMC LIVE Chillicothe, OH Sat Jul 30 11 09:00 PM Tickets > See More / Details PRESS CLIPPINGS "Written By Miranda Caverley On Saturday, Staff Sgt. Joshua Gire -- who died on March 23 in Afghanistan -- was brought home one last time. As the procession came through Chillicothe, my husband Jeremy and I stood along Western Avenue just outside our home and paid our respects. From the moment, I heard and saw the first police car sounding its sirens, tears began to flow down my face, and as the police cars and motorcyclists passed with American flags streaming behind them, you just knew this city permanently was scarred by the effects of the "war on terror" that has been raging for 10 years now."  Our Freedoms Are Preserved Through The Sacrifices Of Others "Radio Station WAWK AM1140 "The Hawk" In Indiana Interviews Jeremy Caverley Live On Air about his testimony and how he and his wife came to form JMC Ministries"  WAWK AM 1140 "The Hawk", WAWK AM1140 "The Hawk" Interviews Jeremy Caverley "Ways to Reach the Lost with Internet Evangelist - Jeremy Caverley" Today Stacy talks to the founder of JMC Ministries, Jeremy Caverley about what he is doing for the kingdom of God online with his ministry.   Stacy Lynn Harp, Active Christian Media "Miranda Caverley interviewed On NBC 4 News out of Columbus Ohio about A suspicious U.S Census Worker that Came to her home on May 3rd 2010 wanting information on previous neighbors that had moved out of 2 of the homes on her road. As well as information on her landlord."  NBC4i, Miranda Caverley Interview on NBC4i About Suspicous Census Worker "Community comes through for Salvation Army" Volunteers Miranda Caverley, left, and Melissa Kepler, right, look for a Dora the Explorer doll for a client Monday during the annual Salvation Army Christmas Giveaway.    LOREN GENSON , Chillicothe Gazette "Online PR News – 30-November-2009 – CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – radio show host Jeremy Caverley of JMC LIVE knows how to work a room … especially when it comes to the Internet chat room during his weekly shows on Tuesday nights at 8 pm EST."  Alex Murashko, Social-minded JMC LIVE show stays current, chatty  ReverbNation       Artist Website       other       Facebook       Myspace       Twitter       YouTube      WIDGETS (Put our stuff on your web pages and blogs!) Music Player (Pro)     Video Player Widget (Pro)     Show Schedule Widget (Pro)     Press Widget (Pro)     Fan Collector (Pro)     Exclusive Downloads (Pro)     TuneWidget     Grab Box

Freebies Saturday 7/23/11

It is time once again for this weeks Freebie Saturday. I make every effort to make sure that the freebies I list are real free offers. If you have to answer a survey and then go through 50 pages of ads to get the so called free item, I consider that spam. That is why I make every effort to make sure that those websites are never included in my list.

Visit any Golfsmith Location Nationwide on Saturday July 23 from 9am and you can get a Free Sleeve of Callaway Golf Balls!
Simply mention the offer in-store or print the offer to receive your free Callaway balls while supplies last.
Limited to 40 sleeves per location, so get in early.

Walmart is now offering free samples of Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers. Huggies is a leading manufacturer of diapers and this is a quality product that you should try. Diapers are also quite costly so this is a great way to save. Hurry in though, Walmart free samples go fast.

Escada has a free sample of their Taj Sunset perfume. Click the free sample button at the top of the page then simply fill out the form.

Taj Sunset fragrance has fruity floral scents that have made this perfume popular. Taj Sunset is an alluring perfume that is sure to grab the attention of anyone around you. Request your Free Taj Sunset Perfume while it is still available.

You must have Adobe Flash to view this freebie. Click "Skip Intro" in the top left, then request an Aveda for the free samples. Aveda has a free sample of mens aftershave. Skip the intro then look at the bottom of the page to see the free sample link. Once you fill out the information you will receive confirmation and a chance to print a coupon for your free sample. This is a free sample for Aveda Men's Pure-formance Dual Action Aftershave. This is a 2 in 1 post shave moisturizer that hydrates and reduces razor burn.

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Texas - Land of Opportunity

by Kevin Surbaugh

Lured to Texas by reports of a resurging economy, law school graduate Ross Fishbein packed his belongings in his 2007 Nissan Sentra last month and headed south from his native New Hampshire to Austin.

- Austin American Statesman

After an unusually hard winter in Kansas I decided that I was tired of it and wanted to make the move to a warmer climate. My fiance at the time wanted to move to Texas to be closer to her son. So I told her what I was thinking. Add to that Texas had lower taxes it seemed like a no brainer; still I had research to do. That is when I started hearing reports of high rankings for Austin, TX in business and jobs. Now a year later Austin still ranks up there in the lists as Forbes releases the latest round of  studies.

 Next Boom Town

What cities are best positioned to grow and prosper in the coming decade? That is the question that Forbes answers in it's article "The Next Big Boom Towns In The U.S."

Texas cities did very well with Austin at No. 1, followed by San Antonio/New Braunfels in 4rth place and Houston sitting at No. 5.

This is no surprise. Austin consistently sits atop Forbes' annual list of the best cities for jobs and scores highly in other demographics rankings. It is the third-fastest-growing city in the nation, attracting large numbers of college grads, immigrants and families with young children.
- Forbes

The top 10 cities are as follows:

1. Austin, Texas
2. Raleigh, NC
3. Nashville, TN
4. San Antonio, TX
5. Houston
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Dallas, TX
8. Charlotte, NC
9. Phoenix, AZ
10. Orlando, FL

Best Places For Business

Looking for opportunity? Head west to Colorado, Texas and Utah, which all landed multiple locales near the top of Forbes 13th annual list.I know, I know Forbes as so many lists now it is hard to keep them straight. However, we are looking at two (2) of them and wanted see how they compare to each other. While Austin was number one when it came to being one of the next boom towns in the U.S. they were further down the list of Top 10 when it came to businesses relocating there.
Perhaps the reason is found in one paragraph in the Forbes article:

Our look at America’s Best Places for Business showcases the stark contrast between Texas—with its low-cost, pro-business regulatory environment (5 cities among the top 25, led by Austin at No. 7)—and overregulated and wildly expensive California (home to 8 cities that rank in the bottom 25, including No. 200 Merced). Texas was one of the last economies to succumb to the recession and one of the first to bounce back, while California is limping along with an unemployment rate of 11.7% (only Nevada’s is worse).
- Forbes

The top 10 cities are as follows:

1. Raleigh, NC
   
2. Des Moines, IA
   
3. Provo, UT
   
4. Lexington, KY
   
5. Fort Collins, CO
   
6. Nashville, TN
   
7. Austin, TX
   
8. San Antonio, TX
   
9. Denver, CO
   
10. Dallas, TX
    

So Texas is still considered one of the best places to be right now. Led by a Governor (and possible Presidential candidate) who seen jobs soar in the state even at a time when other states seen the loss of jobs. Even during a time when the press reporting doom and gloom for the economy. Texas was the last state to feel the effects of it and the first state to recover. So I continue to be happy with my choice of Texas as my home for this new chapter of my life.


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Cash Purchases Healthier All Around

By: Jason Collazo

Buying food from a farmer’s market where most vendors do not accept payments made by credit card can lead to both healthier eating and spending habits.

 

Here’s how: The local fruits and veggies being peddled by the farmers are the freshest fare money can buy, often harvested mere hours before being set out for sale. Spending real money for farm-fresh food not only benefits your body but your bank statement as well by prohibiting the urge to overspend. In cash-only shopping situations such as farmer’s markets, customers are forced to be conscious of how much they are spending by physically pulling cash out of their pockets and handing it over in exchange for goods. This is completely opposite of what happens in most grocery stores, where consumers load up their wagons with whatever seems appealing and swipe their credit cards in payment.

Recently, a marketing professor at Cornell by the name of Manoj Thomas studied the spending habits of some 1,000 consumers over a 6-month period as they shopped at a chain supermarket. After analyzing the data he collected, Thomas discovered that the use of debit and credit cards inspired shoppers to make more impulsive purchases of “vice products.” Thomas went on to speculate that using plastic to pay for purchases is “emotionally more inert” and “abstract” for customers. Paying with cash is much more palpable.

For impoverished families, the cash-only policy of a farmer’s marketplace can prove to be a huge obstacle looming between them and wholesome eating. Government-supported food stamp programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and TANF (Temporary Assistance For Needy Families) are typically not viable means of payment at farmer’s markets where small scale vendors are not set up to receive payment by that means. However, some savvy farmer’s markets seem to have found a workable solution to this problem – by having EBT stations set up where shoppers with SNAP benefits can transfer their electronic benefits for which they receive tokens in exchange. These tokens are then accepted by the individual vendors, thus making local fruits and vegetables a feasible option for all, no matter what their financial situation.

Altering your shopping habits to begin buying the bulk of your groceries from a cash-only marketplace such as a farmer’s market will require a bit of extra forethought, firstly to be certain you bring enough cash along to cover your purchases and also some meal-planning to make sure that you make it home with what you need as your creditless checkout will limit, if not eliminate entirely, last-minute deviations from your shopping list. But a little extra planning is really worth your while.

Spending and eating green is the way to go, as it can ultimately have a positive effect on your body and your wallet.

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