FReeper Canteen ~ Online Shopping 101 ~ November 22, 2005

22-NOV-05 | Gummy News

[GummyIII]

Gummy Style!

Newsflash:  Gummy Hates to Shop November 22, 2005 I hate to shop.  I know. You are thinking, "She's not normal."  Perhaps I should clarify.  I hate to drive to a busy mall or store, get out, fight the crowds, look in umpteen stores for the best bargain, and come home with nothing but achy feet and head.  When Al Gore invented the internet, he did it for me.  Honest. (Psssst....He would have told you that, but he's afraid you wouldn't believe him.) OK,  you've guessed it...I do all my shopping online.  Below are my best tips for online shopping. Oh, there is ONE drawback, gentlemen...you can't wait until Christmas Eve to shop.  It's a good thing I believe in Santa Claus! He brings me my present EVERY year. (Hint:  if the animated background bugs you, hit the "stop" button on your browser.)

We Support Our Troops!!!!  Thank you for your service!!!

Shop Online Safely Use credit cards. The big three credit card issuers, American Express, MasterCard and Visa, have a zero liability policy. You pay nothing for unauthorized transactions if you notify your financial institution. For extra fraud protection, sign up for MasterCard's SecureCode or Visa's Verified by Visa. These are password challenge programs for online shopping. Look for signs that online purchases are secure. At the point that you are providing your payment information, the beginning of the Web site address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating the information is being encrypted. Your browser may also signal that the information is secure with a symbol, such as a broken key that becomes whole or a padlock that closes. Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen. When you visit a company's Web site, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by an identity thief could appear with blanks for you to provide your personal information. Legitimate companies don't ask for personal information via pop-up screens.  Keep your computer secure for safe shopping and other online activities. Protect your computer with spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, pop-up blockers and a firewall, and keep them up to date. Go to http://www.staysafeonline.org and http://www.onguardonline.gov to learn more about how to keep your computer secure. Or use El Gran's wonderful site:  Canteen Resource Center. Disclaimer: Not suitable for Grinches or Scrooges. Santa reads this news, too!!

Tips for Saving Money and Sanity Try online coupons. Many online stores provide regular customers with promotional codes. These codes are entered during the online checkout process. They save you money, just like a traditional coupon. Coupon Cabin, Current Codes and Naughty Codes are three websites that list promotional codes for online stores. (Google "promotional code" and the name of the store from which you are purchasing.  Others may show up.) Promotional codes usually offer free shipping or a reduced price. Often, online stores offer multiple codes, but you'll probably have to use one or the other.  Use disposable e-mail. You must register an e-mail address with stores when you purchase online.  The store e-mails a confirmation of your purchase and, often, tracking information. Additionally, it may send you promotional codes. But it may also send you unwanted e-mail.There are a couple ways to handle this. You could create a new e-mail address. A number of sites offer free e-mail, including Hotmail (www.msn.com), Yahoo (mail.yahoo.com), Techemail (www.techemail.com) and Netscape (www.netscape.com). Or, sign up for a disposable e-mail address. Free services such as spamgourmet and Sneakemail allow you to create a temporary e-mail address. They forward mail to your "real" one. Sign up for a temporary address before making a purchase. When you've received your purchases and are satisfied with them, you can eliminate the temporary address. COMING NEXT WEEK:   All I want for Christmas is.......... Gummy News is produced  as a service to our troops.  Volume 1, Number 1.

Comparision Shopping 101 Yahoo, Inc., Shopzilla, Shopping.com,  Google Inc.'s Froogle.com, PriceWatch, PriceGrabber, NexTag and ShopLocal are a few of the top contenders for online comparison shopping.  Take the time to see how each one works.  Most will sort by price, look for items within a price range, and look for specific brand items which you specify.  Many of the above sites have ratings for you to check the product.  Other sites are cnet.com, zdnet.com, consumersearch.com, epinions.com, PCMagazine, BusinessWeekOnline, ConsumerGuide, and many others.  Also, many of the consumer online sites offer customer reviews.  Use those in conjunction with other reviews. For example, Amazon.com and Circuit City's online store are two sites with customer reviews. Best viewed at 1024x768,  medium text size

[EsmeraldaA]

Okie Dokie!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

LOL.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

:)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Yes, that is just so...
Stand Watie..
This recipe has no nuts or coconuts, and is very simple and good!

Thai Chicken with Sweet Basil

2 dried cayenne peppers
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp minced garlic
10 ounces boned, skinned chicken breast sliced into thin pieces
Pinch of ground white pepper
3 jalapeno or serrano chili peppers, stems removed, cut lenghtwise into quarters
2 Tbsp Oyster sauce
1/8 tsp sugar
1 cup fresh Holy Basil leaves loosley packed

(I add one red pepper sliced thinly to this recipe for added color)

Soak the dried cayenne peppers in hot water for about 15 minutes until soft.
Drain and chop into small pieces.
Reserve 1/2 tsp and set aside.

Heat a well seasoned pan or wok over high heat and add the oil.
When oil is hot, add garlic and cayenne peppers
(I add the red bell pepper at this point)
Saute until garlic is light brown..
Quickly add the chicekn, white pepper, and chili peppers.
Stir fry for 10 seconds.
Add the oyster sauce and sugar, Stir fry for 2-3 minutes more, until chicken is done.
Add the Basil leaves and stir fry for another 10 seconds.

If you make this right before you leave for the potluck dinner, it should be fine.

This recipe is from Siam Cuisine Restaurant...
In case you like to google for more ideas..
Ms.B

[Kathy in Alaska]

I think he just shot the footage, and it was the very first thing. I'm out the door to Dollar Tree, and then back before 5:30p to watch again and see if it is the same airing. IF it is the same, IT IS FIRST! Back in a bit.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Boston Pops Orchestra - Rhapsody In Blue

Support the artists - click here

Here you go, Luv!

[GodBlessUSA]

Dita
You are lucky to have indian summer. It's chilly here but not too bad yet. However, they are saying possible snow on ThanksGiving.

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks! This sounds delicious. I should give it a try. I will google for more too. :) Hubby will enjoy it a lot.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Of course! Silly goose. :)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL!
I have no idea!
Ms.B

[EsmeraldaA]

Alrighty then.
Hey, you began the party very early......LOL!

[luvie]

...wonderful music..I'm glad I wore blue! Thank you, Colonel....(((hug)))...not slacking! Very intricate music to dance to. Glad I have a good partner!

[Colonel_Flagg]

You are very kind!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I'll be back later!
Hugs alla round!
Ms.B

[La Enchiladita]

They only posted ONCE on FR and never again!
I can't IMAGINE doing that!
LOL.

[luvie]

Oh, being "kind" was not my intention....I was being truthful! :o)

[luvie]

Hey...I didn't forget about you.

We'll probably go to Furrs. It is a cafeteria, but their Thanksgiving meals are just like homemade. We've gone there for several years on Thanksgiving and have always enjoyed it.

[La Enchiladita]

Hi, Gummy. Thanks for the great thread.
I'm old fashioned; I shop at the store.

I was reminiscing the other day about how, many years ago, I gave all hand-made gifts. Seems like someone else's life.

Anyway, I'm thinking about what to e-mail you.... Hmmm....
Think, think, think....

[mylife]

Ok this Larb Gai Thai "chicken salad" is Awsome

[Colonel_Flagg]

Frank Sinatra - Please Be Kind

Support the artists - click here

And one for you :)