In add remove programs or I have Revo uninstaller....?  Thank you Xiandi!

I left Javascript enabled. Facebook needs it. Besides I rarely visit sites outside of the 7 or 8 I visit everyday, all of witch are trusted sites.

Yes, but does anyone NEED Facebook?....

I think you can leave JavaScript enabled, but I'd also use NoScript for further safety.  NoScript is only a problem if more than one person uses the computer and one or more don't understand how NoScript works - it can be very annoying and a source of friction.  In some cases that might be a feature rather than a bug, I'll admit.

I've found many of the sites I routinely use, particularly financial institution sites, require JavaScript be enabled.

Dunno about that one. I have zero [0] Java on my box and I'm able to view/see anything/all Facebook. I feel comfortable with my settings [Win 7 Pro]...

Go into the options for Firefox and disable JavaScript. Facebook will have fits when you load it.

Oh no how will I ever dial a nine-chevron address without Java?  

I did it few days ago.. No problems with any website including Facebook.. Thank you very much for this hint!

Get Rodney to write a script...

... that's a joke, right? java and javascript have nothing to do with each other

JavaScript is a completely separate technology from Java. Java was the "in thing" back in the days when Brendan Eich atNetscape created a programming language that was originally going to be called LiveScript, so unfortunately they decided to rename it from LiveScript to JavaScript in the hope of catching the media’s interest.

A fix....shortly.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/12/us-usa-java-security-idUSBRE90B0EX20130112

Any fix will only be until the flaw is found and exploited. You can take that to the bank.

Hey Doc.....I think they already did. You can hear the 'cha-ching!' all the way to the bank. I remember well getting caught by one of them. Damn near totaled my laptop. I'd get rid of Java except its needed for Libre Office and Gimp. Gimp I can do without but Libre Office is too good to throw away. They say its geared towards version 7 update 10. Would rolling back to a previous version prevent that I wonder or does it make any difference. Probably not.

OpenOffice/LibreOffice needs Java mostly for the database functionality. do you use databases? 

i'm not sure about The GIMP, but if i rember correctly, Java is only needed for a few older plugins.

the desktop runtime environment is not the problem though (this time). so you could keep it and still be safe.

anyways: give an uninstall a try. should you ever need Java, you can always install it again. and do not even think about using older Java versions.