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I made her stammer May 16, 2008 10:54 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Daily Life, Of Interest , add a comment

Apparently I’ve been entered into a contest to win $100,000. I simply had to answer some demographic questions. The first hiccup in the call was a refusal to answer a question about monthly income but we got beyond that. However, when the operator happily told me that she’d be sending me some free magazines, I interrupted with "I’m an environmentalist and don’t want them. I read everything online" she stammered. Apparently the script wasn’t ready for that answer. Her next statement of "well, can’t argue with not killing trees" had enough fake tone to let me see over the phoneline her twirling her finger beside her ear. Her supervisor will be calling back to give me some free gas. Sure.

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Zappos has me hooked April 27, 2008 10:29 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Cool Sites, Of Interest , add a comment

The shoe and apparel company Zappos is making the best marketing use of Twitter I have seen to date. (The American Red Cross still has the best utility usage of Twitter.) The Zappos CEO, Tony, is inspiring awareness of Zappos.com through contests and give-a-aways introduced through Twitter!

Twitter @zappos link 2 ur favorite shoes & ur favorite Zappos core value (hint: @missrogue has blog) by 7 PM Pacific. Will pick 1 winner! [Source, Twitter, @zappos]

They also happen to be avid bloggers! Zappos has given away shoes to random Twitter followers, each month they give away a pair of shoes to people signing up from Zappos.com, and even flew a random Twitter follower to Vegas for lunch with Tony the Zappos CEO. Oops. I was typing up this post and browsing shoes and got my entry into this contest either right on the wire or a few minutes late but I know Tony will have more contests! Right Tony? I chose the Michael Toschi Lorenzo SKU #7415650 and the company core value "4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded." I have a wide foot. The picture doesn’t look like it would fit comfortably. Fortunately Zappos has free shipping both directions and 100% satisfaction guaranteed with a full refund within 365 days of purchase!

Be sure to follow Zappos on Twitter @zappos. Search Twitter for "Zappos" and you can discover the COO and other Zappos staffers! You can follow me @djuggler. Watch Miss Rogue’s Interview: Zappos.com’s Tony Hsieh and Rachael Brown to learn more about this great company. Btw, the Zappos ten core values are:

  1. Deliver WOW Through Service
  2. Embrace and Drive Change
  3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
  4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
  5. Pursue Growth and Learning
  6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
  7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
  8. Do More With Less
  9. Be Passionate and Determined
  10. Be Humble

Honestly, I’m sold. My next pair of shoes is coming from Zappos! Fortunately for Zappos, this seven family household needs roughly 14 pairs of shoes in the very short term.

Update: Sarah Lacy does not like Zappos but many of her commenters disagree.

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This is a $100 post January 31, 2008 3:04 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , add a comment

I’ll bite. This post is my entry into Contest Blogger’s New Year Contest sweepstakes. Way to work the SEO!

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Contest Blogger Sucked Me In November 14, 2007 10:57 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , add a comment

Yes, this post is an entry, inspired by ContestBlogger, into RomanceTracker’s love contest for $100.

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Its all about contests now! November 4, 2007 10:03 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 1 comment so far

So, what happens when a blogger wins a prize? He becomes addicted and let’s his posts become links to other people’s Personal Blogs in hopes he can win a iPod Video Nano. Browie was inspired by Darren Rowse’s Problogger giveaway. Apparently he won a cash prize and much like contestblogger, he is passing the good fortune onto us. This is not a paid post but does gain me an additional 2 entries into his contest. Cathy sure could use an iPod!

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Vote her up! October 25, 2007 9:37 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , add a comment

Cathy’s caption and my caption are both on the Leader board. Let’s push them higher!

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Help Send Cathy and I to BlogWorld - We’ll call it a honeymoon October 24, 2007 9:08 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 4comments

Southwest Airlines will be sending two people to Las Vegas on November 8th and 9th to attend Blogworld!

Southwest Airlines is proud to be the Official Airline of the BlogWorld Expo, which is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 8 and 9. This is a huge event promoting blogging and new media…we are offering a package to attend BlogWorld for one creative Nuts
About Southwest reader. This package includes air travel for two on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas from your closest Southwest city; the good folks at BlogWorld are providing free registration for the Expo; and our friends at the MGM Grand are providing a room for three nights (November 7 through November 9). [Source, Southwest Airlines Blog, Nuts About Southwest]

Cathy has entered the contest and needs your help. Please visit her caption and give her a vote up! You can also vote for my caption. And if you participate in the contest, it helps to mention either "cathymccaughan" or "djuggler" as your referrer. Thanks!

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Contests without strings October 16, 2007 9:08 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 1 comment so far

I must say, I go through phases of loving contests. Blogging seems to present opportunity for contests that do not come with strings attached or hordes of junk mail. Contest Blogger has announced that Romance Tracker is having a Love Contest and that you can be placed in a drawing to win $100 simply by linking to their home page with the anchor text "love" (as I just did). Be sure to follow up with an email to let them know you created the link. You can also simply subscribe to their rss feed and email them. Good luck!

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Cathy Won a Vacation! October 9, 2007 6:53 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cathy, Contest, Daily Life, Health, Mental, Of Interest, Travel , 1 comment so far

Cathy won! She won "3 nights in Sedona, AZ - Retreat and Heal" prize from Darren Rowse’s Problogger Birthday Bash. Oh oh! I wonder who she’ll take. Pick me! Pick me! It’s the Grand Canyon! After 6 years of marriage we can finally do something that resembles a honeymoon! Anyone want to babysit for a week?

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Which prizes are left? October 7, 2007 3:29 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 25comments

Are you following Darren Rowse’s Problogger Birthday Bash $54,000 giveaway? Here are the prizes with the ones already offered up scratched out.

25comments

I want Problogger to give STAR $1000 October 7, 2007 8:44 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Cool Sites, Of Interest, Philanthropy, Touchy Subjects , 7comments

Darren Rowse of Problogger fame and Lara Kulpa are busy giving away $54,000 for the Problogger Birthday Bash. FreeMoneyFinanace.Com has agreed to help them by giving $1000 to the favorite (US tax deductible) charity of a person who blogs about it and has their post linked by from Problogger by 9am Sunday Oct 7, 2007 (50 minutes from now).

I would like Problogger and FreeMoneyFinance.com to give $1000 to Shangri-la Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR). $1000 will cover more than half the cost of a class of 4 riders for 1 session.

STAR’s mission is to foster personal growth and achievement by providing educational, recreational, and physically challenging therapeutic experiences using horse related activities for persons with disabilities.

Our oldest son, Tommy, has Asperger’s Syndrome. We blog about it at Asperger Teen. Tommy has lived a life of being told "never." He did not speak until about age 3. At age 6, we were told he would never read. At age 10, we were told he will never function in society and to lock him away in a home. The nevers go on. Tommy has surprised the world today is a well-rounded, good natured, polite 17 year old. If I never announced his Asperger’s, no one would ever guess. He has succeeded were many expected him to fail. We have STAR to thank in part for that.

Tommy rode with confidence!Tommy’s success comes from the incredible support system that surrounds him. Shangri-la Therapeutic Academy of Riding is an important part of this support system. STAR has nurtured his love of animals, given Tommy confidence, and really helped his social skills. Tommy is now hoping to go to college to study in vet school!

As an independent consultant, I have broken many of the rules required for success. As such, we live with constant cash flow problems. Without STAR’s Rider Sponsorship Program we would not be able to participate. Whenever possible, I try to encourage donations to STAR because I believe in the program and by encouraging donations I feel I have giving back where they have helped me. I do not have the means to give directly. Whenever possible, I give my time to help STAR through efforts like our Blogathon blog. I have seen many more than just my son touched by their love. It is difficult to drive through Knoxville and not see a license plate with a reference to STAR or see someone wearing a STAR t-shirt. Their success and growth can only continue through the generous donations by people like Darren Rowse, Lara Kulpa, and FreeMoneyFinanace.Com.

Please consider STAR for the $1000 charity giveaway. Thank you!

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My Entry to the Problogger iPod giveaway October 5, 2007 7:50 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Blog, Contest, Of Interest, Poetry , 1 comment so far

My entry for Problogger’s 6th giveaway is:

iBlog for iMust

I met a guy from Oz
Tim Miller his name
Of SpyJournal fame
We have never met in person
But are friends all the same

See I was trying out
This fad call blogging
Tim said its more than a game
Blogging is not a fad
It’s here to stay

People make a living
In this digital world
Publishing their own word
Tim advise, “Check out problogger
A site by Darren Rowse.”

Problogger showed the way
Follow these rules
And you can make your pay
In the comfort of pajamas
Sitting at your computer all day

I have yet to make a dime
But Darren must be doing ok
For it’s Problogger’s birthday
And good ol’ Darren
Is giving $54,000 away

Remember, they just needed a poem with the word "problogger" or "Darren" in it. The poem did not have to be a literary masterpiece although there are a couple of gems! At the time of this post, Darren Rowse and Lara Kulpa had 416 entries for their iPod giveaway which includes 4 iPods and 1 iPod makeover. You still have 4 hours to enter.

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Problogger’s iPod giveaway is up! October 4, 2007 12:37 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 3comments

If you are following Darren Rowse’s $54,000 giveaway, then you may be interested in knowing that the iPods will be given away in the next 24 hours. To enter, write a poem (read the post for the specifics! Follow the rules!) before noon Oct 5. They are accepting entries based on doing not literary quality so even if you do not fancy yourself a poet, you should do it. Good luck!

Full list of prizes

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You have 3.5 hours for a chance at one of 24 prizes October 4, 2007 8:41 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , add a comment

Problogger has announced its next round of prizes. Before Noon (EST), write a blog entry with a "blogging" "tip" then post the link to your entry in the Problogger comments with a note on which prize you would prefer. Only one entry per person and it has to be new material.

As a reminder, once you win a prize in the $54,000 giveaway, you cannot win again. Make sure the 24 prizes are appealing to you!

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Problogger’s 4th giveaway is listed October 3, 2007 9:53 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , add a comment

Problogger’s Birthday Bash has announced its fourth prize. You could win TWO 20-inch FlatronWide L206WU USB-based monitors provided by DisplayLink by creating a post and linking back to the kickoff post then going to the DisplayLink post and adding a comment with your link and the word DisplayLink below it (case is important!).

http://realityme.net/2007/10/03/probloggers-4th-giveaway-is-listed/
DisplayLink

Remember, once you win a prize, you cannot win any others so make sure you are entering for prizes you want.

These monitors are USB monitors and some people have expressed concern that lag due to limitations of USB speed could make these monitors less than adequate for gaming. This video by ndíyo shows some great potential for these monitors. I found it very exciting! Of course, Engadget has some words.

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