Century 21(R) Home Run Derby(R) All-Star Sweepstakes Finalists Named

Century 21(R) Home Run Derby(R) All-Star Sweepstakes Finalists Named

- Eight Finalists Will Travel to Pittsburgh for Chance to Win $250,000
Toward Purchase of a Home -

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight lucky finalists will be
heading to the CENTURY 21(R) Home Run Derby(R) competition in Pittsburgh
for the chance to win $250,000 toward the purchase of a home during 2006
Major League Baseball(R) All-Star Week. This is the eighth consecutive year
that Century 21 Real Estate LLC -- the "Official Real Estate Organization
of Major League Baseball" -- has hosted the grand slam sweepstakes in
conjunction with the CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby competition.
Randomly selected from entries received through http://www.century21.com,
http://www.century21espanol.com, in-office displays and mail-in entry forms, the
finalists will be matched with a 2006 Major League Baseball player
competing in the CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby competition on Monday, July 10,
at 8 p.m. (EDT) in Pittsburgh. The finalist paired with the Major League
Baseball player who captures the 2006 CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby title will
win the grand prize.
In addition to the opportunity to win $250,000 toward a home purchase,
the sweepstakes finalists have been awarded a trip for two to 2006 Major
League Baseball All-Star Week, July 7-11, courtesy of Century 21 Real
Estate LLC. The finalists include:
NAME HOMETOWN
Marge Abell Breeze Point, MN
Judith Agustin Virginia Beach, Va.
Cynthia Ducote Baker, La.
Hector Flores Memphis, Tenn.
Frank Hanson Mountain Home, Ark.
Kris Kamrath Grand Rapids, MI
Greg Longino Lufkin, TX
Sally Mills Columbia, SC

(read more)

In 2005, Edwin Molina formerly of Long Pond, Pa., won the $250,000
sweepstakes grand prize when Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu
launched 41 home runs during the three competition rounds to win the 2005
CENTURY 21(R) Home Run Derby(R) title.
The 2006 CENTURY 21(R) Home Run Derby(R) will be televised nationally
by ESPN and ESPN Desportes. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive, national
radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and
MLB.com Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on
the Internet.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

GoldCentral.com Announces the American Buffalo Gold Coin Sweepstakes, Offering Contestants the Chance to Win a Grand Prize Worth $250,000

GoldCentral.com Announces the American Buffalo Gold Coin Sweepstakes, Offering Contestants the Chance to Win a Grand Prize Worth $250,000
In commemoration of the release of the American Buffalo gold coin, the first 24 karat gold coin ever issued by the United States Mint, Goldcentral.com is sponsoring a sweepstakes in which contestants have the chance to win $250,000 worth of American Buffalo gold bullion coins.
(PRWEB) June 29, 2006 -- GoldCentral.com, a website where investors can buy, sell, and trade gold coins online, announces a sweepstakes in which contestants have the opportunity to win $250,000 worth of American Buffalo gold bullion coins , the first 24 karat fine gold coins ever minted by the United States. The contest runs from June 26 to December 31, 2006 and entry forms are available at GoldCentral.com.
The first-year-of-issuance American Buffalo gold coin features the revered 1913 Buffalo Nickel, Type I design by James Earle Fraser with an American Indian chief on the obverse and a Bison standing on a grassy mound on the reverse. The coins come in a one ounce weight only and a mirror-finish proof version will be made available to collectors.
(read more)

The new American Buffalo gold coin is the first 99.99 percent pure fine gold coin ever issued by the United States Mint. Historically, the standard fitness of gold bullion coins minted by the United States has been about 91 percent fine gold and 9 percent copper or silver, which are added to augment the coins’ durability. In recent years, global investors have demonstrated a strong preference for 99.99 percent pure fine gold, with sales of 24 karat gold now accounting for approximately 60 percent of all gold sales worldwide. The new one ounce American Buffalo gold coin was authorized by the U.S. Congress last year in an effort to target global investors and compete with high-demand 24 karat pure gold coins like the top-selling Canadian Maple Leaf coin. Considering the growing, worldwide demand for pure gold as well as the United States’ success as the minter of the second bestselling gold coin in the world, the 22 karat American Eagle gold bullion coin , financial analysts are optimistic that the American Buffalo gold coin will quickly acquire a substantial share of the lucrative and rapidly expanding global market for 24 karat gold coins, possibly even overtaking the Canadian Maple Leaf as the international bestseller.

Savvy investors who purchase American Buffalo gold coins now stand to realize a huge return on their investment. According to Kevin DeMeritt, President of the reputable Gold firm Lear Financial, “The last time the U.S. Mint issued a gold coin, it was the American Eagle in 1986. Just 24 months after the issue date of that coin, gold was up over 44%.” With the global demand for pure gold on the rise, there is tremendous potential for these coins to increase in value very quickly.

In commemoration of this unprecedented event, GoldCentral.com is sponsoring a sweepstakes in which there is a chance to win $250,000 worth of American Buffalo gold bullion coins. Contests can register to enter online at GoldCentral.com. The contest ends December 31, 2006.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ARTICLE: Racing fan has special rooting interest Saturday (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

Russell Tillson, flanked by sons Stephen, left, and Brandon, won the “Win Jeff Burton’s Pay-Day” sweepstakes. He will be flown to Daytona for Saturday’s race and will be awarded the same amount of money that Burton wins. GARY C. KNAPP/SPECIAL TO THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

By PAUL WHITE, The Virginian-Pilot
? June 28, 2006

VIRGINIA BEACH - From diehard Earnhardt man to boisterous Burton backer?
Russell Tillson can think of at least 80,000 reasons why, at least for one race, making such a switch could really pay off.
As the grand prize winner in Cingular Wireless's nationwide "Win Jeff Burton's Pay-Day" sweepstakes, Tillson will be flown to Saturday's Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at Daytona, provided pit passes and spending money - and awarded the same amount of money Burton earns during the race.
Last year's race winner pocketed $368,261. But Tillson will win even if Burton doesn't. The last-place finisher of the 2005 race received $80,725.

"My luck's never been the greatest, so this is totally unbelievable," Tillson said.

So, seemingly, were Tillson's odds of prevailing in a contest that featured more than a million entries. Of course, it helped that hundreds of those entries were from people named Tillson.

The sweepstakes involved answering questions posed during televised NASCAR races via text messages, with each answer counting as a contest entry. With help from his three sons - Brandon, 11, Kyle, 12 and Stephen, 14 - the lifelong NASCAR fan figures his family registered at least 20 entries per race since the start of the season .

(read more)

Even so, the Virginia Beach resident figured he had virtually no chance of winning until, on June 15, he received word he was a finalist.

At least he thought he was a finalist. In fact, Tillson had actually won the grand prize - the drawing was held June 14. But unaware of this fact, Tillson spent days crossing his fingers and filing eligibility paperwork. Last Thursday - one day before his 41st birthday - he got the good news from the most believable of sources.

His mother.

"She went online and read the official rules," Tillson said. "Then she called me up and said, 'Hey, you won.' "

Based on Burton's past performances in Daytona, Tillson, a cable technician, said he expects at least $100,000 in contest winnings. The money will go a long way toward buying a house and paying off the Chevy Cobalt he purchased last December, he said.

Still, he admitted he can't help feeling a little greedy, even if it means temporarily turning on his beloved "Little E."

"A friend of mine asked me how I'd feel if Dale Jr. was out in front and Jeff Burton was on his butt on the last lap," Tillson said. "I'd be like, 'Dale, you better get out of the way. Burton's needs to get through today.' "

Posted by BarracudaRon at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sweepstakes Celebrates 100 Millionth HP LaserJet Shipment - ``It Just Works''

June 26, 2006 07:45 AM US Eastern Timezone
Sweepstakes Celebrates 100 Millionth HP LaserJet Shipment - ``It Just Works''
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2006--HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) today launched a sweepstakes in search of the hardest working HP LaserJet printer in the United States.

Commemorating the recent shipment of the 100 millionth HP LaserJet, the company is asking participants to submit photos and a short story explaining why they think their HP LaserJet printer has withstood the test of time.
The "It Just Works" sweepstakes runs through Aug. 31 and is open to all U.S. residents. Participants are invited to submit their digital photos and stories in 200 words or less at www.hp.com/go/itjustworks. Prizes include:
-- One First Prize: A complete home office/small and mid-size business bundle consisting of an HP Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC, an HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn, replacement ColorSphere toner cartridges and a supply of HP Color Laser Presentation Paper, Glossy;

-- One Second Prize: An HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn, HP Photosmart R927 Digital Camera and Dock and HP Color Laser Presentation Paper;

-- Ten Third Prizes: A $100 HP Home and Home Office Store gift card.

The best pictures and stories about HP LaserJet printers in action will be posted online following the close of the sweepstakes. Participants are not required to submit a photo or an essay to enter the sweepstakes, and no purchase is necessary to win.

"As the world's leading printer manufacturer, it's our job to make sure HP products can work under the harshest environments and deliver the consistent print quality and reliability our customers have come to expect," said Vince Ferraro, vice president, LaserJet Business, HP. "We look forward to hearing from our customers about their office environments and the stories of how their HP LaserJet printers have held up under the most severe and unusual working conditions."

In May, HP announced the shipment of the 100 millionth LaserJet printer, a milestone representing HP's history of quality, reliability and innovation. HP pioneered personal laser printing with the introduction in 1984 of the first LaserJet printer. Since then, HP LaserJet printing solutions have changed the way people conduct business, communicate in the office and market products and services.

To submit an "It Just Works" printer story, and for more details on terms and conditions of the sweepstakes, please visit www.hp.com/go/itjustworks.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

www.buckmasters.com

From Buckmasters Ltd.

The award-winning Jackie Bushman Show will kick off its second season this week with a new slate of shows that includes special guests from throughout the hunting industry including Bill Jordan, Michael Waddell, Larry Weishun, Terry Rohm, and Dan Massimillo, to name a few.

New to this year's show is the Who's the Buckmaster Scavenger Hunt, featuring more than $100,000 in hunting gear prizes for YOU, the home viewer!

"We're really excited about the Scavenger Hunt," said show host and Buckmasters founder Jackie Bushman. "The studio game segment of last year's show was popular, but we wanted to give the viewers at home a chance to play. The Scavenger Hunt does that in a big, big way."

The contest will have more than 20 winners each week, with prizes including Thompson Center muzzleloaders, Bear Archery bows, Remington rifles, Nikon scopes, Whitewater hunting clothing, Easton arrows, Scent-Lok products, Streamlight flashlights, Sonic broadheads, Federal ammunition, Tink's scent kits, Morrell archery targets, NAPA tool kits, Realtree prize packs, Camillus knife sets, Pennington seed and more!
(read more)

The Who's the Buckmaster Scavenger Hunt is a little different from other contests, though. The only way to be eligible for one of the weekly prizes is to correctly answer one of our sponsors' contest questions. We'll help you get to the sponsor website. Once you find the answer, return to the entry form to make your choice and enter. Winners will be chosen from the field of contestants who answer correctly. If you guess wrong, you'll have to wait until the next week to try again.

In addition, there will be regular "bonus" prizes of John Marshall Design camphouse conversions and Yamaha Grizzly ATVs. For the JMD hunting camp makeovers, contestants who answered the previous four weeks' questions correctly will be eligible. For the Yamaha Grizzly drawings, contestants who answered the previous five weeks' questions correctly will be eligible.

To be eligible to win the Yamaha Rhino grand prize at the end of the contest, you must have correctly answered 22 of the 26 possible answers.

With more than 590 prizes being awarded and a value well over $100,000, this is one of the biggest contests ever to hit the hunting industry.

The first airing of this year's Jackie Bushman Show will be Tuesday night, June 27 at 2 a.m. Eastern time (yes, for you sticklers that would technically be Wednesday "morning"). You can catch it again on Friday, June 30, at 11 a.m.; or Sunday, July 2, at 10 p.m.

Both The Jackie Bushman Show and Buckmasters will be airing exclusively on The Outdoor Channel this year. The 2006 Buckmasters TV season also begins this week, with its first airing on Monday, June 26, at 6 p.m. (Eastern). Buckmasters will air again on Thursday, June 29, at 11 a.m.; and on Saturday, July 1, at 9 a.m.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Checkers(R)/Rally's(R) Summer Blockbuster Movie Sweepstakes Leverages NASCAR(R) Sponsorship: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Checkers(R)/Rally's(R) Summer Blockbuster Movie Sweepstakes Leverages NASCAR(R) Sponsorship
Tuesday June 20, 12:19 pm ET
'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' Starring Will Ferrell Featured in 'Fully Loaded Sweepstakes'
TAMPA, Fla., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHKR - News), the nation's largest chain of double drive- thru restaurants, today announced its summer promotion event combining great food and great fun. As the Official Drive-Thru of NASCAR?, the Company joins forces with Columbia Pictures to promote "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," starring Will Ferrell as the fictional NASCAR driver, Ricky Bobby.
Until August 31st, 2006 (or while supplies last), Checkers®/Rally's® customers can play the "Talladega Nights Fully Loaded Sweepstakes" for the chance to win a Fully Loaded Ford® F-150® customized by Mark III, a Winnebago® Weekend at a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, food giveaways and more.

(more about this...)

"We are very pleased to have partnered with NASCAR and Columbia Pictures," said Richard S. Turer, Vice President of Marketing for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "In addition to our unbeatable two for $3.00 Double Cheeseburger event this summer, our guests have the opportunity to participate in the sweepstakes when they purchase our new Fully Loaded Fries or a large Coke®."

This summer, Checkers/Rally's will also launch a series of new menu items, including a line of new Fully Loaded sandwiches -- a triple cheeseburger and a new Premium Chicken Strip Sandwich, both served on toasted sourdough bread with bacon, cheddar and ranch dressing.

"By combining our brand with powerhouses like NASCAR and Columbia Pictures for the 'Fully Loaded Sweepstakes', Checkers/Rally's is able to expose a wide audience of brand loyal fans to our new Fully Loaded menu items," added Turer. "More importantly, these partnerships provide a strategic fit to our brand, emphasizing our dedication to speed, accuracy and fun."

During the Checkers/Rally's "Fully Loaded Sweepstakes," which runs through August 31st, 2006 (or while supplies last), millions of outstanding food offers and prizes can be won. When customers order Checkers/Rally's Fully Loaded Fries or a large drink*, they can peel game pieces to reveal instant- win prizes or food offers, as well as receive one of the letters needed to spell "FULLY LOADED" for a chance to participate in the Sweepstakes Drawing.

Customers who correctly spell out "FULLY LOADED" with their game pieces have the chance to win the grand prize, a Fully Loaded Ford F-150. There is also a separate sweepstakes online at http://www.checkers.com .

Other Sweepstakes prizes include:

-- 1st Prize (1): Fully Loaded trip for four to a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, complete with usage of a Checkers/Rally's Fully Loaded Winnebago, and a one-year supply of Checkers/Rally's Fully Loaded Fries.

-- 2nd Prize (10): Fully Loaded trip for two to a 2007 NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway and a one-year supply of Checkers/Rally's Fully Loaded Fries.

Instant Win prizes and special food offers include:

-- Instant Win 3rd Prize: "Talladega Nights" Prize Package complete with DVD release of the movie and a wearable item.

-- Instant Win 4th Prize: Collectible Checkers/Rally's NASCAR-licensed stainless steel travel mug.

-- Millions of Food offers including: free Fully Loaded Fries, sandwiches, shakes, drinks and more.

Official Rules for the "Fully Loaded Sweepstakes" can be obtained at your local participating Checkers/Rally's or at http://www.checkers.com through August 31st, 2006.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Car Pool Survey Reports That Parents Tote Kids an Average of Seven Times Per Month: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Car Pool Survey Reports That Parents Tote Kids an Average of Seven Times Per Month
Tuesday June 20, 4:02 pm ET
-- No. 1 Leave-behind Odor is Food, Followed by Sweat and Old Shoes -
CHICAGO, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Gas prices may be soaring, but Mom and Dad are still willing to take a hit in the wallet when it comes to chauffeuring their children around town. Parents of kids age 16 and under drive a car pool an average of seven times a month with three kids in the car, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Carwash Association. *
And, to make matters worse, the majority of these drivers allow the children to eat and drink in the car -- which might account for the fact that once the kids exit the vehicle, food is reported as the number one leave-behind odor, followed by sweat and old shoes. One respondent described the car as a "crumb-covered mess," while others reported shoe prints, trash and discarded snacks all over the interior.
Juvenile travelers have left behind such souvenirs as a dead frog pinned to a board, nestled next to a PB&J sandwich in a brown paper sack, an iguana named Joe Bob and a kitten. Other forgotten items include Oreo cookies licked clean of their centers and... (read more about sweep)

Other forgotten items include Oreo cookies licked clean of their centers and shoved into the car door pocket, Hustler magazine and underwear.

About one in three parents has shouted, "Don't make me stop this car!" into the back seat, or spilled a drink or food. Not surprisingly, the potential for encountering aggravating circumstances increases with the number of kids in the car, including:

-- Four teenage boys trying to determine who had the smelliest gas after
eating chili
-- One child throwing up on the other two kids in the car
-- The discovery of head lice on a girl
-- Kids singing raunchy songs
-- Kids hitting, fighting, kicking and screaming all the way home

It's no wonder that 90 percent of all respondents reported washing their cars at a professional car wash during the past year!

The International Carwash Association would like to recognize one road-weary car pool parent with the ultimate gift -- a complete car pool makeover. The winner of the International Carwash Association Car Pool Makeover Sweepstakes will receive one year of professional car washes (52 washes) at a nearby member location, as well as his/her choice of the following items or services not to exceed $10,000:

-- GPS Navigator
-- Automobile sound system
-- Car refrigerator
-- Professional car interior and exterior detailing at locations
designated by the International Carwash Association

"No matter whether you carpool kids, co-workers or just the groceries, it always feels good to start out with a clean car," said Mark Thorsby, executive director of the International Carwash Association. "And, the average professional car wash only takes five to eight minutes."

There is no purchase necessary to enter. Online forms are available at http://www.carlove.org . Mail your entry, with first-class postage affixed, to: International Carwash Association Car Pool Makeover Sweepstakes, 401 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60611. Entries must be received by October 30, 2006. (Entrants must be 18 years of age or older). A complete list of contest rules is posted on http://www.carlove.org . Winner will be announced 11/01/06.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Inside Track - Breaking News Blog: WIX Filters Announces “Party Like a Rock Star” Sweepstakes

Ayr, ON. (June 15, 2006) – WIX Filters, the number one filter in NASCAR, has announced the WIX “Party Like a Rock Star” Sweepstakes, a new 6 month contest that enables two lucky race fans to experience an all-expense-paid VIP trip to the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“The WIX “Party Like a Rock Star” sweepstakes is a natural extension of WIX’s NASCAR involvement and its relationship with Speedway Motorsports” said Brian Fleming Director of Marketing, WIX Filter products. With the “Party Like a Rock Star” promotion, we’re again reaching out to loyal NASCAR fans who support WIX Filter products, who in-turn support their favorite sport.”
In conjunction with SMI., WIX Filters will award a Consumer and their guest a prize package that includes garage and victory lane passes, deluxe accommodations, round-trip airline tickets, personalized leather jackets, infield RV accommodations, a live PRN radio interview, over $2500 spending money and a helicopter ride to the race!

The WIX “Party Like a Rock Star” sweepstakes promotion runs from June through December 2006.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chron.com | (PRN) American Airlines Teams With Radisson Hotels to Offer Summer Vacation in New 'Getaway to Aruba' Sweepstakes

American Airlines Teams With Radisson Hotels to Offer Summer Vacation in New 'Getaway to Aruba' Sweepstakes

PRNewswire-FirstCall
Air Travel, Hotel Stay and Fun in the Sun in Store for Lucky Winner
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- If you're looking for a beach getaway this summer, here's your chance. American Airlines, a founding member of the global oneworld(R) Alliance, is offering one lucky winner a trip for two to Aruba in its new Getaway to Aruba Sweepstakes. Through July 15, 2006, customers who purchase tickets on American's AA.com(R) Web site and fly by August 15, 2006, will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes. Additionally, customers can enter without purchase by visiting the promotion Web page at http://www.aa.com/aruba .
Customers are eligible for up to three sweepstakes entries per person, and there is no purchase necessary to win. Prizes include:
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a seven-night Getaway Package Stay at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, plus airfare for two,
One (1) First Prize winner will receive a three-night stay at any Radisson Hotel in the United States, Canada or Mexico,
Two (2) Second Prize winners (read more)

Two (2) Second Prize winners will receive a two-night stay at a Dallas-area Radisson Hotel. Hotel stays are subject to availability. "We know summer is a time to travel and have fun in the sun, and we're proud that AA.com serves as a convenient one-stop shop for customers to plan all their travel," said Rob Friedman, American's Managing Director - Interactive Marketing. "With our Getaway to Aruba sweepstakes, customers are reminded of the advantages of booking on AA.com -- such as the lowest-fare guarantee, flexible search options, no booking fees and the ability to earn up to 1,000 AAdvantage(R) bonus miles per ticket purchased."
For more details on the promotion, visit http://www.aa.com/promo . About AA.com The American Airlines Web site, http://www.aa.com , is the best place to do business online with American. AA.com provides numerous ways to conveniently search for and book low fares and award travel, select seats, make hotel and rental car reservations, get flight arrival/departure information, sign up for flight status notification, and even check in and print boarding passes. Customers who purchase tickets on AA.com don't pay an online booking fee, earn up to 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles per ticket purchased, and get a lowest-fare guarantee (see http://www.aa.com/guarantee ). Additionally, customers who log in with an AAdvantage number and password can manage their AAdvantage account online and also receive personalized news and specials. AA.com twice has received the World Travel Award for World's Leading Airline Internet Site and has also received multiple Web site awards from various organizations.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Corazon Shakes Things Up With the 'Corazon Cocktail Sweepstakes': Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Corazon Shakes Things Up With the 'Corazon Cocktail Sweepstakes'
Thursday June 15, 11:47 am ET
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you seen Corazon Tequila's new ads? The broadcast commercials take a humorous look at tequila cocktails, and now, the award-winning tequila is asking customers to weigh in on their favorite cocktails featured in the ads.

Is the "Invisible Hombre" your man? Maybe you'd yell for an "Angry Parrot"? "Snake Bite" got you rattled? Maybe you're a "Green Iguana" kind of gal? Whatever the choice, consumers are invited to visit www.corazontequila.com to cast their vote. Every visitor to the site who votes will be entered to win a prize. Ten first prize winners will win a gift basket full of fun Corazon premium items, and 850 second prize winners will win a set of six Corazon shot glasses. Nice! For a complete list of rules and prizes, please visit www.corazontequila.com. And don't forget to vote! The contest will run from June 15th through August 21st.*

Posted by BarracudaRon at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rocky Mountain News: Tech & telecom

Companies hope to get e-mail addresses, build relationships
STORY TOOLS
Email this story | Print By Tom Keyser, Albany Times Union
June 12, 2006
Buy a 13-ounce can of Maxwell House coffee, and you might win $10,000.
Buy a 20-ounce bottle of Lipton iced tea, and you could win a Fuji bicycle.
Buy a 12-pack of Dannon yogurt, and you could win $25,000, a $1,500 check for tuition, a health-club membership or a litany of other prizes.
It sounds enticing. But there's a catch.
Although these and other contests are advertised prominently on products up and down supermarket aisles, their objective is to drive you to each company's Web site. There, you can enter the contests after providing personal information, such as your age, address, phone number and e-mail address.
This twist on the traditional sweepstakes, which relied on regular mail, is part of the explosive rise in Internet advertising. The firm eMarketer, which researches marketing on the Internet, estimates that spending for online advertising by U.S. companies will increase from $9.6 billion in 2004 to $15.6 billion this year and to $28.5 billion by 2010.
(more)

"Games, contests and sweepstakes have been part of marketing that goes back 100 years," says Kathleen Joyce, editorial director of Promo, a magazine in Stamford, Conn., that covers the marketing industry. "The newest interpretation of this is taking games, contests and sweepstakes onto the Internet, which allows marketers to become even more sophisticated in building relationships between consumers and the brands."

This switch to the Internet represents a "coming of age" for packaged-good companies that have spent the past decade feeling their way around the Internet, says Eric Anderson, director of agency services for White Horse, a Web-development company with offices in Chicago and Portland, Ore.

"What they're primarily interested in is getting your e-mail address in exchange for your participation in the sweepstakes," he says. "Essentially, they're trying to build an e-mail list . . . for ongoing communication that will in turn spark future purchases of their products."

The Dannon promotion is typical. A series of numbers and letters - your game or access code - appears on the inside lid of the yogurt container.

You sign onto Dannon's Web site, click on one of the contests and, on the form that appears on your screen, enter your code and personal information.

Somewhere on that form - and sometimes not so easy to spot - is a box that you must check or un-check to receive or not to receive promotional e-mails. More often that not, the box is already checked. If you don't click on it to remove the check, then you'll become the consumer the company hoped you'd become. You'll receive the promotions.

As long as you're dealing with a reputable company, you shouldn't have to worry about providing personal information, as long as you don't provide too much, say people involved in Internet advertising.

"In general, it's a system that polices itself," says Anderson, the Web site developer. "Companies know that the less they ask the more likely they are to get what they want. Since what they really want is the consumer's e-mail address, they know the best way of getting it is by not pushing too hard."

Michael Neuwirth, senior director of public relations at The Dannon Co., says that no one forces consumers to participate in online contests.

"These are opt-in programs," Neuwirth says. "If at any point you're feeling uncomfortable about opting in, then don't."

Posted by BarracudaRon at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BellSouth Launches 411 Sweepstakes, Grand Prize is Pontiac Solstice Automobile

Registered BellSouth Customers Enter Contest Each Time They Dial 411 for
Directory Assistance -

ATLANTA, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) announced today
that it has launched a sweepstakes that gives customers who dial 411 for
Directory Assistance the opportunity to win a grand prize of a Pontiac
Solstice sports car. The company will also award five 12-month
subscriptions of BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL Ultra as part of the
sweepstakes.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060601/CLTH059 )
BellSouth(R) 411 Nationwide(R) delivers real-time nationwide directory
information to customers with the ease, convenience and reliability of
simply dialing 411.
"Dialing 411 remains the fastest, most reliable way for customers to
obtain current directory information," said Gloria Reese, president -
Operator Services, BellSouth. "Similar to 411, the Pontiac Solstice and
BellSouth FastAccess DSL Ultra represent fast and efficient methods of
automotive and data transportation. We are anxious to award these exciting prizes to the sweepstakes winners."
BellSouth's 411 sweepstakes will run June 1 - Aug. 31, 2006. BellSouth
customers receive an automatic entry and become eligible for the
sweepstakes when they dial 877-615-3278 or
READ MORE

go online at
http://www.bellsouth.com/411care and register their home phone number. After
registering for the sweepstakes, BellSouth customers receive additional
automatic entries each time they dial 411 from their registered number.
During the sweepstakes, a BellSouth 411 Pontiac Solstice will be
displayed around the Southeastern U.S. at shopping malls, sporting events
and community festivals. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on or
before Oct. 31, 2006 and will be notified via certified or overnight mail.
Note: NO PURCHASE REQUIRED. Complete Official Rules, including
eligibility requirements and instructions on alternative free method of
entry, may be obtained at
http://largebusiness.bellsouth.com/411/registration or upon request by mail
to BellSouth 411 Fast Sweepstakes, One North Dale Mabry Highway, Suite
1000, Tampa, FL 33609.
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 500 communications company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40
percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice
and data provider with 55.8 million customers.
Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most
comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available
in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business
customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and
high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R)
Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local
and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also
offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow
Pages(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth.
BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive
environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's
global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at
http://www.bellsouth.com.

Posted by BarracudaRon at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Winzy

What Is Winzy?

Winzy is a search engine where you can win free prizes. Every search on Winzy is a chance to win!
Come to Winzy.com every day to search the web and build your Winzy Friends network.
The more friends in your network, the more chances of winning you have. If one of your Winzy Friends wins a prize while searching, you will win the same prize!
How Do I Get Started?
You can search the web with Winzy anytime. You don't even need to register. If you haven't received an invitation from a friend you can join here. Once you join Winzy, you will be given your personal referral link so you can invite all of your friends to join your Winzy Friends network, and increase your chances of winning.
Why Do I Need To Register?
You need to register if you want to refer friends because we will assign you a personalized referral link to send to your friends. You also need to register to claim your prizes. This is because we need to store your contact and shipping information so we can contact you if we have questions and know where to send your prizes. Registration is simple and free.
Do I Have To Provide My Personal Information To Use Winzy?
No. You can use Winzy to search the web without providing any personal information.

What Information About Me Can Other Users See?
Once your email address is confirmed, invitations you send to friends will include your email address and your Winzy ID.

Why Do I Need To Confirm My Email?
You need to confirm your email address so we can communicate your wins and send you prize redemption instructions and prize status updates.

How Do I Confirm My Email?
When you join Winzy we send you an email to the email address you provided. Check your email and click the link in the email to confirm your email address.
You can also go to My Account and click on the "confirm now" link. We will resend a confirmation email.
If you did not receive the confirmation email:

check your spam or bulk mail folder to see if it was misfiled
add account@winzy.com to your email address book and try again
Click here to resend an email to your email address

How Do I Win Prizes?
You win prizes by searching the web, and whenever a friend in your Winzy Friends network wins. You do not need to sign up for any offers.
The best way to increase your chances of winning a prize is to refer as many friends as you can to use Winzy. If you refer a friend to Winzy using your personal referral link, and your friend wins a prize, you win too!. See our tips for winning strategies.

How Do I Know I Won A Prize?
If your search is a winner, your search results page will look like this. We don't use pop-up windows, so you don't need to change any settings on your computer.
If you're a winner because one of your friends won, you will see an alert in the Winzy Home Page to let you know that you've won. You can also view and claim your prizes in My Account.

How Many Times Can I Win?
Your household may claim up to two prizes per month, whether you win them by searching or through Winzy Friends.

What Kind Of Prizes Can I Win?
Our prizes change frequently. Below are our most popular prizes:

Apple iPod Nano, 1GB digital music player
Apple iPod Suffle
$25 Amazon.com Gift Cards
$10 Amazon.com Gift Cards

When Will I Receive My Prize?
You should receive your prize 4-6 weeks from the date you claim it. Once you claim your prize you can check My Account for specific redemption details and prize status updates.

Can I Win Prizes If I Am Not Registered?
You can use Winzy to search the web without registering. If you are a winner, you will need to register in order to claim your prize.

How Does Refer Friends Work?

Join Winzy.
Invite your friends to sign up and use Winzy.
If someone you invited searches at the right time, you win the same prize!
You can invite as many friends as you want, as long as they have not already joined Winzy. Click here to invite friends.

Why Should I refer friends?
You can increase your chances of winning by referring friends to use Winzy. If you refer a friend and he or she wins a prize by searching on Winzy, you will win the same prize too. Winzy respects your friends' privacy. If you provide your friend's email address to us to refer friends, we will only use your friend's email to send invitation messages to join Winzy. For more information, please see our detailed privacy policy.

Are You Going To Spam My Friends?
Winzy respects your friends' privacy. If you provide your friend's email address to us to refer friends, we will only use your friend's email to send invitation messages to join Winzy. For more information, please see our detailed privacy policy.

What Is My "Winzy ID"?

Your Winzy ID is your unique identifier, and it will be used to create your personal Winzy Link.

What Is My "Winzy Link"?
Your Winzy Link is your personal referral link. If you refer a friend to Winzy using your personal referral link, and your friend wins a prize, you win too!
Your Winzy link will look like this. http://www.winzy.com/YourWinzyID

What Are "Winzy Friends"?
When friends you referred join Winzy they become your Winzy Friends. The bigger your Winzy Friends network, the bigger your chances of winning.
You can view your Winzy Friends in My Account.

What Is Winzy Address Book?
Your Winzy Address Book contains all the email addresses that you've entered manually or imported from other address books. It lets you send invitations to join your Winzy Friends network, shows you whom you've already invited and lets you resend invitations. The Address Book is located in My Account.

Where Can I See A List Of My Winzy Friends?
You can see a list of your Winzy Friends in My Account.

How Come I Cannot Send Invitations To Some Friends In My Address Book?
You cannot send invitations to a friend that has already joined Winzy.

Can I Invite Someone Who Has Already Joined Winzy?
No, you should only invite friends who haven't yet joined Winzy.

How Do I Add People To My Winzy Friends Network?
Just choose one of our available methods to invite friends to Join and use Winzy. Go to the Refer Friends page to invite friends.

How Do I Know If My Friends Won A Prize?
When one of your Winzy Friends wins a prize searching on Winzy, we will send you an email to the email address you provided to let you know that you have won too.
If you're a winner because one of your friends won, you will also see an alert on the Winzy Home Page to let you know that you've won. You can also view and claim your prizes in on the My Prizes section in My Account.

Why should I download Winzy?
The Winzy toolbars make it easier for you to use Winzy and increase your chances of winning - you can access Winzy Search from any web page with the Winzy toolbar. You can also refer friends directly from your favorite Instant Messenger application with just one click! For more information on the Winzy Toolbars, click here.

What am I downloading?
The Winzy download includes the Winzy toolbar for your browser and the Winzy toolbar for your Instant Messenger application.
For more information and help with the Winzy toolbars please click here.
For help with downloading the toolbars, please click here.
Winzy software is free to download and you can always get the latest version here.
Winzy is not spyware. Click here to view Winzy's End User license Agreement.

How do I download Winzy?
To download Winzy to your computer, simply click the download link or visit the download toolbar page for more information.
For help with downloading, please click here.

I Forgot My Password. What Should I Do?
We have forgot your password links on our Sign In pages. If you enter your email address, we will send you an email with the instructions to get a new password.

How Do I Change My Shipping Info?
You can change your shipping information at any time from My Account. You will be able to review and change your shipping information whenever you claim a prize.

How Do I Unsubscribe From Winzy?
You can change your notification settings in My Account. To cancel your account, please send an email to support@winzy.com

Posted by BarracudaRon at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Motel 6 announces Motel 6 Strikes & Bikes Sweepstakes

Motel 6 announces Motel 6 Strikes & Bikes Sweepstakes

5/31/2006

CARROLLTON, Texas - Motel 6 teams up with the Professional Bowlers Association, Orange County Choppers and Strike Ten Entertainment to offer the Motel 6 Strikes & Bikes Sweepstakes. Enter to win a custom OCC bike, valued at more than $60,000, and the chance to bowl for $1 million at an ESPN televised PBA tournament.
Other prizes include OCC gift packs, bowling parties at Strike Ten bowling centers, Elite bowling balls and Dexter bowling shoes. In addition to the sweepstakes, Motel 6 is offering a free game of bowling with Strike Ten buy-one-get-one-free coupons to anyone who stays at its properties May 26 through July 4.
The sweepstakes runs May 26 through Aug. 30.
"As an official sponsor of the PBA, we know first-hand how passionate bowlers are about their sport," said Eric Studer, senior vice president of advertising and promotions for Motel 6. "We created the Motel 6 Strikes & Bikes Sweepstakes to combine the sport of bowling with the pastime of biking and offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to motorcycle and bowling enthusiasts."

Posted by BarracudaRon at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SyFy Portal

Roddenberry.com, SyFy Portal To Celebrate 40th

(June 01 2006) - On Sept. 8, 1966, the NBC network quietly made history with the premiere of “Star Trek,” a big-budget science-fiction drama created by Gene Roddenberry and starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
The episode aired was “The Man Trap,” and while iffy ratings would end up canceling the show after three seasons mere months before man walked on the moon, history was created … a history that is now being celebrated 40 years later.

SyFy Portal is joining forces with Roddenberry’s only son, Eugene W. Roddenberry, to honor 40 years of Star Trek with special coverage and an exciting sweepstakes that would be sure to have Spock respond with, “Fascinating.”

read more

Beginning June 2, SyFy Portal will begin counting down the Top 40 Star Trek episodes of all time. Pulling from more than 700 episodes and five television series of Star Trek produced over four decades, the SyFy Portal staff is sharing their memories of each and every episode as the site counts down from No. 40 to No. 1.

Helping SyFy Portal boldly go through the time warp is Roddenberry.com, one of the largest and most respected Star Trek Memorabilia stores available. Both sites will bring readers and shoppers alike The Roddenberry Countdown Quest, an online contest coinciding with SyFy Portal’s 40th anniversary coverage.

Between June 2 and Sept. 8, when the top Star Trek episode of all time is revealed, Roddenberry.com and SyFy Portal will hide a clue in each story. When a reader clicks on the clue, they’ll be asked a question whose answer is found only at Roddenberry.com. A correct answer than becomes a ticket that qualifies them for one of six bi-weekly drawings for different prizes from the Roddenberry.com merchandise vault.

Each ticket also qualifies them for the grand prize drawing, a set of Klingon Battle Cruiser blueprints from the original “Star Trek” Series signed by actor Michael Pataki, who played Korax in the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles.” Korax, by the way, was the Klingon that started the argument with Scotty on Deep Space Station K-7 that led to the fight in the bar area. That scene also was included in the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” episode “Trials and Tribble-ations.”

It is believed that only 13 of these signed sets of blueprints exist in the known world, with the other dozen available for sale at Roddenberry.com. These items were recently unearthed from the personal collection of the Roddenberry family, and are being made available for the first time through this contest.

Each blueprint set, drawn by Michael McMaster, contains eight sheets measuring 29-by-15 inches, and includes a reproduced signature of approval from the late Gene Roddenberry himself.

“It is an honor to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the most monumental television shows in history with the family whose name is synonymous with it,” said Michael Hinman, owner and news coordinator of SyFy Portal. “Eugene Roddenberry has been inspired by the fans of Star Trek over the years, and I have nothing but the utmost admiration and respect for everything he does. I couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the work of his late father, and everyone else who has had their name associated with Star Trek, by remembering the best of the series this way.”

“One of the great things about Star Trek has always been its ability to transport you into the world of the show,” said Eugene W. Roddenberry. “It wasn’t something to watch. It was something to experience. For its 40th birthday, we could have created an everyday raffle-type promotion, but we wanted to make sure that we carry on the tradition of allowing people to participate rather than just observe. This promotion allows people to enjoy a quasi-treasure hunt, exploring sites, searching out answers and being rewarded with a prize at the end. And we couldn’t have chosen a better partner than SyFy Portal. They are not only respected authorities in the science-fiction realm, but they understand that carrying on the Roddenberry legacy in every way possible, even when it comes to the workings of this online promotion, is essential to our work.”

On top of the grand prize (rules to be announced), a half-dozen bi-weekly prizes will be awarded that will contain The Roddenberry 40th Anniversary Pack. This pack has a T-shirt, pin and patch, which contains the Official Roddenberry 40th Anniversary Logo, specifically created for the Roddenberry family to celebrate four decades of Star Trek and the fans that have kept it alive. This proprietary design honors the Roddenberrys’ dedication to fans everywhere, and won’t be available after the year’s end.

While the more entries received means more chances toward the grand prize, Roddenberry.com and SyFy Portal have an added bonus. Those who submit all 40 answers correctly to the contest won’t have just 40 chances to win. Their ticket amount will DOUBLE to 80 chances. All they have to do is look for the clues within SyFy Portal’s 40th anniversary coverage to qualify.

Throughout the countdown, SyFy Portal will place a Klingon word hidden somewhere in the description of each of the 40 episodes which will serve as a link to a clue or question. Participants will then be asked to find the answer at the Roddenberry.com store. Once they find the answer, they will complete a small form at SyFy Portal, and if they provide the correct answer, will have a chance to win both a bi-weekly prize, as well as the grand prize, which will be awarded after Sept. 8. Players will have a chance to double their chances to win if they answer all the questions and clues correctly. No purchase necessary

Posted by BarracudaRon at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)