Friday
Aug142009
The Great Experiment Rules & Regulations
Okay. Here we go. I'll keep comments open so we can constantly modify the rules if y'all think something isn't working.
TOPIC FOR SEPTEMBER: Coming Soon!
Here's how it will work:
1. ANYONE can enter. All you need is $5 and a place on the internet to type your entry that I can link to. Doesn't have to be a standard blog. Can be a Myspace blog, a website... just a place I can link to so folks can read the blog and judge. Don't be shy. Just enter already and have some fun with it. Tell your friends. Grab a button on the side of the blog and do it! Blogspot is free, just start a blog already and come play with us! Would be a great time to start a blog and make friends and earn readers right away. A special note: if you entered the contest, make it as easy as possible for readers to leave a comment. All this sign here, do this here, turn a cartwheel there and retype this here is a pain in the ass.
2. To enter you need a PayPal account. This is as easy as signing up for Facebook. They just need your name, email etc. PayPal is a safe way to pay for things online. If you don't already have an account and you've ever bought anything online, you should. You can read about it here.
3. Hit the donate button over there on the left and send $5. You can enter a comment when you donate saying "entry fee" or "just donating". PayPal sends me an email telling me you've donated. I'll send you an email confirming you're in the contest (assuming you entered and didn't just donate) If you don't get an email from me within two days of your donation, email me at monicabielanko at yahoo dot com!
4. You'll have until the last week of the month to write your entry blog then send the link to me. I'll ask for links so keep an eye on the blog or you may miss the call. I'll post up the links to your entry and everyone can vote via comments on this site. ANYONE can vote but this blog shows me each IP address next to the comment. Only one vote per IP address. If you vote on your home computer your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever will have to use a work computer. Double IP votes will be deleted and I will block that IP address from accessing the blog. You don't have to use your name when you vote. If you want to type in "Anonymous" and vote for yourself, that's fine. Just remember, you can't vote twice from the same computer.
5. If anyone is rude about anyone else I'll block that IP address from accessing this blog. Period. I'm not putting up with that shit here. You can log onto another computer to harass and I'll block that IP address. Eventually you'll run out of computers. Also? You're an asshole.
6. On the last day of the month I'll count up the comment votes and put the top 5 blogs in a poll. 24 hours of voting later and we'll have our winner. Winner takes all, no questions asked. The winner has to wait at one month before being eligible to enter again.
7. You can donate to the cause and not enter. Please do! That is encouraged! If you donate just don't send me an email telling me you're entering and I'll assume you just wanted to contribute for the fun of it without playing.
Suggestions, changes, comments on how we do this are encouraged. I'm certain we will have to fine-tune the process as we go.
PAST WINNERS
August: Guilty Pleasures - Winner of $180 is Crummy Mummy (who drinks)
TOPIC FOR SEPTEMBER: Coming Soon!
Here's how it will work:
1. ANYONE can enter. All you need is $5 and a place on the internet to type your entry that I can link to. Doesn't have to be a standard blog. Can be a Myspace blog, a website... just a place I can link to so folks can read the blog and judge. Don't be shy. Just enter already and have some fun with it. Tell your friends. Grab a button on the side of the blog and do it! Blogspot is free, just start a blog already and come play with us! Would be a great time to start a blog and make friends and earn readers right away. A special note: if you entered the contest, make it as easy as possible for readers to leave a comment. All this sign here, do this here, turn a cartwheel there and retype this here is a pain in the ass.
2. To enter you need a PayPal account. This is as easy as signing up for Facebook. They just need your name, email etc. PayPal is a safe way to pay for things online. If you don't already have an account and you've ever bought anything online, you should. You can read about it here.
3. Hit the donate button over there on the left and send $5. You can enter a comment when you donate saying "entry fee" or "just donating". PayPal sends me an email telling me you've donated. I'll send you an email confirming you're in the contest (assuming you entered and didn't just donate) If you don't get an email from me within two days of your donation, email me at monicabielanko at yahoo dot com!
4. You'll have until the last week of the month to write your entry blog then send the link to me. I'll ask for links so keep an eye on the blog or you may miss the call. I'll post up the links to your entry and everyone can vote via comments on this site. ANYONE can vote but this blog shows me each IP address next to the comment. Only one vote per IP address. If you vote on your home computer your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever will have to use a work computer. Double IP votes will be deleted and I will block that IP address from accessing the blog. You don't have to use your name when you vote. If you want to type in "Anonymous" and vote for yourself, that's fine. Just remember, you can't vote twice from the same computer.
5. If anyone is rude about anyone else I'll block that IP address from accessing this blog. Period. I'm not putting up with that shit here. You can log onto another computer to harass and I'll block that IP address. Eventually you'll run out of computers. Also? You're an asshole.
6. On the last day of the month I'll count up the comment votes and put the top 5 blogs in a poll. 24 hours of voting later and we'll have our winner. Winner takes all, no questions asked. The winner has to wait at one month before being eligible to enter again.
7. You can donate to the cause and not enter. Please do! That is encouraged! If you donate just don't send me an email telling me you're entering and I'll assume you just wanted to contribute for the fun of it without playing.
Suggestions, changes, comments on how we do this are encouraged. I'm certain we will have to fine-tune the process as we go.
PAST WINNERS
August: Guilty Pleasures - Winner of $180 is Crummy Mummy (who drinks)
Aug 14, 2009
Reader Comments (19)
SWEET! Count me in!
Fantastic!
http://www.myspace.com/l.and.h
Count me in!
I'm out for this month due to having two lazy months of work, and prioritizing food at the moment! I'll be in next month for sure though, and am looking forwards to reading some good stuff from everyone else in the next few weeks!
Monica - apologies again - christ am I the only Fri night drinker of the bunch? I work on a soap opera here in blighty - have you guys heard of EastEnders? Probably not... Well, it causes you to need to pop open a fine red or two I tell ya... Anyway - I just wanted to say, no matter what - you have a great idea, you have great spirit and you have all of us rooting. You won't fail. I'm gonna donate each month no matter what. I just believe in something good coming out of something - and also - we may start small but this is gonna snowball.
I wish you all lived in London and I could buy you a beer. Ok - I'm off to sleep.
If I can pull my shit together and write something before the 25th - I'm in! Otherwise, definitely next month. Can't wait to read the entries! I love the idea and excited for the outcome!
Monica, my paypal is not working!! I am just wondering if there is any other way I can pay you??
Kylie, I'm not really sure. I don't want anyone to send me money directly. But I'll go ahead and consider you entered and we'll figure out the money thing later!
I donated...but I don't think I can write anything this time around. In fact, as I have said before...I am a HORRIBLE writer. No Talent at all really. I can't even figure out how to get "The Great Experiment" button on my blog. I am just sad...
I got your donation, that's very nice! But you should enter ! What kind of blog do you have? You just copy the HTML code beneath the button and paste into a HTML widget section of your blog... the same way you'd past a picture or whatever...
Monica, how could you have comments off for your absolutely brilliant latest post, 'Shit Happens'. (you may be pleasantly surprised to find out just how many people 'been there, done that').
You truly are an exceptionally gifted writer.
And it has to be the title of next month's blog competition, doesn't it?
Hey Monica, I am trying to get my Paypal up and running, but if you think of something else, let me know:) Here is the link to my entry because I am not sure where you wanted us to submit them. Not anything close to your writing, but I like to write, no matter how terrible it might be:)
http://schraderfamilystories.blogspot.com/2009/08/guilty-pleasures.html
Thanks for the link Kylie. Folks can just email me the links to their entry posts.. They have until August 25th.. Then I'll post them up and we can vote!
Holy christ! I think I shit myself reading "shit happens". I know it's not cool to comment about that post here, but couldn't let that one go! Totally losing my mind over here....so.damn.funny. Soooo been there done that!
Crummy Mummy
Crummy Mummy.
Crummy Mummy
Sorry, posted a Crummy Mummy thingy in thr wrong place doh!
Crummy mummy - funny reading....the woman sounds like a neurotic insecure OCD freak, but shes funny
I would like to vote for Kylie