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11/13/2008

Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

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Fight cell phone abuseStraight North is excited to announce a blog contest where you can win from $50 to $500 by writing a post about cell phone users … and abusers.

Rules

Topic. The topic is Cell Phone Users and Abusers. What cell phone behavior drives you crazy? What strange cell phone experiences have you had? How are cell phones (or “mobiles”) helping society … or hurting it? These are the topics we’d like to explore. (Please keep your posts G-rated.)

Deadline. All contest posts must be published on or before Friday, December 5.

Submission. Please include a link to this post in your entry. Please leave a comment with a link to your entry on this post as well – it’s the best way to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Prizes. There are EIGHT prizes in all for a total pot of $1000. We will have ONE $500 winner, THREE $100 winners, and FOUR $50 winners. Winners will be selected RANDOMLY on Monday, December 8.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
My client, Dr. Mike O’Malley, has written a wonderful book called Cell Hell – 55 Cell Phone Users You’d Like to Silence. In an effort to promote his book, he’s generously agreed to put up the money for this blog contest. Mike is a wonderful guy and he is passionate about using cell phones for good rather than not-so-good.

If you’re looking for a great Christmas stocking stuffer, gag gift, or coffee table book, Cell Hell is it. You can get a preview on his site – the photos and humorous commentary should give you a chuckle. And if you don’t recognize yourself or someone you know … well, you’re not getting out enough.

Note – Books can be shipped in any quantity within the continental U.S. For bulk shipments outside the U.S., please contact Mike.

JOIN THE CAUSE – STEAL THE BADGE
We should all do our part to encourage cell phone civility! Whether you participate in the contest or not, please steal the Fight Cell Phone Abuse badge for your blog post and sidebar.

Grab the badge here.

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80 Responses to Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

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  1. Joanna Young

    Great competition and fantastic prizes, thanks Brad (and sponsor). Thank you too for giving the humble mobile a mention :-)

    Joanna Youngs last blog post..Inbox or FeedReader: The Results of a Reading Experiment

    Reply
  2. Robert Hruzek

    Oh, man! I’m in! Now the challenge is going to be keepin’ it G rated. I know that may sound strange comin’ from me, but you’ll see what I mean when you read it.

    Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Roamin’ Holiday

    Reply
  3. Robyn McMaster

    Brad, my mind’s starting to hum… I’ve already got some ideas. What a challenge!

    Robyn McMasters last blog post..Happy with Your Work?

    Reply
  4. Mother Earth

    Brad this looks like great fun!! I can’t wait to participate!

    Mother Earths last blog post..Clean Your Oven Without Losing Nose Hairs

    Reply
  5. Jeanne Dininni

    Quite a hot topic, Brad–and certainly some fantastic prizes! May I ask how the winners will be chosen?

    Reply
  6. Brad Shorr

    Jeanne – The selection will be RANDOM. Thanks for asking – I will add the information to the post.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

    Reply
  7. Mary-Lynn

    Too funny, I’m reading this on my mobile now!

    Mary-Lynns last blog post..A Sure-Fire Way to Stop Innovation

    Reply
  8. Ulla Hennig

    Brad,
    great idea – looking forward to participate!

    Ulla Hennigs last blog post..What you See is not Always what you Get

    Reply
  11. Jackie Cameron

    Sounds like fun…got my thinking cap on

    Jackie Camerons last blog post..Great leaders make tough decisions

    Reply
  12. Rick Hamrick

    I’m in, Brad! Certainly a very rich topic to mine, that’s for sure.

    Rick Hamricks last blog post..Sunday, is it? (My Sacred Life, Sunday)

    Reply
  13. Lillie Ammann

    Interesting topic, Brad. I’ll have to do some thinking to see if I can come up something. I’m that rare bird that doesn’t get out much, so I have few encounters of the cell-phone kind.

    Lillie Ammanns last blog post..Guest Post at Straight from Hel: How Things Change

    Reply
  14. Brad Shorr

    WOW! Thanks everyone for stopping by – looks like we will have good participation, even from cell phone near- and non-users. Should be interesting. Thanks all of you for your interest!

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

    Reply
  15. George Ajazi

    i will not be entering the competition (good for everyone else, since i’d probably win) but wanted to say with regard to cell phones, they really have become a blessing and a curse.

    the biggest curse in my eye is the fact that they have generated yet one more monthly bill to the plates of so many people. especially those who can’t afford one more bill.

    and yes, some people have cut out their home land lines in favor of the mobile phone but there are so many that have just added on.

    and for a family of four (for example), there probably is a phone for Mom/Dad/Teenager/Grade Schooler.

    don’t get me wrong, i love technology and use it every day. but i hate how “keeping up with the Joneses” leads to making us all one step poorer.

    excuse my diatribe.

    George Ajazis last blog post..Scrambled Toast

    Reply
  16. Brad Shorr

    Hey George, Feel free to diatribe around here any time. What I’ve noticed runs up certain phone bills is texting. Young ‘uns can really rack up the text messages.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

    Reply
  17. LearningNerd

    Hi Brad, this contest looks great! I unfortunately can’t think of any interesting stories to share on the topic, but I’ll check back to see the submissions. :) Good luck everyone!

    LearningNerds last blog post..Weekly Word: Umami

    Reply
  18. Barbara Rozgonyi

    Brad – started to comment earlier today, but got swept away by a conference call. Just got home from a high school musical. What bugs me about cell phones?
    The way people continue to text or check email no matter what’s going on around them – like the student in front of me tonight. But, it’s not just kids, we had to ask an adult to stop checking email during Phantom of the Opera in a theater downtown. And, I know everyone’s seen someone watching a small screen of their own instead of the movie at one time or another.
    RE: racking up text messages – I once [innocently or foolishly?] turned on auto updates to go to my cell phone for everyone I followed on twitter. After being buzzed and bombarded by hundreds of texts in an hour or so, I had to call my carrier to help me shut them off. Now, we have one plan that covers me and the three teens with unlimited texting for everyone for $30 a month. Thanks to you and your client for firing up this conversation and giving away prizes to boot!
    @wiredprworks on twitter.com

    Barbara Rozgonyis last blog post..Community PR | Dealing with Rejection?

    Reply

  19. Pingback: Cell Phone Users and Abusers Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects

  20. Brad Shorr

    Hi LearningNerd, nice to hear from you! Maybe you’ll have a strange cell experience between now and Dec. 5 … thanks for supporting the cause, submission or not.

    Barbara, Sounds like you have passionate views on the topic – you are not alone! That Twitter auto update program you mentioned must have been a nightmare. It’s not for power users, that’s for sure.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

    Reply
  21. Tumblemoose

    Hey Brad.

    Made it over here after reading your guest post at Confident Writing.

    Wow, I do like a good caper. I’m gonna put me thinkin’ cap on and put something together because I’ve got a story or two to tell.

    Cheers

    George

    Tumblemooses last blog post..BloggerNewbie is in the House!

    Reply
  22. Brad Shorr

    Hi George, Thank you for stopping by. Judging from your blog, your story is bound to be a winner!

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Use the Economic Slump to Retool for Success

    Reply
  23. nadine sellers

    Having read one submission already, i can see that the stakes are high in this talent goading…My friend Mother earth, small cap for humility, is excited over the prospect,; here i write in my humble green, nadine, soon

    Reply

  24. Pingback: Middle Zone Musings » Why I Hate Cell Phones

  25. Andrew

    An interesting topic – and this could be difficult for me to write about since I have only ever witnessed the upmost ettiquette on behalf of cell phones users who engage in lengthy conversations in the office, on public transport and in movie theatres.

    Andrews last blog post..Employee rights and responsibilities part 2 – Fundamental responsibilities of employees

    Reply
  26. Brad Shorr

    Andrew, it’s a little short, but your comment is a great blog post in and of itself. :)

    Nadine, “Talent Goading” is the perfect description for a contest of this nature. Look forward to your post!

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Use the Economic Slump to Retool for Success

    Reply

  27. Pingback: The cell phone that wasn’t turned off « Ulla Hennig’s Weblog

  28. Ulla Hennig

    Hi Brad,
    I just published my contribution to your group writing project. The Url is: http://ullahennig.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/the-cell-phone-that-wasnt-turned-off/
    Hope you enjoy the story!

    Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The cell phone that wasn’t turned off

    Reply
  29. Em Dy

    This is a great topic. Here’s my contribution: http://intentiontotreat.blogspot.com/2008/11/cell-phones-and-timing.html. Thanks for hosting!

    Em Dys last blog post..Cell Phones and Timing

    Reply
  30. Brad Shorr

    Ulla, Your story and photo were marvelous! Thank you.

    Em, You nailed the topic! Thank you for participating and visiting Word Sell. Hope you come back.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..The Chicago Manual of Style – A Must for Writers

    Reply
  31. Ulla

    Brad,
    You know, I come here quite often, but your project has driven me out of my silent-reading-mode!

    Ullas last blog post..The cell phone that wasn’t turned off

    Reply

  32. Pingback: News, Observations, and a Question or Two

  33. Sarah

    Hi, this is the first time I am here and I am looking forward to hang out here more often.

    This is my entry for the contest..

    http://runthroughmyveins.blogspot.com/2008/11/dark-side-of-cell-phone.html

    Thanks..

    Reply
  34. Brad Shorr

    Sarah, Thanks for jumping in! Your post is entertaining and disturbing at the same time … kids just don’t seem to care, do they? Thank you also for visiting Word Sell, and I do hope you come back!

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..News, Observations, and a Question or Two

    Reply
  35. Sarah

    Hi Brad, I guess you are right. This is supposed to be on the light side and kids don’t really care about it. It is just disturbing to see them engaging in such a “cell hell” manners at such a young age, probably the influence from the parents but still thanks for your feedback and I will sure to come back.

    Reply
  37. Mandy

    This is my first time it looked like a fun topic, thanks.

    Reply

  39. Pingback: Hang. Up. Now. : Shreds of Truth

  41. Pingback: Waiting for Goodbye

  42. Brad Shorr

    Hi Mandy, Kate, and Aylad. Thanks for your interest in our little contest! Kate and Aylad, I really enjoyed your posts, though they are a bit unsettling.

    Reply

  43. Pingback: Jackie Cameron - Coaching and Communication » Blog Archive » Why I both love and hate mobile phones

  44. Jackie Cameron

    My post is up – and I was going to send you a link but see it is there already!

    Jackie Camerons last blog post..Why I both love and hate mobile phones

    Reply
  45. Robyn McMaster

    Hi Brad, I just finished posting my entry, titled, Kickstart Cellphone Smarts!

    Robyn McMasters last blog post..Kickstart Cellphone Smarts!

    Reply
  46. Brad Shorr

    Jackie and Robyn, Thank you so much for your contributions! Interestingly you focus on a similar issues. The quality of posts in this contest is shaping up to be quite strong. Must be all these talented writers!!

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..Waiting for Goodbye

    Reply

  47. Pingback: First Issue Blog » Blog Archive » Book Promotion Through Contests: Two Case Studies

  48. Pingback: Mobile Phone Noise: I’m On the Train!!! | Confident Writing

  49. Robyn McMaster

    Joanna’s question in the comments on my blog prompted me to write a second blog which I’d like to enter. It’s titled Driving Under the Influence of Cells.

    Joanna asked in relation to hearing a cell phone ring, “I wonder if it’s maybe also the need for speed and the fear of missing something if we delay the transaction for another time when it’s more convenient.”

    Thanks to both you and Joanna!

    Robyn McMasters last blog post..Driving Under Influence of Cells

    Reply
  50. Brad Shorr

    Robyn, Than you for tackling a topic of serious cell phone abuse. There’s nothing funny about it, but driving while phoning is a really dangerous development. We need to talk about it.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..7 Things I’m Thankful For

    Reply
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