Laws of …

What does this have to do with contests?  NOTHING!  Be sure to add YOUR laws to the list. 

LAWS OF THE NATURAL UNIVERSE

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease,
your nose will begin to itch or you’ll have to pee.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least
accessible corner.

Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly
proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone: If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy
signal.

Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were
in will start to move faster than the one you are in now (works every
time).

Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone
rings.

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know
increases when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.

Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t
work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional
to the reach.

Law of the Theatre: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest
from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss
will ask you to do something, which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy’s Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room,
they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing
face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and
cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don’t know what you
are talking about.

Brown’s Law: If the shoe fits, it’s ugly.

Wilson ’s Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they
will stop making it.

Here’s MY addition …

Murphy’s Law of the Movie Theater:
If you are sitting in a perfectly empty theatre, two bonehead, noisy teenagers will come and sit DIRECTLY in front of you.
Enjoy your encounter with “the laws”

Melanie

Written by guru on August 31st, 2006 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on General.

Africana Homestead Poetry & Short Story Contests

Africana Homestead Poetry and Short Story Contests 

This is the third year of contest which focuses on  short stories and poems highlighting the black experience in the US. Winners receive cash award, engraved award, and 3 copies of anthology. Honorable mention recipients also published.

I quite like these two contests … not only for the unique focus but because there are childrens and youth categories.  Many contests are open to “all ages”  but that means someone who is 10 years old is competing against someone who is 30.

Poetry Contest 2006
The entry fee is $5.00 and the DEADLINE is October 31, 2006

Written by guru on August 30th, 2006 with no comments.
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Treasured Recipes Contest

Oh WOW … this is a great recipe contest with huge prizes and loads of opportunity to win. 

BIG prizes!   The Grand Prize Winner gets a $10,000 pot.  Five finalist will get a trip to the cook-off in San Francisco and a set of Hamilton Beach ecletrics small appliances.

If you’ve got a recipe that tastes delicious and expresses your family heritage or special memory, now is the time to try turning that treasured dish into cash.  The Chefs.com Treasured Recipes Contest gives you the perfect avenue to share your special recipe remembrances and possibly win our $10,000 grand prize. 
This recipe contest is unique, because your well-crafted story about the significance of each recipe is as important as the recipe itself in determining our winners.   1) the story as it relates to family, culture, and celebration, and 2) culinary appeal of the recipe.   

From all of the entries, Chefs.com judges will select the 100 semi-finalists, who will have their recipes posted on www.treasuredrecipes.chefs.com. From November 15, 2006 to January 27, 2007 Chefs.com members will vote on their favorites from the 100 semi-finalists. The 5 finalists from the voting results will be flown to San Francisco, California, for a cook-off to determine the grand prize winner. All 5 finalists win a set of Hamilton Beach Eclectricsâ„¢ All-Metal Appliances, including a toaster, stand mixer, coffee maker, drink mixer, and blender (approximate retail value $500).

DEADLINE: November 8, 2006
ELIGIBILITY: US citizen

http://treasuredrecipes.chefs.com

Let us have the recipe if you win!!

Melanie

Written by guru on August 29th, 2006 with no comments.
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Limerick Contest

When I was a kid I thought that limericks were “dirty jokes.”  It took a few years for me to find out that they were very witty observations of life and can cover just about any topic you can name.

Richard Harrison of the Limerick Contest fame … sent me a pile of information on the monthly contest. 

There is a HUGE entry fee of $1.00 … yes as in a BUCK or a LOONIE. Of course if you don’t live in either of those countries, you’ll have to let paypal convert it for you.

I won’t tell you the cash prize amounts … because they are nothing compared to the notariety you are sure to win.

The subject for this months contest is SPORTS – any sport, team, sports figure or witty observation a writer can fit into five lines may win cash or a special merit certificate. The deadline to submit is August 30,2006.   Better HURRY!

Here’s a sample limerick:

In sports the hot topic is doping.
Big names in the games are just hoping
They’ll never be asked,
Found out or unmasked,
Till then they are coping or moping.

The subject for September’s contest has already been announced. It is FAMILY - children, parents, crazy relatives, kith and kin of every kind. The deadline is September 31, 2006.

Go to the LIMERICK CONTEST

Find out all about HOW TO WRITE a limerick

Melanie

There was a young woman from Perth …

Written by guru on August 28th, 2006 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on Writing Contests and Anything Goes.

Wearable Art Contest

Win a $6,000.00 Viking Designer I embroidery sewing machine (1st prize), a $500.00 gift certificate from Nancy’s Notions (2nd prize)  or $300.00 in cash (3rd prize).

Country Woman is looking for creative crafters who make one-of-a-kind wearable art garments.

This contest is right up my alley becasue I LOVE to take a simple store bought garment and turn it into a piece of art. Simple black sweaters or T-shirts become one of those $1000+ designer outfits with a bit of work and creativity.

If you can create a unique wearable items for babies, kids or adults this is the contest for you. Pretty well anything goes from sweaters, shirts, skirts, dresses, jackets, pants, vests and jeans to scarves, slippers, socks, mittens, caps/hats, gloves, handbags, ponchos and capes.   You can use any technique you wish to embellish or decorate clothing, such as beading, embroidery, cross-stitching, fabric painting, knitting, crocheting, quilting or applique.

Winners are chosen based on adherence to good design principles, uniqueness and creativity, and quality of workmanship. In addition, the project must be able to be duplicated by other crafters!

Here’s the catch … you have to send in your entry.  No photos or sketches … the REAL thing. If you want your stuff back, you need to send a cheque to cover the shipping costs.

The rules are vague about elegibility.  It appears to be International and any age … but the entry form has state/province listed … so that would “imply” North America only entries. If you are from another country and would like to enter, be sure to clarify this BEFORE you send your precious creation.

DEADLINE: October 1, 2006

Wow … I can’t wait to see YOUR winning entry. I’ll take your photos, no need to send the real thing.

GO TO THE WEARABLE ART CONTEST

Melanie

Contest Guru Recommends:

Dressed by the Best: Wearable Art Projects by 10 Well-Known Designers

Written by guru on August 27th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Anything Goes.

Does Anyone Have ANY IDEA?

At the bottom of the posts  (individual display pages) there is this:

I know I’m displaying my complete ignorance out in public for everyone to witness. Here’s the deal, I’m working with a new wordpress template and it has all these nifty things built in. Problem is I haven’t got the slightest idea what they are.

Can anyone tell me what to do with them, because I am SURE if you click on them NOTHING will happen.  OH and while you are telling me what I need to do with them, can you tell me why I need to do it? 

Oh second thought I really haven’t clicked on the links, cause I’m afraid something might blow up.

Sheesh.  TOO much to learn.

Melanie
The CONTEST guru … not the BLOGGING Guru (yet … but I’ll probably get there someday).

Written by guru on August 26th, 2006 with no comments.
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YOU could become the Next Big Writer

TheNextBigWriter.com is a rapidly growing and very supportive writers community. You can post your work for feedback, give feedback to other writers and maybe even win some of their contests.

Currently there are TWO short story contests (prizes of $30 each) and TWO poetry contests (prizes of $20 each)  and the BIG novel contest with a whopping big prize of $5000!   And yes … online publication for all the winners.

Writers and reviews vote and decide who has the winning entry.

YEP … there is a fee, but there are very few writing contests that don’t have a fee these days.  You additionally get the benefits of membership to a very nice and friendly community.  The fees are either a $40 yearly fee or a $3.95 monthly fee. Month to month members may cancel at any time.   Join the community by clicking here.

The Star Reviewer program is very exciting because top rated members get their work reviewed by some of the top writers in the country.  Past reviewers have included:

Highly Decorated Poet Maria Ganado

Pulitzer nominated writer Terri Brown-Davidson

The current Star Reviewer is Paul Bagdon, who has published 30 novels and is a writing instructor with Writers Digest.

And … if you haven’t heard enough … just check out the “Members on the Move” section … a brag list of members who are getting their stuff published!

Check out and join … The Next Big Writer

Melanie

Written by guru on August 26th, 2006 with no comments.
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Volunteers?

I am looking for several volunteers to help out with the blog. If you have a special interest area … writing … poetry … photography … cooking … fr.ee stuff … and would like to make posts in the blog once a week or so, let me know. I’ll be asking volunteers to write a few sample posts and then I’ll have to choose and create permissions for posting.

If you want to be a volunteer blogger, please enter a comment letting me know what area of contesting you are interested in.  Be sure to put your correct email address so I can get back to you. Your email address will NOT show up on the blog.

Looking forward to talking to you!

Melanie Rockett
THE contest GURU!

Written by guru on August 26th, 2006 with 8 comments.
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Oil of Olay Sample

Oil of Olay is one of my favorite skin creams.  I have sent for their samples before and they normally send something big enough to try for 2 to 4 days.

They have developed a new line.

 Introducing Olay Definity - The next breakthrough in Olay anti-aging skincare that goes beyond lines and wrinkles to help reduce the appearance of discolourations. It penetrates up to 10 surface layers deep and helps reverse the appearance of past damage coming from beneath for a look that’s highly defined - visibly smooth, luminous.

 Smooth and luminous is what I want, so I just sent for the 2 ml sample.  Simple one page questionnaire.

CANADA ONLY.    I’ll look for a similar US offer  or can anyone supply a URL?

http://www.olayoffers.ca/definity/form.php

Melanie

Written by guru on August 26th, 2006 with no comments.
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Be Happy & Healthy Cooking Contest

The Be Happy & Healthy® Cooking Contest is coming to an end on August 31, 2006.  They have been giving away monthly prizes for a year and this is your last chance to enter for the $1000 grand prize. There are also four Category Prizes for $200 in cash.

YOu can enter in 5 categories: Beverages, Salads, Side Dishes, Entrees and Desserts.  US only 18+

http://www.fruitfull.com/Contest!Contest!Contest!.htm

Good luck!

Melanie

Written by guru on August 26th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Cooking Contests.