…and the winners are…

February 28, 2010 By

Geek-Speak is two years old today! If you’ve been keeping an eye on the site you’ll have realised I’ve been running a celebration competition. Well, the competition closed this morning, and the winners have been randomly selected (using Random.org) from all the correct entries. Let’s see who won!

  1. Series 1&2 of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica and a SciFi goody bag
    I asked what the colonials call their Cylon adversaries, and the answer was “toasters” or as some entrants put it, “frakking toasters”! 425 people got the answer right but the winner is Darren Hay.
  2. Jason Bradbury’s Dot.Robot and Atomic Swarm novels and a SciFi goody bag
    The question was, “Which science fiction author is most popularly attributed with inventing the “Three Laws of Robotics?” 301 people answered correctly (Isaac Asimov) and the winner of these goodies is Tracey Ryder.
  3. Crush it!, Trust Agents, and a SciFi goody bag
    Gary Vaynerchuk is the author of Crush it!, but also hosts an Internet wine show. I asked what it was called and 266 went with “Wine Library TV”. Well done guys, and the prize winner is Linda Curtis.
  4. Cube clock, SciFi goody bag and Geek-Speak mug
    To enter this one all you had to do was comment with a childhood memory. Some people went for their most enjoyable, some with learning experiences, and some with just something that really stood out in their memories. It’s been fascinating to hear what you all remember! The winner is Elizabeth Burton whose best memory was when she realised the monsters in Doctor Who weren’t real!
    Thanks to Kim & Jason for providing the Cube Clock prize.
  5. Limited edition Formula 1 print and a SciFi goody bag
    Quite a few people said this was the most difficult question, “Which Formula 1 driver has started the most races without winning a single one?” The driver with the most starts and no wins is Andrea de Cesaris (208 starts), with Nick Heidfeld coming in 2nd at 167 starts. 438 people got the answer right, and the winner is Timothy Jones.
    Thanks to Luke Pollard for providing the F1 print.

Well done to all the winners, I’ll be contacting you all today to get your addresses and arrange for delivery of your prizes. Thanks to everyone for entering, and to Pete Holley at SciFi.co.uk for providing the goody bags.

Most of all, thanks for being Geek-Speak readers. Here’s to the next two years!

Crush it!, Trust Agents & a SciFi Goody BagC

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Win a limited edition Formula 1 print & a SciFi goody bag

February 15, 2010 By

I really don’t want to give this prize away… but then what would be the point of having a competition? The final prize in the birthday bash giveaway is a limited edition Formula 1 print by talented artist Luke Pollard, and a SciFi.co.uk goody bag.

Luke’s print depicts Jensen Button in his championship winning Brawn GP car and comes mounted, numbered and signed by Luke. Including the mount it measures 40x30cm, and it looks amazing.

How do I enter?
Just answer the question below. I want to say thanks for being a Geek-Speak reader, so you don’t need to retweet or join my mailing list. Mind, I’d be more than happy if you did choose to do so! :) You can enter no matter where you are in the world.

The competition closes at 00:01 (GMT) on the 28th of February, with winners being chosen and notified later that same day.

How will the winner be chosen?
All the correct entries will be recorded in the order I receive them. When it comes to choosing the winning entry I will be using random.org‘s random number generator to pick a position in the list… and the person at that position wins.

Enough already! What’s the question?

Which Formula 1 driver has started the most races without winning a single one?

This competition is now closed. Find out who won here.

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Win a Cube Clock and SciFi Goody Bag

February 15, 2010 By

This competition is now closed. Find out who won here.

Here’s your chance to win something a bit different, a Cube Clock from Kim & Jason, a SciFi.co.uk goody bag and a 444ml Geek-Speak travel mug.

The cube clock is a great take on the usual alarm clock, mixing it with the stylings of a Rubik’s Cube. More details on what’s in the goody bag can be found here and, of course, you’ll want the mug for that first cup of coffee after your alarm clock goes off :)

How do I enter?
Just post a comment telling us your best childhood memory. It can be funny, a learning experience, or whatever you like.

Please have a quick read of my commenting policy and please bear in mind that only “top level” comments will be counted as entries. You can reply to someone else’s comment (and are encouraged to do so) but replies will not be counted as entries.

Geek-Speak.co.uk travel mugYou can enter no matter where you are in the world. I will send the winner their SciFi goody bag and mug, and the clock will be sent direct from Kim and Jason.

How will the winner be chosen?
I will be using random.org‘s random number generator to pick a position in the list of comments… and the person at that position wins.

The competition closes at 00:01 (GMT) on the 28th of February, and the winner will be chosen and notified later that day.

That’s it, tell us your stories and good luck!

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Birthday Bash – Win Crush it!, Trust Agents & a SciFi Goody Bag

February 15, 2010 By

It’s prize time again, and we have more books and a SciFi.co.uk goody bag to give away. Most of the prizes have a definite science fiction theme, but the books up for grabs this time are a bit different. They’re Crush it! by Gary Vaynerchuk and Trust Agents by Chris Brogan.

Rather than go on about them, I’ll just give you the blurb instead!

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk:

Do you have a hobby that you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you live. In Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the powerof the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.

Trust Agents by Chris Brogan:

In Trust Agents, two social media veterans show you how to tap into the power of social networks to build your brand?s influence, reputation, and, of course, profits. Today?s online influencers are web natives who trade in trust, reputation, and relationships, using social media to accrue the influence that builds up or brings down businesses online.

The book shows how people use online social tools to build networks of influence and how you can use those networks to positively impact your business. Because trust is key to building online reputations, those who traffic in it are “trust agents,” the key people your business needs on its side.

  • Delivers actionable steps and case studies that show how social media can positively impact your business
  • Written by authors with over ten years of online media experience
  • Shows you how to build and wield influence online to benefit your brand
  • Combines high–level theory with practical step–by–step guidance

If you want your business to succeed, don?t sit on the sidelines. Instead, use the Web to build trust with your consumers using Trust Agents.

How do I enter?
Just answer the question below. I want to say thanks for being a Geek-Speak reader, so you don’t need to retweet or join my mailing list. Mind, I’d be more than happy if you did choose to do so! :) You can enter no matter where you are in the world.

How will the winner be chosen?
All the correct entries will be recorded in the order I receive them. When it comes to choosing the winning entry I will be using random.org‘s random number generator to pick a position in the list… and the person at that position wins.

OK, so what’s the question?

As well as being an author, Gary hosts an Internet wine show - what's it called?

This competition is now closed. Find out who won here.

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Birthday Bash: Win Jason Bradbury’s Dot.Robot and Atomic Swarm

February 15, 2010 By

Let’s carry on with the birthday giveaway! This time the prize is two books by gadget geek and children’s author Jason Bradbury, and a SciFi.co.uk goody bag.

Jason has released two novels aimed at children aged 11+ but I have to admit I really enjoyed them as a 31 year old adult! You can read my reviews of them here: Dot.Robot and Atomic Swarm. They’re brilliant geek literature and well worth getting hold of. I’ve already been asked this, so I’ll say it up front now: you’re entering to win new copies of the books, and not just my tatty review copies :)

How do I enter?
Just answer the question below. I want to say thanks for being a Geek-Speak reader, so you don’t need to retweet or join my mailing list. Mind, I’d be more than happy if you did choose to do so! :) You can enter no matter where you are in the world.

How will the winner be chosen?
All the correct entries will be recorded in the order I receive them. When it comes to choosing the winning entry I will be using random.org‘s random number generator to pick a position in the list… and the person at that position wins.

Enough already! What’s the question?

Which science fiction author is most popularly attributed with inventing the "Three Laws of Robotics"?

This competition is now closed. Find out who won here.

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Birthday Bash: Win Battlestar Galactica series 1&2 and a SciFi goody bag

February 15, 2010 By

It’s time to get the birthday bash underway – and the first set of prizes is series’ one and two of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, plus a SciFi.co.uk goody bag.

I thought the new series of Battlestar Galactica was awesome, despite being one of the ones who was up in arms when they said Starbuck was going to be a woman. I got over that quickly and realised the series was just brilliant in its own right!

How do I enter?
Just answer the question below. I just want to say thanks for being a Geek-Speak reader, so you don’t need to retweet or join my mailing list. Mind, I’d be more than happy if you did choose to do so! :) You can enter no matter where you are in the world and I will ensure that you receive the correct format of DVD for your region.

How will the winner be chosen?
All the correct entries will be recorded in the order I receive them. When it comes to choosing the winning entry I will be using random.org‘s random number generator to pick a position in the list… and the person at that position wins.

Enough already! What’s the question?

In the re-imagined series (2003) of Battlestar Galactica, what appliance-like nickname do the colonials give their Cylon adversaries?

This competition is now closed. Find out who won here.

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Today’s the day!

February 15, 2010 By

Just a very short post this morning, because there are another five to come later in the day.

Today’s the day we launch the Geek-Speak birthday giveaway. Posts about the individual prize packages will go online throughout the day, just so that they don’t overwhelm you all at once.

I’m so grateful to the people who have donated prizes for this, and I trust you’ll find something to suit you in the prize list! Comments will be closed on most of the prize posts but contact forms will be provided so that you can enter (handy that, eh?). If there are any problems or questions please feel free to contact me using the main contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

The competition closes at 00:01 (GMT) on the 28th of February, and later that day I will be randomly selecting the winners, notifying them, and posting the results on the site.

All that remains is to say good luck, and thanks for reading!

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Another prize for the Birthday Bash

February 11, 2010 By

Just a quick update to say that we have another contributor for the birthday celebrations. Kim and Jason Kotecki, champions of the fight against Adultitis, have donated a Cube Clock.

There will be five prize packages in total, made up of items from the contributors and myself. The details will go live throughout the day on Monday telling you what each package is made up of and how to win. You might want to add Geek-Speak to your feed reader to make sure you pick up all the prize posts.

The competition will close at 00:01 (GMT) on the 28th of February and winners will be announced later that day.

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Geek-Speak is nearly 2 years old!

February 9, 2010 By

Time flies when you’re having fun, and I find this a bit hard to believe but on the 28th of February Geek-Speak will be two years old. To celebrate I’ll be running a competition for some cool goodies, and I’m massively indebted to the people who’ve donated some of those!

Let me tell you about them:

SciFi Channel (UK)SciFi Channel (UK) – SciFi Channel is a great place to catch up on science fiction and fantasy, including some shows exclusively on SciFi in the UK like the brilliant Warehouse 13 and a new take on The Wizard of Oz with Tin Man. They’re part of the same network as SyFy in the US, who were behind the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica and new Caprica series’.

SciFi.co.uk compliments the great television available, running competitions, games, a lively forum and a series of blogs. I’ll just point out the blogs again, because I’m a new contributor on there :)

A big thanks to Pete Holley, UK Community Manger for the SciFi Channel for donating five SciFi goody bags to the competition. Each bag contains:

  • Hardback notepad (that I’m reluctant to give away because I love a good notepad!)
  • Fridge magnets
  • Inspiration cards
  • 8-Ball keyring

Motorsport in PrintMotorsport in Print – Luke Pollard is a petrolhead with a real talent for art. He recently quit his day job to become a full-time artist covering all manner of motorsport. Have a look around his site, because the images he’s producing are absolutely amazing. If you’re after some general sporting art (i.e. not motorsport) he does that too, and you can check his twitter feed for that here.

Luke has a unique style that I think will become instantly recognisable as more people get hold of his work. He has very generously donated a 40x30cm mounted print of Formula 1 champion Jensen Button in his 2009 Brawn GP car (check it out here).  It comes individually numbered and signed by Luke.

If you think the print looks good on the site let me tell you it looks even better in the flesh! If you’re a motorsport fan you definitely need to explore Motorsport in Print and you’ll be sure to find something that tickles your fancy.

Kim and Jason - Escape AdulthoodKim and Jason – Kim and Jason Kotecki are on a mission to stamp out the terrible disease Adultitis. Symptoms include chronic dullness, mild depression, moderate to extremely high stress levels, a general fear of change, and, in some extreme cases, the inability to smile.

Kim and Jason’s philosophy is simple: enjoy life! Fill it with a delight of the little things, curiosity, passion and playfulness! In other words embrace your childlike side.

I first came across Kim and Jason when they donated a prize to Darren “Problogger” Rowse’s blog birthday celebrations and they’ve generously added a Cube Clock to the prize fund for Geek-Speak. The clock’s sold out on their site but you can see it on Amazon.com in the meantime.

I’ll be adding to the prize fund too, but this is just to say a massive thanks to the guys above! We love ya’!

Competition details will go live within the next few days, so watch this space.

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