Free iPods Website...probably the only way I'll ever get one

So, I happened to read this article on Wired about a site called FreeiPods.com. Unlike those fraudulent offers you see on eBay, though, this one appears to be legit...just a fancy version of those "try X and we'll send you a free widget!" offers that have been around through the ages. You go through a trial offer (usually a free and easily-cancelled thing), they send you a free iPod, either a 20 gig version or a 4 gig "miniPod," your choice. (I can't see why anyone would pick the mini, but who am I to say?) If you already have an iPod, they'll give you a $250 iTunes Music Store gift certificate instead.

Offers include things like 45 free days of AoL, a 99 cent trial month of the RealRhapsody music service with 5 free burns, a $20 minimum order from an on-line pet supply store (and I needed to get some more Frontline anyway, soooo...), Columbia House DVD and BMG music clubs, a GM credit card

The catch is that, in addition to participating in the free offer, you have to get five of your friends to sign up for a free trial as well in order to qualify for the iPod. Uh-oh. I'm somewhat hesitant to expect that I can talk even one of my friends into trying something like this, let alone five.

But, what the heck...it's probably the only way I'll ever end up getting one. I went ahead and created a disposable email address on my domain to use for the service (it'll also be an interesting experiment to see if I get any spam from it, since I don't intend to post it anywhere in public).

So if any of you-all would care to try it, and thus act as one of my referrees, just click the link to get started.

(Anyone? Please? :)

The Emergency Contact Info Meme

As per this advisory, I've put some emergency information in a back-dated privacy-locked post at the chronological beginning of my LJ record and placed a note about it in my user info. It seems like a good idea to me—in case there's some kind of emergency where one might be able to help, an LJ administrator would be able to see it but nobody else would.

Take a look at that post, decide whether to do it for yourself, and pass it on.