simplehuman's black-cyber fri-monday "game" is not left to chance

Dear simplehuman,

I love your products. In fact, every room in my apartment has at least one item of yours in it except our living room. However, you don't get marketing. Every email you send me is basically a "buy our product" email--no special deals that make me even want to consider leaving my email and browsing the site.

But today you sent me an email worth checking out: a game where I can win a simplehuman product worth up to $200. So, I clicked the link.

At the page, I'm asked to fill in my email address and you wish me good luck as I watch a grid light up with all the different prizes. Some of which are indeed up to $200. The grid flashes the same way each time. It cycles through all the products, then does a one-trick pony move where it highlights the middle, bottom, the middle right, and finally the far middle right square, revealing that I've won an odor absorbing kit for $5.99, one of your cheapest products.

This seemed strange to me, so I tried to play the game again, and got the same exact sequence ending in the same exact prize. So then I tried clearing my cookies. Same thing. Tried a different browser. Same thing. Wife tried. Same thing. I finally asked someone on twitter, who tweeted about the awesome "game" (a tweet which was retweeted by you) and she, too, got the same thing: a $5.99 odor absorbing kit.

@mpaul I just played the simplehuman game and got the odor absorbing kit as well.

--@MintCool 

Seems that the cool "deal" is nothing more than a free odor absorbing kit which I can only get if I add something else to my shopping cart. Translation: a lame way to spur holiday sales. 

To the simplehuman marketing director and all other marketing directors who live in the internet age: please offer the public some serious deals if you want to spur sales. Be genuine, and honest. Give the consumer a fair shake, not some rigged deal where they're forced to buy something in order to get $5.99 taken off their order for something they probably never wanted in the first place.

I'm happy to tell people about you guys, but when you rig the game like this, nobody wins.

Your customer,

Mike

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What do you see? I see a jumping gingerbread man.

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Well, we finally have a kitchen table that seats more than 2. Had to corner it to make it work, though...

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A lesson in marketing: @OldSpice is doin it right. The space around the Old Spice bottles means "sold out"

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Wow, first http://squareup.com and now this! Pay someone via SMS (text message)

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Pay, Pal A Mobile App That Allows You To Pay (And Be Paid) By Text Message Money, they say, makes world go around.  But cash can be elusive.   For those moments when you’re light on paper, there’s Venmo, a mobile service that allows you to charge items or pay your friends securely via SMS.   Start by setting up a free account and adding your cell phone number (Venmo requires that you link your account with Facebook, for security purposes).   From there, you can either top off your account with funds from a bank account or link a credit card for payments (and received funds). Venmo allows you to select “trusted friends” with verified identities that will link to your account.   This means the next time you’re out on the town and owe some money, simply text VENMO “pay mike 50 for drinks,” and the funds will be transferred to the specified account. You can also charge and invite people to the service over SMS.   The service is completely free, and all transactions can be cancelled within 24 hours, if need be.   At this rate your ATM card is going to start feeling very unloved.  Visit Venmo Sign up for Netted Send to a friend  Advertisement Follow us on Twitter Join our Facebook Page

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How to hang pots and pans from a kitchen cart in 3 easy steps

After looking a while for the best approach to this challenge and coming up empty, I decided to document my own attempt. Besides, then I could actually take credit for my handiwork, which was actually quite minimal.

So here's what I did to hang the pots and pans from my kitchen cart.

Step 1: You'll need to find a cart that's got an overhanging edge. I purchased a cart from the VARDE collection at IKEA. Say what you will about IKEA, but the nice thing about this cart is that it provides rails with sliding S hooks -- so half my job was already done for me.

Step 2: Position the (cup hooks for) the outside pots. Again, my setup was pretty simple, but it did require one extra cup hook for the side that didn't have a rail/S hook combo. I chose to put the pots on the outside because this setup offers the most space for the pots to stretch out and enjoy themselves; it'd be too cramped to try to fit them all on the inside, and we don't want any fights.

So here are the outside pots. Two in the back, one on the left side...

 ...and one on the right, complete with my own cup hook. The one on the right is actually a deep dish frying pan, but just looked better if I hung it there. So, I did.

 

Positioning them was little more than taking a cup hook, putting a pot/pan on it, and just holding it somewhere to see if it fit. Can't really measure this kind of thing. You just have to play and feel out where you've got room and where you don't. It quickly becomes apparent what you can and can't do.

Once you think you've found the sweet spot for a pot or pan, just put a hook on it, and place it in the area once more. This time, press up on the end of that cup hook screw to make a little dent in the bottom of the table top. This is where you'll drill your 3/16" pilot hole for a standard 1 1/4" cup hook.

 

If your cup hooks are different size, the rule of thumb is to use a drill bit that's just slightly smaller than the shaft of the cup hook's screw. Just imagine you want a drill bit that's the same diameter as the shaft of the screw without the threads hanging off the shaft.

How deep do you drill the hole? I'd just take a piece of tape and mark a spot on the drill bit where you do NOT want to drill past. Take care to ensure that the depth you're drilling at does not go through the table. Never seen a cart with a table top that thin, but it always pays off to be extra careful.

With the pilot hole drilled, all you have to do is hand-tighten the cup hook. If needed, you can use pliers. Just point them vertically at the hook (the same direction the pots hang) and twist to finish off and get the hook to point the direction of your choosing.

Once you get those outer pots and pans situated, you'll likely have a few left over. So the next step is to hang them.

This is the setup that we've been using for quite some time now, and I've always thought that not only was it a waste of all that interior space, but it was also scuffing up our frying pans. And that's no good.

 

 ...another view from the side of the old setup. Not that pretty.

 

Step 3: Hang dem pans! The frying pan set we own actually has some nice curb appeal when they're all together in a row. I chose to line them up diagonally for the greatest visual effect. Doesn't seem to interfere with getting them in and out, which is a plus.

You begin by taking the largest frying pan and seeing just how tight you can fit it into a corner without it clanking up against the other pots/pans when you put it in. In this case, I chose the middle-left corner. From there, you just do the same thing with the remaining pans--stick a pan in there, eyeball it, and give it your best shot to make it look nice and neat. No rulers here, just eyeballs and a steady hand.

 

 

And there you have it! How to hang pots and pans from a kitchen cart in 3 easy steps.

 

The finished product. The additional S hooks on the rails provide space to hang trivets, mits, towels, or whatever else you want.

Questions? Comments? Show the world your awesome hanging pots and pans setup so we can inspire others!

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Just inherited two of grandpa's guns... never been a gun guy, but am interested in shooting these. Beautiful craftsmanship.

Marlin 15YN

 

Winchester 62A

 

Rifle Case 1

 

Rifle Case 2

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Our new dining table has been installed. Now we just need chairs. :)

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Hotel room. Paid $55/night. Warning: sudden jaw droppage may occur.

All I can say is... "pimp status". Right on the beach/harbor. Sweet
dreams.

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Storm clouds slowly creeping my way just beyond the San Gabriel mountains...

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Oh to be a cat...

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Great article about weight loss by Melanie Polk: don't count calories; make your calories count.

Make your calories count By Melanie Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D., F.A.D.A. Fad diets come and go. But, the pounds they send packing often come back — sometimes with a few of their buddies. There's a reason for this. It's difficult to stick with an eating plan that's too strict or limits variety. After days of nothing but rice cakes and lemon water, you're bound to crave a bacon double cheeseburger or a gooey hot fudge sundae. And, that's the kind of hunger attack that can make you give up on all your good intentions. If this sounds familiar, here's some diet information you can finally sink your teeth into: Instead of counting your calories, make your calories count. For many people, feeling deprived and hungry is what dooms a diet. But, in general, it's the amount or type of food you eat — not the number of calories — that makes you feel full. The power of produce All foods can have a place on your plate. But, certain nutritious foods fill you up and may have fewer calories, naturally. At the same time, you'll give your body the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Foods with plenty of water and fiber fit the bill. You know them from the produce aisle: fruits and vegetables. Both supply vitamins, minerals and other good-for-you substances. And, both are typically low in calories. Well, that's if fruit isn't on top of ice cream, and veggies aren't breaded, fried, creamed or covered in butter. Subtract before adding One word of caution: You don't want to just add more fruits and veggies to what you're eating already. The key is to substitute them for higher-calorie foods. At breakfast: Put a little less cereal in your bowl. Make room for a sliced banana or a handful of blueberries. At lunch: Hold the cheese and part of the meat from your sandwich. Add lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, onion or green pepper instead. At snack time: Replace chips from the vending machine with a cut-up apple smeared with a little peanut butter. At dinner: Cut back on portions of meat. Instead, make veggies the main event. Enjoy a hearty bean soup. Or, fix a quick veggie stir-fry with a few strips of chicken breast and served over brown rice. A plan for life As you add more fruits and vegetables to your meals, don't think of it as a diet. Consider it a new way of life — one you'll likely prefer given time. And, remember: Produce alone doesn't provide all the nutrients you need. So, add balance with sensible portions of whole grains, lean meats, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, nuts and beans. Combine this way of eating with regular exercise,* and you can be on your way to losing a healthful 1 to 2 pounds a week. Best of all, you'll be doing it with eating habits that aren't hard to swallow. And, exercise is good for your overall health, too. *For safety's sake, talk with your doctor before significantly increasing your level of physical activity. Melanie Polk is a registered dietitian who specializes in educating consumers with simple strategies for better health. She has more than 20 years of experience in nutrition and cancer prevention, nutrition for seniors, and is a Fellow of the American Dietetic Association. She has been a nutrition consultant with OptumHealth for more than a decade.

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The Price Is Right: Get notified when the price of your favorite item drops

From: "Netted by the Webbys" <netted@netted.net>
Date: September 10, 2010 4:35:28 AM PDT
Subject: Netted | The Price Is Right
Reply-To: "Netted by the Webbys" <netted@netted.net>

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Down Market Find The Lowest Possible Prices On The Items You Want Prices.  They go up and they go down.  This is what makes a market.  The goal, of course, is to catch them on the "down" part of their movement.   Short of running the Federal Reserve the best way to do this is with Price Protectr, a free service that tracks the prices of items you’re thinking about buying, ensuring you pay the lowest price.   The service makes it simple to watch prices, keep track of purchases, and even get rebates on top of price drops.   To use it you simply paste the product information page for a particular item into a box at the Price Protectr site (this is usually the page where you’d add the item to your shopping cart).  Then you add your email.   When the price drops they’ll email you.  Already bought something now available at a lower price?  You can use the service to get the difference from any of their 160 supported stores.   For serious shoppers there’s the Price Protectr Toolbar, which offers one-click checking, deal alerts and more. Alan Greenspan could have used this service...  Visit Price Protectr Tweet this Share on Facebook Sign up for Netted Send to a friend  Advertisement Follow us on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Netted by the Webbys, 19 West 21st Street, Suite 1004, New York, NY 10010

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