Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Register to Win

This blog started about four and a half years ago so I am thinking about my fifth birthday party coming up in January next year. I hope it will be something memorable.

One thing I will be doing is having some giveaways as part of my birthday celebrations, and you’ve got to be in to win. I want to show some support to those of you who have been with me for a while, so a lot of the giveaways are not going to be open to the general public who just happen across my blog whilst the giveaway is on. I want you to win the giveaway, not some random shopper who finds my blog via Google search 10 minutes before the giveaway closes. So, how to exclude the 'general public'? Well, you need to register now for the giveaways I’ll be holding in early 2011. I can't stop unregistered entrants on the giveaways, but I can ignore their entry.

So, how do you "register"? The answer is really easy, and many of you are already registered.
  • If you are, or become, a public Follower of this blog (using Google Friend Connect, see the sidebar gadget) then you are registered.
  • If you have a sign in that identifies you when you leave comments on this blog, and you have previously left a comment on this blog, then you are already registered! You don't have to do anything. If you want to double check, then use the Lijit search box in the sidebar. Just search on your comment display name and check it brings you up. If it does, you are registered. (Example, search on ‘adair’ to bring up their comments) Only one trap - if your first comment ever was in the last few weeks then it may not yet have been indexed by Google/Lijit search, but give it a little time and it will be.
  • If you have a sign in but have never left a comment, then leave one here on this post now and you are registered.
  • If you do not have a sign in then you could get one by creating one here at OpenID. These ID’s are effectively anonymous. You can create them without any real world ID so you don’t have to get worried about privacy. Anyone who uses Yahoo, AOL, Blogger, Wordpress, MySpace, Live Journal to name a few already has an OpenID. Then leave a comment here on this post using your nice new OpenID and you are registered.
  • If you do not have a sign in and do not want to get one, then you can email me at the address in my Profile (see About Me in the sidebar) and register. In your email you can just say something like “I’ll be the Anonymous commenter who calls themselves JD-84”.
  • If you are one of that small number of people who have computer trouble commenting on this blog then you can also email me and register. We can work on resolving the problem you have, but if we can’t fix it, then when the giveaways are on, I will enter you into the draw myself.
The point of this "registering" is that I want you to be in to win. I want to ensure the winners (and there are going to be a lot more than one) are people who have been reading my blog for a reasonable length of time.

The giveaways are open to every reader no matter where in the world you are – I will post your winnings to you no matter where you are. So, this is a special reminder to you readers in Asia, who didn’t seem to enter the recent Rapid Pro giveaway. Hmmm, well maybe you all have Rapid Pro's anyway?

People "registered" before the end of August will be eligible for the giveaways.

49 comments:

Nick said...

Excited!

Lexx said...

It seems to me that we'll have a big party, with great gifts too.

I'm a occasional follower of this blog, but now I'll rly get into this. Hopefully I'll win something rly nice.

Informações na Net said...

OMG good locke....

...for me

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday in advance. I've been lurking for a while and really enjoy the site. It's helped me choose pencils and leads.

dwaters

Keith Marquis said...

Thanks Dave and Happy Birthday!
This is going to be a cool party. I usually don't post comments to blogs, but I want to be added to the fun.

Noxonomus said...

I have been enjoying your reviews for some time now and I guess now is as good a time as any to reveal my readership.

Bored_ said...

hello! i've been reading your blog for a while now, i left a comment once like a year ago about squeaky lead, not that I think you remember :p

congrats on reaching the 5 year mark!

Bored_ said...

oh, i posted with my livejournal username, bored-agitated. :p I have so many usernames and accounts I forget which one I use where.

tinium said...

I have always wonder if there are people who enjoy having the smaller things in life that could inspire them daily when using them... and even as every moment working with it.. keep the fun going!

Ethereal Winter Wind said...

Haha, I am the penguin!

Sevenshells777 said...

Hi, I'm just testing if I'm registered

Scott U said...

I am now ready to go!

Andreas AS said...

sounds great! ;p

dzyner said...

Congrats on the 5 year mark ! I have enjoyed your blog as a long time lurker and decided to register today. The promise of giveaways helped in that decision ;)

Razide17 said...

Happy blog birthday.
since I discovered this blog my mechanical pencil collection has expanded expontentially.

Anonymous said...

Thank You for Your blog, Dave! It is very interesting and usefulas well.

Pamberjack said...

Just gimme a rapid pro and I'll be a happy camper!

Anonymous said...

count me in Dave!!!

Keir

Anonymous said...

Alright, I sent you an email if that's alright.

sokuban

Adriano said...

Hello Dave,
Hope this blog lasts for many years still... cheers.

Time Waster said...

That is my problem Dave I have so many mech pencils that I just want to send them to you =)

But that wouldn't solve anything =)

Thinking of giving some to this artist guy who's been unemployed for years.

Pedro de Souza said...

hey Dave! I'm a long time regular reader of your and Germ's blog =D
both pages are awesome and pretty necessary for those who works with art or even are just looking for something cooler than a standart 2B I-bought-this-for-elementary-school's-tomorrow-exam wooden pencil to write... =P
cheers for the 5 years online.. 'dave's mechanical pencils' is one of the main blogs that have been helping me a lot when picking up pencils and burnig my art material budget (mostly in two or three days) at the best way ;)
just registered now because I was looking to do this after creating my blog.. but I'll do it now for the giveaway shows me some good reasons to not to wait any longer =D
hahahahahaha
keep up the great reviews!
from Brazil, Pedro Amorim!

Unknown said...

Dave, thanks for your blog! Keep it up.
-Joe

Kiwi-d said...

Thanks for all the good wishes and compliments...better make sure I'm here in 6 months time for my 5th birthday :-)

A special Hello to those of you who self-describe as "former lurkers" or similar. I'm glad you have come out of the woodwork.

Wonder G said...

Can't wait, been looking at this blog for about 3 months, not exactly sure, but that should be about right, if not 4 months

Anonymous said...

Hi. I've been a constant reader for quite some time. Thanks for all the fish!

Leo

Harry said...

I've lurked for too long!

I would like a scetion on 'Pocket Friendly' pencils though - or a search function, or something. Enough commenting - off to the paper shop.

H

Kiwi-d said...

Hi Harry
Glad you are out in the open :-)
Pocket Friendly - I'll consider it. But what would you define as pocket friendly? Just an ordinary retractable sleeve (some of which still leave a reasonably fine sharpish tip) or more friendly than that - vanishing point, capped tip, fat tip when sleeve retracted, etc?
Also is pocket friendly just the tip, or overall size, i.e. mini pencils only?

Anonymous said...

Dave,

While on the subject of Vanishing Points.

Just picked up a nice Schwan Stabilo Microtom 3365.

Keir

Anonymous said...

Glad I found this blog, live for pencils and collect them like crazy. I'm registered!

Adrian said...

Let's hope I win some cool pencils.

Beams said...

I'm pretty sure I posted a comment before, but for some reason I couldn't find it.

Oh well, I've been reading your blog for quite some time now and I'll let this be my registration. Thanks so much! :)

Anonymous said...

I have a new Open ID

-Arne
:)

John said...

Just discovered this blog after my sumogrip broke, I promptly bought a graph gear 1000. Thanks, Dave

SNSD is LOVE said...

Found this site while looking at some EDC (every day carry) pics, lol. Awesome site.

Lane Riosley said...

Excellent website, I've bought some fine pencils using your reviews! -- Laneiac

Sue George said...

Hello, I've posted anonymously before, I guess it's time to figure out the registration thing.

Kevin said...

Thanks for your help. I am building a small collection for use in map making. Colored lead is a must for drawing maps, and finding good lead for outdoor use is difficult.
Kevin

Ben C said...

Hi! I always seem to find my way to your site at around 2AM and end up spending far too much time reading about exotic mechanical pencils when I should be doing my homework.
What are the giveaways going to be, or is that a secret/surprise?

Kiwi-d said...

Hi Ben
Yes they are secret/surprise, particularly because I haven't yet decided on what some of them will be. I've got ideas, but not finalised yet.

Davide said...

Hi Dave,
greetings from Italy,
Davide

mg said...

Happy Anniversary! The traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is something made of wood, perhaps a Pilot S20?

Gareth said...

Hello, can't remember if I've commented before but just in case

ThirdeYe said...

I'm currently a follower using my Google log-in and I'm posting a comment just to be doubly sure I'm registered :)

kieran c. said...

count me in...
previously posted but not using ID. So here I am all legit (no longer skulking around all anonymous and stuff).
Cheers,
Kieran.
p.s. Happy Birthday...

Stell said...

I'm lurker, but this invite to de-lurk was too good. I'm new to actively collecting old pencils .. but have a stash that I've added to over the years ... starting with my first real job in a Drafting office in the MoW(NZ). I follow using my Google log in .. but this is just to confirm I'm here.
love the pencil reports .. keep 'em coming please

RembrMe said...

Wow I just found your blog here and I love it! Before reading your stuff, my knowledge of pencils extended to whatever jetpens had on their website. When I make my next purchase of pencils I will definitely check back here for recommendations.

Dominic F said...

Thanks for the Pencil P*rn. Keep up the good work. Do you have enough money left over to buy food after feeding your lead addiction?

Kiwi-d said...

Usually, but sometimes my belly rumbles.