April 2007 - Posts - Community Credit News
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April 2007 - Posts

  • New Feature: Point Handicapping

    I have implemented a new feature starting this month.... Handicapping of previous award winners.  The idea is to allow a wider variety of those that contribute to the development community to receive prizes.  It is still a bit experimental at the moment, so I will be opening it for discussion.  In fact, I have started a thread to discuss it here.  The basic concept is that there are many really hardcore contributors to the development community that participate every month.  When I say hardcore, I mean these are folks that live on discussion boards, give numerous presentations each month, write articles, examples, blog very frequently, etc.  They are the Developer Community heroes and champion and are the kind of people that make me think hard about whether I am contributing enough myself(and I do quite a bit).  Many of the hardcore contributors have won a number of times, which accomplishes our goal of rewarding those who contribute.  However, I think that it is better for alot of different people to be rewarded rather than for fewer people to be rewarded multiple times.  It just makes it more fun for many more people. 

    Here is what I have come up with in the initial implementation of the handicapping system, but it will likely change a bit over the next few months.  If a person wins a prize one month, they are handicapped for the next two months.  The higher the prize, the more they are handicapped.  For example, the top 3 prize winners will be handicapped at 95%.  The lower the prize value that they won, the lower the handicap.  If they didn't win anything, then they will not be handicapped at all and have a good chance to win next month.

    This has been something that I have been thinking about for a while, but have finally implemented and I would love to hear everybody's thoughts on it.  Let me know your thoughts in this discussion.

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  • Community Credit Prizes for April 2007

    Note: As always, our prize list can be found on our "Stupid Prizes Page"Check it out to see past prizes and contest winners.

    The items below show the prizes that you can win at Community-Credit this month(April 2007 ). You can have a chance at earning one of these prizes by contributing to the development community this month.  Simply log your contributions (points awarded for close to 100 types) and the geeks with the most points at the end of April 2007 Contest will win one of the prizes shown below. You can also see the past winners and prizes on our Stupid Prize Page.


    But first... a word from our Sponsor: StupidCubicle.com
    This month we are happy to have a brand new sponsor. It is our sister site, StupidCubicle.com . The site only has a few products right now, but they are cool products. Be sure to give them some love.  Drop us an email and let us know what you think.




    Onto this Month's Prizes...
    Grand Prize: R2-D2 Trash Can

    Trash is just not that cool. Not only can it be dirty and odorous but it's simply low-tech and boring. At least that's what we used to think... until we saw this amazing R2-D2 Trashcan and learned to love trash. This stylish trash receptacle is imported from Japan and is an incredibly detailed replica of R2-D2. Step on R2's center "foot" and his dome swings wide to collect your expired TPS reports and leftover wookie dung. In fact here at the ThinkGeek rebel base we've been generating extra waste just for the pleasure of disposing it inside our favorite droid. Everything was going great until we emptied the trash and accidentally discarded some Death Star plans... then the Rebel Massassi Outpost on the fourth moon of Yavin got destroyed and things just went downhill from there.



    1st Prize: Video Watch with OLED Screen

    For a wristwatch to be considered truly geeky it should have one of two things - the ability to play audio and video or some kind of communication functionality (like a built-in cell phone). Well, you can definitely put a big bold check mark in the "yes" column for the Video Watch with OLED Screen. With a 1.5" full color screen this watch displays video and images very nicely with a 128x128 pixel resolution. The OLED screen is crisp and bright and the watch itself is surprisingly well proportioned (not thick or bulky).

    Audio is also accommodated very nicely, with MP3/WMA playback and 6 equalizer modes. A built-in microphone allows recording of notes to self, meetings, conversations or various ramblings for later playback. Battery charges via USB and sports a 7 hour play time (4 hours for video playback). Available with 2GB storage capacity.



    2nd Prize: Space Invader Wall Paper

    Perfect for video game lovers, these decals by Bilk come in a pack of eight assorted colors or plain white. Totally geeky but for some reason they look geek chic on this plain wall with ivory furniture. They'd definitely add some flair to a game room!



    3rd Prize: iKaraoke for iPod

    Even those of us who can't hold a note in a bucket enjoy a sing along. American Idol proves that every week. But now thanks to Griffin's brilliant iKaraoke you can sing along to your favorite tunes without being laughed at by an entire nation. You won't even have to go to a karaoke bar or strut around the bedroom in your pants yelling into a hairbrush.

    iKaraoke is a truly ingenious iPod accessory that sends the music from your iPod to your stereo minus the lead vocals, so you can step up to the mic and sing your favourite tunes without the likes of Beyonce and Bono cramping your style.



    4th Prize: Cubisto

    Cubisto might sound like a superhero from the square dimension but it's actually a revolutionary framing system that allows you to display cherished items and collectables in a unique new way. And that's got to be good news because shelves and sideboards are seriously last century.

    The idea is to sandwich your nick-nacks (no sniggering at the back!) between the two sheets of ultra-stretchy transparent material within each Cubisto block. Simply pull the block apart, pop in your item of choice and snap back together. Hey presto, your favorite 3D object appears to be floating in mid-air. It's a bit like that portal thingy that General Zod gets imprisoned in at the start of Superman. Well that's what we think.



    5th Prize: The Most Amazing Clever Shirt Ever

    Be part of the exclusive club of geeks who own this one-of-a-kind t-shirt with this patented anti-clever cop out! This shirt may be, according to various scientific research councils we paid off, the World's Most Clever Shirt ever. It's quite possibly the World's Most Clever Shirt Ever. EVAR! That's like forever, without the for part.



    6th Prize: Unazukins

    These pocket-sized dolls will help you make decisions by responding to your questions with a nod or shake of the head. A big hit in Japan already, these yes/no dolls make the perfect desktop companions. They cost $9 and are randomly packed, so you never know which one you are going to get



    7th Prize: The 100% Silk 8-bit Tie

    Imagine if the whole world was 8-Bit, just like the video games we grew up on. We found ourselves having to leap from platform to platform, to search for pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom, and to fight scary mutated plants and animals. The music was awesome (and still stuck in our heads) but the coolest part was what we were wearing: a tie. But not just any tie, an 8-Bit tie! Sure the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 are out there with all their super technology, but sometimes it's nice to remember the beginnings of the video game revolution. Viva la 8-Bit!



    8th Prize: The Office Space Kit

    To: All New Employees
    From: Bill Lumbergh
    RE: Welcome to Initech


    Just a few things, mmmKay? First, welcome to the new office location of Initech. The rumors of the fire that burned down Initech v1.0 are just rumors, okay? We moved to this location as the company upsized its profitability and downsized its expenses. So, yeah, here is your "Welcome Kit." It has all you need to excel here at Initech.

    Everyone gets an Initech mug and a little stapler. The stapler should only be used on TPS Reports, mmmKay? And make sure you use the new TPS Report Coversheets for each one. Also, you're getting a motivational sign to hang in your workspace. Yeah. Don't forget the Jump to Conclusions Mat - it's our newest product developed in-house by yours truly. And just in case you don't work out here, you're getting a piece of starter "flair" so you can work at that horrible little restaurant down the street.



    9th Prize: The ScapeGoat

    This dependable creature stands ready to take the blame-or at least the stickpins-for many transgressions that are part of modern life. Following the great success of our Voodoo line, the kit includes a humorous book and a plush scapegoat toy printed with phrases, plus stickpins.



    10th Prize: The Cubes Motivational Speaker

    The Cubes™ Motivational Speaker belongs on your desktop for those stressful moments in the day when you need a pick-up that caffeine can't offer. He'll also energize your other Cubes office personnel. Every few months, the Cubes are forced to listen to Tom, the motivational speaker. Will he boost their morale and make them better employees? Will he make them participate in a role playing exercise?



    11th Prize: "Please wait while image loads" TShirt

    You'd be surprised at how many people will actually stand in front of this shirt and wait. Some may even go grab a cup of coffee and come back. Please, laugh at those people, it's the only way they will learn.



    12th Prize: Cubees Sensitivity Traner

    The Cubes™ Sensitivity Trainer keeps your HR and Legal departments happy. Every few months, the Cubes get a visit from Eve, the sensitivity consultant. Will she succeed in educating them all about harassment and sexism? Will she steal away with Ted into the janitor's closet on lunch break?



    13th Prize: Dr Who Phone Charms

    Have you got a mobile phone? Do you love Doctor Who? If the answer is a double affirmative - and let’s face it, unless you're some kind of icon-hating technophobe, it should be - you need a Doctor Who Phone Charm.

    These clever little charms flash and spin every time a call comes in. But unlike MoPods each transparent dome comes direct from Gallifrey by way of Skaro and contains a Tardis or a Dalek. And if you're a genuine Dr Who freak, it doesn't come much more iconic than that.



    14th Prize: The Classic Wind-Up Robot

    Modeled after classic movie robots from the 1940s and 50s, this 9" wind-up robot walks across the floor a full 17" while sparks churn inside his face mask. The robot is a collectors item carefully crafted from aluminum, and is completely mechanical so there are never any batteries to replace. Built-in wind-up key. Ages 8 and up. Specify Red or Black. 9" H x 4 1/2" W x 3" D. (8 oz.)



    15th Prize: Airsoft Handgun with Laser Sight

    Load up the clip with tiny plastic airsoft pellets, pull back the slide to *** and take aim with the included laser sight. This diminutive Airsoft Handgun is a little smaller than actual size but delivers tons of cubicle plinking fun. Just be sure to wear some kind of eye protection as the airsoft BB's tend to ricochet unexpectedly. This gun is mostly safe, but someone told us that the pellets sting a bit on bare skin... and you certainly wouldn't want to hit anyone in the eye... not that YOU would shoot any of your co-workers.



    16th Prize: Voodoo Charms

    Looking like something that has just escaped from Tim Burton's twisted imagination by way of a needlework class for the insane, each Voodoo Charm has been handcrafted from one continuous length of string. Clever, eh? You can pop them in your pocket, put them on your keyring, attach them to your cell phone or simply keep them on your desk.

    But what's with all this voodoo business? Well, Voodoo Charms won't turn you into a zombie or subliminally instruct you to sacrifice chickens. What they will do, however, is bring you good fortune. Maybe. You see each stringy character has a special 'power' that is said to help the holder. Big maybe.





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  • Community Credit Winners Recognized in April 2007

    Let's see who was recognized with geeky gifts in April 2007 ...
    Note: As always, our prize list with all of the past winners can be found on our "Stupid Prizes Page"

    The folks listed below have truly exceeded in their contributions to the development community and have been rewarded with some really geeky prizes. How did they win? They simply went above and beyond in their contributions to the development community and logged their contributions here and the geeks with the most points at the end of April 2007 Contest won one of the prizes shown below. 


    But first... a word from our Sponsor: StupidCubicle.com
    This month we are happy to have a brand new sponsor. It is our sister site, StupidCubicle.com . The site only has a few products right now, but they are cool products. Be sure to give them some love.  Drop us an email and let us know what you think.


    And now, onto the winners
    Grand Prize Winner:Deepak Kumar Vasudevan with 127,600 Points points won a USB Chameleon



    1st Prize Winner:Michele Locuratolo with 93,475 Points points won a 2.0 GB USB Puppy Drive



    2nd Prize Winner:Marco Minerva with 89,000 Points points won a Clocky



    3rd Prize Winner:Balamurali Balaji with 67,275 Points points won a USB Humping Dog



    4th Prize Winner:Anand Narayanaswamy with 49,000 Points points won a Animated Retro Pong Shirt



    5th Prize Winner:Lou Vega with 45,175 Points points won a Self-Stirring Mug



    6th Prize Winner:Stephan Schmidt with 43,700 Points points won a Palmsize Micro Copter



    7th Prize Winner:Mickey Gousset with 42,500 Points points won a Mario Bros. Animated Phone Strap



    8th Prize Winner:Simone Chiaretta with 40,275 Points points won a Nintendo Hit Block! Super Mario Brothers



    9th Prize Winner:Fabio Carucci with 40,000 Points points won a Wind Up Grannies



    10th Prize Winner:Giuseppe Di Cillo with 32,000 Points points won a Japanese Lucky Poo



    11th Prize Winner:Laurent Duveau with 31,700 Points points won a Slingshot Monkey



    12th Prize Winner:Joydip Kanjilal with 31,000 Points points won a My Life: Based on a True Story



    13th Prize Winner:HimaBindu Vejella with 30,300 Points points won a Desktop Carnivorous Plant Set





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  • I always look forward to April 1st at ThinkGeek - See Why

    Something that I stumbled upon last year, in selecting Community-Credit.com prizes, is the "unusual" items that they feature on April 1st.  Well I won't ruin it for anybody, but let me just recommend that you click on some of the links below and you will see what I mean.  Enjoy...

    The ThinkGeek WiiHelm
    Does playing with your Wii make you tired? All that jumping about and exercise is just not good for your body. Turn gaming back into the sedentary sport it should be with the WiiHelm. Just snap your Wiimote into the WiiHelm. Your head now controls your movements, your feet controls the buttons (with the included foot pedals), and your hands are free to hold your drink and chips.      [ more... ]

    SnūzNLūz - Wifi Donation Alarm Clock
    For years the masses have told you that if you snooze you lose. You never believed them. You held your head high and slept in whenever you wanted to, always without fear of loss. Well, dear friends, the times have changed. The ingenius sages at ThinkGeek Labs(TM) have finally created the Ultimate weapon aginst snoozing - the SnūzNLūz(TM). People who enjoy sleeping in are cowering in fear all across the globe - it's finally true, when you snooze, you lose!      [ more... ]

    Piranhaz - R/C Battle Fish
    Shooting fish with lasers is a fun hobby, but there's not much sport to it. So, we armed some fishies with lasers of their own. Then, we made them remote control. Then, we dumped them in our fish tank and waged some fishy war. Then, we made plastic versions and celebrated our new product with a fish feast. Fish cooked with lasers are yummy, so are these R/C Battle Fish.      [ more... ]

    The Lonely Guy Dream Vacation Digital Photo Frame
    If you have neither the time nor the inclination to make friends and take vacations yourself, let our new photo frame do the work for you! The onboard processor digitally mattes yourself into fun situations, and with the people you dream about. Display the frame prominently to ward away awkward explanations of your nonexistent weekend plans!      [ more... ]
    The ThinkGeek 8-bit Tie
    In the beginning, Mario's clothing wasn't as smooth as it appears today. It was jagged and blocky and perfectly 8-bit. Everything about Mario's clothing was 8-bit: his shoes, his hat, his underwear, his formal attire, everything. And it was beautiful. In celebration of our gaming history (and our beloved childhood), we created the 8-Bit Tie. It is blocky and silk and a clip on (so you can dress up at a moment's notice) and Princess Peach thinks it's sexy.      [ more... ]

    The Most Amazing Clever Shirt Ever
    Get this shirt FREE NOW while supplies last!! It's no joke! For a limited time only, we're giving away what quite possibly may be, according to various scientific research councils, the World's Most Clever Shirt ever. An otherwise unavailable limited run t-shirt is yours free, but not for long! Just spend at least $15 dollars on anything on our site, add this shirt to your cart, and it's yours - GRATIS. Don't be a fool, take advantage of us now! Or the bunny gets it.      [ more... ]

    SurgeStix - Inhalable Caffeine Stix
    We at ThinkGeek have made it our mission to get caffeine into your system in as many ways as are available: eating, drinking, absorption. There is one final way to get caffeine into your body: breathing! You can see why we were so excited when we saw SurgeStix at a trade show in Canada. Though they look like cigarettes, you don't light these Stix. You crack them like glow sticks (to get the caffeine solution flowing) and then take deep drags. Each breath will suck in about 18mg of caffeine, each Stix has about 10 "hits," so you are looking at 180mg of caffeine going straight into your lungs and surging into your bloodstream.      [ more... ]

    Vilcus Plug Dactyloadapter
    The Vilcus Plug Dactyloadapter allows anyone to quickly and easily test the working condition of any wall socket. Simply insert the Vilcus into the socket in question... insert two fingers and the use becomes apparent instantly. Experience the rejuvenating effects of high-voltage electricity for yourself.      [ more... ]

     
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