The season of giving is upon us (at least that's what the fully-decked out Christmas tree displays at Target seem to be telling me).

I'm working on a video montage for a contest to get some free glasses to distribute to those in need -- and to help spread the word that no one needs to spend hundreds on eyeglasses. If you've gotten glasses from 39DollarGlasses and would like to help, please forward your photos to me at 39DollarGlassesVideo@webloggist.com.

If you're Flickr-literate, you can add them to the "GlassyEyes" Flickr group, forward me the link, and kill two birds with one stone.

Creativity (and QUANTITY) is appreciated!

If you're lucky, you might even get to hear a bit of my beginner guitar stylings -- gotta figure out a way to write-off some of that amp before the end of the year. ;-)

Thanks all.

One of my sons was home from school today and got to pull the winner of the free pair of glasses (up to $100!) from 39DollarGlasses out of the snowboarding helmet (it was the only hat I could find).

Congratulations Bill!

Many thanks to Beth, Larry and Melissa for sharing with us. I really appreciate it.

Please keep them coming. Everyone who submits will be eligible for future contests (including those who didn't win today).

Thanks again to our friends at 39DollarGlasses for helping out with the relaunch!

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I got four wonderful submissions. I'm still trying to figure out a fun way to choose the winner. It's going to involve one of my kids or our cat choosing the person to receive the $100 Glasses Prize from 39DollarGlasses!

Check back later this evening or tomorrow for details!

Keep submitting your stories and pictures and I'll keep adding them to the site!

The good people at 39DollarGlasses have popped for a big prize for a lucky contributor to the "Glasses Stories" section. Not only do you get the thrill and exposure of getting your face pasted on the busiest economically-focused-online-eyeglasses-blog on the planet and the ability to make a difference for the thousands of people who are contemplating this idea, you're also helping me out with some additional content -- and I APPRECIATE IT.

So, join Beth and send me your photos, or better yet post them to the GlassyEyes Flickr group and forward me the link along with your name, email address and your story (keep it around 500 characters if you can).

All entries must be in before November 10th -- the one-year anniversary of the blog entry that started this whole thing.

Enter early and often.

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I didn't get the response I hoped for, but I did get some.

Thanks to those of you who participated.

The winner is (oddly enough):

_l0ser


Congratulations, and you have to get those!

Only 2 more weeks to enter!

C'mon!

UPDATE: "anonymous" let me have it for promoting this wrong -- I was actually pleased anyone read the entire post.

He/she was right though and I've removed the disclaimer:

One last caveat; I reserve the right to lengthen the contest if things are going gangbusters.

IT ENDS GROUNDHOG DAY!

(seriously)

I posted a few days ago about trying eyeglasses online. Perhaps you read it? Seriously... go read it.

Anyway, after posting it, I realized my mug was plastered on the site about 30 times. I'm not much of a looker, and the glassyeyes group on Flickr hasn't taken off as I'd like it too, so I figured it might need a jump start.

Seems like it might be time for a contest. It's simple, free and best of all FUN!

It's the 2007 GLASSYEYES GROUNDHOG DAY PHOTO CONTEST!

Here are the rules:

1. Find one of the applications for trying on eyeglasses online listed in this post (if you still haven't read it, I'm starting to question your resolve).
2. Upload your photo.
3. Try on some eyeglasses.
4. Take a screen capture of the picture, crop it so we don't have to wade through all of the extra stuff.
5. Upload the images to your Flickr account (Create a Flickr account for yourself, if you don't have one already -- it's quick and painless).
6. Tag your uploads with "glassyeyes-contest1" (if you're not sure what this means, you will after you create an account).
7. Describe it.
   
8. Upload it to the "glassyeyes" group on Flickr.
9. Relax and wait for the results.

There are no bonuses for purchasing anything, although a good "before the order/after they arrive" shot certainly won't hurt. Have fun with it. Do something wacky -- that may in fact help your cause unless you are unusually beautiful.

Contest deadline is Groundhog Day, 2007.

Prizes:
First - $25USD paid via PayPal (and your Picture posted for all of the Glassyeyes Universe to see for at least 30 days)
Second (this will be awarded if at least 25 people enter) - $15USD paid via PayPal (and your Picture posted for all of the Glassyeyes Universe to see for at least 30 days)
Third (this will be awarded if at least 50 people enter) - $10USD paid via PayPal (and your Picture posted... blah blah blah)

There will likely be miscellaneous sponsorship prizes if things come together the way I hope they will.

I'm not going to hand-hold anyone through screenshots and uploads and Flickr. I've done that with my mom, and my mother-in-law -- so I've done my time. Ask your nephew, I'm sure he knows how to do all of that "compooter stuff".

Like I said, there is no purchase necessary -- and the clock is ticking.

One last caveat; I reserve the right to lengthen the contest if things are going gangbusters.