Ellen wants you to have a happy weekend.

The Ellen DeGeneres show wants to send you to Universal Orlando. That's right, friends, Ellen wants to give you:

- 2 Tickets to the March 28th taping of the Ellen DeGeneres show at Universal Orlando
- 3 Day/2 Park passes to both Universal Orland resorts.
- 3 Nights in a hotel on site
- Roundtrip airfare and ground transfers

Pretty sweet, right?

You get to win a contest and have fun in sunny Orlando (no, I'm not bitter at all that it was -11 degrees last night in Ithaca, oh no) and the Ellen DeGeneres show gets some awesome publicity.

Win-win situation.

(click on image to enter contest)

Free Money!

So, they lied.

All of them.

The "royal them." I think it's similar to the "royal you."

Anyway, check out this cool website called One Dollar Jackpot.

Everyday, a question is posted on the website and directions are given for you to answer it in 25 words or less. Add your name and e-mail address (that's connected to your PayPal account) and then click the handy "submit button." At the end of the day, the best entry is picked and blogged about on the One Dollar Jackpot Blog, and that person wins a happy dollar sent to their PayPal account. That's it!

Not too many people enter each day. Yesterday, for example, had only 12 entries, so your odds of winning a buck are pretty good. It's also just a really neat concept and the blog is fun to read.

The website was started by a guy named Andrew Beeston, who is now my favorite person of the day. Brown Box, An Australian company dedicated to making interesting and easy to use websites, runs One Dollar Jackpot. The site also states that you will receive no spam, they won't sell your name or address, and that they're simply giving the winner a dollar, no strings attached.

I, for one, think that's pretty damn cool.

Want a free iPod Touch?

I do understand the irony of posting about and entering a blogging contest in a blog about contests.

So get this, Titan Poker Bonus Code website is giving away a free 16 GB iPod touch just for blogging about their site! This website is dedicated solely to playing online Titan Poker and provides you with codes to help you do better at the game. There's also Titan Poker Review, a section that goes over the site's software, traffic, bonus codes and overall ratings. They also have an extensive community with strategy tips, articles about the game, and everything else that a Titan Poker fiend needs to stay on top of their game.

To enter the contest, check out Titan-Poker-Bonus-Code.com by clicking on the image above!

Want to be on TV?

MTV is constantly casting for many of its different reality shows.

However, they're currently looking for people to be contestants on their new game shows where you could possibly win money, fame, fortune, or something wacky!

Pretty Smart
(from the website)

Are you more Brains than Braun? Want to get back at the Jocks that tortured you in high school? Are you recovering from a Broken Heart? Do you have a nightmare roommate? Or are you just plain broke and want to win some prizes?

Seeking energetic guys and gals (18 and over) to be CONTESTANTS on MTV's new game show: "Pretty Smart."

For more information, check out MTV here.

Name That Tune
(from the website)

We're raising the stakes in this all new version of the classic game show, Name That Tune. Each week thousands and thousands of dollars can be won just by naming the tunes to the hits you love.

Fore more information, check out MTV here.

Who knows? Maybe you'll be the next MTV sensation!

Video games?

Do you like contests? Do you like video games? Do you like developing your own video games to win contests?

From the Indie Game Showcase website,

"The "Call for Entries" is out for the best developed games Independent game developers have to offer. Now in its' third year, this year's contest promises to be bigger and better than ever before with more games and prizes. There are two categories for game entries - General and Casual. The Winner of each category will receive a specially configured game development workstation and there are several prizes for Finalists and Semi-Finalists. Also, to celebrate our upcoming generation of game developers, ECD Systems has added a special recognition award for student entries. Winner of the "Best Student Entry" will receive a cash scholarship award."

For more information, click on the image above or visit Fox Business.

From Newspaper to the Internet: the Evolution of the Coupon

Bargain hunters used to have to wait until Sunday to clip money-saving coupons from their local paper. Recently, the switch to coupon websites has been an afterthought for most consumers who still prefer to cut their coupons from a physical newspaper.

On January 3rd, Valassis Communications, a leading publisher of Sunday coupon inserts, made the switch to a new forum. RedPlum is a new coupon distributer that places Sunday coupon inserts but has also created a new, expansive, website in which users can print online coupons, but also read product reviews and find recipes.

A New York Times article has more information, if you're curious!

Free food?

Facebook has a new application you can add to your profile called "Food Frenzy." Sponsored by the popular online food-ordering website, Campusfood.

In a few words, you add this application to your Facebook profile and through it, play a couple games. If you win, you receive money to use on the website to order yourself something tasty. The catch? The money expires in three days.

This isn't exactly "free food." Campusfood is generating publicity for itself and free advertising by offering mere tokens to users. Most of the cash generated isn't used in the three days and the website then loses nothing.

But hey, if you're bored and hungry now (or in the next three days), give it a shot. You're not going to get an entire free meal out of this, but maybe you'll earn enough for that cookie you so desperately deserve. For more info, check out Slick Deals and click on the image to be taken directly to the Facebook application.

Who says there's no such thing as a free meal?

It's not unusual for companies to give free things away in order to promote their business. The amount of publicity generated normally greatly exceeds the relative "pennies" they spend to produce the products.

Sometimes, companies will also band together with charities while they give something away. The company gains free publicity and public association with a good cause that gives them amazing PR stories and brings "warm fuzzies" to the public's mind.

On February 12th, in celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP will be giving away free short stacks (one per person) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It's their hope that you'll consider making a donation to the Children's Miracle Network in exchange for this tasty meal. For more information, please click on the image.