Though generally not given much attention amongst bloggers, the personal Gravatar however serves as a strong personal branding for the Blogger.
In tandem and befitting the theme of The Gravatar Contest, my eighteen Top Commentators starred in the Contest and they are especially given my tribute and the honor.
May the respective Top Commentators, please collect the Award by copying their own Award Code and proudly display their Awards at their Blog.
1. My Top Commentators as displayed at this Post
2. The VIP Sponsors for their valued sponsorship
3. The Contestants for their good hearted and trouble-free participation.
4. Uncle Che for managing Contest Results Draw
5. Windy for all Banners and Award image creations and co-conceptualizing the 3rd. Blogoversary theme.
Curtsey and Curtain Call
God Willing, till we meet again, a year hence for another Blogoversary, Happy Blogging to All!
Before the Winners of Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest is announced, may I take this opportunity first, to thank each and everyone, who helped make this event another memorable milestone and for the third consecutive time.
To the V.I.P Sponsors who generously made the Contest appetizing with all their sponsored items, either in Cash or in Kind.
To the Contestants who by their participation, made the intent and purpose of the Contest what it was meant to be.
To all the Readers and Commentators who added their shine and fun to the Contest.
It is not without the magnanimous sponsorships that the attractive stake of Prizes would have been possible to celebrate Lainy’s Musings 3rd. Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest. Once again, here is the list of the VIP Sponsors and the Prizes for the occasion.
Pursuant to the intended results of winners, names of the qualified contestants and non-winning contestants (three of the qualified contestants who didn’t make it, plus the five contestants for the consolation prize) were drawn in two separate draws at random.org. It is worth noting that it is random.org’s paid feature that was chosen “Third-Party Draw Service“.
After the 5 Grand Winners were drawn, the Non- Winning Contestants were added to the Contestants for the Consolation Prize and another draw was made at random.org to determine one lucky winner for the USD 5.00, to wit:
To conduct a fair and credible process in determining the prize results, I decided to rein the services from a neutral person to handle the draws. Uncle Che is the best choice. He is neither the contestant nor a sponsor (and obviously not the host ). Free randomization at random.org requires the presentation of results as screenshots, and since that could easily be “doctored”, their free service is NOT the best of choices.
To overcome and allay any possible suspicion on the methodology, Uncle Che instead, used the paid premium feature at random.org. It is called the “Third-Party Draw Service. It permits random.org to monitor the randomization and host the results for public access.
As you can see, great diligence was paid to the matter of the results. Hence, it is my hope that there will not ensue any bickering about WHY I DIDN’T WIN! Hahahahaha!
You can have a look at the results online at random.org following the links below:
Randomization of Qualified Contestants: Click [ H E R E ] for the results
Randomization of Non-winning Contestants: Click [ H E R E ] for the results
NOTE:
Time when the two Draws were conducted at random.org is reported as UTC. For GMT, you add (+8) hours. Therefore, what it means is that the 1st. Draw was conducted at 11:39:04 pm and the 2nd. Draw was at 11:55:02 pm. Thank You.
Reasons:
- there were no website links given for the two Comments at the VIP Sponsors page.
- there was no mention of the Blog Name and the corresponding website link for the Blogger’s Avatar.
Reasons:
- No answer given for Gravatar Number 12.
- No display of Contest Banner at the Contestant’s Blog.
- No post published at Contestant’s Blog about Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest
- No link given for the aforementioned Post.
- No Comments link given for the required two Comments required, one at each of the VIP Sponsors’ Blog
To these 5 non-qualified Contestants, please don’t lose heart. I am grateful to you for your time and effort and the gist of The Gravatar Contest is the fun in participation and not solely on winning. Hence, you too will be sharing in the 9,000 EntreCard Credits.
Last but not least, there is the USD 5.00 ONE LUCKY WINNER prize that will be drawn by a random pick for those who did not win any prize.
Now that this is revealed and for both Qualified and Non-Qualified Contestants who may wish to refresh their memory of what prizes are possibly theirs for the taking, here is the link to the prizes.
It will NOT be as originally announced, “The Contest Close Date: April 20, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hours GMT (Manila).”
In lieu of the aforementioned postponement, the announcement of the winners is rescheduled to April 25 (Monday) at 00:01 am, +8hours GMT (Manila).
Again, it will not be as originally announced, “April 22, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hours GMT (Manila).”
My apologies to all Contestants, V.I.P Sponsors and those who may be closely following this Contest.
Extenuating circumstances now have made it impossible and impractical for me to keep to the original dates when I first determined both those dates.
Owing to unforeseen circumstance and due to its importance which I related H E R E, I will be out of town during the period of the original dates, thereby making it impossible for me to attend to the detailed work that is required.
I hope that this will allow more Contestants to submit their entries for The Gravatar Contest while the rest are held in suspenders, I meant suspense… for a couple of days more for the results. LOL!
The time has arrived at Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary for Pandora’s Box to be opened for The Gravatar Contest’s Prize List.
As you will notice, there are more prizes to be given away. This would not have been possible without the generosity and gracious support from the V.I.P Sponsors who made this Blog’s 3rd Blogoversary another memorable event.
Without further ado, for the eventual Winners and receivers, this is how it is.
Toggled Heart necklace with earrings valued at $50- inclusive of shipping fee (The Glamorous Chic)
2 free 1 year domain registrations of the winner’s choice (.com, .net, .org, .info from www.justdomain.us), FREE web/blog hosting for one year from www.888host.net PLUS free tutorial on how to use the Cpanel and how to use the WordPress blog for newbies- NON-CONVERTIBLE TO CASH- (Free Blog Hosting)
Nevertheless, I am here to give you a quick update and to appease the growing concern of contestants who have submitted their contest entries. At the commentary section of the contest post, there were a few who “complained” that their submitted answers were visible for public view and scrutiny which gave these the apparent impression that their answers had been published and it contravenes the stipulated contest requirement that said thus:
For obvious reason, Contestants’ answers submitted at this Post’s Commentary section will only be approved AFTER the contest closing date.
Let me allay any fears. NO contest entry has yet been approved after submission. Contestants have no reason to fret. ALL comments shall only be approved on April 20, 2011, 00:01.
For this reason, I shall let you take a peek at Lainy’s Musings Dashboard just so to prove my point:
I understand your concern especially if you’re unfamiliar with how WordPress works. Once a comment is submitted and the blog’s commentary section is under moderation, the person who submitted a comment can readily see the comment submitted. But as often claimed, yes, after you have submitted your Comment, you will see this: “YOUR COMMENT IS AWAITING MODERATION” beneath your submitted comment.
This is still in consonance with the contest requirement because your Comment awaits yours truly to approve the Comment. And as said, “For obvious reason, Contestants’ answers submitted at this Post’s Commentary section will only be approved AFTER the contest closing date.”
Displayed below is a slide containing the Gravatars of the Top Commentators (2008 to 2011) at Lainy’s Musings. To stop any of the slide images, please move your mouse cursor directly over the image, thereby enabling you to scrutinize the image. Remove your mouse cursor and the slide will resume progression to the next image frame.
(Incidentally, the original Gravatar image size is enlarged with a minimum amount of pixel distortion possible. This was done to enable a “better” view of the Gravatar image. My apologies that the enlarged image condition couldn’t be made any clearer .
Also, a good measure of time was spent to systematically layout all the requirements and rules and include one-stop features right here at the Contest Page.
If there remain any issue that is not explained clearly enough, please seek clarification with yours truly via the Comment Section here).
The Contest Requirements
Gravatars of the TOP Commentators over the past cumulative 3 years (2008 to 2011) are displayed and numbered as may clearly be seen in the slide above.
The Contestant must be a Blogger and is managing his own Blog that is current.
In his entry, the Contestant has to identify these particulars of the Blogger to whom each numbered Gravatar belongs:-
state the Gravatar number
the name/pen name of the Blogger,
the name of the Blog,
the URL (example: http://www.name of the domain) of the Blog
The Contestant will submit his answers only at the COMMENT SECTION of this post (and no where else).
For obvious reason, Contestants’ answers submitted at this Post’s Commentary section will only be approved AFTER the contest closing date.
Contestants with the most correct answers qualify to win from the Prize Pool
Furthermore, to qualify for a win, the Contestant:
Will choose two (2) VIP Sponsors and then submit a Comment each, at his chosen two Sponsors’ Blogs.
The links to the VIP Sponsors Blog are accessible at this Post. It allows the Contestant to work at this page and to make his selection. Clicking on the button “VIP Sponsors – The Full List” below will open a new Browser Window and display the full list of VIP Sponsors and the respective Blog links. Make your choice of which two (2) Blogs you wish to make your Comment.
Compose a short article about Lainy’s Musings 3rd. Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest and publish it at his Blog.
The Contestant’s short published article must display both of the following:
The VIP Sponsors
The Sponsors Codes
(Copy and paste the html codes of the VIP Sponsors given in the box below)
Tips:You can change the code before run.
The Contest Banner
The Banner Code
(Copy and paste the html code of the Banner given in the box below)
Tips:You can change the code before run.
Together with his Contest Answers, the Contestant must include in his submission the following:-
the full URL address (example: http://www.name of the Post page) for the two VIP Sponsors’ Blog Post to denote where he had submitted his Comment.
the full URL address (example: http://www.name of published article) for his short published article about Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary Gravatar Contest.
Important Note: Contestants are advised to test and ensure that the URL addresses submitted in their answers, work as perfect links.
Though not a prerequisite but it may influence in the case of a tie, the contestant is encouraged to register at the VIP Sponsors Blog’s Google Friend Connect or Twitter or Network Blogs.
NO contestant is allowed to display any of the Contest Gravatars at their blog as a new published Post and seek clues and answers from their readers. If you must, you may wish to use Lainy’s Musings Post Archives but asking for clues at your own Blog(s) is tantamount to a disqualification.
Here is the link to Lainy’s Musings Post Archives:-
Contest Rules
The Contest Start Date: March 25, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hours GMT (Manila).
The Contest Close Date: April 20, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hours GMT (Manila).
The Contest Result Date: April 22, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hours GMT (Manila).
As usual, the contest result is final and is irrevocable.
In the event of there being a tie, it will be determined by a random pick result at www.random.org.
The Prizes
Don’t miss checking out the prizes galore at stake for your to win. Click on the link button below to view.
Soon, after the end of the Contest, there will be a Sequel to the 3rd Blogoversary Gravatar Contest.
One last thing – perhaps for Bloggers who are reading this for the first time and wondering what GRAVATAR is all about; Gravatar does to help you in your personal identification or “Personal Branding”. Something that a Blogger should not live without in Blogosphere.
Read more about it [ HERE ]
And now…..
I’ve sent invites before the official kick off of the Blogoversary Gravatar Contest which begins on March 25. There were two kinds of invite cards: one for all the VIP Sponsors and the other for all Blogpals who have left their Comments at my Blogs over the years.
Just in case you haven’t received it, here they are:
VIP Sponsor Invitation
Invitation for Blogpals
Please mark your calendar, folks! I would love to have you here on March 25, 2011, 00:01 am, +8 hrs. GMT, Manila Time.
Keeping in stride with the recent blockbuster Movie, Avatar, Lainy’s Musings takes a cue from it by making the Gravatar the theme for Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest.
What is a Gravatar and what is its importance to a Blogger?
Gravatar is an acronym for Globally Recognized AVATAR. It requires an 80 by 80 pixels square image registered to one’s email address.
Gravatar is a concept by Matt who founded WordPress. Since then, there have been other plugin creations that offers preset images for the Blog.
A Gravatar projects yourself to the rest of the web and anywhere you comment or leave a response your Gravatar will follow you. It lets you brand yourself.
A good example is my own Gravatar. Everytime I leave a comment, you shall see this image of myself (Move your cursor on any part of the Gravatar image, it will enlarge the image to get a clearer look):
My Gravatar at WordPress Blogs
My Gravatar at Blogger Blogs
Hence, the Gravatar is the image that you display all over the world wide web so that others are able to immediately identify and recognize you.
In other words, it becomes your personal identification. As a Blogger, this is indeed a prerequisite if you need to make your presence rapidly identifiable.
Lainy’s Musings 3rd Blogoversary Gravatar Contest
To return my gratitude to all Commentators’ support at Lainy’s Musings over the past three years, the TOP Commentators’ Gravatars shall be displayed and will make use of them for Lainy’s Musings Gravatar Contest for its 3rd Blogoversary Celebration.
The 3rd Blogoversary Contest is merely to celebrate my three years of blogging and to share some light hearted moments with Bloggers. In many ways it endorses the importance of the Gravatar for Bloggers and underscores the importance of Commentators for a Blog.
Do you need to get yourself a Gravatar?
Tips:You can change the code before run.
After having read all that, and if you do not own a Gravatar, you may be thinking seriously now about getting one done for your personal branding – you can learn the steps at : [ Get A Gravatar For Your Personal Branding ]
or
For the more Internet savvy, you could go directly to Gravatar to Sign Up your personal account by clicking on the image link below.
Free Blog Hosting – 2 free 1 year domain registrations of the winner’s choice (.com, .net, .org, .info from www.justdomain.us), FREE web/blog hosting for one year from www.888host.net PLUS free tutorial on how to use the Cpanel and how to use the WordPress blog for newbies (NON-CONVERTIBLE TO CASH)
In summary, we have amassed a total of 76, 500 Entrecard Credits, US $ 305 cash, 3 Blog T-shirts, free domain registrations, premium ad spaces, blog review, Walmart Gift Card and other goodies as give-aways like lipsticks, necklace and earrings, perfume and lipgloss.
I can’t THANK YOU enough for your generosity. May the Force be with you all!
Lainy’s Musings 3rd. Blogoversary – The Gravatar Contest whereby I wish to present a token of my Heartfelt Gratitude to the Top Commentators at Lainy’s Musings (cumulative 2008 to 2011).
). Free randomization at random.org requires the presentation of results as screenshots, and since that could easily be “doctored”, their free service is NOT the best of choices.
Twerlyn of 
General Santos Time
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