How NOT to get a free smartphone from Sprint

Image by louisvolant via Flickr

I'm having a blast in San Francisco. Sheila spent a long weekend with me, and now I'm attending ad:tech. Guess which part I like more?

And while I'm here, I've been continuing my "Give Evo an EVO" movement. Thus far, I've posted 27 videos of me pining for the new HTC EVO from Sprint. Hey, if you name a phone after me you should expect me to ask to be one of the people who get the sneak preview.

Here's the one from last night:



If this is the first time you're hearing about this, don't be surprised. I haven't pushed it very hard, outside of linking my YouTube account to Twitter. That's partly because I'm curious what YouTube can do on it's own. My answer: not much. Surprise! It needs pushing. I get 10s of views on videos that I don't push, with a mix of visits from Twitter and some searching on the keywords. And as you'll tell from the comments on the videos, the searchers aren't too happy with my daily habit. :)

But some of you have noticed. There's a Facebook Page for the Give Evo an EVO movement, and it wasn't set up by me. Promise. Nor did I request it be set up for me. Yes, I obviously know the person who did set it up. Thanks, Corey! So if you'd like to become a fan of like become a fan of the page, that'll help.

Some notable episodes if you don't want to wade through all 27 (and future) episodes:

• Francine Hardaway lends her support
  
• Wherein I suggest you go to your local Sprint store and lobby for me
  
• The wrath of The Mole Man
  
• Wherein I grow despondent that others are getting the phone
  
• Support from Batman
  
• Where wolf?

So... time to push. Hey, I'm no David Lynch. And I know that some videos are more creative than others. The later in the day, the lower the creativity. Maybe I should do this in the morning? Sorry. Sidetracked.

Go watch some videos. Share and like some videos. And let's see if we can get Evo to give me, Evo, an EVO.

Can I get a cup of coffee?

Clearly, I am an enigma. Offer me a quality craftbrew beer and I can wax poetically about a host of subtle nuances that are completely undetectable -- or unpalatable -- to most consumers of beer. I can do the same (to lesser degrees) with scotch, sushi, tequila and chili rellenos.

But I have to scratch my head at boutique coffee shops. I really, really do.

Now don't get me wrong. The swill served out of my office's coffee machine is just that. And while I love me some donuts, the coffee they make for dunkin' isn't made for drinkin', IMHO.

I've never been a big coffee drinker. Mom wasn't. So I'm not. Hell, I drink Yerba maté most days, which puzzles the hell out of my co-workers. But from time to time I do enjoy a cup of coffee. And I've had some excellent coffee in a variety of flavors and permutations. Thanks to everyone who has helped me experience something new with the bean.

Now allow me to throw that all aside and tell you my dirty little secret: I like Circle K coffee.

[pause to let the retching sounds cease]

No. Seriously. Circle K dark roast is damned tasty. For one thing, it tastes like coffee. I get 20 ounces for just over a buck and can add just a splash of half and half. Hard to find cream these days, I guess. And yes, I think it tastes great!

Even more important: I can always get a cup of coffee at Circle K. Yes, there are times when a nice mocha is what I need. I've been known to get an iced toddy when the weather is warm. Which it often is in Phoenix. But at that same place that makes a great mocha and a refreshing toddy, it's nigh impossible to get a cup coffee when I want a cup of coffee. You know, with coffee in it. Just coffee.

Go ahead and throw things virtually in the comments below. I'll manage.

Weird Time - Ignite Phoenix #6

So right about the time of this posting, I should be on stage doing my thing at Ignite Phoenix #6! This is my fourth time to present to the Ignite crowd, and I'm stoked to be doing it again.

For those who can't make it and aren't watching the live stream, here's my dry run of Weird Time in SlideCast form. Note that I had rehearsed this for a couple of hours, nailed it, recorded another "Give Evo an EVO video" and drank a couple of glasses of scotch. So this one isn't nearly as polished as I know it will be be tomorrow night. No drinking then. Promise.

Weird Time - Ignite Phoenix

View more presentations from Evo Terra.

I hope you enjoy Weird Time. And I hope I've given the chance to do Weird Distance and Weird Numbers at future Ignite Phoenix presentations. I figure I'll keep submitting until they start turning me down. :)

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Help me convince Sprint that I need the new HTC EVO 4G... NOW!

Dear Sprint,

I just got off the phone with Monica. She's a great customer service rep of yours. She informed me that I've been a Sprint customer since December 1, 1999. Sure, we've had our ups and downs, but the scales have been tipped more in to positive for most of that time.

I pay you just under $200 a month for our service plans. Three of them. All phones with unlimited data plans -- the big ticket item for you -- because we use the heck out of our phones. My wife and I are both on the Pre, and our son -- 1st year of college -- is on the Rant. In a world where at least 75% of our friends have made the switch to the one that rhymes with "eye-bone", we've not. Primarily because I want a phone first and a device second. But also because I really don't want to switch away from Sprint. We just had our 10 year anniversary, and I'm sentimental.

But enough beating around the bush. I want the new HTC EVO™ 4G, and I'd like it now please. You've already let Engadget play with one. Gizmodo gushed about the 3.7 seconds they had access to it. CNET, Slashgear... you must have employed Santa to get you all over town in a single day doing demos.

I realized I'm not those media outlets. I've got a decent rep in the social and digital sphere. Some say I'm an influencer. But I have one thing that those other places don't, and that one thing makes me the perfect spokesperson for the new HTC EVO™ 4G from Sprint:

My name is Evo!

Who better to be carrying around the EVO than Evo? It's not like you're going to get that guy from Bolivia to make you this offer. He's a little busy. And I don't think 4G coverage works there.

But that's OK. You don't need him. You've got me.

So let's do this thing. It's the least you can do, considering the branding hell you're going to give me with this product. Not like I already have to compete against the above mentioned guy, a car company, tree-huggers¹ and dog food for my name, right? Reach me at 602-325-3045 and I'll give you an address where you can send the phone. We'll take care of the necessary paperwork when you're ready.

Yours in love with the EVO,

Evo.

Note to friends: Help me get this phone first and to be THE spokesperson for it. Or at least just the first part. Tweet it, re-tweet it, facebook it, re-blog it, call your congressman, pressure, pressure PRESSURE! Let's see what happens. :)

Update: I put a plea out on YouTube, recorded with my Palm Pre. You could help spread that, too!

^{1 - OK, OK... I'm a tree-hugger, too.}

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Where has the fun gone?

Image by Stéfan via Flickr

Actually, I'm having a lot of fun over on my new blog about digital business strategies, A Simpler Way.

Now you may not care. In fact, if you're a loyal follower of my antics over here, you probably don't care about the new blog. And that's OK. Just know that things may be a little slower over here as I shift my attention to there... and other places.

But I do have some new fun stuff to tell you about. And I'll still do that here from time to time. But I'm posting over there about 3x a week if you need more of me. And hey, who doesn't? :P

Yes, I still write about podcating sometimes

Recently I was asked to write an article about podcasting. I don't do it very often, probably because I've said about all I had to say in the 2.5 books I co-authored on the subject. But this was an article about podcasting and fiction, and I haven't wrote extensively about that. I do that extensively, mostly though the love that is Podiobooks.com. So... why not?

The article on ErgoFiction is now live. And no, it wasn't one huge commercial for the serialized free audiobooks we help distribute on Podiobooks.com. At least, I don't think it was. You decide.

The magic of Trololo

I went from hating this, to not being able to get it out of my head, to loving this.

And because I continue to run into people who've not experience the awesomeness that is Trololo...



There's also version for people on ludes, ecstasy, and LSD. Yes, each one is a different experience.

I love the internets.