contest

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Californians Can't Win Cash for Killing Coyotes Anymore

Fish and Game Commision nixes predator-killing contests

(Newser) - Dogfighting and cockfighting are illegal in the US , but until Wednesday, coyotes could be shot dead for a belt buckle in California. Animal activists are celebrating the ruling by the California Fish and Game Commission against wildlife-killing contests that offer prizes, said to be the first such ban in...

Malaysia Airlines Nixes 'Bucket List' Contest

Company tries to coax people back on planes with regrettable promo

(Newser) - Even a drunken, washed-up Don Draper would know better than to pitch this: Malaysia Airlines —dogged by the twin tragedies of Flight 370 and Flight 17 and desperate to fill its scads of empty seats — came up with what apparently seemed like a promising promotion: the "My...

OnePlus Urges Women to Enter 'Degrading' Contest

Smartphone company cans 'Ladies First' contest amid outcry

(Newser) - Promoting a new smartphone? Launching an online who's-the-hottest-babe contest may not play well with all consumers, as OnePlus discovered today. The company—which is selling its phones by invitation only due to production issues—started a "Ladies First" campaign that invited women to draw the OnePlus logo on...

Bill Gates' Contest Winner: Cow-Tendon Condoms

The condom of the future could also be made from fish skin

(Newser) - Bill Gates issued a challenge to inventors in March: Come up with a plan for making a more pleasurable condom that more men will actually want to use and win a cool million dollars. His quest to make safe sex better seems to be off to a strong start: The...

National Laughing Contest Debuts in US

Contestants try to infect audience with laughter

(Newser) - Like laughing at nothing in particular? Then check out the American Laughing Championship when it debuts tomorrow in San Diego, reports the Huffington Post . The audience will determine which contestant is best at the Alabama knee-slapper, the maniacal laugh, and the diabolical laugh—the latter an attempt to make the...

Roach-Contest Winner Choked to Death

Edward Archbold, 32, couldn't stop vomiting

(Newser) - Hope you're not in the middle of eating: The Florida man who died after winning a roach-eating contest suffocated partly on little bug bodies, CBS Miami reports. Edward Archbold, 32, died from choking and vomiting due to "airway obstruction by the arthropod body parts," according to his...

Obama Camp Raffles Dinner With Clooney to Donors

President will be there, too

(Newser) - Dinner with the president not enough for you? You're in luck: The Obama campaign has sweetened the deal. George Clooney will also be joining winners of the campaign's "Dinner With Barack" contest, which offers a monthly chance at a presidential meal for donations as low as a...

Girl, 9, Wins $15K in Google Doodle Contest

Rainforest-themed logo beats 33K kids

(Newser) - A Missouri third-grader's doodle topped 33,000 entries in this year's Google Doodle contest. Makenzie Melton's "Rainforest Habitat" drawing appeared on Google's front page all day yesterday. Google has awarded the 9-year-old artist a netbook and a $15,000 scholarship. Her school was given a $25,000 grant toward...

French Language Cops Go After English Slang

'Le buzz' might be 'le ramdam,' among others

(Newser) - A French panel has made its decision on a handful of English-based buzzwords it hopes to replace. Begone “le buzz” for Internet rumors; enter “le ramdam.” The winners, suggested by students, will be forwarded to the 18—18!—government committees that guard the language. If the...

Sweepstakes as an Obsession, and a Cash Cow

Entering contests is serious business for 'sweepers'

(Newser) - Looking for a hobby that’s brainless and profitable? Then you might want to join the ever-growing ranks of “sweepers,” people who enter as many sweepstakes as they can, assuming they’ll eventually win something. The Wall Street Journal has managed to track down many who’ve done...

Chatroulette Penises in Peril
 Chatroulette 
 Penises in 
 Peril 
WEIRD CONTEST DEPT.

Chatroulette Penises in Peril

Business Insider thinks savvy surfers can somehow de-creepify video site

(Newser) - Chatroulette is an intriguing, innovative social networking/chat/video site with a huge problem: penises. A study says 13% of users are “perverts”—use your imagination—and that makes potential advertisers understandably skittish. If you think you can help solve the "penis problem," Nicholas Carlson of Silicon Alley...

Solve Toyota's Acceleration Problem, Win a Cool $1M

Edmunds.com notes that Toyota itself isn't sure if problem's really fixed

(Newser) - Edmunds.com is offering a $1 million prize for anyone who can replicate, diagnose, and fix Toyota’s unintended acceleration problem. Sure, Toyota’s US president told Congress that the issue was fully resolved, but the auto information site isn’t convinced. “He said himself that he’s not...

Small Firm Nabs $650K Prize for Super Bowl Ad

Crafty dog spot from small NC firm comes in 2nd with viewers

(Newser) - A crafty dog and a bag of Doritos combined to create a memorable Super Bowl ad and a big payday for a small North Carolina production company—$650,000. The firm won $50,000 for the spot originally and another $600,000 for taking the runner-up spot in real-time viewer...

American Apparel Wants Your Butt

Clothing chain launches disturbing search for derriere model

(Newser) - American Apparel’s latest disturbing bid for publicity is ... the search for America’s Next Bottom Model. The clothing chain is asking ladies to submit photos of their booties—clad in, what else, American Apparel products—which will then be rated by, well, everyone who clicks here . Your votes won’...

Fla. Keys Family Gets White Christmas

Contest winners get 20 tons of ice dumped on lawn

(Newser) - Even as the Weather Channel delivered news of a too-white Christmas to many Americans yesterday, it was also delivering snow to a place that hasn’t seen much since the last ice age. A Florida Keys musician got 20 tons dumped on his waterfront property after winning a contest in...

Radio Station Fined $16M For Fatal Contest

Mom died of water intoxication in effort to win Wii for her kids

(Newser) - A Sacramento radio station has been ordered to pay $16 million to the family of a woman who died during its "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest. The woman, who was trying to win the game console for her three children, died of water intoxication after taking part...

Shakira Imitator Can't Sue Bar
 Shakira Imitator 
 Can't Sue Bar 

shake it, don't break it

Shakira Imitator Can't Sue Bar

Shake it and break it? You're on your own, court rules

(Newser) - A woman who says she shredded knee ligaments when she fell during a “Shake it Like Shakira” contest can't sue the New York bar that staged the competition. Calico Jack’s Cantina is off the hook after Megan Zacher's lawyer failed to convince a judge the bar “knew...

Jell-No! Hospital Chow Goes Upscale

(Newser) - If an industry group's cooking competition is any indication, the Wall Street Journal reports, hospital food ain’t what it used to be. This year's winner of the National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management's gold medal produced a “Machaca Flat Iron Steak” that met with his hospital nutritionist’s...

Ludacris Makes Like Oprah, Gives Away Cars

Rapper's nonprofit holds contest

(Newser) - Need a ride? Ludacris wants to help. The rapper and actor plans to give away 20 cars on Sunday through his Ludacris Foundation, SixShot.com reports. To qualify, you must really need a car; be 18 or older; have a valid Georgia license; and be able to afford taxes and...

Elephants Humble Humans in Eating Contest

One light lunch for the pachyderms equals one crushing defeat for mankind

(Newser) - The fastest eaters mankind could muster were no match for the competition yesterday as Coney Island held its first-ever eating competition between people and pachyderms, NY1 reports. The trio of elephants comfortably munched a combined total of 505 hot dog buns in 6 minutes, while the three humans sweated and...

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