Anyway, it appears Dunkin Donuts is running a new contest later this month. Standard instant-win stuff, get a code from any participating retailer on any applicable iced drink, go to the website, type it in, ???, PROFIT! I know this only because my iced coffee had just such a code today.

Couple of things:

1) The film and paper holding the code to the cup is pretty abysmal. It holds water (you know, like the condensation from the iced coffee?) so the paper coupon meant to make me feel like a winner does no such thing.

2) Since it was new and shiny, it was on my mind when I got to work this morning, so I went to the website. Pretty slick business, with a nice job of having a “wait for it” screen up and going.

3) Since I was here, it’d be nice to know what I’m playing for. The official rules are more than happy to help me out.Every entrant gets entered into two pool prizes: one nationwide, and one based on your zip-code. As is obvious from the screen above and the title of the contest, the regional pools roughly correspond to major market baseball teams: Baltimore, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, New England (BoSox), Philly, Chicago (no distinction), and Tampa Bay.

But here’s the kicker. Despite it being a baseball-themed contest, despite being sponsored by MLB 2K8, despite Boston being both home of the hottest team in the American League and the holy land of Dunkin Donuts (like pharmacies in Florida, on every corner), the New England regional grand prize? Four (4) tickets to Six Flags New England. Talk about a bait-and-switch and destroying your official donut shop of the Boston Red Sox goodwill.

That’s bad enough, right? Guess what the prizes for the Baltimore, NY Yankees, and Tampa Bay regional pools are? Yup. Tickets to a game. Suite tickets to a game. Suite tickets to a Baltimore, NY Yankees, or Tampa Bay game (respectively) IN BOSTON. With airfare and hotel accommodations included.

To sum up: if you’re a lifelong Bostoner and grew up bringing Munchkins in for your birthday at school, you get a chance to win a trip to drive your ass out to Agawam and ride Superman: Man of Steel. If you live in a different state with a different zip code, you get to win a chance to see your local team play in one of America’s great ballparks (in a suite!), with roundtrip air and hotel.

Here’s the section of the official rules, copied:

“National Prize Pool Prizes (850): FIFTY (50) GRAND PRIZES: Sharp AQUOS® 46″ LCD HD TV. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $1,799 each. ONE HUNDRED (100) FIRST PRIZES: Microsoft Xbox 360® Video Game System and the Xbox game title: Major League Baseball 2K8. ARV: $410 each. ONE HUNDRED (100) SECOND PRIZES: Digital camera (brand, model, and make determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $200 each. SIX HUNDRED (600) THIRD PRIZES: Major League Baseball 2K8 video game. ARV: $30-$60 each.

Baltimore Prize Pool Prizes (52): TWELVE (12) GRAND PRIZES: Two (2) suite tickets to a game in Boston to watch the home team on the road, air transportation and hotel (airline, hotel, game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $2,326 each. The actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. FORTY (40) FIRST PRIZES: MLB.com gift card. ARV: $200 each.

Chicago Prize Pool Prizes (25): TWENTY-FIVE (25) GRAND PRIZES: MLB.com gift card. ARV: $200 each.

New York Yankees® Prize Pool Prizes (49): FOUR (4) GRAND PRIZES: Two (2) suite tickets to a New York Yankees® away game in Boston, air transportation and hotel (airline, hotel, game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $2,326 each. The actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. FORTY-FIVE (45) FIRST PRIZES: Two (2) tickets to a New York Yankees® game (game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $60-$187 each.

New York Mets® Prize Pool Prizes (45): FORTY-FIVE (45) GRAND PRIZES: Two (2) tickets to a New York Mets® game (game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $140-$236 each.

Philadelphia Prize Pool Prizes (25): TWENTY-FIVE (25) GRAND PRIZES: MLB.com gift card. ARV: $200 each.

Tampa Bay Prize Pool Prizes (50): EIGHT (8) GRAND PRIZES: Two (2) suite tickets to a Tampa Bay Rays® away game in Boston, air transportation and hotel (airline, hotel, game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $2,326 each. The actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. FORTY-TWO (42) FIRST PRIZES: Two (2) tickets to a Tampa Bay Rays® game (game date and seating determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $42–$44 each.

New England Prize Pool Prizes (100): ONE HUNDRED (100) GRAND PRIZES: Four (4) tickets to Six Flags New England Amusement Park (valid during the 2008 season only; terms and conditions apply.) ARV: $200 each.”

Injustice, thy name is Dunkin Donuts. I don’t think I’ll be buying coffee from you anytime soon.

We are located on Myrtle st, on Beacon Hill area. This morning around 10am, we found out that our pet snake ran away from his cage. We believe that he can’t be too far away. Please, please, please….Anybody that can offer any help is urged to contact us, or the Animal Control. We offer $1000 reward. Do not approach the snake, or try to make any contact. It is not people friendly and his reactions can be unpredictable.

* Location: boston
* it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Technorati Tags: Boston, Snakes

View from my apartment!

It’s so beautiful!

The tops of buildings are all white….

Heh, poor sucker…

Trying to clean off his car…

Oh, crap. I have to do that too.

Ugh….

From the front

Finally getting the door open…

Halfway done…

After this, my hands started feeling really cold, so I stopped taking pictures. But yeah, living here is “snow” good. (I’m kicking myself for that pun.)

Technorati Tags: Snow

That’s 12 solid hours of meaningful games. Rockin’.

Technorati Tags: baseball, Red Sox

Mostly, we get big chain bagels (Brugger’s, Finagle, and Panera compete for the most-often spot), so I was pleasantly surprised when we got our bagels from Bagel Rising in Allston.

The trick to finding a good bagel place, according to my girlfriend who knows these things, is their ability to do a salt bagel. Most places won’t try it: it’s a difficult thing to do well. Apparently, the salt makes it difficult for the bagel to remain edible (and not a hockey puck). Bagel Rising delivered: their salt bagel was coated in pretzel-like salt, but still managed to be chewy and delicious.

Unfortunately for you non-Bostonians out there, Bagel Rising is only available in Allston. But the next time you’re in town, consider your salt bagel on me.

Technorati Tags: Boston, Allston, Bagels, Bagel Rising