Tiny Pineapple

ananas comosus (L.) minimus


This weekend I’m holed up in a quiet hotel at an undisclosed remote location trying to hammer out Chapter 6 of Her Majesty’s Gardener. Unfortunately, one consequence of being holed up in a quiet hotel at an undisclosed remote location is that my internet connection sucks. Posting the names of the lucky winners of the Debra Fotheringham Autographed CD contest has been hampered by the fact that my Novatel V640 EVDO ExpressCard is doing a rather convincing impersonation of a 2400 baud modem.

But now, without further ado…because I think we all have far too much ado in our lives already…

The Lucky Winners Are:

I’ve notified each of the lucky winners via email, but in the unlikely event that one of our lucky winners is unable to fulfill their obligations as a lucky winner, one of you unlucky non-winners may be asked to assume the role of lucky winner in his or her place.

Winners were chosen using RANDOM.ORG’s True Random Number Generator (TRNG), which, unlike Pseudo-Random Number Generators (PRNGs), uses atmostpheric noise to generate truly random numbers.

I was originally going to use LavaRand, which used a lava lamp to generate random numbers. (See Patent 5,732,138: “Method for seeding a pseudo-random number generator with a cryptographic hash of a digitization of a chaotic system.”) Unfortunately, SGI’s LavaRand web site is no longer online and, perhaps more importantly, one of the contestants claimed to be able to control illuminated liquids with his mind, so in the interest of fairness I had to find another solution.

Anyway, congratulations to the lucky winners and stay tuned for another contest in March. (Prizes and details to be announced shortly.)


Comments

  • Gravatar

    Kate

    March 1, 2008 9:41 PM

    If I’d known it was to be TRULY random I think I might have opted to NOT make a fool of myself. Congratulations to all the winners (I DID opt to not use the term “wieners” in the place of “winners”)!


    P.S. Mr. Western Dave,
    Does this make up for the fact that you never were and never will be Beard King?

  • Gravatar

    Kate

    March 1, 2008 9:47 PM

    I bet you’re in Springville.

    Go see the fish farm if you need a break…

  • Gravatar

    chronicler

    March 2, 2008 9:47 AM

    thank goodness! no speech required!

  • Gravatar

    Maxwell

    March 2, 2008 4:47 PM

    Hey my mom wanted to win! And so did i but who cares ill try again.

  • Gravatar

    bennion

    March 3, 2008 9:08 AM

    this is way better than a king beard!

  • Gravatar

    s'mee

    March 3, 2008 10:00 AM

    Again, Thanks Grettir! I finally got something before my big sis, I mean besides stuff like cavities and birthing hips. Thanks to RANDOM.ORG! (see pledging that $250 during their annual pledge week helps!) Thanks also to SASHESandCROWNS.org for the pink satin “I’m a pretty pretty princess and winner of Grettir’s Contest” sash and faux diamond tiara, which I am currently wearing with pride. Well I am hearing the music…C’mon people! I’m getting ready to thank my MOM! Seriously, it’s my MOM! whatever, thanks mom. Do something political this week! Walk your dogs! And I’m out.

  • Gravatar

    emily

    March 3, 2008 12:15 PM

    I’m so very excited to get excited about something new to listen to! I’ve had a serious case of the musical blahs and am really excited to hear something new. Plus, I tend to agree with most of your musical selections, Grettir (minus unfortunate Justin Timberlake moments), so I have high hopes.

    Also, I WON something.

    Which. Never. Happens.

    Very also, I get to get something in the mail that is not a bill.

    I love non-bill mail.

  • Gravatar

    elisabeth

    March 3, 2008 3:45 PM

    Sigh.. There’s always March.

  • Gravatar

    Chelsea

    March 5, 2008 11:31 AM

    Gee, thanks, Mister. You’re neat!

  • Gravatar

    chronicler

    March 7, 2008 5:33 PM

    Just wanted to let you know, please watch the food blog in the next week. I’m giving a way a cookbook. I have two to give away, but one you definitely won’t want and one the girls will probably swoon over.

    Have a great day Grettir!