Sharpie Kicks Off It's 2006 Autographs For Education Program; Aims to Collect 1 Million Autographs

Sharpie, the favorite marker of autograph collectors, today announced the 2006 Sharpie 'Autographs for Education' program, which officially began on January 1 and runs through the end of the year.

Through this year-long program, Sharpie hopes to collect one million autographs in exchange for $1 million in Sharpie school funds and supplies. As part of this effort, Sharpie is also sponsoring contests in schools where 150 schools can compete for $5,000 each in school supplies. They are also sponsoring a $10,000 college sweepstakes, which will be awarded to ten students 13 years of age and older.

You can contribute your virtual autograph and sign the Sharpie wall or read the full contest rules.

As of the time of this posting, they already have 26,177 signatures..

Tom

sharpie marker

Autograph Collecting Becomes More Expensive Effective January 8, 2006 - U.S. Postage Rates Rise

Our hobby of collecting autographs through the mail is about to become more expensive effective Sunday, January 8, 2006, thanks to a postal rate increase by the U.S. Postal Service.

First-class letter rate postage will increase from 37 cents to 39 cents.The cost for mailing a postcard will increase from 23 cents to 24 cents.

Of particular interest to us autograph collectors who mail 9x12 or 10x13 manila envelopes, the cost for mailing a second ounce will increase from 23 cents to 24 cents. This means that instead of affixing a 37 cent stamp plus a 23 cent stamp on the SASE and outer envelope ($0.60), we now must affix a 39 cent stamp plus a 24 cent stamp on the outer envelope ($0.63) on both.

For complete information, see the USPS Press Release.

postal rates

Off-Topic But Very Useful Info: Free 411 Service

Received this tidbit in the e-mail today and found it very intriguing:

"Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 / information calls when they don't have to. When you need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial 1 800 FREE 411 or 1 800 373 3411 without incurring a charge at all except for the minutes required to make the call. This is information people don't mind receiving, let people know."

Being a skeptic, and doubtful of some of the hoax e-mails that I sometimes receive, I checked this out on The Urban Legends Reference Pages at http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/free411.asp

The only drawback is that sometimes you are required to listen to a 10-second advertisement from an advertising sponsor. I have no problem with that, especially if it saves me some money on my cellular phone bill.

free 411