On March 1, I launched my campaign to get Amazon to send me a free Kindle 2 to evaluate, even appealing to their brilliant, savant extraordinare CEO, Jeffrey P. Bezos that such a gift would bring him great happiness. (Desperate people will try anything.)
Having successfully convinced the marketing geniuses at Jameson Irish Whiskey to send me free samples of their product, including some of the most rare and marvelous, it occurred to me that I'd perhaps developed a new skill: giftiness, the art of getting companies to send me free gifts.
After considerable thought, I decided that the Kindle 2 would be a reasonable second effort, even though I haven't freely promoted it as much as I had Jameson.
Truth be told, I'm suspicious of any technology that might replace the printed word, but being a fair, open-minded, avaricious kind of guy, I declared a willingness to fairly evaluate the Kindle 2. If I found it worthy of my support, I'd become a slavish promoter.
Having made famous (sort of) my Jameson slogan, In Jameson Veritas, I offered the following to Amazon: Vita Brevis, Kindle2 Longa.
Omigosh. I have so much to learn from the master self-promoter, Stephen Colbert. I never mentioned that I was such an early and frequent customer of Amazon that they sent me a mouse pad as a Christmas present. Hey, any Amazon people reading this, make note of that please. I'm not just an Amazon-Come-Lately!
So far, the response from Amazon has been encouraging. No lawyer calls telling me to cease and desist or they'll put a lien on my home, a foolish gesture since it's worth about $3.45 in today's market. And no e-mails telling me to get a life. And no black SUVs driving by my house, stopping suspiciously, and then moving on.
Article comments
1 - Tinu
Delightful. I think you should put a "Help Buy Me a Kindle If I Made You Laugh" tip jar on your posts. You'd have one in no time.
2 - Mark Schannon
That's a great idea, but I'm determined to beat the master, Stephen Colbert, at his own game & get one for free. (Plus, how does one put a tip jar on BC...I suppose I could do a PayPal thing on my blog, but that would be cheating. And even if all three people contributed, it probably wouldn't be enough.
sigh...
In Jameson Veritas
Vita Brevis, Kindle2 Longa
3 - Margaret Trevett
The kindle does not survive dropping, is not covered under warranty, and for another $180 I can get a reconditioned one. I think that the Kindle should be a little sturdier if it is to be used like a book.
4 - Mark Schannon
Gadfrey Daniels! There's no warranty? And dropping=killing?
Oh well. Why should Amazon be any different than other tech companies, such as, say, Microsoft when it comes to product support.
But I must admit I am surprised.
And I'm still waiting. It's time for another post to remind them!
In Jameson Veritas