Linkspank Super-Official Blog

Facebook and Twitter will Destroy Each Other

2009-03-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Get the Facebook app for Linkspank at http://apps.facebook.com/linkspank
Enable spanking to Twitter at http://www.linkspank.com/twitter

The Linkspank Toolbar is Hottt

2009-03-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Get the Linkspank toolbar at http://www.linkspank.com/toolbar. It's beyond ridiculous.

State of the Company [comic]

2009-03-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

Check out my Facebook profile

2008-09-09T19:53:00.001-07:00

facebook

Andrew Mitchell has:

572 friends
11 photos
73 notes
72 wall posts
31 groups

Check out my Facebook profile

I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile.

Thanks,
Andrew

Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=657320649&k=3YDU2552W66M5FBGYEV4Q4&r&v=2

This e-mail may contain promotional materials. If you do not wish to receive future commercial mailings from Facebook, please opt out. Facebook's offices are located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

or sooner.

2008-09-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

We're back up.

For now at least.

Spank away.

oops! Linkspank is down.

2008-09-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

Should be back online in the next 2-5 hours.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

We are Extending the Contest!

2008-07-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

We are Extending the Contest!

We're extending the iStuff Giveaway another couple of weeks. Win $10, $20, or a iPod Touch or iPhone 3G. Newcomers DO have a shot at the contest, especially if you spank lots of people and/or get friends to Join the Spank. To get started, just Add Contacts and get the Spank Button (which also works on the iPhone if you sync bookmarks via iTunes). You can spank your Facebook friends and email addresses even if they don't join. Happy Spanking!

LINKSPANK contest leaders are: jasonbice15, KidBaby, JO3L, maffu, HatemAmin, klr ... and you?

2008-06-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

The LINKSPANK contest leaders are: jasonbice15, KidBaby, JO3L, maffu, HatemAmin, klr. That's in random order. You can check the scores at www.linkspank.com/contest.

The contest takes some steady spanking, that's it. Your friends don't even have to join for you to win points (though you get more points if they join). Just fill your address book, get the spank button, and get going.

You can do it buddy

If you lack motivation, check this spank:

Motivation Monday - 5 Balance Quotes

5 Reasons why Linkspank's iPhone app is the Best Ever

2008-06-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

Apple has listed Linkspank's iPhone app on its directory of sweet iPhone apps and we are happy to announce the super-official launch of iSpank or Linkspank for iPhone.

The iPhone, Linkspank's iPhone app, and you, all have "sleek form factors"

So, this seems like a good time to present the top 5 Reasons why Linkspank's iPhone app is the Best Ever:

5. You can use it immediately. If you're not a spanker, you can enter as a guest. And if you are a spanker, you can log in with a password or get a login link emailed to you.

4. It's always new. Friends aren't spankers yet? Doesn't matter. You'll still find new, mind-blowing stuff on Linkspank. Scroll down the page to see dozens of other sources and categories to surf as well.

3. It's iPhone optimized. No flash on the iPhone = sad. iPhone optimized = happy. You can browse YouTube videos in a special category on the home page. You can even browse profiles, edit your own profile, and add new spanks....

2. Copy and Paste Problem is Solved. It's "pretty hard" to copy a web link on your iPhone, isn't it? Now, you can get the Spank Button on your desktop and sync it to your iPhone. Your world will change - you can share any page instantly and save it for yourself by clicking the Spank Button in your bookmarks.

1. Be Smart, Win Prizes. Linkspank is a smarter way to share your brilliant discoveries. Some very very modest spanking will win you a gift certificate on iTunes - and there are bigger prizes too ;-). Check the contest page.

Anyone can win in Ridiculous iStuff Giveaway

2008-06-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Anyone, including the past winners of anything, ever, can win iStuff in the currently running Ridiculous iStuff Giveaway.

Why? Because there are so many ways to win and it's so easy. We have enough prizes for old spankers and new spankers. Also, since you get points for bringing friends to the site, new spankers actually have an advantage in the contest if they recruit friends and spank emails.

See the contest page for scores and help pages.

Win Big (or Small) in the Ridiculous iStuff Giveaway

2008-06-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

The Ridiculous iStuff Giveaway is running at www.linkspank.com/contest.

What you can win and how:

- iPhone 3G: via raffle or high score -

- iPod Touch: via raffle or high score -

- iTunes/Amazon gift certificate: recruit a couple friends -

Even your boss could do it.

www.linkspank.com/contest

An eloquent video explaining some points:

Picks: The Day the Internet Stood Still

2008-04-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Here are three picks for the day today. They have been published here using our new "publish spank" feature, which you can find by clicking "more actions" under a link.

Not the funniest South Park clip ever, but it has some solid moments.

If this video were on YouTube, it would probably be taken down already, due to the fact that South Park has released all its videos on www.southparkstudios.com

This video has been around since September but it's still good. When I see a video like this, I'm amazed that it has gotten 3 million views, but also that it has gotten *only* 3 million views. The reason, I think, is that sharing content is so inefficient - a problem that Linkspank is working on and is already the best thing ever for.

You can also find Super-Official Spank Picks on the Spankdroid's wall, just as and you can spanks on anyone's wall.

Inbox Management Feature: Mark all as Read / Delete All

2008-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

In response to your requests, we've added a mini-feature that should help with Inbox management for those who occasionally get buried under spanks.

Look for these buttons at the bottom of your Inbox:
The first button will remove the "NEW" tag from all of the spanks and messages on that page. The second one will send all of the spanks and messages on that page to the trash.

Your feedback and suggestions improve everyone's spanking experience.

The Winner of the Hawaii Trip is...

2008-03-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

The results of the Launch Contest are in. Thank you to everyone who has spanked or been spanked!

JO3L, our winner, will get the choice of his prize and joins the hall of Spankmasters. (You can see the all-time achievements of the community on the lifetime scores page, until the next contest starts).

JO3L

626 points

mcm

265 points

maren2000

255 points

djperry1973

156 points

DebbieK

134 points

J617UnderTheCity

88 points

We'll be having another contest soon, so stay tuned for your Monthly Spank and messages from the Spankdroid.

Who Will be the Next Spankmaster?

2008-03-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

The contest is drawing to a close within the next 24 hours. Winners will be announced within the week, probably on Monday or so. The delay is partly for the purpose of suspense and partly so that quality ratings can adjust after the contest is concluded.

Then, one of the Top Six -- the "Top One" you might say -- can start planning his or her Hawaii trip.

Spanking can get you Everywhere.

This Top One will also receive the honorary title of Spankmaster, which has been bestowed on fewer than ten spankers to date. You become a Spankmaster by winning a contest.

Contest Standings and Tips for One Week Remaining!

2008-03-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

The Current Top 6 to Go to Hawaii or Vegas

There is roughly a week left in the contest! Here are some tips.

1. Add emails and facebook contacts to your Address Book and spank them. You get points when they read your spanks and when they sign up.

2. Remember your Quality Rating - so far, the winner of the contest has usually also had the highest Quality Rating during the contest. Take note that the contest scores settle after the contest is done.

3. You can get Personalized Contest Advice so check it out!

4. Can YOU win? Honestly? If you import, invite, and diligently invite a bunch of contacts, you could. But the longer you wait to start, the better you'll have to be :-).

New Features: Publish your Linkspank Wall, Read your Inbox in iGoogle, and RSS feeds for walls

2008-03-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today we're trying some new publishing features to help you share Linkspank with us, and to stay connected yourself to the Spank at all times.

Publish your Linkspank Wall on MySpace or your Blog

You can get this widget and publish it on MySpace, your blog,
or anywhere you can paste a code

Read your Linkspank Inbox in iGoogle

Add your Linkspank Inbox to your iGoogle or feed reader

Follow an individual's wall, or all your friends' walls, via RSS feeds

Finally, you can follow your favorite friends' spanking, or the spanking of people you're not friends with, via RSS, if you do that sort of thing. Check our publishing tools page for more information.

These features are new, so let us know what you think. Hopefully your face will be melting off with excitement.

No Friends? You can still go to Hawaii

2008-03-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Linkspank is not about collecting friends -- it's about communicating with them.

That's why you can spank email addresses or Facebook friends, and they can read your spanks just by clicking. (Email addresses can read in one click; facebook friends have to add the Linkspank app once.) And you get points for these spanks.

What does it mean? It means you can spank your friends, even if they aren't spankers yet. And you'll get points, and if you're good you may have a shot at Hawaii. And if your spankees happen to join the spank, you'll get more points still.

Get your Content Featured on Linkspank TV

2008-03-07T14:24:00.001-08:00

We've got a 100% new episode of Linkspank TV coming up. The last episode was awesome, but this episode is going to rip the arms off of the last episode and use them as chopsticks to eat it.

Watch the last episode.

If you are a blogger, Internet TV star, comedian, stuntman, pro wrestler, clown or the next Tucker Max, you may want to consider spanking your materials on Linkspank, and getting your friends to spank those materials onward. Because the best of the best recent spanks will be featured on Linkspank TV. And of course, your spanking effort could well set you on the way to a free trip to Hawaii. Thank you.

Be Friends with Elaine

2008-03-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

Elaine truly wants you to be her friend.

www.linkspank.com/elaine

Then you can spank each other. If only all friendships were this simple.

Don't know what a Spank is?

2008-03-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

If you don't know what a spank is, or how to spank, check out our new orientation page:

www.linkspank.com/orientation

Which you can also find as "Orientation" under the "More" menu on the site.

We are constantly working on making the beautiful and delicate art of spanking as clear to newcomers as we can, with a minimum of effort required (since we are not here to work after all). Hopefully this is a step up. And if you have confused spank friends, pass it on... thank you.

Contest is Wide Open

2008-03-04T20:29:00.001-08:00

Here are the current Top 6 for Hawaii:

The contest is still just getting started and it's anyone's game. If you like surfing on the web, and wouldn't mind surfing in Hawaii, you should strongly consider getting your spank on. Check http://www.linkspank.com/contest

Part of the beauty in this contest is that you can win either competitively or by reaching certain point levels.

If you still don't know what a spank is, or you generally feel lost, check our Orientation Page. We are working on a new version of that page, which you may find more educational for spanking.

Contest Standings for March 1

2008-02-29T22:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the current Top 6:

This contest is still WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE open.

If you're new, you can get 30 points by completing your profile.

How to Win the Hawaii trip and other Questions Answered

2008-02-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

Here are the current Top 6 in the contest to go to Hawaii or Vegas:

And now, some FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Try yelling "FAQ". It sounds pretty cool.

Q: How do I Win? What do I have to do?
A: invite Friends, and Spank. Note: If your recruits use Linkspank a lot, you get more points for them. Another note: you can get points for friends you spank, even if they don’t join. Either way, you want to keep a good Quality Rating.

Q: What if I don’t know how to spank?
A: In that case, check the Orientation Page and the How to Spank page. After you do those you should know what a spank is. Otherwise, contact us.

Q: Can I play if I have no friends on the spank?
A: Yep. You get points for spanking emails and facebook friends. And when friends join you get extra points.

Q: I just joined and I have no friends. Do I really have a chance to be number on in the contest?
A: Honestly, yes. New spankers arguably have an edge, because the points they get for recruiting friends can count during the contest. And the points you get for spanks tend to spike suddenly after an initial dull period. It is quite true that you can take the contest, especially if you get moving in the first week or two.

Q: When does my score update?
A: “Periodically,” about once a day. You can update it yourself by visiting your Score Tracker. You can also see your personal Contest Advisor on whether you have a chance to enter the Top 6 and be in striking distance of Hawaii or Vegas.

Q: Can people not in the US win a Hawaii trip?
A: We’ll give the prize to people anywhere, as long as we can figure out how to buy you your ticket. If you are not in the U.S., we’ll arrange for a trip that has the same value as the Hawaii trip… e.g., if you’re in Japan, we won’t fly you to Hawaii but to a comparably awesome place. For people living everywhere, we can’t guarantee exactly what your prize will be, but we are enthusiastic to give you a bitchin prize.

Q: I’ll win an iPhone or a Wii if I get 2000 points, but I have 2 points right now. Is it really possible to win those things?
A: It’s hard but yes. You’re going to have to bring in friends, spank often, and be skilled. The point levels are based on the performance of spankers in previous contests, changes we’ve made to the point algorithm, and the length of the contest. Sure enough, winning those prizes will be difficult, but we think it’s possible. The point system is extremely scientific and we are always striving to make it as fair as possible. Also, do take note that the point system is a little counter-intuitive and your points will jump up after a bit of spanking.

If you’re having any other problems, confusion, questions, or philosophical insights, just contact us.

Unleash the Tidal Spank

2008-02-27T10:30:00.001-08:00

Let us hereby declare the public launch of Linkspank: we exist, and the world should know about it. Word was leaked by Mashable last night; we'll have many exciting launch-type events and communications coming up.

What does it really mean that we are "launched"? Well, for one thing it means the contest has begun. You'll see that there is lots of stuff to win, and different ways to do it. More details on that in the coming days.

Get spanking, winning, laughing, crying, whatever.

Customer Service via IM

2008-02-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

I don't look very much like this
but I have a similar enthusiasm for customer service

Happy Monday. In an experiment which may last 10 seconds, but who knows, spankers who have questions about the site, suggestions, or problems, can now reach our massive staff of hundreds of customer service employees by IM "linkspank" on google talk, yahoo, aol, or msn.

We won't be on IM all the time... maybe not even often. But if you happen to see us and you have a question, reach out!

(If we later unfriend you, it's because the service worked "too well" and we couldn't handle the volume.)

Carry on.

Spankathon being merged with Contests going forward

2008-02-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Spankers -

The Win a Wii / Spankathon initiative has been popular - we've given away Nintendo Wiis to spankers, and there are still some pledgers who are on the way to win.

Starting now, we're not allowing any new Spankathon pledges. We're going to build this concept into the next contest, to make things a bit simpler.

To all those who have made pledges - you can still complete them and get your prizes, of course.

We are still continuing our great tradition of awarding prizes for skilled procrastination.

Do you know about our Sexy Map Feature?

2008-02-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

During the calm before the storm that will be our next contest, we thought we'd point out a sexy, relatively secret feature of Linkspank: the maps.

At any spank, you can click "menu" and then "map for this link":

In the menu: see where it says, "map for this link"?

If you're interested in the history of a link, you can click it and go to a map:

Sexy

Suggestion: hover your mouse over "Watch this Link Spread" and then click "From the First Person".

It's a "young" feature and we hope later to make it easier to use and add the ability to do more with it.

What do you think? Damn sexy?

Contest Slightly Delayed Due to Insane Awesomeness

2008-02-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

Spankers,

Our Launch and Launch Contest are slightly delayed, not due to any problem but rather an unmanageable abundance of procrastination-related awesomeness that we are preparing for you.

Stay tuned, it should be starting "very soon".

If you don't have your contest strategy down yet, check out the Orientation Training Checklist to become proficient and ready to go after Hawaii.

Schedule Hawaii for Monday

2008-02-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

The next contest (I know it's been a while) is likely to begin Monday, or slightly earlier. The prize will probably be a trip to Hawaii for 2 or Vegas for 4, your choice. Giving away a Hawaii trip last time was too fun for us not to do it again!

This is where skilled procrastination can get You

To keep everyone in the game, we will have two divisions AND some of our previous winners will be exempted from winning this time.

This contest, as often, we will make slight changes to our points/score magic algorithm. Everything you've read in the help pages and know from experience will still be true...just the "magic" part of the magic algorithm will be a little different. Just part of what we do to make sure that good spanking is rewarded!

If you're new to our contests, here are some tips to get started:

Be friends with Spankdroid to get contest alerts.

Check out the contest page.

Read about how to win prizes.

What does the Facebook app do exactly?

2008-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

Our facebook app has some new added features and awesomeness. Here's what you can do with it:

* Join the spank in one click, using your facebook info (first name, last name, location, and your friends' names)

* Log in to linkspank via facebook. So, you don't have to remember or know your linkspank login (or even have one). We don't see your facebook login - facebook takes care of logging you in.

* Spank your facebook friends. You can send spanks to your facebook friends. They appear in your address book in Linkspank. When you spank 'em, they get a notification. Then they can click through to get to their Linkspank inbox.

* Some other little stuff - your Linkspank Wall of recently spanked links can be displayed on your facebook app and so forth.

The fastest way of sharing any link, with facebook friends, emails, and/or spankers - is and forever will be to use the QuickSpank button.

The linkspank app "loads" your facebook friends. This process is nothing more than what any facebook app does when you invite your friends to add the application, or you choose who to give a beer to or dropkick or do whatever you're doing with the app - we're just pulling up your friends' names and pics so you can select them.

By the way, we don't try to get your friends' contact information, like their emails or anything of the sort (this is not allowed by facebook although some other sites have tried it recently).

Happy Spanking!

New Feature: Save Groups of Recipients with a private nickname

2008-01-27T16:24:00.000-08:00

We are testing a small but much-requested feature: now, when you are spanking some contacts, you can save them under a single name -- for example, "My Best Friends" -- and then spanks those contacts in the future with the click of a little button.

See those black buttons? Ultra-fast spank nicknames,
that you can save as you spank by checking that little box under the recipients
and picking a name

It's just another way that we try to make Linkspank not only ridiculously fun, but also ridiculously convenient. Spank your friends faster than ever - by email address, facebook, or at a spanky profile.

We are testing and improving this feature, so let us know what you think. After all, this feature was your idea.

A Memo from Elaine

2008-01-26T15:12:00.001-08:00

Just released are four instructional videos as part of our new "Dear Elaine" series. We'll be incorporating them into the New Spanker Orientation process.

By the way, you can find Elaine, our host of Linkspank TV, at www.linkspank.com/elaine. She likes having lots of Spank Friends so her profile and add her!

How to Spank

How to Spank ALL your friends

How to Win Stuff

How to Win a Wii

Spank your Facebook Friends

2008-01-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

You've poked them. Now it's time to spank them.

Your life gets cluttered easily, and that includes your Facebook. Linkspank is helping to increase the fun AND reduce the clutter. It sounds impossible...but it is the truth.

You can now spank any of your Facebook friends, and they can join the spank automatically in one click.

Once you've added the Linkspank application in facebook, you can start typing their names and spank them immediately. (They also appear in your Address Book.)

Start typing a friend's name and you can spank them in facebook

If you have previously added the Linkspank app, try logging into Linkspank via facebook and this should make sure your Facebook contacts are imported.

Your facebook spankees receive your spanks as a notification:

Your spankees can pick up the Spank with minimal effort.

Give it a whirl and let us know what you think. With the stuff managed in Linkspank accounts, and with no need to create a new profile, your conscience can be clear as you spank the crap out of your friends.

When is the Next Contest?

2008-01-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

Soon! Probably to begin in January.

Log in, Join, Invite Friends to the Spank via Facebook

2008-01-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

We're testing some new features where you can log in to Linkspank through facebook, you can Join the Spank with one click using your Facebook information, and you can invite your Facebook friends to Join the Spank.

If you're a Spanker, you can help in two ways:

From the home page, try logging in via facebook
Click under "invite friends" to invite a few facebook friends, and ask them how it worked for them!

Let us know how it works so we can continue our vein attempts to satisfy everyone.

Coming soon: the ability to spank facebook friends who haven't joined yet.

Winners of the Holiday Contest.

2008-01-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Contest has two winners - MrZach in the Eastern Division, and KidBaby, in the Western Divisions.

They each can choose from an iPod Touch, an iPhone, a Bose SoundDock, a Roomba, a KitchenAid Mixer, a TomTom GPS, or a Zappos gift certificate.

Splitting the contest made it a pretty wide-open game. Really our baby site could have done fine with one division but we are getting our technology ready for big multi-divisional contests coming soon.

Final Standings: Eastern Division

Final Standings: Western Division

Since MrZach has won twice now we'll probably take him out of the running, at least temporarily, with maybe the same treatment for KidBaby.

Every one else in the Top 6 will get a spanky T-shirt (send us your address), and also a Point Certificate that they can play in a future contest to add points to their contest score instantly to win a future grand prize. The Point Certificates will have big face values to help those #2's and #3's move into number one :-).

Thanks everyone for being such a great spanker!

Is your Quality Rating Insane?

2008-01-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

During the contest, some people reported insane behavior in their quality rating. Specifically, their quality rating shot up, giving them a massive score.

This was not an error. It happened for two reasons. First, remember (due to recent changes) you now have a separate Quality Rating for each Contest. That quality rating isn't based on your whole lifetime of spanking, so it can change more easily than the lifetime quality rating can.

In particular, it's possible for your quality rating to go up or down when a bunch of people visit linkspank and read or don't read your spanks to them.

Second, the quality rating is VERY influential in calculating your score. It is designed this way to make sure that people's inboxes don't get clogged with an excess of unread spanks.

We change our algorithms from time to time. It's part of our mission to build the ultimate, most efficient procrastination machine ever. We don't change our algorithms during any contest though (that would hardly be fair).

For general info, see how to keep a high quality rating.

Get Paid to Procrastinate

2008-01-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

An experiment:

"We are hiring Researchers to add one quick step to their daily online browsing by "spanking" a link, up to once per day. It takes just a moment and we give you at least $5.
Honestly, this is a mindblowingly easy way to get a small amount of cash each day for doing something that you already do.
If you're good at it, there may be further opportunities and even a chance to get hired as a Full-Time Procrastinator. And would that not be the best job imaginable?
For more information see http://www.linkspank.com/researcher
or contact us at http://www.linkspank.com/index.php?page=contactus
Thanks for your interest."

Currently, this position is only open to people who are Level 1 or lower at as of the time of this post (or people who haven't joined the spank). So pass it to your friends :-).

Tips: How to End a Contest

2008-01-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

The current contest is almost over. Here are some tips on how to maximize your points (and chances of winning something) as a contest draws to a close.

Send a few Spanks on the last day. Sending a few Spanks before the contest is out can get you some extra points. How many spanks is the right amount? For most people, 3 spanks seems to be the magic number. Just make 'em good ones. :-)

Remember that your quality rating will "settle" over the next few days. People who forget this send an avalanche of spanks at the end of the contest. You totally have the right to do this, but your quality rating will almost certainly suffer, and hence your points as well.

Get friends to Join the Spank. You may have sluggy friends who haven't tried out the Spank yet. Explaining to these people that there is a deadline for their being a friend with you will motivate them... and can get you lots of extra points.

Hope that's helpful. Not that the Spank is just about contests. Tomorrow we'll share plans for new stuff coming soon on Linkspank.

Is that Nintendo Wii for today, or tomorrow?

2008-01-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Linkspankers, another Nintendo Wii has been won through the Spankathon. That brings the total number of Wii winners so far to 2. Both of these glorious individuals will be actually receiving their Wiis in the next week or so.

Someone got their Wii in one week... will you?

Which brings us to an interesting factoid: we currently have a third, unclaimed, Wii in our office. What does this mean? It means that

if you are the next spanker to complete a pledge, you will receive your Wii pretty much immediately.

There are a couple days of red tape, but no ordering, waiting, or acting like a desperate parent shopping during the Christmas season for you!

A Linkspank Christmas - 100+ Christmas Specials

2007-12-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to this link for 100+ complete Christmas specials:

(enjoy and happy holidays!)

Hannukah Harry saves Christmas and Easter!
A Rugrats Chanukah
Sesame Street Christmas Special 1978
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street 1978
A Muppet Family Christmas
The Simpsons Christmas Stories
Christmas with Mr. Bill
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 1968 Holiday Special
MST3K: Santa Claus
Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby Holiday Special
The Nanny Christmas Special
The Nanny CARTOON Christmas Special
The Nick & Jessica Christmas Special
An Amos and Andy Christmas
A Very Special ALF Christmas
Six South Park Christmas episodes
SCTV Dusty Towne Sexy Holiday Special
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
A Beverly Hillbillies Christmas
Justice League Christmas Special
Life with Louie Christmas Special
Merry Christmas Mr. Bean
A very Frasier Christmas
Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire
Star Wars Holiday Special
A Perfect Strangers Christmas
Boy Meets World: A Very Topanga Christmas
Pinky & The Brain Christmas Special
Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas
A He Man and She Ra Christmas
A Very Elimidate Christmas
Davy & Goliath Christmas Lost & Found
Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Welcome Back Kotter: A Sweathog Christmas
Mary Tyler Moore Show: Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid
A Robot Chicken Christmas
Bugs Bunny Christmas Carol
Rankin Bass Pinnochio's Christmas
A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Christmas
Family Guy Christmas Special
Rankin Bas Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Rankin Bass Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
A Gumby Christmas Carol and Santa Witch
A Growing Pains Christmas
A Garfield Christmas
Rankin Bass Night Before Christmas
Animaniacs Christmas Special
Dennis Leary Merry F$#@in' Christmas
The Doris Day Show: A Two Family Christmas
The Doris Day Show: Christmas Time in the City
Rankin Bass Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Back For Christmas
A Growing Up Gotti Christmas
Rocko's Modern Christmas
A Very Smurfy Christmas
Tis the Season to be Smurfy
Eight is Enough: Yes Nicholas, there is a Santa Claus
A Lou Grant Christmas
A Scarecrow & Mrs. King Christmas
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in The FBI: Dark Christmas
A Wonder Years Christmas
I Love Lucy Christmas
The Ray Bolger Show Christmas (1953)
A Will & Grace Christmas
A Barney Miller Christmas
Rankin Bass Year Without A Santa Claus
Santa guest stars on Gilligan's Island
Alice: A Semi-Merry Christmas
Alice: Mel's Christmas Carol
Bless This House Christmas starring Andrew Dice Clay
Just Shoot Me: Jesus, It's Christmas
A Hangin' With Mr. Cooper Christmas
The Extras Christmas Special
Kirk: The Christmas Show (Cameron, not James T.)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Batman: Christmas with the Joker (animated)
Yogi Bear's First Christmas
Yogi's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper
News Radio: X-Mas Story
American Dad: Most Adequate Christmas Ever
Casper's First Christmas
A Cabbage Patch Kids Christmas
A Flintstone Christmas
Christmas Comes to Pac(man) Land
A How I Met Your Mother Holiday
A Scooby Doo Christmas
Casper's First Christmas
Wanda Sykes in A Wanda at Large Christmas
Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Krueger's Christmas
A Cosmic Christmas
Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales
Boondocks Christmas

Bonus fun:
Night Before Christmas (1903)
Max Fleischer's Rudolph cartoon (1948)
Scrooge (1934)
A Christmas Story
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Contest Leaders in Both Divisions.

2007-12-22T16:06:00.001-08:00

As we explained before there are two divisions in the current contest. Here are the current contest leaders in both divisions. With 13 days left to go in the contest, this is still anybody's game.

Western Division

Eastern Division

Merry Spanking.

Notes for Powerusers: Contest Quality Ratings and Score Refresh Rates

2007-12-18T23:12:00.000-08:00

This post is all about Linkspank technology, baby. If you are new to Linkspank this might not make too much sense and you may want to start on the help pages or the orientation checklist.

Contest Quality Ratings.
Starting with this contest, you have a "contest quality rating" that is based only on the spanks you sending during the contest, and your contest score is based in part on that quality rating. (Your lifetime quality rating is not a factor in your contest score.)

Since it's still early in the contest, your contest quality rating is probably chillin at 0.5, which is the provisional value until you have sent some spanks and some time has passed. Then it should change (hopefully jump up) and your contest score will change.

The contest quality rating was introduced to make sure that the playing field was re-leveled with each new contest.

When does my score refresh?
Until "recently", your lifetime and contest scores refreshed whenever you logged in to linkspank. But the scores are calculated using all kinds of fancy algorithms and we figure that you want your login experience to occur in the blink of an eye (we do when we go on the spank!). So now, your score will update on a regular basis (roughly once / day) independent of your login.

However, you may see your completely up-to-date contest AND lifetime scores and quality ratings at any time by visiting your Score Tracker page. When you visit the page, we whip out all the algorithms and give you your latest score.

That is all.

A Wii Awarded; Feature Updates.

2007-12-18T09:17:00.001-08:00

Nintendo Wii? Check.

Recently NathanA earned his Nintendo Wii through the Spankathon and we'll be delivering it in the New Year.

People are often shocked about what we offer in the Spankathon and the contests. But awarding prizes is a big part of Linkspank and our dream to bring joy to every spanker's monotonous existence. And to those who have yet to achieve a pledge, we'd love to give you a Wii too :-).

Some New Features

As mentioned before we're making lots of changes to the site in our never-ending quest to create the ultimate procrastination machine.

The homepage for spankers who are logged in has changed a little and will continue to change.

We've added a Linkspank, Inc. Orientation Training Checklist for new spankers to help them get going right away.

Thanks for your understanding and, as always, we love your feedback on anything & everything.

What's Up with the "Western Division"?

2007-12-14T10:14:00.001-08:00

The Holiday Contest is the first one with divisional play - every spanker is seeded into either the Eastern Division or the Western Division.

You are automatically seeded into one of the divisions. Each of the divisions will have its own Top 6 scorers, and its own winner - so you are competing only with the spankers in your division. So we can give away twice as many prizes and increase your odds of winning.

The divisions are equal in all ways - they are seeded by spankers' lifetime scores (if you don't have a lifetime score you're seeded into one of the two randomly).

www.linkspank.com/contest

The Holiday Contest has Begun.

2007-12-14T00:03:00.000-08:00

The holiday contest has begun. See www.linkspank.com/contest for the totally radical prizes. This one is shorter than the last one, and it has two divisions. We'll get in to all that on the blog over the next several days.

But a quick tip: don't forget to spank your friends by email. This tactic can lead you to the top in a couple ways. First, you can get lots of points for your friends who you bring to the site. Second, your quality rating will generally be higher if you spank people you know, rather than befriending people on the site (although that's cool by us).

spank long, spank strong.

Start Doing those Pushups

2007-12-12T14:28:00.001-08:00

The Holiday Contest may start as soon as Friday. SpankDroid will spank his friends when it does start, so stay glued to your Inbox. We will have 7 prizes in two divisions thanks to great suggestions from the community.

Don't Freak Out

2007-12-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Just kidding - we didn't think you were freaking out. Just FYI, we are changing some of the menus and details about the Spank. For example, the current menu links on the right-hand column of the screen are now under "More" in your black profile box.

Our goal is to tune your procrastination experience to perfection. Thanks for your patience and we always love your feedback!

The Winner of the Hawaii Contest.

2007-12-10T19:45:00.001-08:00

MikeWMiller is the winner of the Hawaii Contest! In somewhat legendary fashion, he has now pushed himself up to the top Lifetime Scorer, and he is the only 2nd degree (two-time) Spankmaster.

This contest was quite competitive, and each of the Top 6 scorers put in a hefty effort. Many spankers outside of the Top 6 contributed greatly to the community during the Hawaii Contest, and we are grateful and hope to get some prizes into your hands in the future.

Here are the final scores:

1. MikeWMiller
911 points

2. KidBaby
756 points

3. MrZach
738 points

4. Elaine
484 points

5. JO3L
394 points

6. guenmen
357 points

Each of these Top 6 (who have won consolation prizes) is a champion spanker, a benefactor to the community of laughs, tender moments, and wise observations. But I don't need to tell you that - you know, because you have enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

The next contest is starting in about 2 or 3 days, so stay tuned. In case you're wondering, MikeWMiller has already volunteered to sit it out. Also, as always, we will be implementing some improvements to the contest system, new and exciting prizes, and new ways to win.

Thanks again and congratulations!!

6 Tentative prizes for the next contest

2007-12-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

A contest is beginning this week. The winners (yes, that's a plural) will get to choose one prize apiece from a list. Here is the tentative list of options:

Nintendo Wii

Bose SoundDock

iPhone

iPod Touch

Sony PSP

some car GPS system.

Are you stoked or what? If not, what prize do you want to see on here? Send us feedback.

What do YOU want for the holidays?

2007-12-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

Please tell us what should be inside this box

Our Next Contest is Starting Soon! Drop us a line and tell us something you have been wanting for a while. We're always looking for awesome prizes to give you.

2 contests, 1 pledge drive, and a spankmaster walk into a bar.

2007-12-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii Contest is over. Results will be forthcoming next week, here and via The Monthly Spank.

A new contest, The Holiday Contest, with new prizes, (slightly) new rules, and new winners, will begin next week.

Between now and then, always and forever (until further notice), you can also chase down a Nintendo Wii or Bose SoundDock just by meeting your Spankathon pledge. Then you can start off the New Year right with a new pledge - to play the Wii constantly in between Linkspank sessions.

Toolbar is Out for Testing in Firefox.

2007-12-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Our toolbar is out for testing. If you are Level 3+, and you use Firefox, contact us for a piece of the action. An Internet Explorer toolbar will come within the month.

Contest Countdown: 7 Days Remaining

2007-11-30T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii contest has 7 days remaining (see the contest page). If you're a latecomer, you still have a little time to try to steal the contest.

Also, a new contest will be starting shortly after the Hawaii contest, so if you're new to the Spank now would be a good time to complete your checklist and get ready to go. :-)

Win 30 Points, Be on Linkspank TV

2007-11-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Check this post on Inside Linkspank for a point-winning and fame-garnering opportunity.

How to Steal the Hawaii Contest Real Quick-Like

2007-11-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

We're teetering at 1000 users. In celebration of hitting our first milestone (without formally launching or doing any PR), the person who recruits the 1000th user gets Thousand User Bonus: 100 points.

Also - we're still missing a Continent (Antarctica), so whoever recruits the first spanker located in Antarctica wins the Operation: Antarctica Bonus: 150 points.

Winning one or both of these prizes could get your ass to Hawaii real fast.

Hawaii - 80 degrees F in January

Happy Spanksgiving! (with holiday logo)

2007-11-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

This image was submitted by one of our spankers. An amazing job! We were hip to the "spanksgiving" pun last year (wow that was a while ago!) but this is a great logo - done without our font and the turkey is a stroke of GENIUS. Thanks, anonymous spanker.

We're thankful for you, you're thankful for us... you get the picture. Hopefully your stomach doesn't feel like this.

Sneak Peek of the Toolbar for Level 3+ Spankers

2007-11-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

If you're a spanker of Level 3 or higher, we'd love to give you a sneak preview of our Linkspank Toolbar.

A very small preview of the toolbar

Currently, the Toolbar is available only for Firefox or Safari - not Internet Explorer. The Internet Explorer version is coming soon!

The Toolbar is still being perfected, but we think you're going to love it. Also, as a tester of the Toolbar, you can provide feedback to get the features that you want!

Curious to learn more? Then sign up for the Toolbar.

Wall Street Journal - Free

2007-11-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

As Lifehacker reports, the Wall Street Journal will soon offer its content for free, and as a step it's providing for free its article that have been Dugg.

You can read and spank these articles at Linkspank on our Wall Street Journal (free) via Digg page.

(You can also browse the Journal at the Linkspank WSJ.com: US Business page.)

If you see one of those lonely Diggers, thank them for reading (and paying for) the WSJ so you can spank it to your friends for free. :-)

Four New Features

2007-11-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

here are four new features on Linkspank:

Contest Advisor. Click here for information on how close you are to the Top 6 to win a trip to Hawaii. You also get a personal strategy for climbing to the top.

Attaching Links. Sometimes one great spank reminds you of another and you want to share that one with friends too. You can attach one spank to another by clicking "Attach a Link". Look in the menus under a spank and you'll find it (we hope!).

Linkspank TV. We aim to please. So we have created a pleasing mini Internet TV show. It's a way to catch up on the latest popular spanks - and maybe see yourself highlighted. You can find the latest episode, as well as the spanks referenced in it, at www.linkspank.com/tv.

Email Preferences. Linkspank TV is the first of multiple new content features that we will lovingly desposit in your Linkspank Inbox. But it's important to us to keep Linkspank 100% spam-free. You can edit which content features you receive in your email preferences. And if that still doesn't make you happy, let us know!

Spank Ye Onward

Bring Home the Bullion as a Spanky Sponsor Rep

2007-11-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

This can make Linkspank better. Plus you keep some.

Linkspank is piloting the Advantage:Sponsor^TM program and seeking Sponsor Reps to help us set up contest sponsorships.

Your job is to identify and approach potential contest sponsors; set up and attend informational meetings with these sponsors.

It's a paid position.

For more information and to apply, see www.linkspank.com/jobs

Thank you. Spank long, spank strong.

Linkspank's facebook application

2007-11-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Linkspank’s facebook application is now available at apps.facebook.com/linkspank.

With this app, you have the option share your linkspank wall on your facebook profile. This way, your unenlightened facebook friends will still have a chance at enjoying the beautiful spanks that you have imparted to the world.

You also have the option to show your Spankathon progress. Unenlightened facebook friends who click on your link and create a profile will move you closer to winning your Wii or other Spankathon prize. (They will also boost your contest points toward Hawaii.)

Lastly, you can invite your facebook contests to join the spank as your friend (once again, giving you credit also). This is a great way to invite facebook friends whose email addresses may not be in your address book.

Give it a shot and let us know what you think.

Two Pilots: TV Show, Facebook App

2007-11-04T21:53:00.000-08:00

1. We are testing a facebook app for linkspank. Check it if you dare.

2. Linkspank TV pilot exists. Way rough. Way indicative of an awesome future.

Procrastination... or Productivity?

2007-11-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

You can be this productive.

Lifehacker has recommended ten ways to prevent brain drain while trying to be productive. Here are some highlights:

Read something entertaining. i.e., go to Linkspank.

Play a game. i.e., go to Linkspank.

Play a sport. Sounds like tag-team full-contact spanking to me.

Go to a movie. Linkspank has lots of movies.

Break down your project into bite-sized chunks. i.e., visit linkspank on the hour, every hour.

Listen to classical music, Take A Walk, Listen to motivational CDs, and Meditate. All things best done in Hawaii... thanks to Linkspank.

Yes, Virginia, there is a SpankDroid

2007-10-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Some people have trouble believing the full awesomeness of Linkspank. In particular they wonder, are these prizes you can in the

Contest

and

the Spankathon

for real?

The answer is no. Oh wait, I mean it's "yes." These prizes are completely real ladies and gentleman! Get your asses out there and win some stuff!

As a tangible reminder, check the winners page - those people are currently chillin with their linkspank prizes, right as your are prizelessly reading the page.

Seeking CTO

2007-10-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is a quite rough description - but we are primarily networking to find candidates so hopefully this will get the ball rolling.

Seeking: Bad-Arse who thinks this kind of vortex is a fun place to be

Linkspank CTO.

Linkspank is starting to scale and we're looking to fill a supremely important position - CTO.

This individual lives and breathes Apache and MySQL, and has full command of PHP and Javascript. This is primarily an admin type position, but you should be able to code PHP and Javascript and be willing to do that as a big part of the job!

Key Responsibilities:

+ Continuity - providing 24 x 7 continuity to the Linkspank site.

+ Security - of apache.

+ Database - MySQL quality and scale, future db ring, integration of code with server and db setup.

+ Server Scale and quality - involving integration of apache and mysql.

+ Development of code and site appearance.

This is a job for DOERS. You must be non-jaded and eager to actually do stuff like program, roll up your sleeves, do stuff because for a while there will be no one to delegate to!

This position is located in Cambridge, MA. The position is not starting immediately. In fact, start date is uncertain, probably sometime early 2008.

Thanks to everyone who's interested. Pass it along and you can contact us at www.linkspank.com/jobs

Another (very fast) Way to Invite Friends.

2007-10-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

As always, we're experimenting to bring you a superlative spanking experience. For today: a new way to invite friends - just email them a link to your profile page!

To get your link, just click "Invite Friends" at the top of the page while you are logged in to Linkspank.

Send your friends an engraved invitation to Join the Spank

This way of inviting is good for people who don't want to import contacts. Also, it's the best way of dodging spam filters. But it's also a good idea to import your contacts - because then you can spank your friends by email. And remember, spanking your friends' emails is also a great way to get them to join (plus then you can spank them either way).

How the Hawaii Contest is Different from Past Contests

2007-10-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a few notes on how this contest is different from last contest.

(Admittedly if you're a new spanker, this post might not be so interesting to you, but someone asked about this.)

1. Not different: the Top Scorer in the contest gets the Grand Prize.

2. Different: This contest has Consolation Prizes for everyone who finishes in the Top Six but doesn't win the Grand Prize. (Replaces the "Semi-Random" Prize.)

3. Different: Rather than showing a leaderboard of the contest scores, we're just showing who's currently in the Top 6. We think this will be a bit more fun. The idea may be tied into our upcoming TV show.

4. Different: We hope to introduce some personalized coaching for spankers who want to know what they should do to get in the Top 6 or even the Top 1.

5. Different: The prize is not a technological device. Instead, it is a getaway vacation to one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Hawaii - a beautiful place, a beautiful prize

Someone is Going to Hawaii

2007-10-23T13:04:00.001-07:00

The contest is underway!

To see who's winning on the race to Hawaii, visit www.linkspank.com/contest

Small Clarification on Spankathon Extra Prize

2007-10-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

The "extra" prize for the scorer of the most points during the Spankathon WILL still be awarded based on who has the most points through Oct 31 (the deadline for the Spankathon before we made it open until further notice). Hopefully that makes sense.

That is all.

Hawaii

2007-10-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, our greatest contest ever is starting quite soon:

www.linkspank.com/contest

Help Us Represent - Seeking PR rep.

2007-10-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

We have a super bazillion stuff coming up at Linkspank.

Hence we are seeking a PR rep. Please pass along the word.

Inquires can be sent to prdiva [@] linkspank.com

The Environment: Blog Action Day

2007-10-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Blog Action Day is about unifying blogs in a collective voice:

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic.

We here at Linkspank Super-Officially endorse the environment - both its existence and its care. Here's a toast to preserving the basic things in life, so that we may enjoy the finer things, like a walk in the woods...or the pleasure of receiving an excellent linkspank.

Eternal Spankathon...and the Wall of Shame.

2007-10-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Spankathon is going great - over 600 new spankers have been pledged.

Two items of Spankathon news:

We are going to extend the Spankathon - indefinitely, until further notice - to make sure people get their Wii's and Bose SoundDocks. Keep inviting and you'll get your prize!

This bitchin' thing is your destiny... so get on it.

Coming soon - a WALL OF SHAME for Spankathon pledgers with NO real progress. If you are trying, you won't be on the wall. Otherwise, prepare for a public spanking. "Oh no, you wouldn't!" Dude, this is Linkspank. Yes, we would.

Happy spanking and as always, we love to hear about what is confusing you on the site, what worries you, and what you find just delightful.

3 New Features and Attractions.

2007-10-02T12:08:00.001-07:00

Here's some new stuff on the site.

1. New Stuff and More New Stuff. Check the homepage and a "more news" page for quick link deliciousness. Either makes a good homepage fer ya.

2. Improved Address Book. When spanking, try clicking "Address Book." We've improved the menu and added the ability to delete emails from your Address Book.

3. Email Privacy Pledge. If you are afraid to import your contacts, check out this pledge by the Spankdroid. We've also added a feature that makes it virtually impossible to send out invitations by an accidental click.

Spankathon activity is going well... make your pledge and get inviting! Many have earned T-shirts now and some are shooting for bigger prizes.

Are Your Invites Joining Linkspank?

2007-09-27T04:45:00.000-07:00

It's Spankathon time, so here is a brief note of encouragement to pledgers.

Consider these two facts:

The average spanker required 3 invitations before joining the spank.
90%+ of spankers remain active on the site.

Combine these facts and you get the following conclusion:

Invite your friends at least three times -- 90+% of them will thank you later!

In fact, your friends may not even have opened your invitation yet! You can see who has, and reinvite your friends, all on the fancy Invite Tracker page.

Complete Your Profile: A Checklist for Spankers

2007-09-26T10:25:00.001-07:00

We've created a little checklist to help spankers finish off their profile and get started using the site's fantastic features.

This feature was inspired by LinkedIn's similar feature. There is a lot to learn and get used to on Linkspank. I guarantee you that if you go through it you will be a better spanker. Plus, you will have the satisfaction of completing something 100% - and getting 30 points.

Go to the checklist

Operation Antarctica

2007-09-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of the Spankathon, here is a bonus point-winning opportunity. (It will count toward your lifetime points, and also your points during the Spankathon, which can help you win the mysterious, still-unnamed prize for the top contest scorer.)

Linkspank currently has registered users on five of the seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. You can browse linkspankers on our Friend Map,

The Linkspank Friend Map

which is built on Google maps (the "API") and which has benefited from recent improvations in "geocoding" made by Google.

In the spirit of charting the globe, we will aware 50 points to the first person who recruits a spanker in Australia, and 150 points to the first person who recruits a spanker in Antarctica.

Recruiting this penguin could earn you 150 points

The spankers you recruit don't have to be permanent residents of those continents (those are hard to come by in Antarctica) but they have to be actually logging into Linkspank from those locations.

If you achieve your goal, declare victory to us so we can give you your points.

Extended Spankathon: Making the Possible Inevitable.

2007-09-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Getting a Wii has gone from "possible" one step closer to "inevitable."

Many spankers have pledged in the Spankathon and are out there busting their humps to get a Wii. Other spankers have pledged and are slacking a bit.

For all of you, getting 50 friends on takes time and we want to give away as many Wii's as possible.

So, the Spankathon has been extended until October 31.

Go to the pledge page to make a pledge and track your progress.

Spanking Emails: Easier than Unlocking the iPhone?

2007-09-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Spanking Emails

Spanking emails has gone from easy to super-easy. So if you're looking for a Nintendo Wii (which has outsold the other game systems worldwide) pay attention:

Now when you click "spank", choose "all contacts who haven't seen it"...
...to automatically fill the box with people you've invited, as well as your friends on linkspank. The emails you spank can still go and watch / see what you sent them without joining linkspank - but it's a good reminder to them of the rich tapestry of spank that is available to them.

How to Get 1,000 Points

A beautiful milestone was reached today: MikeWMiller hit 1,000 points. While his points may decrease (due to the vicissitudes of quality ratings), he still has hit it and that's a great milestone.

How did he do it? By inviting friends, and spanking them great links. Consequently, an iPhone and special Flair-giving powers have rained upon him.

Who knows what special powers will await him if he attains the fabled Level 6?

Join his ranks! Make your pledge, try a spank or two to your contacts, and go for that Nintendo Wii.

Special Power: Giving Flair

2007-09-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

We stated a while back that spankers of higher Levels would acquire special powers, and we are now testing the first special power: giving flair.

A piece of flair

To give flair, you must be a Level 4 or higher spanker. (Anyone can receive flair.) Visit the profile of the lucky recipient and click "Give Flair" under their picture.

The Importance of Flair

More details:
+ Flair is vital to your social status and self-respect.
+ You can only give flair once a week.
+ Both you and the recipient receive a couple points.
+ The flair item and your message are PUBLIC.
+ Flair must be approved by the recipient - then it will appear in a "flair" tab on that person's profile.

Four Steps to Get Friends

2007-09-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Spankathon pledges continue to rise -- very exciting! Do these Four Steps to get friends on linkspank.

Step 1. Import your contacts from webmail or from Outlook.

* Be REALLY enthusiastic!! Or your invitation may be ignored.
* Invite Groups - for a "domino effect."

Step 2. Urge your friends to join by email, phone, and in person.

* Send separate emails to your friends, asking them to click the link (maybe in the spam box ) and join.
* Call your friends and be like, "WTF?!"
* Give them a demo at a computer and make them join.

Step 3. Reinvite your friends.

* Most people don't even open the first invitation to a site!
* Can you remember how many times you were invited to linkspank before you joined?

Step 4. Send spanks to their email addresses.

* If you keep spanking people at their email address, they will eventually succumb.
* Just start typing an email in the "recipients" box to get it auto-filled.
* Repeat, until they join.

(This page is maintained here on linkspank.com)

It takes a lot of work to get people to try something new... but in the case of Linkspank they are usually glad they did!

New Feature: Quick Search

2007-09-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

We are testing out a new feature: quick search. There is a little button at the top right of your screen, where the old search used to be:

click "quick search" to search right in the same page

Here is what it should do for you:
* make it really fast to find a link you have received, sent, clicked, saved, whatevered, by searching "my stuff"
* make it really fast to find and visit the profile of a particular spanker
* give you a new way to find new new new stuff online.

For example, you may wonder what is new with the Nintendo Wii, especially if you're planning on winning one in the Spankathon:

The search results are not as comprehensive as a search engine like Google, but the links are REALLY REALLY new :-)

Give it a whirl and let us know what you think!

Spankathon begins on Friday!!

2007-09-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Spankathon begins on Friday -- cast your pledge now on the contest page.

There are six prizes for meeting your pledges, including the Team Spank Track Jacket:

and the Nintendo Wii:

There will also be a special price, announced soon, for the person scoring the most points during the contest.

Can I pledge now?

Yes, pledge now to build our collective goal, which currently stands at 260 new spankers.

You get credit toward your pledge prize for any spankers who join after your pledge. (However, you get contest points only for spankers who join after the contest starts on Friday.)

260 new spankers and counting

This is the first ever Spankathon, so our pledge level of 260 so far is very exciting. The more spankers we have, the better our content gets (and the more people you have to share links with). That's why for Linkspank, Bigger is Better.

You Think, Therefore Linkspank Is

2007-08-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

Organizations like to talk about talk about how important their members are. But it's REALLY TRUE for Linkspank. Most bug fixes, suggestions for minor improvement and suggestions for major improvements -- not to mention new spankers, which gives everyone better content, and even better the linkspanks themselves -- it all comes from the spankamaniacs.

We are just like Bryan Adams: Everything We Do, We Do 4 U.

So let us know what you like, what you do like, and what problems in your life of web, viral videos, staying in touch with college buddies, procrastinating at work, keeping in touch with what's new, we can possibly help with and how.

And when you find a bug or a problem, let us know. ;-).

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this has been a public service announcement!

New Feature: Import from Outlook

2007-08-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

Because some of your best friends are in your Outlook contacts only.

We've thrown up a page where you can import your Outlook contacts. Then you can see which of these friends are using Linkspank. You also have the option of selecting and inviting specific emails to invite to Linkspank.

Since Linkspank is a great prelude to the workday, and a great complement to eating lunch at your desk, importing contacts from Outlook was a sorely needed feature... which hopefully will turn out to be a sorely awesome feature.

It's new so if you experience any problems with it, since let us know.

This way, at the watercooler you can ask, "Didja get that spank I sent you?"

Winners of the Earn your iPhone Contest.

2007-08-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

MikeWMiller won an iPhone
for being the top contest scorer.

400 points

djperry1973 won an iPhone
in the random drawing of the top ten contest scorers.
94 points

Random winners of gift certificates included schwenks, Tirso, gsbrob, and kcin.

Final standings are available on the contest page. For our iPhone winners we couldn't have had two more deserving people. Both winners sent great spanks and got friends on the site.

Thanks to everyone who participated. What a great contest!!

Coming soon: the Spankathon.

New Feature: Groups

2007-08-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

If your lifelong dream is to spank a dozen people simultaneously, your lifelong dream would appear to be on the verge of coming to pass.

That's because we've added an experimental new feature: groups.

Groups: a new way to bring spankers together

Here's how a group works:

Click "Groups" at the right of a page.
Join a group.
The group name will be added to your address book.
When the group is spanked (by you or someone else), all the group's members receive the spank.

Give it a try and send feedback on how it goes. Also if you want to add a group contact us with the group name and description.

Thanks for being part of the ongoing spank experiment!

Reminder: Points "Settle" after Contest

2007-08-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

There are just a few days left in the current contest!

Be reminded that your points will finalize a couple days after the contest is over. Why? Because your quality rating depends on people reading the spanks you send them. We have to give everyone a chance to read the spanks you send toward the end of the contest so your quality rating (and hence your points) can be finalized.

So, if you are tempted to send lots of spanks at the end of the contest, remember not to send too many, or your quality rating will go down and so will your finalized score.

Tiny feature: view your own blog

2007-08-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

A user pointed out to me that he couldn't see his own blog. Other people could read it but he couldn't see what it looked like.

Good point! So a tiny feature has been added: click on My Profile -> Blog, and if you have a blog on the site there is a link to "view blog." (This may not work if you have added your blog within the last day or so.)

thanks for the suggestion... keep em comin'.

Get Found, and Avoid Redundant Invitations

2007-08-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Adding additional emails to your profile will improve your life in a couple ways:

1. You'll get the friend request through linkspank when someone invites you to linkspank at one of your other email addresses.

2. You'll be found by friends who import their contacts and have one of your other email addresses in their contacts.

New Feature: Public Friend Link

2007-07-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Introducing a new feature: the public friend link.

A friend link is a public link that you can publish on your own website, blog, or facebook or myspace or linkedin profile.

When a visitor to your website clicks your friend link and creates a profile:

1. You get credit for bringing that person to the site.

2. A friend request is sent from that person to you.

You get points for that person even if you don't approve their friend request.

Friend link posted under Notes on facebook

See the how to page to get your link. Also, as with any new feature please send feedback and let us know how we can help.

4 questions about Points

2007-07-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

1. Why Spanking is not Spamming

Q: If every person you send a link to is a "spank", doesn't that encourage spam?

A: A good Spank 101 question. The answer is No, because your points depend a lot on your quality rating, which depends on whether people open your mail and click on the link or embedded video. The quality rating strongly DIScourages spam.

In fact, since the quality rating was established, spankers who have sent fewer links with higher quality ratings have usually been victorious. (On surprising victories, see also "Point Spikage" below.)

2. Why you should spank your enemies... and send their spanks onward

Q: "I spanked something to about a dozen people. X saw it and for the sake of argument, he spanked it on to another dozen people. Do I get any credit for having originally spanked it? All other things being even (e.g. number of our friends who open it) which of us comes out ahead, or do we both make out evenly?"

A: the exact recipe for points is secret, but the basic idea is that it's good for both of you when you spank someone and he spanks it onward. you do get points when he passes it onward. he gets points too.

if you think he will send it onward, you might as well spank him so you get a piece of the action. otherwise he'll probably see it (if he's playing for keeps) and spank it but then you get no action.

from his point of view, a good link is always worth spanking even if it originated with someone else. the reason is that he gets more points from the spank than you do.

so, oddly, even if you're directly competing, it makes sense for you to spank him, and for him to spank it on (if it's a good link and the recipients like it).

if you spank him, it's illegal for him to try sneakily to start it fresh as a new spank. that's not allowed and you can report it (to your gain and his detriment, though it's an informal process at the moment).

so, spank your enemies. but see the next point.

3. Spanking Strangers

Q: "Can I spank strangers?"

A: No. You can only spank your friends on the site, and email addresses that you have. We played around with this idea and that way turned out best.

It may be a win-win to be friends with your competitors - particularly if you read and like the same types of links.

4. Point Spikage

Q: "How did X's points skyrocket with just a couple posts?"

A: there is a major reason, and a minor reason. the major reason is that X probably invited some friends to the site. friends can win you some major points!!! second, X may have a very high quality rating. the quality rating is very powerful. someone who brings lots of friends to the site and sends some high-quality links can amass muchos puntos.

a conversation we all need to have.

2007-07-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Earn your iPhone Contest is beginning.

2007-07-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

That's right: the Earn your iPhone contest is beginning on Monday. Check the contest page for the contest status, who wins, prizes, and current standings.

Further info:
How to Win Prizes

A couple new features, an upcoming contest

2007-07-19T01:44:00.000-07:00

+ In test is a new homepage. If you click on "home" you may see it. As always, your feedback is welcome...

+ Minor feature: you can now unfriend someone discreetly by visiting that person's profile.

+ Very minor feature: if you would like to change your primary email account, you may now do this.... by going to "My Profile" > "Email". You must add an email address, then confirm it, and then you can make it your primary one.

+ If you're a blogger, don't forget to add your blog to your profile.

+ A contest is coming soon. Both iPhone and non-iPhone enthusiasts are likely to be excited.

Browse by Source, and another thing

2007-07-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Some more experiments are under way:

Browse by source. If you look to the right, you may see a "Sources" link under the usual categories link. This is a little experiment -- just another way to browse links. Let us know what you think.

Spanker level. Second, you may have noticed that you have a "spanker level". This is a supplemental new measure to aid in esteeming yourself, comparing yourself to others, and spanking.

Spanker levels also serve another purpose. As you attain higher levels, you acquire special powers. No one has a high enough level for special powers yet, but some of you will discover them as you advance.

Results of the Third Ultimate Linkspank Contest

2007-07-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

1. The New Spankmaster: Tirso.

The Fourth Spankmaster

Tirso made a fabulous performance and dislodged vin at the last minute from a lead held throughout the contest. But as Tirso placed second in the last contest, once might say that he was due, and by the same rationale vin will be due next time.

Tirso is going with the Black Bose SoundDock.

Gee, don't you want one of those, or another sweet prize? Then you ought tune in to a future contest. Every contest is different and they happen often.

2. The Semi-Random Grand Prize
The winner of the Weighted Lottery / Semi-Random Grand Prize is MrZach.

Coming in 7th in the contest, it is no surprise that MrZach won the semi-random prize.. There was roughly a 2/3 chance that one of the top ten scores would win the Semi-Random Prize.

MrZach, lucky-ass random winner. This could be YOU.

MrZach is going with the Apple TV:

.

Final Standings:

Points can shift a bit shoftly after the contest ends (the "dust has to settle" a bit to determine everyone's quality rating). For both Tirso and MrZach, a high quality rating helped them win. Soon we will publish more guidance on the quality rating for those of you who are interested.

3. Random Winners
As always, we had TWO RANDOM WINNERS of gift certificates: they were SkinnyMuscles and Chad.

4. Quality Appreciation

We are working on developing new ways of identifying and recognizing sweet contributions by linkspankers. This time around, we would like to honor the most-clicked links during the contest:

First, "One of those days in a hotel...", brought to us by Jeremy.

Second, "Paul Potts sings opera", brought to us by vin.

Thanks to both of you - these links were enjoyed by MANY people.

Thank you EVERYONE for participating! Whether you were on the giving or receiving end of a spank, you have enriched others' life and increased the general enlightenment of the planet by 110% percent.

The next contest is coming soon.... and we have a prize coming up that will blow you away. (No, it's not Microsoft Table.) Until then, beef up your quality rating and your lifetime points.

happy spanking.
sd.

Further Tweaks to the Point System.

2007-07-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

You may wonder why I update on the minutiae of the point system -- unless you have your eye on the contest board and lifetime points, in which case you demand all the minutiae you can get!

The point system has been updated a little. Two changes:

(1) The quality rating is weighted more than before in determining your contest points and your lifetime points.

(2) Bringing new friends to linkspank is weighted more than before.

For details, you can check "more about your score", linked also from "My Profile."

These changes do NOT affect the third contest in any way. There are never changes to the point system during the contest. Someday, far in the future, the point system won't even change much at all.

that's it.

/sd.

ps. you may have wondered if having a high lifetime score is worth anything. the answer is yes... but it's a secret for now :-).