When I started my site in the fall of 2000 I never thought it would encompass my life the way it has. I never would have thought it would open so many doors and connect me with some many people both far and wide. Now here I am in my 7th year and I’m still going at it. The URL has changed several times over and the content has evolved from interest to interest, with the readership base changing in and out. But the concept has remained the same. The concept of sharing myself, whether it be through my photos, experiences or just casual hypertexting.

At some point today, I’m gonna hit the one million mark, which I’ve probably already hit over a year ago, if I hadn’t switched counters awhile back. What does that mean? It means a lot of hours, a lot of viewers and hopefully a lot more. Possibly an impact? The site has really impacted my life experiences over the years and I hope I have made some sort of impact on you as well, regardless of size.

So what lays ahead? I don’t know if I can answer that question, because every year, I look back and realize how many new and different experiences I have. Opportunities that have arisen from the unexpected. Moments that can’t be predicted. Hopefully, you’ll tag along for the ride.

What I would like to say is Thank you for being a part of this adventure, Thank you for your support and Thank you for your friendship.

PS: I’ll be announcing the rest of the giveaway winners on Friday, so check in to see if you won anything.

Flickr URL * http://www.flickr.com/photos/photojunkie/365539411/

I’m not giving away just one or two cameras. I actually have 3 plastic cameras that I am going to put in the ring for the photojunkie one million giveaway extravaganza. I have one Diana F camera with box and flashunit, no bulbs. And I have two Jazz Zoom cameras that I dug up, which include outdated film and batteries. These cameras are fully operationally and are getting harder and harder to find. So don’t miss out on this opportunity. I’ll even throw in a roll of film to the winner of the Diana-F.

Since we are inching closer to the 1 million mark (see the counter on the side) I am gonna draw for these prizes once we hit our goal, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.

To register for one of these prizes, simply leave a comment on this post which will entitle you to one ballot or link to this post from your blog and receive an extra.

REMINDER: There is also an SX-70 up for grabs.

I had just finished spending an evening with my friend Kristi in Georgetown, after getting her son a copy of Gears of War for the Xbox360. So on my way home I decide to swing by the Value Village in Mississauga. That’s where i ended up finding this beauty for a mere $1.99. You gotta love a good thrift find. What a steal.

The peeled finish off the top of the camera is where the Value Village employee put the price sticker, otherwise it seems to be in pretty good condition. Of course it’s been untested, but I may try to put a cartridge of 600 film in here in the next week.

Anyway, I suppose I could make a pretty penny with this on Ebay, but like the title suggests, I’m giving this classic camera away as a part of my 1 millionth visitor giveaway extravaganza. Detail on how to qualify after the jump.

UPDATE
After a test, which basically cost me more than what I paid for the camera. I can honestly say that the SX-70 is in working order.

Flickr URL * http://www.flickr.com/photos/photojunkie/354559484/

To enter this giveaway for a chance to win this SX-70, simply leave a comment on this post. If you want to increase you chances, link back to this posting through a blog post on your own site.

I’ll be drawing for the camera on February 1st, 2007

The fine folks at Buena Vista Games and High Road has tossed a copy of Lumines II and Every Extend Extra for us to giveaway [details after the jump]. Since I don’t have a PSP and since my sister does and has played both, here is what she has to say about these two titles.

Lumines II is a puzzle game where squares of various 2 coloured patterns fall from the top of the screen and the player must move and rotate the pieces to create blocks of a single colour. The bigger the blocks, the higher your score. While you do this, a timeline moves repeatedly from left to right clearing these single coloured areas, giving room for you to do more of the same. If nothing is cleared, the blocks will stack up and once they reach the top, it’s game over. This sequel boasts more levels (or skins) and more play modes than the original. It also features hit tunes from famed artists such as Black Eyed Peas, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani and Beck. Tetris junkies will fall in love with this game.

Every Extend Extra is also a puzzle game but with a shooter twist. You control a cursor that moves across a playing field which slowly populates with other floating shapes and you must destroy them by self detonating when they are in close proximity to you. This explosion causes the shapes to explode and the shapes close to them to explode and so forth. Think Geometry Wars (or Asteroids for you old schoolers) but in reverse — instead of a small ship that explodes moving objects that are attacking it by shooting at them, the moving objects are shooting at you and you clear them by exploding yourself. It’s unique presentation is engaging and hypnotic. If you love watching your music player visualization with a passion, you’ll likely enjoy this game too.

Both games have bright, colourful, stylized visuals that look fantastic on that beautiful PSP screen and the trippy electro synth music found in both games’ levels change along with the moves you make. The overall result are two highly addictive and totally immersive gameplay experiences.

Perhaps this giveaway will give you a reason to dust off that PSP, if not maybe one of these downloadable demos will inspire your PSP love-on.

The draw for Lumines II will take place on Friday, January, 26th, 2007.
The draw for Every Extend Extra will take place on Friday, February 2nd, 2007.

Leave a comment on this post to qualify for one of these prizes. Write a post about giveaway on your blog and increase your chances two fold.

Gears of War
Gear of War was the most anticpated game of 2006 for the Xbox 360. And luckily we snagged a copy to giveaway to one of our readers. Hopefully they won’t lose too many hours of sleep once they start playing it. Thanks to the folks at Microsoft and HighRoad for the game. The winner is Troy from Blue Goo Ate My Mom.

Eragon
I first read Eragon a couple of years ago after a fellow Harry Potter fan suggested the book to me. I was quick fan of the book and have since read the second in the trilogy. Thanks to Random House Canada we have a copy to give away. The winner of the paperback version of Eragon is Dane from End of the Boardwalk. Enjoy.

Cheap Eats Toronto/Ottawa Set
There is nothing more inspiring than DIYers in action. That’s the story behind Alexa Clarke and her Cheap Eats books. Having editions for both Toronto and Ottawa Alexa has been offering up some of the best and most affordable places to eat around each city. Thanks To Alexa for donating this prize pack. I have two more sets to give away in the coming weeks, so it’s not to late to get in on this action. The winner of the first set is Paul from Canadian Musings.

Desperate Housewives
Oh I wish I had a PC again, so I could play such a mindless and twisted game like Desperate Housewives the Video Game. Just imagine the drama I could create amongst the neighbours. I’ve already given two of these away and will still have one more to give away after today, so it’s not too late to sign up for this one either. Thanks again to the folks at Buena Vista and High Road for the copy of the game. This week the winner is Alisha at Fellow Eskimo.

Spacing
So I’ve been a contributor to Spacing Magazine for a few years now. And it’s always amazing what they put out there. Although I think one of the things they will be remembered for most is their series of Subway Buttons. The kind folks at Spacing have kindly donated a Downtown Station set of buttons as well as a pile of 2007 Spacing calendars. Olena from PhotOlena wins the set of buttons. And the calendars go to Daisyhead, Perpetual Beta, I dream in colours and Sum Ting Wong with Chu Hefner.

NOTE: The Jim Munroe Giveaway is still open as well.

Met up with Dead Robot yesterday to give him his copy of Desperate Housewives, The Video Game. Looks like he started playing it as soon as he got home. I wonder how the Ice Queen is doing with hers.

Back in the 98 I picked up the book Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gasmask. It was the first book by author Jim Munroe, (ex managing editor of Adbusters) and I picked it up because it “looked” interesting. I wasn’t disappointed and it was a fun read especially because of it’s Toronto centric storyline. At the time, my sister was dating this kid named Kevin who’s brother was buds with Jim, which I thought was pretty cool. Who would have thought that I could say years later that he was my bud as well.

Fast forward to March 2003. By this point in time, Jim left his publishing company and has since written and released two more novels under his No Media Kings umbrella. I was down in Austin, Texas for SWSW interactive when I happened to have lunch at the same table with Jim. Small world.

Later that year, I was one of the few that got to read and comment on early versions of his latest book An Opening Act of Unspeakable Evil, which was written as a series of blog postings.

I have always found inspiration in talented Do-it-Yourselfers like Jim and we’re pleased to be able to have a set of all his books (I have read and enjoyed them all) as a prize in the Million Giveaway.

If you are new to Jim Munroe, you can get a taste of his work at manybooks.net where you can download 2 of his works for free.

Again, comment on the post to get a ballot for the contest or write a post to get a second ballot.

I’ll be drawing for this prize pack on January 12th, 2007.

One of the best books I received this year was a copy of CheapEats Toronto. It’s a great compilation of places to dine in the city of Toronto that won’t break the bank. It’s also a useful guide for trying new places out without the horror of regretting your decision afterward.

Alexa Clark has graciously donated 3 copies of CheapEats Toronto to my Million Giveaway as well as 3 copies of it’s sister book CheapEats Ottawa (2004 Edition). If you can’t wait to get the book or need a dining idea ASAP, also check out the companion blogs for each book (Toronto and Ottawa).

To qualify, leave a comment on this post (1 ballot), write a post of your blog about the book (2nd ballot).

I will do three sets of draws. January 5th, January 19th and February 2nd.

I’ve yet to announce the winner of last weeks passes to the Two Photographers show at the AGO, so we have two sets of tickets to giveaway. So the first set of tickets goes to Fellow Eskimo who will luckily be in the city in January to enjoy the show. The second set goes to Kyle from Often Overlooked. Congrats. Thanks to the AGO for the donation.

The next prize I am giving away today is two copies of the Spacing 2007 Calendar (I’ll still have more to give away prior to year end). The Calendar features images from various Spacing photographers. And the winners are Eva from EasternBlot and Saskboy from Abandoned Stuff. Thanks to Spacing for the donation.

It’s not over yet, the next giveaway is the uTOpia books set. A wonderful article on photoblogging appears in the second book, along with some photos by yours truly and other fine Toronto photobloggers. The winner of the set is Ryan at Photendo. Thanks to Coach House for the donation.

Our last prize for the day is a copy of the Desperate Housewives Video Game for PC. And the winner is Susan the Ice Queen. Hmm this prize almost seems a little too appropriate. Thanks to Buena Vista Games for the donation. We still have two more of these to giveaway.

Congrats to all the winners. Consider this an early Christmas present.

PS: it doesn’t look like we are gonna hit the One Million mark before the end of the year, but that okay. It just means we will need to give away MORE STUFF. Check back next week as I announce some new prize packs. It’s still not too late to enter your ballots for the other prizes.

Back in the summer, I got a sneak peak preview of the movie trailer for Eragon at Book Expo Canada and it looked stunning. Today, the movie is hitting theatres and to celebrate I’ll be giving away a paperback copy of Book One of the Inheritance Trilogy, Eragon. The book is courtesy of Random House Canada.

To qualify, leave a comment (one ballot) or write a blog post about this (two ballots). I’ll be drawing the winner of this prize on Friday January 5th, 2007. Check out the movie trailer after the jump.

NOTE: This giveaway is closed.