GeekSugar

Bert and Ernie Tell You How to Get to Sesame Street and Everywhere Else

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:33:06 PST

Guess who knows how to get to Sesame Street? Given Bert and Ernie's new job, it's a safe bet that they know their way around town. The Sesame Street duo are the latest to lend their voices to TomTom navigation system, making a traffic jam a lot more fun for everyone in the car.

For $13, parents can download the popular characters' voices to help them navigate their way anywhere from grandma's house to the local gymnastics class, adding a lil humor to the ride, such as, "U-turn ahead, Bert. Just me turn? All of us Bert." Take a look at a clip of the characters trying to record for the system and tell us, are they a fun distraction for antsy passengers or a headache waiting to happen for mom?

Get Navigation on Foot With Google Maps For Android Update

GeekSugar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:00:02 PDT

Google is making big moves lately, first with priority inboxes and Instant search, then some new updates to its Android Voice app and the Google Earth website, and now Google Maps on Android is getting updated with a brand-new feature: walking navigation!

Find out what's coming with the latest update (and why you should care) after the jump.

AT&T GPS For the iPhone: Don't Expect Any Freebies

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:05:05 PDT

This year during the WWDC keynote, I particularly got excited when navigation applications were announced - I'm not the best with directions. Well, AT&T has just released their TeleNav Navigation Application for the iPhone, which is a free app to download, but it is rumored to cost $10 for monthly service. Now, I really enjoyed the TeleNav Navigator on my BlackBerry when I took it for a test drive, and monthly service on that is about $10 as well. But keep in mind you don't have to pay $100 for the receiver when you are using your iPhone. . . so you save that much money right off the bat. AT&T also allows you to cancel the service at anytime - perfect for those times when you leave town or you're not using it very often.

Tourin' Around San Francisco With Sony's Latest GPS Device

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:00:17 PDT

How in the world did we survive before GPS, seriously? Whenever I do get behind the wheel of a car, I am always dependent on TeleNav's GPS Navigator, which conveniently works with my BlackBerry so I don't have to lug around a huge device. But when I'm in a new city, it's always good to have something with a wider screen so I can follow my route a bit easier. Today, Sony debuts a 4.8-inch GPS navigation system called the NV-U94T ($400) and I was lucky enough to take it for a test drive this past week with a Sony expert - who showed me all of its bells and whistles.

With a wide anti-glare touchscreen display, integrated Bluetooth wireless hands-free calling, and one of my favorite features - the dual view capability, which shows you detailed route information and a zoomed-out map on one screen - the NV-U94T is at the top of its game in terms of features.

To find out the other reasons why this GPS device got my attention and to check out pics of it in action, just

The NV-U94T is packed full of info that will tell you new route options if there are traffic issues in a certain area, and you know how your GPS signal usually cuts out when you're in a tunnel or an area with lots of tall buildings? Well this system offers position plus that uses multiple sensors that monitor your position relative to the map, so (no word of a lie) it still works when you're in a tunnel. Other fun features include its Memory Stick Duo compatibility so you can view audio and videos on your NV-U94T, and the super suction cup that allows you to stick your device wherever you want in all weather conditions - without worrying about it falling off. Although this GPS unit is in the "elite" group of navigation systems in terms of price, you definitely get what you pay for.

View 3 Photos ›

11 Tech Items to Consider For Your Wedding Registry

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:55:12 PDT

Technology may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your wedding registry, but the gifting possibilities go beyond traditional fine china, fancy flatware, and bedding. If you depend on geeky gadgets on a day-to-day basis, feel free to add a few to your list. This isn't to say that you should go nuts at Best Buy scanning each and every dream gift, but it's important to include items that you genuinely want and need.

A good place to start: learn the proper registry protocol. Etiquette experts at Emily Post offer smart wedding registry rules to help you navigate the formalities. Anna Post confirms that it's perfectly OK to create a more unconventional registry with camping or tech items, but you should also provide guests with a more traditional list, too. Hoping to include some technology, but not sure where to start? Here are a few basic items to consider:

DSLR camera, like the Nikon D800
Laptop computer
iPad
Flatscreen TV
Record player, like this affordable Wood Turntable
iPod speakers
Blu-Ray player
Gaming system
Stereo system with surround sound
The Nest Thermostat
High-tech washer/dryer

Current and former brides-to-be: Did you include any technology on your registry? If so, which items? Share your suggestions in the comments below!

Geeks We Love: An MP3 Maker of History

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:53:05 PDT

Arguably one of the most important tech inventions of our generation, the MP3 player didn't just invent itself. For that, we can thank Kane Kramer. He may not be a household name, but Kramer developed the first portable digital audio player 20 years before it became industry standard. In 1979, he designed the IXI digital audio player, the first of its kind to transfer and store music to-go. The player contained a credit card-sized IXI chip that held between 30 minutes to an hour of music, depending on the audio system (mono or stereo). All of this in 1979!

Kramer told us in an email that before the age of Internet, he imagined the "idea and concept of delivering music, data, and video down telephone lines on demand" via a small, portable device. Kramer's sketches, which are over 40 years old, very closely resemble what we now know as the iPod and iPod Mini. In 2008, Apple admitted that Kramer is the true genius behind the iPod technology.

The players that Kramer developed fit in the palm of your hand and featured a small LCD screen and a central navigation control panel. Despite several websites claiming the player only held three and a half minutes of music, Kramer insists the IXI held one hour of mono audio, half an hour of stereo, or 16 tracks of master recordings. He even thought of attractive aspects that we often take for granted, like having the ability to "select any track in any order" or download new content onto the device "in a matter of seconds."

It's truly fascinating - and almost unbelievable - how many trends Kramer invented almost 20 years before MP3 players would hit the mainstream market. In his 1979 proposal for IXI Systems, Kramer predicted that MP3s would "replace the heavy costs of distribution of records and tapes," would provide "immediacy of delivery," and "eliminate the need for retailers to carry any inventory." Sure enough, in the past two decades, almost every music store has closed down, while online MP3 sales have skyrocketed. If you're wondering what music will look like in the next 20 years, you better turn to Kane Kramer.

Source: Kane Kramer

Bully's Director Tells Us Why the Movie Should Be on Every Parent's Must-See List

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:46:25 PDT

Bully just may be the most important movie of the year. The documentary weaves together the stories of five families dealing with the long-term effects of school bullying - two that have recently lost their children to suicide and three that are experiencing it day in and day out. While the film has received significant media attention for receiving an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings board due to the inclusion of six curse words (it is now being distributed without a rating through many theater chains beginning today), it is the honest, heartfelt look at how 13 million kids are treated each year that should make it required viewing for every parent and school-aged child.

I spoke with the film's director, Lee Hirsch, about the bullying epidemic, the ratings controversy, and why even parents of kindergartners need to see Bully.

LilSugar: You've really started a national dialogue with this film - was that your goal?
Lee Hirsch: In a way, it was my goal. We were busy thinking, what could our movement look like, how could we do this, how do we engage, and how do we amplify? I don’t think I ever imagined that we would have this level of support and that we would grow to be this high. It just feels like just a wonderful blessing to have so much support.

I knew that there were so many people that had this narrative, and I remember when I was first talking about this film, I would say, "God, everybody has a story when it comes to bullying." But I didn’t really feel the way that I do now. Now I really feel like there are hundreds of thousands of people speaking out, [and] you start to see the impact of all these generations of people who’ve had this experience, who never really had a place to process them. It’s really exciting.

LS: With the R rating, Bully’s getting more attention than anyone probably ever expected. Why did you decide not to bleep out the six curse words and get the PG-13 rating? Was it worth fighting to keep them in there if it means that the film might not be seen by everybody who needs to see it?
LH: I think it’s worth fighting, because what we are saying is that this is a movie about what happens. It's what really happens when it comes to bullying. In this bullying and situations of bullying, language is critical. Language matters - it's a weapon. It's such a ridiculous argument that the MPAA says that they will allow one F word, but what if you see the film four times? It makes no sense! On the flip side, we are saying we are talking about bullying, we are talking about violence, we are talking about people being numb to violence, and so the MPAA has put a rule on that, they have stamped movies that have sexified and glorified violence all the time with a PG-13 and PG ratings. So I think the stamp matters - it matters for the people that are bullied.

LS: You spent a year in three Iowa schools. How did you convince the boards of education to let you film in their schools?
LH: We had rigorous conversations with the schools; it took many conversations and days of flying out there. We presented them honestly what we were trying to do with this movie - what our hopes were. We wanted to show what it looks like from the perspective of being able to just really see what goes on at a school. They were very brave. The school district is taking a lot of heat from this film, and at the same time, most school districts would never agree to this - they wouldn’t open their doors, wouldn’t admit they have a problem.

Keep reading to see what surprised Lee the most during filming and what parents of younger children can do to stop the bullying epidemic.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Handling a Mistake at Work

SavvySugar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:15:49 PST

The occasional mistake at work is inevitable - what really matters is how you handle it. Deciding how to navigate the aftermath of a misstep gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your integrity, so take the time to manage your mistakes carefully. Follow these four steps to properly solve any work dilemma:

Assess the damage. Take the time to step back and recognize where you may have miscalculated. Target the specific issue, identify who was affected, and find out if your blunder impacted any future projects.
Communicate the problem. Be honest with yourself, your collaborators, and your boss. It's better that your manager hears about the mistake from you rather than someone else, so speak up and take responsibility for your actions.
Ask for help. Once your misstep is out in the open, ask your manager for any suggestions. How might you have avoided the problem? Do they have any advice for tackling the issue? Your manager will appreciate the constructive dialogue and the fact that you value their opinion.
Take precautions for next time. After the issue has been settled, pinpoint different techniques to avoid repeating your mistake. Did you miscalculate a key transaction? Vow to slow down and be more thorough. Forget to check in with a major client? Establish a calendar system that reminds you of important follow-ups.

Bottom line: everyone makes mistakes, so let go of the guilt and resolve to move forward. Consider the lesson learned from each misstep and see it as a chance to improve your working style and boost your professional development.

Christmas List Giveaway

Sponsor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The Christmas List Giveaway (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of FabSugar.com & BellaSugar.com), having an address of 111 Sutter Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY:
Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents physically residing in the fifty (50) United States of America and the District of Columbia. Employees of Sponsor and its respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies and any other entity involved in the development or administration of this Contest, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to participate in or win the Contest. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and complete relevant tax forms as a condition to the delivery of the applicable prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

HOW TO ENTER:
No purchase is necessary to participate in the Contest. To enter, you must log into your profile at any PopSugar Network site (or register for a profile at http://www.onsugar.com/user/register), navigate to Sponsor Post in FabSugar’s eBay Scout Community (http://ebayscout.fabsugar.com) and leave a comment as described on the entry page between 10:00 am PST on December 12, 2011 and 11:59pm PST on December 18, 2011 (the “Entry Period”). Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. Normal time, toll, connection and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. All entries become the property of the Sponsor. One entry per person.
By registering and leaving a comment, you will be agreeing that your registration and any other information collected in connection with the Contest may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sugar Publishing, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and may be shared with Sponsor’s affiliated business entities, and that you automatically opt-in to receive email, text messages or other communications from Sponsor. You may subsequently opt-out of the receipt of such email or communications by following the directions in the email, communications or by contacting Sponsor directly.

All registrations must include entrant's valid email address. The email address provided by online entrants will be the identity of the entrant and, if selected for a prize, the identity of the winner. We expressly reserve the right to disqualify any entries that we believe in good faith are generated by an automated program or via scripts. By participating, all entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules.

PRIZES:
At the end of the Entry Period, there will be one (1) drawing in which one (1) potential winner shall be selected from all eligible entries received during the Entry Period by employees or representatives of the Sponsor to receive the prize one (1) $100 eBay gift card (retail value = $100). Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. All prizes will be awarded. In no event shall the Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of prizes stated in these Official Contest Rules. No substitutions (including for cash) are permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Contest Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Prize Fulfillment, Sugar Publishing, Inc., 111 Sutter Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104. Specify winner's list or rules on your request.

Please allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

SELECTION:
The winning entry will be chosen at random. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s onsugar.com account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

General Conditions and Releases:
An entrant or winner may be disqualified from the Contest if he or she fails to comply with each provision of these Official Contest Rules, as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participation in the Contest is at entrant’s own risk. Sponsor shall not be liable for 1) failed, returned or misdirected notifications based on inaccurate information provided by the winner on the contest entry form, 2) entries and responses to winner notifications which are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient in whole or in part or for computer or technical error of any kind, 3) any electronic miscommunications or failures, technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant's ability to participate in the Contest, 4) any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Contest or 5) any warranty of fitness or merchantability of any prize or the function or operation thereof, which shall be the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the prize. Sponsor does not make any, and hereby disclaim any and all, representations or warranties of any kind regarding any prize. Unless prohibited by applicable law, your entry constitutes your permission to use your name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials in all media, in perpetuity, in any manner Sponsor deems appropriate for publicity purposes without any further compensation to such entrant. By entering or accepting a prize in the Contest, winners agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. When applicable, the winner (or, if the winner is a minor, the winner's parent or legal guardian) may be required to execute and return to Sponsor within ten (10) business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address and birth date in order to receive a prize.

By entering, an entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated entities, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any damage, injury, death, loss, claim, action, demand, or other liability (collectively, “Claims”) that may arise from their acceptance, possession and/or use of any prize or their participation in this promotion, or from any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded, regardless of whether such Claims, or knowledge of the facts constituting such Claims, exist at the time of entry or arise at any time thereafter. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Contest will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Contest Rules in any way or at any time. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. In the event of cancellation or suspension, Sugar shall promptly post a notice on the Contest entry page to such effect. This Contest shall be governed by California law. By participating in this contest, entrants agree that California courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Contest and that venue shall be only in San Francisco, California.

LilSugar’s Huggies® Holiday Prize Package Giveaway

LilSugar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:10:51 PST

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. ONLINE ENTRY ONLY AND INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED. AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM MAY BE REQUIRED

LilSugar’s Huggies® Holiday Prize Package! (the “Giveaway”) is sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of lilsugar.com) and having an address of 111 Sutter Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY: Open only to U.S. citizens and permanent legal U.S. residents at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry who physically reside in one of the fifty (50) United States of America or the District of Columbia, excluding Rhode Island, all U.S. territories and possessions and all overseas military installations. Employees of Sponsor, and their respective parents, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and any other entity involved in the development or administration of this Giveaway (collectively, “Sweepstakes Entities”), and their immediate family members or household members (defined as spouses and biological, adoptive or step-parents, legal guardians, children, siblings, or grandparents, their respective spouses and any dependent under federal income tax law) are not eligible to participate in or win the Giveaway. The winner will be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and complete relevant tax forms as a condition to the delivery of the applicable prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

HOW TO ENTER: No purchase is necessary to participate in the Giveaway. To enter you must navigate to the Giveaway entry post (http://www.lilsugar.com/TBD ) and submit your email between 6:00am PST on Saturday, December 3, 2011 and 11:59pm PST on Friday, December 9, 2011 (the “Entry Period”). By entering online, you will be agreeing to receive Sponsor emails.

There is only one (1) entry per person.

Normal time, toll, connection and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. All entries become the property of the Sponsor. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. By submitting your email in accordance with the entry process, you will be agreeing that your registration and any other information collected in connection with the Giveaway may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sugar Inc. Privacy Policy, a current copy of which can be found here: http://www.sugarinc.com/privacy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, information collected from entrant will only be used for direct marketing purposes if entrant consents to use in such manner. Sponsor expressly reserves the right to disqualify any entries that it believes in good faith are generated by an automated program or via scripts. By participating, all entrants agree to abide by these Official Giveaway Rules.

PRIZE: At the end of the Entry Period, there will be one (1) drawing in which one (1) potential Grand Prize winner shall be selected from all eligible entries received during the Entry Period by employees or representatives of the Sponsor to each receive the Grand Prize of one (1) $500 Babies-R-Us gift card (Retail Value: $500.00), one (1) changing table (Estimated Retail Value: $350.00), one (1) Diaper Deko Plus (retail value: $40.00), one (1) set of Diaper Deko Refills (Retail Value: $30), and fifteen (15) packs of Huggies (Retail Value: $450.00); Total Estimated Retail Value: $1,370.00). If potential Grand Prize winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Other restrictions may apply. Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Giveaway. All prizes will be awarded. In no event shall the Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of prizes stated in these Official Giveaway Rules. No substitutions (including for cash) are permitted, except that Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. If required by Sponsor, the winner must complete and return to Sponsor an IRS Form W-9 that reflects winner’s taxpayer identification number or social security number. The winner will receive from Sponsors an IRS form 1099-MISC at the end of the calendar year, and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Giveaway Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Prize Fulfillment, Sugar Inc., 111 Sutter Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104. Specify winner's list or rules on your request. Please allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

SELECTION: The winning entry will be chosen at random. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Giveaway will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Giveaway. Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Giveaway winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Giveaway winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Giveaway. Each entry submitted in response to the Giveaway and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. One (1) entry per person. Duplicate entries will be void. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Giveaway Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES: An entrant or winner may be disqualified from the Sweepstakes if he or she fails to comply with each provision of these Official Rules, as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participation in the Sweepstakes is at entrant’s own risk. By receipt of any prize, the applicable winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sweepstake Entities. Releasees shall not be liable for 1) failed, returned or misdirected notifications based on inaccurate information provided by the winner on the on the contest entry form) entries and responses to winner notifications which are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient in whole or in part or for computer or technical error of any kind, 3) any electronic miscommunications or failures, technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant's ability to participate in the Sweepstakes, 4) any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Sweepstakes or 5) any warranty of fitness or merchantability of any prize or the function or operation thereof. Releasees do not make any, and hereby disclaims any and all, representations or warranties of any kind regarding any prize. Unless prohibited by applicable law, the acceptance of the Grand Prize by the winner constitutes his/her permission for the Sponsor to use his/her name, address (state) biographical information and testimonials for advertising and/or publicity purposes in connection with this Sweepstakes only, worldwide and in all forms of media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, without further compensation.  By entering or accepting a prize in the Sweepstakes, winner agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. The winner will be required to execute and return to Sponsor within five (5) business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and (where imposing such condition is legal) and any additional documents required by Sponsor in connection with the possibility of receiving the Grand Prize. Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address and birth date in order to receive a prize. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Sweepstakes will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Rules in any way or at any time. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend this Sweepstakes should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control corrupts the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes, or for any reason that Sponsor believes in good faith would be fair to the entrants and the conduct of the Sweepstakes. In the event of cancellation or suspension, Sponsor shall promptly post a notice on the Contest entry page to such effect. This Sweepstakes shall be governed by California law. By participating in this Sweepstakes, entrants agree that California courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Sweepstakes and that venue shall be only in San Francisco, California.

MISCELLANEOUS: The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of the Official Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. When terms such as "may" are used in these Official Rules, Sponsor has sole and absolute discretion. Entrants agree to waive any rights to claim ambiguity of these Official Rules. Headings are solely for convenience of reference and will not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of the documents or any provision hereof. In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Sweepstakes-related materials, privacy policy or terms of use on the Website and/or the terms and conditions of the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control and the discrepancy will be resolved in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.

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