Money For Nothing

One Red Paperclip vs Million Dollar Homepage

I've had money making ideas in the past- i've always had a couple that i thought could actually work floating around in my head but i've never acted on them.. i won't share them here.. i'm sure one day i'll see one of the products i thought of one the store shelves but it probably won't be because i actioned it ...anyhoo, i stumbled across the Million Dollar Homepage a long time ago when there was still quite a bit of advertising space left and thought that it was awesome in its simplicity.. pixels sold for a price amounting to $1m dollars.. depending on notoriety and the internet equivalent of word-of-mouth this was an idea that couldn't fail really ...nice work Alex Tew =) however.. i really have to tilt my hat to Kyle MacDonald of One Red Papercip on his quest to trade one aforementioned red paper clip for a house ...sounds extreme huh? he's well on his was to achieving his goal so check out his website to see how far he's gotten ... and check out the Million Dollar Homepage too... i think the ideas behind them both are real genius!

Old Rope

In my inbox this afternoon i found one of these:

FROM MR. AL-HASSAN YUSUF.
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
BANQUE TOGOLAISE POUR LE COMMERCE ET L'INDUSTRIE,
LOME- TOGO.

Dear Tilly,

My name is Al-Hassan Yusuf. I am the head of auditing and accounting section of Banque Togolaise Pour Le Commerce Et L'Indusrie Lome-Togo in West Africa. With due respect and regard,I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end.
During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on 26th December 2004 in the Tsunami that happened in Sumatra island, Indonesia. From the information that our bank have gotten so far, the Tsunami killed him with his entire family.Uptill now, no other relation has been identified. The person that he used as his next of kin was his 17 year old son who died along side the family.

Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself to enable the whole plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time of execution. The said amount was (U.S$9.5M UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
I thereby contact you, to :
(1) Assist me in the transfer of the said fund into your account.
(2) Advise me on lucrative areas for investment.

Meanwhile, all the arrangement to put claim over this fund, as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased, as well as getting the required approval and transfering this money to a foreign account, has been put in place.I will relay directives and needed information to you, as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me, and also benefit your self with this great business opportunity.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, while 50% will be for me.Please, I advise you to keep this as a "top secret"* as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I hope to hear from you as soon as possible for further information.

Yours faithfully,

Mr AL-Hassan Yusuf.

Wow.. its been a while since i got one of them.. even a chain mail come to think of it.. more so lately i just get offers to increase my penis size- thanks, but no thanks *sighs... so, whilst i decline Mr AL-Hassan Yusufs offer of part of U.S$9.5M UNITED STATES DOLLARS.. i thought i'd pass on his eMail address hassan_al01@yahoo.se for anyone who'd like to drop him a line ;) ..to add insult to injury, i was only a CC on this email =( how rood!!

* shhhhhh.. don't tell anyone ;)