Half Truncated Cube **Raffle** Drawing Tomorrow!

Shua · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:39 pm

Looks production!
Great job!

Caphits · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:51 pm

Good idea. I wonder how many will enter.

David Calzone · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:59 pm

I'll only enter if I can pick the name out of the hat!

NightHawk16117 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:25 am **Location:** Illinois

nice work with that. Good thing i have $1 on my paypal haha and thats all i have on it.

trixter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:53 pm

Cool idea! I think I'll enter just for fun

Someone should consider doing this for a higher order puzzle

(Tony??? lol)

Darren Grewe · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:47 am

Taylor wrote:

10% of the money will be donated to twistypuzzles.com
Cheers!

We should definitely have a lot more raffles for http://www.twistypuzzles.com .

NightHawk16117 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:25 am **Location:** Illinois

How many people you got in the raffle so far?

Ill have my $1 in later today(I have to hook up a bank account to my paypal before im allowed to send the dollar)

katsmom · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:54 pm

How do we know this isn't fixed :lol:

I think you should be repuired to post a video of someone else putting all the names in the hat and then showing both hands to prove they aren't holding a ticket. Then have a third person pull the name out just to be sure it isn't rigged! :lol:

Danny Devitt · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:43 pm

Will you be paying shipping?

:oops:

Always read the OP!

NeoDarkHaven · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:30 pm

Taylor said in the first post that he would pay shipping.

Also, I'm surprised no one bought a ticket yet! I was going to wait and see how this turned out, but what the heck, put me down for 5 tickets!

You have sent $5.00 USD to howellguy7@hotmail.com.

Notoday · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:01 am

I think I just may enter. Why not risk a dollar or two, right?

If you're looking for a good way to proof the legitimacy of your raffle:
Random.org is a site that I've used for similar online events- they provide the closest thing to a "truly random" service that I've found.

If you use the advanced mode, you can choose a "persistent identifier." This way, you assign each person a number, draw for a winner, give the persistent identifier code in the thread, and then you have a winner + proof that everyone had an equal opportunity to win. It's also interesting for those who entered to be like, "Aww, I got second!" or "Ha! I knew I'd be picked last."

Another forum I frequent makes random.org and persistent identifiers mandatory for raffle type events. The site is pretty legit if ya ask me.

(Linkage: http://www.random.org/integers/)

Bryan · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:25 am

You should definitely post a list of names with numbers and then have something everyone can observe for the results (like add all the powerball numbers from a future date and modulus by the number of competitors).

Sven · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:43 am

I'm getting 2

darryl · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:05 pm

I'd like to put in for $5.00 worth, I'll send a PM later.

-d

Sigurd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:52 pm

this is such a nice initiative! nice one taylor!

Notoday · **Posted:** Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:16 am

Taylor wrote:

(How can people check the ID?, I wasn't able to find that on the site.)
Once buying tickets closes I will post of list of everyone with their numbers.
Then I will do a raffle using the ID, "TwistyHalfRaffle", and post the winners.

http://www.random.org/sequences
I linked you to the integer generator, but I think you might actually want to use the sequence generator to ensure each number is picked just once.

After you set the sequence boundaries, you click the "Use pregenerated randomization based on persistent identifier (max 64 alphanumeric characters)," and choose anything for the identifier. I would suggest not revealing the identifier until right before the drawing to prevent people from trying to play the system.

The other forum I post at has a guide listed for drawings and using persistent identifiers, if you're interested.

Quote:

1. Post a message in your thread saying that all of your tickets have been sold and you are "now going to draw the results using Random.org using this post as a persistent identifier"

2. Click Submit to create the post

3. Copy the URL of that post (which is now in your address bar) to your clipboard using CTRL-C (on a PC)

(If you "lose" the URL you can get the correct URL by clicking the " "at the top of the post next to the date/time stamp above your username. That image links directly to THAT post and clicking it will show that posts URL in the address bar.)

4. Go to http://www.random.org and select the Sequence Generator ( http://www.random.org/sequences/ )

5. Click on "Switch to Advanced Mode"

6. Enter all parameters (Smallest to Largest values = 1 to number of tickets sold)

7. Click the radio button next to "Use pregenerated randomization based on persistent identifier (max 64 alphanumeric characters) "

8. In the text box Paste your URL

9. Click "Get Sequence" - The next page will have all the numbers in a random order. The URL of your post will be listed at the top.

10. Take a screen-shot of that page showing the top numbers as well as the persistent identifier.

11. Go back to your thread and post the screen-shot!

If a member of TP used your persistent identifier on random.org, they would come up with a result that matches yours identically.

Phew, haha. Sorry for the wall of text.

ejisfun · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:36 pm

I paid my 5 dollars!

Sven · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:10 pm

where is my number:(

Dragan · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:20 pm

Hi Taylor!

This is interesting

I'm number 1!

Maybe you could do a video instead of writing it in the Topic

( and posting the link in the topic. There would be a suspense

And contacting the winner just after he saw the vid

Looking forward to hear what do you think

-Dragan

Sven · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:28 pm

Taylor wrote:

Alokin messaged me about changing the "10% to twistypuzzles.com" to "10% to Frank(flambore)" I think that's a good idea, and I'd make it "25% to Frank"

Is everyone alright with that?

I already contacted calzone and made a comment about a gift, He rather wants it to go to a cancer foundation.

NeoDarkHaven · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:30 pm

I'm down with either. If this goes to a cancer foundation I may even throw in another $5.

ejisfun · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:37 pm

I entered another $5. I trust Taylor to do good things with it.

Sven · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:38 pm

ejisfun wrote:

I entered another $5. I trust Taylor to do good things with it.

me 2

Sven · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:49 pm

Taylor wrote:

I think I'll change it to "25% goes to Frank", which will go a a Cancer Foundation.
@Calzone if you get a chance could you ask Frank if there are any in particular that he'd like it to go to?

flambore wrote:

let me address one comment tho- someone mentioned sending me something.-- please don't. i appreciate the thought but any sort of donation would best be served by going to your country' version of the American Cancer Society, or by giving blood.
thanks again all,
Frank

Bryan · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:51 pm

OK, if I go to http://www.random.org/sequences/?mode=advanced and use the persisted identifier of TwistyHalfRaffle, then 19 is always the first number and 1 is always the last. I'm not sure this is really what we're looking for. Maybe I'm not following exactly how random.org is suppose to work.

Alokin · **Joined:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:03 am

Taylor wrote:

Alokin messaged me about changing the "10% to twistypuzzles.com" to "10% to Frank(flambore)" I think that's a good idea, and I'd make it "25% to Frank"

Is everyone alright with that?

I'm glad you considered my proposition

I'm sure he'll be happy to see this

I've already PMed him to show him that

,Nikola

katsmom · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:20 pm

Well, since you changed the place the proceeds have gone to, I've donated $5. And I'll up the anti-if I win this raffle, I'll ebay the puzzle and send the final cost to American Cancer Society in the name of the Twisty puzzle forum.

NeoDarkHaven · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:30 pm

Just sent in $5 more for this good cause!

Danny Devitt · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:42 pm

I'll throw in a few more dollars now that it's going to charity.

Pierce J · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:33 pm

I wish I could enter a dollar but I cant

well I'll stop complaining

Whoever wins this beautiful thing is lucky!

Skarabajo · **Joined:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:58 pm

Okay, I'm in for 4 tickets...

For the randomness, I have an idea: Since Taylor is going to raffle the ticket only on the 16th and since nobody can purchase tickets on the 16th. Let's use something unique for the persistent identifier: The biggest headline in the morning edition of USA Today on the 16th.

For instance, in this old issue the biggest headline reads: New Hampshire comebacks as McCain and Clinton win
(exact characters, lowercase and uppercase, with all spaces and no leading spaces or spaces after)

That would be a truly unique random persistent identifier (for random.org) that most members can check and that will only be available on the 16th. What do you think?

Skarabajo.

PS: what are the chances that the chief editor is a TP member?

EDIT: For members that are not in the US, I just realized that at the bottom of the USA Today official website there is an Electronic Edition button where you can see a free preview of the current issue (right now, the weekend edition).

Notoday · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:26 am

Taylor wrote:

Bryan wrote:

OK, if I go to http://www.random.org/sequences/?mode=advanced and use the persisted identifier of TwistyHalfRaffle, then 19 is always the first number and 1 is always the last. I'm not sure this is really what we're looking for. Maybe I'm not following exactly how random.org is suppose to work.

That happened for me as well, my only idea is that someone tried it out already. Possibly I will ask every person that has bough a ticket/s for a letter, I'll put those together and then do the raffle, then I'll post the letters strung together so you can see that it's legit. Does that make sense?

A persistent identifier is just that- persistent. The results will always be the same for that id because those are the results that the id generates. I would recommend using something random as a persistent identifier (as I mentioned earlier, using the url of a new post in a thread immediately before the drawing works perfectly).

Anywho, I wouldn't worry too much about the identifier. I think we trust you enough to know you won't try to "fix" the drawing

(I will be sending you my donation+entry shortly)

flambore · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:17 pm

This is very kind of you, Taylor and the rest for doing this! I don't know what to say but thank you!

David Calzone · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:18 pm

Taylor wrote:

I think I'll change it to "25% goes to Frank", which will go a a Cancer Foundation.
@Calzone if you get a chance could you ask Frank if there are any in particular that he'd like it to go to?

Sorry, I just noticed this..... but it's the reason I just sent in my $ for the tickets. Thank you Taylor!

NeoDarkHaven · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:30 pm

Taylor's making some bank here

Good luck to everyone!

Danny Devitt · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:38 am

Well now that the time to buy is over, some statistics...

$165 total, meaning $41.25 would go to the American Cancer Society, though Taylor has specified otherwise.

Chances of winning (in order of best chance of winning to worst):

the.drizzle: 18.79%
Jason9000: 9.70%
Danny Devitt: 6.06%
ejisfun: 6.06%
Neo DarkHaven: 6.06%
Calzone: 6.06%
Skarabajo: 4.85%
Sven: 4.24%
Klara: 4.24%
darryl: 3.03%
katsmom: 3.03%
Garrett: 3.03%
Notoday: 3.03%
Anthony: 3.03%
mmonede: 3.03%
trixter: 3.03%
kastellorizo: 3.03%
Derek Bosch: 3.03%
THIO: 2.42%
NightHawk16117: 1.82%
merlintocs: 1.21%
Dragan: 0.61%
Alokin: 0.61%

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:53 am

Although I am not really into shape changing puzzles, I have thrown in my $5 part.
It is for a good cause.

Pantazis

PS. Another suggestion is to use the lotto numbers of a specific date, like I did
for my competition some time ago.

Skarabajo · **Joined:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:58 pm

Taylor wrote:

As for the random ID, I like the sounds of the April 16 Headline of some newspaper, are there any preferences? I don't receive the actual newspaper (Save the Environment!)

Maybe just this once, you could go out and buy The Salt Lake Tribune and then later recycle it :wink:

Taylor wrote:

is the headline the same as the one on the internet or does it change during the day?

I don't know, but I think the surefire way to get a headline that only appeared on the 16th would be to use the actual printed paper from the newstand. Maybe you can even take a picture of it and post it here.

Just my 2¢ worth,

BTW, I'll take 4 more tickets please, payment sent. Thanks.

Also, it's not that I don't trust you Taylor. I just think most users would be happy not to know the results in advance and I think the headline idea is perfect for that. Maybe we can think of another way that won't require buying a newspaper and pollute the Earth...

Skarabajo.

Notoday · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:32 am

kastellorizo wrote:

Although I am not really into shape changing puzzles, I have thrown in my $5 part.

If you win, I'll gladly take this shape-changing nuisance off your hands :lol:

Seriously though, it's pretty great that a sizable amount is going to charity. Good luck to everyone who has entered and to anyone else who may soon enter

katsmom · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:02 am

I don't get the headline thing. If you are counting words, the first person to buy wouldn't stand a chance to win. How many headlines are only one word :lol:

Skarabajo · **Joined:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:58 pm

katsmom wrote:

I don't get the headline thing. If you are counting words, the first person to buy wouldn't stand a chance to win. How many headlines are only one word :lol:

He is not counting words. He will use the biggest headline as a "persistent identifier" at random.org (see part 4).

Skarabajo.

Tony Fisher · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:37 pm

A bit late for this one but I think a good way of deciding a winner for something like this would be for people to predict something cube related. For example the fastest time in the next official speedcubing contest.

Sven · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:29 pm

Tony Fisher wrote:

A bit late for this one but I think a good way of deciding a winner for something like this would be for people to predict something cube related. For example the fastest time in the next official speedcubing contest.

Well in this contest there are tickets, some have more than others. So some have more winning chances
On your 'contest' way you should only buy 1 ticket. To keep chances for everybody the same.

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:19 pm

Taylor wrote:

I could buy the Salt Lake Tribune, April 16th (tomorrow), but I'd have to post the winner, late MST. Since I'm pretty booked tomorrow with futbol.
@kastellorizo, I like the lotto idea, but then people would have to wait...

If you have any ideas please suggest, I'm running out of time.

Well, there is lotto draws almost every single day. There is absolutely no reason to wait.
There is a nice way which can be used for 100 people, i.e the right digit of the first two numbers determine the winner,
e.g. if the first two numbers are 04 and 27, the the winner is 47! (pretty fair, don't you think?)

Pantazis

PS. By the way, did I make it to the list, or was I late? LOL

David Calzone · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:45 pm

I think you should wait a while before announcing a winner.....the.drizzle may want to get a few more tickets! :lol:

trixter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:35 pm

Wow, great turnout! Good luck to everyone who bought tickets, and huge thanks to Taylor for pulling this off!

Danny Devitt · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:07 pm

I edited my other post about statistics if anyone is interested

Alokin · **Joined:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:03 am

Ha ha

Wow, 165 tickets! (and not finished yet)

My chance are under 1% now, thought it's a lot more than at the lottery

Good luck everybody!

Tony Fisher · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:37 pm

Sven wrote:

Tony Fisher wrote:

A bit late for this one but I think a good way of deciding a winner for something like this would be for people to predict something cube related. For example the fastest time in the next official speedcubing contest.

Well in this contest there are tickets, some have more than others. So some have more winning chances
On your 'contest' way you should only buy 1 ticket. To keep chances for everybody the same.

One guess per ticket. In a small community like this it would work. Obviously on a larger scale it wouldn't.

Notoday · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:29 am

*speechless*

(thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou)

Half Truncated Cube Raffle Drawing Tomorrow!

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