National Safety Month

What comes to mind when you think of “Safety Month”? I’ll admit it – I think of a kid on rollerblades in so much protective gear he can hardly skate. Hey, they didn’t have any of that stuff when I was a kid and I’m still here! But the truth is, we’ve learned a lot over the years and being safe is easier and more practical than you think.

Taking the proper precautions for you and your family can be as simple as: bringing sunscreen when outdoors, being aware and prepared when swimming or around water, and keeping well-hydrated in extreme heat. Of course, there are other things to keep in mind, too, but the point is –- it’s easy to be safe once you know how!

National Safety Month
McGruff.org -- Summer Safety and Crime Prevention
Home Safety Council

MySurvey Newsletter and July Recipes

I know that summer is a busy time for everyone so we have decided to combine the June and July editions of Opinion Matters into one newsletter. The June/July edition will be delivered to your inbox during the second week of July with all the usual information including recent sweepstakes winners, featured prizes and the latest survey results. We will return to our normal monthly schedule in August.

Also, I’m extending the deadline for July recipe submissions until Thursday, June 26, 2008. We are looking for your best grilling and barbeque recipes and will feature the best submissions in the Member Recipes section next month. Perhaps you have a recipe for grilled vegetables or barbeque sauce you’d like to share with our members. Remember, you’ll receive bonus points if your recipe is selected for the website!

The Power of Duct Tape!

Most of us know just how versatile duct tape can be. Personally, my family and I can’t live without it. Over the years we’ve used it to patch hoses, mend our tents for camping trips, and salvage a few more years out of our well-worn luggage. To us it’s as vital as a screwdriver or a set of pliers.

But beyond the common things we use it for exists a whole other world of duct tape fanatics. After a quick search on the internet, I discovered an entire culture dedicated to its near-infinite uses. From wallets, purses, and prom dresses to furniture and luggage constructed entirely out of duct tape, there seems to be no limit to what one can do with a few rolls of colored tape and a bit of creativity.

For some cool (and odd) uses for duct tape, take a look at some of these links:

Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
Duck Tape Club
Duct Tape Guys
Duck Tape Products Creative Uses

What are some unusual things you’ve used duct tape for in the past? Feel free to share your stories and tips with other members.

Quick Poll Suggestions

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all our members who have provided suggestions for Quick Poll topics the past few months. Almost all the Quick Poll surveys you see are suggestions that were submitted by members like you. We really are interested in knowing what types of polls and surveys you are interested in taking.

We are always looking for new topics Quick Poll, if you’ve got an idea please submit it to mycomments@mysurvey.com. The only thing I ask is that you stay away from suggestions for polls about gas, driving and the presidential election. I know everyone is very interested right now in surveys about rising gas prices and the upcoming presidential elections, and we will do our best to get those out to you, but we have been inundated lately with suggestions for these topics. At this time we are looking for some fresh ideas for new topics.

Keep in mind, if we use your suggestion you’ll receive bonus points – so keep those ideas coming!

Happy Father’s Day

This Sunday we pay tribute to Dads everywhere. While normally that means sales on golf clubs and power tools alike, you don’t have to spend a lot to show Dad how you feel. Personalized items such as cards, letters, and poems are a great (and frugal) way to show your appreciation. And if you need more ideas, look no further than right here:

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Father's Day Poems for Free
Father's Day Arts & Crafts Ideas

While my Dad doesn’t like a big fuss being made over him, we almost always get together as a family each year and have a special dinner together (with Dad usually manning the grill). What kinds of things do you do for Father’s Day? Feel free to share your favorite stories and memories with other members in our comments section.

MySurvey Messenger

Here’s a frequent question I receive from MySurvey.com members:

“I received an email to take a survey, but when I logged into your website it said I have no surveys to take.”

Most of our surveys remain open an average of 3 to 5 days. Occasionally they remain open longer than 5 days and sometimes fewer than 3 days. If you want to learn about surveys as soon as they become available, consider downloading MySurvey.com Messenger.

MySurvey Messenger is a small software application we developed that is similar to instant messaging (although it can only be used for MySurvey.com notifications). As soon as a survey is available, an animated browser window opens to let you know about it. With MySurvey Messenger you will know about ALL your survey opportunities and chances to earn reward points as soon as they become available. I’ve received a lot of positive feed back from our members who have downloaded and installed MySurvey Messenger.

To download and install MySurvey Messenger, or just to learn more, click MySurvey Messenger on the top menu. You’ll receive 40 points just for trying it out.

Mmmm… Donuts

Happy National Donut Day! Of all the unique celebrations that mark our calendar, this one has got to be the sweetest (pun intended). If this isn’t Homer Simpson's favorite day of the year, it’s probably a close second.

The first Friday of June has been designated National Doughnut Day. It started out as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army and a way to honor the Salvation Army Lassies of WWI. Check out this website for more information about the history of National Donut Day.
National Donut Day

Krispy Kreme is offering one free donut to any customers who visit their participating stores today.

If you prefer something more unique check out these independent donut makers:
Stan’s Peanut Butter Donuts
Voodoo Doughnut - The Magic is in the Hole!!!
Hot Hand-Dipped Homemade Donuts

My personal favorite is the long john – a rectangular, cream filled, chocolate glazed donut. What is your favorite type of donut? Is there a local donut shop in your area you want to tell us about? Please, share your thoughts with us!