First Trade Offer For Pamela Anderson Painting Comes In

The first offer has come in hoping to trade for the Pamela Anderson painting by Kathy Jo Braceland of Los Angeles, California. The offer is from Jon and Leah and it's a magnet made of bottle caps with images representing rock, paper, and scissors from the classic game. Hmmm. While it is small, perhaps even a bit insignificant, it also is unique, and handmade. I do like the style of the drawings, they remind me of art from school books back when I was a child. One thing puzzles me though, The rock is pictured as a clenched fist and the paper as an open hand. Why are scissors portrayed as SCISSORS rather than as a hand with middle and index fingers pointing out? Just my little mind at work. I did say I would entertain any offer, and all offers are appreciated. Also, it does have the glory of being the first trade offered up for the incredible, original artwork that is Pamela! Well, we shall have to wait and see what competition comes over the transom. Please feel free to click on 'comments' below and leave your thoughts on the first trade offer.

Alan Mizell
Houston, TX USA

Today Five Red Dice, Tomorrow The World

Just a quick note before I head off into the exciting land of work. While I may not succeed in trading up from Five Red Dice to World Domination as I joke, the project just might spread around the world. An Italian artist has sent in some very good suggestions and will be participation in the trade for the Pamela Anderson painting. And the list of countries is up to 22, including...

United States
Argentina
Australia
France
China
Canada
Denmark
Japan
Italy
Chile
Serbia
Costa Rica
India
Austria
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Hungary
Columbia
Belgium
Thailand
Norway
Germany

That's incredible. In addition we have been visited by 36 states. I will try to post a list of states that have not on the sidebar with a countdown- maybe it would be a cool goal to have a visitor from all 50 states and every country on Earth! Among the states not here yet at a glance would be...

Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
New Mexico
Kansas
Alabama
South Carolina
Maine
Rhode Island
Vermont

And maybe a few others that my not perfect geography skills will not let me know. Look for the countdown list coming soon!

Well, off for another day of slaying the financial dragons. Check back this evening late for some additional exciting information.

Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas USA

Forgive Me My Silliness, I Need Some Sleep

I haven't really slept a lot this weekend. That's my story and I am sticking with it. After spending so much time with the Five Red Dice they seem like children, or pets. So Lexi and I packed up the dog, Trixi, and we took the dice off for a final day at the beach before their huge adventure begins...

Now everybody is surely a bit jealous seeing the beautiful water in it's swirling dark brownish green tones. What can I say, it sure makes travel a great option! Enjoy the beach, dice.

The Five Red Dice had a great time burying each other in the sand.

After a while they had to stop and compare the shells they found. I rarely can find shells on the beach as large as myself. Great job, kids!

An afternoon in the sun wears anyone out, and the Dice are no exception, so they took a little snooze on the towel. Again, look at that fabulous white sand- like sugar. Kathy, assure me they have beaches that pretty in California...

Children always wish they could drive. These little guys can't even see over the steering wheel. I sure wish they could have driven. They wore me out.

OK, enough silliness. The trade is happening and pix and more are to be posted, so spread the word and let all your friends and family know- the trading goes on!

Alan Mizell

Houston, Texas USA

www.FiveRedDice.com

And The Winning Trade For The FIVE RED DICE Is...

I want to trade my Five Red Dice for Kathy Jo Braceland's original artwork of Pamela Anderson as a skeleton on the beach.

Pamela Anderson as Skeleton by Kathy Jo Braceland

Whew! I think I literally breathed a sigh of relief. For anyone wondering what my thought process was behind the trade, I will explain. I had no idea what offers might come through the site, but I had a few guidelines that I was looking for. The entire concept was to 'trade up' and continue to do so, seeing exactly how grand the future trades might become. Also, I wanted both traders to feel that they are benefiting from the trade. It seems to me this trade works well for both Kathy and I. Kathy's work is awesome and unique, and I believe owning it will help this adventure grow in scope. I will only trade the work for something worthy, and only to a person who appreciates the art. In addition, Kathy is a working artist, and the growth of this site can only generate interest in her work. Visit her site tonight at http://www.k-jostudio.com/ and check out her vibrant paintings. So it's a classic win-win situation. Also, Kathy understands the site, and supplied plenty of material to make Five Red Dice a more interesting place to visit, in addition to helping promote this venture. All in all, this trade just excelled against some stiff competition. Congratulations Kathy!

Out of the eleven offers, six had no photographs and it is really hard to become enthusiastic without some visual stimulation.

Tracie's stapler and office supplies did appeal to me, and they were local. They also received a good number of votes in the poll. But in the end it fell victim to other more glamorous offerings, and also seemed a bit of a sideways trade rather than trading up.

It was very difficult to not accept the IKEA pencil and Spongebob Squarepants Crocs shoe insert because Fabian really has that ironic sense of humor that I like, and the exotic location of Shanghai, China is totally cool, and he had a great series of photos. Fabian gets it, as they say. But in the end the offering was a bit too slim as these are high quality, expensive dice, and again, it is hard to see it as an even or upward trade.

Barely missing the nod was Erin's Remington Shaver. It has good value, it's brand new and still in the package, and Erin has traded online before and understands the big picture here. But in the end a shaver is a sedan and the artwork is a sports car . We'll see in time if my choice of flash over practicality was the right one.

Most difficult to not choose was Mary's offer to walk a mile. If you remember Mary, she has Multiple Sclerosis, and is beating the odds with her incredible outlook on life. She is inspiring, the idea received votes, I even heard that a friend of a friend of mine was going to offer something, but changed her mind to give Mary's offer a better chance. In the end though, one of the concepts of the experiment is to see how far this little adventure will go, how big the snowball will become. Trading for something as intangible as a walk for the Five Red Dice leaves the concept at a standstill, so I have to, as gracefully as possible, decline the offer.

I do have an alternate offer for such a noble idea though, one that will allow the trading to continue at Five Red Dice, yet still pay tribute to the great offer of the walk, and a twist that will make it seem like a hundred mile walk. Here's the idea...

I have an additional two red dice, one millimeter larger than the five dice, and they are branded from the Grand Casino Coushatta in Louisiana. Since two dice are only 40% of five dice, I will give these dice to Mary for a walk of only 40% of a mile, or 2,112 feet. If she accepts, I will set up a fund on the website of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, with seed money of $25.00, and I will put a link on Five Red Dice for the length of the project with a challenge to visitors to contribute. Almost 900 visitors in less than two weeks folks, and growing. Over the course of time if 1,000 people donate $10.00 each, well, you do the math!

So again, thanks to each and every person that took a look, and especially to those who participated in the first round of trading. Don't forget, this is not the end, this is the beginning of hopefully an ever more astonishing and amusing project.

Alan Mizell

Houston, TX USA

http://www.fivereddice.blogspot.com/

The two 'secret' Grand Casino Coushatta dice.

Hours Left To First Trade!

Only about four and a half hours remain until the first Five Red Dice trade announcement, so check back at 10 PM Central Time to see what I will trade the Five Red Dice for.

Also check back tomorrow for other announcements regarding a Five Red Dice Official website, the results and thoughts on all the polls and trades, and other neat things happening in the future.

Thanks for all the super support and great e-mails, looking forward to much more adventures in trading in the future.

Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas, USA

Huge Assortment Of Items And Services Offered Up For Trade From Sacramento

I just walked in from a late night breakfast at IHOP and the standard six cups of coffee... Wow- A huge assortment of goodies and varied services are being offered from artist Jessica in Sacramento, California. Jessica has listed a cornucopia of mix and match possibilities, and offered me the opportunity to work in my word of the day- cornucopia! Truly exciting, I think it best that I simply print her letter here and let her speak for herself, as she has spent time assembling this mighty powerful package.


I know it's crunch time. I hope I am not to late! I don't have a whole lot to trade I just lost my job, but I am a local artist here in Sacramento. I came across your post while I was hoping for a piece of life changing information in the artists section (as per usual) And there it was THE DICE I have a multiple component offer

1.) I will pay for any shipping of the dice
2.) I will also pay for the shipping of all object given to you in exchange for the dice.
3.)I will ship you one of my orig works (pictures will be provided upon request) you may also commission a work requiring no more than 3 hours of labor 2D or 3D.
4.) And/or a gift certificate to a franchise restaurant of your choice in the amount of $10
5.) And/or A rubber Gator I have had for many years. (it kept me company in college)
6.)Ring of Keys (matching locks unidentified)
7.)Lock (keys location unknown)
8.)Tutorial on basic woodworking,casting,welding,drawing,painting, or printing(no more than 2 hrs of instruction)
9.) any small items you have been to lazy to go to the store and buy. example: forgotten TP, shaving cream, Q tips, rubbing alcohol
10.)Script of rocky Horror Picture Show

Clause: You may not request more than one sentimental item.
You may not request purchased items that exceed the orig. amount you paid for the dice.
You may not request a combination of services that exceed 3 hrs of labor time.
Keys, Lock and Shipping or not part of the clause and are included if requested without stipulation.

Thank you for your consideration and I hope to be chosen to receive those pretty dice of yours

Jessica

P.S. any photos will be provided upon request and consideration of offer

So much to digest here! I like the shipping offer, and being a creative type artwork is always an interesting possibility. The rubber 'gator is somehow strangely calling to me. And the offer to go to the store. Jessica is apparently a gifted psychic, as we are out of toilet paper, lol! Oh, AND a 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' script also casually tossed in. This Jessica really knows how to put a trade together.

So cool, and totally fine, last minute offers are just as enticing, maybe more so. As to the postscript, yes I have already requested photos of art, items, Jessica, whatever she has and feels comfortable sharing with us.

Thanks Jessica for making this a better project, and let's all share this neat offer with our friends and family.

Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas USA

Tomorrow night is the official decision night- I am actually getting kind of excited. It's funny because several friends who were slightly interested at best are trying to think of their trade, offering suggestions, and seem to be looking forward to the decision. Also nice e-mails have come in expressing enjoyment of the posts, the humor, the idea, and the wide variety of people like me, the interesting people who are participating in the project.

More offers are coming in an offer to trade a lucky sand dollar from Lisa in Sacramento, California and Brandi, a photographer in Austin, Texas is offering a photograph. These do not come with photos as of yet, so they will be listed but it's hard to strongly consider them until more detailed information comes in to the Five Red Dice World Headquarters.

Hopefully everyone will give the site one more HUGE push and send e-mails to friends, call Mom and Dad, and tell total strangers in line at Wal-Mart about a little fascinating blog they have been reading. Shameless begging, yes. PLEASE. LOL.

Again, thanks for all the great e-mails, stories, ideas, and participation. I hope you all are as anxious as I to see where the trading takes us in the weeks to come. It should be fun.

Until later.

A Poem, A Trade, An Inspiration, A Question

Every day more and more interesting things come in the mail from people around the world. Comments, ideas, insults, and today the most unique trade yet, a bit of inspiration, and an original poem...

I like Red Dice
I do indeed
I want your dice
Though there's no need

If they were blue or green
I'd pass
Or maybe write back
And laugh

But they are red
And hard and square
With inward bumps
I am aware

So this is what I'll do
To get those five red dice from you
I'll walk a mile
With a smile

I'll walk from here to there
I'll do it while I wear
A great big smile
And all the while

I'll dream of five red dice
And how life will be so nice
If everyone would walk a mile
Just to share a great big smile

That is what I'll do for you
That is what I'll do for them
Those five red dice
That you might send

The poem comes from Mary (with her husband in the above picture) of Eldorado Hills, California, and yes, I also was wondering... she wants to trade my sexy dice for a walk? As Paul Harvey says... here's the rest of the story. Mary was diagnosed several years ago with Multiple Sclerosis, so every step she takes is wonderful. She has not suffered the normal progression of MS though, much to her doctor's astonishment, and due greatly to her positive attitude. As she says, she is "walking proof" of the power of a positive outlook!

Now the question is, how to consider this trade? The idea of the project is to continue trading with an upward trend, to trade up. If I were to accept the trade of Five Red Dice for a walk of a Miracle Mile, how to continue. Hmmm. A bit of a puzzle, perhaps even a moral question. To continue in the crass quest to trade up or to pay deserved homage to something awesome. I am looking for ideas here, comments, answers. Help me out folks. Also, I am putting up yet another poll on the subject right off to the right. You know what to do.

By the way, the neat statue in Mary's hand is a 1930's sculpture by Dr. Seuss called 'Kangaroo Bird'. Beautiful, and as Mary surely agrees, when it comes to medicine, you cannot beat Dr. Seuss!

Mary and her husband own an art gallery in Eldorado Hills and you can visit their website at
http://www.ourhousegallery.com/ or click on the 'Cool Link'.

Thanks Mary, and please, everybody spread the story!

And last, here are those feet, in the cool green grass, ready to walk a mile that some say should be impossible.

Late Night Offer To Trade Comes In From Georgia

Good evening, or morning depending on how you see it at this late hour. Another offer has come in to trade, this one from Erin of the 'Little Black Phone' blog listed under my 'Cool Links'. Erin has put forth the proposition of trading a Remington Titanium Microflex Ultra. This is a men's shaver, corded or cordless, state of the art, definitely something cool to have. I have a photo from Erin posted just below the text. Very exciting. Thanks Erin. Saturday is the tough decision day, only three days to go!

So there you have it for Wednesday- one week and we have had SEVEN trade offers come in from Houston, Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Shanghai, China.

The polls have received 46 votes in total...
There have been 338 different, unique visitors...
They visited from 162 different cities in 12 different countries including the US, Argentina, Australia, China, France, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Norway, Costa Rica, India and Denmark!

FIVE RED DICE, taking over the world!

Alan Mizell

Houston, Texas USA

Red Dice Are Sexy, Photogenic, and Contrary To Popular Opinion, Expensive

Hello Friends,

Thought I might take a moment to clarify a few things about Five Red Dice. First, the digital camera was on the blink so I had to use 'borrowed' images of other dice until I bought a replacement camera. (The old camera was about 6 years old. The new one has twice the memory at one-third the cost!) Now, I can and have posted many photos of the actual dice- large, sharp-edged, translucent red, and very photogenic. Please click on the newest 'Cool Link' in the right sidebar- "FIVE RED DICE Slide Show' and see what I mean. Nice!

Second, I have received numerous e-mails from grumpy sorts asking "Who would trade for those old dice"? That is actually playing right into the scenario I set up, the idea that I was trading something small, trivial, common. So, the perception of these enlightened yet grumpy souls is on the money, but the actuality is wrong. I could not resist a bit of flair and rather than use $2.49 Walgreen's Drugstore dice (which I could have) the artist in me had to use something more aesthetic. Watch the slide show and you will realize that "those old dice" are actually the Rolls Royce of dice, one die selling for $7.20. They even have a velvet lined plastic case! Not that it matters, just thought that was all amusing.

Funny thing too, after spending time with the dice I am going to miss them, like if you are ever lucky enough to have someone loan you an awesome automobile and then you have to return it. OK, maybe not exactly, but similar.

Only three days until a decision on trade number one. Tomorrow I will give a short update on how many people, states and countries have visited FIVE RED DICE. Interesting stuff.

Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas USA

New Poll To Vote On

I have added a new poll on the sidebars to the right, just scroll down a bit. Just wondering if you think for future trades, should I give each trade a set amount of time, or take the first good trade. I am thinking the first trade needed some time to get circulated, but in the future I should strike while the iron is hot. What do you folks think?

Alan Mizell

Offer To Trade A Bug Net. Cool!

Good Morning,

Overnight we had another interesting item put up for trade by a woman with the unlikely name of Geneva Saint-Amour. She offered to trade a bug net that hangs over the bed, like the one in the photo above. Cool, I love those things, so jungle romantic.

Funny thing is she sent a second e-mail saying she was going to Phx on Friday, and would 'split the gas' with me. I read that e-mail first and could not figure it out. At first I mistakenly thought she meant PX, as in the store on an Army base, lol. Then I thought it said Rx, as in prescription. Oh man, another spam letter for Viagra. How does anyone sell Viagra with spam, seems the competition would be way to stiff!

ANYWAY, I realized she meant Phoenix, and would meet me. Ah, that is so much better. Thanks for the trade offer Geneva. I actually really do love those bug nets, they are so cool. Don't know why but I like them and I always wanted one of those hammocks spread between bamboo poles, ala' Gilligan's Island.

Only three days left to the first trade announcement. Later I might just trade when the first worthy and interesting trade comes over the transom, I just wanted to give the blog a bit of time to jell and get word out for the first trade. What do you think? Maybe I will toss another poll up to see what you Dice Traders think.

Alan Mizell

Slow Day At Five Red Dice World Headquarters

Sometimes when it's a slow day at the World Headquarters you just upload a picture on the latest post, simply to make the post more attractive. Just so there is no confusion, the above dice are not the actual dice- it was just an incredibly clear picture! I am hoping tomorrow to post a few new photos of the actual dice, so check back.
There are several other trade offers in the works, just that mid-week work thing must be kicking in. Also, one potential trader is apparently running three blogs, trying to trade with me, planning her wedding and moving. Think I'll lie down on the couch thinking of all that.
Just ran about 20 ads so maybe some more interesting things will happen overnight!
Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas
USA

Kathy Jo Braceland Makes Awesome Trade Offer

Today I received a great e-mail from an amazing lady, artist and cartoonist Kathy Jo Braceland, a Canadian expatriate making her home in Los Angleles. She creates vibrant and interesting works of art, and has a little dog, Benny G, who has the most soulful eyes- hope she doesn't trade those 'soul'ful eyes away. Kathy has made an offer to trade that is really cool. In her own words...

I, Kathy Jo Braceland, being somewhat of sound mind, body and soul, do offer a trade for your Five Red Dice. It is an offer...dare I say it...that you can't refuse. Because I make my living as an artist and cartoonist, I figured I would trade one of my most valuable skeleton art pieces. Yes, you too could own an original work of art by Kathy Jo Braceland. I know you can't believe your good luck but it's true. Being Canadian myself, this one is particularly close to my heart as it is of another famous Canadian...one of none other than, Ms. Pamela Anderson. I have attached a jpeg of said artwork, along with a few photo's of myself, myself and my sister (I'm on the left, Sherry is on the right...it's hard to tell us apart)...and my dog. I know once you look into my dogs eyes...you will feel helpless to explore any other trade offers.

That's cool. I agree with the bold idea that it's an offer that will be hard to refuse. And she's also right about Benny G's eyes. The art. Pamela Anderson as a skeleton. The dog's eyes. I feel helpless. For a great slideshow with pictures of Kathy, her sister Sherry, Benny G, and Kathy's artwork, click on the "Kathy Jo Braceland Slide Show" link under my 'Cool Links' in the right sidebar. Also, be sure to visit Kathy's website to view some more of her amazing art. http://www.k-jostudio.com/This is the artwork, Pamela Anderson as a skeleton. Go to the slide show for a larger view. Is there some hidden subtext to the art- that we all going to be skeletons in time, even the rich and famous? Or perhaps a commentary on celebrity culture and consumerism? What do you think?

Thank you Kathy, now let's keep those offers rolling in and the game afoot, or whatever it is those fancy English detectives say.

Alan Mizell

Houston, TX USA

Vote in the Soul Poll, Make Your Voice Count

Good Morning from Houston,

Looks like overnight we had 3 votes on trading the soul, a three way tie, strangely enough, and a comment. Excellent. On Sunday June 22 we also had 169 visits to the site That's more visitors in one day than the first few days combined! At this point visitors have come from 9 countries around the world, and 124 different cities are represented. It's amazing the amount of free information Google Analytics supplies on visitor sources, where they came from and how they got there, better information than I have paid for in the past.
Should have a few more trades coming in today according to the e-mails so please- participate, make an offer, 5 days left to play.
And don't forget to vote in the 'Soul Poll' off to the side.

Alan Mizell
Houston, Texas USA

Would You Trade Your Soul For...

Thinking about trading all week got me to thinking about all those stories and movies where the devil wants to trade something cool, like rock and roll fame, for someone's soul. Of course it always turns out badly. Like Brendan Fraser in 'Bedazzled'- he becomes a famous author by trading his soul, a GAY famous author. That was not in his plans. There always seems to be someone who wants to live forever in these stories, and all their friends and family die and they get older looking and older looking.... Great stuff. Long ago 'The National Enquirer" posted an employee on the sidewalk with a small table full of contracts offering passers-by the opportunity for a quick $20.00 to sell their soul. Some astoundingly small percentage took the cash but most refused the chance. Would you? So off to the right sidebar you will find a poll with a list of temptingly huge offerings for that wispy ether, perhaps even just a figment of the imagination, that inner shine some call the soul. Would you? It's totally anonymous and will be interesting to see how many would and how many will not. PLEASE, feel free to comment, anonymously if you wish, by clicking on the comments tab below. Perhaps you need a write-in vote as your own personal temptation is not listed...
Alan Mizell
Houston , Texas USA

Many Kind E-mails And One Bad One

Hello and hope you are having a great Sunday evening. It's been a laid back day here but a few more e-mails came in from interested readers. Three stand out. Dian from California wrote to just say Hi as she had lived in Houston years ago, in the 80's. Looks like she has an online site selling skateboards and lots of other cool things, so hopefully she will come up with a nice trade. Kathy, an artist wrote to say she loved the site and the idea- she will be making a trade soon and I am excited about this as artists are, of course, creative. A third anonymous wise guy from Miami said he was looking for green dice, but for red ones he would trade a huge mound of cow poop- he kindly included a picture which I have NOT posted. At least he was interesting, but he will have to be a tad more mainstream on the trade offer!
Six more evenings and I will announce the trade- spread the word and be sure to play- submit a trade by e-mail today to FiveRedDice@GMail , of course. Include pictures if possible.
Thanks, but for now, I have some ads to run in Wisconsin, Greece, India...

New Offers Come In Overnight

Good Morning,

Interesting things are in the works here at Five Red Dice World Headquarters. Overnight an old friend of mine from years past, Micheal, was surfing Craigslist and thought- What in the world is this Five Red Dice thing about. Discovering it was me he put up a Clark Penny Whistle, MEG model, Key of D as he described it, along with lessons to play a couple of songs, topped off with Irish beer and catch up with old friends conversation. Tried to add it to the poll but once a vote has been cast you cannot add additional items. Ah well, I did add it to the list of items offered off to the right.

Also, Erin of Georgia e-mailed and she has also managed to blogtrade (hey, a new term!) her way up from an old black phone, to a go-cart, a tiller, and is into a car at this point. Too cool. We are discussing a trade, hopefully in person, and I have added a ling to her trading blog under my 'Cool Links' tab in the right sidebar.

I will make the trading decision on Saturday June 28 and announce it on the website and through e-mail. If you want e-mail updates email me at the FiveRedDice address @GMail.com..

Off to post a few more ads and drum up some Sunday traffic.

Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

Eight Ways To Help Spread The Word

Hello Traders!
I have been thinking a bit about how to publicize this site for it's fun and it's novelty, and I have a long list of things I will be doing to get the word out. I know some of you see that this site has potential to 'catch on', to spread like a virus through word of mouth and free publicity. I have thought of a few simple things you can do to help spread the word, create buzz, have more fun.

1. Participate! The most fun is to be had as a potential trader. It creates something to talk about and more options, more interest. It's simple, don't think it to death. Look around your home, select something unique, cool,, interesting- or boring and everyday. E-mail me at FiveRedDice@GMail.com with the trade and pictures are great if you have them.
2. Comment. The more we exchange ideas and information, the more interesting the experiment will be. I am so very interested in creative, intelligent opinions and ideas for the project. Don't hold them back, share them with me and the world. After each post just click on 'comments' and you can leave your own rant.
3. Vote. It's your duty. I have a poll up and running that ends on Saturday June 28, 2008 at 10:00 PM. Just click on the item you would trade the Five Red Dice for and make your voice heard. It will be interesting to see if the world agrees with my inner thoughts. After the trade I will start a new poll with new items, hopefully trading up and the trades becoming more valuable.
4. Proselytize. Spread the word. There are so many ways. Just mention this quirky little blog to anybody and everybody that you remotely might think would be interested. I had a mildly interested friend mention it to another friend and they have visited the site AND asked how to begin their own family blog!
5. Advertise. This might take a minute or two, but it's very easy to place an ad on Craigslist (or any free venue) in the community, artist, barter, or several other sections. I have placed dozens of ads in countries around the world. It's free and requires no sign-up. As of the first day there were 72 unique visitors to the blog. If every visitor placed an ad on Craigslist, it would create hundreds of hits! (E-mail me and I will send you the HTML code that you can place in a Craigslist ad that will leave a hyperlink in the ad- readers just click to go to Five Red Dice.)
6. E-mail. A short note to your friends and family, or better still, your entire e-mail address book will generate interest. Those not interested will delete but many will visit and some will join the game. Again, e-mail me for HTML for a hyperlink.
7. Link. Do you have a website, a blog, or some other venue where we can swap links. I will place your link in a post if you will do the same for me.
8. Blog. Do you comment on blogs? Mention Five Red Dice in your comments if it is remotely related.

Just a few ideas. I know, you don't have to do anything, so any help is appreciated. With a small band of interested and interesting participants, our social experiment can snowball into something huge. And you were there at the beginning.

Alan Mizell

Trade Offer From Shanghai, China! Five Red Dice World Headquarters Trembles With Excitement.

Good evening,

But it's not evening for Fabian and Sasha, the latest folks to join in and offer up a trade. Fabian moved to Shanghai, China two months ago and when I read his last e-mail it was noon here in Houston, TX, but they were getting ready for bed. Now that it is nine hours later I suppose they are waking, eating breakfast, checking the Five Red Dice blog site!

Fabian has offered to trade a pencil- now don't get me wrong, not just any pencil- this pencil is from the Shanghai IKEA furniture store. Wow, Fabian and I are on different sides of the planet but we thankfully both have IKEA furniture stores right down the road.

Seems Fabian, and I quote, "accidentally brought it home". Well I will make no assumptions. Later I received another e-mail and Fabian has sweetened the deal even more with one of those little things you plug into your Crocs shoes. This one looks like, and again I quote, "a spongebob on crack", and I think I have to agree. Just makes it all the more cool.

If you want to see a really neat online slide show with several photos of Fabian and Sasha, the items up for trade, and some very cool shots of the city of Shanghai, go to the right under 'Cool Links' and click on Photobucket/FiveRedDice/Fabian. It's worth a look.

Thanks Fabian and Sasha, for the great trade, photos and e-mails.

I have a friend who can get me 'buddy passes' and I flew to Florida and Oklahoma for only about $100.00. Thought I would see how much to get to Shanghai. Yikes- even a buddy pass runs over $800.00. Probably have to be grateful for IKEA and FedEx!

Be sure to check back soon. I will be adding a poll for everyone to vote for their favorite item to trade the dice for. Should be interesting to see what the people think.

Thanks.

Alan Mizell

Houston, Texas USA

Photos, News, International Offer To Trade!

Good Morning World, and I do mean World. Last night was a bit stressful here at the World Headquarters od Five Red Dice as my mouse unfortunately died. My computer mouse, that is. After an hour of very delicate surgery and a diagnosis finding that a tiny infrared light inside her had lost it's shine, she was given a proper burial. This morning her replacement has been put to work, an optical mouse with less moving parts! And I was finally able to read the e-mail offers that had come in last night.

First there was a picture of the stapler, Post-It notes, and Liquid Paper...

Also, I had the first offer to trade internationally come in last night. Check back tonight for several exciting posts-

I will reveal the first international offer to trade!

There will be a poll to vote on what you think is the best trade to make. I will keep it up for about a week, then I will trade. Probably.
Also, I will post a short guide to making the Five Red Dice blog more popular- several simple steps you can take to help spread the word, and ensure a statue of yourself in the Five Red Dice Hall of Heroes.
Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

Five Red Dice Is Getting Hits And Offers!!!

Good morning from Houston, World!
According to Google Analytics we had 26! hits overnight!!! Sure you say, that's hardly anything, but the day before it was 1 hit- ME. That represents an increase of 2,600%! Don't tell me my logic is flawed either- this is my world and I will see things the way I wish.
Another offer came in which I will let you read here.

I would like to trade my stapler without staples for those red dice.
"th67mb96"

Good morning,
Well, thanks for joining the fun and offering a trade. A stapler sounds like that might be a great thing to have, even without the staples. I am taking just a few days to decide, to give people a chance to really climb on board and make some offers, but you are definitely in my mind.
Do you have any pictures of the stapler that I could see, and to use on the blog? I hope so, and please, spread the word!
What's your name and where are you writing from?
Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

I also have liquid paper or a package of florescent post it notes. What a fun project! Good luck
"th67mb96"



Cool- would that be a part of the possible trade? I think as this grows I may need some additional office supplies so your trade is looking more attractive every moment. I am going to post your offer on the site , what name would you like to go by? What part of the world are you in?
Please spread the word and leave comments after my posts- thanks and have a great day!
Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

I will spread the word. the name is Tracie and yes I can make this a bundle package.
"th67mb96"

So you can see the snowball is accumulating and the offers are beginning to come in.
There was one additional e-mail with no text- hmmm. Try again please.
Like I said in several www.Craiglist.org ads, join up in the fun now before some fancy celeb like Oprah tries to use my platform to promote her little TV show!
At this point we have a cassette tape, unused, and a package deal for a stapler, sticky notes, maybe even some Liquid Paper competing for the trade. What do you think folks?
Please leave comments by clicking on the word comments below, one and all- except for the grumpy guy at the back!
Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

Five Red Dice Gets First Offer To Trade!

Yes friends, it is with great pomp and circumstance that I announce to the world that my social experiment has received it's first offer to trade. I just sat down and reviewed the mail and the following offer was extended from up the road in Austin....


I have an unused cassette tape that I might be willing to part-exchange for your dice.

I'd accept the dice, plus six cents.

I live in Austin, so I'll have to take a day off to come and see the dice first, before deciding

Jack

I quickly shot out the following response to Jack...

Jack,

And they all laughed when I sat down at the computer to blog! You drive a tough bargain with the hard-nosed demand for the extra six cents! But you also have the glamour and style to be the first trader to realize the beauty of this idea. I would get an unused cassette tape and you my friend would receive SIX shiny new pennies- and I would make sure they were shiny new pennies.
Jack, you managed to be the pioneering trader I have searched for with http://www.fivereddice.blogspot.com/ You are an early adopter, on the cutting edge of the future, and that's saying a lot for Austin, a city full of fine minds.
Your offer is at the fore in my consideration, and I will mull it over. In the interests of fun for the rest of the SLOWER traders I might run a little poll with various offers to see which tops the list- then just as likely go against convention and choose some other item.
Tonight, Jack, I am going to post this conversation on the blog as a small piece of history, and ask you to do two things if possible. Try to leave a comment of some type on the blog, and let your everyone you know onto the secret of the blog...
http://www.fivereddice.blogspot.com/
Alan Mizell
Houston, TX

It is, of course, tempting to take the very first offer that comes across the transom, and Jack does have my respect for being the cutting-edge of trading. This offer will be hard to beat. Think about it. They no longer make cassette tapes so there is no way to go but up as this item must sooner, or later, much later, become a valuable collectible!

Alan

Why am I trying to trade five red dice?

Welcome to Five Red Dice. Yes, you read right, I have five red dice just sitting here, never to be used. Just like that treadmill your clothes might be draped over or your collection of old National Geographic magazines, these dice have reached the end with me. Surely there is a person wanting to run in place on a treadmill in their living room so as never to miss Dr. Phil, and somewhere a child is trying to find pictures to cut out of a magazine for a school project, but his Mother only has People and US magazines. He could really use some old National Geographic magazines. Certainly also there is a person somewhere in this world who would like to have five red dice and has something interesting to trade for them.
I am totally open to all ideas and suggestions so email me at FiveRedDice@GMail.com with any and all trade offers. As soon as something that fits my vague bill comes along, I will arrange a trade and post the results and photos for all the world to see and comment on! Sounds like fun to me. Jump on board while the train is moving slowly folks.
I know, I know- if you are going to tell me that some guy did this already a few years back, I know. It's all cool. Let me explain. One, he is in Canada and their population is only one-tenth that of the U.S., so folks, have some national pride and let's make this ten times bigger. Two, Just because something was done once in some form doesn't mean it can't be done again. "Shakespeare, put that paper down. Someone already wrote a play!"
Well, it's late, and that's all I have tonight. I am going to forward this blog to friends and drop some ads on www.Craigslist.org and such, so please, help spread the word. Forward this site to all your friends and family. They might enjoy the diversion and you never know- they might be sitting home right now fuming over the fact that they have no red dice in the kitchen drawer!
Click on comments just below if you have something to share.