The UPS guy dropped off an "URGENT Express Mail" package today. I wasn't expecting any paperwork, so I feared the worst (a few of my cease-and-desists came in this manner). I opened it and was amused to find me that Charles Schwab (the company, but maybe the man!) had send me a $100 Visa prepaid gift card (as a result of me opening up one of their credit cards and charging a $20 meal to it)!

This is interesting for a few reasons:

• I've never seen a corporation so eager to send me money before. I mean, in the past, that stuff is always sent via regular mail.
• Their promotion said it would take me 8-12 weeks in order get the gift card.. it's only been five weeks since I made the initial purchase! I actually paid off my whopping $20 balance on that CC the day before yesterday...

The promotion is still available; basically you use their credit card once, and they'll send you a $100 gift card. No hassle. The Schwab Visa website is easy to use as well; I just made a one-time payment and now I'll probably throw that credit card into the bottom of my desk drawer and never see it again (benefits aren't that great).

So if you want a free $100 gift card, go here.

(No, that is not a referral link, and no, I'm not making any money off of this, and yes, I'm aware this sounds a lot like spam. But come on... this is a great deal that can't be passed up! I know most of us can use that extra $100 ... with the exception of one rich bastard)

. . .

Matt forwarded me a link to Toshiba's TERRE program, which will pick up your non-working laptop, LCD screen, or pocket PC and properly dispose of it in an environmentally-friendly way. They'll also give you a free USB flash drive.

While I'm talking about broken electronics, if you have a broken Canon Powershoot, you can trade in the broken camera plus some money to upgrade to a refurb. You can upgrade from the following list:

- Pro 70, Pro 90IS, Pro 1 -- Pro 1 ($349 + tax + s&h)
- G1, G2, G3, G5, G6 -- G6 ($299 + tax + s&h)
- S10, S20, S30, S40, S45, S50, S60, S70 -- S70 ($249 + tax + s&h)
- S1 IS -- S1 IS ($149 + tax + s&h)
- S100, S110, S200, S230, S300, S330 -- S410 ($175 + tax + s&h)
- S400, S410, S500 -- S500 ($199 + tax + s&h)
- SD10, SD20 -- SD20 ($175 + tax + s&h)
- SD100, SD110, SD200, SD300 -- SD400 ($149 + tax + s&h)
- A5, A5 Zoom, A50, A10, A20, A30, A40, A60, A70 -- A510 ($99 + tax + s&H)
- A75, A80, A85, A95 -- A95 ($149 + tax + s&h)
- A100, A200, A300, A310, A400 -- A400 ($75 + tax + s&h)

Just call up 1-800-828-4040 and ask for tech support.

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