Search with Swagbucks, get free stuff!

I've been saving this post for a slow freebie day, and that day appears to have come, so here we are: my (non-compensated) plug for Swagbucks. If you haven't heard of it, it's a search engine much like Google - in fact, it aggregates results from Google and Ask - except that when you use it, it randomly spits out "swagbucks" awards, which can be redeemed for gift cards and prizes!

Based on my unofficial research, it looks to me like your second search of the day "randomly" awards you some bucks. So if nothing else, sign in each morning and search for two things until you get your $1, $2, $3 or more award, and then call it a day. But it's actually a decent search engine, and it does continue to reward you throughout the day. There's also a random hourly winner each hour. Generally, you'll make about 3 Swagbucks a day, and 45 Swagbucks will earn you a $5 Amazon gift certificate. OK, so it's not going to replace your day job, but you might as well be earning while you search, right?

And if you join through the referral link I'm providing here, I get a wee bonus of Swagbucks, which is kind of nice for me. But even if you don't want to help a sister out, consider using a search engine that gives you rewards for using it and looking at their advertising.

Seattleites: Free Brown Bear car wash today!

Hot off the presses: Seattleites can head to their local Brown Bear car wash today, August 27, for a FREE car wash from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Click here for a list of participating locations... there are only two in Seattle, so you may want to head to one of the three Renton ones to beat the lines. Take that freshly cleaned car for a spin!

(Thanks, Pamela!)

Free wi-fi at all Barnes & Noble stores, starting now!

Finding free wi-fi in the city can be surprisingly hard, as I've recently learned. Barnes & Noble just made it a little bit easier, with their announcement this week that they will be providing free wi-fi to anyone who walks in the store, starting now. Their hope is that you'll download their B&N iPhone app or their e-reader, but you don't have to.

There is this slightly irritating paragraph, though (emphasis mine): "The existing AT&T Wi-Fi network at Barnes & Noble has been available to customers since 2005. Now, anybody walking into a Barnes & Noble store anywhere in the country will have complimentary and unlimited access to the network at all store locations." Wait... isn't anyone who walks into a store a customer? Just because you're not buying something at that precise moment doesn't magically make you NOT a customer, or less special.

I was about to feel a bit guilty for diverting all my business to Borders because they're so generous with the coupons and free beverages, but... not now! I will help myself to B&N's free wi-fi from now on, though, even though I'm evidently not a customer.

QFC sharpens your knives for free.

File this under "completely unexpected free services," I guess... QFC stores will sharpen your knives for free in the butcher department. They don't really advertise this service, it's just kind of for people in the know. Which now includes me, and you.

"The QFC on the north end of Broadway has always been particularly helpful, and Jeff, one of my favorite butchers, does most of the sharpening at that location. He says, 'All QFC stores provide knife sharpening as a free service, but we don't do bread knives or anything with a serrated edge. You can drop off your knives three at a time and pick them up the next day.'"

Not sure how I'd feel about blithely dropping off my $100 Global santoku and hoping it'll be there the next day, but if you're feeling adventurous (and dull), maybe give it a try...

(Thanks for the tip, Brian!)