Here was our submission:
 Top 10 reasons why we should get a free ticket to Techcrunch50. If we win a ticket, we will…

#10. Post the ticket on StubHub or Oakland Craigslist and split the booty with Jason and Michael
#9. Sneak in a bunch of Whedon fanboys where WE would break out into song during his panel (Janye’s Ballad and something from Buffy the musical episode)
#8. SO we can haz tikitz then proceed to do the demo all in MEME and leetspeak wearing Guy Fawkes masks.
#7. Arrington, Scoble, O’Reilly pillow fight! 
#6. Leverage this opportunity to fulfill life-long dream of touring the Rice-a-Roni museum and visitor’s center.
#5. Hire the Tron Guy as our sexy booth girl.
#4. Use ticket as downpayment and upgrade to luxurious exhibitor package. Get adjustable rate mortgage to gap finance the remainder (that would be so California)
#3. Give the conference badge to a North Beach “dancer” with a heart of gold working her way through community college to start-up a new media company.
#2. Utilize edge of ticket to cut victory cocaine lines after winning TC50 all the way from the demo pit.
#1. Hasn’t our Technorati Authority 2 blog already given you guys enough heat? 

Contest Rules:

• Contest Rules via 1 | 2
  Whoever does best BLOG POST on top10 reasons why they should get free ticket to techcrunch50 gets a free ticket. maybe top 3 will get it 04:50 PM August 15, 2008 from web
• Contest Submission Directions via
  when done send your blog post URL to me with an @jasoncalacanis and @techcrunch reply on twitter. happy hunting folks!!! 04:51 PM August 15, 2008 from web
• Contest Ends Sunday, August 17, 2008, Midnight PST via (update: contest was extended to Monday, Aug 18, 12 PM PST, via): 
  @bradhill that’s classic BH! @techcrunch - contest will run until Sunday midnight. 4every 20 blog posts i’ll pick one winner. got 10-15 now 09:02 PM August 15, 2008 from web in reply to BradHill

This Contest has ended, but since people are still googling here looking for a free ticket, I’ll keep track of other contests:

• Best Mark Cuban Question via  best question for Mark Cuban gets a free ticket to TechCrunch50! @techcrunch please retweet. 41 minutes ago from web
• Mint Contest: Win a Free Pass to TechCrunch50 | How Minty Are You? (hmm, don’t even bother on the “story” contest part…blog guy’s gonna win that one)

More Submissions:

• A little bit here and a little bit there: Top 10 Reasons I should get a free TechCrunch50 Ticket
• Brad Hill Weblog: The epic TC50 contest
• Food Channel: TechCrunch50 and the Food Channel
• Jeff “zmote” O’Hara: 10 reasons why Jason Calacanis should give me a free ticket to Techcrunch50 WINNER via
• Infinitely Media: Top 10 Reasons I should get a free Techcrunch50 invite
• Kansas City Startup: Top 10 reasons why I should get a free ticketed to TechCrunch50  WINNER via
• Learnanyway: 10 reasons I need to go to TechCrunch50
• michelleherrin.com: Top Ten Reasons I Should Get a TechCrunch50
• RXMEDICALEXPERTISE.COM: 10 reasons I need to go to TechCrunch50
• Sexiest Geeks Alive: Top 10 reasons SGA needs a TC50 ticket! (Or more than 1!)
• TheRealBennyLava: TechCrunch50 and the 50 Reasons I should go for Free WINNER via
• uLiken Media: 10 reason not to attend Techcrunch 50 
• Webalytics: Top 10 reasons I should be Jason Calacanis’ guest at Techcrunch50 
  • george @ southernohio.net Google is telling me “This site may harm your computer”…fyi

Update!:

• Amid Conference Halls and Keynote Speakers, a Rivalry Forms Brad Stone, NY Times, April 28, 2008 (response: TechCrunch: Pouring Our Heart Into TechCrunch50 | calacanis.com: A blog post regarding the fact that I’m still retired from blogging)
• My notes: This contest, this “war”…G-E-N-I-U-S…I’m taking furious notes learning from these masters. Chris Shipley is not a dude?
• Next step suggestions: (1) Partner with Mark Burnett on a TC50 reality show (for G4?).  (2) Create an East Coast TC50 (for selfish reasons) in New  York on the weekend of the next Demo. (3) Eventually, make it international (once a quarter)…rotate cities: London, Australia/New Zealand, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Paris, etc
• Commentary Responses 
  • Adorkable Grrl: Twitter sent me something useful: Demo vs. TechCrunch50
  • The Blog Herald: New York Times examines the rivalry between TechCrunch50 and the …8 hours ago by Matt Craven 
  • CenterNetworks: A Bit of Advice for Startups
  • The Inquisitr: TechCrunch50: $3.5 million x Disingenuous
  • Loïc Le Meur blog: Conferences need revenue too whatever business model they have
  • Spark Effect: The Demise of Demo… by Michael Arrington
  • Startup Chatter by Donna Bogatin: TechCrunch50 Rejects Hundreds of Startups
  • Voodoo Ventures: We’re Demoing at TechCrunch 50