Phone Phun

If you're a dyed-in-the-wool shopper, here's a game for you to check out. TheWinningBarcode is kind of like a scavenger hunt, conducted using UPC codes and your wireless phone. For each game, the sponsors choose one product, and you're supposed to figure out what it is. To play, you head off to your local Mega-Mart, pick up a product and find its UPC barcode, key it into your phone, and send as a text message to 818-331-3579. The first player to text in the correct barcode for each game is the winner.

Just in case you don't strike gold on your first try, you do earn points with each successive submission, with a point for each UPC code, and additional points for including the product name, package size, and other pertinent info in your text message. You can, in turn, redeem these points for a "hint", helping you to guess what the winning item is for the game, or for merchandise from TWBC's Store. You can even use your points to make a donation to charity.

You must register with TheWinningBarcode to play. Registration is free, but unless your have unlimited texting with your cellular carrier, text messages are not.

In the VALPak/CBS Sweepstakes, you can win a 40-inch Sony LCD flat-screen television valued at $5,000. Enter by calling 1-888-721-3221. You may enter once daily through October 13, 2006.

In the Valpak VIP Grandstand Getaway Sweepstakes phone-in sweepstakes, you can win a 3-day trip to the NASCAR race of your choosing, or one of ten $1,000 first prizes. To enter, call 1-800-595-3293. U.S. and Canadian residents over 18 may call once a day through September 8, 2006.

In "Red Seal Get More of a Good Thing" Sweepstakes, you can win a Jeep Wrangler, an all-terrain vehicle, a deluxe grill, a plasma TV, or a $25 prepaid dedit card. There are more than 500 prizes in all. You can call to enter up to four times until August 31, 2006. You must be over 18 to enter. Residents of certain states, including MI, MA and Puerto Rico, aren't eligible. To enter, call 1-877-733-7325.

In the Pirates of the Caribbean phone-in sweepstakes, you can win a 4-day trip to Jamaica or one of five DVD prize packs. To enter, call 1-800-682-2214. You can enter once a day through August 11, 2006. It's open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Frito-Lay is sponsoring a phone-in instant win game. You can win a sports watch, basketball, or soccer ball. To enter, call 1-800-628-2697 and enter one of these codes when promoted: GL1385 or BV9612. (There are other valid codes, but those two should work.) You can call once per day through July 9, 2006.

And, who knew that the Cheetos cheetah sounded just like Wolfman Jack?