The Results.

I didn't spend time counting how many of each type of coin I found, but here are the results for how much I found in 2008!


Change 2008. from Josh Rose on Vimeo.

Happy new year! Now it's time to collect 5 bucks from everybody. Oh and in case you were wondering.. this animation was the surprise, I know it isn't much, but it's something.

The Change Game.

Josh is leading right now with a prediction of $6.44. Greg has a long way to go but is the next closest since he predicted $6.75. Lee is in last place with a prediction of $9.32. I am out of the running since I have found more change than the average of Josh and my predictions.

For November and December I will not be posting the change I find since I have a bit of a surprise in store for everyone. It's not much, but I'm still really excited about it. So just wait and see! Even though we're nearing the end of the change game, I have yet to receive any money from anyone which is intentional.

Sending the money through Paypal is option one which could be easiest if everyone has an account. Or all the money could be sent to me so that I can then send it to the winner and since this is a game based on trust there should be no concern over whether I will just keep the cash, especially since I started this whole thing in the first place.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Change update.

I have some competition. Whenever I am out it is usually with my girlfriend, and she has a voracious appetite for finding change. She has probably knocked me out of at least $.30. Incidentally she has promised a 5 spot and is on the list of predictions. She could manipulate the game in such a way to where she could win the pot herself by either tipping me off that there's a coin on the ground, or picking it up without letting me know if I were to find enough change for her to be in her prediction bracket. Luckily, there's little to worry about, because she is a genuinely honest person. That or a really really good liar.

Aside from the threat of sabotage, it has been sort of a dry period for finding change. Maybe she is trying to sabotage the game? Anyway, with the dry times, comes less things to mention on the topic. I had sort of decided to wait until I found at least three different mangled coins before I would post them, but sabotage is interesting enough to supplement with one photo of a mangled coin.



I found this one at a Hardee's drive-thru window. Mind you, I did say that drive-thru windows were off limits if I were to intentionally scour them, or open the door when I'm pulled up to one. But this situation is a little bit different in that we parked on the side that the drive-thru was on, and just past the window is the door to walk in to place an order. Because of this, it's pretty easy to see and grab any change that people had dropped.

The other side of the coin was relatively unharmed. Apparently asphault is a bit rougher on a coin than a rubber tire is. Go figure!

From Frontmen to Fathers.

The transition from a single man to married with children is a big deal. It's an even bigger deal when it happens to the frontman of a rock band. Scott Stapp and Aaron Lewis are perfect examples. Creed's "My Own Prison" and Staind's "Dysfunction" albums were good albums. Heavy, driven, and edgy. Having a kid changes a man and that change is very obvious in Creed's "Human Clay" album, and Staind's "14 Shades of Grey" album.

These men clearly had their edge softened as a result of having kids. Now I can't rightly chastise these fellas for their new found happiness. I think it's wonderful that these people have found their heart, but I do think that it is sort of a detriment to rock music especially. Creed is obviously no longer a band, Staind is still going strong, with many chart topping songs. But I don't think that because it becomes popular that it's necessarily the best music. Most people's musical tastes are horrible and led mainly by the radio and heavy promotions.

My point is that if a person's writing style is directly connected to what is going on in their lives, it can be expected that the emotions portrayed in each album is going to be affected greatly. The only way to keep one's music consistent throughout the years is to sing about other things beside personal turmoil and changes I suppose.

Yes. I did pick these up.

OMGEEZ! I've had a fun time trying to keep up with all the change I've found so far. I know it is such a mundane thing really, but I find it to be quite an interesting experiment. I'm pretty sure I've missed out on about 33 cents because of various social situations however.

The first miss was on an escalator between the set of stairs, I wasn't fast enough, and people were horny to get on the moving stairs, that was at least 6 cents. The second occasion was in San Francisco. I had more of an opportunity to get it, but there was a change hungry zombie across from it who was asking for change. I had the notion soon after the opportunity had passed to go pick up the 2 cents and give it to him. But, if you get in a situation like that you have to be ready for anything, and I didn't feel like dealing with him.

For the third I saw a quarter lying on the ground in front of a Hardees drive-thru. Now this situation is rare, because a person just doesn't happen by a drive thru. I've had to fight the urge to scour them for change because people drop a lot there, but it is an awkward social situation to just open your door and pick it all up while you're waiting on your food. But in this instance, we parked on the side with the drive thru and it was very near the entrance to the restaurant, but when I had the chance to snatch up the 1/4 dollar a car pulled up to get their food.

I've picked up some pretty dirty money. Certain coins were dirty enough to photograph.

This particular penny conflicts with the rules. As previously stated, change can only count if found out in public. This penny was found outside on the ground at my house.



I know I never dropped this penny because I would remember such a screwed up penny and I generally don't maim money for fun and neither does my Dad. I want to count this coin. But I need the OK of the people that have thrown in the pot in order to count it. They approve, it has been counted.










Yes. I did pick these up.

Change, updated.

Well, so far this little experiment has been fun. The biggest concentration of change I've found is in Walmart at the registers; four dimes and several pennies. The main reason for this entry is because of a small happening came about that is note worthy.

I was standing and waiting for my food to be brought out and there was this guy in front of me ordering. When he paid for his order and got his change he looked at it and immediately threw it in the trash and walked away. There are several reason why this bothers me.

He obviously didn't want the change. But mostly it bothers me because he was so inconsiderate to have thrown it in the trash. People like me would have loved to find that change. But more importantly a homeless person or the salvation army or some organization like that could've put that change to use. But now it is on its way to a land fill.

From what I heard when he threw it, it sounded like it was probably about 3 cents but still, how mind blowingly prickish of him. And no, I didn't go digging in the trash for it. I did find a penny on the ground while I was waiting for my food though.

Stay updated on the total, because I'm going to announce the total at the end of the year in a special way. It's not much, but I'm excited about it.

Tallying.

I visited a friend last night to celebrate the New Year and I found a $.10 on the floor. I thought, Awesome! But alas, the rule is that I have to find it in public. So I left it at his house. I'm having a hard time finding takers for the $5 pool, but I have a whole year to convince them I guess. In regards to that, another rule I'll set is that I can't tell them the amount I've already found before they've given their prediction. If they know how much I've found six months into this little experiment, they could take an average and perhaps gain an advantage to predict by.

I did already state my prediction, which was: $2.26. Two days before this experiment began I did find a dime in Walmart! W00t! I love finding change! I heard a little story on the radio how this man who only used cash and saved all his change ended up using the change over time to buy a new car with. That's a whole lot of ca-ching.

Happy New Year everyone!

Change.

Starting January 1st, I am going to document all the change I find in 2008. I'll do my best to not actively seek out change by walking up to drive-thrus, coursing through parking lots, and fingering every change return slot. I am quite curious to know how much it's going to amount to however. I may not even crack a dollar unless I get lucky and find several quarters, or bills on the ground.

My prediction is $2.26. Tell me your predictions too. I'd almost like to get a $5 pool going and whoever guesses the closest to total change found would win the pool. I'd probably lose a lot more than I found, but it would make it more interesting. To add to the stipulations, it has to be money found out in public. In the couch, in the car or at someone else's house doesn't count.