Month: March 2008

Categories
Music

For Sale on eBay: Pete Townshend’s Camper Van

Pete Townshend’s camper van

Someone on eBay is selling what they claim to be a VW camper van formerly owned by Pete Townshend of The Who.

Pete Townshend’s camper van

Here’s the first part of the description:

TOTALLY UNIQUE. VW CAMPER OWNED AND LOVED BY PETE TOWSHEND AND PARTNER RACHEL FULLER. PERFECT CONDITION. LESS THAN 4500 MILES. MADE IN BRAZIL IN 2005 – SAME DESIGN AND STYLE AS ORIGINAL BAY CAMPER. ALL OF THE FUN WITH NONE OF THE HEADACHE. AIR COOLED.

Pete Townshend’s camper van

Here’s more:

IT HAS A RAISING ROOF, MAINS LINE HOOK UP, COOKER, GRILL, SINK, JVC CD/RADIO PLAYER WITH 5 SPEAKERS, ROOF VENT, DVD PLAYER AND TV SCREEN. IT HAS LOWERED SUSPENSION AND A SPARE WHEEL WITH MATCHING PAINTED COVER. PERFECT TO DRIVE, THIS WILL NOT BREAK DOWN FOR ANOTHER 100,000 MILES!!(at least).

Pete Townshend’s camper van

Here’s the part of the description that made me laugh out loud:

MANY A SAUSAGE SANDWICH HAS BEEN COOKED AND EATEN BY PETE IN THIS CAMPER. WE WILL BE SAD TO SEE IT GO. IT HAS BEEN SOOOOO MUCH FUN.

I thought sausage sandwiches were more David Bowie’s thing, but hey, it’s Pete’s camper. He can do what he wants in it.

Pete Townshend’s camper van

The auction ended without the reserve price being met (starting bid was £10,000), but if you really want it, I’m sure you can contact the seller and cut a deal.

Categories
It Happened to Me Work

The New Job: Nerd Wrangler at b5media

b5media logo

I figured I’d start off the working week with a big announcement: I’ve landed a new gig. As of this Thursday, March 6th, I’m going to be working at b5media, a network of 320 blogs that gets a total of over 10 million unique visits every month.

Depending on whom you ask, my new job title will be “Nerd Wrangler” or “Technical Project Manager”. I’ll coordinate b5’s development team and their projects, as well contribute my own experience and expertise in both blogging and accordion-playing.

I’m going to have a rather interesting first day on the job. Rather than heading to the office, I’m heading to the airport and boarding one of these…

Continental Airlines ERJ-145 regional jet

…because along with a good chunk of b5, I’ll be attending the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas…

SXSW Interactive 2008 logo

…as well as attending BarCamp Austin…

BarCamp Austin III

…where I plan to catch up with old friends and business associates and meet some new ones!

I’ll be staying at the ranch that b5 rented and attending the conference, taking copious notes and photos (and posting them here) as well as meeting up with the b5 bloggers and development team, who come from all over.

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again:

there_will_be_accordion.gif

Watch this space for my posts from Austin!

Categories
funny

What Motivates Batman?

Batman slapping Robin: “My parents are deeeeeeeeeead!”
Image courtesy of Miss Fipi Lele.

(“My parents are dead!” has been an ongoing gag about Batman since PvP creator Scott Kurtz illustrated a parody — covered in this blog entry — a couple of years back.)

Categories
Uncategorized

John McCain’s Favourite Joke

The folks at ZUG came up with an interesting little exercise. They sent a letter purportedly from a ten-year-old student to America’s 100 senators asking each what his or her favourite joke was. You can check out their site to see the complete set of results.

Senator John McCain’s joke was popular with ZUG’s readers; in fact, his was voted as one of the funniest. Here it is:

Letter from John McCain with the funniest joke he knows.
Click the photo above to see it on its original page at full size.

Here’s the text of the joke:

May 8, 2003

Mr. John Hargrave
PO Box 57013
Babson Park, MA 02457-0012

Dear John:

Thank you for contacting my office to request a joke for your project. I am happy to oblige.

Here is my favorite joke: I feel terrible for all the mothers in the state of Arizona. Because, as you know, Barry Goldwater from Arizona ran for President of the United States, Morris Udall from Arizona ran for President of the United States, Bruce Babbitt from Arizona ran for President of the United States, and I, John McCain from Arizona ran for President of the United States…Arizona may be the only state in the nation where mothers no longer tell their children that some day they can grow up and be President of the United States.

It was a pleasure to hear from you. If you would like information regarding my interests and history as a Senator, please refer to my website: mccain.senate.gov.

Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,
John McCain
United States Senator

That’s actually not bad. To my American readers, I implore you: Please preserve the punchline of a half-decent joke! Make sure that John McCain never becomes President.

[Found via Reddit]