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One Last Campout for Star Wars Fans
theodp writes "27-year-old graphic artist Jeff Tweiten lives on a periwinkle blue, fold-out futon on the sidewalk in front of the Cinerama Theatre in downtown Seattle. He is not homeless, but camping out for 139 days. Waiting. For what, you wonder? Tweiten is waiting for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which opens May 19. And yes, he's keeping a blog. 14 days down. 125 to go." In other Star Wars news: dbottaro writes "Who wants a JL421 Badonkadonk? NAO Design has built a functional Sandcrawler, ala Star Wars Episode IV. Complete with blaster-deflecting sidewalls, full interior carpeting, seating for five and a 400 watt stereo system." Reader dankinit writes "For all you Star Wars fans, a Darth Tater Mr. Potato Head will be released in February by Hasbro Inc. The new covers for the Episode III books due out a month before the movie were also posted today."
Agile Artisans
He needs a life.
Time is Nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once... the bitch.
...not just engineering rejects but industrial design rejects too.
Beep beep.
I walk by Jeff everyday when I get off the bus at the Cinerama, headed to class (Art Institute of Seattle). I usually say hi to him if he's awake. He naps a lot, probably to help stay warm, since it's been something like 30 degrees for the last couple of weeks. My understanding is that he's doing this for charity, and I think that's damn decent of him. But even if he wasn't, somebody who's willing to sit in the cold and the noise and the smog and put up with ridicule for something they love has my respect.
I saw the first two ... and I will probably see Episode 3 in first run. I will do it for the same reason that I buy lottery tickets: irrational optimism.
"Because Science" is one step from "Because old book". Try "Because of my experiment testing my falsifiable assertion".
When you hear about someone like this, who feeds them? How the hell can you take 139 days out of your life and still have a house? Or insurance? Or a job?
Yes, I know the standard /. answer is that he lives in his mom's basement and she takes care of him...but is that actually true?
How the @#@##% do you go on a 139 day hiatus and return to your life afterwards???
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
He's quoted at the end of the article:
"But I don't want to regret not doing this. If I end up not making it, and my will is broken, and I go home, at least I'll have tried."
But yet earlier in the article:
"Probably the most elemental meaning he derives from the movies' various editions is Yoda's, "Do or do not. There is no try."
It fits in with his approach to life: "If you're going to do something, do it right. Don't half-ass it.""
This is one sad, sad motherfucker.
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
Is the best thing you can find to do with your life to spend 139 days sitting in front of a theatre. Where do people get the money for doing these types of things. If you have that kind of money, why are you spending it sitting in the middle of downtown instead of sitting on a beach somewhere.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
This might look like some sort of sage 60s advice, until you realize that the end result is some guy lying on concrete for a good part of his life for the honor of being the first to go into one of hundreds of corporate multiplex and give the mighty Lucasfilm corp a buck or two that it won't even notice.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Other than the obvious, campouts are stupid because Tickets for the opening showing on opening day are not at all and will not become hard to come by. This guy is supposed to be a nerd, and yet he's doing something so obsolete as to wait in line for a physical ticket.
Lines are for the past. Have fun when you can't even get in once the place is open because everyone smarter than you went to Fandango.
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Well, I've got to wonder about anybody who spends 4 months camping out in front of a movie theater. Is any movie that good?
"Pursuing a dream" is only worthy of respect when the dream itself is noble and worthy of pursuit. Hitler "pursued his dream" of genocide and some people "pursue their dreams" of cramming a dozen twinkies in their mouth or drinking 15 beers without passing out. Those aren't things that deserve anyone's respect or admiration.
G
Agreed, and it's not like camping out like this is necessary even if there was grounds for it. I saw the first two prequels on opening night, and you know how long I waited in line? About ten minutes.
He's perfectly normal, and very nice.
I think I speak for the entire population of the world, apart from you, when I say: no, he is not perfectly normal. The guy didn't even like episodes 1 and 2, and he's queueing up for 4 months for episode 3?!?!
between leaving your job to travel for several months(which I've also done) and leaving your job so you can go wait in line for several months.
Millions of people run Windows on their computers.
Popular demand is NOT a measure of quality.
"What's the frequency Kenneth?"
No kidding. For the Star Wars and (especially) Empire, people wanting to see one of the first few showings had to camp out for tickets, but Jedi opened on plenty enough screens, and the entire new trilogy has been in an age when you can call ahead with a credit card (either directly to a theater or to a service like TicketMaster or Fandango) and buy your tickets far in advance from home or the office!
Anybody sleeping out for one of the new movies is a poser and a sad joke.
Nothing would amuse me more than to hear that this guy failed to get in and see the movie because all the tickets at the theater he chose were pre-sold before the box office opened.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.