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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."

16 of 480 comments (clear)

  1. He has plenty of other interests too! by fembots · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to the friendly article, his life is not one big homage to "Star Wars," he says, and he has plenty of other interests, including classical music, modern dance, fine dining, dive bars, working out and reading about contemporary art.

    1. Re:He has plenty of other interests too! by fembots · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe we're just jealous, like we always mod down first post because we cannot get first post.

      This guy, out of the blue, starts queuing there 5 months before the screening, while most SW fans will only so do maybe one month prior.

      That's very untraditional and unprofessional.

  2. Merchandise, Book Deal by mr.henry · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the "blog"...
    Just to let every one know i should have some nice tee shirts up online in a few day.

    From the Seattle PI article...
    To pass the time, he writes in a journal, posts to his blog, chats on the phone and touches up old stories from past "Star Wars" campouts, in hopes that, perhaps, a book deal will be extended one day.

    He truly has the SW spirit of making a buck anywhere possible. George would be proud.

    1. Re:Merchandise, Book Deal by pHatidic · · Score: 5, Informative
      George would be proud.


      Actually George has said several times that part of the reason why the prequels were so long in coming was that he didn't like the fact that people were devoting their lives to his movies and he wanted to discourage them from doing this. If Lucas saw this guy sitting there then most likely he would tell him to get the fuck up and get a job.

    2. Re:Merchandise, Book Deal by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

      Can we tell George to do the same ;)

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    3. Re:Merchandise, Book Deal by Marnix · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Can we tell George to do the same ;)

      For a minute I thought you meant George Dubya...

  3. Why? by CleverNickedName · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hasn't he seen the first two?

    --


    Unfortunately, I am not Wil Wheaton
  4. This would have been cool... by jhealy · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...TWENTY YEARS AGO, when these movies were actually good! Now look at them. He's waiting for THAT?

    hmeh!

  5. If he wants to be brave by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny

    If he wants to be brave, he should camp out wearing a Jar Jar mask during the whole time. Chances are he'll succumb to injuries from being kicked to death by the 43rd day.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  6. Re:graphic artist eh by rowanxmas · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, I went to high school with this guy.

    At the time I did think he would become such an "uber" Star Wars fan. He was several years older than I, but we were on the Track and Field team together. Even then I knew that he was destined for waiting greatness. He was the only person on the team to be named as our best sunbather, 4 years in a row.

    So, I congratulate Jeff on this remarkable achievment, and wish him luck in seeing what will surely be a fabulous film!

  7. Teach him a lesson... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone want to teach this geek a lesson?
    If we all club together, we could raise funds to pay-off the cinema to NOT show the film on its opening night?

  8. A better plan by deke_kun · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Geez. All he needs to do is spend the amount of time he would have spent in line at a gym, and by the time the movie comes out, he'll be so buff and fearsome to all the ubernerds, he can just walk up to the front of the line, announce cutsies, and voila. Also he will probably be healthier, and far more attractive to the opposite sex thereafter, albeit still with the geekiness and the sabers and leia in the bikini glayven.

  9. Re:I speak for the entire human race when I say... by Rune+Berge · · Score: 5, Funny

    I speak for the entire slashdot crowd when I say...

    GET A WHAT?

  10. I've always wondered.... by Weaselmancer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.
    1. Re:I've always wondered.... by shrewtamer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Lifes a big trip....he's just doing something different. He hasn't stopped living.

      One of the best things I ever did was take almost a year hiatus. I just quit my job, rented the house ... what's the big deal. Never rely on a particular job still being there ... even when you're in it ... what happens if you get made redunant. Unless you're able to walk out of there you're a prisoner. So if the market in your area is looking that bad, I'd retrain or move. That's why I wasn't worried when I quit my job as a software engineer ... it turned out to be easy to get another good job but if it hadn't, I'd probably be fitting gas boilers or going to law school.

      Spending 8 months hiking in the mountains made be happier than anything ever has. Enjoy the world...its bloody cool. Personally I don't think the insurance policies are the best bit.

      Have fun.

  11. Doens't care, eh? by dk.r*nger · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's been called a loser, a geek, a Peter Pan who refuses to grow up and get a life. A few days ago, someone called him a "bum" for the first time.

    "I don't really care how people label me," Tweiten says. "If they are so narrow-minded and can only see that one aspect of me, I kind of pity them."


    I'm not narrowminded. My mind is so wide, I can't decide wether to label him a loser, a geek, a Peter Pan or a bum. Hey, I think I'll label him every single one of those, right at the same time. he!