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Gaiman Naming Auction

Posted by Hemos on from the oh-neil-good-move dept.

Embedded Geek writes "Neil Gaiman is auctioning the opportunity to help pick a name in his upcoming novel Anansi Boys. Proceeds will go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. "I've got to name a currently unnamed cruise ship in Anansi Boys. I have no idea what to call it, and, a couple of days ago, realised that my utter lack of inspiration could do good things for the CBLDF. If you wish, you can bid to have the ship named after you, your loved one, your dog, or even your favourite word." As of 10AM PST the bidding is up to US $2,225.00, but surely some slashdotter who cashed out of the bubble at the right time can bid it up. Be warned, though - the auction indicates "Successful bidder agrees to pay actual shipping costs.""

171 comments

  1. Maybe some of us.... by BWJones · · Score: 4, Insightful

    surely some slashdotter who cashed out of the bubble at the right time can bid it up.

    Yeah, so the problem is that while some of us cashed out at the right time, we reinvested it in the stock market and lost our collective asses just like everybody else. Since I was tech heavy (hey, I was in my twenties and did not know anything about investing at the time), much of it disappeared as paper worth. Given that we are five years out from the crash, it is interesting that many estimates say the NASDAQ is another good decade from reaching the levels we had back then, which should teach you younger folks here about the value of market diversification.

    --
    Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    1. Re:Maybe some of us.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      I have tons of diversity: 1) A high interest bank account protected by deposit insurance, 2) GICs.

      Both guarantee me interest short of a bank collapsing. Everything else suffers from gamblers syndrome: people remember the wins and downplay the losses.

      To all those that made a lot of cash off the internet bubble: congratulations. But make no mistake about it, no one could predict the boom would be that grand because no one could predict how insane people were when it came to buying into hype. The bubble bursting, on the other hand, was so painfully obvious it's not even funny.

    2. Re:Maybe some of us.... by khallow · · Score: 1
      Both guarantee me interest short of a bank collapsing. Everything else suffers from gamblers syndrome: people remember the wins and downplay the losses.

      Hmmm, that's doesn't work with inflation and that's really the big risk now. At least, you get that with real estate or stock. Maybe US Treasury TIPs or blue stocks would be a better bet these days given your risk intolerance.

      OTOH, I burned roughly 50% of my stock investment due mostly to Carly Fiorina and gambling in the airlines prior to the Iraq Invasion. It's up to 60% now, but that's because I stayed with a couple of stocks that I know and kinda trust.

    3. Re:Maybe some of us.... by Hatta · · Score: 1

      while some of us cashed out at the right time, we reinvested it in the stock market

      Well that was stupid. First rule of gambling: Quit while you're ahead! If you keep going, you will lose it all.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    4. Re:Maybe some of us.... by Geoff-with-a-G · · Score: 1

      Yeah, so the problem is that while some of us cashed out at the right time, we reinvested it in the stock market and lost our collective asses just like everybody else.

      I think you don't understand the phrase "cashed out"

      As in, traded in your chips for cash, and walked away from the table, holding cash. If you win a hand of poker and use the winnings to bet on the next hand, that's not "cashing out"

      What the poster obviously meant was that there are some people who cashed out of the bubble, leaving themselves with lots of cash, which they can now spend on frivilous auctions. You are obviously not one of those people.

    5. Re:Maybe some of us.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "while some of us cashed out at the right time, we reinvested it in the stock market and lost our collective asses just like everybody else"

      Please allow me to say, "boo hoo".

      You hear that sound? It's the sounds of my heart, BLEEDING for you.

      Now I'm going back to my ramen noodles.

    6. Re:Maybe some of us.... by birdman17 · · Score: 1
      Well, some of us cashed out at the right time, but then we wisely invested our ill-gotten gains in assets of lasting value, like real estate - not names in a novel!

      Okay, so I bought a few toys too - what the heck. (*cough* home theater equipment *cough*) But I don't think a name in a novel is going to make the list no matter what.

    7. Re:Maybe some of us.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are obviously not one of those people

      And you obviously have shit for brains. What do you know of this guy? Like, he was trying to be helpful and you come up with this? You must watch poker on TV all day or something and think you know something.

  2. More Info by maotx · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From his site mentioned in summary:
    ...are you going to be keeping veto power over the name?

    I think we can burn that bridge when we come to it....it's remotely possible that someone at Miramax or Lamy Pens or TeaDirect Tea may decide that this is a heaven-sent opportunity for cheap product placement, and it'll suddenly become the USS Latest Lindsay Lohan Movie or the SS TIVO RULES. But I sort of doubt it'll happen like that.

    Sounds like he could be setting himself up for a lot of hurt.

    Other than that, here is an interview with Neil Gaiman talking about this book and his previous one called American Gods and here is Google's Print of American Gods.

    As for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, here is a site with some highlights of cases that they have helped.

    --
    I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    1. Re:More Info by doormat · · Score: 1

      Good... I'd rather not see SS GOLDEN PALACE.COM...

      --
      The Doormat

      If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
    2. Re:More Info by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 1, Interesting
      Technically, the auction says have the ship named after you, your loved one, your dog, or even your favourite word.

      So, it seems to me, he can go along with something else, but he only has to take a person's name or a pet's name (and he could ask for proof, if it sounds fishy).

      The "worst" it could be is a single "favorite" word. And even most profanities would be explainable, in context, for the name of a ship... some colorful story to explain why it is called "S**t" or even "F**k".

      All-in-all, I'd bet a fan will be the winner, rather than a jerk with money to burn. In any event, It doesn't look like product names count, if you use the old Scrabble argument "it's not a word if it's not in the dictionary!".

      On the other hand, there are some pretty embarrassing dictionary words...

      --
      This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
    3. Re:More Info by shawb · · Score: 1

      Ehh... if it's a name he doesn't like, then he just writes some really bad things about the ship.

      --
      I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman
    4. Re:More Info by tverbeek · · Score: 4, Insightful
      If any /.er puts in a bid, and that bid turns out not to win, I'd like to formally challenge them to send the CBLDF the money (or a substantial portion thereof) regardless. Or if you prefer a more humanitarian (i.e. less political) charity, send it to ACTOR, or to Comic Relief or some other good cause that Gaiman supports.

      After all, if you'd be willing to part with the money in exchange for something as trivial as this, shouldn't the more weighty reasons for these charities themselves be motivation enough?

      For that matter, if you balked at the $2k+ current bid, figuring you couldn't possibly bid more than $x... why not send them the $x?

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    5. Re:More Info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How much did you send?

    6. Re:More Info by tverbeek · · Score: 1

      I'm already a regular contributor to the CBLDF. How much is none of your business.

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  3. Naming tool... by spywarearcata.com · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And if you are looking for a little lexicographic assistance in finding that perfect name, try the following lists of 6,000 female names, 5,000 male names, and 5,000 surnames:

    http://www.spywarearcata.com/babynames_baby_names_ girl_baby_names_boy_baby_names_popular_babies_fema le_male_free_download_unusual_list_naming_children /babynames_baby_names_girl_baby_names_boy_baby_nam es_popular_babies_female_male_free_download_unusua l_list_naming_children.html

    Free and open source.

    1. Re:Naming tool... by networkBoy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Amazing.
      I'm trying to come up with a name for my son.
      That he may be named as a result of a slashdot link is scary. Even more frightening is I pondered the name of: /. but wondered what the doc would say. (wife would kill me, that's already been established).
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
    2. Re:Naming tool... by darth_MALL · · Score: 1

      Bonaventure. Can there be any other name?

    3. Re:Naming tool... by maotx · · Score: 1

      My girl and I agree that if our child is a girl she can name it anything she wants and if it's a boy I can name it anything I want.

      I'm shooting for Mark 2.0
      Maybe you should go with networkBoy 2.0?

      --
      I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    4. Re:Naming tool... by maotx · · Score: 1

      Oh, better yet, maybe you should auction off the name?
      Thats better than my whole version naming scheme.

      --
      I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    5. Re:Naming tool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about the name of his arch enemy: Bendick.

    6. Re:Naming tool... by networkBoy · · Score: 1

      Funny, my wife jokingly said how bout Marc II
      BTW, you mis-spelled your name (not to be a spelling nazi or anything :-P )
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
    7. Re:Naming tool... by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      I have a namer program. You could call your kid .. Throne Rage, Klingon Charlie, Bedroom Skull or Blood Artist. Hmm, on second thought, maybe sticking to naming F&SF role-playing characters would be better?

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    8. Re:Naming tool... by maotx · · Score: 1

      Thanks but it is spelled with a k ;)
      As for my kid, I'm really hoping for a boy. Right now though I figure he is Mark .66 as we're 3 months into it. Still in alpha stage :)

      --
      I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    9. Re:Naming tool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Name him Asphalt, because it was her ass and your fault.

  4. Why? by Imidazole · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Please, can someone explain to me... Why?

    --
    -Imidazole
    Hilarious Office Prank!
    1. Re:Why? by foobsr · · Score: 2, Funny

      Marketing.

      CC.

      --
      TaijiQuan (Huang, 5 loosenings)
    2. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The short answer is that Neil Gaiman is a hack.

      I mean really, other than American Gods, what has he written that has even been worth looking at? He's trying to embrace the science fiction community because he knows that his work is essentially too assinine and boring for any other genre, and it's gotten bad enough to the point that he needs to use cheap gimmicks like this to keep his name out there.

      Sorry if that offends any Gaiman fans, but I've read his books, and it's just my opinion. You don't have to share it, and you're quite welcome to disagree.

  5. I can see it now... by MagicDude · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Mike and Alice said goodbye to their friends at the dock and then boarded the USS www.goldenpalace.com, eager to start their long deserved vacation."

    1. Re:I can see it now... by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 1

      Grilled cheese sandwiches, people's skin, and breast implants may come and go...but a cruise ship in a fiction novel will last forever.

    2. Re:I can see it now... by Flamingcheeze · · Score: 1
      Oh, man... The winner just has to call it the "Filthy Whore."

      Wasn't that the ship's name in Cabin Boy?

      --
      The Philosophy of Liberty | lewrockwell.com
    3. Re:I can see it now... by grumpygrodyguy · · Score: 1

      I'd enter this contest just to win the ability to un-read your post.

      --
      The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
    4. Re:I can see it now... by Meiyo+Neko · · Score: 1

      How about the S.S. Stutter?

    5. Re:I can see it now... by plover · · Score: 1
      I dunno. They're the Anansi Boys, why not call it the "Drew", as in "Nancy Drew"? Get it? Huh? Huh? Anansi Drew?

      Check ... check ... hey, is this mic on?

      --
      John
    6. Re:I can see it now... by WoodieR · · Score: 1

      Excellent, they seem to be buying a heck of a lot of - eclectic ? items for promo, lately ...

      --
      Question Authority before IT questions You ...
  6. Huh? by SteelV · · Score: 3, Funny

    "surely some slashdotter who cashed out of the bubble at the right time can bid it up"

    Naw, I waited until all of my investments went to under 10 cents before cashing out. And I don't know how Neil Gaiman is. Maybe I'm not as nerdy as I thought... No, I'm still a nerd!

    (courtesy of Yahoo! image search -- don't get me wrong, I love Google, but Yahoo! image search is much more up to date).

    1. Re:Huh? by SteelV · · Score: 1

      I love how I talk about losing all my $$$ and I get modded funny. Thanks for the support, MODS! lol

  7. Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by InterruptDescriptorT · · Score: 4, Funny

    We might end up seeing the SS CowboyNeal, or, worse yet, the SS Goatse! :-)

    --
    Karma: Excellent Birds (mostly as a result of listening to Laurie Anderson)
    1. Re:Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Normally I don't troll, but . . .
      what kind of dumbass pays thousands of dollars to promote somebody else?! That doesn't even make sense in my socialist mindset!

    2. Re:Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by DavidD_CA · · Score: 1

      You know, Slashdotters could unite and each put in $1 to have it named the SS Goatse.

      Then again, when have slashdotters ever agreed on anything?

      --
      -David
    3. Re:Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or perhaps the SS Boat Names You or the SS ??? Profit or a million other cliches

    4. Re:Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by arbitraryaardvark · · Score: 1

      how about the
      Andre Maru?

    5. Re:Heh, hope it isn't a Slashdotter who wins... by csguy314 · · Score: 1

      Hmm... no... I'm pretty sure if a /.er won we'd see the SS Breasts...

      --
      This is left as an exercise for the reader.
  8. I would choose... by SheldonYoung · · Score: 0

    Ahardy Drew

    1. Re:I would choose... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ok, that was bad. Really really bad. ROFL

  9. I'm sorry by tarquin_fim_bim · · Score: 0

    I had to sign in. Now I've forgotten the question, but it was a word play on Gaimen, my integrity for a better memory.

  10. Too bad.. by ackthpt · · Score: 1

    Too bad Starship Titanic has already been used, we could sure use a new patron.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  11. careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you wish, you can bid to have the ship named after you, your loved one, your dog, or even your favourite word."

    Half of slashdotters have the same word for two of the above.

    1. Re:careful... by Core-Dump · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you mean B*tch, then it's 3 out of 4

      --
      What would you do without a monitor? Sit and look stupid behind a keyboard and a mouse
    2. Re:careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Very clever!

      1. you = your loved one (masturbation)
      2. your loved one = your dog (now that's just sick)
      3. your favorite word = your loved one (uh... perhaps you like the word "dick"?)

    3. Re:careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      except for a small minority of slashdotters, where it's 4 out of 4.

    4. Re:careful... by MrScience · · Score: 1

      slashdotters? or words?

      --

      You quitting proves that the karma kap worked. The most annoying of the whores shut up. --CmdrTaco

    5. Re:careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's ok. We're on the Internet. You can say bitch if you want to. The * really isn't fooling anyone.

    6. Re:careful... by wildsurf · · Score: 1

      If you mean B*tch, then it's 3 out of 4

      So, what is your favorite word then?

      --
      Weeks of coding saves hours of planning.
  12. Whiners! by RobertB-DC · · Score: 1

    I looked at the eBay feedback, and was reminded of why it would suck to be a big-time seller on eBay. What a bunch of whiners!

    "It took a month to even ship, very annoyed but at least they apologised!" "Took over a MONTH to arrive!!! geez! A Neutral because of my relief it showed up" "A little slow but well worth the wait!!!!! Would buy from again!!!!" "Shipping took too long, but great item and an awesome organization - THANKS!!!"

    Or maybe the fund really is kind of slow to ship. Well, there hadn't better be any complaints about shipment on this auction...

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:Whiners! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      If someone doesn't ship within a week I get completely pissed off. There is no excuse whatsoever for that kind of tardiness. You can place the auction whenever you want, so you KNOW when it ends. I have never shipped an auction item I have sold in more than four days.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Whiners! by tverbeek · · Score: 1

      The feedback system at eBay is well named: it's about as informative as feedback in a PA system, and damn near useless. It consists of A) losers giving each other handjobs of hyperbolic praise ("AAA+++++ best eBayer since Jesus!!! hope to do business with him nightly!") hoping to get the same ejaculatory feedback in response, and B) complainers trying hopelessly to besmirch the reputation of both those professional cheats who deserve it and those hapless amateurs who do not.

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    3. Re:Whiners! by nacturation · · Score: 3, Funny

      A+++++++ insightful comment!!! prompt posting!! would read again!

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    4. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I have never shipped an auction item I have sold in more than four days.

      So if it takes more than four days to sell it you never ship it? I don't get it.

    5. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't always know when the auction will end, if you have a BIN option. And you don't always know when you'll be paid.

      I always state explicitly in the auction exactly when an item can ship. Usually it's "the Friday after I receive payment", unless it's a BIN in which case it's usually same or next day shipping as way of saying "thank you for giving me the price I wanted". Payment by check takes longer.

      So in some instances, I'll ship in longer than four days. But then again, I'm explicit in my terms. Plus, if I'm shipping a BIN item I'll usually ship whatever else needs to be shipped that day.

      But then, I'm not a big time seller, more like a small to medium time seller. If I were a big time seller, I'd get a scale and ship stuff right out of my house, so it'd always leave the day after I get paid.

      As a buyer, I'm hesitant to buy from someone who isn't explicit in every detail possible. Being explicit protects them as much as the buyer, unless they're running a scam.

    6. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Except that the /. moderation system provides no quid-pro-quo entanglement to encourage +1 mods or to punish -1 mods. It has flaws, but not the same systemic faults that eBay feedback has.

      Please mod parent -1, Clueless.

    7. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Except that the /. moderation system provides no quid-pro-quo entanglement to encourage +1 mods or to punish -1 mods.

      You're new here, aren't you?

    8. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " If someone doesn't ship within a week I get completely pissed off."

      Then don't do business with Amazon. I ordered 4 books on March 9th, all of them labeled "usually ships in 24 hours", and they still haven't been shipped! They do this all the time and I still haven't learned. I wouldn't have place this order except that Amazon was the only place that had the books I needed. Bastards!

      The really bad thing is that when they DO finally ship, it will be by mule train.

    9. Re:Whiners! by Kuro-Bishounen · · Score: 1

      Oooooooooo! pedanic!

      --
      Evil Space Monkeys could be stealing YOUR bandwidth!
    10. Re:Whiners! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Oooooooooo! pedanic!

      Now you're just baiting me. OK, I give in. You misspelled oooooooooo.

    11. Re:Whiners! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I have noticed this. Amazon is piss-poor about shipping things. This really sucks when you're trying to buy schoolbooks through them.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  13. Hreh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Whats going on \ where am I?>

    what a nidream.l;

  14. Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    "I'm Gaiman, I write books about boys."

    1. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by tverbeek · · Score: 2, Informative
      "I'm Gaiman, I write books about boys."

      Not just boys, but Anansi boys.

      If you're going to make homo jokes, please try to make them as complete as possible.

      (For the Brit-challenged: "nancy boy" is slang for an effeminate, presumably homosexual young man. The title of the book is a clever pun... one that many Americans will, sadly, not get.)

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    2. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it was more popular in America a few decades ago; you can find it in some hard-boiled detective fiction. I was actually just reading through the comments to see if anyone else caught it. :)

      -U
      (still too lazy to get a real account)

    3. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by i_should_be_working · · Score: 4, Informative

      Anansi The Spider is a West African folk character who is also quite popular in the carribean and the States.

      The main character in Gaiman's book is the son of a spider god.

    4. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (For the Brit-challenged: "nancy boy" is slang for an effeminate, presumably homosexual young man. The title of the book is a clever pun... one that many Americans will, sadly, not get.)

      Well that's quite presumptuous. That term has long been used in American slang also (literature, comedians, TV, all over the place).

    5. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by cicho · · Score: 1

      Also a pun on "Gaiman", then.

      --
      "Only the small secrets need to be protected. The big ones are kept secret by public incredulity." - Marshall McLuhan
    6. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by cicho · · Score: 1

      Scratch that, didn't read grandparent!

      --
      "Only the small secrets need to be protected. The big ones are kept secret by public incredulity." - Marshall McLuhan
    7. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And yet so many people - like the original AC here - obviously don't get it.

    8. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You watch a lot of "Are You Being Served?" on Channel 26, I guess. Because red-blooded Americans don't use that slang unless it's a joking reference to English slangs, like saying "shite" or whatever the fuck they say over there.

    9. Re:Hi, allow me to introduce myself... by Tiger4 · · Score: 1

      Mr Nancy was in "American Gods" as one of the semi-protagonist characters. He's portrayed as a down on his luck older Black man, but you can see he's cagey. It is made clear he is Anansi in retirement.

      --
      Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
  15. Shipping Costs by willmeister · · Score: 4, Informative

    The winner of this auction "will receive a signed, first edition of Anansi Boys when it is published this Fall." - This explains the shipping costs.

    1. Re:Shipping Costs by patches · · Score: 1

      I do believe that the eBay rules state that the seller has to actually send a physical item to the buyer....

      --
      The worst part of being athiest.... You don't have anyone to talk to during orgasm!
    2. Re:Shipping Costs by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 1

      If I have to pay to name a ship, is that considered shipping costs?

      *ba doom boom*

      --

      ___
      It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
    3. Re:Shipping Costs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you sure about that? If you're selling ad space on your forehead, how do you send a physical item to the buyer?

    4. Re:Shipping Costs by adlj · · Score: 0

      and I thought it was the ship being sent to the high bidder...

    5. Re:Shipping Costs by Kuro-Bishounen · · Score: 1

      Scalping! sadly underused nowadays, I remember when I was young and people had their walls covered with them... attractive, stylish and also insulating

      --
      Evil Space Monkeys could be stealing YOUR bandwidth!
  16. Anansi Boys..? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, 'Nancy Boys' is a name suitable to where the ships' located; especially if it's of "Titanic proportions", and thereby 'goes down' alot..

  17. I named it by nilbog · · Score: 1
    I named it "The USS I-won-an-auction-and-all-I-got-was-this-stupid-spa ceship-named-after-me"

    priceless...

    --
    or else!
  18. shipping? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Be warned, though - the auction indicates "Successful bidder agrees to pay actual shipping costs.""

    As long as it's a fictional cruise ship that shouldn't be a problem.

  19. Comic Book Guy? by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

    Proceeds will go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

    Oh my! Is the Comic Book Guy in trouble? Worst... lawsuit... ever!

    --
    Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  20. Heh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Good Ship "Overtly gratuitous use of profanity".

    Actually, that sounds a lot like an Ian Banks Culture ship.

  21. Er... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that a joke? If not, does anyone else feel uneasy about following a link to spywarearcata.com?

    1. Re:Er... by drxray · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's fine. Not even any ads that I saw (firefox+adblock), though possibly it's some kind of brand-awareness ploy...

      I'm not so sure about the quality of the list. "W" as a potential name for your baby girl? Possibly to go with middle and final names "T" and "F"?

      --
      Slashdot - Mutual Assured Discussion
  22. Something that'll piss him off... by goodEvans · · Score: 2

    The USS Spawn Would Kick Sandman's Ass In A Fight
    HMS NeverWhoCares
    The SS Morpheus? Isn't He In The Matrix?

    Personally, I think the best name ever for a ship was the Size Isn't Everything in Iain M Banks' Culture novels

  23. I've got some money to spend... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..so I'm gonna bid huge, and make him call the ship Fuckfart.

  24. Tragsnart! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tragsnart. I'd name it Tragsnart. Or, more precisely, Tragsnart the Ship. Of course, it might get more recognition on /. than in a book.

  25. And the name is... by gremlins · · Score: 1

    Monster.com

    --
    just because your a schizophrenic doesn't mean people arn't really out to get you
    1. Re:And the name is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, Its the Golden Palace Casino that like this stuff.

  26. you insensitive clod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I live in Nepal.

  27. Congrats! by nacturation · · Score: 1

    Congratulations, networkBoy, on your healthy baby son! We wish you, your wife, and Goatse all the best.

    --
    Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  28. Bad names? by TiggertheMad · · Score: 2, Funny

    That he may be named as a result of a slashdot link is scary.

    Dear god, I don't think the world is ready for a Goatsecx Jones....

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
    1. Re:Bad names? by Ubergrendle · · Score: 1

      Yes, but "First Post Jones" is in a realm of normalcy... if he hangs w/ Rumour, Scout, Apple, and Dwezzel.

      --
      John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
  29. the CORAL LINER by Nathdot · · Score: 1

    Now anybody gonna lend me the money to make this happen :)

  30. The U.S.S. Slashdot? by scovetta · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think someone should commemorate /. by naming the ship by a common /.ism, like
    * U.S.S. Slashdot
    * The Cowboy Neil
    * The Goatse.cx
    * All Your Ship Are Belong To Us
    * In Russia, The Ship Names You!

    I'm sure someone else can come up with more witty suggestions in this vein.

    --
    Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. --Nietzsche
    1. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Repugnant_Shit · · Score: 2, Funny

      All aboard the SS Hotgrits!

      --
      Vote for global prefs bug
    2. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by XPulga · · Score: 1

      * USS Welcome To Our New Dolphin Overlords
      * USS Welcome To Our New Iceberg Overlords (Titanic only)
      * USS First Post
      * USS Back in the USSR
      * USS DarlMcBrideSuxALot

      and the list goes on, and on

    3. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      the SS You Insensitive Clod!

    4. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by dschu1 · · Score: 1

      Did you say "Da List"? Mister Wilson, I think you're lagging a bit.

    5. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by LordOfYourPants · · Score: 1

      I would donate $30 to a fund for the ship to be named Junis.

      To those who don't know who Junis is, I can honestly say that you missed the golden age of Slashdot. It was a melting pot of both great trolls and great expertise.

      I'm really surprised Junis doesn't have a wikipedia entry.

    6. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Aggrav8d · · Score: 1

      Let's not forget the HMS Natalie Portman.

    7. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by tool462 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Beowulf
      The RTFA
      Anonymous
      The IANAL

    8. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I'm really surprised Junis doesn't have a wikipedia entry.

      What's stopping you?

    9. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      how about the
      s.s. Itanic
      or the
      s.s. BSD is dead.

    10. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by LordOfYourPants · · Score: 1

      What's stopping me is either writing an entry portraying Junis as a troll when he's an actual human being or vice-versa.

      Truth be told, *I* don't know much about Junis aside from the Slashdot phenomenon and I don't think making an entire biographical entry using Slashdot as the source would do much to help Wikipedia's cause.

    11. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by LordOfYourPants · · Score: 1

      To clarify, I have made Wikipedia entries in the past, just not about Junis or other topics/facts I'm not completely sure of.

    12. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by sjlutz · · Score: 1

      The U.S.S. Profit? (now waiting my 20 seconds)

    13. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      S.S. Beowulf Cluster

    14. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by rzebram · · Score: 1

      Considering the book, I think "IANAL" might be the most appropriate ship name.

    15. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by subtillus · · Score: 1

      1) Ship
      2) ???
      3) Profit!

    16. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 1

      My fav is still the pre-slashdot;

      "SS Esses"

      --

      ___
      It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
    17. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Feztaa · · Score: 1

      That's the best name ever! Named in the same fashion as slashdot itself ;)

    18. Re:The U.S.S. Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "SS Schutzstaffel"

  31. if (dog==you) by bluenirve · · Score: 1

    Since we don't have a 'loved one', you named your dog after yourself?

  32. the worrisome implications by tverbeek · · Score: 1

    Althought I'm pleased that Mr Gaiman has found a way to make lemonade of this patch of writer's block, I'm a bit disturbed at what this means to those of us who look forward to his writing. If he can't think up a better name for a boat than he expects to get from some fanboy who can't even think up better ways to drop a few thousand dollars... that's got to be a Martian-desert-sized dry spell he's facing.

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    1. Re:the worrisome implications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not lack of ideas. It's a simple publicity stunt.

      I mean seriously--if you can't think of a name for a boat, go down to the goddamn wharf and plagiarize. Or crack a naval warfare history book. Or roll your ship name with 26-sided D&D dice.

      Writer's block would be when the name of the ship is the ONLY thing he can think of.

    2. Re:the worrisome implications by fireduck · · Score: 4, Insightful

      i doubt this is really writer's block, but rather an attempt to help an organization he genuinely likes to help. He's been involved with a number of auctions with proceeds going to CBLDF.

      Certainly he can come up with a name for a boat; just about every character in his writing has an interesting name. This is likely just a case of "I'm going through draft 0 of the story and realized I still have USS (insert name here) in the text and need to correct that. Let's try something fun and unusual and worthwhile for one of my fav organizations."

    3. Re:the worrisome implications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's the name of a ship... hardly a major plot point in the book, I'm guessing...

      this just gives him a chance to raise some money for the CBLDF and give somebody a thrill at the same time...

  33. Immortality by ackthpt · · Score: 1
    Please, can someone explain to me... Why?

    It's not a new thing. Michael Stackpole offered this glorious opportunity, to have characters in one of his books named for bidders in a charity auction. Names within reason, of course, subject to refusal by writer and/or publisher if you think you'll pull a funny, but lewd prank.

    It appeals to the fan no less than the Daddy Warbucks out there, who likes to have a university, civic center or new species grant some sort of immortality. Besides, you could wave it under your friends nose, which probably was a rather hilarious game of one-upsmanship back in the days of the Rockefellers.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  34. In true rip-off tribute nerd style... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We could go with "SS More powerful than Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and the Incredible Hulk combined"

    The money provided to the cause could be used to sue your ass!

    1. Re:In true rip-off tribute nerd style... by cliffy2000 · · Score: 1

      Come to think of it, Pea Tear Griffin would be a good name...

  35. Quick! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Quick! Someone tell Fark!

  36. Goldenpalace.com ... by Zombie91836 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... will get the winning bid. Goldenpalace.com has been bidding on any and every high profile auction in recent history as a means of getting more publicity. See how it's worked? I'm sitting here mentioning their URL right now because of other auctions they have won.

    Sneaky Goldenpa. .. I almost said it again!

    1. Re:Goldenpalace.com ... by iainl · · Score: 1

      That's just great for them. However, none of this makes me want to actually type their url in. What do they do? Is there much call for Online Palace Gilting?

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    2. Re:Goldenpalace.com ... by meringuoid · · Score: 1

      Does that matter? Is Golden Palace such a bad name for a cruise ship? Sounds appropriate to me; if it raises a big pile of cash for charity, why not?

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  37. Name it.. by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 1

    Name it something in another language... lets see how many people that pisses off :D

    --
    I like muppets.
  38. Obvious loophole by xstonedogx · · Score: 1, Interesting

    They can just have their loved ones renamed. I can see it now: "This is my daughter 'Swiffer's Good'. I'd like the ship named the SS Swiffer's Good please, and thank you." :)

    1. Re:Obvious loophole by richie2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Might be easier to rename your dog, though. :-)

      --
      Money for nothing, pix for free
  39. That depends... by Signal_Noise · · Score: 1, Funny

    Does this ship come with gaidar?

  40. what a sick man... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    writing about a tribe of southwestern natives who eat young men... for shame

  41. What if we band together by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 1

    and name it the Slashdot registered out of Tucows?

    --
    - Tjp

    I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

    1. Re:What if we band together by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd rather give money to the Save Enterprise Fund - and everyone knows that is a lost battle.

      Gaiman is getting more and more money and publicity hungry, and it seems to be accelerating. I don't know if this will compromise any artistic integrity he has, but from where I'm sitting it doesn't look good...

    2. Re:What if we band together by 51mon · · Score: 1

      Splashdot?

      Oh look no one has letsbidforit.com yet?

  42. Awesome by kuzb · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So .. let me get this right. I'm supposed to pay you for the chance to do YOUR job FOR you?

    Am I the only one who finds this ironic? ;)

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
    1. Re:Awesome by PMuse · · Score: 2, Funny

      So .. let me get this right. I'm supposed to pay you for the chance to do YOUR job FOR you?

      "Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?"

      --
      "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." --The American President (20.1.2009)
    2. Re:Awesome by Treeluvinhippy · · Score: 1

      Heh yeah ol' Tom sure came out on top.

      From the story: Tom had traded the next chance to Billy Fisher for a kite, in good repair; and when he played out, Johnny Miller bought in for a dead rat and a string to swing it with.

      That ol' Tom Sawyer plays for the big winnings!

      --
      >
  43. Where is Drew Curtis? by Mikey-San · · Score: 2, Funny

    What about the Fark.com UFIA Arena?

    Abe Vigoda Memorial ... Ah, forget it. Those didn't make the cut last time, either! /got nothin'

    --
    Mikey-San
    Karma: +Eleventy billion (mostly affected by watching Celebrity Jeopardy)
  44. SS Windows by houghi · · Score: 1

    That way the money towards the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will be well spend by establashing that "Windows" is a generic name and not a product name.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  45. Wouldn't it be cheaper to change your name? by Cyrgo · · Score: 1

    Why spend $2200+ on naming a cruiser after yourself (or anyone else)?
    Wouldn't it be cheaper to change your own name to some other? I mean, if you want to be remembered for ever or to flaunt your famous name onto others, why not change it to an already existing name?

    - "Hi, my name is Majere, Raistlin Majere."
    or
    "Conan Barbarian and Xena Princess would like to invite you to the baptism of their daughter, Red Sonja Barbarian..."


    I can see the follow up of Soviet Russia jokes already... :p

  46. Am I the only one dissapointed... by MutantHamster · · Score: 1
    ...That it says to name a "Gaiman" and not "Caiman." Naming a small member of the crocodillian order would be awesome, and I don't even know what the hell a Gaimain is.

    I'd name it "Snappy."

    --
    My Greatest Heist - Muisc partly inspired by the unbeatable Qwantz
  47. Shipping Rate by JustJon · · Score: 1

    What is the current shipping rate of a word?

    1. Re:Shipping Rate by Muchsake · · Score: 1

      They mean that you have to pay for a full size replica of the ship for the cover photo shoot.

  48. Something I've wondered about for a while... by actor_au · · Score: 1

    How do you pronounce Gaiman?

    A girl I know from the US says it was Guy-Man, I always thought it was Gay-Min, its been bugging me ever since.

    --
    Read Errant Story.
    1. Re:Something I've wondered about for a while... by ajlitt · · Score: 4, Informative

      Heard 'im speak at the Princess Mononoke US version premiere in Austin. He pronounced it Gay-min too.

    2. Re:Something I've wondered about for a while... by actor_au · · Score: 2, Informative

      Cheers and thanks for that.

      --
      Read Errant Story.
    3. Re:Something I've wondered about for a while... by Riahd · · Score: 1

      Neil clarified this at one point and actually, he pronounces it game'n.

    4. Re:Something I've wondered about for a while... by Riahd · · Score: 1

      That now seems to be a really poor excuse for a phonetic; I'll try again: game'en

    5. Re:Something I've wondered about for a while... by lifespan · · Score: 0

      reminds me of a doctor in the small town I grew up in. His surnname is spelt DEATH. He likes it to be pronounced... Dee-Arth. LOL Or the teacher at my school, surname spelt COCKBURN, who liked it pronounced Co-burn (with Co prounouced as it is in the word CODE) a silent CK? .... and yes, junior high was fun with a teacher called Cockburn!

      --
      -- Howto: Get +5 (1) Whine about M$ (2) Namedrop Gentoo (3) Casually Abuse Mods (4) Namedrop Early Computer Model
  49. Arrrrrrr! A pirate cruise ship! by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

    The Bloody Bun!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  50. How about a new name for the author? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Gaiman - Junior high must have been a blast.

  51. Viagra by Matt_Joyce · · Score: 1


    I recognise these names as viagra vendors.

  52. "Shipping Costs" by templeofdagon · · Score: 1

    come on people... "shipping costs" was obviously a play on words.. cruise ship ... "shipping" costs :)

  53. Another example by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 1

    Thriller writer Nelson DeMille allows people to purchase their name as a character in his novels, for a donation to charity. There's invariably a list of them on the acknowledgements page.

    --
    When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  54. Terry Pratchett does this, too by Nice2Cats · · Score: 3, Informative

    As far as a know, the best living British author Terry Pratchett occasionally auctions off names of secondary characters for good causes. Pratchett, of course, co-authored Good Omens, which you should have read because it is brilliant, so they know each other (one would hope).

    1. Re:Terry Pratchett does this, too by Muchsake · · Score: 1

      He seems to do it at every Clarecraft event nowadays. The next is to be held in Woolpit, Suffolk, UK, 29th to 31st July 2005. (£5 camping fee - thats what I call a cheap weekend). You can get a character based on you for about £1000.

  55. It'll get called thje Golden Casino then. by seanyboy · · Score: 1

    What are the odds that the boat will end up being called the goldenpalacecasino.
    1,
    2,
    3

    --
    Training monkeys for world domination since 1439