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