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Don't Panic, It's Towel Day!

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the he's-just-this-guy-ya-know dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Today, as every May 25th, geeks all over the world celebrate Towel Day and carry a towel in honor of Douglas Adams. The popular author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy died in 2001 at the age of 49, but his work lives on. According to the book, a towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Hence its symbolic role in this celebration. This year, for the first time as far as we know, Towel Day is being supported by the British publisher of Adams' books, who organizes a photo competition."

8 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. And remember kids... by viyh · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't forget to bring a towel! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6EHCrgZC0

    --
    "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." --Mark Twain
  2. Buy the books by cerberusss · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you live in Europe, you can buy THHGTTG with amazing discounts. Not affiliated with bol.com, just a satisfied customer and also surprised that they actually give discounts on this special day.

    --
    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
    1. Re:Buy the books by sherpajohn · · Score: 2, Informative

      Um, its not the anniversary of his death, that's n the 11th of May.

      --

      Going on means going far
      Going far means returning
  3. Re:There are ~1,308,361 American dead... by jonaskoelker · · Score: 4, Informative

    celebrating the fucking towel?

    No. It's celebrating Douglas Adams and his writings.

    The towel is an item used to celebrate DA, in much the same way that you don't celebrate a flag but use a flag in celebration of your (sadly fallen) compatriots.

    It's all about the symbolic value. Just as a flag is a symbol for national pride (which is a Great Thing when not done in excess), the towel is a symbol for (and manifestation of) Douglas Adams' witty humor.

    Also, on slashdot, what percentage is American? What percentage has read Douglas Adams?

    But wait... I thought the 42nd day was Towel Day?

  4. Re:There are ~1,308,361 American dead... by Repossessed · · Score: 5, Informative

    Memorial day isn't set for the 25th, its set for the last Monday in may. The two do not coincide most years.

    --
    Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite (TM)
  5. Re:There are ~1,308,361 American dead... by WombatDeath · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't know, but that's a cube of only about a quarter of a kilometre per side so I expect it could fit comfortably enough. You might need to knock a few buildings down but since we'll all be cremated I don't suppose anyone will mind.

  6. Re:If I don't post in this thread... by daveime · · Score: 2, Informative

    Whole Sort of General Mish Mash. Now give me my 42 points, or better still, a PGGB.

  7. Re:There are ~1,308,361 American dead... by Culture20 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Who cares about Americans ? Douglas Adams was English. Obviously you got lost on a UK-centric thread...

    Obviously your misidentified* UK-centric thread got lost on a US website...
    You're looking for http://slashdot.co.uk/
    Oh, wait, that's a place-holder. Looks like you can buy it and make your own british version of /. if you want to be belligerently xenophobic when someone is trying to explain another person's comment.

    *misidentified because Towel Day is an international holiday, not a UK specific holiday.