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Happy Towel Day!

Posted by samzenpus on from the about-the-most-massively-useful-thing-an-interstellar-hitchhiker-can-have dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Douglas Adams died about ten years ago and fans have not forgotten about the beloved author and the importance of having a towel. Today is Towel Day and people from all over the world are holding events to celebrate Adams. Some of the events include: a gladiator towel fight in France, concerts in Denmark & Russia, a march against Vogon Violence in Brazil, and a talk on science in the Hitchhiker's Guide in the UK. A Canadian group even ran a contest to select an Intergalactic Towel Day Ambassador for Earth."

72 comments

  1. Towlie says. by Roskolnikov · · Score: 3, Funny

    do you want to get high with me?

    --
    Unix, an obscure operating system developed by bored researchers in an attempt to get a better game playing experience.
    1. Re:Towlie says. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. Go away Towlie.

    2. Re:Towlie says. by shmeck · · Score: 1

      The secret to flying high is falling and not hitting the ground.

    3. Re:Towlie says. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I thought it was to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

    4. Re:Towlie says. by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 1

      No we just want to play our video game!

      --
      Palm trees and 8
    5. Re:Towlie says. by kimvette · · Score: 2

      When you do it right, you will hang in the air much in the way that bricks don't.

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    6. Re:Towlie says. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How high? I'm on the third story of a building right now!

    7. Re:Towlie says. by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 1

      Don't judge. How many towels do you know that can play Funky Town on a keypad.

  2. About by maxume · · Score: 1

    I look forward to my own approximate death.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  3. You Wanna Get High? by galvanash · · Score: 1

    Well, I'm gonna get a little high.

    --
    - sigs are stupid
  4. Don't forget to bring a towel! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You wanna get high?

    I'm not a towel.. you're a towel.

  5. Re:Kyle says. by religious+freak · · Score: 2

    You're the worst character ever towlie

    --
    If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
  6. Intergalactic Towel Day Ambassador for Earth. by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 1

    May I suggest Arthur Dent.

    --
    If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
    1. Re:Intergalactic Towel Day Ambassador for Earth. by laejoh · · Score: 1

      Wowbagger the infinitively prolonged will be more fun! Anyway, the main goal is to attract attention so no one wonders who's really in charge.

    2. Re:Intergalactic Towel Day Ambassador for Earth. by deckitbruiseit · · Score: 1

      Wowbagger the Indefinitely Prolonged seems like the worst possible character to attract attention away from anything..

  7. Disappointed with the current /. crowd by DaveAtFraud · · Score: 0

    I posted a Hitchhiker comment to "The world will end..." poll and got no responses.

    Cheers,
    Dave

    --
    They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
    Ben
    1. Re:Disappointed with the current /. crowd by MikeDirnt69 · · Score: 1

      Poor Dave...

      --
      Am I eval()? - http://www.monst3r.com.br
    2. Re:Disappointed with the current /. crowd by DikSeaCup · · Score: 2

      I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

      --
      I talk about stuff.
    3. Re:Disappointed with the current /. crowd by SIR_Taco · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry Dave... but I'm afraid Slashdot can't do that

      --
      I say don't drink and drive, you might spill your drink. Before you get behind the wheel just stop and think.
    4. Re:Disappointed with the current /. crowd by weirdcrashingnoises · · Score: 1

      I'm just disappointed that you didn't get first post, Dave.

      --
      sigs... don't talk to me about sigs....
  8. Google dissapoints me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    No Google Holiday Logo for this day. Tsk tsk tsk.

  9. oh man by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have no idea whats goin' on

  10. It's also Geek Day by HikingStick · · Score: 1

    Not to be confused with SysAdmin Day, it's International Geek Day today. An appropriate coincidence, it seems.

    --
    I use irony whenever I can, but my shirts are still wrinkled...
    1. Re:It's also Geek Day by HikingStick · · Score: 0

      CORRECTION: It's also "Geek Pride Day".

      --
      I use irony whenever I can, but my shirts are still wrinkled...
  11. You're a Towel! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Towlie, You're a Towel!

    You're a Towel!

    Also, at one point in my life, I literally had to run out of a burning building. the fire alarm woke me up, and I remember thinking of Douglas Adams and the only thing I grabbed was my towel.

    - Awkward Engineer

  12. Still dead for tax reasons. by otis+wildflower · · Score: 1

    OK, 10 years is a bit long to be avoiding the IRS/Inland Revenue, but I still believe it.

    1. Re:Still dead for tax reasons. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't have to pay the Inland Revenue because he lived on the coast.

    2. Re:Still dead for tax reasons. by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      Time is an illusion, after all. Lunchtime doubly so.

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
    3. Re:Still dead for tax reasons. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why the sea levels are rising. Inland revenue are minimisng the lengths of coastlines in order to bring in more revenue. Oh, wait...

  13. Re:Kyle says. by DaftDev · · Score: 1

    I know...

  14. Towel Day flopped like a damp mattress by lizardb0y · · Score: 1

    I took my towel to work, and kept it with me for the day. One person asked why I had a towel. He didn't know who Douglas Adams was. Noone else commented. I fear a conspiracy.

    --
    lizardb0y
    http://www.vintage8bit.com/
    1. Re:Towel Day flopped like a damp mattress by laejoh · · Score: 1

      Are you suggesting we should rename Towel Day into Zem Day? It does have a ring to it :)

    2. Re:Towel Day flopped like a damp mattress by DigitalSorceress · · Score: 1

      I wore my Douglas Adams Memorial Towel (a smart, small black model with the number embroidered on 42 in large, friendly numbers.

      My boss complimented me for being a hoopy frood who really knew where her towel was, but the HR drone needed to be enlightened. (Actually she's not really a drone - she's a pretty hoopy frood herself... I mean, she did institute Bacon Day and Beer o' Clock, but she really did have no clue why I was wearing a small black towel with the number 42 embroidered on it in large, friendly numbers.)

      Uh, what was the question again?

      --

      The Digital Sorceress
    3. Re:Towel Day flopped like a damp mattress by lizardb0y · · Score: 1

      Uh, what was the question again?

      That would be "Do people want fire that can be nasally fitted?"

      --
      lizardb0y
      http://www.vintage8bit.com/
  15. Towlie by samsonaod · · Score: 1

    You're a towel!

    1. Re:Towlie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're a towel!

    2. Re:Towlie by Lord+Lode · · Score: 1

      Oh man, I've got no idea what's going on!

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

      Ya wanna get high?

  16. Almost Thursday by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This must be Towel Day. I never could get the hang of Towel Days.

    1. Re:Almost Thursday by deckitbruiseit · · Score: 1

      This is probably because you don't have your towel. If you had it, people would automatically assume you were a very prepared and put-together guy, and would be willing to help you out with anything you needed.

  17. Towel Day by weirdcrashingnoises · · Score: 1

    Saw some ladies laying out on towels today, glad to see it's not just the internet nerds who celebrate towel day.

    --
    sigs... don't talk to me about sigs....
    1. Re:Towel Day by jim_kaiser · · Score: 0

      Saw some ladies laying out on towels today, glad to see it's not just the internet nerds who celebrate towel day.

      Just my limited perspective.. but a lotta ladies like Douglas Adams' books...

      --
      The last person to mod me down is a rotten egg..... there.. that should do it..
  18. Other Douglas Adams Days by jim_kaiser · · Score: 0

    Yes.. "Towel Day" is cool and all... but how about a "Thanks for all the fish" day... and also the answer to everything.. the "42 day", Feb 11 maybe... day no 42 of the gregorian calendar.. or even "Restaurant at the end of the universe"! To be fair, they are more well known concepts of Douglas Adams... and probably could be more exciting than a towel. Maybe the day would have been more interesting if they linked Towelie (of SouthPark fame) to it, and the comments above serve to prove my point!

    --
    The last person to mod me down is a rotten egg..... there.. that should do it..
    1. Re:Other Douglas Adams Days by ArcherB · · Score: 1

      Yes.. "Towel Day" is cool and all... but how about a "Thanks for all the fish" day... and also the answer to everything.. the "42 day", Feb 11 maybe... day no 42 of the gregorian calendar.. or even "Restaurant at the end of the universe"! To be fair, they are more well known concepts of Douglas Adams... and probably could be more exciting than a towel. Maybe the day would have been more interesting if they linked Towelie (of SouthPark fame) to it, and the comments above serve to prove my point!

      Yeah, I figured "Towel Day" would be on April 2 (4-2) or, like you said, Feb 11. Any significance to this date?

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    2. Re:Other Douglas Adams Days by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      25 May 2001 (the first towel day) was two weeks after Douglas Adams's death.

    3. Re:Other Douglas Adams Days by jim_kaiser · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I figured "Towel Day" would be on April 2 (4-2) or, like you said, Feb 11. Any significance to this date?

      Unfortunately no... Just thought it was a good straightforward 42! But a Douglas Adams day should relate to 42 in some way.. that should be a rule!

      --
      The last person to mod me down is a rotten egg..... there.. that should do it..
  19. Location is all by lurvdrum · · Score: 1

    I admit to not actually carrying my towel all day but I did at least make sure I knew where it was all the time.

    1. Re:Location is all by g253 · · Score: 1

      Exactly. The important thing is to know where it is, you don't need to carry it with you if you don't plan on doing any hitchhiking.

  20. May 25 is a Big Day on Geek Calenders by Mercano · · Score: 1

    Today is also the Glorious 25th of May for Discworld/Terry Pratchett fans and the anniversary of the original theatrical release of Star Wars.

    --
    #include <signature.h>
  21. African Liberation Day by Nirvelli · · Score: 3, Informative

    It's also African Liberation Day / Africa Day (And has been since before Towel Day).

    1. Re:African Liberation Day by T.E.D. · · Score: 1

      It looks like a cool holiday. Sadly it mostly seems to celebrate "liberation" from being ruled by non-Africans, rather that "liberation" in the sense of African people actually being able to choose their own rulers (and get rid of bad ones through peaceful civil processes). Still, one can hope that one day it can be celebrated as a true Liberation Day.

  22. Some of the funniest things I ever read. by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 2

    Some of the things in the Hitchhikers' books brought me to tears from laughing so hard. The first time Slartibartfast reveals his name. The talking cow in the restaurant at the end of the universe. Marvin making the security robot so angry it destroyed itself. Ah, nostalgia.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    1. Re:Some of the funniest things I ever read. by uncanny · · Score: 1

      I'm actually re-reading the books right now. I just finished Life, the universe and everything, and am starting on so long and thanks for all the fish. I hadn't read them in about 10 years and i'm right there with you, makes me want to watch the old BBC version again!

    2. Re:Some of the funniest things I ever read. by Plunky · · Score: 1

      watch it?

      it started out as a radio show.. feh, kids!

    3. Re:Some of the funniest things I ever read. by LordLucless · · Score: 1

      The proof against God was my personal favourite. Or maybe the "careless talk costs live" detour.

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  23. Show your support by nuckfuts · · Score: 1

    Buy a dick towel today.

  24. 42 thanks by Errtu76 · · Score: 1

    Thanks /. editors! :)

    A lot of usernames suddenly include a number 42, there are 42 comments, and there's probably things i haven't seen yet.

    Thanks! :)

    1. Re:42 thanks by WSOGMM · · Score: 1

      They could be right under your nose (hah)!

    2. Re:42 thanks by Errtu76 · · Score: 1

      wow, it was just a coincidence that there were 42 comments when i posted, since now there are 51

    3. Re:42 thanks by Drake42 · · Score: 1

      My user name included! And my slashdot user number is 4074!

  25. "Read the 42 comments" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    By pure coincidence (I hope) there were exactly 42 comments when I read the story. I feel like there's a rapture joke here somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

  26. This is a job for... by Lord+Lode · · Score: 1

    Towel Boy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mzCyaojVWs

  27. Get towel. Buy peanuts. Buy beer. Eat peanuts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Drink beer. Spend hours with pirated Infocom Hitchhiker's Guide text adventure 5 1/4 floppy on a C64, ~25 years ago, to get on the Vogon ship. Thanks for the all the books, DNA (appellation by his dear friend Stephen Fry).

  28. Welcome towel overlords!! by Nov8tr · · Score: 0

    I just watched the 6 episodes on Hulu this week. After all these years it still cracks me up. I love em. And yes I have my towel ready of course!! :)

    --
    I'm old, not dead. Well that's my 2 cents worth, your mileage may vary. I say what I think, not what you want to hear.
  29. Re:Kyle says. by Alsee · · Score: 2

    Meesa have three words for yousa, and two of them are "Jar".

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  30. Time to pound a few beers... by BigSes · · Score: 1

    ...and eat some peanuts of course, you'll need the salt.

  31. Why today? by hymie! · · Score: 1

    Does anybody happen to know why 25 May is Towel Day, as opposed to the more meaningful 11 May (2 weeks earlier), the anniversary of his death? Or his birthday?

    1. Re:Why today? by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      It started after his death, apparently proposed on a forum some days after.

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
  32. I've always been happy that by wiredog · · Score: 1

    in the Slashdot obit story for Adams, I had comment#42.

    --

    Best Slashdot Co
  33. Don't forget to bring a Koran! by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 1

    I thought this was some anti-anti-islam thing to protest that idiot who was burning Korans in Florida. Thank goodness it was just geekiness. Kinda sick of all the hate politics.

    --
    I8-D
  34. dont forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    dont forget to bring the towel! (C)Tally