runningfool pressrelease
From zefrank
Contents |
Would you give this man a ride in your car?
How about a meal or a place to sleep? Nearly 300 people from cities across the United States and Canada are doing one or more of these acts of kindness for a stranger - who's a virtual friend - as they participate in the 2006-2007 Ze Fool Relay. Luke Vaughn, or RunningFool as he's known in the online community created by web pioneer Ze Frank, will traverse North America as the Human Baton. His journey begins in Eugene, Oregon and will take him all the way to New York, N.Y. and back, relying solely on other online community members for transportation, food, and lodging.
Vaughn decided to undertake the challenge because, as he says, the Internet is not as scary a place as most people think. “There are actual people behind those computer screens who are interacting,” he says, “and they’re forming complex communities that really aren’t understood yet.” The trip's primary purpose, he admits, is to demonstate possible benefits of web networking. “I think the Internet is a hugely positive thing, and that people don’t give it enough credit. I’m hoping this is going to be something that will bring home to people that this kind of community is valid, and it’s useful, and that it can make a difference in people’s lives.”
The community in which Vaughn originated and planned his journey was created by Ze Frank earlier this year, as an offshoot of a website he created in 2001. Frank first gained notoriety that year for his "How to Dance Properly" viral video. He has been creating a loyal following ever since, drawing fans, known as "Sports Racers," with his sense of humor, intelligence, and frenetic style. But most of all, followers love taking part in the projects Frank creates to facilitate collaboration. These evolved from simple requests for pictures in the early days of his website (such as "play with your food" and "when office supplies attack") to simple drawing tools("drawtoy", "flake maker", and "the scribbler") and now, with the advent of The Show with Ze Frank, a daily video podcast, to more visceral videos and performances.
In June of this year, Ze announced a project to create an Earth Sandwich by enlisting his fans to collaborate in laying two pieces of bread on the ground simultaneously on exact opposite sides of the planet. Sports Racers soon came through, and the project was complete. Only weeks later, an audio clip of a song by a man known only as Ray, written for his daughter and emailed to two friends, sparked another challenge for Ze's followers. They not only remixed the song multiple times, but even tracked down Ray himself to thank him for the inspiration. After many other triumphs, Sports Racers are working toward a new goal: to ferry RunningFool across the continent.
Useful Links
- video blog describing the project
- Ze Fool Relay Wiki
- ZeFrank.com
- The Show with Ze Frank Wiki
- Ze Frank speaks at TED
Itinerary (subject to change)
Current Route Plan
Depart Eugene, OR: 12:00 noon, 12/8 - driver: notwearingawire **COMPLETED**
Arrive Ashland, OR: 3:15pm, 12/8 - driver: notwearingawire **COMPLETED**
Depart Ashland, OR: 3:30pm, 12/8 - driver: JR **COMPLETED**
Arrive Bay Area: 9:30pm, 12/8 - driver: JR **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/8-12/9 **COMPLETED**
Do things in Bay Area all day 12/9 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/9-12/10 **COMPLETED**
Depart Bay Area: 11am, 12/10 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Bakersfield, CA: 3:45pm, 12/10 **COMPLETED**
Depart Bakersfield, CA: 4:00pm, 12/10 - driver: DB **COMPLETED**
Arrive Los Angeles area: 7pm, 12/10 - driver: DB **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/10-12/11 **COMPLETED**
Do things in Los Angeles area all day 12/11 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/11-12/12 **COMPLETED**
Depart San Diego: 11am, 12/12 - driver: numist **COMPLETED**
Arrive Phoenix, AZ: 5:30pm, 12/12 - driver: numist **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/12-12/13 **COMPLETED**
Depart Phoenix: 2pm, 12/13 - driver: W8 What **COMPLETED**
Arrive Las Vegas: 8:30pm, 12/13 - driver: W8 What **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/13-12/14 - bed: W8 What **COMPLETED**
Depart Las Vegas: 11am, 12/14 - driver: JL **COMPLETED**
Arrive Salt Lake City: 6pm, 12/14 - driver: JL **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/14-12/15 - bed: MK **COMPLETED**
Depart Salt Lake City: 11am, 12/15 - driver: lukkucairi **COMPLETED**
Arrive Grand Junction, CO: 3pm, 12/15 - driver: lukkucairi **COMPLETED**
Depart Grand Junction, CO: 5pm, 12/15 - driver: Boomerjinks and Cathexist**COMPLETED**
Arrive Fort Collins, CO: 10:45pm 12/15 - driver: Boomerjinks and Cathexist**COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/15-12/16 **COMPLETED**
Depart Fort Collins, CO: 9am, 12/16 - driver: Kimmyesque **COMPLETED**
Arrive Goodland, KS: 2:30pm, 12/16 - driver: Kimmyesque **COMPLETED**
Depart Goodland, KS: 2:45pm, 12/16 - driver: sisyphus42 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Lawrence, KS: 9pm, 12/16 - driver: sisyphus42 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/16-12/17 - bed: sisyphus42 **COMPLETED**
Meet up at the Dunkin Donuts in Lawrence, KS at 11am **COMPLETED**
Depart Lawrence, KS: 11:10 am, 12/17 - driver: gifa **COMPLETED**
Arrive Kansas City, MO: 11:50pm, 12/17 - driver: gifa **COMPLETED**
Meet up at Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ (101 W. 22nd St. Kansas City, MO 64108) in the Crossroads at 12pm - 12:15pm, 12/17 **COMPLETED**
Depart Kansas City, MO: 1:30 - 1:45pm, 12/17 - driver: nkicroft **COMPLETED**
Arrive in Columbia, MO: 3:30 - 3:45pm, 12/17 - driver: nkicroft **COMPLETED**
Depart Columbia, MO: 3:45pm - 4pm, 12/17 - driver: ASPalum **COMPLETED**
Arrive St. Louis, MO: 5:45pm - 6:00pm, 12/17 - driver: ASPalum **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/17-12/18 - bed: aonyx **COMPLETED**
Depart St. Louis, MO: 10:30am 12/18 - driver: aonyx **COMPLETED**
Arrive Memphis, TN: 3:15pm 12/18 - driver: aonyx **COMPLETED**
Depart Memphis, TN: 3:30pm 12/18 - pilot: DM(grounded for weather): plan B - Superfly **COMPLETED**
Arrive Starkville, MS: 5pm 12/18 - pilot: DM(grounded for weather): plan B - Superfly **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/18-12/19 - bed: twain101 **COMPLETED**
Depart Starkville, MS: 10am, 12/19 - driver: superfly **COMPLETED**
Arrive Anniston, AL: 2pm, 12/19 - driver: superfly **COMPLETED**
Depart Anniston, AL: 2:15pm, 12/19 - driver: Pirateboy **COMPLETED**
Arrive Atlanta, GA: 4pm, 12/19 - driver: Pirateboy **COMPLETED**
Depart Atlant, GA: 5:45, 12/19 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Athens, GA: 7:15pm, 12/19 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/19-12/20 - bed: LJ **COMPLETED**
Depart Athens, GA: 8am, 12/20 - driver: LJ **COMPLETED**
Arrive Myrtle Beach, SC: 3pm, 12/20 - driver: LJ **COMPLETED**
Depart Myrtle Beach, SC: 5:30pm, 12/20 - driver: junk **COMPLETED**
Arrive Raleigh, NC: 10pm, 12/20 - driver: junk **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/20-12/21 - bed: GW **COMPLETED**
Depart Raleigh, NC: 9am, 12/21 - driver: GW **COMPLETED**
Arrive Richmond, VA: 1:00pm, 12/21 - driver: GW **COMPLETED**
Depart Richmond, VA: 2:00pm, 12/21 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Washington, DC: 4:15pm, 12/21 **COMPLETED**
Depart Washington, DC: 5:30pm, 12/21 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Baltimore, MD: 6:30pm, 12/21 **COMPLETED**
Depart Baltimore, MD: 7:30pm, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Hidden Valley, PA: 11:00pm, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/21-12/22 **COMPLETED**
Depart Hidden Valley, PA: 10:30am, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Youngstown, CT: 12:00 noon, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Depart Youngstown, CT: 1:15pm, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Danville, PA: 5:15pm, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Depart Danville, PA: 6:15, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Lancaster: 9pm, 12/22 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/22-12/23 **COMPLETED**
Depart Lancaster, PA: AM 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Downtington, PA: AM 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Depart Downington, PA: AM, 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Pit stop in Princeton, NJ for a run. 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Arrive New York City: 4:30pm, 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Do things in New York all day, 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/23-12/24 **COMPLETED**
Depart New York City: 10:00am, 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Glen Head, NY: 11:00am, 12/23 **COMPLETED**
Depart Glen Head, NY: 3:15pm, 12/24 - driver: SB **COMPLETED**
Arrive Orient Point, NY: 5:45pm, 12/24 - driver: SB **COMPLETED**
Depart Orient Point, NY: 6pm, 12/24 [Ferry] **COMPLETED**
Arrive New London, CT: 6:45pm, 12/24 [Ferry] **COMPLETED**
Depart New London, CT: 7pm, 12/24 - driver: Madam Dufarge **COMPLETED**
Arrive Westbrook, CT: 7:30pm, 12/24 - driver: Madam Dufarge **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/24-12/25 - bed: Madam Dufarge **COMPLETED**
Spend Christmas in Westbrook, CT **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/25-12/26 - bed: Madam Dufarge **COMPLETED**
Depart Westbrook, CT: 10:00am, 12/26 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Cumberland, RI: 11:45am, 12/26 **COMPLETED**
Depart Cumberland, RI: 1:15pm, 12/26 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Douglas, MA: 2:30pm, 12/26 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/26-12/27 **COMPLETED**
Depart Douglas, MA: 8:00am, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Worcester, MA 9:00am, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Depart Worcester, MA 9:15am, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Troy, NY: 10:30 am, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Depart Troy, NY: 12pm-ish, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Syracuse, NY: 5:00pm, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Depart Syracuse, NY: 5:30pm, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Buffalo, NY: 9:15pm, 12/27 **COMPLETED**
Sleep Buffalo, NY **COMPLETED**
Depart Buffalo, NY: 2:15pm, 12/28 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Guelph, ON, Canada: 4:30pm, 12/28 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/28-12/29 **COMPLETED**
Depart Guelph, ON, Canada: 12:00 noon, 12/29 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Woodstock, ON, Canada 1:00 pm, 12/29 **COMPLETED**
Depart Woodstock, ON, Canada 1:15pm, 12/29 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Grand Rapids, MI: 6:15pm, 12/29 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/29-12/30 **COMPLETED**
Depart Grand Rapids, MI: 9am, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Lansing, MI: 10:45am, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Depart Lansing, MI: 11:00pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Toledo, OH: 1:00pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Depart Toledo, OH: 2:15pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Dayton, OH: 5:15pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Depart Dayton, OH: 6:30pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Columbus, OH: 7:45pm, 12/30 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/30-12/31 **COMPLETED**
Depart Columbus, OH: 8:45am, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Ada, OH: 10:30am, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Depart Ada, OH: 10:45am, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Chicago, IL: 4:30pm, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Depart Chicago, IL: 6:15pm, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Madison, WI: 9pm, 12/31 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 12/31-1/1 **COMPLETED**
Depart Madison, WI: 11:30am, 1/1 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Belmont, WI: 12:30pm, 1/1 **COMPLETED**
Depart Belmont, WI: 12:45pm, 1/1 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Cedar Rapids, IA: 3:15pm, 1/1 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/1-1/2 **COMPLETED**
Depart Cedar Rapids, IA: 11:45am, 1/2 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Iowa City, IA: 12:30pm, 1/2 **COMPLETED**
Depart Iowa City, IA: 2pm, 1/2 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Ames, IA: 4:30pm, 1/2 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/2-1/3 **COMPLETED**
Depart Ames, IA: 9am, 1/3 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Minneapolis, MN: 1pm, 1/3 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/3-1/4 **COMPLETED**
Depart Minneapolis, MN: 8:30 am, 1/4 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Fargo, ND: 11:15am, 1/4 **COMPLETED**
Depart Fargo, ND: 12:15pm, 1/4 **COMPLETED**
Arrive KJW's city, ND: 3:15pm, 1/4 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/4-1/5 **COMPLETED**
Depart KJW's city, ND: 8am, 1/5 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Wibaux, MT: 1:30pm, 1/5 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Bozeman, MT: 8pm, 1/5 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/5-1/6 **COMPLETED**
Depart Bozeman, MT: 8am, 1/6 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Missoula, MT: 10:15am, 1/6 **COMPLETED**
Depart Missoula, MT: 10:30am, 1/6 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Spokane, WA: 1:00pm, 1/6 **COMPLETED**
Depart Spokane, WA: 2:00pm, 1/6 **COMPLETED** Due to a snow slide and some bad weather conditions, the route became impassable between Spokane and Seattle via car, therefore this leg had to be completed via plane.
Arrive Seattle, WA: 3pm, 1/6 **COMPLETED**
Sleep 1/6-1/7 **COMPLETED**
Depart Seattle, WA: 9am, 1/7 **COMPLETED**
Arrive Portland, OR: 12:45pm, 1/7 **COMPLETED**
Depart Portland, OR: 2:30pm, 1/7 - driver: talia **COMPLETED**
Arrive Eugene, OR: 4pm, 1/7 - driver: talia **COMPLETED**
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