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 all 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. Frank first gained notoriety in 2001 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. The 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 more triumphs, the Sports Racers are accepting a new project: 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
Arrive Ashland, OR: 3:15pm, 12/8 - driver: notwearingawire
Depart Ashland, OR: 3:30pm, 12/8 - driver: JR
Arrive Bay Area: 9:30pm, 12/8 - driver: JR
Sleep 12/8-12/9
Do things in Bay Area all day 12/9
Sleep 12/9-12/10
Depart Bay Area: 11am, 12/10
Arrive Bakersfield, CA: 3:45pm, 12/10
Depart Bakersfield, CA: 4:00pm, 12/10 - driver: DB
Arrive Los Angeles area: 7pm, 12/10 - driver: DB
Sleep 12/10-12/11
Do things in Los Angeles area all day 12/11
Sleep 12/11-12/12
Depart San Diego: 11am, 12/12
Arrive Phoenix, AZ: 5:30pm, 12/12
Sleep 12/12-12/13
Depart Phoenix: 11am, 12/13 - driver: W8 What
Arrive Las Vegas: 5:30pm, 12/13 - driver: W8 What
Sleep 12/13-12/14 - bed: W8 What
Depart Las Vegas: 11am, 12/14 - driver: JL
Arrive Salt Lake City: 6pm, 12/14 - driver: JL
Sleep 12/14-12/15 - bed: MK
Depart Salt Lake City: 11am, 12/15 - driver: lukkucairi
Arrive Cheyenne, WY: 6pm, 12/15 - driver: lukkucairi
Depart Cheyenne, WY: 6:15pm, 12/15
Arrive Denver, CO: 8pm, 12/15
Sleep 12/15-12/16
Depart Denver, CO: 11am, 12/16 - driver: Kimmyesque
Arrive Goodland, KS: 2:30pm, 12/16 - driver: Kimmyesque
Depart Goodland, KS: 2:45pm, 12/16 - driver: sisyphus42
Arrive Lawrence, KS: 9pm, 12/16 - driver: sisyphus42
Sleep 12/16-12/17 - bed: sisyphus42
Meet up at the Dunkin Donuts in Lawrence, KS at 11am
Depart Lawrence, KS: 11:10 am, 12/17 - driver: gifa
Arrive Kansas City, MO: 11:50pm, 12/17 - driver: gifa
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
Depart Kansas City, MO: 1:30 - 1:45pm, 12/17 - driver: nkicroft
Arrive in Columbia, MO: 3:30 - 3:45pm, 12/17 - driver: nkicroft
Depart Columbia, MO: 3:45pm - 4pm, 12/17 - driver: ASPalum
Arrive St. Louis, MO: 5:45pm - 6:00pm, 12/17 - driver: ASPalum
Sleep 12/17-12/18 - bed: aonyx
Depart St. Louis, MO: 10:30am 12/18 - driver: aonyx
Arrive Memphis, TN: 3:15pm 12/18 - driver: aonyx
Depart Memphis, TN: 3:30pm 12/18 - pilot: DM
Arrive Starkville, MS: 5pm 12/18 - pilot: DM
Sleep 12/18-12/19 - bed: twain101
Depart Starkville, MS: 10am, 12/19 - driver: superfly
Arrive Anniston, AL: 2pm, 12/19 - driver: superfly
Depart Anniston, AL: 2:15pm, 12/19 - driver: Pirateboy
Arrive Atlanta, GA: 4pm, 12/19 - driver: Pirateboy
Depart Atlant, GA: 5:45, 12/19
Arrive Athens, GA: 7:15pm, 12/19
Sleep 12/19-12/20 - bed: LJ
Depart Athens, GA: 8am, 12/20 - driver: LJ
Arrive Myrtle Beach, SC: 3pm, 12/20 - driver: LJ
Depart Myrtle Beach, SC: 5:30pm, 12/20 - driver: junk
Arrive Raleigh, NC: 10pm, 12/20 - driver: junk
Sleep 12/20-12/21 - bed: GW
Depart Raleigh, NC: 9am, 12/21 - driver: GW
Arrive Richmond, VA: 1:00pm, 12/21 - driver: GW
Depart Richmond, VA: 2:00pm, 12/21
Arrive Washington, DC: 4:15pm, 12/21
Depart Washington, DC: 5:30pm, 12/21
Arrive Baltimore, MD: 6:30pm, 12/21
Depart Baltimore, MD: 7:30pm, 12/22
Arrive Hidden Valley, PA: 11:00pm, 12/22
Sleep 12/21-12/22
Depart Hidden Valley, PA: 10:30am, 12/22
Arrive Youngstown, CT: 12:00 noon, 12/22
Depart Youngstown, CT: 1:15pm, 12/22
Arrive Danville, CT: 5:15pm, 12/22
Depart Danville, CT: 6:15, 12/22
Arrive Philadelphia: 9pm, 12/22
Sleep 12/22-12/23
Depart Philadelphia, PA: 9:00am, 12/23
Arrive New York City: 1:00pm, 12/23
Do things in New York all day, 12/23
Sleep 12/23-12/24
Depart New York City: 10:00am, 12/23
Arrive Glen Head, NY: 11:00am, 12/23
Depart Glen Head, NY: 3:15pm, 12/24 - driver: SB
Arrive Orient Point, NY: 5:45pm, 12/24 - driver: SB
Depart Orient Point, NY: 6pm, 12/24 [Ferry]
Arrive New London, CT: 6:45pm, 12/24 [Ferry]
Depart New London, CT: 7pm, 12/24 - driver: Madam Dufarge
Arrive Westbrook, CT: 7:30pm, 12/24 - driver: Madam Dufarge
Sleep 12/24-12/25 - bed: Madam Dufarge
Spend Christmas in Westbrook, CT
Sleep 12/25-12/26 - bed: Madam Dufarge
Depart Westbrook, CT: 10:00am, 12/26
Arrive Cumberland, RI: 11:45am, 12/26
Depart Cumberland, RI: 1:15pm, 12/26
Arrive Medford, MA: 2:30pm, 12/26
Sleep 12/26-12/27
Depart Medford, MA: 10:00am, 12/27
Arrive Troy, NY: 1:00pm, 12/27
Depart Troy, NY: 5:00pm, 12/27
Arrive Rochester, NY: 9:00pm, 12/27
Sleep 12/27-12/28
Depart Rochester, NY: 12:00 noon, 12/28
Arrive Buffalo, NY: 1:15pm, 12/28
Depart Buffalo, NY: 4:15pm, 12/28
Arrive Guelph, ON, Canada: 6:30pm, 12/28
Sleep 12/28-12/29
Depart Guelph, ON, Canada: 12:00 noon, 12/29
Arrive Woodstock, ON, Canada 1:00 pm, 12/29
Depart Woodstock, ON, Canada 1:15pm, 12/29
Arrive Grand Rapids, MI: 6:15pm, 12/29
Sleep 12/29-12/30
Depart Grand Rapids, MI: 9am, 12/30
Arrive Detroit, MI: 11:45am, 12/30
Depart Detroit, MI: 12:00pm, 12/30
Arrive Toledo, OH: 1:00pm, 12/30
Depart Toledo, OH: 2:15pm, 12/30
Arrive Dayton, OH: 5:15pm, 12/30
Depart Dayton, OH: 6:30pm, 12/30
Arrive Columbus, OH: 7:45pm, 12/30
Sleep 12/30-12/31
Depart Columbus, OH: 8:45am, 12/31
Arrive Ada, OH: 10:30am, 12/31
Depart Ada, OH: 10:45am, 12/31
Arrive Chicago, IL: 4:30pm, 12/31
Depart Chicago, IL: 6:15pm, 12/31
Arrive Madison, WI: 9pm, 12/31
Sleep 12/31-1/1
Depart Madison, WI: 11:30am, 1/1
Arrive Green Bay, WI: 2:15pm, 1/1
Depart Green Bay, WI: 2:30pm, 1/1
Arrive Belmont, WI: 6:30pm, 1/1
Depart Belmont, WI: 6:45pm, 1/1
Arrive Cedar Rapids, IA: 9:15pm, 1/1
Sleep 1/1-1/2
Depart Cedar Rapids, IA: 11:45am, 1/2
Arrive Iowa City, IA: 12:30pm, 1/2
Depart Iowa City, IA: 2pm, 1/2
Arrive Des Moines, IA: 4pm, 1/2
Sleep 1/2-1/3
Depart Des Moines, IA: 9am, 1/3
Arrive Minneapolis, MN: 1pm, 1/3
Depart Minneapolis, MN: 3pm, 1/3
Arrive Morris, MN: 6:15pm, 1/3
Sleep 1/3-1/4
Depart Morris, MN: 9am, 1/4
Arrive Fargo, ND: 11:15am, 1/4
Depart Fargo, ND: 12:15pm, 1/4
Arrive KJW's city, ND: 3:15pm, 1/4
Sleep 1/4-1/5
Depart KJW's city, ND: 8am, 1/5
Arrive Wibaux, MT: 1:30pm, 1/5
Arrive Bozeman, MT: 8pm, 1/5
Sleep 1/5-1/6
Depart Bozeman, MT: 9am, 1/6
Arrive Missoula, MT: 12:15pm, 1/6
Depart Missoula, MT: 1:15pm, 1/6
Arrive Spokane, WA: 4:45pm, 1/6
Depart Spokane, WA: 6pm, 1/6
Arrive Seattle, WA: 11pm, 1/6
Sleep 1/6-1/7
Depart Seattle, WA: 1pm, 1/7
Arrive Portland, OR: 4:45pm, 1/7
Depart Portland, OR: 5pm, 1/7 - driver: talia
Arrive Eugene, OR: 7pm, 1/7 - driver: talia
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