Monday, 18 February, 2008

1. By Curtis. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @03:42pm:

   Dude's from Eureka, right?
2. By wormpicker. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @04:20pm:

   J-Walk could have gotten this limited edition collector's heirloom set of hand-painted Native American angels, and bonus of three gold and crystal angel Christmas tree ornaments, but declined the offer.
   
   
3. By hucktunes. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @04:23pm:

   Yep, from Eureka and I love my new T shirt. I've been helping out in the Google Help discussion groups for about three years and this shirt is actually the fifth gift that Google has sent me. They've also sent me a polar fleece shirt, two water bottles and a messenger bag that I gave to my daughter for her laptop. Thanks, John, for the kudos.
4. By Toad. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @04:34pm:

   Way to go, hucktunes! Swag rulez in my book. I'm done with pens, though. It seems like everyone wants you to have one of their logo pens. They rarely write well, and I usually end up tossing them out.
   
   So, I ask my fellow commenters: what's the best swag you've ever gotten?
5. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @04:49pm:

   I have approximately 150 J-Walk pens that I bought about 10 years ago. I used to send them along with the PUP diskettes, as a method of spreading goodwill. The goodwill was too thick to spread, so I stop sending them. They still work, though.
   
   Tip: If you help out in the Microsoft discussion groups, you might get named an MVP. And that gets you MUCH better swag.
6. By Curtis. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @04:49pm:

   what's the best swag you've ever gotten?
   
   Sun Ra gave me one of his sparkly space age knit caps and Clarence Clemons gave me one of Springsteen's harmonicas (Darkness on the Edge of Town tour). Dexter Gordon autographed some panties for me to give to a chick I was trying to impress (He wrote, "Best, beautiful. Dexter.")
   
   But those things pale beside a Walkenbach Excel book in (I think) Polish.
7. By hucktunes. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:01pm:

   This is pretty cool swag, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't violate an NDA so I'll go ahead and post it. I was invited to attend a conference at Googleplex, all travel expenses paid. But I just can't make it. Hopefully another opportunity will arise.
   
   http://www.hucktunes.com/Googleplex.jpg
8. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:02pm:

   Vintage J-Walk Swag. Notice that these are from the old days -- before I changed the company name to J-Dash-Walk, to match my domain name.
   
   
9. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:05pm:

   I'll go in your place, Hucktunes. I'd much rather visit Google than Microsoft. I'll just unleash the pony tail, shave all but the sideburns and mustache, and nobody will know the difference. Send me that shirt, just to be safe.
10. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:15pm:

    How can I get one of those pens to put in my pencil/pen cup, er, J-Walk Anniversary mug?
11. By wormpicker. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:21pm:

    So, J-Walk, who are these Associates of yours?
12. By Blayne. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:23pm:

    Pen? $5.00 + SASE - cost of pens = $725.00 return.
13. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:25pm:

    The Associates are my guardian angels. Yes, I have more than one. I'll make my tax returns available as soon as I secure the nomination.
    
    To get your free pen, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
    
    Free J-Walk Pen Offer!
    PO Box 68797
    Tucson, AZ 85737
    
    Offer valid while supplies last. Void where prohibited. No shirt, no shoes, no service.
14. By Mean Jean. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:34pm:

    No no. I have the Excel book in Cyrillic.
15. By john weeks. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:36pm:

    I wonder how many billions of dinars one of those pens would run me.
16. By wormpicker. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:37pm:

    That reminds me, J-Walk, how'd you like that free stack of Skeptical Inquirers I gave you at the last Music Circle (I attended)? Surely they're worth a pen. And how's that fiddle mute working out for you?
17. By hucktunes. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:39pm:

    I got a cool freebie last year. I'd posted a pic of me on my Harley in 1980, http://blog.hucktunes.com/2007/10/biker-bob.html, and a fellow, Nik Colyer, sent me an autographed copy of a novel he had written called Channeling Biker Bob. Great story to be made into a movie.
18. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:43pm:

    I actually enjoyed reading those magazines, wormpicker. I paged through them all, and read everything of interest. I haven't read a magazine in a long time. Do you want them back? Next time I see you, I'll bring about 21 pens for you. If you use pens like I do, that should last you until 2035.
    
    The fiddle mute you gave me is always on. I like the way it mellows the sound. I guess that's worth an additional 13 pens. I just hope you have your pen storage situation under control.
19. By wormpicker. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @05:48pm:

    Thanks, J-Walk! One pen will be fine. You can keep the Skeptical Inquirers.
20. By hucktunes. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @06:07pm:

    Fiddle mute? A couple years ago my friend, Guitar Stan, gave me a very unique mute that is my prize possession. I've never seen one like it.
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21. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @06:22pm:

    Nice mute. What's it made of?
22. By hucktunes. Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @08:28pm:

    Ebony. Stan had this old fiddle in an ancient case that he'd bought many many years ago and wanted to sell. He asked me to look at it. I forget if it was German of French but it had a label in it dated 1711. I told him I could not authenticate the date, it seems very unlikely, but my eyes lit up at the site of the mute. The fiddle sounded real nice, a bassy resonate sound. He showed it to a couple local fiddle shop guys around town and they were unable to invalidate the date. Stan may still have the fiddle. I don't know if he sold it or not. But he gave me the mute. There's a photo of the fiddle here.
23. By . Comment posted 18-Feb-2008 @11:45pm:

    Probably the best swag are those neat little things that you swipe down the spine of a CD to cut open the plastic wrapper. Everyone I know who has ever gotten one of them has had it stolen.
24. By . Comment posted 19-Feb-2008 @06:40am:

    I went to look at that fiddle, but got sidetracked by this:
    
    
25. By hucktunes. Comment posted 19-Feb-2008 @11:45am:

    They were called The Betties. The event was the 2004 Kinetic Sculpture Race and Slackjaw was hired to play at the Boardwalk for the Water Crossing event. The Betties were the support team of one of the entries. They had some really good dance moves worked out and were very entertaining.

Original content © 2009, John Walkenbach