The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Everybody Have Fun at Right Online!

Posted on | July 19, 2010 | 20 Comments

My friend Steve Eggleston of No Runny Eggs blog fame asked me a question on Twitter:



Read  the article for yourself: “[T]he nation’s foremost new media experts from across the country” — a list from which my name is omitted. As I explained three weeks ago:

The list of speakers for this year’s conference includes Erick Erickson and Ed Morrissey — both of whom are far more interesting than me, which is why they’re on the list and that bastard Erik Telford didn’t invite me, just like he snubbed me last year.

I might suggest that readers hit the tip jar, but I doubt you would want me to attend a conference where I am so obviously unwelcome. 

Nevertheless — for your sake, dear reader — I just checked Travelocity. Even if I booked a flight today, the lowest round-trip fare would be nearly $600, but it takes three days for money to clear through PayPal after somebody hits the tip jar. This means that, by the earliest time I could get the money in my checking account, I’d be paying a premium for a last-minute ticket Thursday. (Right Online begins Friday morning at the fabulous Venetian Resort Hotel.)

So the only way I could possibly afford to get to Vegas by Friday would be to drive more than 2,300 miles one-way, which would take 38 hours non-stop. That’s 4,600 miles round-trip at 20 cents a mile = $920. And I’d have to leave Wednesday night, bringing along my 17-year-old son as relief driver . . .

But that would be insane. Only a complete lunatic like Bob Belvedere would even dare suggest such a desperate last-minute expedition.

It comes down to this: Are there 20 readers in the blogosophere who would be willing to bet $50 that I’m really that crazy?

Or are there 50 people who would wager $20?

Could there possibly be 100 people who would gamble $10 on the long-shot chance that, sometime Friday, I’d roll up in front of the fabulous Venetian Resort Hotel — unshaven, unbathed, wearing the same clothes I had on when I got in the car Wednesday night — toss the keys to the valet, walk into that conference and shout out, “Where’s Erik Telford?”

Maybe 200 people would pay $5 to see the look on Telford’s face?

Probably not. I’ve been on a long streak of bad luck lately. But maybe I’m due for a lucky break.

Comments

20 Responses to “Everybody Have Fun at Right Online!”

  1. steveegg
    July 20th, 2010 @ 12:19 am

    I may not all that much cash, but I put in what I could.

  2. steveegg
    July 19th, 2010 @ 8:19 pm

    I may not all that much cash, but I put in what I could.

  3. Anita MonCrief
    July 20th, 2010 @ 12:33 am

    I’ll be hitting the tip jar tomorrow.

  4. Anita MonCrief
    July 19th, 2010 @ 8:33 pm

    I’ll be hitting the tip jar tomorrow.

  5. steveegg
    July 20th, 2010 @ 12:34 am

    I don’t even have enough cash for comment previews 🙂

  6. steveegg
    July 19th, 2010 @ 8:34 pm

    I don’t even have enough cash for comment previews 🙂

  7. T.L. Davis
    July 20th, 2010 @ 2:14 am

    I’ll hit the tip jar for $10, more if I had it in PP. But, I want a picture of Telford’s face.

  8. T.L. Davis
    July 19th, 2010 @ 10:14 pm

    I’ll hit the tip jar for $10, more if I had it in PP. But, I want a picture of Telford’s face.

  9. steveegg
    July 20th, 2010 @ 3:19 am

    That will be another $5, TL. 🙂

  10. steveegg
    July 19th, 2010 @ 11:19 pm

    That will be another $5, TL. 🙂

  11. T.L. Davis
    July 20th, 2010 @ 3:42 am

    $3

  12. T.L. Davis
    July 19th, 2010 @ 11:42 pm

    $3

  13. Estragon
    July 20th, 2010 @ 4:27 am

    Is it true that Erik Telford and Conor Friedensdork are gay lovers? NTTAWWT, just asking . . .

  14. Estragon
    July 20th, 2010 @ 12:27 am

    Is it true that Erik Telford and Conor Friedensdork are gay lovers? NTTAWWT, just asking . . .

  15. Fred
    July 20th, 2010 @ 2:59 pm

    No RSM?

    What the hell am I going for?

    Oh yeah, Steve Egg.

  16. Fred
    July 20th, 2010 @ 10:59 am

    No RSM?

    What the hell am I going for?

    Oh yeah, Steve Egg.

  17. Teresa in Fort Worth, TX
    July 20th, 2010 @ 6:44 pm

    38 hours? Man, you sure do drive slow….

  18. Teresa in Fort Worth, TX
    July 20th, 2010 @ 2:44 pm

    38 hours? Man, you sure do drive slow….

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