Some people have a lot of time on their hands…

Thank God.

HOW I SCREWED THE IPHONE SCALPERS
Date: 2007-06-30, 2:30PM PDT

Last night I called about 50 (FIFTY!) different scalpers, first calling the greediest – those wanting over $1,000 for iPhones.

I started having them deliver my new iPhone to my “home” on Lincoln. Hint: this “home” of mine has a big AT&T sign above the door. I made a point of calling those that would have at least a 30 minute drive, too. For those on the Westside, I sent them to a store in Hollywood.

But then some of them wanted to meet in a public place, and they suggested the In ‘n Out near my “home.” When they started to arrive, some would call, I’d ask what they were wearing, and I’d tell them I was wearing what the last guy I spoke to was wearing.

I can see it now. “Are you the guy that wants my easy-to-get, available in every Apple Store iPhone, but wants to pay over $1,000 cash in the middle of the night for it?” “Why no, I’m trying to dump mine too!”

HAHAHA!

But it gets better. I started suggesting the 7-11 on Lincoln in Venice. Once about a dozen of them were there, all getting kinda pissed – they kept calling saying that there were others there (I told them I wanted to buy a bunch of them), once I got a good crowd going, I showed up… AS ONE OF THEM!

I pretended I was one of them, and got to hear their tales of woe, spending all day in line to try to scalp, but now it looked like they were getting screwed.

Oh, it was a hoot. Yes, I know, bring on the hate. But I gotta tell ya, it was FUCKING HILARIOUS to see all of these 20-something losers who spent their rent money so they could try to fuck with proper sales to actual buyers that would activate the phone immediately. They were trying to mess with my Apple stock investment!

And now this morning their prices have dropped by hundreds of dollars, now they are down to no more than a few hundred over retail for most of the ads. So I did you, dear buyer, a huge favor, by wasting their time and making them wait overnight to sell, now there are more on the market, and people can see that it’s easily available at Apple stores.

Anyway, it was a fun two hours of my night. And they can try to get me on the phone again, but they never will, because the number I gave them is from a throwaway cell phone number, it’s a spare phone of mine.

Later, suckers!

There’s something about Craigslist anonymity that brings out the best in people.

Loose Ends

Paul Potts

Paul Potts came back for the finals last night:

Paul Potts Final Performance: Nessun Dorma

Results of Britain’s Got Talent Final and winning Performance

The former cell phone salesman has won 100,000GBP and will perform before the queen. Congrats!

Tulsarama!

Unfortunately, the water that leaked into the chamber completely destroyed the car.

buriedcar.jpg

The chamber was built to withstand a nuclear attack and included containers of oil and gasoline, in case the vehicles of the future didn’t use these substances. However, the people of 1957 had no idea that something as simple as water would ruin their gift to the future. They probably also had no idea that Plymouth would cease to exist as a brand, a decision made at the turn of the century by Chrysler’s German owners.

The Tulsarama! site has more photos in their gallery.

MacArthur Maze Tanker Fire

Finally, it turns out that sometimes government agencies can get it together enough to get a vital piece of infrastructure rebuilt in 25 days. It also helped that they offered a $200,000 a day bonus for early completion, capped at $5m.

Full coverage at the Chronicle.

Paul Potts – Britain’s Got Talent

Thanks to Bill Rini for tipping us off to this guy.

Normally I wouldn’t post anything about a show like Britain’s Got Talent (think American Idol in the UK), but this was pretty cool.

Paul Potts’ first appearance on Britain’s Got Talent:

When you hear that voice coming from that body, it’s simply amazing.

Paul Potts from last night’s semi-finals for Britain’s Got Talent:

Finally, here’s an NPR interview with him from this morning:

Car Phone Salesman Captures British Hearts

Tulsarama!

Happy Centennial, Oklahoma!

On June 15, 1957, a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe was buried in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa, OK. The time capsule was part of Golden Jubilee Week: Tulsa’s celebration of Oklahoma’s semi-centennial.

Find out more at Buriedcar.com.

Update 2007-06-14:

The chamber where the Plymouth was buried may have leaked, letting in water from outside. Instead of a pristine model of Detroit steel, we may find a decaying, moldy rust heap.