Douglas Adams author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, died May 11, 2001. Two weeks later, fans of his work created Towel Day. According to this article at Wired.com, D. Clyde Williamson made the initial proposal May 14, 2001, in the “Binary Freedom” forum at System Toolbox:
Douglas Adams will be missed by his fans worldwide. So that all his fans everywhere can pay tribute to this genius, I propose that two weeks after his passing (May 25, 2001) be marked as “Towel Day”. All Douglas Adams fans are encouraged to carry a towel with them for the day.
Make sure that the towel is conspicuous — use it as a talking point to encourage those who have never read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to go pick up a copy. Wrap it around your head, use it as a weapon, soak it in nutrients- whatever you want!
Awe crap, i missed it– oh wait! i sat on a really gaudy one after i went kayaking. It rode with me down the river. Does that count??
That absolutely counts!
Hmm, the only towel I carry in public is the standard issue white towel from the Y. But everyone else carries one there as well, so I don’t think this counts.
Now there is one guy at the Y who carries two small throw pillows. I swear on Neptune’s scepter this is the truth.
He looks like he’s in his mid-50s and he uses the StairMaster — uh, the 80s called and they want their StairMaster and leg warmers back. Anyway, he leans forward and rests his forearms on the two handles that come out next to the display monitor.
Apparently that’s uncomfortable because he now places a throw pillow on each handle and then puts his forearm on the pillow.
I wonder if he throws those in the washing machine or if he just sprays them with Febreeze.
Well, I shall try to remember this for next year, the tenth anniversary of his untimely passing.