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The True Story of Basil the Code-Writing Donkey

I want to tell you a little story about community and how it can grow and prosper.

Once upon a time there was a Hard Drinking, Code-Writing Donkey. He would wander around the counrtyside in search of writing materials to write Code so he could afford to buy something, anything to drink. He would walk for days, sometimes weeks (He’s from Canada and that’s a Big Place) every once in a while bumping into a Moose along the way.

Well, in his travels he tripped over this guy Ben on his way to the liquor store. In apologizing, the Code-Writing Donkey, mentioned that he had some Code to sell in order to buy some beer. As luck would have it Ben happened to have need for some code in his business IGotNewsForYou.

After buying the Code and sharing some Beers, Ben offered the Code-Writing Donkey a job to do some writing and he would be paid with a Shot and Beer for every piece of Code the Code-Writing Donkey wrote.

When it came time to pay the Code-Writing Donkey at the end of the week, Ben realized the Code-Writing Donkey had no name. He had heard tell of a “Horse with No Name” but never a Donkey. Ben thought, pondered and otherwise wracked his brain and couldn’t come up with a name for the poor Donkey…

Finally, Ben thought that if he took the Donkey over to his friend Liz’s House for Open Mic Night on Tuesday, they may be able to come up with a name for the Code-Writing Donkey. Mainly because everyone got tired of calling him the Code-Writing Donkey and the conversation was about Fawltey Towers, everyone took a vote to name the Code-Writing Donkey… Basil.

In the ensuing weeks, Basil, Ben, Liz, Joe, Chris, Tania, Cat, Keith, Lyman, Starbucker, Easton and everyone else from the Tuesday Night gathering (sorry if I forgot anyone) became closer until they became a Big Happy Community.

Well, as time passed, Ben thought that Basil, who had worked so hard writing code without a break, needed a Vacation. Since Ben had run a small contest about Fawltey Towers a little while back and the prize was the Full DVD Collection of Fawltey Towers, he thought it would be a good idea to let Basil be the messenger and take the DVD’s to the winner of the contest.

Cat had won, but decided to pass the honor to the runner-up Starbucker. Ben, upon hearing of Cat’s generosity, thought this would be a good community project. He thought, “everyone contributed, so why not let everyone enjoy Basil’s (both of them) company for a week”. The community responded whole-heartedly, each offering to take Both Basils into their homes and help in paying their way to visit the next member of the community.

Basil, the Code-Writing Donkey, is enjoying his travels so far. Presently, he is visiting Starbucker in Boston, NYC and somewhere in Conneticut (a trip within a trip) and will soon be on his way to see Liz in Chicago.

Basil is now the Good Will Ambassador of the Blogosphere. He will be travelling around the World spreading Community and Friendship everywhere he goes.

~~ The End ~~

If you would like Basil (both of them) to visit you at your home, go visit The “Where is Basil?” Blog and volunteer to host him (them).

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July 22nd, 2006 at 12:51pm | Posted by Joe | Community, Fun | 6 reader remarks | Print This Post