Emptyage

Barack Obama is Your New Prize

As most of you who read this blog likely know, I’ve written a book called Barack Obama is Your New Bicycle. It’s a literary masterpiece headed for a National Book Award. Or, well, at least it’s pretty funny. But unless you have the book, what you probably don’t know is that there’s an Easter Egg on the last page for Obama supporters. To wit:

Now. Here’s the thing. As much as anyone (and probably more) I’d like Barack Obama to autograph my book. But I don’t have a good way to make that happen. I don’t know how to get in touch with him. I don’t know when he’s going to be in San Francisco next, and even if I did, I don’t know how I’d reach him.

So, Internets, I’m asking for your help. Here’s what I’d like you to do: Can you get Barack Obama to sign my book for me?

I’ll give the first person who gets me an Obama-signed copy of BOIYNB $250. And, of course, I’ll replace your book with one signed by me with a long, sweet, heartfelt note. And as a bonus prize, I’ll send $13 via paypal (the cover price of the book) to the first ten people to post photographic proof of a signed book to Flickr.

It seems like the convention might be a prime time to make that happen, but I have no idea.

Also, I suppose that, since money is involved, there should be some rules. So here are the rules:

1. Get the book.
2. Hand it to Senator Obama and ask him to sign it.
3. Take a photo of the Senator either signing the book or posing with the signed copy, and upload it to this pool on Flickr (I want to be able to see the photo’s timestamp). This is the important one. I want the photo as proof.
4. Leave a comment on my blog and let everyone know you pulled it off.
5. FedEx/UPS me the book, and yes I’ll pay for shipping.
6. If you’re legit, I’ll gladly and quickly pay up. But I reserve the right to call shenanigans on Photoshoppers, forgeries, fakers and/or other tomfoolery for any reason as I see fit.

Okay, so rule number six is freaky. But I’m not going to invoke it unless you’re a jackass. And you’re not a jackass, are you? No. Of course not. Be good to me and I will be good to you. Word? Word. Let’s do this thing.