Homeless Man Panhandles Internet (PimpThisBum)

[The Straight Story]

(from the site)
Sharpie Marker . . . $1
Cardboard . . . . $3
Bum . . . . . $100

Using viral marketing to fight poverty . . . Priceless.

.......

Homeless Man Panhandles Internet
By Joel Eisenbaum

HOUSTON - A homeless man is part of an Internet experiment to get him some help, but is it at the expense of his dignity?

Tim Edwards does not like to talk about what got him there, but he has been roaming the streets of Houston for the better part of five years.

"A lot of times you just go to sleep hungry. But tonight, I know I am going to have something to eat. I am going to be alright," Edwards said.

Edwards said his new hope is thanks to his new job, but not everyone is convinced his path to improvement is guaranteed or ethical.

Edwards' new employers, who pay him a minimum of $100 per day, have started a Web site called

pimpthisbum.com

The site is all about Edwards and it solicits donations on his behalf. Vistors to the Web site can buy him anything from a cheeseburger to laser hair removal to a college education.

There is also streaming video showing what Edwards is doing throughout the day, although the video is available only intermittently for now.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29255048/

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Why not?

I have a beautiful young female friend who's picked up two sugar daddies online - there are websites for men who want to be sugar daddies and they hook up people like my young beautiful female friend.

In this economy, why the hell not? She's careful, and that's all I'm concerned about.

What's funny is she's a lesbian.

The older I get, the stranger the world gets.

[catnhatnh]

2. Because you might like the humor....

I told my brother that if business at our hot dog stand was bad this season one of us would have to dress in a full chef's outfit and stand by the highway with a sign "Will work food for money!".

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. I'll be there tomorrow, driving very, very slowly,

and, because I am a true dolt and meant to write to you the next day to tell you how absolutely riveting and moving was your post about the girl on Long Island and how you loved your wife. You really touched my heart, and I apologize - oh, if I could put an "on my knees" emoticon here, I would - for not responding.

My name is Gia.

:hi:

[catnhatnh]

4. Thank you....Gia

You could easily become my first online main squeeze. Just an old guy with memories and sometimes with the right people around it feels good to take 'em out for a walk....See soon on another post.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. You're welcome............... Roy

There comes a point in life where we've got to be very grateful for those memories. They're sweet and they sustain us. I know exactly what you mean, and, honestly, ever since I found another Hot Dog Man, I've been remembering lots of stuff. Wonderful stuff.

So, I already owe you .........................