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More On The New York iPhone 3G Line-Waiters: TheWhoFarm

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 5, 2008 - 3:54pm.
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More information has been found on the group of five heading up the line of iPhone-waiters in NY. It turns out that they're with a group called TheWhoFarm, an environmental collective seeking publicity to further their mission of persuading the next President of the U.S. to transform the 17-acre lawn of the White House into an organic farm.

So yeah. They're basically hippies.

“We’re here to restore the edible landscape,” says Daniel Bowman Simon, leader and spokesperson for the group. “We want to bring seeds of change back to the White House.”

To spread their mission, they hope to break a new record for the longest amount of time waiting in line to buy something. While they do seem to be excited (at least a little bit) to be getting the shiny new iPhones next week, their primary objective is to promote awareness of sustainability, affordable housing, energy security, locally-grown food (they're eating lots of apples this week, har har), and “eating right,” says Simon, “especially our leaders.”

Here's their list of what they hope to accomplish by pulling the stunt:

  • We will spend a lot of time in a great public space, around the clock.
  • We will use mobile solar power from Solar1.
  • We will drink NYC’s renowned tap water.
  • We will have local healthy food (especially Apples) delivered by our community gardener friends, Greenmarket farmers, and locavore restauranteurs via bicycles and pedicabs.
  • We will compost our foodscraps, to help sustain our fragile soil.
  • And most importantly, we will talk to whoever happens to stop by about local organic farming as a critical element to sustainable healthy living, food security, youth education, and climate change mitigation.

While I can't say that I fully agree with their objective (or find it to be a good use of their time), their cause is at least noble one, for which I applaud them. Still, it would be great if just once someone was first in line for an iPhone that was just a hardcore superfan.

But I would much rather it be these people than that frigtard from last year.

[via Fortune: Apple 2.0]

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 5, 2008 - 4:04pm.
"So yeah. They're basically hippies."

Haha! Of all places to make a 17 acre farm, the only reason they would choose the white house is to make a statement and be seen. Not that, that is necessarily a bad thing, it's just not very subtle.

Oh yeah, in the Engadget video of these folks, one guy says 6 BILLION people are going to sign his petition and the reporter jokes that 6 billion is the entire planet. lolz n00b

Despite my insensitive criticism, their cause is indeed noble and I admire that.

Go Home!

Submitted by Bernie on July 5, 2008 - 5:01pm.
Let them have their organic farm in Central Park.

Oh yeah, Star Wars fans have waited weeks to buy something. A ticket to a movie. These people haven't a clue of the world around them.
http://www.starwait.com/

there are some things in life I'll never understand...

Submitted by gregonly on July 5, 2008 - 6:08pm.
... like posting a record of standing in line so that the "Seed of change can be brought to the White House" in the form of transforming its lawn into a tomato farm. Am I getting too old ?

Submitted by WatersWest on July 5, 2008 - 6:44pm.
Funny how people like this have all the time in the world to devote to trying to "make a statement." Have they ever heard of "getting a job?"

Submitted by byronchurch on July 5, 2008 - 7:19pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WatersWest View Post
Funny how people like this have all the time in the world to devote to trying to "make a statement." Have they ever heard of "getting a job?"
Sounds like a cool group with good taste to me . If I were Big Steve I'd give them a bag of iPhones and a Big donation ! This is getting to be one cruel world full of grumpy people. A good way to start to cheering up would be to plant fruit trees and Gardens around our city ! Be nice to Johnny Apple !

Submitted by xxx on July 5, 2008 - 10:46pm.
Someone should boot them out of line and tell them to get a real job.

Kids take notice, this is what happens to you if you don't finish your elementary education and drop out early. Sorry, but to me they are just pathetic.

hey, watch who you're calling a hippie!

Submitted by dori (not verified) on July 6, 2008 - 5:31am.
and c'mon - it's about the white house because really, who better than to set a real example? and also - if our elected officials are eating right and eating well, maybe they'll think straight.

Submitted by Stephen007 on July 6, 2008 - 7:19am.
This is just one more in the latest example of hangers on. They're simply taking something else's notoriety (the 3G iPhone) to get publicity. Their waiting in line for an iPhone doesn't have any connection to organic farming. I personally feel as though their message would be more ingenuous (is that a word? as opposed to disingenuous) if they JUST had a talk somewhere about organic farming, though some might disagree.

Other examples are PETA going after Jessica Simpson for eating meat. Has nothing to do with her eating meat as most of America does. But they know it'll get them that valuable publicity.

This also reminds me of Greenpeace coming out with how horrible the original iPhone was. I am not going to dispute whether it is or it isn't "bad for the environment" (because it'd just be a "yes it is" "no it isn't" argument anyway). They only picked on the iPhone for publicity & press. Of all the environmental woes in the *entire* world... the iPhone was the biggest problem? Please.

These are publicity & media coverage whores. Willing to sell out the validity of their message for air time.

Mannnnn LOL!

Submitted by eclipse on July 6, 2008 - 6:58pm.
this is so funny...this type of publicity makes it hard to get one on opening day...when will they learn,.....Hey are uguys going to an Apple Store or AT&T Store.

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 6, 2008 - 7:19pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dori View Post
and c'mon - it's about the white house because really, who better than to set a real example? and also - if our elected officials are eating right and eating well, maybe they'll think straight.
One could make the argument that everyone has their own causes they want to promote, so who's to say that organic farmers deserve to use the White House more than enviornmentalists or what have you. Secondly, I use the term "hippie" with only the upmost admiration. Some of my best friends are hippies.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen007 View Post
This is just one more in the latest example of hangers on. They're simply taking something else's notoriety (the 3G iPhone) to get publicity. [...] These are publicity & media coverage whores. Willing to sell out the validity of their message for air time.
That seems a little harsh, but I get what you mean and I agree. Then again, I'd say these people are no crazier than Steve.

Quote:
Originally Posted by eclipse View Post
this is so funny...this type of publicity makes it hard to get one on opening day...when will they learn,.....Hey are uguys going to an Apple Store or AT&T Store.
If all goes well, we will hopefully be going to an Apple Store. We tried an AT&T store last time and it was a BLAST but I think an Apple Store is just more fitting.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 6, 2008 - 8:38pm.
I agree. Breaking the record for waiting in line the longest in order to start a small farm...WTF? How are those things related at all?

I checked out the site that Bernie mentioned. Star Wars fans waited 6 weeks in line. How does showing up 8 days (roughly) ahead of time have any chance of beating a 6 week record? Somebody should inform these folks of their lost cause.