Sadly, TravelChannel.com Will Not Be Acquiring Us After All

Posted by Mike Richard on April 1, 2008
Filed under: News

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I feel very, very guilty.

Okay … at least a little bit guilty. I felt guilty as soon as the first congratulations comment posted yesterday to the “news” that we’d been acquired by TravelChannel.com. In the past 24 hours, my e-mailbox has been flooded with a steady stream of congratulations and well wishes.

Sadly, Vagabondish is not in fact being acquired by The Travel Channel. Would that it were. No, it was all part of my secret April Fool’s Day plan.

I worked quite diligently to ensure that the news appeared as official as possible. Yet, I did throw a few ridiculous points into the announcement with the hope that someone might catch on to my little ruse. Namely:

  • That I’d written and edited for a number of media outlets, “including National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, Outside, the Washington Post, Tiger Beat …” Yes, Tiger Beat. That pinnacle of teen pop culture. Kudos to Dave for catching on to this in the comments section.
  • I listed The Travel Channel’s executive director of new media (not even sure if this position exists) as A. F. Ulsdé.
  • I described the acquisition as “the biggest no-brainer in the history of earth.” - an odd turn of phrase used by a mortgage company in a radio commercial that’s been playing ad nauseum here in the U.S.
  • My excitement at being able to travel the globe to “begin fervently spreading the word of pro-Americanism around the world!” I thought for sure someone would call me out on this and how ridiculous it sounds.
  • And finally … my rather silly offer of a “free snow globe from a local tzotchke shop in the country of [your] choice - any country at all, except North Korea”. I received numerous requests from readers asking for their free snow globe. To all who contacted me and believed in Vagabondish, as soon as I leave on my own RTW trip, rest assured that you will all receive your free globe!

Evidently I was far too subtle and our readers are far too kind. I really want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contacted me and commented on yesterday’s post. I’m both overwhelmed and surprised by the groundswell of support. I was contacted by folks who’ve been reading this blog for months - and some since the very beginning - and just now felt compelled to wish us well.

Perhaps this photo of a guilty - yet remorseful - puppy will assuage your feelings of being cheated?

Guilty Puppy
© KM Photography

Rest assured that we would never maliciously lie to our readers. Alas, April Fool’s Day is that one day every year that a little white lie, all in the name of fun, can’t hurt that much. Can it? =)

Happy April Fool’s!
-Mike

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Vagabondish editor Mike Richard lives in Rhode Island - a small patch of land in the northeastern U.S. He is a professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, camping, hiking and seeing the world. He enjoys knit hats and speaking in the third person.



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Comments

Andy Beal
April 1st, 2008 - 8:46 am

Still, you may well have gotten on the guys at the Travel Channel thinking. ;-)


Phil Goldman
April 1st, 2008 - 8:48 am

Good one Mike. But this may have a ripple effect. I just got this in my emai, which is how I found out http://www.writtenroad.com/200.....ndish.html


Mike Richard
April 1st, 2008 - 8:56 am

Thanks, Andy! If only … =)

Phil: I hope no one took it too seriously. There was certainly no malicious intent. I contacted Written Road to alert them to my shenanigans.


Steve
April 1st, 2008 - 9:16 am

I knew it all along.

(You bastard.)


Carl
April 1st, 2008 - 9:53 am

It usually helps if you post your April Fools Joke ON April Fools Day, not the day before.

It’s called April Fools Day, not March 31st Fools Day.

I saw the news but didn’t read the entire press release so I would have never had a chance to see the easter eggs in the post (Tiger Beat, etc.).


nina
April 1st, 2008 - 10:15 am

*shakes fist* You got me well and good Mike. Nice one!


Glenn Dixon
April 1st, 2008 - 10:22 am

perhaps the subtlety was aided by posting on 3/31?


Blake
April 1st, 2008 - 11:06 am

Erm, but… today is april 1 and the release was posted on the 31st. So does that mean that the release was real and *this* is the april fool’s joke?


Tom
April 1st, 2008 - 11:07 am

That was hysterical.

You were the talk of our office yesterday when you “announced”! And yes, today as well…

Well done.


Mike Richard
April 1st, 2008 - 11:20 am

Steve and Nina: Sorry, I’m going to hell. I know that now. =P

Carl and Glenn: Bear in mind that this blog is read internationally. Though it may not have been April 1st in your neck of the woods, it already was in other parts of the world.

Blake: I hadn’t even thought of that twist. Something to keep in mind for next year!


Stacy
April 1st, 2008 - 11:26 am

Man, I am soooo gullible. That will teach me to read more carefully. I probably would have figured it out if you had actually done it on April 1st. I hope.


Mike Richard
April 1st, 2008 - 11:35 am

Thanks, Tom!

Stacy: Truth be told, I’m pretty bad myself about picking up on AFD gags. If I’d read this news on Brave New Traveler, etc., I probably would’ve bought it too!


Matt
April 1st, 2008 - 12:39 pm

Mike, you know I’m still holding you accountable for a snow globe from somewhere in Africa near the Serengeti.

Good form man.


Craig
April 1st, 2008 - 1:10 pm

You wanker! That was awesome! I called my wife and said “you know that site that had our travel log post on their ‘currently reading’ list? Well, they sold to Travelchannel and we are now going to be famous!” Ha! Ha! You may have gotten me better than anyone else!


Sophie
April 1st, 2008 - 1:43 pm

Ah well–since I worked with Worldhum editor Mike Yessis before the site he co-founded was acquired by Travel Channel, it all seemed believable to me. Such things do happen.

At any rate, Travel Channel might do well to take notice, since you are writing to a specific audience often under-served in travel media.


Rory
April 1st, 2008 - 4:00 pm

I was also pulled in because of Worldhum, I figured you guys were climbing into bed together - proverbially of course.


Jason
April 1st, 2008 - 7:38 pm

“perhaps the subtlety was aided by posting on 3/31?”

That, and the “article” is dated April 2nd? Thats what had me wondering…

But I also wonder what the real joke is…


Mike Richard
April 3rd, 2008 - 11:32 am

Matt: Considering the number of snow globe requests I received, I’m absolutely holding up my end of the bargain!

Craig: I like to think we (and you) are still famous, Travel Channel or no Travel Channel =P.

Sophie and Rory: Thank you - it’s heartwarming that you’d even think to put us in relatively the same league as World Hum. Or at least enough so to believe the “news”.


Tony P
April 5th, 2008 - 6:40 am

Very well thought out, bro! Keep up the great work!


Uncle Drew
April 10th, 2008 - 5:50 am

Still, an excellent ploy, especially considering how people are swimming in information and just believe the headlines.

A little scary, actually.


Tim Patterson
April 14th, 2008 - 9:46 am

hahaha - yup, you got me hook, line and sinker. nice job, Mike.