Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Donkeypedia – dumb ass idea

Donkeypedia is my favourite ‘crap’ European project. How could a social networking initiative, led by a donkey, get through any procurement process? It takes a sort of mad genius to dream up such a useless idea, then convince budget holders to hand over the loot (7 million Euros).

The site looks like a spoof, but no, they really have spent 7 million Euros to send a donkey around Europe with a solar panel, video camera and GPS, for marking images and videos on a map. It was meant to foster European identity by reporting on its findings. Talking out of your ass, I presume.

But the project, I hear, has run into problems in certain countries. In one Spanish village, the locals wanted to throw it off the church tower and it was almost eaten (as a delicacy) in Romania. Then, in the UK, it was mistakenly rescued by NEDDI (New European Distressed Donkey Initiative). Yes folks, this organisation also exists.

Donkey Divide

There is, apparently, a follow up project mapping the number of donkeys that have online access across Europe. Exposing the ‘Donkey Divide’ has become a European imperative, after discovering that the ‘donkey’ presence on the web was significant, but largely confined to hardcore porn sites. This has led to a separate organisation being set up (REDFIST) Rescuing European Donkeys From International Sex Trafficking.

http://www.donkeypedia.nl/

9 comments:

Unknown said...

How, how, how can you actually spend 7 million on this? I mean,what was being bought?

Donald Clark said...

The cost of hay has gone through the roof, apparently.

Unknown said...

I suppose there's the cost of the donkey sanctuary when it retires.

Donald Clark said...

And the full salary pension.

Met Clive Shepherd in the train today who thought whole post was a spoof!

Garry Platt said...

Don't dis the donkey Donald!

magz said...

This is the sort of thing that reconciles us with mankind!!! Long live futility!!!

Rina said...

Now I know that I am not too off the mark when frustration hits me hard on things that feel, look and are unfair, stupid and insane. Loved this! Thanks Donald...

Alan Nelson said...

I checked back at the top of this comment to make sure it wasn't posted on 1st April! Having said that I have been involved in Eurpoean projects that make me believe in this - one I got ousted from becasue I kept asking who was going to use it and why. At least this is a laugh!

Anonymous said...

It's funny how this misunderstanding got into the world. The Donkey project didn't get 7 million. It got their subsidy out of a 7 million budget which probably went to dozens of projects.