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Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Hobo Convention

Today is the start of the 113th annual National Hobo Convention in beautiful Britt, Iowa. This is the largest gathering of bums, tramps and bindlestiffs in the United States. The homeless have been arriving from all across our fair nation. It's four days of celebrating hobo culture, with a hobo parade, the hobo 5K, hobo memorial, and plenty of hobo schwag. I'm preparing to meet with other hobo leaders from around the country, including Buzz Potter - president of the National Hobo Association (https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Hobo-Association/220720621279717). We'll be exchanging ideas and sharing stories by a campfire. The entire weekend is BYOCOB (Bring Your Own Can Of Beans).

As hobo capitol of the world, the town of Britt attracts its share of, not just tride and true hoboes, but hobo enthusiasts, hobo wannabes, retired hoboes, and part-time hoboes. 20,000 people will be coming to bear witness to the convention. This is a joyous occasion, where we pay homage to those who embrace freedom, the open rails, and soul-crushing poverty.


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