OK, determining a winner in our Hallloween costume contest was possibly the toughest decision your judges have ever had to make in their Network World careers.
For one thing, we only got three entries (I still cling to hope this is just because more people didn't know about the contest, not because our readers are not interesting or because they hate us or something). For another, what they lacked in quantity they made up for in quality - all three were costumes we'd be proud to wear, if only because Draculas are so overdone.
When it came down to it, though, we had to give the first-place award to Mark Madden, because, while minimalist, his costume combined two things that appealed to us: It had something to do with networking and it represented a bad pun/inside joke that absolutely NO ONE who doesn't work in networking would ever get - and it made everyone here groan. And here he is, in his Subnet Mask:
Mark will be getting a top-notch collection of Network World tchotchkes lovingly collected over the years for just such a collection as this as well as some unopened software we got at the recent DEMO show that we've been assured is really cool, just as soon as a) he sends us his address and b), we unpack it all from the crate it's now in (once we do the latter, we'll post the complete list).
A whole host of scary networking costumes for ghouls of all ages.
Now, as I said, it was a tough choice. Both Dan Richfield's Data Center Man and Al Grosser's Klingon warrior generated many "can you believe that?" type comments from judges and random passers-by, although some wondered if Grosser should be in the running since he was posing not for Halloween but for his wedding on the bridge of the Enterprise. But come on, people, Grosser makes a great Klingon, right down (up?) to the forehead furrows! Both will get consolation packs of fine Network World tchotchkerie (so guys, let us know where to send it).
Oh, but wait! Yes, the contest is over, but we still want to see your networking costume finery. Send me a photo (agaffin@nww.com) along with your actual postal address, and I'll post your photo and use the address to send you an authentic collector's edition Network World Fusion Test Pilots balsawood airplane (comes complete with wind-up rubber-band propeller).
The Leader in Network Knowledge
Costume is *almost* correct...
though with the 257 near the jaw... it's technically an Invalid Subnet Mask... Cheers!
that *could* be part of the
that *could* be part of the joke?
get it?
SPOOKY GHOST SUBNET BOO
I think I saw a 2!
I agree that it was probably on purpose, like when Bender saw a "2" in a dream. ("Bender, you know there's no such thing as two.")
Oh man..
Oh man.. I don't get it.
Don't get it?
No wonder. There's an extra bit you miss.
haha...
Needs more Wi-Fi antennae. And hair made of frayed Cat-5.
Is that orange pair coming out his nose?
Clever!
This is the WINNER?!?!
This is the WINNER?!?! Pretty ghey. Looks like the kind of costume i throw together at the very last minute to get into my friend's halloween party for free ($10 without a costume..) But I never win best costume.. So shouldn't this guy. Stupid.
Hoping for a bunch more entries leading up to Halloween
I'm guessing lots of people procrastinate til this weekend for Halloween parties or for the night itself. Here's hoping more readers submit their photos over the next few days...
Well, it's a groaner
It's a groaner of a pun, the best kind, and with 3 costumes to choose from, it's the funniest.
If you can do better, then do so and stop complaining about the quality of the winner. I just wish I was at home and not at school, I'd take a pic of my IT Wizard outfit (with the robe made out of disks!) for you.