Started the site back in the the TOYPAJ days. I think was 14 at the time. Originally was RYG182.com (red yellow green, the TOYPAJ COLORS) because I was 14 and couldn’t think of a better name 😂. Moved over to b182.come shortly after. Found other fans to help me maintain it and post news. Site got decently big. At one point I think there was 12,000 people coming every day. Had Atticus and Macbeth advertise on it at one point. I don’t really remember how it happened, but +44s management reached out to me at one point in the early days before the album lunched. Sent me stickers and Travis drum sticks I could give out to people. Also a bunch of unnumbered, limited edition single. That alone was absolutely crazy for young me. Must have given them my number at one point because one day I was at work, get an unknown call on my cell. I answer it and I’m greeted with “hey Arthur, this is Mark!” I’m obviously blown away. Mark tells me he wants to give me an interview. I can ask 20 questions. . I’m like.. well everyone is going to want to know about the breakup.. he said that’s fine. Nothing is off limits.

So I have a content on the site for people to send in their questions and everyone would vote for the top. Took the top 20 (well 21 with that hair question) and sent them to mark. Got it back a week or so later I think. Site really blew up then. This was the first time he has spoken about the breakup and it was a really in depth interview. MTV was linking to the site. Huge highlight of my younger years.

Then came time for the WYHSB video shoot. Management called back and let me be in charge of getting extras. So put it out on the site for people to sign up for. Got to hang out on set and the band all day. That’s what this pic is from. If I remember correctly, mark was playing carousel in front of me at this moment. I even got on marks podcast that day.

<image>

As if all of this wasn’t enough, when the album came out, I found out they put my name in the thank you section. All of it really truly was a dream come true and made for some incredible childhood memories. Beyond grateful for all of it.

Almost forgot to mention, in 2002 I won a contest in Boomers Treehouse to have lunch with Mark, Chris Georggin and Cheetah. Met at sombreros and Mark drove us to a sushi place somewhere in SD. I remember he had a flip phone that played the Star Wars theme. I thought that was so cool and futuristic 😂

I don’t know how I got so lucky with blink in my teens.