July 2011
28 posts
1 tag
Day 207: Streak
*Carried out in a controlled environment. Well, somewhat.
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I streaked for 1 minute and 52 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
1 tag
Day 206: Successfully complete the Saltine...
REMEMBERED DETAILS
I ate one Saltine cracker every ten seconds.
I referred to the competitor in the challenge, who wished to remain anonymous as “Jacque”.
Jacque maintained that I was unable to finish the challenge. I disagreed.
I ate all of the Saltines using my right hand.
They were stacked one on top of each other.
I took 9 sips of water before taking the challenge.
ACTUAL...
1 tag
Day 205: 'Attempt' to capture wildlife
Weekend post
I attempted to capture a horseshoe crab this past Sunday afternoon. I had placed a bucket with seawater in the trunk of my rental car, intending to keep the crab as a pet for an hour before letting it go.
Ignoring the yells and whistles of a lifeguard on a Delaware beach, I picked up the horseshoe crab and ran for the car.
Halfway there, I spotted out of the corner of my eye that...
1 tag
Day 204: Convince a stranger to host a sleepover
Weekend post
Having spent a hefty penny on a rental car on Saturday, I pulled a task from the my ever-expanding list that required me to seek free housing from a stranger.
The idea was this: arrive in a state I’d never before visited (Delaware) alone, walk into a public place and convince a stranger to allow me to sleep on their couch.
Luckily, Lewes Beach, Delaware, a three hour drive...
1 tag
Day 203: Fast
REMEMBERED TIME
I did not consume any food from the time I woke up until sundown, which I believe was 9 hours and 46 minutes.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
5 tags
Day 202: Cook an egg on the sidewalk
REMEMBERED DETAILS
Using my right hand, I attempted to flip the egg once with a black spatula.
I pushed the egg once with my right index finger.
I cursed at the egg once for not cooking.
ACTUAL EVENTS
What happened on day 202? Find out here.
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I attempted to cook the egg for 9 minutes and 09 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos...
1 tag
Day 201: Speed date
This task has been on the list for quite a while, but I’ve been waiting for an unusual way to approach it.
On Wednesday morning, I read that the Professionals in the City social group was hosting an “interracial speed dating event” and thought it unusual enough to try.
Now throughout the past 201 days, I’ve committed myself to a host of embarrassing and nerve-racking...
1 tag
Day 200: Create a personalized Ten Commandments...
* The Bible’s Ten Commandments are numbered, my Ten Commandments are bulleted.
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not believe in a god who tells thou to believe in him/her
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
Thou shalt feel okay about worshipping Tiffani Amber Thiessen from Saved by the Bell
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
...
3 tags
Day 199: Attend a speed show
Digital artist Evan Roth, who is the creator of the Free Art & Technology Lab (FAT Lab), took over an internet cafe in New York City’s Chinatown to display his art.
These types of internet cafe flash galleries are called Flash Shows and have been taking place around NYC for the past year. Stay tuned to the BBC News for a full report on the event.
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I was at...
3 tags
Day 198: Get a stranger's telephone number
Weekend post
REMEMBERED TIME
I stopped and asked five strangers in New York City’s Union Square for their telephone numbers before someone actually agreed. The fifth person I asked was a beautiful blonde woman, who strangely gave it to me without hesitation. I believe the experiment lasted 6 minutes and 12 seconds. Now the question becomes…
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find...
1 tag
Day 197: Toilet seat surf
Weekend post
REMEMBERED TIME
I stood on the bowl of my toilet for 4 minutes and 03 seconds in order to use the bathroom.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
3 tags
Day 196: Watch a movie in a field
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I watched Space Balls in a field for 1 hour and 33 minutes.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
2 tags
Day 195: Receive a promotion
REMEMBERED TIME
The meeting I had with my boss during which I was told I would move from being a BBC writer to a reporter and VJ lasted 11 minutes and 13 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
2 tags
Day 194: Make a cricket alarm clock
As the summer nights continue to heat up, a family of ill-informed crickets has taken up the habit of waking those in my neighborhood around dawn.
Loud, echoey cricket chirps have shaken me out of slumber a number of times around 6:30am during the past several weeks, an unusual time for male crickets (females don’t chirp) to begin what scientists call stridulation.
The sound of a cricket...
1 tag
Day 193: Nap in a department store bed
REMEMBERED DETAILS
Three families passed me while I was sleeping, or at least while I had my eyes open.
The top bedsheet was white with red trim.
The wall was covered in black and white wallpaper.
I first laid atop the comforter, then under, then on top again.
I closed my eyes to fall asleep four times.
Sound sleep was never achieved.
I was carrying a tape measure in my left back...
1 tag
Day 192: Make up a word and slip it into...
REMEMBERED DETAILS
I approached a co-worker in a hallway and asked him how he felt is day was.
He said it was nerve-wracking earlier on but had calmed down.
I told him I agreed and thought the day was slightly “sherachadent” earlier on.
He started laughing immediately, demonstrating that he knew I had dropped in a made-up word from the beginning.
I said...
1 tag
Day 191: Attempt a backflip from a rope swing
Weekend post
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe my attempt at doing a backflip from a rope swing at Beaver Creek Swimming Club in Maryland lasted 14 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How long did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
3 tags
Day 190: Collect jewelry from strangers
Weekend post
REMEMBERED DETAILS
I first asked a tall girl wearing a blue dress for her ring. She declined.
I then asked a girl wearing a purple t-shirt for her black hair tie. She agreed.
The third girl I asked was wearing a white dress. I asked her large white belt. She accepted a put it on me. She then offered me her blue high heels. I declined.
Asked another girl wearing a white dress...
1 tag
Day 189: Live stream a historic event
REMEMBERED DETAILS
I held my video camera close to the television once during Atlantis’ takeoff.
I filmed my roommate and his girlfriend twice during the takeoff.
They held their hands up once and shouted.
ACTUAL EVENTS
What happened on day 189? Find out here.
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I stream video of the Shuttle Atlantis for 3 minutes and 02 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it...
Day 188: 'Collect information' at a US army...
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I was inside the recruiting center on 14th Street in Washington DC for 13 minutes and 21 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
1 tag
Day 187: Make an origami butterfly
REMEMBERED DETAILS
The paper I used to make the butterfly was folded a total of 16 times.
The head of the butterfly alone required two folds.
The paper was first cut into a perfect square before beginning the excercise.
ACTUAL EVENTS
What happened on day 187? Find out here.
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe it took 12 minutes and 11 seconds to make the origami butterfly.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it...
2 tags
Day 186: Deliver a photocopy of a lobster to a...
My sister recently gave me “172 Things ‘To Do’ in Order to Increase Your Level of Accomplishment”, a book that lists 172 goofy and senseless exercises and tasks.
Some of my favorites in this book include:
Squint every time you hear the word ‘tomorrow’
Test out alternate laughs
Practice drawing polar bears
Find out how to say the word...
2 tags
Day 185: Attend a 'secret' rave
Having unusual friends will extend your life. Here’s how:
During this past three-day weekend in New York, I participated in a range of new experiences, aside from those written about on this site. The list breaks down as follows:
Entertained a German vacationer during a night out.
Picked and ate blackberries growing from trees in a city.
Knocked on a strangers front door and asked to...
3 tags
Day 184: Hop a subway turnstile
Weekend post
REMEMBERED TIME
I estimate that it took 5 seconds to hop the turnstile. *Note: Money was left for the attendant at the subway stop.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
2 tags
Day 183: Ride across Brooklyn, end to end
Weekend post
REMEMBERED DETAILS
I borrowed a yellow Schwinn bicycle for the ride from an apartment on North 5th St in Brooklyn. The bike had white bar tape. The right brake was loose.
The route: three friends and I took Flushing St to Bedford Avenue to a path along the water on the south side of Brooklyn.
A friend, riding a blue bicycle, got a flat on her front tire from a piece of broken...
2 tags
Day 182: Impersonate a train conductor
REMEMBERED TIME
I believe I called “All aboard” outside of a train at Union Station in Washington DC for 56 seconds.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
3 tags
Day 181: Call a talk radio show
REMEMBERED TIME
I estimate I spent 3 minutes and 32 seconds on the phone with WNYC in an effort to get on the Brian Lehrer show.
ACTUAL TIME
How did it take? Find out here.
Why don’t videos or images of time appear on this site?
1 tag
Day 180: Gorilla garden
In 2007, I posted a video on the web asking strangers who saw it to volunteer to drive, house and feed me around the country for 80 days.
I called the project Around America in 2.0 and explained it to others as an “experiment in trust and connectivity” on the web. It was also my answer to (1) wanting to travel (2) not having any money (3) and wanting to get experience with video.
...
