Zach Warren breaks Unicycle World Record

Former Alphachimp intern and Coro Fellow, Zach Warren, has finally done it! He has set 2 World Records, each on a very large unicycle.

All this while working with kids in Kabul, Afghanistan and studying at Harvard's Divinity School.

Read his recent letter below and watch the video!

Dear Friends,

Phew.

As fall eats up the last morsels of summer, I write with two world records to report (more below). But the kids in Kabul have been busy with their own record setting. Lida juggled three clubs for just over 59 minutes. Rumal also set a boys record.

You can check out the video: http://www.afghanmmcc.org/pages/Record.htm

In this video, Hamid dons a "One Wheel, One World" t-shirt. When I returned to the circus in June, the kids had painted a picture of the Unicycle4Kids logo on the circus wall. I don't know about you, but this kind of stuff turns me all mushy inside.

What's so compelling about a world record in, or for, a war-torn country, anyway? Perhaps it's the patience, training, and discipline. Or perhaps it is the breaking of limits, the challenge of doing the (seemingly) impossible. For many kids, impossible is precisely what is required to survive and thrive, with little resources, poor education and no guarantee for a job. Or maybe it is simply a matter of relationships, of friendships and laughter that have always brought people closer, across cultures and since ancient times.

Hamid, I gave the unicycle record another shot.

On a cold Fargo morning last week, I set out on a flat stretch of prairie road to break two records on a 42-inch Semcycle unicycle. Accompanied by a sidewagon, two witnesses for Guinness World Records verification, and some prayer beads from Kabul, I knew it was going to be interesting. It was the second trial. The first, in April, was unsuccessful after I took a spill and a vital bolt on the unicycle broke.

We needed a lull in the wind. To meet USATF standards for nominal wind interference, the wind had to be less than 4.4 mph. We found it at 6 am on Tuesday morning, August 29. A lull for 2-3 hours only, so we had to be quick. And I mean quick.

Speed. We decided to abandon the one hour record and go for maximum speed, allowing repeat trials.

The result? After four trials, two new records:

1. Fastest Mile on a Unicycle -- 3:26.22 , with an avg. speed of 17.45 mph
2 Fastest Mile on a Unicycle, while Juggling! (my favorite of the two) -- 3:50.63, with an average pace of 15.61 mph

Phew. Joggling is one thing. But when riding several feel in the air while juggling, every crack, bump, wiggle and sag in the road becomes more difficult. You can check out my post-record interview on Canadian public radio, "As It Happens".

(See "Unicycle Record")

For a video of the unicycling: http://jollyjuggler.com/theaction.html

These records are in honor of MMCC kids, but also Dr. Jules Lodish, someone who breaks records by living fully and listening deeply. Jules has been living with ALS for 13 years, 11 years on a ventilator. And though he can't laugh or smile -- his muscles are too weak for movement -- he still keeps an upbeat attitude about life, something much deeper.

A BIG thanks is due to my sponsors: Island Park Cycles of Fargo, ND, Semcycle, and Unicycle.com . And especially to Brian Arnett, Tom, Kari, Izzy and Miranda Smith (you guys rock), to the Fargo school system, and to the Mortons for their hospitality.

To share the unicycling bug, I gave a few shows to local K-4 schools in Fargo. I'm in love with the look on children's faces when they see something difficult made to look easy. I think that kind of wonder is the basis for spiritual depth (and even faith) in a lot of religious traditions. Not that juggling is a religion, but it does have some pretty fanatic followers. Myself included.

This is it for my unicycle record-setting… Fargo has been good to me! Everyone who has donated is good to children in Kabul. And what else is good? This: if you donate more than $14 to the www.Unicycle4Kids.org campaign (no, it is not too late), you can download FREE MP3s from Afghan pop artist. Using your contribution receipt (which I email personally), you can download Afghan groove from http://www.shawm.info/ .

So what's next for me? These gumby uni-legs are taking a break. But not for long. I have been scheming with an extreme sports company for just one more record. It's a surprise. You'll just have to read my next email.

Mashallah (may God preserve you, in Arabic),

Zach

--
Zach Warren
Harvard Divinity School
Tel: 617-710-4121

"One Wheel, One World!"
www.Unicycle4Kids.org

MissingLink debuts at Idea-Round-Up in Pittsburgh

On September 9, MissingLink made its semi-public debut in housing the content produced during a massive civic enegagement forum in Pittsburgh. [see site]

Our team of three was able to photograph and archive ~350 flipcharts from 18 breakout groups and integrate the text documentation and photos using MissingLink. From start to finish, the post-production ran 12 hours. Normally, this would have taken 2-3 days!

At this one-day event, The Sprout Fund engaged creative young thinkers and regional leaders in a conversation that promotes new thinking about the topics that matter most to our community.Participants engaged in panel discussions and worked in small design groups to generate as many brain-busting ideas as possible. All ideas were welcome-the wacky, the way out, the logical, the needed, the necessary, the fun, and the futuristic.

Rather than a typical civic meeting, The Idea Round Up was a highly visual and highly interactive day with 20 local artists on hand to illustrate all the ideas generated.

The Sprout Fund announced plans to release $100,000 in funding to support projects that grow directly out of the ideas developed during this exciting collaborative design event.

• Idea archive on MissingLink
  
• Event photos on Flickr
  
• Slideshow

MissingLink was designed by a team of artists and facilitators
who have worked with collaborative teams focused on global strategies.
For years, we have been frustrated by the amount of work that seems to
evaporate as soon as a meeting concludes.MissingLink brings together
the power of browser-based software, file management, keyword tagging,
podcasting and even video broadcasting.

The software was developed by the team of Gradient Labs LLC and Alphachimp Studio Inc.

For more information, take a tour, get pricing or sign-up for a free trial.

Want to Know What's Best in Life? Ask Arnold!

You have to admit, the man has a lot going on: athlete, actor, activist, oh, and governor of the richest state in the United States.

To understand the complexity broiling inside, however, one needs to thoroughly explore Arnold's website, which is a true case study in personal brand-building.

Schwarzenegger.com has many useful items for Arnoldophiles. For example, if you are having a tough time deciding what to do with your life, and want to receive advice from the Governator, himself, simply click on Ask Arnold. Here, according to the site, one can "learn what is best in life."

The most recent question posted, dated April 2003, comes from Phillip L.:

I have a question about the movie Batman and Robin. When they did your make-up (which I understand took 3 1/2 hrs.), how did they do your hair? I noticed you were bald.

Enter article here.

A Wolf in Poodle's Clothing

Leah Silverman's family has a problem.

Usually, I would never saddle an entire family unit like this, but I'm serious... they need help. Everyone seems to own a member of the same litter of standard poodles. These are the big, black, Doberman Pincher-sized poodles.

Fortunately, Leah's poodle, Max, hasn't suffered the horrific genetic diseases plaguing his siblings (baldness, incontinence, dementia). However, he is, how should I say, frisky. And strong. And has sharp toenails. And likes me. Alot. If you know what I mean.

So now I have a plan to defend myself and perhaps to get a little even with Max. I mean, he tries to skip first base, skip to third, and rush to fourth--all without even taking me to dinner!

The answer to my dilemma comes from Mrs. Silverman herself: a Poodle disguise for Dobermans.

So, watch out Max! Next time we meet, I'll introduce you to your new "friend".

Kit includes;

- Fake fur pieces (4 leg pieces, one body piece, and head piece)
- Black face paint (safe for dogs)
- Safe suit fitting method statement and instructions.

(items sold seperately)
- Under harness

From Australia, attackchi.org.au:

Are you sick of people looking at your breed of dog in fear because politicians and the media are saying things like;

"We want to breed these dogs out of existence,"

"They are killing machines on a leash."

"These breeds don't belong in our community"

Well worry no longer, attackchi will be making disguises for all the so called 'dangerous breeds'. Now you can go to the park with your kids and your dog (like you have been doing for years), without the worry of people thinking you are a bad parent.

Only in Texas: Dust Art

A couple of weeks ago, I made the profoundly silly decision to take our 2-year-old to the Fort Worth Zoo. Don't get me wrong; it is a stunningly well designed environment (especially the monkey house!). But the day we attended, the temperatures hit 106 degrees. Because of low attendance, the zoo decided not to open any ice cream stands. Let's say that it was a viscous cycle, with parents and children melting down.

Which led me to wonder aloud: what do people do in Texas in the summertime! Nellie Durand passed this along, original article in the Austin Statesman.

When the dust gets thick on the back window of his Mini Cooper, Scott Wade uses it as a canvas to create temporary works of art. Among his creations was a copy of C.M. Coolidge's 'A Friend in Need,' better known as dogs playing poker; an homage to Vincent Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa.'

Wade lives off the unpaved Roadrunner Road north of San Marcos, which dusts the back windows of his car and gives him the canvases to create his own works of art. A portrait of Kinky Friedman on the back of the Mazda driven by Wade's wife, Robin Wood, was featured on the gubernatorial candidate's Web site.

A collage of wildlife decorates the Mini Cooper's window. Wade's creations attract admirers wherever he goes. Who needs a frost-covered window when you've got road dust to create a Christmas scene? Local columinist John Kelso was the subject of one window portrait. Besides his finger, Wade uses traditional art tools, such as paintbrushes, and unconventional ones, like a chewed popsicle stick, to make his drawings. Wade takes pride in his creations, but he knows that with one good shower, his work will just wash away.

M is for Monkey, T is for Threadless

Brandy Agerbeck of Loosetooth sends us this coveted design from Threadless:

This unique t-shirt print biz incorporates all the stellar bells-n-whistles of a Web 2.0 innovator: blogs, community-driven design process, user-based ranking systems, associate programs and great art.

Designers submit artwork and members vote on which images make it on to shirts. Folks can also submit slogans to be incorporated into designs.

Join the 12 month club to receive a new shirt with a winning design sent to your home throughout the year.

Threadless was created by Jake Nickell and Jacob DeHart. They came up with the idea after Jake Nickell won the NMUF London tee shirt competition. It felt good to win a tee shirt competition and we thought it'd be cool to extend that to the level that Threadless has become.

The two Threadless Jakes met on dreamless.org a while back. They both are web developers who live in Chicago and love tee shirts and posters.

Engage Pittsburgh 2006: The Idea Round-Up

Alphachimp Studio Inc. will be herding cats and roping ideers as lead facilitators of the Idea Round-Up.

Roll up your sleeves and be a part of community change at a day-long collaborative design event on September 9th.

Saturday, September 9, 2006
CAPA High School, Downtown (link)
9 AM - 4 PM
$10 (includes lunch!)
Space limited to 400 persons
Register Here

At this one-day event, The Sprout Fund will engage creative young thinkers and regional leaders in a conversation that promotes new thinking about the topics that matter most to our community.

Learn what's going on nationally in other cities, engage in panel discussions with regional leaders, and work in small design groups to generate as many brain-busting ideas as possible. All ideas will be welcome-the wacky, the way out, the logical, the needed, the necessary, the fun, and the futuristic.

Rather than a typical civic meeting, The Idea Round Up promises to be a highly visual and highly interactive day with 20 local artists on hand to illustrate all the ideas generated.

Sprout will announce plans to release $100,000 in funding to support projects that grow directly out of the ideas developed during this exciting collaborative design event.

Engage Pittsburgh 2006

The Idea Round Up is the launch event for The Sprout Fund's Engage Pittsburgh 2006 initiative.

Engage Pittsburgh 2006 will produce a community blueprint and involve citizens in developing ideas and implementing projects that will achieve positive regional change and broad-based community goals.

By combining dialogue with dedicated funding projects, Engage Pittsburgh 2006 promises to be like no other civic initiative to date.

Lead support for Engage Pittsburgh 2006 is provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Paintings on display at Beleza

On view through August....
Paintings by Peter Durand (Works from 1995-2005)

Beleza Community Coffee House
1501 Buena Vista St., North Side
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

photos of exhibit>

This wonderful coffee shop was started by 7 graduates from Hope College in Michigan, who decided to "change the world" through establishing this new venture.

Boom and buzz: Can a coffeehouse save the neighborhood?
by Diana Nelson Jones
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

East vs. East: China's Anti-Japan Posters

EastSouthNorthWest has been documenting the Chinese graphic design focused on reminding the populace of Japanese humiliations during World War II and encouraging citizens to "castrate Japanese" through boycotting their goods and services.

Translation of poster at right:

Everyone loves the country
Don't forget the national shame
Boycott Japanese goods
Beginning with myself

See more posters.

Ann Marie Healy of Z Plus Partners interviews Jonathan Spence, one of the foremost scholars of Chinese civilization from the 16th century to the present and Sterling Professor of History at Yale University, about the historical context behind these most recent eruptions of anti-Japanese fervor.

Read interview.