Guinness rejected the results of the May 23 practice run for the reasons we all expected (couldn't measure it end to end). But what were our goals, really? We needed to feel out the Guinness judges, determine our own stamina and endurance levels, and become fully ready for the real thing. And I feel we've done all of that and then some. So tune back in during fall of 2003 (date to be announced) for the full force paperclip challenge.

Today I sent off to Guinness five videotapes (comprising 23 hours of footage), a dozen photographs, two witness statements, a press clipping, and a signed contract. They're scheduled to arrive in England in one or two weeks. From there, it'll be six to eight weeks before Guinness is due to respond. I'll post as soon as I know anything. My hopes aren't high, but today's my birthday.

KWOD Radio 106.5 and I are going to have a phone chat tomorrow at 6:45AM for anyone in the Sacramento area who'd like to tune in. I imagine I'll post a transcript later on.

Okay, I've had a couple of days to settle down and I've got to say that the hours between 3PM and 3PM on Saturday and Saturday rank up there as some of the best of my life. Not to get too repetitive, but another big thanks goes to all contributors near and far. Unspoolers Roy, Mike, and Fred were all front page phenoms in Sunday's Davis Enterprise and it's rumored that we were nationally televised in the evening -- all of which is pretty fun.

We may not get the record. I'm currently trying to compress 24 hours of footage into six minutes or so and then I'll be sending a hefty package of evidence and information to the good folks at Guinness. You will know everything as soon as I do. Until then, feel free to check out the photojournal in The Date section.

It's over. I chained 39700 paperclips (target: 26000) and beat the current record by 1282 feet. We were all very excited when those numbers were reported. We drove the spool out to Road 27 and began to unwind it when -- massive tangling. The chain proved impossible to unwind, in turn impossible to measure end to end, in turn it was impossible to meet the very last of Guinness' qualifications -- that the chain be measured end to end.

Very disappointed, thanks for asking. I still hold out a shred of hope that the Guinness judges will find some way to recognize a difference of 1282 feet (!!!) and avoid getting bogged down with silly details like the rules.

All I can think about -- I mean all I can think about -- is that scene in the first Mission: Impossible, when Tom Cruise is telling Ving Rhames about the Langley vault they're going to try to crack -- lasers, key codes, cards, sound sensors, heat sensors, motion sensors...strictly unthinkable stuff. And Ving asks, "And you really think we can do this?" And then Tom replies with the mantra, the essence of today's mission:

"We're going to do it."

I'm posting updates all day long on AIM. Message or call me. A big thanks to everyone who has signed or helped out in any way. This thing wouldn't have got an inch off the ground if not for you guys.

AIM: davisfc50

Three economy-sized shots of adrenaline:

1. The project received an eloquent write-up in Thursday's California Aggie by Aggie vet Hilary Costa.
2. A buddy on the track team secured a measuring wheel for the project (spins around on pavement, counting each foot rolled), which solves one of my most resilient problems.
3. Found: One Witness!!! Answers to the name Dave and is a "youth ministry intern" with a bachelor's degree.

All systems more or less go. T-minus four days.

Over the Mother's Day weekend, when I probably should've been doting over Mom, my neighbor and I built a truly fantastic spool for the half-mile paperclip chain from a carpet tube, conduit pipe, and plywood (pictures to follow).

An open call to any readers: I'm still in the market for a second person of good standing in the community to witness this whole shindig. It's a huge sacrifice involving staying up with me for 24 hours (from 3:00PM, May 23, to the same time on May 24), but all manner of food and drink will be supplied plus Internet connection, VCR, and DVD player. This is my moment of need. Anyone out there still looking for a date for the Memorial Day weekend?

D-day is in two weeks. I feel the most confident in my speed, a little less confident in my ability to keep it up for 24 hours, and the least confident that I can even stay up for 24 hours doing the same thing over...and...over...and...over. I'm still very much in the market for a final witness. Check the news section for more information if interested. This thing is going to happen one way or another.

A representative of Guinness replied to me today and said that I am allowed to have an assistant pushing paperclips within my reach and aligning them so as to minimize the amount of time I spend rotating and positioning the clips in my hand. This means that, provided I can find enough volunteers, this record may just get obliterated as opposed to barely broken.

I conducted my longest practice session thus far yesterday with 1000 paperclips. I finished in 36 minutes, 51 seconds -- a pace that, if kept up for 24 hours, would break the current record by well over 1000 feet. I felt only a little cramped at the end of it and was very encouraged overall.

I'm still looking (a bit more desperately now, I might add) for a final adult witness to supervise the proceedings for the entire 24 hours. As terrible as it obviously sounds, I'll do my best to make the witness' stay comfortable. Food, drink, snacks, VCR, DVD Player, and Internet connection all will be provided. The only qualification is that he or she has a job title that extends beyond "student" or "unemployed". (Anyone cozy with the mayor?) Send an e-mail if you are willing or know someone who might be. My gratitude to you all.

The paperclips came today! Office Depot shipped me 50,000 (7,000 more than what I asked for), which amounts to 5000 feet of paperclip chain -- twice what's necessary to break the record. Here's me with the boxes wearing the shirt and cap they sent me. Next to me are an Office Depot paperweight ("May you live in interesting times," it says), keychain, pen (and case), and two Sharpie cup holders. All in all, Office Depot has been overwhelmingly generous and I am in their debt.

Taking advantage of the Office Depot-sponsored adrenaline spike, I wrote Jack Bauer shortly thereafter, asking him to be my second witness. For those unfamiliar, Jack is the coolest, most take-charge kind of guy out there right now and it would be an incredible honor if he could find the time to sign off on my record attempt. FOX has been running his biographical mini-series this past season on Tuesday nights (entitled "24") and it shouldn't be missed.

My other prospective witness declined to participate today. I'm at square one on who to turn to for help with this final obstacle. If any of you would like to help me in this capacity or know someone who might, please e-mail me at dan@paperclipchallenge.com. Gratitude and free pizza will follow.

A veterinary science student at the university has volunteered to sign off as witness to my record-breaking attempt. While he's not the mayor of Davis in terms of community standing, I'm not sure I'm going to have much room to be choosy with this qualification. I'm grateful for his support.

One of the two adults I asked to be a witness has declined.

The Guinness guidelines require "signed statements of authentication by two independent persons of some standing within the local community who have attended the event and can confirm the details of the claim." The "standing within the local community" bit is what narrows down my prospects to an obnoxious degree. I'm wondering how much I should try to strain that guideline. "Taco Bell Shift Manager" might not hold much clout within Davis, but I don't think I have much choice.

The paperclips are currently being supplemented by the Office Depot folks with some promotional materials (T-shirts, among them, I'm told) and should be delivered within two weeks. I've now asked two people (the only adults I know here in Davis, really) to be witnesses for the event and await their replies. It can't be said how much fun it is to ask adults I only barely know to stay up with me for twenty-four hours. The lack of activity around these parts is kind of disheartening but I keep my spirits up by anticipating 3:00AM on Saturday, the 24th -- the halfway mark of my adventure.

The Davis Enterprise agreed today to provide media coverage for the event (required by Guinness). I'd still like to pull in one more media outlet but, either way, this is one more piece fitting niftily into place. The other two bullet points from the last entry are still very much concerns, though.

Welcome. This is where I'll be posting updates on both the pledge process and the record attempt. There are so many logistical concerns for both...

...the greatest of which was the $300 worth of paperclips I needed in order to even begin thinking about the attempt. Today, I received a phone call from Office Depot (responding to a letter I wrote them a few months ago) offering me 43,000 paperclips. I'm ecstatic.

Remaining pragmatic concerns include, but aren't limited to:

• Finding two independent, adult witnesses who are willing to endure the 24-hour marathon.
• Coaxing some media coverage of the event.
• Measuring the gangly thing once I finish