I typically weigh 150 lbs (~68kg). I currently weigh 139 lbs (63kg). So through this experience, I dropped roughly 11 lbs (5kg). The last time I weighed 139 was my first-year at UofC, after a summer of cross-country training and biking. If you’re unsatisfied with your latest weight loss regimen (or you’d like a great tan), grab a lawn chair and find your nearest Apple Store.
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-6193985.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news
http://firstinline.wordpress.com/
ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Reuters, Bloomberg News, NPR, German NPR, Tokyo TV, Kyoto TV, Korean Tech Journal, Businessweek, E-business, New York Post, New York Daily News, New York Times, The Tribune Co., CW11, the Early Show, and many, many more.
If you find a link to news, radio or TV coverage that includes a mention of Taproot Foundation, please send it via email to dclayman@gmail.com with the Subject Header “Taproot Media Coverage”.
Last night I visited Apple’s SoHo location to see if I could meet the folks waiting in line for “Keep a Child Alive”. Their method is quite different than mine: rather than the marathon method, they set-up three shifts of four volunteers that rotate through the day.
From what I saw, the line at the SoHo store is more territorial than the one on 5th. Ave. Nonetheless, those waiting have taken breaks to play baseball in a nearby park, and neighboring groups are quite friendly.
To learn more about their cause, visit their website: keepachildalive.com. I’ll post video clips once I gain access to a camera dock (Sunday, perhaps).
Luigi - Thank you for bringing lunch to me Tuesday, and for the pillows last night. They got drenched in the rain last night, but they’ll be in working order by this evening. Call me if you’re ever in Chicago.
Marilyn - I’d like to thank you and Time, Inc. for putting together the survival pack. I was thrilled to meet another Taproot Volunteer. The magazines are helping me pass through the slow periods. I shared the sunscreen with Becca, Jessica, Anthony and Kai. The ear plugs cut the volume from the street in half and will likely add an hour or more to our sleep tonight. I went up and down the line with the earplugs — around 8 of us used them. Were able to sleep through the sirens and car horns on 5th because of your thoughtful gift.
Raven, Noel & Mr. Hurley - Where would I even begin? Likewise, as long as I’m in Chicago, you’ll have a place to crash on weekends.
In order of arrival:
1. Greg Packer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer)
2. David Clayman (Future Inforte - CHICAGO SAP Consultant)
3. Jessica Rodriguez (Whipsmart woman with wicked soundbites
4. Rebecca Boorsma (Hair stylist)
5. Anthony Cardozo (Air Force Vet, Arabic Speaker, Purple Heart)
6. Kai Pauli (Security Guard at UN, German Speaker)
7. Benjamin Sherman (Unknown)
8. Vincent Nguyen (Entrepreneur, myitablet.com)
9. Damian Charles (High school student)
10. Mark Conn (Watch him wink!)
I’m maintaining the list for #1-#10. Mark (#10) is maintaining a list for #11-#20. #20 will make a list for #20-#30, etc. Right now we’ve got about 15 in line. The first 10 received numbered T-shirts from a company named “Incipio”. Vincent made the arrangements. A group pic of #1-10 will be posted on myitablet.com.
If you click on the donation button on the right, you will be able to send a donation to Taproot through Paypal. Granted, it looks a bit unprofessional, but it gets the job done.
But better yet, go directly to Taproot Foundation’s “Donate” page: http://www.taprootfoundation.org/about/donate.php
I’m sorry I haven’t posted more frequently. I’d be writing more often, but in order to write I need to step away from my place in line. The nearest computers I have access to are within the Apple Store, and when I’m in the Apple Store (or even when I attempt to get 3/4 hours of sleep) I get accused of cheating.
Against my parents’ wishes, I stayed on 5th Avenue all night last night. I was only able to sleep for 1 1/2 hours. It’s very hard to get shut-eye when bulldozers and trucks are bouncing down the street at all hours of the night. This morning, I woke with a start at around 5am to find a spotlight from a news camera shining on my face. It was a crew from CW11 New York looking for a story. I was up until nearly 4 with my fellow linemates, and Julie and her cameraman decide to film Becca and I sleeping.
It’s getting ridiculous. I’m trying to sleep and I have cameras trained at me at every second. My body is starting to shut down. Can you understand why I would want a break?
So, I’m sitting down by #5 and #7 so fewer news cameras bother me in the future.
If you’re going to question my commitment to this project or my hygiene (as the local (ABC?) station did this morning), I want to see you come stay outside with me in the 92 degree heat this afternoon. I’m not going to take hygiene advice from a fluffed-up TV news anchor who falls asleep each night on the Upper East Side. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
As for the fellow who invited me to spend an evening in the Bronx, I invite you to identify yourself by name and send me your contact information. I’ll spend Friday night with you on a corner in the Bronx, learning about your life.
Please volunteer or donate to the Taproot Foundation. You can find their website at http://www.taprootfoundation.org
Update: The CW11 crew woke me up once again on Friday morning, before the iPhone launch. When I told them to go away, they told me I had no right to interfere with the press and that I had no expectation of privacy in a public place. Granted, I don’t expect privacy on 5th Ave., but I did expect more courtesy from such a large news organization. The cameraman apologized to me, and I to him. CW11 apologized by replacing Julie and her man with another camera crew that was a great deal more courteous.
By this point, I’ve had 7 hours of sleep in the last 65 hours, and I’ve been in line for the iPhone for the last 29. I’ve seen Manhattan sunset and sunrise.
I’ve been interviewed non-stop today about the iPhone launch. The news coverage is local, national and international in character: I’ve been asked questions by reporters from Germany, Japan and Austria.
Aaron Hurst, the CEO of Taproot, sent a staff-member to deliver a backpack full of T-shirts for those of us still waiting in line. Taproot sent out a blast to some of their New York volunteers who lived in the area, and Ken Raboi — a software exec at Fidelity National Information Services — responded to the call. He asked me if I needed anything, anything at all, and within a minute or two we were on a bus headed to Radio Shack to buy the phone charger I so sorely need.
Anyhow, at this very moment, I’m at 57th Street, between 9th & 10th Ave for the next 5 minutes, then headed back into the line to continue the wait.
I’ll write about another amazing person in a few hours.