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Atlas and Friends begging for food Remember to pick your favorite contestant and Vote for the People's Choice Award Winner! Day Nine Update All five contestants were still hanging in there the morning of Sunday, July 9th, despite the fact that everyone was starting to want to go home...the heavy restrictions to talking were wearing thin, plus the continued presence of a game that had long ago lost it's appeal got them down. We took one more shot at eliminating someone without contests, having them simulate the life of Ebb, a blind and deaf black lab from Mahaffey, Pennsylvania. Ebb spent his entire life on a chain before dying in June of this year, without a family, love, light, or sound. They lived with blindfolds and headsets for 8 hours July 9.
Our hearty souls didn't go anywhere, though, having survived this long, they weren't going down without a fight. We felt really badly about having to start eliminating players, as they were truly such brave and wonderful people; we had them vote on whether they wanted to just stay as long as it took to get down to one person, or start elimination rounds in the morning. They voted 3-2 to start elimination rounds the next day. We all went to bed with a knowing that tomorrow, one of them would be going home. Day Ten Update We spent a lot of time deliberating what kind of games would be fair...strength could not be a big factor, nor could intelligence. We chose five games that varied from luck, to skill, to endurance. They gained points based on their answers and abilities to: 1. toss dog 'chips' into a bucket (in reality soy jerky), 2. guess the links in Magnum's heavy chain, 3. give a persuasive argument against dog chaining in their journal, 4. vote for their strongest competitors, and 5. stay on their hands and knees like a dog.
Don was the leader in the chip toss, with 5, then Thomas with 4, and the others had 1 or 0. Thomas won the hands and knees contest in a very bizarre way...Jacky told him she'd quit and give him the win if he peed in his pants, and so he did! He won that contest, and she got a snickers bar. Stephen lost overall for points, and it was very emotional for everyone. Spending 9 days taking care of a person, sometimes as their only source of comfort, food, and water, creates a bond that is not easily broken. Going out to tell everyone which contestant had lost the day's eliminations was very difficult, and Tammy broke down before even telling them who had lost. After hearing the verdict, Stephen cried, and everyone else around him cried as well. He is a strong man going through a hard time in his life, and winning this contest was very important to him. In our eyes he is still a VERY BIG winner!
Remember to pick your favorite contestant and Vote for the People's Choice Award Winner! Contestant Excerpts from Days Nine and Ten Follow:
Stephen Port, Day Nine: I felt bad that Aija had to move from her igloo, she was really comfortable there and could make sure she stayed out of the sun. I know it's not good for her. Just like if I had sugar free candy on me I would be giving it to Don...I wonder what sort of competition there will be today. Whatever it is couldn't break my heart as much as yesterday's challenge. The "blind dog" I can't imagine what Ebb could have endured. Sad thing is he probably wagged his tail up til the very end hanging tightly to the one bit of happiness he may have had. P.M. I was so disappointed that the press had my name wrong in the Johnstown Tribune. Not that I'm against Steven Fox or think his heart was in the wrong place...where is/was he? Stephen, Day Ten: Did not sleep much last night wondering what these upcoming competitions will be and how long they will last. It looked like everyone else was down when the sun went down. Then with sunrise it was me, then Don, then Thomas, then Tammy, then her daughter, many guests, and a banana for us which was delivered by her daughter and was the cause of Aija and Jacqueline [waking up]. I will be disappointed if I don't win, but if it doesn't happen I will know I tried my best. [Stephen lost the elimination challenges on day Ten].
Tom Frank, Day Nine: Change of plans--it was now announced that elimination challenges will start tomorrow. Today we will be blind and deaf. That would be nice if it got to someone. P.M. I'm eager to start the challenges tomorrow. I am worried that since things are being planned as the competition goes on, and not in advance, that an idea will be used that was not thought through, one that will leave people complaining about how all of this time was spoiled by an ending that was not consistent with the rest of the competition. Tom, Day Ten: Today, we really do being elimination challenges. Last night we voted 3-2 in favor of them. Now I am Tyler Durden. I will win this. P.M. Today went well. I refuse to quit any challenge at this point. Oh, and hopefully peeing my pants will show people how far I'm willing to go.
Aija Gillman, Day Nine: There's a new challenge today -- and I hope it's MUCH more difficult than yesterday's...my doghouse was nice to sit on. I think tomorrow I'll wage war against the Red Baron. P.M. I have the headache to end all headaches. The car-set-phones-things were not very effective in blocking my hearing--but they did give me a crushing head/jaw ache. Anyway, eliminations start tomorrow, and that's good news! I'm tired of being here....shower, subway, chinese buffet, computer, anime, music, reading...as for living as a blind, deaf dog, it's no fun--and I'm even more encouraged to become an area rep. Aija, Day Ten: Eliminations begin today and I'm excited! This will be over by Thursday. P.M. I really hate it when I have a great gut instinct, and then I think...and mess it up! [she thought there were 213 links to the chain, but then thought about it and put much fewer]. Dosvidanya, Stephen! You really hung in there. According to the random passing conversation, it's supposed to storm tonight. Hopefully my plastic wrap doesn't have any holes in it.
Jacqueline Waldroup, Day Nine: They are going to take things away, and Tammy said about taking visitation away. They are going to do what they want, but that's dumb if you ask me. Yeah, you take our visits away it's going to bum us out. It's going to make our day a little less enjoyable and we won't have anything good to look forward to, but it's not going to cause anyone to leave. P.M. Yay, I'm so happy! I got to see my Corey today. I was worried that he wouldn't make it, and then he called exactly at 5 and said he was here. I almost peed myself! God, I can't stop smiling, I'm a 'tard. Jacqueline, Day Ten: Well, it's Monday, and so starts elimination. This may be my last entry, but I hope not. I have no idea what's in store for us today, but apparently it's a series of games that will consume a large portion of the day. We have no visiting today, so we have no way of telling our loved ones who's gone and who stays. P.M. Tammy was walking around with chocolate and junk food. My wrists and fingers were so numb they burned and I've wanted a Snickers since I got here. I couldn't let pain and a candy bar be my motivation to give up...even though I was guaranteed at least 4 points for second place...I told Tom that if I gave up he'd have to pee himself. Not a small tinkle, but a good soaker! She he did, he pissed a giant piss, all over his pants, his leg, and his sleeping bag. So I got a Snickers bar and watched a grown man piss himself.
Don McKendree, Day Nine: Hard to tell if being blind would always affect your inner self. But sure had a lot of confusing dreams last night. Haven't been that way since the 1970s. It is funny watching everyone and those that violate rules and what inventive ways they come up with to do that. But I guess that is what chained animals do--whatever it takes to survive. P.M. Blind and deaf left on a chain to die. There has to be laws if not already enacted to do the humane thing for these animals. I thought it was bad being blind, but still being able to hear--today, wow! People have to be prosecuted that would do such a heinous thing. Don, Day Ten: Something bad is happening--why does a situation have to get to that point? They more we promote living with your best furry friend--use this exercise to do that--I believe there is a powerful message being sent here. The news and other media needs to keep the ball rolling--maybe a column like Dear Abby with good (success) stories and attention getters. "Me and My Furry Friend." P.M. We had our first elimination today. There are 4 of us left with one to be eliminated daily until there is only one, that should be Thursday. Contest-Day
One/Two & Synopsis, Photos: First to Go Contest-Day
Fourteen & Synopsis, Photos: Event
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