Uncompleted Challenges

This page is specifically made for listing all the challenges submitted to me (and accepted, of course).

Challenge #2: The Whistle

Submitted by: Karine Pellerin

Description: Successfully whistle using my fingers

Comments: My father’s a really good model example for that, but I suck at it. Gotta start learning!

 

Challenge #3: The Picture Puzzle

Submitted by: Olivier Lussier

Description:

“You’ve asked for it… Here is the challenge I submit to you (and which you have no choice but to accept)!

You will have to take 10 pictures of yourself accompanied by a complete stranger. Beware, there are many rules to follow, it’s a challenge after all!

First, the pictures must clearly show yourself and the stranger. You must both be at the front, look at the camera and smile. Of course, you have to get permission from the person to post the picture on your blog.

The person must be a real stranger met by chance with whom you have no known connection. It cannot be a person which you didn’t know but a friend or acquaintance makes you meet.  It cannot either be a person that you meet for the first time, but in a context which you would have met that person anyway (for example, in class, or someone you meet at a party). It cannot either be someone you meet while he’s at work (for example, a coffee shop barista or convenience store clerk…) or who works at the place where the picture is taken. So, don’t look for any weaknesses in these restrictions: It must be a complete stranger you would never have talked to if not for this challenge!

That’s not all… We have to put a bit more challenge. All 10 pictures must be taken at 10 specific locations, one for each. The picture must, of course, show that you are currently in the intended location. It is not necessary to actually meet this person at the location itself, if he/she is willing to follow you to that place. Here they are:

- In a grocery store
- In a car, other than yours
- In the subway (in a train, not a station)
- In a library
- In a church, or other place of cult (but NO member of clergy)
- At the stranger’s home (inside his house or appartment)
- On a bridge (with water under it, not a street!)
- At Québec City (Anywhere, so long as we can recognize it is in QC)
- At dark (anywhere, so long as it’s dark enough! A well-lit street at night won’t count!)
- At McDonald’s (this is the worst one, you got to admit!)

Here goes! That’s it? Not quite yet… In order to ensure diversity in the choice of strangers, there will have to be one member of at least each of the following categories, once. Many categories can apply to the same person (for example, an aged black person would fill both categories).

- A person in his/her twenties
- A man between 40 and 60 years of age
- A woman between 40 and 60 years of age
- An aged person
- A caucasian person
- A black-raced person
- An asian person

Here, that’s all! Lastly, the use of Photoshop or any other software is, of course, forbidden!

Enjoy!”

Comments: WOW! This one promises to be twisty!

 

Challenge #6: The Straddle Press to Handstand

Submitted by: Geneviève (Rapounzelle)

Description:

“You and I will have to succeed in executing the Straddle Press to Handstand.”

Here’s a video reference.

Comments: Awesome. A lot to learn.

 

Challenge #8: The Iron Cross

Submitted by: Jean-Luc

Description:

“You will have to successfully hold an Iron Cross form for 3 complete seconds… I will also be trying out for it, so let’s see who gets it done first!”

Here is a video reference.

Comments: This is going to be crazy. And now I need some rings.

 

Challenge #9: “Le Moment de Vérité”

“Le Moment de Vérité” is a TV show from my home province, Quebec, which theme is basically to submit a team of 3-4 people to (*gasp!*) a challenge of pretty much any kind. Sounds familiar?

One disadvantage of this one is the language, but I’ll do my best to translate the essential for you non-francophones. For the rest, take it as practice! It’s good to have some French skills handy. Anyway, so it’s been submitted by my cousin Souyuan, and she simply challenged me to take part as a competing team in that show!

Here are examples of challenges that were submitted and done in past shows:

• A woman learned and recited all highway exits on highway 20, the famous road from Montreal to Quebec City
• A guy trained to succeed a DDR song
• Another guy successfully did 2 hockey slapshots at a speed above 70mph

So! That’s gotta be interesting. I already recruited one friend to be part of the team, and I have yet to find 2 others. When it’s done I’ll update you guys with pics. Oh, we also need to film a video as an application for the show, so look for that in the weeks to come.

 

Challenge #11: Origami!

After Art comes Craft. Well, in the expression “Arts & Craft” it does, anyway.

My friend Janie wants me to fold pieces of paper. Actually, a LOT of pieces of paper. One thousand, to be precise, and that’s not counting those pieces that will be, ah, discarded and not take part in the final Piece (as in Art Piece. Masterpiece. Whatever).

As Janie put it, how about folding a thousand cranes? Wikipedia (a.k.a. The Source Of All Knowledge ) explains the whole quite fascinating history, which here is an excerpt :

Thousand Origami Cranes (千羽鶴 Senbazuru?) is a group of one thousand origamipaper cranes held together by strings.

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years. In Asia, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person’s wish come true. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family.

Source: Wikipedia

I will therefore learn how to, and actually make, a thousand origami cranes, and hold them together with strings or something. I’ll show it to you. I will become the Origami-guy Master. Pro. Thing.

Oh, and I’ll let you know if I indeed meet the wish-granting crane, unless it asks me not to. I mean, I don’t want to be rude or break tradition or something. I’ll also have to think of a wish to make, which I may or may not tell you.

Just don’t be too surprised if you suddenly find me filming from a tropical villa with a hot chick by my side. Just sayin’.

 

Challenge #12: Thundershot

Submitted by: Fred

Description:

“THUNDERSHOT!!!!!!”

Comments: No comments.

 

Challenge #13: The Hunt

Submitted by: Vincent

Description:

“You will have to find a domestic animal that has been abandoned or lost. You will either bring it to a centre for abandoned animals, or back to its owner if he/she posted a notice!”

Comments: That’s an interesting one! I truly wonder how hard it’ll be to distinguish if it’s abandoned, and/or if it’s actually the owner’s cat.

 

Challenge #14: The Choir

Submitted by: Janie

Description:

“Mat, you’ve asked for it:
”Mathieu Duchesneau: If I ever see a group of people sing it along for real.. ”
This song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRkcGPRXux4

Now I challenge you to gather a group of dudes and dudedettes to sing that song along with you XD.
Oh! It all have to be recorded, of course ;p”

Comments: What, you haven’t got enough of my singing already?

 

Challenge #15: The Naked Drawing

Submitted by: Sophie

Description:

“A creation challenge! Your proposed challenge consists in participating to one night of drawing naked models, at the McGill School of Architecture. It is a free drawing event that takes place every Wednesday. Mediums to test: watercolor, pastels, Chinese Ink, lead, etc. Elaborate a tryptic (a what now?) filled with tactility, sensitivity to shadows and lights, the general composition, the drawings’ narratives, the model’s morphology and posture, etc. And of course, to post your work on your blog. Happy drawing!”

Comments: I’m scared. I can barely draw a stick-man with satisfying proportions.

 

Challenge #17: The Fire Breath

Submitted by: Catherine

Description:

“Hey Matt,
Here’s my challenge for you! You will have to spit fire! But for a complete challenge you have to accept my rules. First, for a safety reason I think it is better to do it during spring or summer (don’t want that this challenge backfired and and burn more than expected). Second, it has to be in a public space (such as a park or a outdoor party… need a crowd!!). Thrid, has to put this on a video. And last rule, has to be done with me, because I’ve always wanted to try it (and oders if they are game to do so!). Extra point if you got a costume for the «show».So what do you think of this one? Challenge accepted?”

Comments: I foresee a pleasant beginning to this next summer.