The Challenge Factory discussion

Team Members
Lanelle
Leslie
Paula
Laila Jane
Steph Ann
Suman

Good Wi11 Hunting spreadsheet

How to Play:
* Each team member will need to read one book each week.
* The book must match a task from that week's list.
* Books must be at least 140 pages. Audio book page length is determined by the first paper version that shows up.

Do not start reading your book before Monday morning (Pacific Daylight Time and
you must finish reading your book by Sunday night (midnight, Pacific Daylight Time).

sample Selection or Completion post:
Book and Author:
Date Read:
Pages:
GISH task: #?

Points for page count -
140 - 199 pages = 3 points
200 - 299 pages = 6 points
300 - 399 pages = 9 points
400 - 499 pages = 12 points
500 - 599 pages = 15 points
600 - 699 pages = 18 points
700 - 799 pages = 21 points
800 - 899 pages = 24 points
900 - 999 pages = 27 points
a book with 1000+ pages is 30 points

Week 1 tasks (July 6 - 12)

(view spoiler)[1. Make an Assbutt of yourself in public. Literally. - read a book that has tagged 'Humor" or 'Humorous'

2. Nothing caps off a good, hot summer day like a foot-long s'mores eaten by two, Lady and the Tramp style. (No hands may be used in the creation or eating of the s'mores.) - read a book with 'lady' or 'tramp' in the text of the book

3. They say stepping on a LEGO is the greatest pain one can experience. We Gishers laugh in the face of pain. Make shoes entirely from LEGOs (no fluffy socks or insoles allowed) and demonstrate them in use. - read a book that begins with 'L', 'E', 'G', 'O' (ignoring 'a', 'an', 'the')

4. Hula hooping is hard, and you're just not ready to go it alone yet. Create a hula-hoop with training wheels for beginners and show it in use. - read a book with only two people on the cover

5. At least 3 grownups working in an industrial mud-pie factory. They must be wearing hair nets. Supervising them is at least one tidy child under age 10 in a suit and carrying a clipboard. - read a book with a child under 10 as an important character

6. 7 out of 10 dentists and dental hygienists recommend flossing, and they practice what they preach. Show us 7 out of 10 real dentists and dental hygienists flossing (not tooth-flossing. Dance flossing.) - read a book with a person smiling on the cover

7. It's time for the most elegant and beautiful of all affairs: the paintball ballet! Five ballerinas playing paintball on pointe. They must all be pointe dancers; they can be wearing safety gear, but it must be pink and there must be tutus and pointe shoes. - read a book where the mc does ballet or watches ballet

8. It's summer, and that means it's time to do your civic duty. Take a swim in the jury pool, complete with flotation devices, snorkel, etc. - read a book set in the summertime

9. Bee-drinking poles are all the rage, but your neighborhood bees deserve to really unwind. Create a bee bar - a bee "saloon on a pole" using recycled bottle caps. Install it somewhere public. - read a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'B'

10. A real matador in a real bullfighting ring with any of our GISH "flapes" (these are flags some Gishers purchase during registration). The bull is a Gisher, convincingly dressed as a bull. - read a book set in Spain or with a Spanish character in it

11. Listerine Mouse Wash. - read a book on a device that you have to scroll

12. A child reading a bedtime story to the monster under their bed. The monster should be charmed and cozy and cuddled up. - read a cozy mystery

13. The machines are taking over, and now they're even infiltrating the dating sector. Your blind date tonight at a 4-star restaurant is a humanoid robot. - read a book that a Goodreads friend gave 4 stars to

14. Nothing can shake you up! Show us how you keep centered: meditating on a moving mechanical bull. Keep your chakras aligned! Fall off in less than 2 seconds and score 0 points. - read a book with the author's name in the middle of the cover

15. Create a "food truck" that sells something incongruous with food trucks. It could be delicious pesticides, microchips, shower caps or anything in between. Your truck must advertise its wares with flashy signage. - read a book with prepared food on the cover

16. Clowns were the original glad-iators. Prove it with Roman clowns fighting in an actual Colosseum or ancient amphitheater in a knock-down, drag-out pie fight. - read a book with all the letters 'G', 'L', 'A', 'D' in the title

17. Trip the light fantastic. Literally. - read a book with a source of light on the cover

18. You know that saying: "Christ on a paddle board!" Well, it's used for a reason - Jesus walked on water and was an innovator in the Stand-Up Paddle board world. Show Jesus on a stand-up paddle board, with at least 3 disciples following him in a rowboat, canoe, or scull. - read a book with a rowboat, canoe or scull (or similar) on the cover

19. The world is in desperate need of more Cheese Balls. Delivered as rapidly as possible. Build a functional Cheese Ball launching/delivery system and demonstrate it shooting cheese balls from a distance of least 30 feet away. You must be able to catch at least 1 in your mouth. - read a book set in Wisconsin, Switzerland, or the Netherlands

20. A house cat happily flaunting a stylish mustache. - read a book with a cat on the cover

21. You're a real dish. No, really. You and a friend, dressed as commemorative collector plates, donating platelets (that's what plates bleed :). - buddy-read a book with a teammate

22. People always say, "GISH lights up the night!" Prove it. Get a bunch of drones with lights on them to spell out the word "GISH" in the night sky. The drones must serve as pixels in the sky, so you will need a lot of them. Probably at least 40. - read a book where the main character is over 40

23. When baking, measurements are vital to the culinary success of your creation. Small missteps will ruin your souffle. Of course, measuring cups and spoons, over time, change size and volume due to humidity and aging. Let's use a measuring device that you trust and know intimately: your mouth. Grab whatever ingredients you use to make a cake and place them on your counter and then, without using your hands to measure or fill, fill your mouth with the appropriate amounts of each ingredient and then deposit in your cake dish. Once the ingredients are all safely in the mixing bowl, you are allowed to mix it with any device, as long as that device is a part of your face. Bake it and enjoy it with a loved one (without using your hands). - read a book with a recipe in it (but not a cookbook :)

24. Have a child under 8 years old create an original recipe. Record them inventing it, then executing their vision. It must be 100% child-led with an adult serving as sous chef. - read a book published in 1998

25. You've been bragging you can out-dunk a professional basketball player, and now it's time to prove it: go one-on-one for a 30-second milk-and-cookies dunk-off against a pro-baller. Your competitor must be a current or retired member of the NBA or WNBA. - read a book with a current or former professional athlete in it

26. Be a stand-in for me! Wearing a convincing Misha Collins mask, have a cup of tea with someone who still has a bonafide original Team 3 Rhino Hunt puzzle piece. The puzzle piece must be visible in the image. - read a book from Best Jane Austen FanFiction (hide spoiler)]

Week 2 tasks (July 13 - 19)

(view spoiler)[27. Food waste is a real problem in many countries. At the same time, food deserts are a problem, making it difficult for some people to get fresh, nutritious food. We're helping both problems in one fell swoop with our GISH Mobile Free Grocers! Get a grocery store to donate the day's "ugly" produce, day-old bread, and any other still edible fresh foods to you, then go and distribute it. - read a book with fruit or vegetables on the cover

28. The tooth fairy is sick and tired of waiting around to collect the teeth under kids' pillows, so she's gone rogue and has started taking them right out of their mouths to meet her quota. Obviously, she needs to be stopped! Create an effective anti-tooth fairy nighttime mouth guard and show it in use, successfully stopping the thieving fairy. - read a book with all the letters of 'rogue' in the title

29. The big trend in experience-based restaurants has you eating in total darkness, but these gimmicky restaurants charge a fortune. We're bringing it to the masses: Take a dinner date to an upscale restaurant. Sit across from each other and feed each other dinner while both of you are blindfolded. You must be serving one another red wine or a similar dark beverage, too. - read a romance; the mc must eat at a restaurant

30. The recorder is an under appreciated instrument, with roots in ancient times. The depth of its mythical sirenic tones are magical and hypnotic. So what better place to play this divine woodwind than amongst the most beautiful sites in the world? Play the Kansas song "Carry on Wayward Son" on a recorder, overlooking one of the following: the Grand Canyon (Arizona, US), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Machu Picchu (Peru), Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal (India), the Colosseum (Italy), Iguazu Falls (Brazil), Stonehenge (UK), Egyptian Pyramids or the Sphinx, Tikal (Guatemala), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Atacama Desert (Chile), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Japan), The Azores (Portugal), Boulders Beach (South Africa), Cappadocia (Turkey), Cliffs of Moher (Ireland), Disko Bay (Greenland), Lake Tekapo (New Zealand), Na Pali Coast (Hawaii, US), Sagrada Familia (Spain), Eiffel Tower (France), Reynisfjara (Iceland), Trolltunga (Norway), Ubud (Indonesia), Sydney Opera House (Australia), Banff National Park (Canada), Niagara Falls (New York or Ontario), Yellowstone (Wyoming), El Capitan (Yosemite), Statue of Liberty (Liberty Island), Eilean Donan Castle (Scotland), Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany), Matterhorn or Zermatt (Switzerland), or Chichen Itza (Mexico). - read a book where one of the 'beautiful sites' is mentioned

31. In the past, stained glass windows usually depicted flowers or devotional symbols like angels and saints. But modern culture venerates a different group. Create a stained glass window of a Kardashian or similar personality with more than 4 million followers. It must be someone who is worshiped simply for being worshiped, for being famous. You may not use anyone from the cast of Supernatural. - read a book written by famous person (other than for being a noted author)

32. We're putting you in charge of Supernatural canon for the day. Paint a cannon with an elaborate SPN mural showcasing something that you think should be canon, with a caption like, "It's #SPN Cannon!" - read a book with a supernatural main character (supernatural: of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, ghost, or devil)

33. In the 2018 GISH Most Premiumerest Registration, we included a Misha Collins MishSqueezie stress ball. And though our concept artist did a great job, something got lost in translation and, well... Nailed it! But somewhere out there, there must be the guy that actually looks exactly like this stress ball. Find him and take a picture of him with the MishSqueezie. - read a book where the mc is under a lot of stress

34. The Federation of Stormtroopers has been officially sponsored by the X Games this year. Let's see a highlight from one of their competitions with a stormtrooper participating in an extreme sport. - read a book with a "x" in the title

35. A pop-up card that's for a blind child. Written in Braille, with pop-ups that can be understood completely by touch. Let's see it in action. - read a hardback or paperback book

36. Like many Americans, I've been trying to get supplies to the families and kids in detention centers along the US border, and despite my C-List celebrity status, it's been tough. But we found a way. Go to SPNFamilyValues.com and follow the instructions there, then screenshot it and send that in as proof. - read a book where the mc is in jail or prison for 50% of the story

37. I keep losing my stuff. Invent a Misha-proof AirPod finding solution that is NOT a cord, because that defeats the entire point of AirPods. Show it in use. - listen to an audio book

38. Ugly Holiday sweaters are great, but with the climate crisis heating up the planet, we've got to branch out. Model your best ugly Holiday bathing suit or bikini made of re-purposed ugly holiday sweaters. Model it at the beach with a caption touting the virtues of your "Global Warming Holiday Sweater." - read a book set during a holiday

39. There's regular golf, and mini-golf, but where are all the maxi-golf courses? We want to see it all, the giant putters, the huge balls, and of course, the windmill. - read a book where the mc plays golf, or there is a windmill on the cover

40. The world is heating up! Time for an old-fashioned kids game that we all know: Hot Planet. With at least 8 people in a public place, play a game of Hot Potato with a reddened globe of the planet Earth. - read a book published in 2008

41. A high-speed giant game of red rover played by at least 50 wedding guests. The bride must be the one flung across the field. The groom must be running after her holding her train. - read a book with a red cover (must be 50% according to Tineye's Color Extraction Lab

42. I always feel a lot of guilt about the tattoo items in GISH. The first time I added one, I thought it was funny until I saw the tatts and then I felt a little bad. Of course, it gives me a rush of power when I see them in person, and many of them are actually very cool. So I have an idea that allows me to keep feeling powerful, but takes away all of my guilt: Get a tattoo of the encouraging message to get you through the tough times. Because I know many of you already have inspiring tattoos, you must submit two images. The first is an image of you getting the tattoo when you are halfway done at the tattoo parlor, in the chair, holding a sign that reads, "GISH made me do it." The second image is of the finished tattoo. - read a book with a sign on the cover

43. Choose a sport you’ve never played before. Go do it with your coach: a child under the age of 10 who is an experienced participant. - read a book where the mc goes to see an athletic event

44. (95) Recreate a Civil War-era photograph with Captain America, Iron Man, and/or their respective sides using the Woodbury-type photography technique. - read a book set during a war or battle

45. Why have chain letters, when you can have chain mail? Create an intricate medieval knight's suit of armor entirely out of junk mail, with chain mail comprised of chain letters. - read an epistolary novel

46. Someone turned your local parking lot into your favorite childhood board game! Using sidewalk chalk or removable tempera, transform at least 5000 square feet of pavement into an enlarged version of your favorite childhood board game. - read a book from the Top 100 Children's Books on Goodreads list

47. Garfield phones keep washing up on beaches in France. As you know, that's because mermaids love cats, so there's a mermaid call center operation down there selling these phones on QVSea. Show us the QVSea commercial for these phones, as pitched by a mer-spokesperson. Oh, and it should go without saying, but all of this is taking place underwater. - read a book with a character in it that is a mermaid

48. A real barbershop quartet singing a passage from the Mueller Report in front of a federally elected political leader's office. - read the 4th book of a series

49. Talk to an elderly person over 80 and learn all about the best day of their life so far. Then, create a diorama of their best day in a small empty tin or box and give it to them. - read a book with a mc that is over 80 (can be paranormal)

50. Write a formal, one-page letter to Gina Haspel, the current Director of the CIA. In it you must outline a plausible, one-page decoding of the fourth Kryptos. The letter must frame the description as an urgent matter and must seamlessly deploy the term “wild unicorn training centers around the globe”. - read a book whose title begins with 'C', 'I', or 'A' (ignoring 'a', 'an', 'the')

51. Conspiracy theorists need to get with the times! Update the tinfoil hat to reflect technological innovations. - read a book published in 2020

52. Create a MAILWHES (The Most Amazing, Intimidating Letterbox The World Has Ever Seen), a mailbox so amazing, so intimidating, so horrifying that your mail carrier will never dare leave you another piece of junk mail again. There must be teeth around the mail slot or opening. - read a book that has been tagged 'horror' (hide spoiler)]

Week 3 tasks July 20 - 26

(view spoiler)[53. At my friend Philip's wedding, Giles Duley, myself and a few other forward-thinking innovators devised a new product and we would like to beta test the concept with you. It's called: SoupFace. It involves eating soup from a bowl made from a mold of your face. First, create a mold of your face and create a bowl from food-grade silicone or food-safe resin or similar material. (Take all necessary safety precautions.) Once it's cured, fill it with warm soup. Consume the soup without using a utensil. Lift the SoupFace mold off the table without using your hands so you are wearing it as a mask. - read a steampunk book

54. As all Supernatural fans know, “Assbutt” was a featured player in Season 5, Episode 22 of the show, but the episode ran long and Assbutt’s scene was left on the cutting room floor. Rectify this oversight by releasing the never-before-seen cut of this scene. - read the 5th or 22nd book in a series

55. Dawid Planeta illustrates his depression as mysterious creatures. In a 3-panel illustration, show your biggest fear or struggle as a symbolic creature with which you gradually come to terms. Label it so we know what your creature represents. - read a book that has illustrations in it

56. A lot of people use their cell phones while in the bathroom, which is really gross. We understand that it can get boring in there, though. Help people break society’s screen addiction with our new solution: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter toilet paper! Re-create a verified social media account on a roll of toilet paper- images and all. Scroll away—but don’t read the comments. (They’re crap.) Install it in a public bathroom as a public service. - read a book that a Goodreads friend thought was crap (2 stars or less)

57. Send noods! There’s been an epidemic of people sending explicit noodle photos to unsuspecting people. We believe consent is important, and in this case, we consent—with some STRICT caveats: Recreate a TASTEFUL image of a famous nude painting or sculpture in noodles ONLY. - read a book with a painting on the cover, or the cover was made from a painting

58. Ask a child aged 5 or under what their greatest fear is. Create and photograph or film a scene of you and them conquering this fear together. - read a book that made made into a movie

59. Cement your own joy. - read a book from your favorite genre

60. Angry birds. Flappy birds. Candy Crush. All those other games are so boring compared to GISH: The Game! Build an app game for the GISH App. It must feature a GISH mascot and integrate fully into the GISH App. - read a book with a donkey or butterfly on the cover

61. (F)underwear. - read a book with a person in their underwear on the cover

62. Each day, one member of your team must find one broken thing to upcycle and give to someone in need. Take a photo and, at the end of the Hunt week, submit a collage of the 7 now-useful items your team has gathered, refurbished, and donated. - read a book you got from a thrift store or borrowed from a friend

63. The ’80s are back, and we can’t escape all that goes with them: including stereoscopic images. Make a stereoscopic “Magic Eye” image of something that scares you as much as '80s fashion scares us. - read a book originally published in the 1980's or set in the 1980's

64. Outside a migrant detention center, lift a massive banner using balloons, drones, or telescoping poles at least 10 feet high with a message like, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” - read a book where the mc moves to a new country

65. An upscale art gallery opening at a landfill. All exhibits must be made from things found at the landfill. One professional art critic must be present to review the works. - read a book where the mc attends an art show

66. Plane air painting: A wing-walker on a biplane, painting a picture on a canvas of the landscape from their point of view. Show us the painting as it’s happening, and then the completed painting being held by the wing-walker. - read a book with an airplane on the cover

67. A signer performing the National Anthem silently in sign language on a field at a stadium that seats more than 5,000, with a sizable crowd of spectators. You may not wing it on this one. You must find someone fluent in sign to do this or to teach you how to do it and coach you through it. - read a book with a character that uses sign language to communicate

68. I’m not saying Jared Padalecki is a big softie, but there’s a portrait of him toasted onto a marshmallow. Just the way it should be. - read a book with that has been tagged 'Chick Lit'

69. Nobody’s more devoted or grateful to firefighters than we are, except maybe a dalmatian. Or Smokey the Bear. Go to your local fire station dressed as a dalmatian or Smokey the Bear and create a relaxation station to thank them for their work. You can bring treats, foot or shoulder massages, aromatherapy... You get the idea. - read a book where the mc wears a costume or a disguise

70. Over the years, Jensen Ackles has been depicted in Skittles, but we all know his character Dean loves pie. Let's do a crossover: Bake a Skittles pie with a portrait of Jensen baked into the upper crust. Lattice work in the top crust should allow you to see the Skittles inside. - read a book from the Best Crossover Books list

71. Create a thach rau cau (Vietnamese Jelly Cake) portrait of a classic movie monster. You may not use the blob. We must see the injection process and your completed jelly cake. - read a book where the mc lives in a place that begins with a 'V'

72. In Chengdu, China, kung fu tea (long spout, performance tea pouring) is popular. But it was just a matter of time before it was appropriated by other cultures. Show us a barista performing the "Mengding Mountain 18 Forms of Dragon Flying Postures" Kung Fu Tea pour at a Starbucks. - read a book with a dragon in it

73. An actual lumberjack working up on a tree with an impressive, long beard made out of googly eyes. - read a book with a mc that has a beard

74. A stop-motion animation of a life-saving first aid technique (CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, etc.) featuring dolls or puppets in crisis. - read a book with a mc that is a doctor, nurse or paramedic

75. Danish artist Thomas Dambo creates massive wooden giants from recycled materials and installs them in Copenhagen forests. That’s great, but some giants prefer urban living. Build a hipster giant that’s at least 8’ (2.4m) tall from recycled materials and place it in the middle of a busy city or town. - read a book set in a city from this Wikipedia list: List of Largest Cities

76. Not all insects aspire to just be insects. Some have ambitions and hobbies! Without harming it, get a live fly, beetle, roach or other insect to sit on a sheet of paper and doodle an environment around it showing it at its job or hobby. - read a book with an ambitious character in it

77. An actual space suit with a GISH 2019 patch on it next to the national flag. - read a book published in 2019

78. The Enterprise wasn’t the only vehicle in the not-so-final frontier. Show us Star Trek covered wagons. Tweet your image to @WilliamShatner with the message “Admit it, Bill. This is how you really voyaged.” - read a book with an author or significant character with the name of William or Bill (hide spoiler)]

Week 4 tasks July 27- August 2

(view spoiler)[79. The insect world is under-appreciated, but they are tiny works of art. Create a realistic-looking, over-sized detailed sculpture of an underappreciated arachnid or insect out of bread, ice, or marble, the way Michelangelo would have done if he’d had the time. You may not make a dragonfly, ladybug, butterfly or any other insect that has already been socially normalized as “cute”. - read a book where the main character is called 'cute' (must state the sentence and page or location)

80. The Wondersmith makes surprise, fantastical parties in the forests of Oregon, which we find lovely. Set up a surprise party for hikers at least ½ a mile from a rest area that’s clearly been created by forest-dwelling fairies and/or trolls (that’s you). Make sure it’s welcoming, and capture the moment you’re surprising them— both you and the hikers should be in the image. - read a book set in Oregon

81. Love makes the world go round. Build a machine that uses love to spin a globe. - read a book with a the letters of WORLD in the title

82. In the Western United States, there are mountain monograms, or hillside letters, giant letters that are often there for no discernible reason. Create your own 'mountain monogram' out of natural materials to craft a message with purpose. - read a book where the main character attends university or college

83. The London Zoo has a pair of penguins who are out and proud, but they didn’t get to march in Pride because they are penguins in a zoo. We think that’s just wrong. Dress up in penguin suits and march through your town with rainbow flags to show your support for Penguin and LGBTQIA+ Pride. - read a book with 'penguin' in the text of the book (must state sentence and page or location)

84. Subtractive food sculpture: Start with a block of cheese or a massive mountain of mashed potatoes and without using tools, eat your way to an ornate re-creation of a famous statue. - read the prequel, 0 or 0.5 of a series

85. You’ve heard of a scarecrow, but let’s see a straw-stuffed scarevolleyballplayer at the beach. - read a book with a beach on the cover

86. In 2020, we’re gonna need a 30-second GISH ad worthy of airing during the Super Bowl, advertising the latest in summer refreshment: “GISH.” - read a book published more than 30 years ago

87. Misha doesn’t have a ton of skills other than “acting on camera”, but he does try hard. He’s also at a potential career transition point. Help him explore other career paths by creating a poster of him photo-shopped doing another job you think he’d be suited for. - read a book where the main character changes careers

88. Ben Ferencz started each dinner table conversation with his children by asking them, “What did you do today to make the world a better place?” Wake up tomorrow and take a specific, positive action to make the world a better/nicer/happier/prettier place with a child as your assistant. - read a book set in the future

89. Some people long to have a picnic at the Longaberger Basket Building in Ohio, and you and your friends are no different. But size matters! Enjoy a to-scale picnic on the grounds in front of the building- giant fruits and sandwiches, etc. - read a book with 'picnic' in the text of the book (must state the sentence and page or location)

90. It's an ineffable Good Omen to see Aziraphale and Crowley sharing a hot fudge sundae on Sunday. Post your picture on social media tagged #GoodOmens and @neilhimself. Bonus points if the sundae is eaten at a Sundae School on Cape Cod. - read a book with 'Good' or 'Omen' in the title; double the points if it has both

91. A Cairn Terrier. (His name is Rocky. He won’t come when he’s called.) - read a book with a rock or rocks on the cover

92. One of our Gishers was able to help her mom act FAST and responded in time to help her with a stroke. Last we heard, her mom is okay, but she can't play this year. So in her honor, it's time for a quick refresher on recognizing a stroke. Do a rendition of "Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes" with some kind of lyrics like: "Face, Arms, Speech, Call in Time (don't waste time)! Face, Arms, Speech, Call in Time (don't waste time)! When someone's had a stroke their life is on the line! Face, Arms, Speech, Call in Time (don't waste time)" with the appropriate movements. - read a book where a head, shoulders, knees or toes is the focus of the cover

93. A Mom-and-Pop shop that sells Moms and Pops. (New and used.) Show a young child making a purchase. - read a book where the mc becomes a parent for the first time

94. We’re auditioning new anchors for G-ISH, GISH RADIO! Send us a clip of your team’s broadcast debut as you discuss the climate crisis’ effect on sea levels with a real, noted expert in the field. - read a book from the NPR or the On the Air list

95. Tatsuya Tanaka creates miniature worlds with everyday objects. His scenes are whimsical, which is how the world should be... but is not always how tiny-world actually is. Create a miniature, dismal and tragic scene using small re-imagined objects. - read a book where the author's name starts with 'T' and is between 140 - 199 pages

96. Write your resume as a haiku. - read a book with a three word title

97. 8554J46H+FH. You, the Carrot God, have summoned them. read a mythology book

98. The hot new trading card battle game is GISHémon! Create a trading card for each of your team mates with their photo and stats (location, Gisher type, powers, etc.) as the powerful kindness monsters they are. - read a book with a 75% yellow cover (check tineye)

99. Little known fact: when an avocado is fully ripe, it hatches. Show us the tiny, intricately carved creature sleeping inside (which you’ve carved from the pit). - read a book with less than 100 ratings

100. Write a phrase on a piece of wood of something negative you say about yourself to silence yourself or hold yourself back. Burn the wood and the phrase in a fireplace or fire pit. Use the ashes to write something affirming about your strong self on a sheet of white paper. - read a book with fire on the cover

101. The heir to the throne of France was known as the Dauphin, French for "dolphin". The heir to the British throne is the Prince of... Whales? Illustrate a meeting of these two majestic undersea figures, with Macron and Prince Charles as their respective attendants. - read a book set in France or the UK

102. Reach out to a senior in your family or community and ask them about a commercially made snack or dish from their childhood that brings them fond memories - something that just doesn’t exist anymore. Try to recreate it based on their description, then share your creation with them and record their assessment. - read a book where a person's memories is important to the plot

103. A carbon footprint on a globe. - read a book set very near where you live

104. A motorized vehicle with cheese wheels. It can be a motorcycle, tricycle, or 4-wheel vehicle, but it must have cheese wheels made from actual cheese. - read a book with a motorized vehicle on the cover (hide spoiler)]

Week 5 tasks August 3 - 9

(view spoiler)[105. Get a duplicitous high-ranking politician to tell the absolute, verifiable truth about any controversial and uncomfortable topic they normally lie to the public about. It must really be the real person, not an actor or someone in a mask. You must be able to verify the facts through a nonpartisan, independent source. (This may be our first truly impossible item.) - read a book with a real person mentioned in the story (must state the sentence and page or location)

106. A bacterial culture petri dish portrait of Jonas Salk. Tweet this to Melinda Gates thanking her for her work vaccinating children. - read a book with an author whose first name begins with 'J'

107. Create a haiku for an animal on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that tells of the animal’s plight and why we should protect it. Next to the haiku, include a hand-drawn picture or origami sculpture of the animal. - read a book with an animal on the cover

108. Stonehenge was cool, but it just wasn't built with sustainability or environmental impact in mind, so now we're stuck with ancient druid clutter by the side of the road. As a modern druidic architect, you know better. Next to a highway, build an architecturally significant henge out of 100% recycled materials that represent our current culture. - read a book where a famous monument is mentioned

109. An elaborate hinged, Faberge-style Easter egg that opens to reveal Trump & Putin embracing. - read a book from the Jewelry Box list

110. Play “the floor is lava” in front of the Osservatorio Vesuviano in Pompeii. If you can’t get to Pompeii, you can play it at any Olive Garden, as long as you get other diners to join in. - read a book set in Italy or with an Italian main character

111. Swap-meet day! Use the GISH app to coordinate with at least 5 other Gishers in your area to meet up and hold a yard sale. Except, this is not a yard-sale, it’s a yard-giveaway: the GISH Community Bazaar. Bring as many items as you can bear to part with and set up shop. And remember, no money must change hands and no bartering! - read a book that you got for free (from the library, a gift, etc.)

112. A jello mold with a funeral scene inside. - read a book where the main character attends a funeral

113. In Uppsala, Sweden, there is a tradition called the Flogsta Scream. Every night at 10 pm, students at university stop what they are doing to let out a collective, primal scream from their rooftops and dorms. This tradition shouldn’t be exclusive to Sweden, so at 6PM on Friday, August 2rd, get together with as many Gishers and other humans as you can in a public setting and let out one deep, primitive, collective howl. - read a book with nighttime on the cover

114. The best part about being in the hospital is the couture. Hold a hospital gown fashion show in your local hospital to show off red-carpet-worthy hospital gowns of your creation. Glam it up and walk (or roll) the runway with any patients that might be able and willing to participate… and don’t forget the slip-proof socks! - read a book where the main character goes to a hospital

115. Bring an old bike back to life with a flourish - make it the most beautiful bike in the world. Give it to someone to someone in need. - read a book where the main character rides a bicycle

116. Basic Training can be horrible, and the military needs our support! Create a video of you and your team collecting and packing “basics” to send to a currently deployed service-person. The catch: your video should emulate a “basic training” montage from a movie-obstacles courses, bucket brigades, etc. (You must actually ship the goods.) - read a book with the word 'basic' in the text (must state the sentence and page or location)

117. This year, we lost a beloved furry friend, Peter Mayhew (the actor who played Chewbacca). In honor of his memory, create a felted Chewbacca out of your pet’s hair. - read a science fiction book

118. The LGBTQIA community struggles a lot with erasure. Make sure everyone feels seen: create a portrait of an iconic LGBTQIA person by first filling up a page with a rainbow of colored pencils or pastels, then use an eraser to lift out the negative space, leaving the colored portrait behind. Include a message letting them know they are seen and loved. - read a book with a color in the title

119. Some people really do have eyes in the back of their head. Before and after images of a person with long hair, and then their head shaved and a recognizable portrait of their own face shaved onto the back of their own head. - read a book with 'Before' or 'After' in the title

120. Neil Armstrong stepped on to the Moon 50 years ago. To memorialize this amazing achievement, make your own “One Small Step” monument. Take a Giant Leap for mankind and put your foot somewhere it has never been before and probably should not go, then show us the resulting footprint. - read a book with a title that starts with 'A' (you can use an article)

121. You know those garden gnomes that dotted your grandmother’s backyard? Well, it’s been a while and now they have fallen on hard times. They have turned to a life of crime and misanthropy. Their little gnome hearts are filled with despair, hatred, and regret. - read a book with 'despair', 'hatred' or 'regret' in the text of the book (must state the sentence and page or location)

122. The next time that Earth’s magnetic poles reverse themselves, your magnetic compass won’t be much help navigating. Fortunately, you remember a mention from a history class of a “south-facing chariot” [SFC] invented in China some 2500 years ago. To be better prepared for the coming magnetic mélange, you have decided to build a functioning SFC so that you can always find your way home. Of course, your SFC will be topped with an assbutt and your chariot will be modeled after a 1967 Impala. - read a book where the main character has to find their way home

123. Everyone goes to visit the Southernmost Point in Key West, FL, but it really never gets to travel. We’re changing that. Make a replica of the Southernmost Point and take it on holiday to the Westernmost, Northernmost, or Easternmost points of the US. Take a photo with it at the nearest marker or tourist attraction to prove you were there. - read a book set in Washington, Maine or Southern California

124. Put your face somewhere it absolutely does not belong. Not a picture of your face. Your real face. In that place. Where it should NOT be! (Keep it clean. My mother will see this.) - read a book from the Glass and Mirror list

125. Senator Ted Cruz is worried about pirates in space. Seriously. He is. Well, we are pretty sure that his fears are well-founded. Let’s prove it to him: Show us space pirates in action. - read a book that is tagged 'Realistic Fiction'

126. Last year we asked you to put wings on something that absolutely should not fly and prove that it can. One team (Team Schnitzeljaeger) made a pizza box fly. For this year, make a pizza fly (sans box). You may not throw it in the air, drop it, or fling it. It must attain flight through some mechanical means. Just the pizza. Not the box. - read a book with a pizza, pig or box on the cover

127. Bad news! GISH HQ has just received a bulletin that Dalton Highway is a moose-free zone this week, so your new task is to meet-up at any safe landmark denoting the Arctic Circle. If you absolutely can't make it to the Arctic Circle, you may do this at their other favorite location: any Tim Hortons. - read a book with a moose-free cover (no moose on the cover :)

128. We’re creating the GISH International Forest! Go out and plant as many trees as you can. Once you plant them, you will become their stewards, so choose your location wisely: make sure you’re allowed to plant there and that the trees are native so they can flourish. - read a book that has been translated into another language

129. This year is the 150th anniversary of the first Transcontinental Railroad, which opened up rapid (for the time) access across the United States. The original event in 1869 was celebrated as the Central Pacific Railroad locomotive “Jupiter” and the Union Pacific Railroad locomotive #119 came nose-to-nose as a Golden Spike was driven into the final section of track. Well, we firmly believe that every good anniversary deserves cake! Recreate the Jupiter, or #119, or both, made entirely from cake. - using 1, 1, and 9, pick a book from your TBR list and read it (it can be #1, 9, 11, 19, 91, or 119)

130. A cyanotype photo of junk-food wrapping or junk-food. - read a book with a mostly white or blue cover (hide spoiler)]

Week 6 tasks August 10 -16

(view spoiler)[131. You have accepted a new position with the Mars Tourism Bureau. To attract potential visitors to the wonderful Mars climate, you plan to inform them of the daily environmental trends. Create a 15-second video weather report, complete with temperature and wind descriptions and get a real weather-caster dressed as an alien to report it on local news during a live broadcast. - read a book where the main character travels to a different country on holiday/vacation

132. A very large balance scale. (The kind of old-fashioned scale that we think of when we say, “the scales of justice.”) On one side, at least 5 very wealthy-looking people. On the other, at least 5 very impoverished-looking people. The scales are tipped in favor of the elite. Find a way to balance the scales. - read a book with "the scales of justice" on the cover

133. Everyone talks about "viral videos." We think we know what those are. Share a GISH video of a biological (not technological) virus and get it to go "viral" with at least 1,000 likes. It must include GISH.com in the video and text in the video to count. - read a book with more than 1,000 reviews (not ratings)

134. It’s time for GIFF - the GISH International Film Festival! Create a 30-second horror film. Noted author Neil Gaiman tweeted: “You've got a week to rob a bank using only a rattlesnake, radioactive uranium and a bottle of whiskey.” - read a book by Neil Gaiman

135. The aliens have been in Area 51 for decades. Why do they stay? Because of all the amenities, of course. Show us the leisurely life of aliens at Area 51: the best Retirement Community in the Universe! We want to see elderly aliens playing shuffleboard, mahjong, and bingo, getting alien spa treatments, doing tai chi and Pilates... You get the idea. - read a book with 'alien' in the text of the book (must state the sentence and page or location)

136. Join the movement to cross-stitch what you care about: create a cross-stitch picket sign for a cause you believe in. Connect with at least 2 other teams and craft a protest march on a street corner. - read a book with a street/road on the cover (it should be prominent)

137. Megan Rapinoe reminds us all that despite equal skill, women are often not treated to a level playing field in business. Show us a team of female office workers playing soccer in traditional business attire opposite men with a ball that says “EQUAL PAY.” The women, of course, should score. - read a book with a female in business attire on it

138. The most stressful spa environment ever. - read any book you want (I don't want to create any more stress than is needed :)

139. Recently, a mylar balloon from Disney’s Frozen was found on the bottom of the ocean floor… Clearly leftover from an undersea birthday party. Show us the underwater party, including the birthday person blowing out the candles on their cake. PS: Your mother doesn’t live there! DO NOT leave a mess or impact sea life. - read a book with a birthday cake on the cover

140. People around the world have squandered billions of hours talking/worrying/complaining about politics. Have an economist calculate the cost to the global economy of these lost hours. They must show their work and be a professor of economics. - read a book with a politician in it

141. Part of your job for the Mars Tourism bureau is managing PR. Design a brochure or poster that convinces people to visit our timeshare at scenic Mt. Gishwhes (on Mars). - read a book with a mountain on the cover

142. We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Prove it was faked. - read a book by an author using a fake name (pseudonym)

143. Thanks to modern technology, we can relax and watch TV virtually anywhere, even in the loo—but we still can’t kick back on the porcelain throne and relax while we do. Create a toilet recliner to solve this problem. - read a book that's been made into a TV show or movie

144. You thought they said, “Get Out the GOAT.” Be the Greatest Of All Time by co-hosting a voter registration booth with a goat. - read a book with a title that begins with 'G', 'O', 'A', "T' (you can use or ignore the articles 'a', 'an', 'the')

145. Mary Poppins and the Demogorgon from Stranger Things both loved hanging around in the Upside Down! Create a convincing image of you having upside-down high tea on the ceiling with Mary Poppins and a Demogorgon. - read a book with something up-side down on the cover

146. Every year, I send Gishers to visit my grandmother at Roland Park Place retirement home in Baltimore, Maryland, and this year is no different. Visit her retirement community (or any nursing home or community near you) and help the residents escape—metaphorically, of course. Take them on a tropical getaway by staging an impromptu beach party! - read a book where a grandmother plays an important part in the story

147. The evening of Sunday, July 28 is the event of the year: the #WeJustMetGala! Get together with Gishers in your area at your local museum in the strangest, fanciest attire you can create. Roll out the red carpet and a banner, then convince strangers passing by to pose with you for red carpet pictures. Be fabulous! - read a book with a mostly red cover

148. You know that this is the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. But did you know that Woodstock the bird from Peanuts first appeared 2 years earlier? So actually Woodstock the bird is 52. He’s drunk a lot of beer over the years and can’t hide it, but he is vain, so he’s had lots of work done. Tons of collagen and botox. He wears a toupee. He dyes his feathers. Show us what he looks like today. - read a book with a musician as a significant character

149. A Jackson Pollock paint-by-numbers kit: before, and after it's been painted. Don't try to find an existing kit. Make your own. - read a book with a character named Jack in it

150. A ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting an image of your worst nightmare. - read a book where the main character has a nightmare (must state the sentence and page or location)

151. You know how they keep making movies out of games? Like the Pikachu movie? Or Battleship: The Movie? Why don’t they ever go after the real money and make poems out of these properties? Write Battleship the poem, or Pikachu the poem. Must be at least 10 lines long. - read a book with a title that is at least 10 words long (can use the subtitle)

152. Birthday wishes are getting fulfilled so much faster since we automated processing. Show us a Rube Goldberg machine that is activated by a child under 10 blowing out candles on a birthday cake, and ends with the thing they wished for being delivered into their hands. - read a book published in your birth month or year

153. I said no more ponies in the living room, and I meant it! But unicorns are totally okay. - read a with a pony, horse, or unicorn on the cover

154. It's GISH University, Year 2! Each person on your team must attempt to learn a new skill they have never tried before and document the experience, including the first attempt. - read the second book of a duology, trilogy or series

155. Thar’s plastic in them thar waters! A prospector panning for micro-plastics on a public beach. Craft jewelry from anything you collect and show it to us. - read a book with jewelry on the cover (must be prominent)

156. Where do angels go for tea? To the sky garden, of course! Depict two angels having tea while seated on a cloud on the edge of the Liss Ard Sky Garden in Ireland. - read a book set in Ireland or with an Irish main character (hide spoiler)]

Week 7 tasks August 17 - 23

(view spoiler)[157. A hand-made kite that looks just like the face of that famous person you look up to, high in the sky. - read a book where the sky is a major portion of the cover

158. Oceanic exploration shouldn’t just be for the elite. Companies are working on making exploration affordable, but we need something now. Drop a camera and a light in a tiny, weighted, protected housing with a window on a line (so you can pull it back up). Just outside the window a common object filled with air. Like an aluminum water bottle, or a balloon animal, or something made of styrofoam. Lower everything at least 1000 feet below sea level. The camera should be rolling so we can see at what point your object gets crushed by the pressure of the ocean. - read a book where the mc travels across an ocean

159. Right a great American novel. This is not a typo. read a classic written by an American; 'classic' must be on the book's main page

160. The lunar ticks are in the hall… Pink Floyd knew what was up. Show us what the lunar ticks on the dark side of the moon look like (you know, because you have a specimen preserved in a jar in your front hall.) - read a book with the word 'lunatic' in the text (must state the sentence and page or location)

161. Thirsty for a challenge? Build a puzzle jug. Show you building it, then someone else figuring it out and successfully drinking from it. read a book with 'mystery' in the title

162. Thomas Deininger makes amazing representational sculptures out of found objects. Using EVERY piece of non-recyclable, inorganic trash you generate during the Hunt, create a 3-dimensional, representational self-portrait. - read a book whose author has the same initials as you (does not have to be in the same order)

163. Paint a Jenga set red, white, and blue. On each one write a word or phrase from the constitution. Get a real US Republican and a Democratic Congressperson to play. See how many they can remove before this whole thing collapses. - read a book tagged 'apocalyptic' or 'post-apocalyptic'

164. “Fake news” was bad enough, but it’s pervading all media now and we can’t believe anything we see. Create a Deep Fake of Misha Collins complimenting a politician. (We put this item in at the last minute after Misha’s final read-through of the list, so he doesn’t know about it. Don’t tip him off. We just want to see his reaction.) - read a book with an artificial intelligence (AI) in it

165. Apparently, once upon a time, the US government weaponized ticks. (Really.) Show us a pinboard with an example of a tiny, weaponized tick, complete with Rambo-style military gear and assault rifles. - read a book where the main character is a government operative; FBI, CIA, MI5, KGB, etc.

166. Love has no borders, and neither does fun. Show two people on opposite sides of an international border crossing or wall playing a game such as charades, Pictionary, or another game that does not require them to touch or pass goods across the border. - read a book with 'charade' in the text of the book (must state the sentence and page or location)

167. Last year, we suggested Gishers melt a message into a glacier or iceberg with a laser and received lots of complaints. We now recognize that people melting words into icebergs for scavenger hunts is one of the biggest problems facing our environment today. Have a climate scientist calculate the volume of water produced by, let’s say, 10,000 people melting eleven 6’ tall letters, 2” deep in an iceberg. Then have them calculate the amount of water produced by the additional melting caused by a .5 degree global temperature increase. Show us the numbers and analysis so we know how bad Misha should feel. - read a book from the Fiction about the Titanic list

168. Check out a book from a local small-town library that hasn’t been checked out in at least 20 years. Submit a photo of you holding up the book with the stamped inner jacket showing the dates or other visual proof of this stellar feat. - read a library book

169. Tiny homes help those experiencing homelessness be a little safer and have dignity, but they’re hard to move around, and that presents a problem. Create blueprints for a Tiny Home that is durable and large enough for an adult to comfortably walk into through a door, yet can be folded down into a flat cart on with wheels for mobility and made of ultra-lightweight materials. - read a book where the main character travels in a 'tiny home' (motorhome, conestoga, winnebago, caravan, etc.)

170. Climb ev’ry mountain! Like most nuns, Mother Abbess was an avid climber. Show us a nun in a full habit, rappelling down a steep grade of mountain. - read a book from the Vicars, Priests, Abbots, Fathers, Abbesses, Pastors, Nuns list

171. Get a well-known sportscaster to do a play-by-play for a real wedding. - read a book with a wedding in it

172. They say that to perform CPR, you should compress someone’s chest to the beat of “Staying Alive” by the BeeGees. Get CPR certification while dressed in 70's disco attire. - read a book whose title starts with 'C', 'P', or 'R' (ignoring 'a', 'an', 'the')

173. Gishers have become nationals of Westarctica and other micronations, but it’s time we claimed our own land. Since nobody else has done it, we’re officially claiming the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as New Gishlandia! Help us with our micronation building: Create a flag, a national anthem, a crest, a statue of our Founder or a propaganda poster. - read a book set in a fantasy (not real) location

174. The Gabra people of northern Kenya are a nomadic people who believe in living in balance with the environment and live by the tenet, “a poor man shames us all.” Mutual support is imperative in their culture, and no one is allowed to go without food, shelter, or hospitality—something the whole world could learn from. Take a page from the Gabra and go on a nomadic journey through your neighborhood. Give sustenance, hydration, and support to anyone in need you find. - read a book with a philanthropic main character

175. Do something you’ve always been told you can’t, or shouldn’t, do while at (or outside) the Forbidden Corner in Coverham, England. - read a book set in England

176. You look so festive with your “real avocado leather” purse or shoes made from avocado peels. - read a book with a cover that focuses on shoes

177. Remember FloJo? Florence Griffith Joyner a world-record-setting Olympic athlete whose long, intricately painted fingernails made her an 80's style legend. Times marches on, and now instead of FloJo, we’ve got BoJo - but style trends endure. Paint a portrait of Boris Johnson, FloJo style - on your excessively long acrylic pinkie nail. - read a book with a dash or hyphen in the title or author's name

178. When you want to say something sweet to your loved one, you always use s’mores code. - read a book set before telephones were invented

179. Walking on water is so 2,000 years ago - but it’s a timeless tradition. Construct shoes that allow someone to walk on water. You may not be standing on anything that’s under the water and the water must be at least 6 feet deep. You must be in a lake, pond, river or ocean. - read a book with 'Lake', 'Pond', 'River', or 'Ocean' in the title

180. Create a 6 ft x 6 ft painting using only your body, paint, and a white sheet for a canvas. Bonus points if you manage to create representational art. - read a book with two 6's in the published date (month, date or year). Double the points if the main character is an artist.

181. On today’s segment of your cooking show, we learn how to make your world-renowned recipe for dessert haggis. - read a book set in Scotland or with a Scottish main character

182. You know that feeling, when there's a word on the tip of your tongue but you just can't seem to say it? Show us that word. On the tip of your tongue. - listen to an audio book (hide spoiler)]

Week 8 tasks August 24 - 30

183. My favorite poet, Mary Oliver, passed away recently. In tribute, make a video showcasing the top highlights of your team’s week and end it with the quote “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” - read a coming-of-age story

184. We've seen the pictures of dogs catching treats by German photographer Christian Vieler. Let's see a high-speed photo of your teammate catching treats in the same style and photographic detail. - read a book where a dog is important to the story

185. Hasan Minhaj rightly points out that there are many places in the US (and the world) with offensive names. We're all for a good Assbutt, North Dakota or ****, Michigan, but if it’s racist or marginalizes a group we’re opposed. Find a place on the map or a street name that celebrates a known racist, slave-holder, or war criminal or simply a place name that uses a derogatory term and petition to have it changed to an inoffensive alternative. - read a book that has been banned (Wikipedia's 'List of books banned by governments')

186. It’s not just for fine dining anymore... At a fast-food establishment, get a grill cook to create a McAmuse-Bouche and serve it to a waiting, unsuspecting customer. - read a book by an author that is new to you

187. In Japan, there is a fad of polishing aluminum foil into a perfectly polished ball. You just topped that with your wad of aluminum foil-turned-perfectly polished bust of your favorite celebrity. - read a book from the Men I Wish Were Real list

188. Create a bust of Jared Padalecki... and make sure his hair really flows. - read a book where the main character has long hair

189. We're not saying the cast of Supernatural is hot, but your fumage portrait of a Supernatural actor or actress speaks for itself. Smokin'! (Be super careful with this one. Have a fire extinguisher at the ready just in case. Remember, GISH doesn't pay medical bills and you're not allowed to hurt yourself - or anyone or anything else.) - read a book with a title that has all the letters of 'fumage' in it

190. Evolution of the selfie: A person with an iPhone taking a selfie next to a person with a point-and-shoot camera who is taking a photo of a person with a Polaroid camera who is taking a picture of a person with a 35mm camera who is taking a photo of a person with a daguerreotype camera taking a picture of a person with a camera obscura taking a picture of someone painting a self-portrait. - read a book where the main character uses a camera (must state the sentence and page or location)

191. We will post an ambitious charity item that we will all collaborate on together shortly. Get ready! - read a book written by more than one author

192. Tonight's date is so special, you wore your water ball(oon) gown! Hope your significant other "pops the question..." All water balloons must be filled with water. - read a book with water on the cover

193. A tiny painting of Misha and the Queen on a coin, made using toothpicks instead of brushes. - read a book with a royal person as a significant character (royalty: king, queen, emir, or sultan and their immediate family)

194. Not all angels are 100% sweet and not all demons are all bad. Dress up as a demon and hand out messages of hope and positivity for the future to commuters at a busy bus, train, or subway station. - read a paranormal book

195. Create a HairBnB for head lice. Showcase all the amenities in photos. But don't post it on AirBnB! Instead, hang your flyer where your clients will see it: at a local hair salon. - read a book where the mc stays at a hotel, motel or inn

196. You've been out fishing for compliments, and you just snagged a whopper. - read a book that a teammate has given 5 stars

197. We could all use a little extra help to stay afloat. You wouldn't go on a boat without a flotation device; why go through life without one? Create an "emergency life jacket" that you can wear when you feel a little underwater, out of your depth, or just like you need to be buoyed a little. - read a self-help book

198. Maybe hotels are onto something with their door hangers. Create an ornately designed reversible necktie you can wear that says "Do Not Disturb", "Please Tidy Up" or any other appropriate saying for those times you want to quickly and efficiently broadcast a message but really don't feel like being social. - read a book with a door on the cover (the door must be prominent)

199. Last year, you participated in the Belly-flop Olympics. But the most artistic activity in the summer Olympics is always the Synchronized Slip n' Slide. Tandem sliders executing at least 3 beautiful, perfectly synchronized poses will win the gold. You must have judges and large score cards present. - read a book set in a country that has hosted the Olympics

200. Crochet or knit a doily recreation of our solar system. - read a book where one of the planets in our Solar System is mentioned (including poor Pluto)

201. If comic books have taught us anything, it's that what makes us unique is what makes us super. But not everyone has internalized the message. Without being self-deprecating, identify one trait, offbeat skill, or feature about yourself that, properly applied, could be the origin of your new superperson identity. Create a poster that showcases your superperson identity and what your flaw or feature-turned-superpower is. - read a book from the Super Hero Books [Not Graphic Novels] list

202. Create a compliment vending machine! This machine offers free compliments on activation. Install it in a busy public place... with you safely hidden inside. Offer a sincere, honest compliment to anyone who activates the mechanism and have a friend record the transaction. - read a book with an adjective in the title

203. Before he was an Assbutt, our 2019 GISH Mascot was an Asserpillar. Illustrate or create a page from the award-winning children's book The Very Hungry Asserpillar. (As you know from reading the book, each page features an important life lesson or moral, so make sure yours does, too.) - read a book that received an award (must state the award and when it was given)

204. This is not a drill! Your pillow fort is under attack. Build the world's most impenetrable Pillow Fort ever. You can include pillow cannons, catapults, etc. for defense, or just trust the integrity of your architecture. - read a book with a main character who is or was in the military

205. As tournaments go, Wimbledon's got nothing on Piladex. Show off your prowess at this 19th-century analog game of Pong, which is played by keeping inflated bag or balloon aloft by blowing on it. You may play one-on-one or a doubles match. Game, set, match! - read a book set during the 19th century

206. Spoiler alert! Nobody has time to really sit down and read anymore. So, bring the stories to them. Recreate major plot points of classic books by acting them out at your local library. But in deference to library "rules", you must be silent, so you're going to have to use interpretive dance on this one. - read a play (genre list: Plays Books)

207. Put your friend on display as a human statue at your local art museum. You may use props. Include a didactic card explaining the piece and its significance as a true work of art as well as an Artist's Statement. - read a book where the main character visits a museum (must state the sentence and page or location)

208. Everybody always thinks zombies are after their brains, but they're just really into "tag", as evidenced by the 3 zombies playing slow-speed tag in your local mall, then speed it up and send it in. - read a book with a title that begins with 'T', 'A' or 'G' (you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', or 'the')

reserved just in case :)

Leslie and Paula, any ideas on a Team name?

I have one - Good Wi11 Hunting. It's lame but it ties in our team number with scavenger hunting.

That name works for me

Leslie wrote: "That name works for me"

Did you think of a name?

Hi everyone! I like Good Wi11 Hunting for team name. Very creative!

Laila Jane wrote: "Hi everyone! I like Good Wi11 Hunting for team name. Very creative!"

Hey, Laila Jane. I'm glad you like the name I came up with.

Are you okay with scorekeeping?

Just a little about myself: I live in Phoenix, Arizona. I was born in Arizona, and after my husband got out of the military, we moved back here. That was 27 years ago. We have 6 children and 13 grandchildren.

I like to quilt when I'm not reading. I enjoy watching sports. I'm a moderator on Public Domain Readers as well as here on The Challenge Factory.

Oh, sorry, yes I can scorekeep.

I live in the Chicago area with my husband and 3-year-old son. Been here pretty much all my life, and if I can help it I don’t ever plan to leave =)

I work as a night shift nurse, so I keep unusual hours. When I get some me time, other than read, I like to knit/crochet and play The Sims.

Laila Jane wrote: "Oh, sorry, yes I can scorekeep."

Thank you!

Any idea how you'll do that? A spreadsheet, a reporting thread, or just keep track of points here on this thread?

Hello!
I like the name too 😊

I'm Paula, from Santiago, Chile.
I'm 30 years old and was planning to move out, but coronavirus came and I'm in lock down in my parents house with my 3 siblings since March, a very crowded house
I'm working from home since March too, so I'm keeping myself busy, but I still manage to read almost as much as before the pandemic started.

I think I know what I'll read for week one =)

Paula wrote: "Hello!
I like the name too 😊"

It's unanimous. I'll change the title of this thread then.

Paula wrote: "I think I know what I'll read for week one =)"

What are you going to read? How did you decide? I still haven't figured out I'm going to read :(

Hi, all!

I just wanted to pop in real quick and introduce myself. I'm Steph. I live in Central IL with my husband and three boys. I work from home as a transcriptionist, which isn't exciting, but it has definitely helped out this year having a flexible job. With 3 boys under the age of 6 making my life loud and crazy, I use reading as a way to relax and unwind from the day. I love team challenges and am really looking forward to this one starting! :)

Nice to 'meet' you, Steph Ann.

Have you had a chance to look at the tasks? Which ones do you think it bring the highest points? Or is there a book that you need to read that fits one of the tasks? :)

lorii posted this on her team's thread. She's given me permission to share it:

"...this [challenge] is first and foremost about having fun, especially during this crazy and unpredictable time. Therefore, I don't want anyone to slog through or feel obliged to read something they aren't enjoying even if it may have more points..."

Well said!

I have a book that will work for tasks #9 and #22, don't know which one could give more points

It's La Casa del Propósito Especial by John Boyne and it has 416 pages, I will be sure tomorrow if I read that one or another

I’m leaning towards doing a spreadsheet, just cuz it’ll be easier for me to keep it updated even when I’m away from the computer. I’ll share the link to the spreadsheet once I actually make it

Hi,
Hope to have a good time for next 8 weeks. Just wondering that, if the points only vary depending upon the book length, or is there any dependence on task list or how many task(s) it satisfies simultaneously.

Suman

Laila Jane wrote: "I’m leaning towards doing a spreadsheet, just cuz it’ll be easier for me to keep it updated even when I’m away from the computer. I’ll share the link to the spreadsheet once I actually make it"

Sounds good. Are you going to update the spreadsheet with everyone's scores, or are you going to want us to input our own points?

Suman wrote: "Hi,
Hope to have good time for next 8 weeks.

Me, too :)

Suman wrote: "Just wondering that, if the points only vary depending upon the book length, or is there any dependence on task list or how many task(s) it satisfies simultaneously."

The book you read gets points two ways: 1) by how many pages it has and 2) how many points the task is worth (which we won't know until after everyone's Completion Posts have been recorded). Half the fun will be speculating which tasks might have a higher number.

Lanelle wrote: "....Half the fun will be speculating which tasks might have a higher number."
Umm .... that's interesting. I guess if logically assigned, the rarer the chances of picking a book from that task, more the point. If randomly put, then there is no point in speculating .... 😜

I'm looking over some of my bigger page count books to see what tasks they might fit. None of them are matching with tasks I think will have bigger point values, but we'd at least get the points for page count, lol.

Two books I'm trying to decide between right now are by Libba Bray, which is 608 pages, and would work for Tasks 2, 3, 9, 13, or 17

Or, I could go with , which is 870 pages, and works for 2, 13, and 22. I'm more in the mood for this one, but 870 pages is a lot, and the last book in the series dragged on for the first half, so I could be in trouble if that happens again, lol.

The challenge begins in less than 12 hours. Also, I've added a detail to the rules that I forgot: No graphic novels, poetry, or cookbooks.

I'm worried that some folks might think I have an advantage since I created this challenge and wrote the tasks to match the points. I haven't seen the point values in over a week and I honestly don't remember them. (Poor memory.) I can only guess like everyone else.

That being said, do you think it will make people more comfortable if I have my team decide which task I read a book for? Thoughts, everyone?

Lanelle wrote: "I'm worried that some folks might think I have an advantage since I created this challenge and wrote the tasks to match the points. I haven't seen the point values in over a week and I honestly don..."

In my opinion these challenges are based upon trust. So, I think it would be fine if you choose the task(s) by your own.

Lanelle wrote: "I'm worried that some folks might think I have an advantage since I created this challenge and wrote the tasks to match the points. I haven't seen the point values in over a week and I honestly don..."

I'm fine with you choosing your own tasks, Lanelle. I worry that if we were to pick them for you, it runs the risk of you being roped into reading something you might not want to just to try and get more points, and that's never fun. And as Suman said, I also trust that you wouldn't use your position as challenge creator in a way to give you an advantage. :)

I agree with Steph and Suman, but if it's more comfortable for you for us to pick for what task use the book you read, we could. I don't think it's necessary though.

Steph, I read Lair of Dreams last month and really liked it, I recommend the audio book =)

Paula wrote: "Steph, I read Lair of Dreams last month and really liked it, I recommend the audio book =)"

Oh, that's good to know! I've actually started to lean towards that one as the day has gone on, lol.

Hi everyone! Leslie here. I live in Texas with my family: a husband, six kids and a cat. I am a stay at home mom. My youngest is turning 1 so I don't get much accomplished these days other than reading, so hopefully I can earn us some decent points.

Just to clarify, we just read as many books as we want within the tasks assigned and earn points each week? So, I can choose 2 or 3 tasks this week to earn some point, and then the next week choose some more tasks to earn points? We aren't all working on the same task number(s) each week?

Leslie wrote: "Just to clarify..." Leslie is my daughter and she has the smartest, cutest, sweetest kids in the whole world. (Don't tell your brother and sister I said that :)

Leslie wrote: "Just to clarify, we just read as many books as we want within the tasks assigned and earn points each week?"

You need to read one book this week. Choose a task that you think might be worth a lot of points and read a book for it. Also, the more pages it has, the more points we get. Next week, new tasks - 1 book.

Ah, I see. Well, I think I will read a book published in 1998, With This Ring. It has 389 pages.

Suman, Steph Ann, and Paula, thanks for your input and your vote of confidence in me. I'll pick my own task. Hopefully no one will complain :)

I've decided to go with , It works for a few different tasks, but I think I'm going to go with #17 - read a book with a source of light on the cover. If you enlarge the cover, you can see lights at the top of the tunnel. I couldn't get my hands on the audiobook, so I'm going with the Kindle edition, which has 608 pages. :)

I've decided I'm going to read The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice: A modern love story with a Jane Austen twist. It has 433 pages. It's #51 on the Best Jane Austen FanFiction list, so I'll be reading for the 26th task.

Selection Post
Book: The Great Gatsby

Author:F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages: 233
GISH task: 4

Suman wrote: " Selection Post
Book: The Great Gatsby

Author:F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages: 200
GISH task: 3, 4, 6, 13, 14

Is this format correct ?"

Yes, but you need to choose just one task.

Lanelle wrote: "Laila Jane wrote: "I’m leaning towards doing a spreadsheet, just cuz it’ll be easier for me to keep it updated even when I’m away from the computer. I’ll share the link to the spreadsheet once I ac..."

I assumed that I would keep track of everything =) But if you guys want to double check your points that's totally fine with me as well.

Here is the spreadsheet I made:
GISH Scavenger Hunt - Good Wi11 Hunting

Let me know if there's anything I forgot to add

What do you think will give more points?

22. People always say, "GISH lights up the night!" Prove it. Get a bunch of drones with lights on them to spell out the word "GISH" in the night sky. The drones must serve as pixels in the sky, so you will need a lot of them. Probably at least 40. - read a book where the main character is over 40

or

9. Bee-drinking poles are all the rage, but your neighborhood bees deserve to really unwind. Create a bee bar - a bee "saloon on a pole" using recycled bottle caps. Install it somewhere public. - read a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'B'

I think the character over 40 might be the harder task, so more points?

I'm going to read The Book of Life which is 564 pages. It fits for Task #13 - Read a book that a Goodreads friend gave 4 stars to.

If I can figure out how to turn on scrolling on my Kindle it could also work for #11 - Read a book on a device that you have to scroll, which to me seems like it would be more points?

What do you think?

Paula wrote: "What do you think will give more points?

22. People always say, "GISH lights up the night!" Prove it. Get a bunch of drones with lights on them to spell out the word "GISH" in the night sky. The d..."

My guess would be character over 40 would be more points.