One red paperclip
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger who barter
Barter
Barter is a method of exchange by which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money. It is usually bilateral, but may be multilateral, and usually exists parallel to monetary systems in most developed countries, though to a...
ed his way from a single red paperclip
Paperclip
A paper clip is an instrument used to fasten sheets of paper together usually made of steel wire bent to a looped shape.-Shape and composition:...
to a house in a series of online trades over the course of a year. MacDonald was inspired by the childhood game Bigger, Better, and the site received a considerable amount of notice for tracking the transactions. "A lot of people have been asking how I've stirred up so much publicity around the project, and my simple answer is: 'I have no idea, he told the BBC.
Trading timeline
MacDonald made his first trade, a red paper clip for a fish-shaped pen, on July 14, 2005. He reached his goal of trading up to a house with the fourteenth transaction, trading a movie role for a house. This is the list of all transactions MacDonald made:- On July 14, 2005, he went to VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and traded the paperclip for a fish-shaped penPenA pen is a device used to apply ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Historically, reed pens, quill pens, and dip pens were used, with a nib of some sort to be dipped in the ink. Ruling pens allow precise adjustment of line width, and still find a few specialized uses, but...
. - He then traded the pen the same day for a hand-sculptedSculptureSculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
doorknob from Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, which he nicknamed "Knob-T". - On July 25, 2005, he traveled to Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
, with a friend to trade the Knob-T for a ColemanColeman CompanyColeman Company, Inc., is an American company that specializes in outdoor recreation products. Historically, Coleman is known for camping gear....
camp stovePortable stoveA portable stove is a cooking stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping or picnicking, or for use in remote locations where an easily transportable means of cooking or heating is needed...
(with fuel). - On September 24, 2005, he went to San Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
, and traded the camp stove for a HondaHondais a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
generatorElectrical generatorIn electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
. - On November 16, 2005, he made a second (and successful) attempt (after having the generator confiscated by the New York City Fire DepartmentNew York City Fire DepartmentThe New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
) in Maspeth, QueensMaspeth, QueensMaspeth is a small community in the borough of Queens in New York City. Neighborhoods sharing borders with Maspeth are Woodside and Sunnyside to the north, Long Island City to the northwest, Greenpoint to the west, East Williamsburg to the southwest, Fresh Pond and Ridgewood to the south, and...
, to trade the generator for an "instant party": an empty kegKegA keg is a small barrel.Traditionally, a wooden keg is made by a cooper used to transport items such as nails, gunpowder., and a variety of liquids....
, an IOUIOUAn IOU or I.O.U. is an acknowledgment of debt. The term may also refer to:*I.O.U. , by jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth*"I.O.U." , by jazz-funk group Freeez*I.O.U in Western Australia...
for filling the keg with the beerBeerBeer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
of the holder's choice, and a neon BudweiserBudweiser (Anheuser-Busch)Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
signNeon signNeon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
. - On December 8, 2005, he traded the "instant party" to QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
comedian and radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
personality Michel BarretteMichel BarretteMichel Barrette is a television and movie actor, television and radio host and stand-up comedian. He played in various roles in Quebec movies and television shows since 1982.-Profile:...
for two Ski-doo snowmobiles. - Within a week of that, he traded the snowmobiles for a two-person trip to Yahk, British ColumbiaYahk, British ColumbiaYahk is an unincorporated hamlet in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Yahk Provincial Park borders the village to the south. Yahk is located on the Moyie River.CBC Television talk show The Hour taped a live episode in Yahk on February 9, 2006...
, in February 2006. - On or about January 7, 2006, the second person on the trip to Yahk traded Kyle a cube vanBox truckA box truck, also known as a cube truck, cube van, bob truck, box van, or straight truck, is a truck with a cuboid-shaped cargo area.-Road vehicles:...
for the privilege. - On or about February 22, 2006, he traded the cube van for a recording contractRecording contractA recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Metal Works in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. - On or about April 11, 2006, he traded the recording contract to Jody GnantJody Marie GnantJody Marie Gnant is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Born April 16, 1978 in Hartland, Wisconsin, she grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona...
for a year's rent in Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. - On or about April 26, 2006, he traded the one year's rent in Phoenix, Arizona, for one afternoon with Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. - On or about May 26, 2006, he traded the one afternoon with Alice Cooper for a KISSKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
motorized snow globeSnow globeA snow globe is a transparent sphere, usually made of glass, enclosing a miniaturized scene of some sort, often together with a model of a landscape. The sphere also encloses the water in the globe; the water serves as the medium through which the "snow" falls. To activate the snow, the globe is...
. - On or about June 2, 2006, he traded the KISS motorized snow globe to Corbin BernsenCorbin BernsenCorbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
for a role in the film Donna on DemandDonna on DemandDonna On Demand is a 2009 dark comedy film written, directed and produced by Corbin Bernsen. The film was launched on DVD on September 15, 2009...
. - On or about July 5, 2006, he traded the movie role for a two-story farmhouse in Kipling, SaskatchewanKipling, Saskatchewan-Government:Town council members:* Mayor Kelly Kish, employee of GeeBee Construction, elected in 2009* Alderman Terry Barath, elected in 2009* Alderman Kevin Kish, employee of Marton's Auto Body, first elected in 1999 by-election...
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