It turns out that Jeremy Harper is one in a million. Sort of. In 2007, the 31-year-old software engineer from Birmingham, Alabama earned his place in Guinness World Records by counting aloud to one million. His 89-day odyssey was live streamed from his home, and posted on YouTube. Harper counted out loud for about 16 hours a day, every day, until he reached the magic million mark on September 14, 2007. During the count, Harper never left his home, and never bothered to shave, taking breaks only to eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom. He averaged about 11,200 numbers a day.
The million-number man:
- Harper’s not really sure why he embarked on such a task, but he's proud of the money raised for the Ability Experience, previously known as Push America, a charity that benefits disabled people. At last count, he raised about $12,000 USD through donations.
- Webcast viewers could watch him live throughout the ordeal, and networks like CNN and Fox News did segments on Harper from time to time.
- When he reached one million, “I just kind of lost all control, and then, you know, I said the number. And then, it was just like a big bubble ... just popping on me,” Harper said. He also broke out in the "Chicken Dance."
