I am no longer updating shanghaidiaries.com. Please visit my new personal blog at danwashburn.com. Update your RSS readers!

today is a sad day

my inspiration died today. well, not all of it … but a big part of it. george plimpton passed away from an apparent heart attack. he was 76. plimpton, the godfather of “participatory journalism,” was, unwittingly to be sure, a major influence in the odd course my “career” has taken over the past half decade. reading the best of plimpton, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, literally changed my life. never got a chance to thank him.

to read his new york times obituary, click here.

to take a look at all of the stupid things i tried in the name of plimptonian participatory journalism — including bull riding, nude water volleyball, sky diving and handgrabbing for giant catfish in mississippi — click here.

09.27.2003, 8:32 AM · Words

1 Comments


  1. I didn’t think you look so funny in a ballet class,dan. ^O^
    Impressive!I’m looking forward to another one of you ,82,if possible.