Too Much Time On Your Hands

(You simply HAVE to watch the video on this one!)

Sometimes I feel so busy that just keeping up with my routine “to-do list” is just too daunting a task. That’s why I marvel at people with unique skills, abilities that clearly take a fair amount of time to develop.

Time I don’t have and can’t seem to find.

Some of these “talents” have little relevance or application in day-to-day living. For instance, those two Maine guys who discovered that dropping Mentos into 2 liter bottles of Diet Coke create a volcanic reaction. OK…so perhaps this discovery happened by accident. However, these two guys weren’t content to leave it at that. No, they took the next, time-consuming step by orchestrating a symphony of geysers that created a YouTube sensation—which they parlayed into TV appearances on the national stage. This week, they’ll rollout a VEHICLE powered by this soda and candy combustible combination.

That took time.

So too, the yo-yo expert, the Frisbee master and half the performers on “America’s Got Talent”. Useless endeavors, nonetheless performed with precision and a skill that makes one ask: “What do these people do for a LIVING?”

I suppose if you can generate enough interest in the human version of Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks”, you can gain notoriety and perhaps make a few bucks. From hula-hoop experts to masters of juggling, balancing objects and spinning plates, the typical performer is a single male. Developing such, shall we say? ….UNUSUAL skills is not the work of a chick magnet, so it’s likely that bachelorhood (whether by choice or not) will extend far into the future.

We, the audience, watch with a mixture of awe and amazement. Awe for whatever the amazing skill could be-and how many hours it took to acquire---and amazement for how it is that any human being could devote endless hours to hone an activity that seems somewhat…OK, I’ll say it—STUPID to the rest of us!

Case in point. Check out the following video of a master business card thrower.

Yes, that’s right. Someone who THROWS BUSINESS CARDS.

Genetically linked no doubt to the brainchild who first thought of the idea of snapping bottle caps across the room at random targets, this genius has perfected the art of hitting a variety of targets with the pointy end of a business card, traveling at high velocity.

Check it out:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVq0HdiM-Ok

Amazing, no? Unless I’m being fooled by trick camera editing, this is truly the work of a master! Whatever possessed this guy to wake up one day and declare, “Say, I think I’ll start practicing my skills at throwing business cards!”?

Perhaps this desire turned into a passion over time. Only one thing is for certain. It’s genesis from an idea in the brain stem to its complete development and implementation required copious amounts of beer.

So, to you time-wasters, you masters of odd activities…we salute you! We wonder about your sanity, but we applaud your dedication to entertaining both yourself and others with truly useless talents!

If you’d like my blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com