Saturday, October 19, 2019

People in China Pay Money to Vent Their Stress in an Anger Room. A True Story.



We all experience stress at work. When I worked in an office, I had to leave situations and take a walk to calm down more than once. I always felt this was better than being charged with a crime and spending time in jail. It was close at times. The other people in the places where I worked had their own ways of dealing with stress and anger. One woman would eat little pieces of chocolate when she was stressed. If I went past her cubical, her cheeks were filled with chocolate and she had the appearance of a chipmunk with a mouthful of chocolate grain, I knew not to say anything. Another woman would base her stress on the amount of gum she chewed. Viewing her cubical filled with dozens of empty chewing gum wrappers around her desk and on the floor was a sign to not ask. It appears the Chinese have come upon a unique and effective way for workers to vent their stress during work. They pay money to smash things in an anger room.


(Sarcasm Alert)

I'm sure there is a restriction on hitting items with a baseball bat and not individuals who are the sources of the stress. If hitting people were involved, it would probably be very cost prohibitive. The vast majority of workers would not be able to pay all of the legal bills involved.

Below are some excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.


BEIJING (Reuters) - It took Smash customer Qiu Siyu just a few sharp blows with a baseball bat to wreck what looked like an old car radio, after which two friends battered telephones, audio speakers, rice cookers and even a mannequin.

All three paid 158 yuan ($23) to spend half an hour in an “anger room” in Beijing, where patrons wearing protective gear use hammers and bats to vent their frustration on household objects while staff plays music of their choice in the background.

If the employees of a company get a discount when using a local anger room, it may be a good reason to think twice about working for that particular company. It seems you get a lot for your money. Not only does the cost cover smashing stuff with a baseball bat or hammer, but it also includes protective gear and you get to have the music of your choice playing. I would probably choose something like AC/DC to be played in the background as I use a sledgehammer to destroy things. A person playing Miles Davis may use a very nice stick to smash things. Someone listening to Samantha Bouquin may be more depressed than angry and feel bad for the items being smashed. I'm sure they have a musical arrangement for everyone.


Since the venture opened in September, customers have smashed around 15,000 bottles every month, said 25-year-old Jin Meng, who co-founded Smash with her friends.
Not intended to promote violence, Smash aims to help people deal with the pressures of living in big cities like Beijing, Jin said, adding that their target customers are between 20 and 35 years old.

You have to wonder how such a business idea happens. Did someone come home after a difficult day and smash things with a baseball bat, they realize many people feel like him and he could make money off of it. A light bulb went off in his mind, and he then quickly hit it with a hammer and began creating a business plan. I think this may not be necessary in New York City. People smash things with baseball bats all the time and nobody thinks twice about it.

“I just smashed a bunch of bottles and appliances with a baseball bat.”
“Did you pay money and do it inside an anger room?”
“I guess you could say in a way that was the case.”
“How much did it cost you?”
“I don't know yet. I'll have to wait until my neighbor who always takes my parking spot gets home and discovers what I did in his apartment.”
“Oh.”


Another customer, Liu Chao, 32, looked relaxed and pleased after his session.
“If you have money, you can smash anything - smash some TVs, computers, wine bottles, furniture, mannequins, but the only thing you can’t do is to smash someone,” said Liu. 
Similar ventures already exist in other countries, including the United States.
Jin said around 600 people visit Smash each month.

This may not be considered a good place to take someone on a first date. I would say this is more like a third date activity. If the person you're with starts smashing things and saying your name, it may be time to rethink the relationship.

I'm sure after half an hour of smashing things you may not only be pleased but also a little tired.

“I had a great workout. I spent an hour on the treadmill.”
“I also had a good workout. I spent an hour doing free weights.”
“I had a fantastic workout.”
“What did you do?”
“Smash televisions, computers as well as furniture and some mannequins with a baseball bat.”
“You belong to one unusual gym.”
“You should see how we do rage yoga.”
“I can only imagine.”



“A woman brought all her wedding photos here, and she smashed them all. We welcome people to bring their own stuff,” Jin said.

“Every time when we come across cases like this, they affirm our belief that we’ve provided a safe place to let out negative energy. And we are happy about that.”

This would be a great place to bring stuff after a divorce. I can only imagine what it would be like to smash things you hated from your marriage. When they ask for the property from the divorce settlement, a person could bring a bag of broken items. I'm sure even couples who love one another could hate items their spouse likes.


“Did you see my Oriental looking statue with the naked lady that looks like a fish on it? It is something my mother gave us for our first anniversary?”
“Maybe.”
“What do you mean maybe?”
“I have seen it in more than one place. I've seen it all over.”
“Huh?”

I'm also sure mistakes happen.

“What happened to the new computer I bought before I went into the anger room?”
“Oooop, ah, don't ask.”

Here is a link to the article.


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Friday, October 18, 2019

Drinking Responsibly Earns Canadian Bar Patron Positive Ticket. A Real Story



The news is always filled with stories about people who drink too much at a bar, get in their vehicle and then get arrested for drunk driving. Driving after consuming too much alcohol has many different names. Some countries call it drink driving, some call it drunk driving, some call it driving under the influence. It could be called irresponsible idiots who put everyone in danger when they consume too much alcohol and drive. I think this is accurate, but it is probably too long for most governmental forms.

In Canada, a person was responsible when drinking and got a ticket for it. This really wasn't a ticket from police, the bar provided a $10 gift certificate from the bar that looked like a ticket. I applaud this effort to change people's behavior. The bar may consider providing tickets for not carving things in the different stalls of their restroom or not fighting in the bar. Not making rude suggestions to the wait staff may also be worthy of a ticket. I suppose this could change bars in Canada from places to have a drink to behavior modification centers.

Below are excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.


A bar patron in Canada was recently rewarded for drinking responsibly — via a “ticket” that was left on the windshield of the customer’s car.

The patron, who wisely refrained from driving home after a night of drinking at The Wismer House in Port Elgin, Ontario, took to Reddit the next day to share a photo of the “ticket,” which actually turned out to be a $10 gift certificate from the bar.

I wonder how many other bar patrons went into the bar the next day and demanded a $10 gift certificate.

“I want my ticket that is a $10 gift certificate.”
“Why?”
“I was drunk and didn't drive home. I was responsible.”
“You walked to the bar and walked home.”
“What is your point?”
“You can't get a ticket for being responsible and not driving drunk if you didn't drive.”
“I walked home responsibly after drinking too much. I should get at least a $5 gift certificate ticket.”
“That is not how it works.”
“Why not?”
“Tell you what I'll do for you. If you drop this and never mention it again I'll give you a free beer.”
“Okay, but I do have a car so I should get two beers.”
“It's a deal.”

“Because you left your car here overnight, which means you made a smart and safe judgment call… please redeem this gift ticket for $10 at your next visit,” reads a message printed on the bright yellow “overnight parking awesomeness notice.”


I can imagine a girl who is an employee of the bar walking around all of the parked cars after the bar has closed. She's giving some cars an overnight parking awesomeness notice. I'm sure it would be better than spending her time cleaning the tables and floors as well as the bathrooms in the bar before going home. It would be fun if the bar gave her an official title such as Parking Awesomeness Notice Officer. Of course, such a title could be the cause of some serious misinterpretation of its meaning.

The Wismer House (or The Wiz, as it’s also known) even added a short apology to the notice, along with a suggestion for alleviating any hangover the recipient may be experiencing with a Bloody Caesar cocktail.


(Sarcasm Alert)

I like the attitude of this bar. We don't want you to risk drinking and driving. We're okay with you becoming an alcoholic, but not a drunk driver. I suppose people should be moved that not only do they provide encouragement to not drink and drive, but they also provide encouragement to have a mixed drink with a hangover. It like a fast food place awarding people who have a salad with one of their high-calorie burger and fries meals.

Obviously, the patron, too, was thrilled by the bar’s gesture.

“I left the business in the photo to give them the credit they deserve, great place!” the customer wrote, adding that the Wiz deserved any good publicity from the Reddit post.

“They keep doing things like that, then [it's] justified.”


I agree. They want people to be alive and not in jail, so they can come and spend money at their establishment. A gift certificate is a great form of motivation. It would be interesting if the bar owner went out to their car after the bar closed and found a ticket.

“Look I got a ticket.”
“Is it for not drinking and driving?”
“No.”
“Is there a gift certificate info printed on the back for $10?”
“No, it's a real parking ticket. It seems I parked here illegally. Not only is there no gift certificate, but I also have to pay a fine.”
“I know one thing.”
“What?”
“They would probably have more eager to pay their fines if they included a $10 gift certificate from us once the fine was paid.”
“I agree.”

Here is a link to the story.

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/canada-bar-patron-ticket-drinking-responsibly



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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Painting Pig Sells Work for Thousands. A Real Story.


I have known many people who were dedicated to their painting. They took classes, invested in materials as well as time, effort and more. Should one of them sell a single painting for a few hundred dollars, they are quite happy. One person I know does beautiful flowers scenes and another person is very skilled at doing city scenes. There is someone who has been teaching painting for decades and has a gift for painting portraits. It is interesting how these people have invested so much into learning and developing their skills when it comes to the craft of painting. I bet it may be discouraging to know their work has serious competition from a pig in South Africa. It is called Pigcasso and this pig's paintings sell for thousands of dollars.

(Pun Alert)

I wonder if Pigcasso is such a successful painter because it is a real publicity hog.

Below are excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.

Pigcasso enthusiastically tosses her head to create bright, bold strokes across a canvas propped up in her style.

The sow was rescued from an abattoir as a piglet and brought to an animal sanctuary in Franschhoek, in South Africa’s Western Cape region in 2016, where her new owners noticed her love of color and paint brushes


I suppose the pigs I've seen on farms are a bit different from the ones found at this animal sanctuary. Do the people who run this sanctuary have a variety of crafts available to see if pigs are interested? Maybe they have pigs who like to take photographs as well as compose poetry and design pig outfits. There could even be a pig who likes to make movies

“This little piggy likes to make movies.”
“This little piggy likes to write poems.”
“This little piggy likes to design clothes.”
“And this little piggy tried to discover a craft to like but it could find none.”
“I wonder why?”
“It discovered knitting and crocheting can't be done by a pig and went wee, wee all the way home.”
“Oh.”

I like the name Pigcasso. It could have also been called Salvador Piggy or Claude Monoink or even Francisco Porkgya.


Soon the pig was dipping the brushes into pots of paint and making her mark. Her paintings can sell for almost $4,000, with the proceeds going to animal welfare. She has even had one of her artworks turned into a watch face for Swiss watchmaker Swatch.

Swatch announced a collaboration with the pig last month.

I can hear the collective groans of agony from artists around the world. Many of them struggle regularly at shows and more to make a living from their paintings. I can't imagine what it would feel like to know a creature that could end up on the dinner table being paid thousands of dollars for its paintings. Now, I think to have some of the artwork from a pig turned into a watch face is the coup de grace in believing most people can not appreciate the work and skill of an experienced artist. Instead of taking art classes, maybe aspiring artists should simply get a farm animal that likes to paint so they can make money off of selling these paintings. They could include their artwork as part of the deal.

“Oh, I love this painting. The colors, the images are so powerful.”
“It was painted by my pet goat. His name is Vincent van Baaaaaa.”
“It has true artistic talent. Your goat knows how to make a painting people want to purchase. What is this painting?”
“I teach painting at a university. This is a painting I did that won first prize in a national painting contest.”
“It is good you have such a goat.”
“Why?”
You should submit some of the paintings by your goat to watchmakers. I think they would be interested in purchasing some of the painting by Vincent van Baaaaaa. You can learn a lot about painting from your goat.”
“Can you tell the difference between a painting done by an animal and one done by a human?”
“Human paintings seem to be too real, too much color and seem too well done. A painting by an animal has that special animalistic quality.”
“Uuuuuuugh.”


The limited edition “Flying Pig by Ms. Pigcasso” features green, blue and pink brush strokes and sells for $120.
“Pigcasso is definitely an abstract expressionist, you can’t exactly define what she’s painting but I can tell you that her style slightly changes depending on her mood like any great artist,” said Lefson.

“I love this artwork, but the artist is such a pig.”
“That is not nice.”
“I'm not being mean. The artist is a real pig named Pigcasso.”
“Oh.”

I can only imagine what it would be like to deal with a moody artistic pig. It may refuse to eat the leftovers from people's dinner table. It oinks at all hours of the day and night bothering all those around it. We need to hope the pig doesn't turn to alcohol for inspiration.

I wonder if Pigcasso drew any inspiration to paint from watching the movie Babe.


It is possible we could one day hear about an opera-singing pig doing their version of pigoletto

Here is a link to the story.




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Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Wasps Have Logical Thinking Skills Similar to Humans. A Real Story


I am smart enough to not challenge wasps. I've always had a deep respect for their ability to cause pain when they sting. There have been people I have known who did not share this deep respect for wasps and their ability to inflict many painful stings in seconds. These people also paid the price. A friend's son learned a painful lesson about being encouraged by his college buddies after a night of drinking to take a baseball bat to a wasp nest. This was not a good idea. The wasps really took issue with a drunk college student bashing their home with a baseball bat. Since wasps have no real legal recourse, they did what most wasps, bees and other insects with stingers would do when their home is threatened by a bat-wielding college student who is intoxicated, they attacked. This young man had so many wasp stings he had to go to the hospital. I understand the wasps living in the field simply rebuilt their home and did things wasps do every day. It appears that scientists have shown that wasps have an ability to use logic at a level similar to humans. I wonder if this means we may have to worry about a drunken college wasp trying to bash our homes with a baseball bat? I'd settle for a warning sign signed by the logic thinking wasps explaining how all drunken college students with a baseball bat will be stung on site with no questions asked.

Below are excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.


Elizabeth Tibbetts, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Michigan has found evidence that the paper wasp may be capable of a logical reasoning used to make inferences.

Is it possible this could lead to future movies from Hollywood called Night of the Wasp? There are already some good movies involving wasps like Wasp Woman, Swarmed as well as Dragon Wasps and others. I purpose a new movie involving logical wasps that try and organize their colony into a fighting machine. This would involve politics and the wasp colony is ultimately destroyed because of political battles and letting their natural enemy, the beetle, to take up residence in their hive because some wasps want peace at any cost. I believe this has potential.


The nervous system found in paper wasps is roughly the same size as those in honeybees yet they demonstrate a complex social behavior that is not seen in honeybee colonies.

Who knew that wasps had complex social behaviors. I wonder if there are wasp parents who sit around and worry about their wasp children. Is there a wasp home where they put their elderly? I'm sure wasp elections can get pretty intense. At the end of a wasp concert, do the wasps put their stingers in the air so the wasp band will play another song? Of course, we don't want to think about the dark side of wasp society, such as organize wasp crime or wasp hookers. Maybe there are some people who like thinking about such things, but I am not one of them. I do believe it could make for an interesting series on cable television.


In the laboratory, Tibbetts and her colleagues trained wasps to discriminate between pairs of colors by associating one color with a mild electric shock. Tibbetts said the wasps were able to quickly and accurately learn the premise pairs.

Well, it is good to know that wasps also have an aversion to pain. This laboratory experiment could cause generations of wasps to experience trauma when faced with certain colors.

“Why don't you stink that drunken college kid with the baseball bat.'
“He's wearing green.”
“So?”
“You know they put enough electricity in me during that lab experiment to light up a city block. They did it so I would avoid the color green. That guy has on a green coat.
“I'll go sting him, but I am worried.”
“Why?”
“With his blood alcohol level, I'm going to be pretty drunk before this is all over.”
“Oh.”


The Paper wasps may have been able to succeed where the bees failed thanks to a different type of cognitive ability that allows them to display different social behaviors. Tibbetts noted that the wasps appeared to use known relationships to make inferences about unknown relationships.


Does this mean there is a wasp social network where they tell one another to avoid the laboratory where you get zapped for seeing different colors? Is it possible there is some wise old wasp telling the story of how one day long ago he and his friends had to sting some stupid drunk college kid with a baseball bat and had him running for this life? This may only take place during the wasp holidays after they've stung some drunk people and are feeling pretty relaxed. I'm sure the social behaviors of wasps could also involve complaining about relatives and how some wasp family members sting too many drunk people and may have a problem. I think this has all the elements of a successful Hollywood movie called “It's a Wasp's Life.”

Below is a link to the story.

https://www.newsmax.com/thewire/wasps-humans-logical-reasoning/2019/05/08/id/915072/

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Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Swiss Government Doesn't Think Coffee is Essential. Stops Stockpiling it. A Real Story



I am a dedicated java junkie. On the rare occasion when I've tried to start my day without it things did not go well. During rare occasions, I will speak in strange and unusual ways. Some people believe I'm speaking a foreign language. Others are afraid I may be experiencing a serious medical episode. I will struggle to utter the word coffee and people around me seem to understand. I've gone to restaurants and ordered an emergency cup of coffee, and the waitresses didn't think I was unusual. I believe the customer base of any restaurant will increase if they have a reputation for java junkie sensitivity.


The Swiss government has determined that coffee is not vital for human survival. Neither is chocolate, but I bet they have stockpiled plenty of it in case of an emergency. I would like to go on record that should a worldwide disaster occur, and I'm in Switzerland, I will need coffee to survive. I don't care what the situation. Even if it is a nuclear war, I'm leaving to find a country that can provide me with my daily required java fix. I have my standards for making life worth living.

Below are excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.


Nestle, the maker of instant coffee Nescafe, and other importers, roasters and retailers are required by Swiss law to store bags of raw coffee. The country stockpiles other staples, too, such as sugar, rice, edible oils, and animal feed.

I am sure lobbyists from Nestle spoke to the Swiss government and made an attempt to get some coffee subsidies. When the government refused, Nestle probably told them it is just fine because the Swiss people will now have to try and start their day in the bunker from horrific danger outside without coffee. I think it's possible they won't be able to tell the difference between those experiencing shell shock and those needing coffee. It will be a difficult situation. It will only be made worse by being among Swiss people in need of the special caffeine only found in coffee. They will know their government told them they didn't need it to survive.

“I need coffee.”
“Would you like some sugar or rice.”
“No, I want coffee.”
“How about some edible oils or animal feed.”
“No, I give me some coffee.”
“The Swiss government said we didn't need it to survive.”
“Really? Put that on my tombstone.”


“The Federal Office for National Economic Supply has concluded coffee...is not essential for life,” the government said. “Coffee has almost no calories and subsequently does not contribute, from the physiological perspective to safeguarding nutrition.”

I think it is evident those people at the National Economic Supply are tea drinkers. The concept of coffee is beyond them. Coffee doesn't need calories. It is a soothing beverage. If you want calories, you can get calories. I say have these Swiss government bureaucrats go to Starbucks and order a double chocolaty chip frappuccino. If they want calories, this will give them calories. Too many of these may also give them diabetes and other health-related issues, but that's not the point.


Switzerland’s 8.5 million residents consume around nine kg (20 lb) of coffee per person annually, eclipsing Britain’s 3.3 kg average and double the 4.5 kg consumed in the United States, according to International Coffee Organization figures.

Do they believe three months of coffee is all that will be necessary? What are the Swiss people to do when this runs out? I think 15,300 tons may last a small group of Americans with jobs requiring long hours about a few weeks. If the Swiss have to wake up and get ready to run for their lives when the coffee runs out, it could be bad. I wonder if they are doing this because the fear Americans running out of coffee in a worldwide disaster would cause them to come for the Swiss coffee? It makes sense.


Some also contend too little attention was paid to the drink’s health benefits, like antioxidants or vitamins.

“Stockpile operators’ concerns clearly show that the one-sided review and weighting of calories as the main criteria for a vital staple did not do justice to coffee,” Reservesuisse wrote in a letter seen by Reuters.

I have been drinking coffee on a daily basis all my life. never knew it had health benefits like vitamins and antioxidants. All those health perks and caffeine too. It truly is a special beverage. I think those responsible for this decision should worry about being stuck underground, dealing with a disaster and being surrounded by fellow Swiss citizens who need coffee to wake up and to start properly freaking out. They should at least stockpile a year's worth of double chocolaty chip frappuccinos for the Swiss citizens. It won't stop anything bad from happening, but after enough of these, they won't care.

Below is a link to the article.



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Monday, October 14, 2019

Therapy Donkeys For College Students Dealing with Stress of Final Exams. A Real Story.




Anyone who has attended college knows the pressure of final exams. It is a stressful time and students find a variety of ways to cope with it. Some fellow students when I went to college would stay up all night studying. I tried this more than one time and always fell asleep and would perspire. I would then go take my final not knowing this had resulted in words from the page finding their way on my forehead. Some people would drink massive amounts of coffee, others would play loud music, there were even college students who would work extra shifts at their part-time job so they could purchase the answers to the final. Everyone had their own way of dealing with the stress of preparing for final exams in college.

All of these methods were probably not nearly as effective as something used at the State University of New York in Plattsburgh. To help students deal with finals at this college, a heard of miniature donkeys were brought in for the students.

“I'm going to stay up all night and study for final exams.”
“I'm going to drink lots of coffee and study all the time for final exams.”
“I'm joining a study group and we are going to review every subject we took this semester.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I'm going to pet, hug and take pictures of miniature donkeys.”
“Well, if you kiss one of them, the owner can say you kissed his; never mind.”


The State University of New York at Plattsburgh brought in a small herd of miniature donkeys last week as part of a wellness fair to help students cope with the anxiety and pressure that comes with typical end-of-semester responsibilities such as tests and papers that are due.

(Sarcasm Alert)

I wonder if any of these donkeys had advanced degrees and could help the college students study. They should at least be able to make coffee. Maybe they are a special type of yoga donkeys that can help the college students relax, focus and breath correctly. These donkeys would really be popular if they had the answers to the final exams written on them.

“Do the donkeys make coffee?”
“No.”
“Do they know yoga?”
“No.”
“Do they have final exam answers written on them?”
“No, they are here so you can hug them and take pictures with them. I suggest you kiss them.”
“Why? What purpose does that serve us college students for final exams?”
“Well, I say anyone who doesn't like it can kiss, my donkey.”


“We got a lot of strange looks and questions when we pitched the idea,” Ashley Durocher, who helped organize the wellness fair, told SUNY Plattsburgh’s student-run newspaper Cardinal Points. “We thought donkeys and a wellness fair would be a fun and creative way to discuss mental health and help our students de-stress.”

(Sarcasm Alert)

Now, why would anyone give strange looks to miniature donkeys roaming around a university during finals? Seems sort of natural. This fits in well with the theme. When I miniature donkeys at a university, I'm thinking of mental health. I wonder if this was an expense covered by student activity fees. With the cost of tuition at a university, you would expect them to bring down some unicorns on a rainbow that pass gas and shoot stardust from their posterior upon command. It's time they make students feel as if they are getting their money worth for an education.


“My favorite part of the fair was definitely the donkeys,” student Carolyn Graber said.

Celeste, Jessie, and Cookie are all from the New York nonprofit Thera-Pets, which was founded in 2003 to “improve human health through the use of farm animals.”
“These animals work miracles, they do truly miracle work because they can make you feel better if you feel bad,” Besaw told CBS affiliate WCAX.


Miracle-working miniature donkeys who help students attending American universities with stress during finals. I'm sure our higher education system is the envy of the world. These animals also help human health. I suppose a physician may now prescribe some hugs and picture taking with a miniature donkey instead of traditional medication.


I'm sure all these good feelings would go away if the college kids had to clean up after the miracle donkeys and their droppings. This would probably increase the stress of taking final exams and defeat the whole purpose of their visit.

Below is a link to the article.



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Sunday, October 13, 2019

Extreme Ironing Provides Daredevils with Neatly Pressed Clothes. A Real Story.



I must confess I have not developed the best ironing skills over the years. I learned to iron when I was in the military. I quickly realized it is not something for amateurs. An iron has settings, they may be able to spray water and more. I made some mistakes with ironing, but I did learn how to use the water squirt part of the iron to squirt water on people very well. If someone got upset, they backed off once they knew you were holding a hot iron. I thought it was a fun game. I had no idea of the possibilities associated with ironing and games. There is an actual sport called extreme ironing. Let us think about this for a minute. It is not just ironing, it is extreme ironing. I think it probably involves more than just squirting water on people and being ready to defend yourself with a hot iron. I wonder if doing this could be made part o the sport?

Below are excerpts from the story with my valuable insights in italics.


In order to participate, you must have an iron, an ironing board, an item to iron, and an extreme location in order to do the deed. Some competitors have climbed cliff-edges, dived to the dizzying depths of the ocean, jumped out of airplanes and even kite-surfed, all while keeping their eyes on the prize – pressing a creased item of clothing.


I would have to say that purchasing an iron and ironing board is a little on the low scale for an investment of equipment for a sport. I would like to participate in this sport, but I know I'm not bold enough to iron after jumping out of an airplane or kite-surfing or in the ocean's depths.

I wonder if they would accept some of the activities I consider to be in the realm of daredevil actions.

I could lock myself in a room with the last of my wife's favorite chocolate and iron my clothes as she tries to tear down the door and get to the chocolate.

Maybe I could try ironing clothes on a hot summer day in my house and have no air conditioning.

How about I go to a busy mall parking lot, on a busy day, and iron clothes in a good parking spot?

I could go to a vegetarian restaurant and iron clothes as I eat a hamburger.

There is always ironing the clothes of an annoying relative when they are still wearing them.

I think my idea of being a daredevil is worth consideration.


Before you get your equipment ready for the big iron, make sure that your iron is hot. The rules do state that the iron must be hot.

This makes sense. It is like any other type of sport. You have to carefully check your equipment prior to using it.

“I'm ready to do some extreme ironing.”
“Do you have an ironing board?”
“I have a super X model ironing board with a rating that identifies it as able to withstand hurricane force winds, ocean depths, tsunamis, and sand storms.”
“Do you have clothes to iron?”
“I've got shirts that are from House Of Versace and pants that are Burberry.”
“How about an iron?”
“My iron has 24 different settings and can simultaneously be used to iron clothes as well and squirt water on as many as twelve people at once.”
“You're all set.”
“There is only one problem.”
“What?”
“I don't know anything about ironing.”
“Oh.”


In 2003, John Roberts and Ben Gibbons ironed on Mount Everest! Hardly the location you need a well-pressed shirt unless you’re going to meet your maker that is. The second notable achievement was by tenor Jason Blair. He pounced on the opportunity to iron on a section of the M1 Motorway in the United Kingdom after a section had been cordoned off due to a fire.

I've never been mountain climbing. I have seen documentaries on people who have climbed Mount Everest. I even interviewed someone who had climbed it. This is impressive to me. These people who climb the highest mountain in the world are faced with carrying food, tent, oxygen and more during their climb. Knowing someone would take an ironing board and iron illustrates a level of dedication I have to admire. They could have gotten frostbite, died from exposure or been killed in an avalanche, but they would have had on some very well-pressed clothing when it happened.

I can only imagine when there is a large fire in the United Kingdom many things are occurring all at once. As flames are dancing around and destroying property there are people also running toward the fire with ladders, fire hoses, and other firefighting equipment. Then there is also a lone man running toward the fire carrying clothes, an ironing board, and iron. I wonder if he offered to press the clothing of the firefighters In this situation, I'm sure there was no problem with having an iron that was hot.


This sport (whose classification is still disputed) still has much room for improvement. Some ironists (yep, they have a name) think of bungee-ironing as the ultimate experience

I like how the participants in this sport call themselves ironists. I wonder if my mother could have been considered an ironist. Her version of extreme ironing was making dinner, folding clothes, watching television and talking on the phone as she ironed. It may not have been something people consider the activities of a daredevil, but I believe it was pretty extreme.

Below is a link to the article.


http://www.dailysportx.com/tennis/extreme-ironing

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