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August 12, 2010
Bullshit Businesses of Our Era
REACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH THE PLEASURES OF A HAND-SHARPENED PENCIL. In New York's Hudson River Valley, craftsman David Rees still practices the age-old art of manual pencil sharpening. His artisanal service is perfect for artists, writers, and standardized test takers. Shipped with their shavings and a "certificate of sharpening," these extra-sharp pencils make wonderful gifts.
Posted by Vanderleun at August 12, 2010 10:50 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Like the professional poker players who can retire a couple of years after being frat-boys, and twenty-somethings who have so much disposable income that they can spend thousands on tattoos and piercings, is a guy-who-used-to-be-a-political-cartoonist but who now sells hand-sharpened pencils over the internet not evidence of our impending doom? Is this snake-oil or a pet-rock?
Posted by: azlibertarian at August 12, 2010 11:40 AM
I loved his website. I get it. It is just TOO funny! It reminds me of those waiters who used to offer you a chilled salad fork. Or those people who have the reiki booth at the arts and wine festival.
Very inspirational. Perhaps I could open a business selling hand-crafted toothpicks, made from your choice of exotic woods ...
Posted by: Grizzly at August 12, 2010 12:28 PM
Let's partner up!
Posted by: vanderleun at August 12, 2010 12:44 PM
I really need to have a scam like that.
Posted by: Donald Sensing at August 12, 2010 2:57 PM
Perhaps I could open a business selling hand-crafted toothpicks, made from your choice of exotic woods ...
Otherwise known as "splinters".
Posted by: rickl at August 12, 2010 4:58 PM
I think I'll start the same operation for high end day care tykes specializing in their favorite color of crayola. Nothing is too good for little Paterson III or his sister Rona. Mum is a GS-14; you know she's flush.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at August 12, 2010 5:06 PM
Those incumbents that get thrown out of Congress in November can readily get jobs as artisanal turd polishers.
Posted by: Blastineau at August 13, 2010 10:13 AM
I can make origami tin foil hats!
Posted by: Jewel at August 13, 2010 3:22 PM
Oh God!
Posted by: Cilla Mitchell, Galveston Texas at August 16, 2010 7:08 AM