Comments on: Man snacks on light bulbs http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775688 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775688 This reminds me of the great Harry Crews' early novel Car, in which a man tries to eat an entire Ford Pinto. Wonderful book. This reminds me of the great Harry Crews’ early novel Car, in which a man tries to eat an entire Ford Pinto. Wonderful book.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775444 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775444 Glass eating is still a sideshow stunt - I know dozens of people who do it daily. Here's the great performer Todd Robbins eating a bulb on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syGs46oXu0A Glass eating is still a sideshow stunt – I know dozens of people who do it daily.

Here’s the great performer Todd Robbins eating a bulb on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syGs46oXu0A

]]> By: The Lizardman http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775721 The Lizardman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775721 Jim Rose does not (and never did) regularly eat light bulbs (but he does know how to and has probably done it rare occassion) - he gets other people to do it. The act Jim is best known for is the razor blades which is actually a magic trick and not a stunt. Jim likes to take credit for doing a lot of stunts (especially in the press and his books) but if you ever saw the show or were in it (like myself) you know he primarily presents other people doing the stunts. The circus is effectively defunct now but he still sometimes gets out on his own with local guest talent or as a host (Dos equis tour a year or two ago) Jim Rose does not (and never did) regularly eat light bulbs (but he does know how to and has probably done it rare occassion) – he gets other people to do it. The act Jim is best known for is the razor blades which is actually a magic trick and not a stunt. Jim likes to take credit for doing a lot of stunts (especially in the press and his books) but if you ever saw the show or were in it (like myself) you know he primarily presents other people doing the stunts. The circus is effectively defunct now but he still sometimes gets out on his own with local guest talent or as a host (Dos equis tour a year or two ago)

]]> By: fenderbasher http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775470 fenderbasher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775470 ...Yet enlightening nonetheless... …Yet enlightening nonetheless…

]]> By: kmoser http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775473 kmoser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775473 I imagine the chemicals lining the bulb would be worse for you than the glass. I imagine the chemicals lining the bulb would be worse for you than the glass.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775490 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775490 My nephew is a key grip who works in feature films in New York City, One night on a shoot a man came up to his crew and started eating lightbulbs. He didn't stop for about 5 minutes eating incandescent bulbs from the set. You don't have to go to China for a person that desires a bulb diet and we ain't talking garlic. My nephew is a key grip who works in feature
films in New York City, One night on a shoot a
man came up to his crew and started eating lightbulbs.
He didn’t stop for about 5 minutes eating incandescent
bulbs from the set.
You don’t have to go to China for a person that desires
a bulb diet and we ain’t talking garlic.

]]> By: wylkyn http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-776262 wylkyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-776262 So he swallowed a fish bone, got massive amounts of attention from his worried parents, and decided to continue his attention-seeking activities? How is this anything but pathetic? So he swallowed a fish bone, got massive amounts of attention from his worried parents, and decided to continue his attention-seeking activities? How is this anything but pathetic?

]]> By: The Chemist http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775267 The Chemist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775267 I would caution the would be pantophage (is my Greek right?) that what goes in, all too often must come out. I would caution the would be pantophage (is my Greek right?) that what goes in, all too often must come out.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775274 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775274 Mmm, yummy. I guess if you grind the glass into small enough pieces you avoid hurting your innards. Reminded me of the Derren Brown trick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCaHXPFAgC0 Mmm, yummy. I guess if you grind the glass into small enough pieces you avoid hurting your innards. Reminded me of the Derren Brown trick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCaHXPFAgC0

]]> By: Drew Blood http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775788 Drew Blood Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775788 I still eat bulbs in my act, though I do try to limit it a bit. I probably average 5-10 a month, for about 5 years now. No ill effects as long as I don't get too "creative". I still eat bulbs in my act, though I do try to limit it a bit. I probably average 5-10 a month, for about 5 years now. No ill effects as long as I don’t get too “creative”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775789 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775789 my father used to talk about going through basic training (Vietnam-era) at Fort Leonard in Missouri with guys who would do anything - really, anything - to get out of the service, including one who ate lightbulbs. my dad said it was only a problem when they ate the metal sockets, because you needed those to get the replacement bulb to work. my father used to talk about going through basic training (Vietnam-era) at Fort Leonard in Missouri with guys who would do anything – really, anything – to get out of the service, including one who ate lightbulbs. my dad said it was only a problem when they ate the metal sockets, because you needed those to get the replacement bulb to work.

]]> By: Chundermutton http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775280 Chundermutton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775280 Not as good as M. Mangetout. Dude ate a plane, several coffins, and other delicious non-foods. Not as good as M. Mangetout.

Dude ate a plane, several coffins, and other delicious non-foods.

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775289 Jonathan Badger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775289 An early internet meme was to translate the phrase "I can eat glass and it doesn't hurt me" in as many languages as possible. I guess this guy can actually say "我能吞下玻璃而不伤身体" and be telling the truth. An early internet meme was to translate the phrase “I can eat glass and it doesn’t hurt me” in as many languages as possible. I guess this guy can actually say “我能吞下玻璃而不伤身体” and be telling the truth.

]]> By: MichaelRN http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775291 MichaelRN Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775291 Let me be the first to say: Not a very bright idea. Let me be the first to say:

Not a very bright idea.

]]> By: hershmire http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775549 hershmire Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775549 Thorium oxide, anyone? Thorium oxide, anyone?

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775550 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775550 <i>He sometimes only eats bulb splinters at breakfast, and at most, one bulb each time.</i> So just a light breakfast. He sometimes only eats bulb splinters at breakfast, and at most, one bulb each time.

So just a light breakfast.

]]> By: JayByrd http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775298 JayByrd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775298 So, are they incandescent or CFLs? So, are they incandescent or CFLs?

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775554 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775554 No thanks. I've already eaten. :-9 No thanks. I’ve already eaten. :-9

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775558 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775558 I came here to mention the I Can Eat Glass project. Glorious times in Netscape 1.0. I found it on the Internet Archive here http://web.archive.org/web/20040201212958/http://hcs.harvard.edu/~igp/glass.html- it's actually a pretty good resource. I came here to mention the I Can Eat Glass project. Glorious times in Netscape 1.0. I found it on the Internet Archive here http://web.archive.org/web/20040201212958/http://hcs.harvard.edu/~igp/glass.html- it’s actually a pretty good resource.

]]> By: farrellmcgovern http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775559 farrellmcgovern Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775559 Jim Rose of the Jim Rose Circus (Formerly The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow) eats light bulbs on stage for a living, besides running the circus. Jim Rose of the Jim Rose Circus (Formerly The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow) eats light bulbs on stage for a living, besides running the circus.

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775306 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775306 "Eating glass" used to be a standard carnival trick, to go along with fire-eating and strong-man routines. As a technogeek, my only carnival trick is byting the headers off live checksums. “Eating glass” used to be a standard carnival trick, to go along with fire-eating and strong-man routines.

As a technogeek, my only carnival trick is byting the headers off live checksums.

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775307 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775307 Ok, so air would be better. Ok, so air would be better.

]]> By: erroneus http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775341 erroneus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775341 Sounds like a Darwin Award contestant to me. Sounds like a Darwin Award contestant to me.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775347 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775347 You know, some people skip the means and go right to the end. 'Light bulb in rectum' is not an uncommon ER diagnosis. You know, some people skip the means and go right to the end. ‘Light bulb in rectum’ is not an uncommon ER diagnosis.

]]> By: MarlboroTestMonkey7 http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775362 MarlboroTestMonkey7 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775362 Let me correct this heading too: Man snacks, oh, light. Bub. There. Let me correct this heading too: Man snacks, oh, light. Bub. There.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775374 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775374 So that's what it would be like to grow up in a country without boiled sweets. So that’s what it would be like to grow up in a country without boiled sweets.

]]> By: The Lizardman http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775379 The Lizardman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775379 Standard would be overstating it a bit but there are a few people who include this stunt in the routines regularly today, the most notable probably being my good friend Todd Robbins. As has been covered, the key is grinding the glass down essentially to sand but there is a great deal of technique and even skill involved. Given time, dedication, and healthy teeth most people could do it with little to no ill effect as desired Standard would be overstating it a bit but there are a few people who include this stunt in the routines regularly today, the most notable probably being my good friend Todd Robbins.

As has been covered, the key is grinding the glass down essentially to sand but there is a great deal of technique and even skill involved. Given time, dedication, and healthy teeth most people could do it with little to no ill effect as desired

]]> By: The Chemist http://boingboing.net/2010/04/30/man-snacks-on-light.html#comment-775423 The Chemist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-775423 Really? Are you sure that's not just a plot point from <i>Scrubs</i>? Really? Are you sure that’s not just a plot point from Scrubs?

]]>