Jay Greeson: Opinion: World record at world records, Walmart sales, Minnie Mouse hubbub and obit observation

Jan. 28—So, what was your new hobby during the pandemic? Become a binge-watcher? Reconnect with reading?

Well, David Rush, of Idaho, completed his goal of breaking some Guinness World Records. Like one a week, every week, for all of 2021.

In fact, he has toppled more than 200 GWRs, passing that noteworthy mark with the less-than-noteworthy slicing the most kiwis. In one minute. While using a samurai sword. And standing on a Swiss ball.

So there's that.

Rush claims to be the world's fastest juggler as well as the world's slowest juggler. He reset his first Guinness record — longest duration of blindfold juggling — during his weekly records march.

And some of his confirmed records really scream to the boredom of the pandemic since Rush is the current record holder of the most toilet paper rolls balanced on a person's head, part of the two-man team that caught the most ping-pong balls in shaving cream on your head in 30 seconds, and the fastest time to arrange a chess set, among a multitude of others.

On sale?

So maybe you can't get everything at Walmart

Rebecca Lanette Taylor was arrested last week outside of the Crockett, Texas, Walmart.

She did not steal; in fact, she was more than happy to pay full price for what she had her eye on.

Unfortunately, Taylor was interested in buying another woman's son and offered $250,000 for the baby in the self-checkout line.

The woman awkwardly laughed at the original offer until Taylor said she had the money in the car and later offered the woman $500,000 for her son.

Yikes. So many questions, including who in the world goes to Walmart with a quarter-of-a-million in the car? In Crockett, Texas, no less.

Dress code

Last week, it was M&M's and the shoe choices of their anthropomorphic chocolates.

Now Minnie Mouse switching to a pants suit has folks in a huff.

In truth, I'm not sure I could care less what Minnie wears and have to wonder why any right-thinking Americans care that Minnie swapped her dress for pants.

And that's a question to those who believe this is promoting inclusivity or correcting some sort of shortcoming.

It also makes you wonder how much time, money and human resources the Disney folks put into Minnie's makeover.

Now, hopefully, the smart folks at Disney can huddle in a room to discuss China's long-standing human rights atrocities despite the $5.5 billion — yes, billion with a 'B' — invested in Shanghai Disney.

Yeah, probably not. But if we can request the next Disney wardrobe matters, can someone put some pants on Donald Duck?

Obit observation

The numbers always fascinate — and occasionally sadden — me from the obits in the pages of the Times Free Press.

There are too many folks in their 30s, 40s and 50s listed, leaving far too soon, and their families will grieve.

There was the mention of Norman Wallin, who died earlier this month, and how he was married for 61 years. That's some commitment.

And then there was 102-year-old Frances Chastain, who died last week.

Man, 102. Think about this, she was in high school when Babe Ruth was still swinging for the Yankees and graduated from LaFayette High in Georgia more than four years before Pearl Harbor.

Life changes quickly for almost all of us.

Can you imagine the changes for Frances?

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.