Had a entertaining conversation with some friends yesterday about the dumb shit we've done during our stint on this spinning blue marble, and thought it might make for some fun here. Now, let's not anyone confess to murder or terrorism; keep it to teachable moments that didn't require prison time!
I've done plenty of dumb stuff, but the one that sticks out most entertainingly was when I worked in the warehouse of an electronics retailer. We were having a promotion that week, so the GM asked us warehouse lackeys to use a helium tank to blow up dozens of balloons to string up around the store. We obliged, but it wasn't long before the process devolved into us kids (early 20-somethings) sucking the helium out of the balloons trying to attain the highest voice for a laugh in front of customers and passersby.
Not to be outdone, I decided to breathe in directly from the the tank, a MASSIVE breath for maximum ridiculousness. I passed out and fell backwards behind the customer service desk. I awoke a few seconds later to my friends and several customers leaning over the desk with dire looks of concern on their faces. I assured them I was ok in a very high voice; the laughs came when I was able to stand up without falling over again and "wave to the crowd." My boss (fortunately) wasn't around to fire me for the liability my stupidity could easily have put him under, but he did hear second hand, and was a good sport about it.
TL;DR? Don't breathe helium.
I've done plenty of dumb stuff, but the one that sticks out most entertainingly was when I worked in the warehouse of an electronics retailer. We were having a promotion that week, so the GM asked us warehouse lackeys to use a helium tank to blow up dozens of balloons to string up around the store. We obliged, but it wasn't long before the process devolved into us kids (early 20-somethings) sucking the helium out of the balloons trying to attain the highest voice for a laugh in front of customers and passersby.
Not to be outdone, I decided to breathe in directly from the the tank, a MASSIVE breath for maximum ridiculousness. I passed out and fell backwards behind the customer service desk. I awoke a few seconds later to my friends and several customers leaning over the desk with dire looks of concern on their faces. I assured them I was ok in a very high voice; the laughs came when I was able to stand up without falling over again and "wave to the crowd." My boss (fortunately) wasn't around to fire me for the liability my stupidity could easily have put him under, but he did hear second hand, and was a good sport about it.
TL;DR? Don't breathe helium.