Trends for October 1, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Oct. 1, 2001 | 8:12 a.m.

Just brilliant

Note: The following column was inspired by people who apparently have entirely too much time on their hands, seeing as how they devised such pointless/asinine /obsessive-compulsive products and guidelines as these.

The first culprit is Missouri inventor Gary Kellmann. His brainchild is called the lostmycup kit.

It doesn't get any simpler than this, folks. Have you ever put something on your car's roof your wallet, a book, a cup of coffee and sped away before realizing said item was still up there?

Well, this kit attempts to capitalize on such mistakes by turning them into gags with the help of a super-strong magnet.

Drop the magnet into a cup, and put the cup atop a car. As the unsuspecting driver pulls away, chase after him or her while shouting, "Hey, I lost my cup." Voila hours of side-splitting humor.

Here's something to ponder: why?

The lostmycup kit can be had (for $6) by visiting lostmycup.com.

Say that again

Culprit No. 2 is actually a duo Andrew John and Stephen Blake who fancy themselves compilers and editors of the new book "The Total TXT MSG Dictionary" (Warner Books, $4.99).

Here it is 198 pages of letters, numbers and keyboard symbols to refer to when typing an entire phrase is just too taxing.

Pop quiz: What does IFDITD mean? Ready for this? It's computer shorthand for "I feel down in the dumps."

ETUSGICAL equals "Every time you say goodbye, I cry a little."

Here's one to use at the holidays: HACOlYOl is apparently code for "Have a cool Yule."

But of all the dictionary's entries, we're betting RRMTxtMsg will come in handy most often it means "Re-read my text message."

Coming in hand-y

Kimberly-Clark, makers of such products as tissue and toilet paper, rounds out our list of offenders.

The company has released - via its Skin Wellness Institute website, kcskinhealth.com a list of do's and don'ts for making trips to public restrooms more sanitary.

How would you like to have been the worker assigned to research people's disgusting hygiene habits to come up with this list? Helpful, yes, but no less gross.

Among the suggestions:

What can we say, besides "ugh"?