Who ya gonna call? GumBusters, for removal of gum
It takes an odd sort of job to elicit the reaction YOU DO WHAT?!? And throughout the morning, our Susan Spencer will be showing us a few of the weirdest:
Anthony Mule goes to work knowing he will face some sticky situations. He is a seriously professional gum remover.
"This is a passion for me," he said. "We're on a mission to clean up the country, one piece of gum at a time."
No chance of running out of work. Americans chew their way through $3 billion worth of gum every year. And when they're done ...
"People, they spit it out wherever and whenever it loses its flavor," Mule said. "I've seen gum stuck on walls. It's on the floor of the bar or under the stool, mostly on city sidewalks. All those little black spots that you see on the floor."
"You are going to make me very aware of this," said Spencer. "I am now going to be obsessed -- I'll be seeing gum everywhere!"
And when you see it, who ya gonna call? GumBusters, of course! Mule is the CEO.
He showed Spencer a brand-new, battery-operated gum-removal machine. "It's the world's first!" he said.
Mule demonstrated us what gum busting is all about -- the special magic produced with a high-powered combination of steam, detergent, and a wicked brass brush.
"That gum is busted!" he said. "Gone."
And where does it go? "Actually, it vaporized."
Mule says he can vaporize up to 1,200 pieces of gum an hour.
But isn't it like trying to empty the Atlantic with a teaspoon? "I agree," Mule replied.
But he doesn't get demoralized. "I don't. I love it!" Mule laughed.
And remarkably, he says he also LOVES gum.
"I'm actually chewing gum now."
"What are you gonna do with it when you're done?" Spencer asked.
"Dispose of it responsibility."
In other words: Wrap it up. "Save the wrapper, put it in your pocket or your pocketbook and save it 'til you're done," Mule recommended.
"You have a lot of faith in people," Spencer laughed.
And a lot of pride in satisfying work he clearly enjoys.
So, does he consider this an odd job? "It is. It's quite unique. It's odd, and a dirty job, so yes."
But somebody has to do it? "That's right. Let it be us!"
Chew on that for a while ...
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