Drive someone insane with obscure postcards

One clever entrepeneur has come up with a brilliant and funny way to confuse the hell out of people: have obscure postcards sent to them from a far-flung destination, cards which contain personal information about the recipient, but no indication of who sent them. Sound confusing? Let this ebay listing explain it:

“I will be spending the Christmas holiday in Poland in a tiny village that has one church with no bell because angry Germans stole it. Aside from vodka, there is not a lot for me to do.

During the course of my holiday I will send three postcards to one person of your choosing.

These postcards will be rant-ravingly insane, yet they will be peppered with unmistakable personal details about the addressee. Details you will provide me.

The postcards will not be coherently signed, leaving your mark confused, guessing wildly, crying out in anguish.

“How do I know this person? And how does he know I had a ferret named Goliath?”

Your beloved friend or relative will try in vain to figure out who it is. Best of all, it can’t possibly be you because you’ll have the perfect alibi: you’re not in Poland. You’re home, wherever that is, doing whatever it is you do when not driving your friends loopy with international prankery.

Your target will rack their brains in the shower. At dinner. During long drives. At work. On the golf course.

“Who did I tell about the time I got fired by a note on my chair?” they’ll ponder, “And where the hell is Szczeczinek?”

There’s no doubt this is a great idea, but look at the what the auction is now up to. I’m just not sure paying someone $200 to do this is worth it. Better to find a friend who’s on the road and ask them to do it for free.

(thanks to economist extraordinaire Tyler Cowen for the link)