17-Year-Old Speed-Texting Champion Does it Drrrty [Texting]
Aug 8, 2012 10:30 PM 17-year-old Justin Bieber look-alike Austin Wierschke, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (and a native of the United Kingdom?), is $50,000 richer today—thanks to his speedy-quick thumbs and unfailingly accurate dexterity. He's a two-time prize-winning SMS champion, ladies and gents, the fastest in our great nation. A noble talent undeniably deserving of large piles of cash. The eight-round competition, held in NYC's Times Square, tested for three factors: speed, accuracy, and dexterity. All 11 competitors were given extra challenges, like texting while blindfolded, or texting with their hands behind their back. Also, weirdly, the contestants were not allowed to use touch-screen phones! It's 2012 for crying out loud. For Austin, who based on photographs is an iPhone man, to win despite this...erm, handicap —well, that's maybe the most impressive part of the whole story. Is this almost more ridiculous a contest than a kiddie beauty pageant? I don't k...