<P><B><JC>Hurry up and procrastinate
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<P><JC>In the first ever procrastination contest,
<P><JC>here are tips to becoming a champion procrastinator.
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<P><B>by David Leonhardt
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<P>I've been meaning to write this column, but I keep putting it off. There always seems to be something to stop me  something better or more important or easier to write about.
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<P>Everybody is rushing to enter the contest to find America's Biggest Procrastinator. As an expert in the field, I will help you win the contest. Even if you are not American, just tell them you've been meaning to immigrate. That should actually win you some bonus points.
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<P>America is just teeming with procrastinators. Some delay important surgery. Some people hold off on taking courses or changing jobs. Others delay household chores. Americans delay cleaning up and filing. They put off buying a car, washing the car, selling the car, and even learning to drive the car. Some even hold off on getting born (That was me. Sorry Mom.)
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<P>If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done. And many Americans have even eliminated that pesky last minute. Dr. Duit Later explains, "It's a lifestyle choice. A professional procrastinator delays walking the dog until the last minute. By then he is busy holding off the lawn mowing. He'll never get to the mowing, even in the last minute, because he spends that last minute not cleaning up after the dog. With so much to delay, the last minute never arrives."
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<P><JC>Procrastination contestants
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<P>One contestant bought over $15,000.00 of software in the past two years "to help me with my computer, 80% of it is still unopened and or unused." It might help if he started by removing the computer from its packaging.