This article, reprinted here with the permission of its author, originally appeared in Completely Different way back when on December 5, 1990. A lot has happened since then -- presidents have come and gone, Grammy awards have been lost -- but one thing thing remains the same: the world's cup runneth over with loonies!

Final exams are just around the corner, and tensions are mounting. What can you do to get rid of those pre-exam jitters (and perhaps your party animal room-mate, in the process)? Try the newest craze to kick the nation in the groin -- Spot the Loonie.

The game has found its way into press conferences, mamba halls, classrooms, and airports. It's played by politicians, professors, postal employees, and something else with "p". It's simple, fun, and annoying.

To play the game, find a crowded place: a study lounge, a parade, a bar, Shields building. Quiet places are the best.

Now that you've found a quiet, crowded place, look around you. Try to evaluate the mental stability of your cohorts. Are they wearing matching Penn State outfits? Could they maim people with their hairdos? Are they jumping up and down on one foot singing, "Yes, we have no bananas"?

If you have located someone who seems a bit odd or even altogether strange, point at them and make a loud noise (such as "bing!" or "ding ding ding ding!"). You have successfully spotted a loonie!

The game is great for relieving stress. Some of the world's leader's play it for this purpose.

"I was right fond of 'Spot the Loonie' until I discovered that most of Parliament fit my description of a loonie. I couldn't go to sessions anymore without laughing myself potty. So I had to quit," says former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

President Bush uses the game to keep his cabinet members on their toes. "If the Secretary of Education starts getting on my case about funding cuts, I just point at her and go 'Bing!' and that usually lightens up the mood."

Celebrities play the game at award ceremonies. Rob Pilatus and Fab Norvam of Milli Vanilli say, "We played the game at the Grammies. 'Ja! We can sing!' we laugh to ourselves. 'Ha! Ha! Bing!' we say and point to the judges! We fool you, loonie-persons!'"

Famous people aren't the only ones to play "Spot the Loonie". The game is popular a club functions, parties, and study sessions. Any place a group of people gathers, somebody in the crowd is probably spotting loonies.

Besides relieving stress, "Spot the Loonie" is a great way to get rid of unwanted guests, or even to annoy your room-mate.

One student claims, "I tried to get rid of my room-mate for months. But then, I discovered 'Spot the Loonie'. I played it every time he brought a date home, and he moved out in a few days."