Who in the World is Mike Barz?

Nov. 10, 2005 — -- Clue No. 1: I work on an assembly line but I never need a lunch break.

Clue No. 2: If I do my job well, your satisfaction is in the bag.

Mike Barz can tell you! All this week, "GMA" features correspondent Mike Barz travels around the country to check out unusual jobs. On Friday, Barz worked as a potato chip inspector at Cape Cod Potato Chips, under the guidance of Cindy Pina. As an inspector, Barz checked for defects such as clusters (chips stuck together), chips that are burned and anything that makes for an unhappy chip.

Here are some fast facts about potato chips:

The first chip was made in 1853.

Americans eat an average of 6.6 pounds per year.

Yearly U.S. chip sales total $6 billion.

America's favorite chip flavor is plain.

It takes 4 pounds of potatoes to make 1 pound of chips.

"Ridged" chips are four times thicker than regular ones.

Cape Cod Potato Chips uses 28 million pounds of potatoes yearly.

A Job with a Lot of Filing

Who has clients that work for peanuts?

Who files as part of their job, but not at an office?

Mike Barz can tell you! On Thursday, Mike Barz was working as an elephant pedicurist at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Auburn Hills, Mich. He was guided by Mike Hayward, who works full time as the elephants' pedicurist.

Elephants' nails grow just as fast as humans' do. Keeping an elephant's nails clean and trimmed is serious business -- if the nails aren't well-kept, it can lead to infection, which could lead to death.

Using a huge file, Barz filed the toenails of Bonnie, a 6,000-pound, 11-year-old elephant.

Here are some fast facts about elephants:

Their lifespan is 62 to 70 years.

They are the largest living land animals and can grow to weigh 6 tons eachhas.

Elephants have more than 150,000 muscles in their trunks and can pick up the tiniest, most delicate objects without breaking them.

The circus elephants get pedicures every five weeks, and they take two hours to complete.

Pulling a Fast Job

Who works with over 500 horses but isn't a cowboy?

What job lasts just four seconds?

On Wednesday, Barz was working as a Corvette test car driver in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Barz got a chance to test the fastest Corvette ever made, the Z06, and his passenger was Rich Quinn, the development engineer of the ultimate Corvette.

Here are some fast facts about the Corvette Z06:

It's the fastest car General Motors has ever produced.

The Z06 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

Top speed is 198 mph.

It's loaded with 505 horsepower.

The first Corvette went on sale in 1953.

In 2004, 30,856 Corvettes were sold.

A Whale of a Job

What job involves giant teeth and working with someone who weighs 5,000 pounds?

On Tuesday Barz was at SeaWorld in San Diego filling in as a whale trainer.

Barz got some tips from Robbin Sheets, the assistant curator at SeaWorld. Sheets said the whales and the trainers forge a relationship built on trust and respect. Some trainers have psychology degrees along with marine biology degrees.

Barz bonded with his whale, Kalia, brushing its 60 teeth and administering a maritime version of a "one-a-day" vitamin -- a vitamin-stuffed fish.

He also picked up some other interesting facts about whales:

SeaWorld San Diego has 7 killer whales.

Whales are mammals.

Whales have between 56 and 60 teeth.

Whale teeth are 3 inches long and 1 inch wide.

Whales have no sense of smell.

Whales swim up to 30 miles per hour.

Whales live in groups called pods.

Whales eat fish, octopus, squid and crustaceans.

10,000 Leagues Under The Golf Course

Who can make up to $100,000 a year on a golf course and never lift a golf club?

Who needs a diving mask to make a living on the fairway?

On Monday, Barz was at Falcon's Fire golf course in Orlando, Fla., working as a golf ball diver.

Professional golf bar diver Jeffrey Bleim was showing Barz the ropes. Bleim has found bikes, bowling balls and even guns while searching for lost balls.

Here are some more interesting facts you may not have known about men and women who dive for golf balls for a living:

Golf ball divers are paid per ball found.

Golf balls made each year: 1 billion.

Golf balls lost each year: 300 million.

Golf ball found each year: 100 million.