Date: Fri, 16 Jun 1995 16:12:41 PDT
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Berry Kercheval <kerch@parc.xerox.com>
Subject: Re: Grape Racing [was Re- Th
>>>"Don Kane" said:
> Berry,
> I know you guys at parc are always ten years ahead of the rest of the world,
> but you've really outdone yourselves this time. give yourself a promotion
and
> sell this idea to microsoft.
Well, we didn't actually invent it (though we do have an active Microwave
Materials Modification group :-). I first heard about on another mailing
list; the original article appears to be from Ivan Campbell @ LOTUSINT. I'll
append it because it's better written than my version (and because I finally
found the folder I stored it in...)
Does this mean I don't get the promotion?
--berry
Berry Kercheval :: Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
-------
> From: Ivan Campbell @ LOTUSINT
> Date: 12/06/93 06:50:13 AM
> Subject: Nintendo eat your heart out ??
>
> Hi Rich,
> Here is a novel game that is guaranteed to shorten those long winter evenings !!
>
> This is really something for a rainy/snowy day, so long as you're equipped
> with the essentials. What you need is a microwave oven, some grapes,
> a small measure of sunflower oil and some friends with which to
> compete.
>
> The idea is thus. Firstly, if the microwave is of the type that has
> one of those silly rotating dish-like things, which rotates your food
> to make sure it gets cooked evenly, then TAKE IT OUT and THROW IT
> AWAY. You won't need it for this game and, if you get addicted
> enough, you probably won't use your microwave for anything else, so
> you won't need that dish thing ever again. OK, next, lightly cover
> the floor of the oven with a SMALL amount of sunflower oil. Just
> generally spread it about, to make a thin, lubricating layer, on
> which
> a grape may skate about. Try it with a practice grape to make sure
> you've got it right. Then, line up a number of grapes at one side of
> the oven, with one grape corresponding to each player. Important tip
> here - MAKE SURE THAT THE END WITH THE HOLE IN IT IS POINTING AT THE
> WALL. This is really quite fundamentally important. Next, lay bets
> -
> or whatever - on your grape, that it will win/lose/finish in a
> particular position or state/whatever. Then, set the microwave to
> full power, and switch on. What happens is that the inside of the
> grape heats up, liquifies, and acts as a jet propellant to push the
> grape along the lubricated floor of the microwave as it shoots out
> the
> hole at the back. Thus, each grape travels with varying degrees of
> speed and/or success across the floor. The first to reach the other
> side of the oven is judged to be the winner, or, failing this, the
> one
> to travel the furthest. Some grapes don't make it even this far, and
> either shrivel up or explode messily on the starting line, but this
> just adds to the fun. Remember to switch off the microwave and
> remove
> the competitors before replacing them for the next round.
>
> The game can be varied according to players and their individual
> tastes, like "Stunt Grapes" where the grape must perform a task like
> jumping over other grapes, etc. These, and other variations, should
> keep you and your friends amused for hours.
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