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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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