>>>"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.