M&Ms

Date: Wed, 29 May 96 14:23:08 -0700

From: Al Garber <agarber(at)csuhayward.edu>
To: Major Fun

Subject: Oaqui family picnic

I didn't know if Shannon posted you as to the results of the Leadership training M&M olympic contests or not. I thought it went well. We discussed, with the group some basic gaming development parameters, asked them to break up into groups of four and then gave them 30 seconds to come up with a name for their new country. (country names had to start with 2 Ms). They then needed to design a game involving M&Ms as the primary equipment of the game. They also needed to discus the rules with the group, demonstrate the game and act as judges for the global competition. Shannon and I demonstrated the Shot Put, Reserving the "oven mit clause" until moments before the competition. We provided the countries with some basic crafts supplies (straws, popsicle sticks, glue, yarn, paper cups and plates etc.) The groups had 5 minutes to develop their game. (the oven mit became a running gag for particpants to wear during competition). Here's a (very) brief summary of the 1st Olympiad:

Basketball - Paper cup taped on the wall. Contestants shot Free-Throws for points.

Yachting - A paper plate with lanes drawn in was filled with water. Four different color M&Ms were placed at the end and were propelled to the finish lines by blowing through straws. (messy but fun)

Ice Hockey - Similar to Knock-hockey. They used a folding banquet table with one goalie on each end. The remaining participants became the side walls, using their arms along the table edge to block out-of-bounds "pucks". 1 goal round robin competition. (best of show)

M&M-in-spoon-in-mouth-in-wheelbarrow-position 10 yard race (don't remember ever seeing this in Los Angeles) the name pretty much says it all.

We wrapped with an awards ceremony, a 4 way medal tie (no really!) and discussed changing rules to make the games More FUN!! I was impressed by the creativity of the group. Their participation prior to the "Games" was less than animated. This segment has potential!

re: M&Ms

Our particular fascination with M&Ms (the candy-coated candy) is directly traceable to the observation that four M&Ms, when properly (and painstakingly) arranged, looks like our famous ME/WE logo.

Surely this is beyond mere coincidence.

According to Vince Staten, as of 1994 there were six colors of M&Ms: brown, yellow, red, green, orange and tan. In a one pound bag there are traditionally 30 brown, 20 yellow, 20 red, and 10 each of the rest of the colors. We have as yet no data on the affect of the blue M&M on the current M&M count.

(source: Can You Trust a Tomato in January, Staten, Touchstone Books, 1994, p. 140)