Testing Evolution with M&Ms

[tehuberc]

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels.

Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them breaks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.

I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world.

Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.

When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3x5 card reading, "Please use this M&M for breeding purposes."

This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this "grant money." I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion.

There can be only one.

Source: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...NION/613186340

[baalroo]

wow, best thread ever.

you win at the internet.

[KsToaDangr]

Wow...and I thought I had too much spare time on my hands.

[Stigs]

I always do this with skittles, even before I read the article

[L-A]

This is awesome.

It's great to hear about companies that are okay with a bit of goofing around.

[flipper_gv]

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by flipper_gv

Every time I see this picture, I hit puberty all over again.

[wdinc01]

I've read this before. And I thought to myself "Wait, haven't I read this before?" as I was reading it.

And I think my response to this very same thread posted by someone else months ago is that I do the same thing, but with Robin Eggs.

[Asa Samuel]

I like to separate the m&ms out into colours and eat them alphabetically.

[BruisedOoze]

Originally Posted by wdinc01

I've read this before. And I thought to myself "Wait, haven't I read this before?" as I was reading it.

And I think my response to this very same thread posted by someone else months ago is that I do the same thing, but with Robin Eggs.

Yeah so have I... I guess it's resurfacing. Still pretty funny.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Stigs

I always do this with skittles, even before I read the article

Me too.

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by Bass Junkie

I like to separate the m&ms out into colours and eat them alphabetically.

but they all start with M



i am aware that he means in the most OCD way of: alphabetically by the first letter of the colour of the candy shell.

[XansNiceSweater]

I've read this so many times before.

[J. Crawford]

I do all of the above with a twist. Sort them out buy color, have duels between the same species of color, keep the strongest of each color, have a final duel amongst them all at the end, the neat the strongest one, leaving the broken ones to evolve into newly healed ones.


Too bad I only eat Skittles, because that is a craaazy plan.

[buzzbass]

Post the winner !!! We want results, dammit !!!

[DudeistMonk]

I do this with skittles...less messy.

[thumpbass1]

But with your direct involvement acting as the agency behind the culling of the herd, won't the results be regarded as part on an intelligent design argument by others?

[buzzbass]

Hey I was thinking, isn't this like in direct violation of the Prime Directive, or something ?

[MatticusMania]

How much color is left on your fingers afterwards? Melt in your mouth, not in your hands my ass...

[WyrdoBass]

I shall share my result with peanut m&m's.

Orange species tends to survive longest, the longest survivor going through 18 duels.

Red tends to give in the most easily, followed by yellow.