But wait, there’s more! There’s the Original Ginsu and the Practice Pizza
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (specifically 2520 Broadway in Lauderdale) Cynthia Schroeder (the Atari Lead Programmer) was getting married. The lesser programmers, Shane McCarron, Lance Allred and Craig Carlson decided to get her a fine wedding gift. What better than to go to the All Night Wicker Emporium and purchase a fine wicker Frog? And as we all know, what is a Frog without a Fish? But not just any fish. It had to fit in your hand and allow you to hold hot things without burning yourself. The use of these after the wedding is left to your imagination, but I digress…
Upon reflection of the synergy of these two fine gifts, they programmers were concerned that the others gifts would pale in comparison and thus left them to be passed down through the years to others at MECC who would appreciate their beauty and worth. Thus it is that each new programmer enjoyed the opportunity to “have and to hold” these fine gifts until a, er, new victim was hired.
The soft-cotton, poly-blend projectile (i.e., the Goat) was representative of a early motivational techniques first utilized by Vikings in their prison ships and later by H. Bill Way, a lead programmer for the leading-edge technology from 1983-1985, fondly remembered as the Apple II. This form of motivation has been replaced by much more civilized tools, like the Nerf Bow and Arrow, Nerf Blaster, Nerf Machine Gun, Nerf Cow Pie, and the ever-popular Nerf A-Bomb.
Later (much later – at least a couple of years) Mike Stein adds his contribution to the FFG.
Yes, it slices, it dices, it cuts through a pop can, a tomato, and various appendages. Yes, it’s the Original Ginsu Knife. No, don’t confuse this with a motivational tool. It’s merely a kitchen aide but it adds to the mystique (mistake) of the FFG. Besides, it looked really cool in the frog’s gut.
As you all remember, Thursday at 11:30 was Pizza Hut time. It was required that all programmers, especially new ones, be trained in the fine art of serving pizza. Several times in our history there were unfortunate mishaps when someone had attempted to serve pizza only to become the scourge of his or her fellow workers because the pizza was improperly served. It didn’t come out intact, was touched, or landed on the table. Just ask Dr. Stephen J. Taffee what happened…. (I have no idea what they’re talking about – Ed.)
With the closing of MECC, the Frog, the Fish, the Goat and the Original Ginsu Knife have passed into the realm of folklore. Those of us who were at MECC know the real story – and so now, do you.
