| One day, in line at  thecompany cafeteria, Joe says
 to Mike, "My elbow hurts  like
 crazy. I guess I better see  a
 doctor."
 
 
 
 "Listen, you don't have  to
 spend that kind of money,"
 Mike replies. "There's  a
 diagnostic computer down at
 Wal-Mart. Just give it  a
 urine sample and the computer
 will tell you what's  wrong
 and what to do about it. It
 takes ten seconds and  costs
 ten dollars... a lot cheaper
 than a  doctor."
 
 
 
 So Joe puts a urine  sample
 in a small jar and takes it
 to Wal-Mart. He deposits  ten
 dollars, and the computer
 lights up and asks for  the
 urine sample. He pours the
 sample into the slot  and
 waits.
 
 
 
 Ten seconds later,  the
 computer ejects a printout:
 
 
 
 "You  have tennis elbow. Soak
 your arm in warm water and
 avoid  heavy activity. It will
 improve in two weeks.Thank
 you for  shopping at Wal-Mart."
 
 
 
 That evening while  thinking
 how amazing this new
 technology was, Joe  began
 wondering if the computer
 could be  fooled.
 
 
 
 He mixed some tap water,  a
 stool sample from his dog,
 urine samples from his  wife
 and daughter, and a sperm
 sample for good measure.  Joe
 hurried back to Wal-Mart,
 eager to check the  results.
 
 
 
 He deposited ten  dollars,
 poured in his concoction, and
 awaited the  results.
 
 
 
 The computer then prints  the
 following:
 
 1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a  water softener. (Aisle 9)
 
 2. Your dog has ringworm.
 Bathe him with anti-fungal
 shampoo. (Aisle 7)
 
 3.  Your daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab.
 
 4.  Your wife is pregnant, Twins. They aren't yours. Get a  lawyer.
 
 5. If you don't stop playing with yourself, your  elbow will never get
 better.
 
 Thank you for shopping  at
 Wal-Mart
 |