BrainLazy.com, Achievement Unlocked: Vending Machine Win

Our story begins in the traditional way, a quest for bounty. Today, as always, the treasure I sought was a granola bar. I head to the machine but- What ho, what is this?

Now, many of you will look at this miserable snarl of snackery and think, “Well, that guy got screwed out of a lot of money.” This, however, is no longer true. Allow me to give you a lesson in modern vending science. A vending machine now has a sensor below the food. When you choose an item, it turns the screws the prescribed amount, dropping an item past the sensor. If the sensor does not detect an item, it assumes there was an empty slot and turns another increment. If nothing is detected this time, it assumes the item is sold out, and asks you to try a different selection. Our popcorn seeking friend had simply been forced to settle for his second choice.

Where he saw an obstacle, however, I saw a challenge. Let us see if we cannot lend logic to the problem, shall we?

Read the rest...