Matches, Multiple Uses For

There Actually Is More Than One Way To Use Them

by Niklas Vainio (nikke@sci.fi)
written 26 Apr 1996

This article is classified "Partly real, partly fictional"


Matches.  One of the greatest inventions of the culture of Earth, after the
invention of the towel of course.  It is rumored that matches were
originally designed to help count boxing matches.  That's where the name
comes from.  Counting works like this:  add one match to a pile for each
match played.  After all the matches have been played, count the number of
matches in the pile and if that number matches the number of matches which
should have been played, the contest is over.  If they don't match, well,
that's your problem then.

The idea of using matches to count boxing matches didn't get very much 
support from boxing match organisers around the world as they found out 
that using a normal calculator is much easier.

Most hitchhikers have discovered other and better uses for matches, though.

Matches can be used, for example, to get away pieces of food stuck in your 
teeth.  You can also use them to draw a picture in sand.  You can use
a match as a lock pick.  Sometimes you can use it to fix something that is
broken, but not if it isn't.  You can put a match into your eye.  I'm not
saying that is recommendable, though.

Some even use them to make a fire.  Actually there's some brown stuff
on the other end of match to help it to fire.  This use is very nice if
you are in some Not-So-Safe Place (e.g. snake pit) where you would like
to see something but somebody has turned all the lights off.

Matches are sold in small boxes called match boxes.  There are lots of 
different colours, lengths and styles of matches available.  The most 
effective colour is brown.  The picture on the match box doesn't actually 
matter so much.

See also:
  • Towels

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