89. In Harm’s Way

A new invention, called “Arm Yourself,” is in in Japan. It is a mechanical arm-wrestling machine. the old days, fairs and carnivals usually had “Test Your Strength” contest that required a player swing a small sledge hammer as hard as could to ring a bell and get a . The Japanese invention also challenges a player’s strength. can set it to four different levels: Baby, , Man, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The mechanical arm operates half-strength for the first 10 seconds: “Baby,” for , would be “Half-Baby,” or 50-percent full-strength, for 10 initially.

“This gives the human time to evaluate mechanical opponent, and usually allows him to win,” the inventor. But after 10 seconds elapse, the arm instantly achieves full strength, so that weak suddenly becomes strong Baby. “That comes as a to the human,” said the inventor. “If you the human compete, you will see a look surprise come over his face at the machine’s burst of strength. It’s funny to see!”

Unfortunately some players, the look of surprise is followed the look of pain, as the steel and arm breaks their flesh and blood arm! Two recently went to the hospital. The inventor said he wouldn’t put a warning sign on the .

“It’s not the machine’s fault,” he said. “Humans think that they’re smarter, faster, and stronger than actually are. I think it’s a good lesson they are learning. Many refuse to combat the at the Baby or Girl level because they that they’re equal to the Man or Arnold . They don’t know their limitations. They’re proud and , and some of them have to pay the for their pride.”