Strange thing that box. It had been following Chris Fultz for quite a while. The quickest way to keep it from interrupting opening ceremonies was to stand in it until Chris had finished. Strange how certain objects just want to be close to Woodie Flowers winners. The stress became too much when Dan Green and Paul Copioli showed up, it just went all to pieces.
(written on front of box)
“how to use this box:
step 1: do hokey pokey till you are standing in the box
step 2: once you get in, stand like you need o go to the bathroom till we come talk to you
step 3: stand in bow until whatever provoked you to get in it in the first place is solved
step 4: when ready to leave, wait for a dance song and then do that dance out of the box”
At every competition (at least, all those I have been to in 8 years) the field reset crew, as they find various bits of robot detritus scattered on the carpet*, drops the pieces and chunks into some kind of container co-opted for the purpose - generally an old cardboard box. I have made it a habit to look inside these boxes near the end of the competition, because there is often gold (as in ‘one man’s treasure…’) mixed in with the bits and pieces. Things like #35 master links, sensors, and other still-useful stuff.
I was at my first IRI this year and the reset crew, after finding Miss Kara on the field during reset one time too many, carried her into the junk box and told her (in a stern voice) to “stay”. Shortly thereafter, along wanders Billfred with his cellphone to capture the aftermath, preserving the scene forever.
