I do some volunteering at youth technology camps through IBM, and my favorite activity is "How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich". The purpose is to introduce kids to the level of detail needed to write computer programs. The last several times I've done the exercise, including today, I've been lucky enough to be the "robot" tasked with executing instructions from the kids. It's always fun to see their reactions when their "perfectly clear" instructions get misinterpreted by that wacky robot! I had a few fun misunderstandings today:

• "Open the bread bag" - I ignored the twist tie and ripped open the bag.
• "Twist the jelly jar counterclockwise until it opens" - I turned that jar several times without effect. Maybe if they had said to twist the lid...
• "Spread the jelly on the bread" - They never said to use the knife, so I rolled the jelly jar on the bread instead!

It's the kind of volunteer experience that's as much fun for me as the kids!