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Monday, February 13, 2012

The Microwave





Remember these?


Remember when the first microwave ovens came out for domestic use, and it was called the Radarange? We all thought they were sooooo cool. Nice compact little oven that sat on our counters. They were quick to cook dinner. Just turn the dial, push the button....Ding, dinner was done! Snazzy new design for the time and easy to clean after each use. It was all the rage and everybody wanted one.

It didn't take us discerning cooks long though, to figure out that if we wanted our food cooked to perfection, flavored throughout, juicy (so we could make gravy) and golden brown, we had to go back to our conventional oven.  We tried and tested to get it to work. Thought maybe we were doing something wrong. Nope...it is a microwave, it's not made the same as our ovens. It won't  slow cook at the perfect temperature and give us the time to baste to keep it juicy or remove the cover to start the browning process. 

The old microwave is what I am reminded of every time I finish applying for a job on my computer.  I hit "apply" and  start filling  out all the employers questions, upload cover letter, upload resume and then hit "submit". Thirty seconds later, ding, I get an email saying I have applied and they are reviewing my qualification.


No opening the door to check how things are cooking. No conversations in the kitchen. I like the part where we all shoot the breeze around the oven, get a laugh in and see what everybody is up to and what new additions to our family and friends are and all about. The anticipation of that meal when it is finished, you knew what you were going to get just by the aroma of all those flavors basting in the oven for hours.


The microwave did not come about as a result of someone trying to find a better, faster way to cook. During World War ll, two scientists invented the magnetron, a vacuum tube that produces microwaves. They installed the magnetrons in Britain's radar system. The microwaves were able to spot Nazi warplanes on their way to bomb the British Isles. As the story goes, one of the engineer's who worked for the Raytheon Corporation, was working on the magnetrons. He had a candy bar is his pocket and found that it had melted. He realized that the microwaves would cook food quickly (and that he should never keep food in his pocket while testing the magnetrons).


Nope, the microwave was not invented to cook food, but I do think that the old original purpose is still the premise for picking applicants. No getting to know them, just load 'em all into the tube and we'll be able to see from the radar the ones that fit. Shot down before you even get a chance to speak and tell them... that you would love to be the one hired at their company and you are seasoned to perfection and bring all the extras to the table including enough to make the gravy!


Well, I think of what we use our microwaves for now, they are smaller than ever and they are cheap, you can get one for fifty bucks. They revolutionized the popcorn industry...although many connoisseurs prefer the crisper texture of popcorn cooked in hot oil, they melt butter and chocolate (things haven't changed much) and warm up our leftovers. Limited capabilities in my book and our expectations of what it can do... are just not that high these days. I wonder though, how many companies find the side effects in their pockets after hiring with this online process.


Jo Ann

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