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Happy Hank the Monkey

600% in 72 hours?

 
the story
Several months ago, AJ gave me this "Happy Hank the Monkey" thing that claimed to increase in size by 600% over the course of three days. Sensing that this sort of claim would require proper photo documentation, I held off for quite some time before Ava finally badgered me into putting the product's claim to the test.
 
the supplies
one new "Happy Hank the Monkey"
a recycled flower vase
a tape measure
a steady countertop
3 days worth of patience
 
testing 1,2,3
Now while I've received gifts like this "Happy Hank" before, never have I had one that took three days and claimed to grow 600%. The product most similar to Hank has to be the Instant Circus I received from KC several years back. There, a colored assortment of vitamin shaped pills gvrew into sponges the shape of circus freak in about twenty minutes. A science experiment much more suited for the attention span of a 2 year old. However, armed with a lot of lot of gummy bear treats I was able to keep Ava entertained throughout the following expirment.
 
day 1
On the first day we simply took Hank out of the package and tossed him into the vase. It wasn't until several minutes later we thought to measure him... doh! Soaking wet he was a full 2 inches tall. By my math, that means a fully saturated Hank should be 12 inches tall after 3 days. If so, we would most likely be needing a bigger vase mid way through the growth spirt.
   
 
day 2
The following morning, it was Hank was clearly getting bigger. By the end of the day, he was unable to lie down comfortably on the bottom of the vase. Not wanting to tamper with the expirment by introducing any unnecessary stimuli, we avoided touching Hank any more than was absolutely necessary.
   
 
By afternoon, Hank's growth was at its peak. Every time we checked the vase it was as if Hank had put on an 1/8th of an inch. In addition, we stumbled across our first scientific discovery. Somehow, Hank was displacing more space than the volume of water he was absorbing as it was now clear that the water level of the vase was higher than when we started. After bumping around on google for 5 minutes as to why this might be, the best answer I can give you at this point is that it is "science".
   
   

day 3

On the morning of the third day, Hank was even bigger. However, the 600% claim was starting to look pretty shakey as we grew closer to the 72 hour deadline. Furthermore, as the day went on Hank did not get any bigger. The 600% claim was about to be busted.

   
 
At the deadline, Ava and I removed Hank from his water cacoon and flopped him down on the countertop for a quick measure. Coming in a shade under 6 inches, Hank's growth was much closer to 300% than 600%. And while this was impressive, it was a bit disappointing given the outrageous claim on the back of the box. So just to be sure, we tossed Hank back into the vase for an extra day of soaking... just in case. However, by mid afternoon of the fourth day the only change to be found was in Hank's water. Suddenly, things were starting to get a little icky in there.
   
 
Rather than changing the water and scientifically invalidateing our results up to this point, we decided to put Hank on the countertop to dry out. You see, over the course of the four days we had the time to read the back of the box and find that Hank can be used over and over again. Yippie.
 
results

While technically Happy Hank only grew 300% bigger, all of the other product claims pretty much held true. After 8 days of drying, Hank snuggly fits back into his original package and is ready to be grown again. It will be interesting to see that if Hank's growth is faster or slower in subisquent tests. Furthermore, you can be sure that we will be keeping track of Hank's overall size in these additional tests. If no significant changes occur, we will be sending a letter to the manufacurer in China asking about the 600% claim. In the meantime, please be on the lookout for other Hank's out there on the market. Apparently the "happy" version of Hank the Monkey is the 27th in a series.

 
 
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/22/2006 10:44:37 PM
hey aj, we finally put this 'gift' of yours to the test. hope you saved the reciept!
aj RVPR Rank Location Has Photo - 1/23/2006 4:52:44 PM
i didn't realize that he could be used again and again

rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/23/2006 8:03:01 PM
yes, testing whether or not be becomes more elastic after the first 'transformation' or two should be interesting. next time i'm going to put him into a larger container just in case he is like an angel fish that only grows to the size of his tank.
loh1974 Location Has Photo - 1/24/2006 12:57:25 PM
It would appear from observation.. since we are talking about observations.. that by my non existance on RV.com the past few days, I have re-appeared on the top 5. Now.... know yall miss me, but hey, it works. I think the lesson here is sit back, shut up and you will rise above.. :)
wmartin RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/24/2006 4:04:47 PM
She is so sweet.
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/24/2006 4:11:18 PM
aj gave us a 'cheerleader megaphone' version of the same thing and it has grown at least 600% in the past 5 days. in fact, it is starting to warp as it has outgrown the container we put it in. i think we re-soak hank tonite and give him another shot at 600 before i attempt to write a complaint in chinese.
PHonda Location Has Photo - 1/24/2006 11:56:36 PM
Letter to company maker I can help. Chinese is third speaking of my tongue. Rough somewhat on dialect but message clear will be taken to the receiver. Help? My first contribute? RVPR to smell a boost.
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/27/2006 12:39:24 PM
BREAKING NEWS - we put hank back into the water and he floats! furthermore, the second time around he hit 6 inches long OVERNITE! we'll keep a close eye on things over the weekend.
aj RVPR Rank Location Has Photo - 1/27/2006 5:09:22 PM
you must have limited his growing capabilities by placing him in a restricting environement...afterall, i wouldn't have given you a cheep toy
aj RVPR Rank Location Has Photo - 1/30/2006 6:37:49 PM
how's he doing?
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/31/2006 9:09:59 AM
he is the same height as last time, but much more 'husky' this time. meanwhile, the 'cheerleader megaphone' version refuses to shrink back to its original size.
wmartin RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 1/31/2006 11:16:21 AM
This sounds like a description of me. '...same height....more husky...'
loh1974 Location Has Photo - 1/31/2006 1:54:15 PM
except you dont float b/c the guns weigh you down right???
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 2/1/2006 1:24:09 PM
speaking of guns, wmartin swears up and down that he could ride a 10 speed and shoot a shotgun perpendicular to the direction he is pedaling without falling over. how do we set this up and safely obtain video? this is a PERFECT Testing 1,2,3 feature for this site.
aj RVPR Rank Location Has Photo - 2/1/2006 2:22:47 PM
i'm always amazed by how quickly the comments can change direction

loh1974 Location Has Photo - 2/1/2006 2:39:34 PM
and men think girls are chatty... By the way.. would the bike be stationary?
rvining RVPR Rank Location Staff Page Has Photo - 2/1/2006 10:44:34 PM
no, the bike would be in motion. i think the theory is that the gyro effect caused by the two wheels on the bike will overcome the perpendicular recoil caused by the gun. i really dont care... i just want the event on video.
 

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