Behrouz relies on predetermination

Behrouz’s intended chain reaction involves blowing a basketball at a line of nine bowling pins, all tied to one other with one long length of string. One end of the string is tied to the trigger of the BB gun, and the other end is held by David, who is standing on a skateboard.

Behrouz’s intent is for the basketball to knock down all of the pins, which will tighten the string and somehow cause David to fall backwards off of the skateboard (defying the laws of physics) and pull on the string, triggering the gun. Despite David’s warning that he might not fall backwards, Behrouz insists that David’s doing so is predetermined, and so he carries on with his plan.

Unfortunately, the string Behrouz has used is also way too long, so it does not tighten enough to fulfil his plan. David obliges anyway, and makes a dramatic show of falling backwards off of the skateboard. However, there is still way too much slack in the string, and the trigger is still not pulled.

After Behrouz encourages/yells at David, David pulls the string hard enough that the BB gun does fire and pop the balloon.

Behrouz is credited with a three-step chain reaction (yelling > David pulling the string > trigger), and her earns joint fourth place.

(Written by Jenny R and proofread by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected by Jenny R and adjusted by Karl Craven)