Chocolate and Math make strange bedfellows

Surely, by this point, everyone around the world has received this email. It's fun and actually works. I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with the fact Easter (the biggest candy holiday next to Halloween) is upon us. SURELY NOT! But read on.. do the math, if you haven't yet. I've copied and pasted an email, below the chocolate formula, I wrote earlier to a friend of mine who had also enjoyed the 'Funded by Hershey' age test. The chocolate math email does bring questions to one's mind!

THE FORMULA

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1756 .... If you haven't, add 1755.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how! many times you want to have chocolate each week). The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!) THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2006) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

Who the heck wrote the formula? How'd the brilliant mathematician come up with this?

Some bored mathy type guy (or girl, but most likely a dude cuz studies show they're better in math than us girly low lifes) was just sitting under blaring, flourescent lights, listening to the flies and fans buzzing away, in some ambiguous college basement room, when all of a sudden.. BING! The magic chocolate combination hits him and he begins to furiously write out his formula, using example after example to make sure it actually works.. then VOILA! After all the tests...internet chat room and email fodder for days!

Or maybe it's one of those enslaved mathematicians, sitting in a laboratory, different recipes and flavors of chocolate bubbling about in beakers, trying desperately to find a way (his bosses said he'd better or else!) to promote chocolate during this very unseasonal for chocolate EASTER HOLIDAY! Gotta boost those sales! The Easter Bunny is one busy guy, gotta have the parents chip in a little bit! Let's not forget all the women trying to lose weight who turn their noses up at such confectionary delight only to need/crave it before/during their period. "Trying to stave off chocolate cravings? Well here's something that'll remind you (in a very clever, manipulating way) to want it and eat it all the time!" So, a clever little brain teaser or an underlying, manipulative ploy to get people to eat more chocolate? YOU BE THE JUDGE!