Toothpicks, Plasma, and a New Microwave

You know how some demonstrations have the disclaimer "do not try this at home"? Online High Tech Magazine has a video of one of these demonstrations that I'm sure I'll do anyway (though I expect to need a new microwave). Apparently if you set a wooden toothpick on fire in a microwave (I'm guessing a lighted match works) and turn the microwave oven on, you'll see a periodic discharge of plasma or ball lightning. Plasma is a state of matter, similar in some ways to a gas, except involving ionized particles that are pretty far apart from each other. If you try it, be advised you shouldn't... it can't be good for your microwave oven and possibly presents a health hazard... but feel free to take pictures and send them to me.
State of Matter of Fire | How to Make Matches