Random Thread #1

[scarbelly]

Eskimo, in my class some of the valedictorian competitors (those that have all A's) also have considerably lower SAT scores than I did. I think the basic difference is that a high GPA (most of the criteria for valedictorian) is more based on hard work, and you can get/keep a good grade with hard work and studying. For the SATs, they test reasoning ability, and it's pretty hard to study for things like that. It's mostly pretty basic knowledge, but whether or not you know how to use that knowledge when it comes down to it is what matters. SATs are a bit more a test of intelligence than knowledge (obviously it's not universal, people can do poorly on the SAT and still be very smart).

Also, I've noticed many people get VERY stressed out about tests, and stress can often be very detrimental to test scores. Being able to keep your cool during a test is I think one of the most important test taking skills. A lot of very smart people are bad test takers because they let it get into their head.

My dad is a graduate school professor, and he tells a story about that. Basically, one of his students came to him and said she was having troubles taking tests. She knew all of the material, but when she sat down to test, her mind went blank. He told her to bring in a six pack of beer at the next test (which she had to do well on to pass the class) to help calm her nerves. She did as he suggested, and she did really well on the test and passed the class.

[gghff]

I have noticed on Ebay that this starplate is avialable. http://cgi.ebay.com/1-4-Star-Plate-Pump-22-stars-at-a-time-Pyrotechnics_W0QQitemZ220567421063QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335ad7c087 Would this work well do you think?

[dagabu]

There is an ongoing discussion on Passfire about these, it comes down to this, don't put your press' ram on it and expect it to survive, use a dead blow or rawhide hammer and be gentle and it will be fine.

 

D

[NightHawkInLight]

I received these comments on one of my videos a few days ago:

 

"In the first edition of Pyrotechnica from Texas, I read about a recepie for a blue star compound. It involved Ammonium perchlorate, Copper carbonate, Charcoal, Accroides and damped with alcohol to make the red gum stick and bind the chemicals. When dry, the stars were intense blue and some even lifted off by themselves. It was spectacular. I tried to make a blue and gold burst by using Titanium metal (sponge). The entire mixture produced the best green consisting of blue and gold I ever saw!"

 

My reply:

"Really, green with copper carbonate and titanium? I have never heard of such a thing being possible. I would like to hear more details if you remember them."

 

"I got the Blue recipe from Pyrotechnica Issue #1. I learned more from the American Fireworks News in the 1980s when I was a member of PGII. I was attempting to produce a second stage in my rocket which would break into "The Azure lidded sky of blue and gold". I combined the blue star mixture with some Titanium Metal Sponge. I surrounded this around a flash bag containing powdered aluminum. The rocket's second stage burst, the blue & gold from Titanium combined to make the most beautiful green."

 

So I'm curious, is it possible that a green could be created in this way? Or was this simply a one of a kind visual illusion?

[TheEskimo]

I am calling a visual illusion. I can't see how plain Ti would add something to create a green; I have seen purple when burning red with Ti. I think that it is just a trick of the light. Perhaps someone with more experience would care to chime in?

I was thinking about death the other day. It was spurred on because in health class we were talking about cutting, suicide, and dealing with death. I am not squeamish about death; it is natural and I can't avoid it.

Anyways, I had a bit of a revelation about death. People do not, or cannot accept death for what it is. It fails to provide an answer to many of the basic questions that humans have. Who, What, Where, Why, How? We can only find answers to How and Who. We can explain the physical changes that occur, and we know that it will get everyone. We don't know Why we have to die; in fact thinking that way makes us sound egotistical. The very stars and nebulae that provide the springboard of life for us, die, so why not us. We have no idea Where we will die, nor How.

We ascribe human traits to it: cold, hard, cruel, unforgiving, etc. The fact is that Death isn't even a something, it is just a term for a change in physcial and mental being. We know that it is random, that it makes no "choices" if we're good or bad. It just IS. We seem to not be able to accept that fact. Do we think that we are so special that something/someone out there is deciding when we die; that we are so important to that being/beings? We try to hide behind religion, afterlives, spiritual essences, whatever you call them, in the hope that we may escape Death.

The odd bit is that when people are old, they seem to be able to accept death for what it is. To them, it is a relief, a release from life. Death provides a means to end our journey.

Death is fast, easy, and painless. Life is hard, long, and painful. The universe is infinite, and lasts billions of years. Make your 80 years count for the rest of humanity.

Edited March 14, 2010 by TheEskimo

[OneEyeCharlie]

Well, well, well. You little domain ninjas. Sucker punching Charlie on his blind side huh? Fortunately, my kung fu is strong like bull.

 

Guess who's back

Back again

Charlie's back

Tell a friend

<with apologies to Eminem>

[NightHawkInLight]

Anyways, I had a bit of a revelation about death. People do not, or cannot accept death for what it is. It fails to provide an answer to many of the basic questions that humans have. Who, What, Where, Why, How? We can only find answers to How and Who. We can explain the physical changes that occur, and we know that it will get everyone. We don't know Why we have to die; in fact thinking that way makes us sound egotistical. The very stars and nebulae that provide the springboard of life for us, die, so why not us. We have no idea Where we will die, nor How.

We ascribe human traits to it: cold, hard, cruel, unforgiving, etc. The fact is that Death isn't even a something, it is just a term for a change in physcial and mental being. We know that it is random, that it makes no "choices" if we're good or bad. It just IS. We seem to not be able to accept that fact. Do we think that we are so special that something/someone out there is deciding when we die; that we are so important to that being/beings? We try to hide behind religion, afterlives, spiritual essences, whatever you call them, in the hope that we may escape Death.

The odd bit is that when people are old, they seem to be able to accept death for what it is. To them, it is a relief, a release from life. Death provides a means to end our journey.

Death is fast, easy, and painless. Life is hard, long, and painful. The universe is infinite, and lasts billions of years. Make your 80 years count for the rest of humanity.

That is a thought that has been around for quite a while as a theory for the origin of religion. I don't believe it is true in every case.

 

Though I am a Christian, I did not become one to escape death or any consequence of my actions while alive. As a Christian, I am not afraid to die, in fact I would welcome death at any moment because of what I believe will occur - Though I don't make attempts to die because I know I have purpose in helping others while alive. Though those things are true of me now, were I not a Christian I would still not fear death. I consider myself very logical in how I form my view of things, and it doesn't take much to realize that there is nothing that can be done to prevent death. If there's no god, and our entire being is contained in the electrical impulses within our bodies, we sure won't be aware we're dead. Being afraid of death would then be a fear of nothing in the most literal way. If that is what you believe, a fear of death is a foolish and sad waste of time.

[Mumbles]

I agree that if the green thing is true, it's an optical illusion. Much like mixing red and green for yellows or red and blue for purple. Mixing yellow and blue will make green. If the guy has lower quality titanium, it could be contaminated with sodium and give at least some yellow color. It probably wouldn't take very much to convert a blue to green.

[Ralph]

I agree that if the green thing is true, it's an optical illusion. Much like mixing red and green for yellows or red and blue for purple. Mixing yellow and blue will make green. If the guy has lower quality titanium, it could be contaminated with sodium and give at least some yellow color. It probably wouldn't take very much to convert a blue to green.

 

I just added 2% sodium benzoate to a blue formula im working on (chlorate based slightly better than pikho kp blue at the moment) and it washed it out something chronic but as an unbound formula on the ground it dosnt look at all green (what may happen bound and in the air I dont know) http://www.pyrobin.com/files/p1010361.mov

 

 

which is weird I thought that it could be due to sodium as well

[Mumbles]

Two percent is way overkill based on what titanium would contribute. I'd try something on the order of 0.1 to 0.5 percent if you're going to want to see if it turns green. 1% is enough to turn a decent green into a lime color, just thing about what it would do to blue.

[Swede]

For those who it may concern there is a pyrotechnic artists of Texas shoot the weekend ending spring break. For details check their NEW website:

http://www.pyrotexas.org/

I wont be going, just a little too far away for me.

 

THANK YOU. This is damned cool news. Come on Texas people, let's join and expand. I am one of them... the shoot is TOMORROW and I didn't even know this club existed until now. And that's not for lack of searching. Or maybe my Search-Fu is weak.

[50AE]

I don't know for you guys, but sometimes I have pyro nightmares.

 

This night I dreamt I was eating my freshly prepared barium nitrate, just because it was sweet. After eating some teaspoons of it, I realized the idiotic thing I was doing, so I paniked. I knew I needed a sulfate to eat, but I only had CuSO4. So I took my bottle of 95% H2SO4 and my magnesium shavings and I prepared a solution of magnesium sulfate to drink... so I woke up.

Edited March 22, 2010 by 50AE

[Miech]

Don't worry, barium nitrate doesn't taste sweet .

[Mumbles]

Lead Acetate does though.

[Twotails]

Im making a model, Just a simple one mind you, i still need to drill the holes and such but its getting on its way.( I may decide to make it a military rocket test, or just a interesting firefight) the thing to do now is to eather decide to add vegitation, roads, and props, and make it essentaly a "combat" kinda thing( im bord, so shoot me) Im thinking of keeping it near what it looks like now, sandy. I made a vent in the center to eather expel flammable gas(posably a slow leak of butaine) or somthing like that.(its all remote ignightable, for safty reasons) im going to make some "mines" tonight (probably a few dime sized paper squares with a few mg of flash in them, i dont want to destroy the set compleatly, but i want it to be interesting) I'll probably only do a few in a line or scatterd. im going to have a few fountins under the sand(small novelty sized ones) and possably some other stuff. Im in no rush to compleate it, but would like some ideas if anyone has any. I do models alot, mostly limited to fire jets, micro cremora tubes, and smokes, but this is the first model that im taking my time with, i usaly make and fire them off the same day(but in this case im not going to attch the live devices untill the hour before setup) Its about 1:200 scale( or should be, dependent apon props i can find) its going to mesure about 22X11in, 3in high airspace under the set that can be increased to accomidate things. I may end up tinting it and reworking it to be in a city, or rural setting( depending apon what i can get for materals) becouse i would love to make some exploding trasformers on the telaphone/electric poles. As you can tell im a little bored.

[TheEskimo]

Wait, you've tasted BaNO3? Did you die?

Anyways, what are you guys' feelings on saying the Pledge of Allegiance? I got sassed by my teacher today for not standing for the pledge. She tried to take the unpatriotic course, saying how her son, and others have fought for my freedom. I responded by saying that my cousin, and other relatives have/are fighting for my right to be able to refuse to standup/say the pledge without repercussions. That shut her up, but she took it up with the principal. He knows the laws about it, i.e. the Supreme Court ruling in 1943 that says that you can't be forced or punished for not standing/saying the Pledge. He was nice, and asked me to just at least stand, to respect my classmates. I don't really agree with this, but I don't want to give him trouble, because he asked nicely and didn't flip out. Anyways, thoughts?

And to any veterans in this forum, please don't get offended. I hear so many people saying how not saying the Pledge disrespects our veterans; I take the view that they have fought so that I have the freedom to not participate in the pledge. If you have fought, what are your views?

[FrankRizzo]

By that same logic, you could refuse to do your math homework as well. If you're really honest with yourself, you'd realize that you are behaving that way because you're antisocial. If you take exception to the "under god" portion, just don't recite that part. Saying the pledge before classes is like any other custom, silly or otherwise, it brings people together.

[mike_au]

I don't live in the States, so my view on this might not be entirely relevant, but...

 

By that same logic, you could refuse to do your math homework as well.

 

If someone tried to convince me to do maths homework on the grounds that "you owe it to the state/those who have died/etc", "everyone else is doing it, why can't you just be normal?" or "why do you hate America?" then I would probably say those were stupid arguments and refuse to do it.

 

I did maths homework (most of the time) either because it was interesting or because I felt that doing so would provide some benefit (i.e. because I personally felt that it was what I wanted to do), shouldn't pledging allegiance be done for similar reasons?

 

If you're really honest with yourself, you'd realize that you are behaving that way because you're antisocial.

 

I probably fit that description too in some ways, but as long as we are being honest, I would honestly rather do what I feel is right rather than be considered "social". If I felt that refusing to be involved in some ceremony was the right thing to do, for what ever reason, then so be it.

 

If you take exception to the "under god" portion, just don't recite that part.

 

Seems reasonable, but what if he takes exception to the pledge in general? or to the fact that by attempting to force people to say it they are making it a hollow ceremony, done out of habit rather than sincerity? Maybe he isn't an American citizen and therefore doesn't owe allegiance to the USA or it's flag, maybe he doesn't believe in the concept of allegiance at all.

 

Saying the pledge before classes is like any other custom, silly or otherwise, it brings people together.

 

This probably comes back to being antisocial, but I'm not sure I want to be brought together with people who will perform a silly custom even if it goes against their personal beliefs.

 

In short, if you have an issue with the pledge then I think that refusing to recite it and/or stand for it is entirely acceptable. However I'm also a fan of picking your fights, if I just thought it was a stupid ceremony I would probably just go along with it rather than cause trouble. I wouldn't waste my time making a big deal out of it unless I really disagreed with some part of it, was trying to make a point, or if I had a lot more spare time on my hands (e.g. back when I was in school).

[Seymour]

Wait, you've tasted BaNO3? Did you die?

 

I have, and of course I did not die. to taste something all you need to do it put a milligram in your mouth, which was probably harmless, but after the experience I spat it out and rinsed my mouth anyway.

 

It is salty (funny that!) with a spicyness and a smooth sensation as it dissolves.

 

I don't live in the States, so my view on this might not be entirely relevant, but...

 

 

FrankRizzo, on 23 March 2010 - 08:37 AM, said:

 

By that same logic, you could refuse to do your math homework as well.

 

 

If someone tried to convince me to do maths homework on the grounds that "you owe it to the state/those who have died/etc", "everyone else is doing it, why can't you just be normal?" or "why do you hate America?" then I would probably say those were stupid arguments and refuse to do it.

 

I did maths homework (most of the time) either because it was interesting or because I felt that doing so would provide some benefit (i.e. because I personally felt that it was what I wanted to do), shouldn't pledging allegiance be done for similar reasons?

 

 

FrankRizzo, on 23 March 2010 - 08:37 AM, said:

 

If you're really honest with yourself, you'd realize that you are behaving that way because you're antisocial.

 

 

I probably fit that description too in some ways, but as long as we are being honest, I would honestly rather do what I feel is right rather than be considered "social". If I felt that refusing to be involved in some ceremony was the right thing to do, for what ever reason, then so be it.

 

 

FrankRizzo, on 23 March 2010 - 08:37 AM, said:

 

If you take exception to the "under god" portion, just don't recite that part.

 

 

Seems reasonable, but what if he takes exception to the pledge in general? or to the fact that by attempting to force people to say it they are making it a hollow ceremony, done out of habit rather than sincerity? Maybe he isn't an American citizen and therefore doesn't owe allegiance to the USA or it's flag, maybe he doesn't believe in the concept of allegiance at all.

 

 

FrankRizzo, on 23 March 2010 - 08:37 AM, said:

 

Saying the pledge before classes is like any other custom, silly or otherwise, it brings people together.

 

 

This probably comes back to being antisocial, but I'm not sure I want to be brought together with people who will perform a silly custom even if it goes against their personal beliefs.

 

In short, if you have an issue with the pledge then I think that refusing to recite it and/or stand for it is entirely acceptable. However I'm also a fan of picking your fights, if I just thought it was a stupid ceremony I would probably just go along with it rather than cause trouble. I wouldn't waste my time making a big deal out of it unless I really disagreed with some part of it, was trying to make a point, or if I had a lot more spare time on my hands (e.g. back when I was in school).

 

Well stated.

[optimus]

Anyways, what are you guys' feelings on saying the Pledge of Allegiance?

 

I've heard various stories about students being arrested for not saying the pledge - a quick google turns up a fair few examples and this:

 

"The right to sit silently during the Pledge of Allegiance has been held up by the US Supreme Court, and is enshrined in Maryland state law and Mongtomery County Public Schools' own policies, reports the Washington Post."

 

Personally, I agree with Einstein when it comes to flag-waving patriotism...

[50AE]

No, I did not die in my dream. I remember I was getting a stomach pain, and it ended.

I've tasted Ba(NO3)2 though. It's salty. Some milligrams on the tongue won't hurt you. I washed my mouth afterwards.

 

The last week I had a more scary dream.

 

I dreamt I was outside near my residentual building with my friend, we were standing and talking. A short moment after, a cop car came. It stopped and the cops came to us. They asked my friend for his ID card. In the same time I was touching my pocket and I wasn't feeling my card to be there. I started to slowly walk back to reach the door, to my appartment and take my ID card while the cops were busy with my friend. But they saw me sneaking away, so one of them called me. I approached them and he told me he doesn't like people who run away from an ID verification. He took me with him to his car were his colleagues were. They told me I'll have to wait. I was listening to them talking, one of them said:

 

-"Somebody informed us that a resident in this building is manufacturing fireworks and HEs illegally"

I was scared like hell. Then, I saw other cars coming, blue buses of the criminal police. They had special uniforms. I was watching them entering the building. I watched how they were throwing away my pyro stuff from the balcony. Then, the cops in the car told me.

-Don't try to hide, we know it's you.

I started to explain myself, bla bla.

 

When everything of my stuff was thrown away and collected, all the cops came to me. They were carrying a large box of 1.4G consumer fireworks. They dropped it in front of me and they all shouted:

"Happy Birthday to You" !

 

Then they went back to their cars and went away.

There was so many 1.4G fireworks in this box, but I didn't like them, somehow I felt these fireworks were total crap.

I went back to my appartment.

My working place was empty. Everything was gone.

And my dream ended.

 

[NightHawkInLight]

Anyways, what are you guys' feelings on saying the Pledge of Allegiance? I got sassed by my teacher today for not standing for the pledge. She tried to take the unpatriotic course, saying how her son, and others have fought for my freedom. I responded by saying that my cousin, and other relatives have/are fighting for my right to be able to refuse to standup/say the pledge without repercussions. That shut her up, but she took it up with the principal. He knows the laws about it, i.e. the Supreme Court ruling in 1943 that says that you can't be forced or punished for not standing/saying the Pledge. He was nice, and asked me to just at least stand, to respect my classmates. I don't really agree with this, but I don't want to give him trouble, because he asked nicely and didn't flip out. Anyways, thoughts?

And to any veterans in this forum, please don't get offended. I hear so many people saying how not saying the Pledge disrespects our veterans; I take the view that they have fought so that I have the freedom to not participate in the pledge. If you have fought, what are your views?

I've taken a night to consider my reply to this. It does offend my sensibilities to not recite the pledge, but I cannot justify the entity to which allegiance is being given - 'The republic', composed of 'the public', which I have written about in the following way on another forum:

 

"The stupidity of the average individual these days is staggering. The world is becoming a victim of its own technology. Life has become so easy that there is no longer need for any knowledge or reason. Any drooling idiot can lead a perfectly happy and ignorant life working at the corner store with a job description a sentence long. Hey, the dumber you are the more likely you'll hurt yourself on the job and be riding high on lawsuit money the rest of your life. Who needs to know more than that? In Michigan the recent scheme is people intentionally losing their homes so they can buy again cheap even though they can afford their payments.

 

What's even more disgusting is that many people think by weaseling out of the money they owe or by suing at the drop of a hat that they are more intelligent than the rest. Suffering an injury with the opportunity to file a lawsuit is often described as winning the lottery. We truly are in a time marked by pride in ones character.

 

And then there's the matter of the ineffective and excessive law...That too is caused by mass ignorance and will continue to spiral downhill until the root cause is improved - Not bloody likely."

 

It is not the government, the constitution, nor is it the military or sacrifices made that the pledge is about, it is the people. The individuals who make up our country. I don't have enough faith in common sense to trust the average individual to use a pocket knife without injuring themselves. In the entity given the title of 'the republic' there are many intelligent, patriotic, and well meaning individuals - But they are vastly outnumbered. I will continue to recite the pledge, vote, and work towards what I believe is good simply to remain in the minority who value the freedom of our republic, but I have very little faith in the public overall. A day may come where I will not recite the pledge, but it's not here yet.

[dagabu]

Pledge of allegiance:

 

My personal feelings are this, If you object to saying it, there is plenty of space left in Canada to live. I am for a mandatory 2 year stint in the military for ALL persons of 18 years of age.

 

There have always been objectors to the pledge, "Under God" etc, our freedoms protect you in doing so but also allow me to tell you to get the hell out of my country if you cannot support the flag, the constitution and her military.

 

I have six kids, two of whom are currently in the military, another that is a contentious objector but loves and supports his older brothers but will never carry a gun, a wife that lost her first husband to Vietnam and myself who spent every day during the first gulf war launching A-6 Intruders off the flight deck, can and does recite the pledge with all 600 of my students every day and honored me and the other veterans in attendance this Veterans day with a Veterans Memorial.

 

Freedom is not free and it is only by the blood of the uncounted tens of thousands that have WILLINGLY shed it for you that you even have the right to protest.

 

Dave

[optimus]

My personal feelings are this, If you object to saying it, there is plenty of space left in Canada to live. I am for a mandatory 2 year stint in the military for ALL persons of 18 years of age.

 

Are you actually suggesting the deportation of all those kids who are refusing to say it? - or just being dramatic?

[dagabu]

First, you're welcome for having the right to ask the question.

 

Second, thank you for allowing me the right to be dramatic and to make a point that we Americans are so used to having everything handed to us that they should have to endure some hardship.

 

So, sure, be a good American citizen or leave. Dramatic or not, it's my opinion.

 

D