Make A Sparkler

Here are two simple 4-item recipes:

1. For this fireworks sparkler you need:

Potassium Nitrate - 6 parts
Granular Magnesium - 4 parts
Charcoal - 1 part
and a starch or sugar 'binder'

Mix, and coat a wire or stick.

This guy uses -marshmallows- for his binder.



Or, if that sounds too messy...

2. You can mix up a Bond Street Sparkler.

blackberry puree,
St.Germain elderflower liqueur
Fresh Mint
and a quality Champagne...

For a simply fun July, I might make both.

For TT's 'simple' day
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Papering The World

...without greasing any palms.
Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great. - Edward Coke

The World Bank estimates over $1 trillion of the Earth's economy is bribes. Luckily, Vijay Anand, and the people of zerocurrency.org, have begun to reduce that number through financial non-violence. Meet the 'zero rupee':


When asked for a bribe, you hand over this zero-rupee note which looks like real currency but says "Eliminate corruption at all levels. I promise to neither accept nor give bribes." And it works! One official in Tamil Nadu was so stunned to receive the note that he handed back all the bribes he had solicited for providing electricity to an entire village.

Vijay says: "Corruption starts before birth here. Parents have to pay a bribe to the nursing staff to even know the sex of the baby. (If it is a girl child you pay less, if its a boy child you pay a little more bribe.) That is where it begins for an Indian citizen. And after getting discharged from the hospital, (come the bribes for) obtaining of the birth certificate. Then when (they) got to school, obtaining admission requires another bribe..." and so on.

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This non-money?...
It is worth the paper its printed on.

And so much more.

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update:
* They've now printed over 7 million of these bills.
In more than half the world's currencies.
The U.S. sample:

How about a 'zero' Hamilton for TT's ''paper' day. ;-)
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Spin In The Wind

Actually, its an indoor windmill.
Made out of a cardboard box.
(a model for a later design)
So it will sit, but not even spin.

And for you observant types...

'Yes', it is a box from a case of Chablis.
(sigh) 'No', there isn't any left, (sorry)
But since its Friday...
'Yes', later we'll go get another. ;)

As its my only art for the day,
it becomes my 12th day of art, of 30.
this November's 'Art Every Day' month
See the other's art bits via twitter #aedm2010

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To see a livelier windmill, watch her go:

And she did it with no scrapes, I'm impressed!
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Cool Wave Pool

Smart water trick makes shapes with waves.

Now they've rigged it in a regular pool, see video:

via Geekologie:


'AMOEBA' (Advanced Multiple Organized Experimental Basin), is a water tank created by Mitsui that is able form images, and 'volcanos', with waves.

Could make playing word games at a pool party fun.

Suppose it would work in a tank of mojitos?

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Save the Earth One Goat Poop At A Time?

Its the White Goat Paper Recycler !

Just feed this White Goat paper and water - its automatic.
After digesting 40 sheets, out poops one roll of toilet paper.

See it in action:


Its so unique - you can see why it won awards.

But... it only makes two rolls per hour.

Not to mention it costs $100,000 US !

Hm.

Perhaps we should try a real white goat* instead?...
Its output is recycled on dirt; no electricity required.

*Get two - then we'll automatically get more lil' goats!

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* For ThemeThursday's ' White ' day


*1 of HM's pics of Coney Island, click to see'm

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Bird Brains

Why not, eh?

He has camera in one hand, crumbs in the other: