Flutterby™! : Soda bottle bombs

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Soda bottle bombs

2010-05-02 02:35:36.284713+00 by Dan Lyke 9 comments

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-02 04:24:09.657767+00 by: Hanan Cohen

I highly recommend the book Fifty Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)

http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Da...gs-Should-Children/dp/0984296107

I have purchased the book for the science museums' library (which I am in charge of).

Interestingly, a lot of the Dangerous Things are things we find in Israel normal for kids to do. Like "use public transport".

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-02 10:40:24.856523+00 by: meuon

Excellent. I agree completely.

One edit: "...how to jury rig stuff safely..."Might be better if it was: ".... how to field engineer stuff safely..." or maybe ".... how to improvise stuff safely....". "Rigging juries" has a negative connotation.

We need more kids interested in science. I only made it through advanced chemistry because every once in a while our instructor said "Ok, lets blow something up..." and while he made us work out all the chemistry first, we were motivated by the impending 'boom'.

Our society needs more poeple that can actually "make stuff happen".

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-02 11:19:32.176644+00 by: meuon

NYC Car Bomb Fizzles
Bad timing for a Flutterby post about making soda bottle bombs.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-03 02:18:36.801148+00 by: Dan Lyke

Yeah, maybe keeping the kids ignorant of chemistry is working! Sounds like someone had a "I heard people have made bombs out of these things, so let's throw 'em all together in a car" afternoon.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-03 18:43:34.483072+00 by: Dan Lyke

Today's XKCD seems like it touches on this topic.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-03 19:22:51.709959+00 by: meuon

As a young man I played with Sterno, Naptha Balls, Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Magnesium Ribbon, Propane, Black Powder.. In high school (Senior Advanced Chemistry) I learned about "high speed" explosives used for echo sounding of the earth, shaped charges, and how different metals introduces into black powder made different color fireworks. I think copper made blues and greens, it's been a while. I learned that very thin or powdered aluminum can actually burn. I helped with firing a small chunk of oil soaked sodium into a barrel of water. (Boom) I even received an award for chemistry (I was an "Olin Science Scholar"), even though I had been suspended for making things I should not have in class (or at all).

I lost interest in Chemistry in college, our instructor was boring, it was mostly theory and math with a lab that was worse equipped and supplied than the high school's. It was tough, I remember there was one 'A' and I was glad to get a 'C'.

Our world is becoming the world of THX 1138 quickly,

Luckily for us, MOST people with actual skills in physics and chemistry are extremely socially responsible. Including me. So far.

#Comment Re: \ made: 2010-05-03 20:26:52.427456+00 by: Dan Lyke

I think a good part of it is that if you're a smart sociopath, you go into politics where you coordinate attacks by others. Which is why most attacks like the one in Times Square are generally the domain of idiots.

Also, I strongly suspect that it'll come out that the FBI was running a sting on this guy and sold him the propane.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-04 05:02:48.51727+00 by: hananc

This Museum Exposes Kids to Thrills, Chills and Trial Lawyers

Defiant St. Louis Venue Owner's Claim: Attorneys 'Take the Fun Out of Life'

http://online.wsj.com/article/...63721620890.html?KEYWORDS=museum

#Comment Re: made: 2010-05-05 21:17:32.566893+00 by: andylyke

hananc: Thanks for that link. I've already planned my next trip to St. Louis!!