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Purifying Flame
by Harry Nopers
Purifying Flame by Harry Nopers in 2004 You know that instant hand sanitizer? A bottle of it can be endlessly entertaining, especially for those with a pyromaniac bent. You see, this stuff is an almost perfect mixture of alcohol and water. It burns -- but it burns slowly, with a steady blue glow that scarcely even looks like flame. This opens up endless possibilities for really remarkable effects. Here's how to use it: Find a flat, heat-proof surface. A tile floor will do in a pinch, as will the inside of your kitchen sink, but it's safer (and roomier) to work outdoors. If you have a balcony or back patio, great. Otherwise you'll have to work on the driveway and risk drawing attention. But you're smart kids. You'll figure something out. Now comes your real opportunity for creativity. Get yourself a bottle of sani. A flip-top container is preferable to a pump bottle; it draws more even lines. And drawing lines is what you want to do -- outlining whatever it is you'd like to see in lights. I should reiterate: Even, consistent lines are key. Draw your lines too thin, and they won't light. Make them too thick or sloppy, and they will flare and spread, leaving your image hard to discern. Start simple: a line, a circle, an X, a couple of block capitals or a smiley face. Touch a match to it, and watch the blue glow spread across the whole layout. If you have disconnected sets of lines (such as that smiley face), you don't necessarily have to light them separately. It may work to draw a "filament" between them -- a line thick enough to communicate the flame, but thin enough to burn itself out afterwards without disturbing the picture. Experiment: it isn't always possible, but when it works it's a great effect. Once you've learned to make clean, even lines, you can draw images of more complexity. You could try simple cariacatures or cartoons; for clarity's sake these should be drawn as large as possible. Writing in cursive and lighting the first stroke can give an "invisible penman" effect. Making pools of sani and connecting them produces a flaming mountain range. I am certain you can come up with more. When the fire goes out, the sani may -- especially if it contained aloe or moisturizers -- leave a slimy residue. Don't bother trying to re-light this stuff: it won't burn. It is harmless and will go away. The same can't be said for the sani habit. Compulsive cleanliness was never this much fun. Regards, Harry Reproduction rights: Freely have you received; freely give. Disclaimer: Do nothing till you hear from me. Do nothing after you hear from me, either. This has been one of HARRY'S A M U S | S T \ / E N M E - O - E M N E / \ T S | S U M A / \ The lights went low, We both said, "Oh!" When the merry-go-round broke down. [email protected] 3 July, 2004