A Fresnell lens for heat

A totally delightful memory. I bet they took solar energy more seriously?

That's about what I was thinking.

Try

If I typed the URL correctly, should lead to American Science and Surplus. They used to have fresnel lenses. A "magnifying sheet" from Walter Drake is a fun device in the summer time. If you get the focus point nice and small, it is possible to explode black carpenter ants on the cement pool deck. And, I'm not admitting anything. You can't prove a thing.

Says that in the parking lot, they melted pennies. I'm impressed.

I thought this story was going to end, "but we all enjoyed the roasted hen that evening for dinner".

Oh, yeah. They were very liberal PhDs who already were paying extra to put biodiesel in their MBs. All they needed was a dramatic demonstration.

I compressed the story for brevity, and now I feel guilty about fudging it, so I'll tell how it *really* worked.

We started the leaves and then stomped them out -- or we thought we did. Then we left for the rest of our after-lunch walk. When we came back, the rest of the ring was on fire and *other* people were putting it out. However, it really was kind of pretty, and exciting, watching a bunch of middle-aged business people doing the Bunny Hop.

We changed our course to avoid the area. d8-) When I left work that day, our illegal aliens...er, our gardeners were cleaning up with a pressure washer.

On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:21:33 -0800, the infamous Winston scrawled the following:

Morris Dovey, eat your heart out!

-- Every day above ground is a Good Day(tm). -----------

And those first squeezin's are the best of the pot.

Damn! I haven't hankered for a smoke for a coupla months, but that evoked some fond memories. I really did enjoy smoking, sigh.

Steady on, Don! It ain't worth it.

--Winston

Well, either one is good. Both demonstrate that solar power can be useful for something.

I've quit six times. been about twelve years this time. Still wish for a smoke with my morning coffee. And just about can't stand to go to a bar.

Time before that I had stopped five years. On the day two of my best employees were leaving I bought a case of beer and told them today's job was to drink it. I bummed one smoke. Next day , I bought a pack.

Anyway, the craving never leaves. AND you can't have "just one"

Karl

The keep warm heater is what keeps the water in the tanks warm, ala Bunn, Technivorm, etc. The one on my Bunn A-10 is nominally 40 watts, but in reality draws

37 watts. The burner plate, which is what I think you actually meant, draws 90 watts. (The main element is rated at 1000 watts.)

I can't imagine a role for a 300 watt heating element in a coffee maker.

Yeah - burning all those leaves, releasing that nice, nourishing CO2 into the air. The other plants will thank you. ;-)

And the aroma is wonderful!

Cheers! Rich

On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:35:58 -0500, Stormin Mormon top-posted:

(mind the wrap!)

Hope This Helps! Rich

I've read the documents that essentially prove that smoking has nothing to do with cancer. (I was a document coder during two of the big antismokerist money grab of the 1990s.) Cancer is far more closely correlated with a type "A" personality. I'm 60, and been smoking for over

40 years, and at my last physical my lungs were as clear as a bell. I walk a mile or so every day, and don't even get winded. See, the smoke particles stimulate my cilia, and help me flush out the REAL toxic pollutants, notably car exhaust.

My Dad quit smoking at 40 or so, and you know what? He died anyway. )-;

Don't let the cult of antismokerism break your Will! I believe that one day the truth will be revealed - that cancer is caused by denied self-hatred.

Hope This Helps! Rich

If you don't want to smoke, just don't smoke. It's just that simple. But the cult of antismokerism has turned it into some kind of sin.

Illegitimi non carborundum - don't let those bastards wear you down!

The religion of antismokerism is based on lies, just like Harry Anslinger's "Marihuana - Assasin of Youth!" and Al Gore's global warmingism.

Hope This Helps! Rich

Should be found at stationery stores near you.

Who cares about word wrap? I care only if it breaks.

I know, no problem.