Philip Poburka on mon 11 mar 02
Dear Gavin,
Truth be told I have allways been 'careful' and keep an eye on others =
too.
even if, understandably, my anecdote seemed to suggest an easy contempt.
I have a happy respect for these considerations and the things they =
regard, and you
mustn't suppose I am otherwise!
I have often been curious about the experience as would underly the =
plethora of=20
injunctions and admonishions to which we are hier. The more I am availed =
to
my own experience and to some distinctions as to the components and =
factors
as configure into the situations I seek to understand, the more I may
appreciate the things that go on, or that have vexed or freightened =
myself or others.
I think that the confusion or the distinction has often been lost in the
apochrophal injunctions and stories, between a Cigarette that IS already
'lit' and the act of lighting one.
I should think I would politely not have 'smoked' were I a passenger on =
the 'Hindenburg'...or in many many situations...
I do not disput that an already 'lit' Cigarette may ignite fumes and the
like of Gasolene, rather I am asserting the utter failure of all my =
attempts
to do so, varied and imaginative as they have been.
Telephones, Refridgerator Compressors, or rather, their electrical =
'contact'
points...'Gas' Hot Water Heaters who have to them a pilot light AND a =
'whoosh' of flame as they come-on to do their heating...
And other devices as may actuate in one's absence have been long known =
to be
plenty good at igniteing pooled or collected Gases or fumes from a leak =
or
from a forgotten pet-cock left 'on' when someone forgot to light the =
flame for
their stove or oven...or it it went 'out' for some reason or other.
Working out of doors through the years there were many times of useing =
or
being with Gasolene and sometimes other flammable solvents.
I realized the distinction between the 'ember' of a Cigarette, and how =
it
differs from a 'spark' from something or a flame.
Enclosed spaces are a consideration...the 'conditions' are a
consideration...
The 'spark' as I may get from bumping the cherry is not a 'spark' so =
much as
smaller ember bits who may brighten a little, but have charteristics
differing from the spark of a (dry) Zippo Lighter, a flint-and-steel or
other things.
I'd move some few feet away, or 'up-breeze' from my work, light a =
Cigarette
and resume my
attentions to cleaning up a Carburetor or what, and sometimes other =
people would get
hysterical as they had been taught to do so I suppose.
The worse that could have happenned would be that some little bit of
Gasolene IN a coffee can would have done nothing, and the little brush I
were useing maybe MAYBE if you 'lit' it would have had a flame about =
like a
bigger 'Zippo', and so my thought on that was "So?"
The abilities of a wind to 'fan' an ember into enough heat to ingite =
paper
or similar is certainly a condition distinct from a calm day etc. which =
itself may
occasion a smouldering from an errent cherry or carelessly discarded =
Cigarette, that of course one would not want to happen either!
I have never 'thrown' Cigarettes 'inocently'? or otherwise, except out =
of my
Car window IN Las Vegas, as I am driveing, and NOT in or about =
'Gas-Stations', but on the streets and in traffic, as I do not feel at =
all shy about
that as a political incidental of my affections and regard for it's =
tender
sentiments about itself.
Anywhere else I do not do that, and I am very VERY circumspect in the
'Natural' out-of-doors...and I do not do that indoors or in anyone =
else's
'basements full of fumes or the like!
I am allways Animal-like in entering ANY place..any 'basement' or what, =
and
allways testing the Air for smells and clues as to 'what' is there and =
how
it is 'there' in many ways...
Oh yes...
Thanks for the fun on this topic!
AND I do not 'smoke' when standing next to the fellows filling my =
Propane
Jugs or Bottles!
Regards,
Phil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gavin Stairs"
To: "Philip Poburka"
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: propane
> Dear Phil,
>
> There is a cute party trick of putting out your cigarette by flicking =
it
> into a bucket of gasoline. Works most of the time. Just don't try it
near
> me and expect me to stick around.
>
> Ignition requires several conditions be met. You can extinguish a
> cigarette by putting it in a gas jet -- no oxygen, no cigarette
> coal. However, if you raise the right mix of air and gas to the right
> temperature, and supply the right energy, you will make fire. I don't
know
> offhand if a cigarette is an appropriate ignition source for a gas =
fire,
> but I decline your offer to try the experiment in casual =
circumstances.
>
> Yours for the short term, Gavin
>
> At 03:05 AM 11/03/2002, you wrote:
> >Dear Gavin and all...
> >
> >I have tried many times to get some flammible liquid as 'Gasolene' or
> >other...'MEK', Toluene, Alcohols, Lacquer-Thinners, Benzine etc to =
ignite
> >with a Cigarette, and I have never suceeded. ...
>
>
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