mad scientists

Took LB to a party today for her friend A's birthday. At the party they had a Mad Scientist^[1], doing Mad Science things!

We had Mad Scientist Sam, who started with a card trick, then went on to make everyone some slime^[2], showed us how to get his friend Egbert the Egg into a glass beaker where the neck was too small, then did fun things with vinegar and baking powder^[3], made a tornado in a bottle, handed out some diffraction glasses, set fire to some flash paper, before finishing up with a practical 'how to make candyfloss' session. All whilst telling a room of six year-olds the sciencey bits behind what was going on.

All entirely good fun, but I couldn't help thinking that nalsa would have made a far better job of it, and injected an entire order of magnitude more enthusiasm (and hand waving, balloon animals etc) into the proceedings.

The candyfloss was delicious though. And watching a room full of small people wearing diffraction glasses wandering around like they're stoned going 'whoah! the... colours!' is hilarious. One small child promptly announced that he was now invisible!!, and wandered off.




^[1] Mad Science Parties!
^[2] PVA glue, coloured paint, water, plus borax. Stir until gooey. Do not eat or get on the carpet.
^[3] add one to the other and watch what happens. Put some vinegar in a test tube, some baking powder in a balloon, put the balloon over the end of the tube and shake the powder in. Great fun.

puddles

inspired by all the grim weather over the past couple of days, I've created a new group.

Puddletography
www.flickr.com/groups/puddletography/

Photos of puddles. Things in puddles. Reflections in puddles. Preferably a photo where the puddle is the main thing, but hey, we're pretty relaxed about such things.

Yes, I know there must be a ton of puddle-related groups on Flickr. But none called Puddletography!

Name inspired by bloodlossgirl, who is both smart *and* takes great photos.

(no subject)

Watching Castle. Can't help thinking that Nathan Fillion would be utterly brilliant as Monty.


[edit] someone on Twitter just suggested Tim Roth as an alternative, based on Lie To Me. I've not seen the show (looks fab though), but think Tim Roth is fantastic. Intriguing...

Monty: Prank calls

"Who are you phoning?" asked Molly, looking up from her computer monitor. 

"Oh, don't mind me," he replied, flicking through the telephone directory he'd been carrying as he walked into her office. "Ah. There we go. Mind if I use your phone?"

Monty picked up the telephone and started pressing buttons, checking against the number on the page. Molly waved her hand for him to continue. They were his phones after all. 

He cradled the handset on his shoulder. "Saw something interesting on the side of a truck this morning. Thought I'd give them a call... Hello?"

Molly sighed. Dear God, she thought. Was it really that time of the month already? She continued typing up her resume.

Monty stuck his tongue out at her, then returned his attention to the call. "Hello. Yes. Diamond Relocations? I saw one of your trucks this morning and have a little job for you. The address? Zenn Industries HQ, Thomasson Plaza. Yes, the centre of town. Are you free today?"

Molly rolled her eyes, clicked on save, then got up and went over to the coffee machine. She waved a mug at Monty.

"Excellent. What? How many boxes? Just the one." He grinned, twirling his yellow pencil around in his fingers, nodding at Molly's offer. "Very small. About three inches square. The Mortens-Haag Diamond. He keeps it in a safe on the thirty-seventh floor. Do you provide security or should ..."

He held the handset away from his ear, a look of glee on his face. "Got further with that lot! I wonder..." He resumed flicking through the pages of the directory.

"Don't you get bored of doing that?" Molly asked.

"Never, my dear girl. Never. Aha! Here we go..."

She poured him a large mug of something dangerously caffeinated, and leaned over his shoulder to see what he'd circled with his pencil.

"You're not..."

His grin was the only answer she needed. She sat down, plugged in her headphones and cranked the volume up. Monty ignored her and dialled.

"Hello? Yes. Twenty-Four Hour Recovery? Saw one of your trucks this morning, and have *just* the job for you. I need last Tuesday back, it's a bit of a blur..." 

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