Gary, the dangerous infidel says:

And for our next demonstration, we’re going to give each of our secretaries a small chunk of weapons grade plutonium to keep with them. Then, let’s watch the fun when they come together for their 10:30 coffee break, learning an important lesson in the meaning of critical mass. If that doesn’t keep their coffee hot, I don’t know what will.

As always, boys and girls, don’t try this at home without mom and dad’s permission.

Holdfast says:

I remember using Magnesium ribbon to light powdered Al at school. I think I used a Bunsen burner. I don’t think kids get to do that nowadays.

Holdfast says:

That film does make me wonder though. Why were they trying to convince people that Mg was not really flammable?
I am 50 and never had any doubt that making warships out of the stuff was a really stupid idea.

RSweeney says:

Thank heavens that large blocks of magnesium are never more evenly heated by say… burning gasoline or kerosene in a car or aircraft fire.

Otherwise these secretaries might have been toasted.

We used to take files to broken mag wheels, mix the powder with aluminum and rust and make a thermite-like mix that could melt deep holes in concrete sidewalks.

Ah… the days when chemistry wasn’t a criminal act.

Olo Baggins of Bywater says:

Ha. I have one of these. It’s standard Boy Scout equipment. This stuff burns like hell.

Olo Baggins of Bywater says:

I assumed the site would explain it…you shave off the magnesium with a pocket knife, about a quarter-size pile. Scrape the knife of the sparker side, and stand back. It burns white-hot even in a puddle.

Father says:

“Weapons grade plutonium” is a redundant statement.

RBG says:

“Only certain fissile isotopes of plutonium and uranium can be used in nuclear weapons.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons-grade

Father says:

Pu-240 is produced when Pu-239 absorbs an additional neutron and fails to fission. Pu-240 and Pu-239 are not separated by reprocessing.

mojotaker says:

Hmm, how many days now, and still no article on the stupid ruling done by the supreme court ?

A whole Dvorak.org/blog “UNCENSORED” blog…. and nothing regarding how we just lost power in our votes ? How corporations are treated as Persons ?

Whats this World coming too.