What is Fire?

We know that fire is the result of the combustion of organic material and oxygen.

But, I still wonder what “Fire” is. Don’t You? Why are gas  burning flames blue, and wood burning flames orange? And why do flames move the way they do?

Chemistry tells us the recipe for combustion. But it doesn't tell us about that fantastic light show. That light show is all physics!
When a flame is burning hot and clean, like a gas flame, blow torch or the base of a candle flame. The heat is exciting the molecules releasing a “pale blue” light. This happens because of “Atomic Transitions, and that my friends is Quantum Mechanics!

When the fuel for the flame is not pure and does not burn as hot or entirely (ie. Coal, Wood fires and the top of a candle flame) there is still the blue light like in the gas flames, but you cannot see it. This is due to that blue light being overpowered by the particles of soot and smoke glowing red hot.

Now where does that glow come from? Why do we glow?

This is actually the process known as “Black Body Radiation”. Black Body Radiation is the process that makes everything glow with colored light. The color of the light all depends on the temperature of the heat, or flame. We put off heat don’t we? Why don’t we glow? Well, simply put the reason we don’t see ourselves or our friend’s glowing is because our glow is not put out in the visible light spectrum. We actually glow in the infra-red spectrum.

Things like Hot Soot, lava flows or a piece of metal like Iron in a hot flame will glow with a bright Red or Orange light.

Now why do flames appear to be forever snaking upwards to the sky?

That my dear friends is GRAVITY!

The earth’s pull is what makes heat rise. This is what shapes the flame into the form we have come to know so well. Now if you were to take a flame into zero gravity, the flame would take a shape resembling a balloon. It would actually spread outward from the source of the fire. This happens because there is nothing (gravity) telling the flame where to go which dictates its shape. It then expands outwards in all directions.

And that my friends.. is fire.

Where Does Pink Come From?!

Where is Pink Light? It’s actually not there at all.

So where does it come from?

Pink is actually a mixture of “Red” and “Blue” light. It’s made up of light from both ends of the rainbow, that our brains perceive as one color.

If you attempt to roll up the rainbow into say, a color wheel. You would find a gap in between Red and Violet. This Gap is where all of the other wavelengths of light would fit. These are the wavelengths we cannot “see”, ie. Radio waves, Microwaves, Gamma Rays, Ultraviolet, X-rays etc.

Since we cannot “see” any of those wavelengths, our brains replace all of that hidden brilliance with “Pink”.

When speaking in terms of light, “Pink” should actually be called “Minus Green” because all “Pink” is in terms of light is the leftovers from White Light when you take all of the green out.

In Case I Ever have a Daughter

RULES FOR DATING MY DAUGHTER

1. Rule One:  If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
2. Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
3. Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
4. Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
5. Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."
6. Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
7. Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
8. Rule Eight :The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
9. Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. On issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
10. Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a Black Hawk chopper coming in over a san hill near Mogadishu. When my PTSD starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is me.

DUST

Hello Quiet Bliss, I'm Here only to kick you and make the dust rise!


Real Quick.. Jack Was Born Today! :)


See you all soon!

A Breathe of Fresh Air

So it's nearly 2012... So much has changed in my life since I last posted on this dead blog. I have moved so much further in life. Met someone new and wonderful, have begun the process of preparing to be a father. A venture that is completely scary and amazing at the same time!

My little one should be here in May of 2012. I can not WAIT! Other than that, I'm 29 going on 30, still reenacting the american civil war with my boys the 14th Brooklyn and enjoying the 150th Anniversary cycle of events. I'm going to do my best on posting here again to just allow myself to vent, or be happy or just share shit. That is.. if reddit doesn't continue to suck up all my internet time! lmao.


Best
-Frank

I see your face...

In every flame..

With no answers.. I have only myself to blame.

tears..

fighting them... constantly this day.