Chris;

Thank you so much for your timely reminder that sometimes teenagers do dumb things, and we shouldn't be judging those two kids as harshly as we did; we should be thankful they survived.

I remember when I was a teenager, my brother and I mixed up a big batch of black powder in a 2 gallon plastic ice cream container, then spent the afternoon putting spoonfuls of it on my dad's workbench and setting fire to it. We started small, then the piles got progressively bigger and bigger. With the last one, a huge shower of sparks went up and we watched, paralysed, as one huge glowing ember came down heading directly for the open container, still full of about a gallon of BP. It fizzled out, still about 6 to 8 inches in the air, and we just stood there without moving for what seemed like an eternity. Then I suggested that we not do that any more and my brother agreed. with alacrity <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Of course, now that I'm old and grey(ing) I tend to forget the dumb things I did when I was a kid. (Don't we all?)

Again, thanks for the reminder. After all, the worst mistake anyone can make in survival is to say "it can't happen to me". Regardless of the reasons for believing it.

I used to make "dynamite" with old toilet paper rolls, shotgun shell powder and fuses from firecrackers (the long ones). Never had any near-death experiences though. I did however set the yard on fire once while playing with matches too close to an open can of gasoline. Dropped a match that I "thought" was extinguished on to the ground too close to the open container and apparently there was a nice trail of spilled fuel because the grass ignited in a nice little line that led straight up and into the gasoline can. So with spout of can flaming like an oil lamp I thought to myself "it's gonna blow!" so I kicked it over to "release pessure" and of course spilled flaming gasoline all over the yard. I then ran inside and told my mom, the fire dept came and the rest is, well, history. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dynamite, gazoline flaming ....

Hey !! you could have been a little Red Ader !!!!!
I guess you missed your calling ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

When I was about 16 or so, I decided to become an architect. At 26, I was one. At 46, I'm still one. Pretty much falls within the subject of this thread.... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

well... I'm not so sure.
We all made some mistakes and learned from them and no longer do them.
It looks like you did not learn from yours as you are still doing it ! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />