Bet your ass, what of it?

Oh [censored], you make me be serious?

Day in day out, Windmills. {Really}

Randall

Randjack, please watch the language. I went on this date once. I took a tall jewish looker named Lisa Silverman hot air ballooning over the California wine country. Our 'ship's captain' was this old Prussian who looked like Adolph Galland and I know the outline under his starched shirt was an iron cross. What I remember most, aside from Lisa nibbling on my earlobe was this bandolier of bics on his chest reminiscent of Emiliano Zapata. He said they were redundant backups in case of a flameout. I had visions of the Hindenberg disaster, the captain looked far off into the horizon no doubt remembering faster flights in a BF-262 and Lisa just kept nibbling my ear. Helmut eventually retired back to Dusseldorf, Lisa wisely married a Doctor instead of an archaeologist and I fondly look at bics and feel this nerve permanently damaged in my right earlobe twitching. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As an aside, I had a business encounter and "small talk" discussion with a TSA baggage inspector the other day.

If they (TSA) can "see" fuel in your lighter in your checked bags, they will confiscate it. It no fuel is "visible" (zippo or an opaque bic) they will return it to your bag. They are not allowed to attempt to light it to see if it contains fuel.

Comforting thought that someone making in excess of $100,000 a year came up with this policy. I feel so safe from militant Islamics now.

YMMV

Accchh! My matie! You are beginning to get into the spirit of the thing!

[color:"red"]Here's the deal: I will pay $100.00 {no [censored]} to the guy that starts a fire with a [genericly speaking] metal match with one hand! Video required. [/color]

No -- not a blast match or other aided device or a rod braced against another object - just straight metal stick. I think $100.00 is well worth the contribution to the community.

A few years back, I bought one of these for my grub box, which I used about 3 or 4 times a month in all kinds of conditions.

http://www.midwest-creative.com/Product-ButaneTorch.asp

It is not a small item, and it is not waterproof, but it is water resistant, and it has been working now without fail since I bought it. It uses a piezo electric lighter, so no flint to wear out, and it has a lock to keep it going hands free. I've lit charcoal, cigars, wood fires, even melted lead with the thing. It is what I keep in my BOB back home.

Another great tool is a Weller portable butane soldering iron. I keep one in my toolbox and have been using them for almost 20 years now. They have a torch attachment and an external flint striker in the lid which throws a good enough spark to light petroleumed cotton balls.

Both lighters are refillable. Both create a venturi flame that is fairly wind proof and much hotter and more stable than what the bic or zippo can do.

Neither of these are practical enough for a PSK, but they are definitely worthy of a BOB.

Yeah -- and this is true -- my first hot air ballon ride was commisioned through a bar in Albi, NM. We got out there at some unholy hour, and met out guy on a plateau where all the baloon folks meet on the Sandia.

The gondola was this little aluminum contraption he refered to as of a 'racing balloon'. I think the three of might have had room to fart.

The ride was great! We landed 35 miles out of range, with a 25 knot cross [that is when I figured out why he made the thing out of aluminum rather than some natural material] I think the wind drug us about a half mile on the ground before the basket hit a ridge.

I'd do it again manana, but it just wouldn't be the same.

And Chris, pardon the f'ing language.

Ben: Williams-Sanonm sells them to perfect the crust on your creme brule

randjack,
I got the video if someone will host it. It isn't that great, but I lit cotten on fire using just a BSA hotspark, SAK, and my right hand. The cotten got stuck to the hair on my knucles though and I had to take it off with my left hand when the ember started to burn. But, it was done completely one handed.

Edit: (it is a 2mb MPEG file)

Second edit:
Here it is: One handed

Okay, now I also have a 1.9mb file that shows it even better using a different method that is still completely one handed. I don't light anything, but it shows good sparks that could have easily lit more cotten.

Not sure how good this site is, but i'm trying it:
One handed spark