Taking a break from politics here, folks.
A few years ago I posted a few comments in environmental diaries about my experience with veggie-oil cars (converting a diesel car to run off used veggie oil). That was a L.A. trend that seems to have settled into a fairly small niche.
Here's another DFH hobby of mine that will never catch on with population at large: mag lens, aka 'solar hits'. For bout two years or so I've been sharing this technique with family and friends, why not share it here with my fellow discontents and rabble?
'Solar hits' can be used for a variety of purposes- lighting a cigarette on a sunny day (bad for your health!), enjoying a blend of tobacco in a pipe, or igniting a blend of medical cannabis prescribed by your doctor. I find the medical cannabis to be more efficacious once you remove butane lighters from the equation, as well as the resulting chemicals/compounds that are inhaled when using butane. Plus, it's a "green" technique that eliminates a fossil fuel from your smoking sessions.
Basically, the idea is thus:
Solar energy is free, once sunken costs have been covered. In this case, that cost would be for your magnifying lens. Make sure the MIDDLE of the lens is THICKER than the edges, so the refraction is right. Any science geek here can explain better than I, but the goal is to be able to focus as much energy into the focus point as possible. Some kids grew up burning things with mag lens, so they've already got a bit of practice under their belt.
Here in Southern California, conditions are perfect for solar hits. In seattle or portland, maybe a bit less ideal you could say. On a business trip to Humboldt County in 2008, I met a medical cannabis grower who kept a mag lens on a chain around his neck, in case a sunny day necessitated quick access to a mag lens. I have even snatched a solar hit out of a sunburst that appeared for a scarce few moments in between passing masses of clouds. Nothing teaches you patience more than waiting on clouds to move out of your way. Clouds can be obstinate little bastards sometimes.
Here is a vid I just googled----> http://www.youtube.com/...
Now, for those who are in less sunny locales but want to avoid butane, look into hemp wicks. There are now a few brands out on the market of beeswax-covered hemp string. Since our politicians believe hemp is associated with hippies, and hippies=the devil, we don't allow american farmers to grow it. My particular brand of choice for hemp wick is made in Hawaii, probably grown in canada, and is organic. You can get cheaper brands that are grown in china and not organic. I went that route once, and will not go that route again.
I meet 20-somethings all the time who are unfamiliar with these two methods of ignition that I'm relating right now, but since this site is visited by an older demographic, there may be a few here amongst us that can share solar hits stories from back in the day. [Unless you're scared to be honest. If that's the case, I don't even understand your fear.]
UPDATE: Time to go open my christmas gift from joe biden and the feds! Oh you guys, you didn't have to! no, really!