kepo-ing Zz85

Technology have change rapidly and so are the toys that children play nowadays. However, there’s something after thousands of years some kids still play with… Fire.

No, I’m talking about the recent fire bombs that some teens in France.

It was an evening however while I was sitting on the garden bench, enjoying the breeze, seeing children playing at the playground, some at an elderly fitness corner, some kids playing badminton, then something caught my eye. It was a shot of dark flame shooting from a bottle.

Curious, I walked in their direction. A few kids, around the age of 10+, were gathered around that excitement. By the time I reached them, it seems they had finished their fun.

Evidences I could find in my quick look - Burnt matches, a medicine like glass bottle, a plastic mineral water bottle, and what seems like cotton swaps.

From what I made up, from that glass bottle was alcohol content. The cotton was used to absorb that, placed in the plastic bottle then turned around to release the flammable gas to a lighted match cause a moment a small burst of flame shooting out from the bottle.

Years ago, it was on the news, some boys were caught for playing explosive by packing fire sparklers fillings in a can.

Thinking back, I was one played with fire when I was younger. My parents and brother used to say I burned my pyjamas and also myself when I was younger when playing with lanterns(or was it fire sparklers at my grandma house in Malaysia?).

I was more curious than the usual I say. In my primary school day, I was know more how saw dust powder can be flammable by reading the encyclopedia.

There’s always a warning on batteries or canned products like hair spray warning not to disposed in fire. Interest ignited from the flammable word on a perfume can, I bought a cheap perfume spray. Lighted some stuff up and then spray it from a distance, I had my own “flame thrower”.

Later I learnt how to make a “rocket” utilising nothing more than a box of fire sparklers. In my most successful model, it flew about 2 stories and bust with a loud “boom”. Adults around wondered what happen and if it was an explosion.

On the not so dangerous site, I learn a magic trick on how to light a safety match without the matchbox. I also bought a zippo light and practiced a few simple zippo tricks

Ironically, in ns I learning about explosives in army. However with age, I should be more sensible. Knowing the dangers of explosive, like the knowledge of cruelty of car and suicide bombings, I play with fire no more.