Rukborn - Balloon Night in Korat

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13-02-2007, 09:37 AM
Anonymous Coward

Rukborn - Balloon Night in Korat

I know you city folk think that life up country must be pretty boring and dull. Not so, as I hope to demonstrate with the following photo essay:

Every night we trundle on over to the local mini-mart to buy a few beers for me and some ice cream for Ms. AC and the kid. For the last few days Ms. AC has had her eye on toy that recently made its appearance at the shop. Last night she threw caution to the wind, overcame her parsimonious ways and actually purchased it. Lucky us, because it turned what could have been a quiet night into Korat into a fun-filled evening.

Now, unless you had a very deprived childhood I'm sure you're familiar with this toy. It consists of a small lead tube full of a sticky plastic and small, short straw. The package looks like this:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk01.jpg

What you do is this: Put a blob of the sticky plastic on one end of the straw, put the other end in your mouth and gently blow:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk02.jpg

If you're successful a small bubble will form at the end of the straw:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk03.jpg

Continue to blow and the bubble will turn in to a lovely balloon:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk04.jpg

If you're lucky you can create some interesting shapes:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk05.jpg

When you're done you can gently hold the balloon and gently twist it off the straw:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk06.jpg

When the plastic has dried you can actually hold the balloon:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk07.jpg

They are quite light and can easily blow away. We parked ours on this Pepsi Max can:

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...1219/ruk08.jpg

Now, don't get too excited. Each pack costs one baht. For us, that one baht spent resulted in nearly an hour of non-stop fun. But wait. As I said, Ms. AC was in a rather expansive mood last night and actually sprung for THREE tubes. We've got two left.

I can hardly wait for tonight's Happy Hour.
13-02-2007, 09:53 AM
slimboyfat

i already banned that stuff from my house. tired of getting a sticky mess on my pants (one that didnt originate from me) every time i sat down
13-02-2007, 12:27 PM
Marmite the Dog

^ You should try wearing trousers then.
13-02-2007, 01:04 PM
slimboyfat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

^ You should try wearing trousers then.

thats what i meant, but i was aiming my comments at an international audience
13-02-2007, 04:56 PM
dubaidave

Woah, I remember that stuff it had a really funny smell and someone said it gave you cancer.
13-02-2007, 06:15 PM
Anonymous Coward

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubaidave

Woah, I remember that stuff it had a really funny smell and someone said it gave you cancer.

I think it's got the same solvents in it as the glue that glue sniffers use. I know I enjoyed the evening quite a bit....
13-02-2007, 08:00 PM
Skulldigger

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubaidave

Woah, I remember that stuff it had a really funny smell and someone said it gave you cancer.

No, those are called 'cigarettes'.
13-02-2007, 10:46 PM
Agent_Smith

Pepsi Max tastes like shit
13-02-2007, 11:20 PM
Gerbil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymous Coward

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubaidave

Woah, I remember that stuff it had a really funny smell and someone said it gave you cancer.

I think it's got the same solvents in it as the glue that glue sniffers use. I know I enjoyed the evening quite a bit....

Correct. They've actually been banned for a few years. Still, just one more law to ignore!

Try sucking back on the straw after inflating the balloon and you'll see why! (Also, not a good idea to try this around any naked flames!)
14-02-2007, 01:09 AM
Curious George

QUOTE

"SUPER ELASTIC BUBBLE PLASTIC

Super Elastic Bubble Plastic is manufactured by the Wham-O Mfg. Co., with similar materials usually referred to as “plastic bubbles” made by other companies.

Plastic bubbles are composed of polyvinyl acetate, acetone, pigments and plastic fortifiers. In use, a small amount of the plastic material is placed on the end of a plastic straw and a bubble is formed by blowing through the straw. When the bubble is of sufficient size, it can be pinched off from the straw and saved. During the process, the acetone evaporates from the plastic leaving a polyvinyl acetate film.

SAFETY NOTE: Plastic bubble material is flammable and should not be used near flames. In high concentrations, acetone vapors are toxic, causing dizziness, narcosis (a “high”) and coma. Plastic bubbles should be used with adequate ventilation."

While it is reported that 'Plastic Bubbles' were formulated and became popular in the '70s, I used to enjoy them in the '50s. So, I have to believe they were commercialized long before the reported era.
14-02-2007, 01:43 AM
Gerbil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious George

SAFETY NOTE: Plastic bubble material is flammable and should not be used near flames. In high concentrations, acetone vapors are toxic, causing dizziness, narcosis (a “high”) and coma. Plastic bubbles should be used with adequate ventilation."

Yep, definately a suitable toy for the kids. :(
14-02-2007, 12:39 PM
dubaidave

thats so interesting.
I know they banned it from my school.
15-02-2007, 09:09 PM
Anonymous Coward

Sorry, but I haven't been able to post for two days because Ms. AC and I have spent our days blowing bubbles. The mini-mart has run out now, but promises a new supply in the morning. Apparently the price is going up. Damn!
15-02-2007, 09:20 PM
Gerbil

^ Two more glue sniffers hooked :)