Is Cornstarch Firebreathing MOOPy?

[ArtemisiaLYG]

I have a small performance bit around my camp which requires fire breathing. For health and safety purposes, I fire breathe with cornstarch, which is finely ground corn flour that's used as a thickening agent in cooking. It's white and has a very light, dust-like consistency. Sometimes when breathing with it, you can get small spatters of white powder the way you would when breathing with lamp oil. Since fire spinning out on the playa is allowable, I wanted to see what the thoughts were on cornstarch moopiness, as it wouldn't be something I could easily pick up/clean up, but most likely wind would just disperse the any left over powder.

[Dr. Pyro]

Corn starch? Have you lost your mind? Oh the humanity!

[lemur]

the playa isnt a clean room.

[Savannah]

So, the constarch goes into your fuel, and you're breathing out a combo of fuel and starch? [ / fascinated ]

[Lonesomebri]

Is there some way you can have the cornstarch come out with the flames as golden brown warm corn buscuits?

[ArtemisiaLYG]

No combination; just pure cornstarch. When you breathe it out/airate it, it can be ignited. But when it's not spread out in a cloud, it's not flammable, which protects you from danger if the flame travels back to your mouth while breathing. No chemical pneumonia risk. No toxic fuels getting absorbed into your body by holding the fuel in your mouth. So safe it's used to teach kids how to fire breathe.

[VultureChow]

So, the constarch goes into your fuel, and you're breathing out a combo of fuel and starch? [ / fascinated ]

I thought the starch was the fuel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

[theCryptofishist]

So, the constarch goes into your fuel, and you're breathing out a combo of fuel and starch? [ / fascinated ]

I thought the starch was the fuel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

Of course it is, just like when wheat silos explode.

[mulch]

On a similar note.... Are sesame seed buns allowed on the playa. Sometimes those seeds fall off or if you laugh when eating one the seeds may get away from you and be hard to find.

I'm all for keeping this hell hole of a lifeless desert the same as we found it, but I also find those discussions of the moop from a single feather in a cap to be divorced from practical reason. And worrying about a tiny bit of unburned cornstarch hitting the dust seems like the price the playa will have to pay to host this event.

[VultureChow]

So, the constarch goes into your fuel, and you're breathing out a combo of fuel and starch? [ / fascinated ]

I thought the starch was the fuel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

Of course it is, just like when wheat silos explode.

I bought the DVD set of Engineering Disasters. Spectacular background documentary while I'm crocheting. One of the segments was on grain dust explosions of grain elevators.

[Elderberry]

On a similar note.... Are sesame seed buns allowed on the playa. Sometimes those seeds fall off or if you laugh when eating one the seeds may get away from you and be hard to find.

I'm all for keeping this hell hole of a lifeless desert the same as we found it, but I also find those discussions of the moop from a single feather in a cap to be divorced from practical reason. And worrying about a tiny bit of unburned cornstarch hitting the dust seems like the price the playa will have to pay to host this event.

BINGO!

[trilobyte]

There is such a thing as going too far, but there's also such a thing as not going far enough. And in mulch's case, it reads as if he's kind of making an argument for not giving a shit if something small (ie feather off a hat) comes off. If that's not the case, then I'm misreading it. If it is, that's weak.

[theCryptofishist]

So, the constarch goes into your fuel, and you're breathing out a combo of fuel and starch? [ / fascinated ]

I thought the starch was the fuel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

Of course it is, just like when wheat silos explode.

I bought the DVD set of Engineering Disasters. Spectacular background documentary while I'm crocheting. One of the segments was on grain dust explosions of grain elevators.

Sounds like the sort of DVD that would have Foxfur dropping by to watch it.

[mulch]

And in mulch's case, it reads as if he's kind of making an argument for not giving a shit if something small (ie feather off a hat) comes off. If that's not the case, then I'm misreading it. If it is, that's weak.

No, I'm alluding to people talking about laminating the damn things (recent discussion) so that microscopic particles wont fall off of a single feather. If you agree with that then you also need to consider the sesame seed issue, and skin detritus, and wear a hair net at all times like the school cafeteria woman.

[lemur]

No, I'm alluding to people talking about laminating the damn things (recent discussion) so that microscopic particles wont fall off of a single feather. If you agree with that then you also need to consider the sesame seed issue, and skin detritus, and wear a hair net at all times like the school cafeteria woman.

according to the internet:

( source: http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-ca ... -cells.htm )
( source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/ ... skin.shtml )

the average human sheds about 8 pounds of skin cells per year.

or about 70 grams per week. ..about the weight of two US 0.25 cent coins. per day.

with 50,000 people at burning man for a week (just to use a basic number..)

and cutting the number by 2/3rd to account for stuff stuck in clothing, or left in tents, or on carpets.. or the math of skin cell weight being wrong:

humans at burning man still leave roughly 2500 pounds of dead skin on the playa.

[Savannah]

Goddammit, Lemur, I just ate lunch.

[lemur]

according to the internet:

http://www.unites.uqam.ca/gmf/caruso/do ... d_2005.pdf
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/2 ... s.research

the average 4 inch piece of human hair weighs 0.6 milligrams and we lose 50-100 of them per day.

supposing that 4 inches is a happy medium between those with LONG hair, and those with short hair (and beards) lets go for the low end of 50 hairs per day.

..with 50,000 burners shedding for a week we would end up with:

just over 20 pounds of human hair on the playa each year. (about the same weight as 2.5 gallons of milk)

[Savannah]

The funny thing is . . . I did give human hair some pondering already.

Skin flakes just gross me out more.

[Elderberry]

There is such a thing as going too far, but there's also such a thing as not going far enough. And in mulch's case, it reads as if he's kind of making an argument for not giving a shit if something small (ie feather off a hat) comes off. If that's not the case, then I'm misreading it. If it is, that's weak.

I didn't take it that way at all. Now to try and express what I think he means in different words--when you look at the continuum of people attending the event, in the whole scheme of things, which is the least of two evils? A feather that inadvertently falls from the costume of a true devote, or a Thursday raver that takes a crap intentionally on the playa?

[theCryptofishist]

There is such a thing as going too far, but there's also such a thing as not going far enough. And in mulch's case, it reads as if he's kind of making an argument for not giving a shit if something small (ie feather off a hat) comes off. If that's not the case, then I'm misreading it. If it is, that's weak.

I didn't take it that way at all. Now to try and express what I think he means in different words--when you look at the continuum of people attending the event, in the whole scheme of things, which is the least of two evils? A feather that inadvertently falls from the costume of a true devote Thursday raver, or a Thursday raver that takes a crap intentionally on the playa?

Fixed it for you. Cause, it doesn't actually matter which kind of person it is who produces the moop--just the amount and kind.

[Elderberry]

There is such a thing as going too far, but there's also such a thing as not going far enough. And in mulch's case, it reads as if he's kind of making an argument for not giving a shit if something small (ie feather off a hat) comes off. If that's not the case, then I'm misreading it. If it is, that's weak.

I didn't take it that way at all. Now to try and express what I think he means in different words--when you look at the continuum of people attending the event, in the whole scheme of things, which is the least of two evils? A feather that inadvertently falls from the costume of a true devote Thursday raver, or a Thursday raver that takes a crap intentionally on the playa?

Fixed it for you. Cause, it doesn't actually matter which kind of person it is who produces the moop--just the amount and kind.

Except that I think which kind of person actually does matter. I think there is a difference between a person that goes to the event understanding the LNT policy, the principles, etc. and then accidentally or inadvertently lets a piece of moop get away from them and a person that only buys a ticket and comes to party with no regard for anything other than their good time and uses the playa as their personal trash receptacle.

[lemur]

i say: best-effort of a reasonable-person is OK... if a reasonable person doing their best effort to avoid it moops something.. i really dont give a shit... thats why the LLC spends money to get a clean up crew out there..... so they can keep their business going and cleanup whatever was left behind..


this hemming and hawing about every little spec that is "moop" is, i think, quite frankly.... silly... one can call someone not caring about a single feather falling off their costume 'weak' but.. well, i dont give a darn!


so long as youre not intentionally dropping shit out there, leaving shit behind.. its alright by me!

a reasonable persons best effort to not moop is good enough.


ive lost pairs of glasses, lids off containers along with other junk in my time, and, well.. sometimes ya just arent gonna go back track 5 miles worth of crap to find it.

[Elderberry]

i say: best-effort of a reasonable-person is OK... if a reasonable person doing their best effort to avoid it moops something.. i really dont give a shit... thats why the LLC spends money to get a clean up crew out there..... so they can keep their business going and cleanup whatever was left behind..


this hemming and hawing about every little spec that is "moop" is, i think, quite frankly.... silly... one can call someone not caring about a single feather falling off their costume 'weak' but.. well, i dont give a darn!


so long as youre not intentionally dropping shit out there, leaving shit behind.. its alright by me!

a reasonable persons best effort to not moop is good enough.


ive lost pairs of glasses, lids off containers along with other junk in my time, and, well.. sometimes ya just arent gonna go back track 5 miles worth of crap to find it.

I agree and I think that was the gist of the post that Trillo commented on that I, less than eloquently, tried to explain.

[Elderberry]

Yup, I think we're all on the same page here.

So in summary, can I assume that the consensus of opinion is in favor of the OP firebreathing cornstarch then?
(Though, I don't understand how you can put cornstarch in your mouth and keep it from getting too moist to come out as anything other than a gooey ball. Not to mention putting cornstarch in your mouth to begin with. Though I guess it would beat gasolene.)

Interesting stats.

[lemur]

CORNSTARCH FIRE BREATHING: OK!

[Elderberry]

Don't ya just love committees!?

[BBadger]

Last year I found that one of our tubs of Gatorade dry mix had tipped over and a small pile of yellow covered sugary powder was laying on the playa. Immediately I pointed at the mess and screamed in horror, after which I flew into a torrential rage running throughout the camp trying to find out who was responsible.

By the time I returned with a cowering person who admitted to the infraction, dragging him by the collar, we found that the Gatorade had blown away and there was no visible evidence.

I knew we had been forgiven by the playa gods... this time.






Actually, I just made sure to reseal the tub and spread the colored dust out with my shoe. Oops! Gotta be more careful next time.

[EspressoDude]

there's corn starch, and then there is non dairy creamer:

[media]