Wot I learned in Canada
I have zero interest in Dance. Ballet baffles me, Contemporary dance looks ridiculous, Ballroom is far too restrictive.
That said: So You Think You Can Dance blows my mind. I don't go out of my way to watch it, but the few times I catch it: it's freaking awesome. If I could move like them..... That's all I'd ever do.
I went to a fancy dresscostume party the other night. I learned that 'fancy dress' means 'formal wear', so I had to stop confusing the poor Canadians.
I decided I was going as a lab accident. Picked up some lip liner and mascara (I think it was mascara), some thread and two glowsticks. No: 4 glowsticks. No: 10 glowsticks. (I only stopped picking them up because I couldn't carry any more). Got me a lab coat from Value Village (.com) for $10.
Made up the face, about 60% blackened with red streaks, and decided to sew the glow sticks into the sleeves and collar for glowy-goodness. Which sucked. Sleeves looked all pointy and crappy.
So I figured I'd cut the glow sticks open, and pour the goop directly onto the clothing.
Now, before ye freak out: I'm aware that the goop is 'not good' for one's hands, to put it mildly.
However, I learned that Canada works to a different set of safety standards than Ireland.
For example, the safety warning on the back says:
Do not puncture of cut plastic tube. Ingredients are non-toxic and nonflammable, but may permanently stain furniture or clothing. Contact with skin or eyes may cause temporary discomfort. In case of skin or eye contact, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not drink or ingest contents.
[emphasis mine]
Now, let me assure you, as one who has experienced direct contact with caustic chemicals that the crap inside the glowsticks does NOT cause "temporary discomfort": it fucking BURNS like Sodium Hydroxide.
I'm pretty DAMN sure that if one were to ingest it, one would at the least need serious surgery. It would EASILY destroy the mouth and throat, given that within 15 seconds the dead skin on my hands was turned white (as the fat was converted into soap). I guess I learned that something can be caustic, and yet because it's not a poison, per se, it's "nontoxic", and though it's a fairly strong base (pH is about 12, I believe) it's considered to only cause "temporary discomfort".
Now, I wasn't too surprised by it being caustic. I've read some stuff on glowsticks, and I knew they were burny-burny.
I didn't realise, however, that I was going to be adding authenticity to the 'lab accident' look by means of a harsh, eye-watery, nose-burning chemical smell. Which I got to enjoy for the whole evening...... :(
Still, it was fun, I scared the crap out of Aya (making Japanese girls scream is a new fun hobby :P ), and it was an entirely enjoyable evening. Aya took a shot of me, though the camera had a flash which probably killed the glowy stuff. I'll post it once she mails it to me. :)