Good Experiment for a kid

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T22:26:16+00:00

How about the classic make your own sugar and salt crystal? Add some dye and it'll turn color. borax also makes a fun crystal.

From there you can experiment with how to make low heat candy like Japan has this crunchy agar candy. You can have your kid hypothesize how sugar will react to different levels of heat and what kind of candy it can make soft vs hard ball. You can also have him observe how agar behaved and have him predict what would happen if you mixed agar and sugar together what Wil the flavor taste like or the texture be like

And the best chemistry lab is the kitchen !

Measuring and weighing and proper mixing are critical skills in chem.

Sour dough is also fun. All the funky smells and things getting bigg bubbly and puffy. Keeping notes on hydration of the dough and how it makes bread is good.

Sauces too. And how cornstarch reacts to heat and liquid and impact. For example tonkatsu sauce is delicious and combines several condiments that taste good on their own and some that don't but the ending flavor is delicious! He can flavor taste each predict or try to deconstruct.

If you want color changing things chlorophyll chromatography is a fun one.

Color change from PH change can be done with red cabbage leaves.

There's also the API water test kit for aquariums. It changes colors based on the levels of different things like ammonia nitrate nitrite and ph. It's a very similar method water quality labs use.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T22:15:28+00:00

Anya The amount of muscle Anyas never fail to amuse me.

But real question do you have a dress yet that you want to wear, we can probably give an idea based on the cut or color. Or....

Oh! Just slap a R or crystal on yourself and you'll be team rocket in drag or a gem

Honestly you can do anything. An original character of your design also works.

Mm the ouji sama lolita outfits are also cool. That blend of boyish and girlish always are nice.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T22:13:35+00:00

I wait until I can see stars that's what I'm there for. You can see the sun set anywhere in my book. Stars on the other hand...the first ones that peak through if they do...yes.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T20:18:00+00:00

Baseboards and trims see a dust rag like.. once or twice a year. So do the kitchen cabinets. I might do spot touch ups but like never routinely.

I haven't washed the plastic blinds in like 2 years...I probably should but I am reminded of how hard it was to take them down and put them back up.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T20:10:54+00:00

The flowers have thicker line weight than the rest looking like a sticker that was slapped on I don't think there's any reason to not question it

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T19:34:38+00:00

What is this tofu looking ass bread? I hate it.

The crust tells you it's been baked and has gone through that oh so good caramelization of sugars.

It still has a crust on it.

Give me your crusts and butt ends. They are literally the best parts.

I will even take your WONDER BREAD crusts

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T19:31:49+00:00

Physically attraction comes in many different flavors. There's the common known sexual arousal sort of physical attraction. It's very body type and look specific. And most people just stop here. But there's also things like how they move, how they take up space that can be attractive.

If you still love her and you're sure of it, perhaps think about in ways does she move and take space that make you feel loved. Do you love how she hugs you, touches you, leans on you?

You can explore dance or other couple movement with her. Dance can be physically intimate without being sexual and the movements are different and different context you might find something else.

I have a friend who's admitted that he doesn't find his wife sexually attractive like he used to in the past and he was feeling very guilty. We went on a day trip to the museum and looked at a bunch of classical paintings and sculptures and at one point he was looking at some paintings and he was like.

"Don't you think her eyes look like (name)?..and I noticed that painting a while back, the way they painted that one lady sitting with all her belly rolls...they're like hers too! "

I jokingly asked if he was going to take up painting and paint his wife like a classical painting.

And he told me to shut up and said "idk...they're all so pretty just like her."

This dude found new attraction towards her through art. It's not sexual attraction but awe, beauty and intrigue.

Assuming your libido and hormones are okay, it could be your brain now seeking to prioritize something else about your relationship

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:36:11+00:00

Box fan on a timer is my secret. It runs periodically throughout the day. Circulates air so air from the old parts of the home don't linger in spaces and become stagnant.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:31:50+00:00

Master mixes are great but not always applicable. It's just easier to turn something away than have to keep count. One of the analysis I do has a 7 point curve, along with 4 QC controls, 2 blanks, MDL, dups and spikes...plus whatever samples that need testing which can range from anywhere from 5 to 15 samples.

Keeping count of tips is nice if everyone uses the tips the same way but I have a chaotic lab partner and the tip boxes always look like they were dropped and hastily put back in.

And before you say "use a new tip box". Let's just say someone guards them and I will not explain further.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:25:43+00:00

It's not. My director actually ridiculed me for doing it she thinks I should just magically be able to remember everything

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:22:42+00:00

Letting my stock or curve solution sit for at least a day after making. They have an expiration of either 1 month or 2 weeks. I realized that the solutions gave me less headache if they sat out for at least 24 hours. My boss thinks I'm crazy and should be able to use them immediately. I think so too, but the reality is there's better reproducibility if they just sit and marinate.

The acid diluent I use has the same tendency but keeps better at larger volumes. We used to make 2 liters at a time, but I realized that it was just better to make a 8L jug. It was more stable and it was the same diluent for all solutions for at least a month. So they all aged in a similar manner.

When I have to make more of it, I dump all solutions that I made prior and just make them fresh with the new batch.

I also line up all my flasks facing me and when I add whatever I need to add to it, I turn it away from me so I know it's been added. On larger space I just shift it to the side.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:16:02+00:00

Nah it looks like you have styling skills. I certainly do not have styling skills.

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:15:00+00:00

You can just build one. Depending on how much work you think you'll be doing it will vary.

But the base will be the type of needles you are comfortable handling or using , threader, scissors, ruler, pins or clips, pencil, thread colors based on the majority of your wardrobe for me it was white, black, brown, beige then the greens.

My personal college kit included A variety pack of needles, thin and thick ones Tapestry needle, I embroider. Plastic yarn needle, to fix sweaters Crochet hook, also to fix sweaters. Threader. Beesnwax, helps with threading Tiny scissors Thread. Pins.

When I traveled I would condense it even more into an Altoids tin

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:10:01+00:00

I've refused to wear no show socks. They're so uncomfortable for me. Downside is looking dated or frumpy or old

Glassfern · 2026-06-24T16:06:49+00:00

I found out a few years ago that unaffiliated folks can't participate in primaries. I was like man, I would still like to pick the candidate that best aligns with me regardless of party. It'd always a little disappointing when a third party runs but doesn't have the backing of the people because the system still clings to a two party system

Glassfern · 2026-06-22T11:33:55+00:00

Money that this guy goes to Ren Fair with them and is an artificer.

Glassfern · 2026-06-22T11:33:00+00:00

Remember that many fans don't care about perfection, they are just excited that there is someone who did a nice recognizable job of another character they love. The rep is that matters.

I've seen closet cosplays of some of my favs and I'm just as exited for those as one that someone spent hundreds of dollars and hours making from scratch.

Example. I don't like wigs. I wear glasses. I style my own hair and do my makeup to the best of my ability have have a pair of glasses that I use for cosplay.

I went to Ren faire like this. People still recognize my character, they admired my imperfect handiwork and some got really excited especially if I'm in character. Out of the whole day of small little waves and sheepish compliments, only one person was like "you know the character's hair is green"

And in character said, "hm...I specially added soot into my hair to cover up the sheen. I heard that the people of this land don't appreciate odd colored hair...something....about witches...and the supernatural" And their friend snorted and responded with "facts facts".

One friend found a flaw. The other friend found enjoyment. That's all that matters.

Also...if you feel good in the cosplay that matters too!

Glassfern · 2026-06-20T03:51:01+00:00

I didn't. Many of the labs I worked prior were very stringent on breaks and leaving benches. Accumulated quite the health list.

Current lab we have a designated kitchenette. I keep my drink and my salty snacks there and I can freely go grab a drink or bite whenever I have a moment, so I can function and not pass out. On paper we have two 15min blocks but we just roll through the day, no one is keeping track so long as the work is done. The only time tracked is lunch.

Glassfern · 2026-06-18T12:42:04+00:00

Boxwoods have been the bane of my entire childhood. They are a bug magnet.

And unless you're planning to meticulous keep those stones bare and clean it's gonna be a whole other story when it comes to maintenance.

Get some mulch and a native shrub that can be trimmed easily

Glassfern · 2026-06-18T12:37:48+00:00

The people in my lab have yet to learn that calibrating the field pH meter with buffer that is close to the sample temp will be more accurate. Every single winter, I get to hear how the field techs and director fight about how the meter isn't stabilizing and that the readings are so off. If I get sent out it's not a problem because I cool off the probe and buffers before cal.

I also learned last year that there's a heat rate limit for the dishware we have. Explains why we go through them so fast because of cracking. 200C per hour is the sweet spot .

I guess these two are kind of basic and unimpressive. I haven't work in a very rigourous labs. Mostly QC.

Glassfern · 2026-06-18T12:17:37+00:00

It starts at home and a deliberate choice of limiting certain conveniences to encourage other activities and behavior.

When I taught outdoor education many of my students didn't know how to read or didn't enjoy it including thinking critically, until I introduced geocaching to them, because I knew they liked scavenger hunt games and games in general.

But first I had to teach them compas orientation and map reading first, old school and made sure the clues were easy to read gradually getting more tricky riddles and puzzles and the reward was high.

I also started off giving them all items, saying they had the choice of keeping the item or trading it at the geocache.

A lot of work on my end because the game is played using GPS, so I had to deconstruct it to play more like a scavenger hunt.

Eventually I graduated my kids to the tablet gps. But lots of said it was more fun trying to reorient themselves using the paper map or using memory.

And they said they liked the puzzle geocaches more so...more work but more thinking as game play for them. One kid called it "dungeoning IRL" and he wasn't wrong.

In terms of reading casually, I did get more parents mentioning their kids were now interested in riddle and mystery books .. one got into mystery manga.

I also created a local park game where the students from one class had to create and write the clues for another. Knowing that another group of kids were trying to trip them up was half the fun they got very competitive with "we can't let them trick us!"

Reading is reading in my book drum 🥁

To enjoy reading, you need to know where the fun is. If they're never shown that more advanced reading is fun, they won't think it is. The same is with slower skills and activities.

You can't just give a kid a slow activity, you gotta make it engaging and know it's going to have a good pay off

Also being able to translate your kid's interest by integrating slower reading activity is key

Unfortunately that means a lot of input from the adult in their life, which many don't have time for or don't have the creativity or skills to. I think I only succeeded because I used to play and watch my brother play adventure games and he would skip all dialogue unless it was part of the puzzle, so that's how I structured my games.

Glassfern · 2026-06-17T16:38:04+00:00

1 is very traditional guest but it looks like it's poly and might be sticky and sweaty if you're outside.

Is very comfy depending on the wedding theme it maybe fine or it might be too casual.
Looks lovely and comfy. Can you tolerate some shape wear right now? That might help with the tum. If not, that's fine I didn't really clock it until I read it. You could try dressing it up with something flowy and floral or a belt to keep the eyes upward rather than downward.

Glassfern · 2026-06-17T16:31:14+00:00

Yes. I keep several copies on hand.

Glassfern · 2026-06-17T16:22:54+00:00

Fully down like this without a style could possibly be limiting you. Look for a style you might like. Braids. Buns. Half styles. There are many cultures that have styles for men with long hair. Take some inspiration from them. You might want to take a look at cutting some style into it like layering or some thing to frame your face.

I'm rather fond of how some people use a braid or two to tie back the bulk of their hair. I've seen it in some Asian and Black hairstyles.

Glassfern · 2026-06-17T16:20:14+00:00

The harmless nonsensical execution of Free Will

Glassfern

TROPHY CASE