Poisoning steampunks in the park

[hirez]

(Via ML)

I believe that Geiger counters are about to become the must-have fashion accessory for the sensible steampunk-about-town.

Why?

Radioactive watch parts.
Mind, glowing in the dark could be handy when staggering back trousered to yr B&B. (although we is all well middle-class now isn't it, so it's going to be a cottage instead.)

Comments

[badnewswade.livejournal.com]

Thus Steampunk gives way to Atompunk (http://www.atompunk.com/)...

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

The best source for geiger counters that I've found is eBay, where you can buy a variety of inexpensive Russian geiger counters (and replacement Geiger-Muller tubes) for much less than the prices listed on the page you link to, and for much less than comparable US counters...

My theory is that countries with a reputation for nuclear disasters have a larger customer base for geiger counters, and so economies of scale work out such that you get decent-quality portable units at a low cost...

The DSRB-01 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbSBWQc8YKg) is the most popular, and is available from this guy (http://stores.ebay.com/Annakozub-Russian-Collectibles_DOSIMETER-Geiger-Counter_W0QQ_fsubZ18QQ_sidZ61771612QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322). I'll probably post something nerdy when mine arrive in a week or so...

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Also, I'm surprised that people are, you know, surprised to find radium in old watch faces. It's what they used, after all... Know your watch lore, folks! They aren't just a source for pretty gears to glue to things!

[razornet.livejournal.com]

Current Music: Brownout Crew - Stick a cog on it (Bakelite remix)

My google fu seems to indicate this is Not Real. I very much wish it was.

[hirez.livejournal.com]

It's the sort of 'mash up' (as I believe the web-using young people have it) that ought to spring into being via the magic of Applied Rule-34.

[quercus.livejournal.com]

Seen the new Steampunk from Ghibli?

"My Neighbour Tottori"

in which a giant cat-rabbit thing is mutated by hot radium-rich spring water.

[voidmonster.livejournal.com]

Rule 34 is the internet's Santa Claus.

Eventually someone will make a website that converts parsed text into Rule 34-fulfilling images (and/or videos), but we're not there yet.

[badnewswade.livejournal.com]

And he haz Teh Gogglez!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390149824250&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

[jendama.livejournal.com]

There's definitely a danger to repurposing things of unknown origin. We have a Geiger counter in the closet. Now I'm curious to pull it out and zip about the house!

[reddragdiva]

4chan.

[voidmonster.livejournal.com]

That seems more likely to convert strings of parsed text into A) assertions that the text is gay, B) animated gifs of a pig being killed with a chainsaw, C) cut & paste smirking face pictures, D) bestiality clips or E) all of the above.

[hirez.livejournal.com]

It's just me that doesn't keep a Geiger counter, isn't it?

I feel like such a pleb.

[reddragdiva]

And Foul Frog macros.

[reddragdiva]

I'm not surprised, sadly.

[badnewswade.livejournal.com]

Yep!

[hazeii.livejournal.com]

You can actually buy radioactive watches new; look up 'Traser' (the same tech is used in glow in the dark tent pegs, would you believe...). Tough and rugged, you're supposed to evacuate the room for decontamination should you break one.

Interestingly, they glow brighter under UV; accelerated breakdown due to high energy photons maybe (personal observation, experimental condition was Fintroll at the Camden Underworld).

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

The Traser things are tritium (less hazardous than radium) plus a phosphor. UV just makes the phosphor glow.

I bought a bunch of Betalights (which are basically the same tech) from the factory once. They were happy to sell them to me, bu they did come in the post in a big box marked TYPE 'A' RADIOACTIVE in huuuge letters.

[quercus.livejournal.com]

You know how hazardous tritium is! After all, I've never heard of radium causing an entire factory to be replaced with nothing left but a pair of concrete-filled wellies and the words "My name is Haylormandias, look on my works ye mighty and despair" after no more than a mere fridge fire.

[grega.livejournal.com]

David Hahn has a lot to answer for, still recent photos of him suggest karma is seeing to that.

[jendama.livejournal.com]

Yah! Remember, even the dude at the Victorian Shed/Museum of Science had one! ;p

[badnewswade.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, that guy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRt74nzRmY

Wonder if I can find the rest of that documentary?