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<DIV><FONT size=4>When some of us were talking about it after populace the
discussion was to put ALL battery operated lanterns inside some type of
paper cover, such as the Japanese Paper Lantern holder thingys. Okay so I
don't know the name for them but you know what I'm talking about.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The Mexican or Christmas or other holiday paper bag
things is called a Luminaria or Farolito (HA! that one I knew what
they were). Personally I like the idea of the glow sticks in them.
If we wanted to get fancy we could use a pin & a stencil to mark the outline
of a Raven on them. Okay so I like either totally plain or totally
overboard. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>There are solar powered tiki torches. I have some.
Only problem is if a drunk falls on one the plastic part that makes it look like
a tiki torch breaks. Again, trust me on this one. Mine happen to
flicker like a real (well almost real) tiki torch.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>With the lack of rain it isn't a good idea to have open flames
and this has been an extremely dry summer. If you've never seen a pine
tree burn, trust me it is a scary thing and it pops and sends embers flying all
over the known universe. The burning sap/pitch loves to stick to bare
skin. I think there is some type of genetic code in a pine tree that says
"Must Find Bare Skin" when they burn. Lacking access to bare skin it goes
for hair or clothes next.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>A roll of reflector tape doesn't cost an arm and a leg and
would be available for future use if stored properly. Reflector things can
be nailed (not a good thing for a tree), tied onto a tree or attached to a
stake. Don't know about out there but I've seen more run over and squished
reflectors on the wire stakes than you can shake a stick at.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>When I first started in the SCA a whole year ago, a Lady made
the statement that all mundane things should be covered or hidden from view as
much as possible. I took it to heart. I'm blind as a bat and do
require light to avoid being attacked by a blade of grass and being thrown to
the ground by it. I found the battery operated candles which are great and
at least pretend to be real even if they don't flicker. Five of them in my
monster brass dragon/green man candelabra makes lots of light inside my tent or
enough light on a table to find my plate of food. I also have a tiny LED
flashlight that can be concealed in my hand, yet gives enough light to prevent
me from walking into a tree or a heavy fighter.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>So it is possible to compromise and have the best of both
worlds. I don't do the coleman lanterns that burn fuel because they scare
the bejeezus out of me. I saw pictures of a guy who had one explode, or
should I say the remains of his arm flesh. Thankfully he turned away to
answer a question and it didn't get his face. I tested the little
propane/butane type heaters to find one that if I looked at it hard it would
turn off. I don't like the smell of crispy critters, especially if it
might be me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Runa of The Thundering Herd<BR><A
href="http://runa-herd.livejournal.com">http://runa-herd.livejournal.com</A><BR><A
href="http://www.bedlambazaar.com">www.bedlambazaar.com</A><BR><A
href="http://thethunderingherd.net">http://thethunderingherd.net</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>