Yeah, those are two different things. The spontaneous ignition is a pyrophoric reaction. And then there’s flammability. White phosphorus is both pyrophoric and flammable.

Today I had to break down a chemical at work which is flammable in contact with water. It’s a powder, so if it gets airborn it can actually explode. Chemistry is amazing. And betimes incredibly destructive. There’s tons of chemical families that you have to store away from Otherwise Innocuous Thing X because they’ll…

Chemistry! White phosphorus is self-igniting (pyrophoric) when it comes in contact with air. It’s also flammable. The ignition is because of the chemical reaction between the phosphorus and air.

Yeah I feel like there is a gap between “flammable” and “will spontaneously combust in your pocket”

I’m no expert, but if my middle school science teacher’s lessons stick with me, it’s that it is extremely reactive when it comes in contact with air - rapid oxidation. Again, IIRC, when used in science, it’s kept in a stabilizing liquid agent. I can’t remember what she kept it in, but I remember thinking it was some…

These stories are horrifying but also drive home just how much modern war isn’t just a few years of fighting and then peace; it’s rebuilding shattered and destroyed cities and landscapes and dealing with decades and likely centuries of environmental effects and dangers.

China is in a weird situation.

“If you have a penis, you can use a strap-on. If you don’t have a penis, you can use a strap-on.”

I don’t drive stick because I didn’t know anyone with a stick when I was learning.

My wife on advice from friends brought and entire bag with no purpose other than pillaging this kind of loot. They also hand out diapers, wipes and several other things - if you catch a shift change at the right time you can even stash a whole package of diapers and request more. With our first kid I felt kind of…

Well mostly I just surf the internet reading silly articles.

From sentai heroes to sentai villains.

Yep, it was an unlicensed bar that operated in the office of the United Community League for Civic Action after daytime hours.

Dude, I promise that wasn’t what I was trying to say. What I am saying is that we tend to give Democrats a pass on legitimately important issues just because they’re not trying to take our society back to the 19th century like the GOP is.

Here’s why:

Counterpoint: Why would it exist at all?

I had a high school friend who moved here from Bangladesh when he was two years old. He had no memory of his birth country, and his parents told him all his life that they were legal immigrants. He was 17 when ICE raided his house and arrested his father, who it turns out had overstayed his visa years prior. My friend…