They use cow magnets because they are such powerful magnets. You can use them in any regular demonstration.

They also had heavy duty plastic test tubes with screw on lids. They are practically unbreakable. And, as it turns out, they are the next to the last step in making 2 liter soda bottles. The just heat the plastic and inject air and the soft plastic conforms to the mold.

Wakana's birthday is coming up (11/20/10) and she'll be 50. We are somewhat strapped for cash so she has made her usual plea that I not get her anything. It was too late in one case because I had already bought her a DVD of one of her favorite Japanese movies, Onmyoji II. I bought her the first one last year, or maybe the year before that. Then, last night, TCM ran the US TV premiere of Metropolis. She saw the short version of that movie many years ago and has always talked of it so I copied it off the TV for her.

I'd like to get her something else but she is very hard to buy for. Maybe I'll get something from my niece's little online shop. She cannot complain about that.

Of course I'll make her a card. I started doing that a few years ago and she was very disappointed when I forgot to do it last year. I use pictures of the animals and the house and come up with something funny to say. Usually I make it look as though the card is from the cats.