From sci.chem Thu Nov 28 16:31:42 1996
From: maxh@ldd.net (Max Hendrix)

As a first year TA I was helping in the general lab.  A student came
up to me saying "I can't light the bunsen burner. "  I turn on the
gas, hear it hissing, light the match, hold it over the burner.  No
go.  Turn down the air, try again.  Still no go.  Hmmm.  Sounds like
gas is running but nothing's lighting.  Give it one more shot.  About
the time I notice that there is no needle valve on the bottom of the
burner (gas had been pouring out of the bottom all this time), the gas
ignites.  Goggles kept me from eye damage but a good bit of my
moustache and hair over my forehead turned intto crumblies in an
instant.  I did get to see what a ball of fire looks like ---from the
inside...

Max Hendrix