Nicki finally got around to getting her science project rolling today (with a little help from yours truly) and I still think it's pretty cool.  She is trying to figure out how using a magnifying glass to collect and focus light on a solar cell affects it's output.  Too bad we couldn't get a decent magnifying glass.  I mean, really, there is no way in hell I could start a fire with that silly piece of doo doo. 

What happened to the good ol days when every magnifying glass you could get your hands on would start a fire in damn near anything.  I saw a picture of a guy melting some concrete with a frenel lens, once.  It's kinda like a magnifying lens all chopped up and spaced out on a flat piece of plastic, like in the headlights of most cars.  REALLY cheap for their size, but I don't have the slightest idea where to find one.

And I noted the irony of us producing electricity from a light run by electricity made from burning coal or some nonsense.  Really friggen cool, though.  I want to play with them some more!!