Long time lurker, first time OP here, so please forgive me if I mess up this message somehow…
In Cecil’s column on Fiestaware he states that, “The actual amount of radioactivity is extremely low–less than the normal background radiation you get from rocks and stuff.”
This is factually incorrect. I have a “red” Fiestaware bowl that I use to train students to use a survey meter. The background radiation at my location is around 0.03 mR/h. The Fiestaware bowl gives a reading of 5 mR/h at 2".
That said, the rest of the info in the column is correct. While I wouldn’t want to wear it for a hat 24/7/365, it is almost completely harmless to eat off Fiestaware.
Don’t worry about first impressions; just by linking to the original report, and not putting out any bizarre conspiracy theories (the two most common downfalls of new guests in this particular forum), you’ve made a good first impression. By providing original research (that contradicts Cecil, no less!) as well, you’re off the charts.
Welcome aboard, masterofnone, and we hope you decide to browse around and stay a while.
Oh, he does. That’s where we newer mods have to send our 10% tribute every month. For this, he helps us set up our own accounts. I’d have more socked away, if it weren’t for the hookers…oh, and the blow.
Heh! Heh! They bought the old free mug story. Incredible!
Beware the FreeMuggers; if you don’t subscribe to their rather militant Shards of Truth philosophy, they’ll force whatever discount pottery at hand on you. Any e-mail with “Mark Twain Mugs, half-price”, just Delete it.
Want to check out some “normal” houseware items for radioactivity, find yourself some vaseline glassware. It is made with uranium dioxide and glows bright green under black light. I have a couple pieces.
If you’re looking for check sources Ebay has a wide array of articles with mild radioactivity. Many ceramic items including red Fiestaware, Some lantern mantles, Vaseline glass, various ore samples, WWII Radium painted instruments and some light enhancing optics (thorium in the lenses). Camping mantles use to be a sure thorium source until Coleman discontinued it for Yttrium oxide, which does make me wonder Yttrium is more expensive and less efficient than Thorium. I mean once a mantle is burned the wispy ash contains a bit of an inhalation danger how many Boy scouts changed old mantles by blowing the dust out of the lamp? Aladdin lamp co. and many third party manufactures still sell the radioactive version.
Jeez, I’ve a rad meter just sitting around the house and none of my dishes are radioactive. That sucks. I need to find something made of uranium dioxide. You think the thrift or antique stores would freak if I wandered around them checking their wares?
Most won’t care but don’t be surprised if the price of that cup, plate or figurine goes up after they know you want it. Ebay has work well for me if you just want something radioactive try the term “check sources”.
Huh. I thought this thread was going to be about freeware writers who asked for donations so they could throw parties.
But then, I’m actually planning to release a couple of tabletop RPGs under that very model in the next few years, so that must’ve been why I thought that.
I grew up across the river from the Homer Laughlin plant, where they still make Fiestaware (there’s a good, inexpensive outlet store there, too). We use Fiesta as our everyday china; don’t have any of the mildly radioactive old red variety, though. Homer Laughlin now advises people not to store food longterm on the old red Fiestaware, but notes that it’s safe for daily use. Fiesta has remained very popular since its 1986 relaunch; Homer Laughlin now introduces new and retires old colors every year or so.
