Christmas '2021'

Friend Nancy, Friend Kathy, and I had our Christmas 2021 party last night.  Yes, we are over a year late on this celebration.  After a really nice dinner out we got together in the hotel's breakfast area (empty at this hour) to open gifts.  The theme was 'Law of Physics'.  First up was Kathy's gift to Nancy.  Kathy demonstrated the principle of 'Mechanical Advantage' by gifting two simple machines - the wedge and the screw: i.e. a cheese slicer and a nutcracker.   Kathy added in 'Potential Energy' w/ a slinky (a classic example) and 'Magnetism' w/ a magnet and iron shavings toy.    Next was Nancy's gift to me.  She went w/  'Conservation of Energy' by giving me a jar topped with a photoelectic cell.  At night it twinkles w/ a pretty bluish light showing constellations drawn on it's surface.  She also did 'Magnetism' via cat butt refridgerator magnets.  (She was a little concerned I might already have them but I assured her that I didn't.)  Finally I received a mug which when filled w/ a hot liquid will magically ('Thermochromatically')  display the solar system.   I wanted to test it immediately by pouring in the latte I'd bought on the way out of the restaurant but Kathy and Nancy seemed horrified at the idea of drinking out of a cup - even a new one - that hadn't been washed first.   The first test will have to wait until breakfast.   Time now for my gift to Kathy.  --- to be continued ---

Thanks to Kathy Novey for taking these pics.