[mmercier]

The old stackable Schlitz cans could be opened at each end and taped together with duct tape. You leave the bottom on the 5th can, and punch a small hole in the bottom. Pour a tablespoon of 90% rubbing alcohol in, and push a tennis ball to the top of the last can.

Flick a bick into the hole, and it sends the tennis ball into the stratosphere. We used to have fights with these "bazookas", and if you took a square hit you went down for more than a minute. I still have a dent in my head from my brother.

Ah childhood... I have other devices we made as kids, using powdered pool chlorine. Alas, these ideas are best left unpublished today.

[cyborg]

LOL

[Tunehead54]

On trips to Mexico we'd buy hundreds of bottle rockets and run around the beach with a backpocketful and a cigarette in one hand so you could light your rocket and then zing it at your best buddy. Needless to say timing and fast reflexes are essential elements to this game. No one ever got hurt (too badly) ...

A tamer pasttime was using a catfood/tuna can with a small amount of water in it, using a can opener to remove the bottom of a steel can, poke a firecracker-sized hole in the top, pop the firecracker in just about up to the fuse, place in tuna can, light and get back. Depending on your firecracker quality the can would go straight up at least 60 -100 feet.

At least with the fuse you had a little safety margin - your tennis ball "cannon" sounds riskier! Do they still make Schlitz? ;-)

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[rlmorel]

heh, we did the taped cans and tennis ball thing too. Everyone knows that's why they changed em to what they are now...;)