What is this?

[skyfaller]

I'd like your help with figuring out what the objects in these pictures are, because I am puzzled by them.

What is this inflated ball thing? Taken in 30th Street Station in Philly, while waiting for the R3 back to Swarthmore.

What are these circles on the ground? This was taken out of the window of my plane from San Francisco to Newark as we flew over the midwest.

What is this insect? Taken in Mertz 2nd South's men's room.

If you can explain to me what any these things are, you win a hug! Or a Gmail account, or any token prize you might find useful.

Comments

[rose_garden.livejournal.com]

What is an electric fly-swatter?

[skyfaller]

It's a flyswatter that looks something like a tennis racket... when you push the button, electric current runs through the "racket", frying any insect unfortunate enough to come into contact with the metal mesh. This means that you don't have to squish your insects, you just have to touch them with the racket, which is easier if you're trying to catch them in the air, and less messy. It's also non-lethal for larger insects such as horseflies; if you only touch them briefly it merely stuns them, which means you can either dump them outside or squish them when they're helpless. Smaller insects, such as mosquitos, die on contact.

[meanfreepath.livejournal.com]

Ah... how I miss that electric flyswatter.

electric flyswatters

[postmodernbum.livejournal.com]

I'm in China right now, home of millions of electric fly swatters -- am actually talking with people who are interested in getting them exported to the U.S. (need to find U.S. distributor). As a marketing question, have you been able to find these items in the U.S. (and if so where and at what price)? Secondly, would you be intersted in them? They're fun and a good way to kill flying insects (esp. mosquitos)