Arconati Kid Korner

Powerstation Exploding

2012-02-07T19:54:00.000-06:00

From the "Oops, did I do that?" department:

Found via Geekologie.

Mythbusters: Lego Ball

2012-02-07T18:56:00.000-06:00

I cannot wait to see this full episode.

Remember that you can see more videos just like this at Discover.com / Mythbusters.

Keith Barry does brain magic | Video on TED.com

2011-11-08T22:17:00.000-06:00

I have good guesses on how each of these magic tricks was done, but I'm not sure I know them all for sure. See if you can watch the video more than once and spot where he gives away his secrets.

Crazy Paper Thing

2011-10-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Have some fun with this crazy paper thing. It's not exactly Origami, but it's entertaining.

The resulting puzzle reminds me of Rubik's Magic Puzzle.

Points Cards for the Nintendo Wii: Play Classic Nintendo Games

2011-10-13T20:47:00.000-05:00

Nintendo Points Card for Nintendo Wii ($1999)

Are you looking for a way to shake up the classic Wii games that you love to play over and over again? Want to score the leading edge over your opponents so you can climb to new levels and finally defeat that one impossible boss? Maybe you want to try your hand in a completely new game world altogether and explore a mysterious new adventure. Accessing incredible extra content and exciting new games for your Nintendo Wii is quick and easy with the Nintendo Points Card. This little card is your one-way ticket to a whole new world of opportunity. Are you ready to jump in? Packed with endless possibilities, this Nintendo Points Card instantly gives you $19.99 to spend at the Wii Shop Channel, Wii Ware and Virtual Console, so you can pick and choose exactly what you want from a vast digital world. Whether you pick up an entire game or some game-enhancing bonuses, you win every time with this versatile card. Plus, redeeming your Nintendo Points only requires a few simple steps on your Wii console, so you can log in, shop around and get right into the gaming action.

Last Roll Out of a NASA Space Shuttle

2011-06-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

In the final move of its kind, NASA's space shuttle Atlantis was photographed earlier this month slowly advancing toward Launch Pad 39A, where it is currently scheduled for a July launch to the International Space Station. The mission, designated STS-135, is the 135th and last mission for a NASA space shuttle. Atlantis and its four-person crew will be carrying, among other things, the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello to bring key components and supplies to the ISS. Pictured above, the large Shuttle Crawler Transporter rolls the powerful orbiter along the five-kilometer long road at less than two kilometers per hour. Over 15,000 spectators, some visible on the right, were on hand for the historic roll out.

See more images like this at APOD: 2011 June 20 - Last Roll Out of a NASA Space Shuttle.

Happy Mothers' Day

2011-05-07T12:25:00.001-05:00

Thank your mother for everything she's ever done for you. Here's the best funny tribute to moms that I can find.

Have a happy mothers day!

Making Music: Matrix

2011-05-02T20:32:00.002-05:00

EARSLAP's Otomata

Decorah Eagles

2011-04-06T18:58:00.000-05:00

Decorah Eagles, Ustream.TV: The Raptor Resource Project brings you the Decorah Eagles from atop their tree at the fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa.

See more Nest Cams.

Spider Web Trees Cocooned

2011-03-31T11:04:00.001-05:00

Trees cocooned in spiders webs after flooding in Sindh, Pakistan, a photo by DFID - UK Department for International Development on Flickr.

How Far Away is the Moon? (The Scale of the Universe)

2011-03-03T22:40:00.000-06:00

Here is an important and interesting video about the size of the universe AND it underlines how we learn.

It is actually important to understand that the graphics that we've seen are perceived as correct and to scale. But they are not.

NASA's SDO Captures a Monster Prominence [video] | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2011-03-03T22:29:00.000-06:00

See more of NASA's stuff on Flickr.

Avatar: The Last Airbender from Dark Horse and Nickelodeon | GeekDad | Wired.com

2011-02-10T00:12:00.001-06:00

There is going to be an Avatar comic book. And if you show up at the comic book store on the right day, you can get a free copy of the first issue. Read more from GeekDad on Wired.com.

NASA - The Entire Sun in STEREO

2011-02-08T19:10:00.002-06:00

We can now see more of the sun than ever before.

Launched in October 2006, STEREO traces the flow of energy and matter from the sun to Earth. It also provides unique and revolutionary views of the sun-Earth system. STEREO has given us the first view of the entire sun on February 6, 2011 and when coupled with SDO, will give us complete views of the sun's entire surface and atmosphere for the next 8 years.

Avatar: Legend of Korra

2011-01-02T01:12:00.000-06:00

I heard a rumor recently and was able to confirm it a bit tonight. It would appear that there will soon be a new miniseries on Nickelodeon set in the Avatar universe. You can learn more about it at the Avatar Wiki.

Sumo Paint

2011-01-01T22:24:00.000-06:00

Visit SumoPaint.com and give it a try. The fun feature is the symmetry tool.

Sesame Street: Martians Radio

2011-01-01T19:40:00.000-06:00

Nickelodeon | SpongeBob SquarePants | Games - Love Hurts

2010-12-09T21:19:00.000-06:00

These games are hard. But lots of fun.

Cool Shoe Lace Techniques

2010-11-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

For anyone who likes tying their shoes in creative and funky ways, you should check out this entry on Monicel's Blog.

Source: StumbleUpon.

100-Year Starship

2010-11-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

Read about the possible planned long-term space flight at FoxNews.com - Is NASA Covering Up the 100-Year Starship?.

Trapped Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Subsurface Water - NASA.GOV

2010-10-29T22:43:00.003-05:00

Despite the slightly sad fact that the Mars rover is essentially stuck in place and has been that way for a while now, the mission is not a failure. In fact, it's far from over! The rover's instruments all still work and it can still effectively send back photos and data. Yesterday it was announced that even the wheels spinning ineffectively in the Mars soil has uncovered some new surprises. There is really good evidence of subsurface water. Since the search for life on other planets always begins with the search for water, this is very interesting news. You can read more at NASA.gov.

This is an artist's rendition of the rover. The article has a very nice photo. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell University.

Gir - The Doom Song

2010-10-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share this song from Invader Zim that we all know and love, but it would appear that the video cannot be embedded traditionally. So go to YouTube to see it in full.

Doom, doom-doom-doom, doom, doom-doom, doom-da-du-doo-doooom!

News About the International Space Station

2010-10-23T00:49:00.001-05:00

Today, the International Space Station breaks the Mir record for continuous human presence in space. The ISS will celebrate 10 years in space on the 31st. The final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) will launch on November 1st.

Teens Against Bullying

2010-09-15T20:56:00.000-05:00

Making a difference against bullying is something everyone can agree on.

The Sounds of Jupiter :: NASA-Voyager Recording

2010-09-02T01:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, here is a fair warning. This is pretty spooky.

Despite the fact that space is a vacuum, it is remarkable to note that the planets and the sun do make sound --even our own planet. We would never hear these sounds with our natural ears, but special equipment can pick it up and reprocess it into a range our ears CAN hear and this is the result. Here's the description from YouTube.

Fascinating recording of Jupiter sounds (electromagnetic "voices") by NASA-Voyager. The complex interactions of charged electromagnetic particles from the solar wind, planetary magnetosphere etc. create vibration "soundscapes". It sounds very interesting, even scary. Jupiter is mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. The entire planet is made of gas, with no solid surface under the atmosphere. The pressures and temperatures deep in Jupiter are so high that gases form a gradual transition into liquids which are gradually compressed into a metallic "plasma" in which the molecules have been stripped of their outer electrons. The winds of Jupiter are a thousand metres per second relative to the rotating interior. Jupiter's magnetic field is four thousand times stronger than Earth's, and is tipped by 11° degrees of axis spin. This causes the magnetic field to wobble, which has a profound effect on trapped electronically charged particles. This plasma of charged particles is accelerated beyond the magnetosphere of Jupiter to speeds of tens of thousands of kilometres per second. It is these magnetic particle vibrations which generate some of the sound you hear on this recording.

There are other video clips available with the sounds of other planets. I need to reiterate that some of them sound so spooky that I hesitated to post them here. But they only sound scary because of the processing and the fact that these are sounds we would not normally hear. There are entire CDs worth of these sound effect recordings.

Mars Email Hoax

2010-08-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

Don't believe everything you read in your email.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Last Airbender

2010-07-02T14:48:00.099-05:00

My sister-in-law, my daughters and I saw the movie yesterday and here is my review of The Last Airbender.

Approximate Genre: Children's fantasy, live-action adaptation of a cartoon, adventure

Viewing Method: Theater (in Chicago), 3D

Written and Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

I am a big fan of the cartoon series and watched it with my kids when it was on Nickelodeon originally. For a kid's show, it showed some emotional depth and was part of a rich fantasy world that resonated as real.

Summary: It is a world of four nations and four elements; Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Aang is a boy who at the age of 12 learned he was the next Avatar, a spiritually important person who is imbued with the power to learn to control all four elements. Startled by this news, Aang runs away from home but gets lost in a storm and trapped in a block of ice for a hundred years. While he is gone, the Fire Nation begins a war of imperialistic conquest. Once Aang is released from the ice by his new friends Sokka and Katara, his quest to learn all the elements and defeat the Fire Lord begins.

Even at his young age, Aang is already a gifted Airbender. The cartoon series was three seasons long, one for each element that Aang needed to learn to master the four elements. The seasons each had a specific theme and were arranged in books and chapters.

The Movie

I enjoyed the movie and we had fun seeing it. The plot of the movie follows the first season of the show pretty closely, so if you've recently watched them all back-to-back (as we had), there will be no surprises. The biggest departure was an annoying one; they changed the pronunciation of many of the main characters' names. Hard vowels became soft and vice versa.

Aang became Ahng
Sokka became Sohka
Iroh became Eeroh

I can't imagine any reasons behind this change, except that the filmmakers specifically set out to annoy long-time fans of this story. As the movie played and the characters called each other by name, I found myself fighting the urge to shout out corrections at the movie screen.

Some other departures weren't as quickly noticed. For instance, Aang in the show is a fun-loving goofy kid who --at first-- can't be troubled to take the events around him very seriously. He's not afraid of danger and is quick to learn water-bending. In the film, Aang is more serious and doesn't goof off at all. In the show, Sokka is a brave warrior, but also a bit unlucky and drives much of the comic relief. The movie Sokka (played by Jackson Rathbone, better known as the vampire named Jasper in the Twilight series) is more serious and less capable. They could also have given him more screen time.

I very much wanted to love this movie from the moment months ago that I first heard they were in production. And though I don't hate it, the film failed to live up to my expectations. The fighting moves and bending moves just didn't impress at the same level that the cartoon series did.

Unfair Reviews

That being said, there are several really unfair reviews that are being circulated that I hope won't kill the possibility of a better sequel. For instance, E! Online asks "Is Last Airbender the Worst Movie Ever?". I think that's quite unfair. I mean "...Worst Movie Ever"? Really? There are so many other really bad movies that should better wear that title. For instance, here's a documentary available through Netflix that purports to document the 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.

Additionally, there was apparently some controversy prior to The Last Airbender's release involving the "whitewashing" of the cast. What this is referring to is that the story is heavily influenced by Asian themes, but very few of the main cast members are actually Asian. Whereas I'm all for fairness and equality, I don't even understand why there is a whitewash controversy at all! I want to be sensitive here, but I'm afraid this seems to me like an overreaction. Has anyone who may have been offended ever seen the original show? Granted the characters are all animated and perhaps there are different expectations for the casting of a live-action show, but I'm still left scratching my head.

Conclusion

All in all, the show is a great show and I urge anyone who hasn't seen it to catch it on Nick or put it in their instant Netflix queue. During one of the last episodes before the series ends, the heroes attend a play which was written about their own adventures and they get to see themselves acted out to applause. Hilarity ensues when certain secrets are inadvertently revealed and the young heroes don't link how they are portrayed. The play was pretty bad.

Watching this movie wasn't too bad, but it felt a little like watching that play. The actors didn't seem to be working that hard and as impressive as the effects were, they paled compared to the action in the cartoon. And I think that's the worst comment I can make about the movie. I liked it well enough, but I'd rather watch the cartoon on any given day. My hope is that the next one will be better, if it even gets made at all.

More Information

Last Airbender: Coming Soon

2010-06-21T13:16:00.007-05:00

This is going to be a really good movie.

(AD) Trailer 5: Fire

Update (2010-07-07): For anyone interested, I posted a full review of the movie.

Soda Is Not Good For You

2010-05-20T00:13:00.000-05:00

We've been talking about diet and sodas and high fructose corn syrup after watching Food, Inc. but this short video has even more good health information.

Dance Mat Typing

2010-04-18T02:25:00.000-05:00

One important skill for students of all ages in the 21^st will continue to be typing on a standard keyboard. Here is a great site for introducing touch typing. Check out Dance Mat Typing.

Do You Remember "The Last Airbender"?

2010-04-11T02:20:00.001-05:00

This show is getting the live-action treatment.

Star Wars Clone Wars: Boba Fett Returns

2010-04-11T02:09:00.003-05:00

The son of Jango Fett, destined to be the best bounty hunter in the galaxy, rises to prominence to avenge his father's death from the lightsaber blade of Jedi Master Mace Windu.

Right-click and select the option to watch this clip in full-screen mode.

Star Wars Clone Wars Video

2010-04-08T00:15:00.001-05:00

Did you know that the latest episodes of Star Wars Clone Wars are available for viewing on StarWars.com? Here's a synopsis from the latest episode.

Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka form an uneasy partnership with four deadly bounty hunters to help protect a local farmer from Hono Ohnaka and his band of pirates

See the Video from Season 2, Full Episode 17: Bounty Hunters.

Even More Star Wars News

Did You Know?

2010-04-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

An average person walks the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime.
A typical lightning bolt is 2 to 4 inches wide and 2 miles long.
Golfers use an estimated $800 million worth of golf balls annually.
An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.
Every person has a unique tongue print.
The human brain is 85% water.
The can opener wasn't invented until 48 years after the can!
Mockingbirds can imitate any sound from a squeaking door to a cat meowing.

Made to Order

2010-03-25T17:57:00.001-05:00

The Cat in the Hat uses 225 different words.

Dr. Seuss' publisher, Bennett Cerf, wagered $50 that the author couldn't reduce this total to 50 in his next book.

So Seuss produced a new manuscript using precisely 50 words, and collected the $50.

The book was Green Eggs and Ham.

See the original entry.

Honoring Soldiers And Their Families

2010-03-08T00:59:00.001-06:00

One of my friends, a soldier named Ryan Keeter, is featured in the video on the following page. Go to Springfield, Illinois WICS ABC 20 Newsroom. This quote is from that page.

The freedoms we enjoy often come from the sacrifices of the men and women in uniform. But many times the mission abroad leaves the families back home with their own struggles.

Sunday the National Guard paid tribute to the contributions of both the troops and their loved ones.

ABC News Channel 20's Mike Brooks takes a closer look.

Riddles

2010-03-01T19:57:00.002-06:00

Here's a riddle for you to guess.

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a shotgun and points it at him. The man says "thank you" and leaves. Why did the man thank the bartender?

ANSWER: The man had the hiccups and the water helped him stop it, and the gun scared him which also help stop his hiccups as well.

I Have A Dream - Martin Luther King Jr.

2010-01-19T11:55:00.001-06:00

Sesame Street: Google Bugle

2009-11-05T15:01:00.001-06:00

Cookie Monster performs a silly song.

Soap Bubbles Science

2009-10-07T22:51:00.001-05:00

Like slow-motion video? Like soap bubbles? Me too! You will also like this video introducing some of the science behind soap bubbles and showing off the action of a soap bubble popping at a really slow speed. You can see the video in a larger format on YouTube with Keith Johnson of BubbleArtist.com

We Choose the Moon: Pre-launch

2009-07-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

In honor of the 20^th anniversary of the first astronauts landing on the moon in July of 1969, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has put together a commemorative and interactive site recreating the moon landing in an interactive way. Please visit We Choose the Moon.org to learn more.

Train Vs. Tornado, Train Loses!

2009-07-10T08:49:00.001-05:00

Here is a moving train that is hit cross ways by a tornado.

Mio Mao - The Ants

2009-06-25T00:33:00.001-05:00

Baby Countdown

2009-06-04T23:28:00.000-05:00

The above image is dynamic and will serve up a new graphic and new information as a pregnancy progresses and it gets closer to the time when the baby will arrive.

Kideo Player!

2009-03-12T22:33:00.020-05:00

It can be hard to find a site exclusively for kid-friendly videos. Kideo is the safe and fun way to surf through YouTube videos. It's simple and easy to use. Just let the first video load. Use the space bar if you want to skip to the next video.

There are video channels available for the following:

Pick your favorite family-friendly channel today.

OscilloScribe

2009-02-17T22:29:00.003-06:00

I've posted previously about Spirographs, but I got a comment from Peter on my previous post that alerted me to OscilloScribe. I wanted to give it a try and see how it compares. This is actually a much better applet for creating really cool spiral art. Here are a few of my attempts.

This program has a nice enough interface for creating almost any graph you want and it also allows you to save the image to your local hard drive. My only suggestion would be for the designer to make it a more traditional method for saving the images when you are done. Also, it would be kind of neat if you could alter the thickness of the drawing tool. Otherwise, it's easy to use and a lot of fun. Check out OscilloScribe today.

Buy A Spiral Drawing Book or Game

New Template! Thisaway Blue!

2009-01-11T23:46:00.001-06:00

Over this weekend, we have updated the template on Arconati Kid Korner. It was time for a much-overdue upgrade. I let Reese pick from Blogger's available layouts and she immediately picked Thisaway Blue as her favorite.

Although it should have been a one-click update, I've spent the better part of this weekend cleaning little details up and adding some new features. But it's been worth it. Look for more updates and more functionality in the near future.

Old Template: Ms. Moto

For those that want to reminisce, here's a screen shot of the old version.

Very long and pink.

New Template: Thisaway Blue

And here's a quick capture of the design today.

Very cool and blue.

Note: the search feature that was previously in place has been temporarily hidden, but will likely be coming back soon. Thanks!

Olivia's Handprint

2009-01-11T18:38:00.002-06:00

This image was removed from the sidebar when I updated the template over the weekend. I love this image and will likely be using it in other work.

Club Penguin from Disney

2008-12-14T22:10:00.002-06:00

If you and your friends would like to waddle around together online, be sure to check out Club Penguin. You can take part in a variety of virtual activities and...

Customize your penguin character
Build an igloo
Socialize
Submit your artwork
Have snow-ball fights
Play ice hockey
Swim in the ocean
Dance

There are live moderators and modes at signup where parents can restrict what text the kids can "say" and "see" down to predetermined lists. For parents who are understandably concerned about their children socializing online, there are several reviews and suggestions. Here are two pages about Club Penguin that you will want to read first.

Too Much Information

2008-12-14T22:06:00.002-06:00

When using the Internet, it is amazingly easy to give out too much information very very quickly.

Create Your Very Own Fairy at Pixie Hollow!

2008-12-03T01:35:00.002-06:00

Ever since Peter Pan hit the theaters, children everywhere have loved Tinkerbell. As the years have gone by, Tink's world has been expanded to included many other magical fairies and a whole forest. They even have an online version of this forest that anyone can play in. It's free to join and create a character.

Disney has done the best job they possibly can in keeping this community-driven site safe for visitors.

There's also a special place on PixieHollow.com just for parents! Visit the Parents' Center to read more about our magical online world and Fairy safety. You can also download an Arrival Day Kit to make your child's arrival into Pixie Hollow extra special.

As part of our commitment to creating a safe online environment, Pixie Hollow is free from third-party advertising and offers parental controls, which allow you to monitor your child's chat permissions and account history. To manage your child's account, please visit our Account Manager.

So fly on over and visit the Disney Fairies @ Pixie Hollow!

Kids Can Name NASA's Next Mars Rover!

2008-11-20T22:39:00.000-06:00

Let's get signed up for this as soon as possible. Kids can name NASA's next Mars Rover!

Vegetable Orchestra

2008-11-20T22:00:00.001-06:00

Eat your vegetables! Or at least make music with them.

It's Time For Halloween Hangman Again!

2008-10-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

I originally wrote about Halloween Hangman last year, but now it's time once again for everyone's favorite Halloween game! Try this and other versions of Hangman.

Psst! Olivia! You're welcome!

That Quiz - Math Test Activities

2008-10-03T01:24:00.001-05:00

Check out some fun stuff to do at ThatQuiz.com - Math Test Activities.

Math test activities for students and teachers of all grade levels

Elementary Sites - Math Links

2008-10-03T01:20:00.000-05:00

Check out this link for some fun math sites. Visit Elementary Sites at Tucson Unified School District.

TagYerit.com - Painted Pumpkins!

2008-10-03T01:15:00.001-05:00

It's October and that means preparing for Halloween. Check out this page about Painted pumpkins.

Here are some other examples that I found.

We started this page a few years back after several of our visitors submitted their painted pumpkins for us to post. It's not something that Flo or I have done (other than my Pumpkin Head Astaire mask). After seeing them, we understand their appeal. And they are definitely quite popular with you, our visitors. ENJOY!

I'm very excited about pumpkin carving this year, but perhaps it's time to paint them instead...

Whack-A-Bone

2008-10-03T01:06:00.000-05:00

It's time for Whack-A-Bone!

Use the style and fun of a video game to learn the bones and parts of the body. Get faster and faster with patience and practice. Soon you will be an expert in anatomy.

How Many Dominoes? 30,000!

2008-09-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

Found via neatorama.

AOL Helps Keep The Whole Family Safer Online

2008-09-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

I got an AOL tip in my email recently. It regards the kind of initiatives that their company is doing and has always done to try and help keep kids safe online.

Do you know what is considered "Cyberbullying"? Do you know how to deal with a Cyberbully? Our new online safety Web site, SafetyClicks, can help. Featuring articles, videos and an interactive quiz, the site is designed to keep parents "plugged in" about how to best protect kids and teens in a Web 2.0 world. And don't forget to download our free parental controls software -- it's new and improved, making it the most comprehensive free parental controls available. Plus, it no longer requires an AOL screen name for use.

Learn more at AOL.

AP Chemistry: Combustion of Methane Bubbles

2008-09-04T23:09:00.002-05:00

I hope that my kids someday have a teacher that is this cool.

An experiment performed by Mr Hambleton of Monta Vista High School involving the bubbling of methane gas through a solution of soap and water to form bubbles. The bubbles were then ignited.

Everyone remember to keep safety in mind at all times and take things slow. Don't try this at home.

National Geographic News

2008-07-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

Here's the latest newsletter from National Geographic.

Planets Align for the 4th of July

2008-07-02T18:28:00.001-05:00

I hope that I remember to check this one out while we are watching the fireworks.

News Flash: On 4th of July weekend, NASA forecasts lights in the sky.

No, not those lights. Look beyond the fireworks. Almost halfway up the western sky, just above the twilight glow of sunset, a trio of worlds is gathering: Saturn, Mars and the crescent Moon.

See the full article and information posted yesterday Nasa.gov.

Sonic Boom

2008-06-27T11:58:00.001-05:00

Wow. I did not know that.

Discovery Channels's Boom-De-Yada

2008-06-27T11:41:00.001-05:00

Go Mike Rowe! Here at Arconati Kid's Korner, we love the Discovery Channel and we hope you do too!

Book: 100 Top Children's Movies

2008-06-19T11:40:00.001-05:00

In our house, we love movies. But it's sometimes difficult to pick new and interesting choices for family-friendly viewing from the rack of new releases. However, the good news is that there are many great classics available in other sections that would make great choices. Some of them may not even be in the kid's section or immediately obvious choices.

In 'The New York Times Essential Library: Children's Movies' (Henry Holt and Company), film critic Peter M. Nichols looked beyond Disney and traditional forms of children's entertainment to assemble a collection of films that are stimulating for the whole family, including adults.

See the full list of 100 top children's movies.

Spirograph & More Spirographs

2008-06-15T19:41:00.003-05:00

The Spirograph was one of my favorite art toys as a kid. Here's a digital version written as a Java Applet.

Created by Anu Garg.

A Spirograph is a curve formed by rolling a circle inside or outside of another circle. The pen is placed at any point on the rolling circle.

If you would like to get the analog version, you can find them on Amazon.com at the following two links.

Opportunity cost - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2008-05-14T18:39:00.000-05:00

You can learn a lot at Wikipedia. For instance,...

Opportunity cost is the cost (sacrifice) incurred by choosing one option over an alternative one that may be equally desired. Thus, opportunity cost is the cost of pursuing one choice instead of another. Every action has an opportunity cost. For example, someone who invests $10,000 in a stock denies oneself the interest that one can earn by leaving the $10,000 dollars in a bank account instead. Opportunity cost is not restricted to monetary or financial costs: the real cost of output forgone, lost time, pleasure or any other benefit that provides utility should also be considered.

Opportunity cost is a key concept in economics because it implies the choice between desirable, yet mutually exclusive results. It has been described as expressing 'the basic relationship between scarcity and choice.'

View the full entry about opportunity cost on Wikipedia.

Earthquakes Magnitude Scale and Classes

2008-04-18T19:18:00.003-05:00

Very early this morning here in St. Louis, Missouri, we experienced a Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake (Google Earth). Then later in the day we experienced an aftershock of magnitude 4.5.

Would you like to learn more about Earthquakes Magnitude Scale and Classes? Visit the UPSeis: an education site for budding seismologists.

60 Minutes Report - Return Trip: Back to the Moon

2008-04-07T01:25:00.000-05:00

This video report and the several that are linked from it caught my ear. Mostly, it was the following colorful tagline that opens the story.

You may not know it, but the journey to send humans back to the moon --and beyond-- has already begun.

Hear more at Yahoo! Video - Return Trip: Back to the Moon. Although one piece of sad related news is that the space shuttle program is being retired. However, it is being replaced by a new program.

Spitzer Space Telescope - NASA

2008-02-18T20:45:00.002-06:00

This handout photo received on February 12, 2008 shows newborn stars as they peek out from the Rho Ophiuchi star-forming region in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Planets resembling Earth can be found orbiting many sun-like stars in our galaxy, increasing the prospects of finding extraterrestial life on some of them, according to a study released Sunday. (AFP/NASA-HO/File)

Space is amazing! The possibilities of what is out there are limitless. See Print Story: Yahoo! News - Yahoo! News Photos.

What Kind of World Do You Want?

2008-01-22T23:37:00.000-06:00

Would you consider placing info about this on your website? Autism numbers are skyrocketing and these children need all the help they can get.

I want to thank my mom for sending me this link and the description to go along with it. Since the money involved sounded a little hard to believe, I checked Snopes.com, and it turns out that it's legitimate.

The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for *each time* this video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure for autism. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your loved ones. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal.

Help Five for Fighting Change Her World.

Norad Tracks Santa 2007

2007-12-24T23:56:00.000-06:00

As they have done every year for more than 50 years, NORAD is once again tracking the Christmas Eve voyage of Santa Claus. He is soon to arrive at our house as I write this as the map shows him at Peoria, Illinois. But ... oh wait, the map just updated!

NORAD Tracks Santa - St Louis, MO

This content requires that your browser be Flash compatible. Please download the latest version for Flash from the Macromedia Shockwave Download Center.

Track Santa as he makes his journey around the world. NoradSanta.org

Here he comes. I've gotta go!

Want More Information?

Start here - NoradSanta.org
Norad - Read About Santa
Read an article in the National Ledger about NORAD and Santa
Learn more about NORAD on Wikipedia
Check the schedule to see an Episode of "Weird U.S." called "It's a Wonderful Time to Be Weird"
Scientists Marvel at Santa's Stamina

ReadWriteThink

2007-12-16T00:23:00.000-06:00

Here is a good resource for both teachers and students alike.

Providing educators and students access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction.

Visit ReadWriteThink.

Google For Educators

2007-11-11T22:30:00.000-06:00

Google is more than the greatest search engine. Google believes in teachers. They have one central hub with tools for your classroom, classroom activities, classroom posters and a teacher community.

At Google, we support teachers in their efforts to empower students and expand the frontiers of human knowledge. That's why we've assembled the information and tools you'll find on this site.

If you are a teacher and you want to know more about what Google's tools and what they can do to help you, check out Google For Educators.

iKnowthat.com Science Lab Games

2007-11-11T22:19:00.000-06:00

With a multitude of subjects from Gravity, Atoms, Vision, Volcanoes, Human Body, Earthquakes, Sound, Cells, Matter, Solar System and Weather, iKnowthat.com's Science Lab Games has everything you want to know.

Halloween Hangman [.swf]

2007-10-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

Halloween is coming very soon. Here is a great game of Hangman with a very spooky twist. There is creepy music and a skeleton that talks to you!

Give the game a try!

Photo in the News: "Nonexistent" Flying Fox Discovered

2007-09-24T00:25:00.000-05:00

Scientists are discovering new species of animals every day. Even some experienced biologists will be surprised when they come across an entirely new animal they thought did not exist.

This unusual species of flying fox was recently discovered in the Philippines not long after it was deemed not to exist.

Jake Esselstyn, a biologist with the University of Kansas, was among a team of researchers that found the animal, a type of fruit bat, last year while surveying forest life on the island of Mindoro (see Philippines map).

Photo in the News: Bizarre Object Found Circling Star

2007-09-23T22:41:00.000-05:00

There are many different types of stars in the universe. Over time, they go through changes and life cycle, just like living things. They are born, they grow and they grow old. Some stars are far away from other stars and some are very close relatively. Scientists have recently discovered a pair of dying stars orbiting each other that exhibit some interesting behaviour.

An object recently detected orbiting a neutron star is among the strangest planet-mass bodies ever found, astronomers say.

Instead of circling around a normal star, the low-mass object --likely the "skeleton" of a smaller star-- orbits a rapidly spinning pulsar, or neutron star.

The neutron star spins hundreds of times a second --faster than a kitchen blender.

The odd mass, which was spotted on June 7 by NASA's Swift and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellites, orbits the bigger star in a little under once an hour.

Baby Einstein Turns Kids Into Baby Homer Simpson

2007-08-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a Wired.com article/blog post about Baby Einstein.

Videos marketed to parents as a learning tools for infants may actually stunt their babies' development, reports the Los Angeles Times.

In a survey of 1,000 parents, University of Washington pediatricians found that for every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old were shown such popular series as 'Brainy Baby' or 'Baby Einstein,' they knew six to eight fewer words than other children. Reading to children and telling them stories appeared far more beneficial than the videos, which are designed to engage a baby's attention, hop from scene to scene with minimal dialogue and include mesmerizing images, like a lava lamp. The American Academy of Pediatrics says kids under two shouldn't watch any TV at all.

The findings appear intuitive -- television is, broadly speaking, a passive medium, much less meaningful at a young age than interaction with a parent. And videos like Baby Einstein are about as meaningless as it gets.

Dimitri Christakis, the study's lead author, has elsewhere posited that the link between infant TV watching and subsequent attention disorders and behavioral problems has a biological basis: at a time when their brains are still in accelerated development, the babies are literally being rewired by TV.

Concerned parents should read the full post on Wired Science - Wired Blogs.

Story Machine Captures Sound, Images

2007-07-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

July 23, 2007 - When it comes to writing, the pen and paper can take storytelling only so far.

Now a new technology allows kids - big and small - to embed sound into traditional drawings and create an interactive story-game. The Jabberstamp, invented by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is not only just fun to play with, it can also allow children to capture and share intricate ideas before they have mastered the skill of writing narratives.

We can help them learn new things that are really complex by giving them new toys, said Hayes Raffle, a Ph.D. candidate and research assistant. Raffle developed the device with fellow Ph.D. candidate Cati Vaucelle and Cornell University researcher Ruibing Wang.

Want to learn more? Go to Discovery Channel :: News - Technology :: Story Machine Captures Sound, Images.

LiveLeak.com - Spectacular Video of A Meteor / Space Debris

2007-07-23T20:17:00.000-05:00

Apparently a news chopper crew captured video of a meteor or some other debris from space while flying before the sun came up.

An awesome video of space debris breaking up in the atmosphere LIVE during Good Day Colorado around 6:15 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2007.

SkyFOX pilot Rob Marshall and photojournalist Josh White captured the event at about 6:15 a.m. Mountain Standard Time while they were flying over Denver.

This content requires that your browser be Flash compatible. Please download the latest version for Flash from the Macromedia Shockwave Download Center.

See this Spectacular Video of A Meteor at it's original source.

Teddy Ruxpin

2007-07-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

20 years ago Teddy Ruxpin won the hearts of millions of children, parents, and grandparents. Today, the original animated storytelling bear is back to share his adventures, songs, and friends with a new generation of children.

Visit Teddy Ruxpin

SchoolMart-The most popular supplier of calculators, workbooks, & accessories to Educators, Schools, and Individuals

2007-07-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Need a calculator for back to school?

SchoolMart is your one stop for all of your educational needs! We are a national distributor of Math, Science, and Audio/Visual products to schools, teachers, parents, and students. Check out our wide array of educational tools you can use in your classroom to reinforce your curriculum. Your students will be challenged and realize learning is fun.

Get your shopping done early at SchoolMart.com.

Autism toys, educational toys and special needs toys at KidScopeToys.com

2007-06-27T20:22:00.000-05:00

According to Wikipedia, Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is three years old.

Welcome to KidScope Toys, your source for the most exciting educational, special needs and autism toys available! Our goal is to provide you with those toys and books that we have found exciting in our own work as therapists, and to assist you in using these toys to aid in the growth and development of children with autism or special needs. Learn more about us!

Visit KidScopeToys.com today.

Science kits - Science toys - Science Store For The Stars!

2007-06-18T22:58:00.000-05:00

Do you love Science? Or does your daughter or son love science? Would you like to help your child get more interested in science and the world around them?

The biggest, best, and most complete selection of quality science kits, science toys, activity books, robot kits, mind challenging games, telescopes, microscopes and more! Easy to find by age, price, subject, or manufacturer. Everything you see on our site is in stock, unless it's a soon to be released new product. With hundreds of fun science educational toys, we're inspiring young minds to experience the joy of science and have fun doing it. Bookmark us and come back often!

Visit the Science Store For The Stars!.

Coolmath.com - Spike's Game Zone

2007-06-13T22:17:00.000-05:00

Spike's Game Zone - free online games, learning and thinking games, jigsaw puzzles and tons of fun for kids of all ages. Play Breakout.

For the Youngsters in Applebee's® Neighborhood

2007-06-11T19:09:00.000-05:00

My family likes going to Applebee's and getting their "carside-to-go". Their kids' menu is great but they also have a link to activities.

Just in time for summer, Applebee's has paired up with Alex's Lemonade Stand. Inside Alex's Amazing Adventures are lots of fun activities, and you can read the story of the amazing girl who started a lemonade stand to raise money for sick children. Alex has inspired kids everywhere to start their own lemonade stands and help the cause.

Visit www.alexslemonade.org to find out how you can get involved and help sick kids like Alex has.

Your family can order from Applebee's® Kids Menu.

KID'S MENU ITEMS:

CHICKEN FINGERS*

CHEESEBURGER*

MACARONI & CHEESE

GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH*

OREO® COOKIE SHAKE

OREO® COOKIE SUNDAE

Drinks are served in a special Applebee's kid's cup with lid. *Includes your choice of steamed broccoli, celery with ranch dressing, applesauce or fries.

Boing Boing: The case against homework

2007-05-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

For many generations, the accepted wisdom has been that it benefits children when teachers assign homework because it is a good practice and refresher for the child at home to . However, there is a vocal minority of parents and teachers (and of course, students) that want to turn this truism on it's head. Read more and decide for yourself at BoingBoing.net.

LINKS Learning for Kids: Math: Illustrated Lessons

2007-04-19T20:15:00.000-05:00

Many children and people in general learn visually. A visual mathematical tutorial can be a useful introduction or refresher for those wanting to excel.

Math is the language of symbols. The way we work with numbers tells us a lot about their relationships, patterns, and the ways they change. Math helps us describe both similarities and differences and also helps us think and solve practical problems.

In this section, you will find some fun ways to learn about math. You can start out with Estimation of Length, Place Value and Weight and Capacity. If you want something more challenging, take a look at Line Symmetry, Patterns and Tangrams. Try some of these at home with your family!

Get started at LinksLearning.org.

Invisible Octopus

2007-04-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

Normally, you will learn that invisibility doesn't exist in nature. But this video seems to show an invisible octopus.

This content requires that your browser be Flash compatible. Please download the latest version for Flash from the Macromedia Shockwave Download Center.

This Octopus turns invisible and visible at will. Just watch.

For accuracy, this is quite possibly a cuttlefish and not an octopus, though they are related. The cuttlefish is quite possibly the smartest invertebrate on the planet. They have a pretty advanced brain structure, most likely adapted because they have to be able to control the vast number of color changing cells within their body.

There was a pretty interesting special on them on the Discovery Channel about a week ago, although I can't find a link for the show right now. Keep your eye out for that show, but in the meantime, see the Invisible Octopus.

Integer Bars: Learning Fractions

2007-03-29T22:31:00.000-05:00

Learning about fractions? Need a good tutorial to help you get started that might also put you in a hungry mood for pizza?

The word fraction means a portion of a whole. For example, if you have a whole pizza cut into 8 equal slices, then each slice is a fraction of the whole pizza. A group of slices (for example, 2 or 3 slices) is also a fraction of the whole pizza.

Read more about Integer Bars: Learning Fractions.

Starfall.com - Word Shapes: Guess Guess

2007-03-21T20:28:00.000-05:00

I've linked to Starfall.com before.

Now there is a new page to visit. See Word Shapes: Guess Guess.

Kids-In-Mind: Movie Ratings That Actually Work

2007-02-24T00:02:00.000-06:00

It is important that parents either screen movies before their children see it. It is also important that they understand their children well enough to know whether their child will react well to certain scenes of higher intensity in certain films. For busy modern parents without time to see every movie their child is interested in, but who want to know more about the movie in order to better improve them now have a great web site resource.

We enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for them or their children, according to their own criteria. Unlike the MPAA we do not assign an inscrutable rating based on age, but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE & PROFANITY on a scale of 0 to 10. We also explain in detail why a film rates high or low in a specific category, and we include instances of SUBSTANCE USE, a list of DISCUSSION TOPICS that may elicit questions from kids and MESSAGES the film conveys. Again, unlike the MPAA, we do not make age-specific recommendations. Since our system is based on objective standards, not the viewer's age or the artistic merits of a film, we enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for their children according to their own criteria...

Start making use of this great site for parents at Kids-In-Mind.com.

Cool math 4 kids

2007-02-16T20:11:00.000-06:00

Are you looking for a good resource to learn math online interactively? Just like Starfall.com is good for reading, Cool math 4 kids by Karen is a fun site for math games and puzzles.

Cool math 4 kids is a math site specially designed for what kids like and how they learn! Math really CAN be fun and really CAN be easy to learn. One "thank-you" email I received from a parent said, No more tears at homework time! That's what it's all about! I've got lots of lessons and games on the site(s) to make math fun...

So, look around... Play together and learn! HAVE FUN!

The site is also described as An amusement park of math and more -- especially designed for kids and FUN, FUN, FUN! So if you want to give it a try and stretch your math muscles, head over to Cool math 4 kids.com.

Red Robin - Coloring Page

2007-02-16T19:31:00.000-06:00

Hey Kids! Red has a brand new interactive coloring book for you to color in and express your creativity with! All you need is a Flash capable browser and you're all set. Simply click the coloring book icon below to get started. If you need Flash, click the Flash download icon on the right.

They also make a tasty burger! Visit Red Robin's Coloring Page.

Avatar Escape From The Spirit World

2007-02-16T16:42:00.000-06:00

Help Aang and play Avatar Escape From The Spirit World.

GigglePoetry.com - Funny Poetry for Children

2007-02-15T18:11:00.000-06:00

Are you in for a good laugh? Anything can be funnier if you put it to rhyme.

Children's poetry by Meadowbrook Press. Lots of funny poems, poetry contests and more! Ideas for educators on teaching poetry in fun and interesting ways.

Get your giggles at GigglePoetry.com - Funny Poetry for Children.

Discovery Channel • Space

2007-02-10T00:27:00.000-06:00

These space-related news headlines are courtesy of the Discovery Channel.

Get the latest news and information on science, animals, nature, history, technology and space. Subscribe to this and other RSS feeds from the Discovery Channel.

Orisinal : Morning Sunshine

2007-02-06T20:02:00.000-06:00

Via About.com, I have found the following site with free games fit for kids:

Simple fun for the whole family can be had with the flash games at Orisinal.

Arconati Kid Korner

Powerstation Exploding

Mythbusters: Lego Ball

Keith Barry does brain magic | Video on TED.com

Crazy Paper Thing

Points Cards for the Nintendo Wii: Play Classic Nintendo Games

Nintendo Points Card for Nintendo Wii ($1999)

Last Roll Out of a NASA Space Shuttle

Happy Mothers' Day

Making Music: Matrix

EARSLAP's Otomata

Decorah Eagles

Spider Web Trees Cocooned

How Far Away is the Moon? (The Scale of the Universe)

NASA's SDO Captures a Monster Prominence [video] | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Avatar: The Last Airbender from Dark Horse and Nickelodeon | GeekDad | Wired.com

NASA - The Entire Sun in STEREO

Avatar: Legend of Korra

Sumo Paint

Sesame Street: Martians Radio

Nickelodeon | SpongeBob SquarePants | Games - Love Hurts

Cool Shoe Lace Techniques

100-Year Starship

Trapped Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Subsurface Water - NASA.GOV

Gir - The Doom Song

News About the International Space Station

Teens Against Bullying

The Sounds of Jupiter :: NASA-Voyager Recording

Mars Email Hoax

MOVIE REVIEW: The Last Airbender

The Movie

Unfair Reviews

Conclusion

More Information

Last Airbender: Coming Soon

(AD) Trailer 5: Fire

Soda Is Not Good For You

Dance Mat Typing

Do You Remember "The Last Airbender"?

Star Wars Clone Wars: Boba Fett Returns

Star Wars Clone Wars Video

Even More Star Wars News

Did You Know?

Made to Order

Honoring Soldiers And Their Families

Riddles

I Have A Dream - Martin Luther King Jr.

Sesame Street: Google Bugle

Soap Bubbles Science

We Choose the Moon: Pre-launch

Train Vs. Tornado, Train Loses!

Mio Mao - The Ants

Baby Countdown

Kideo Player!

OscilloScribe

Buy A Spiral Drawing Book or Game

Related:

New Template! Thisaway Blue!

Old Template: Ms. Moto

New Template: Thisaway Blue

Olivia's Handprint

Club Penguin from Disney

Too Much Information

Create Your Very Own Fairy at Pixie Hollow!

Kids Can Name NASA's Next Mars Rover!

Vegetable Orchestra

It's Time For Halloween Hangman Again!

That Quiz - Math Test Activities

Elementary Sites - Math Links

TagYerit.com - Painted Pumpkins!

Whack-A-Bone

How Many Dominoes? 30,000!

AOL Helps Keep The Whole Family Safer Online

AP Chemistry: Combustion of Methane Bubbles

National Geographic News

Planets Align for the 4th of July

Sonic Boom

Discovery Channels's Boom-De-Yada

Book: 100 Top Children's Movies

Spirograph & More Spirographs