Armies of Ants

Armies of Ants
By Michael

An ant can’t cause a big damage. But an army of ants can cause a big damage. Army ants live in USA and South America. They eat insects, grasshoppers, spiders and birds. They’re very dangerous. They don’t build nests. Soldier ants always stay outside to protect the ants. The queen ant is always laying eggs. The queen is the biggest ant in the colony. Ants have been around since before the days of dinosaurs. There are 9000 kinds of ants. They live in different places. The bulldog ants are the most dangerous ants. These ants hunt alone. They can run very fast. Almost faster than humans. The fire ants are another kind of poisonous ants. It can kill a cow and even humans. Ants are social insects. They live together. The queen lays eggs. They can live underground, on trees or on leaves. Some ants attack other ants’ nests. They can fight bravely. Honey ants store honey in their bodies. We should protect the ants because some are almost extinct.

Sanji and the Baker

980821 Sanji and the Baker

When Sanji was a young man, he traveled a great deal. He sailed across stormy seas. He traveled across hot, open deserts. One day, he arrived in the fabled city in Fratsia, a dazzling place where merchants traded in spices, gems and colorful skills.
Sanji decide to stay there for a while. He found a room that suited him perfectly. It was small and simple but it was quite cozy. Best of all, it was right above the Baker’s shop.
In the morning, Sanji awoke to a delicious smell wafting up from the bakery. Dark, crusty bread was hot from the oven. Warm sweet rolls filled with juicy currants. Crunchy biscuits covered in sesame seeds. Sanji stepped on to his the balcony and took a deep breath. He whiffed and sniffed the heavenly aroma. Mmm…the cinnamon buns are very fresh. He just wanted to have one.
In the bakery, Sanji bought the tiniest cinnamon bun in the shop. “I’ve been on my balcony enjoying the wonderful smells from the oven.” He told the Baker. “Oh, you have, done you?” growled the Baker. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Sanji.
That evening when Sanji came home, he stood on his balcony to inhale the lovely smells that rose from the bakery. Sweet coconut cakes and orange spice, date nut loaves and walnut whirls. Sanji stood dreamily, sniffing and whiffing. He didn’t see the Baker staring up at him. This went on for many days.
Suddenly one evening the Baker banged angrily on Sanji’s door. “Thief!” he cried. “You are stealing my smells! Sanji was astonished. “What are you talking about?” he asked, opening the door. “Don’t think I haven’t seen you, standing on your balcony whiffing and sniffing!” shouted the Baker. “You smell my bread every morning. You smell my cakes every evening!” “I must be paid for those smells!” “Nonsense!” said Sanji. “Those smells come up here by themselves! I haven’t stolen anything from you!” The Baker shook his fist at Sanji. “So you refuse to pay! Then I’ll take you to court. The Judge will see that I get my payment!”
So they went to the court. The Baker told his story and the Judge listened carefully. Then he questioned Sanji. ‘Do you enjoy those smells?’ ‘Yes, your Honour,’ Sanji replied. ‘And have you ever paid for them?’ ‘No, your honour, I haven’t.’ the Judge thought for a long time. At last he said, ‘Both of you will return to court tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Sanji, you will bring five silver coins.’
Sanji was miserable. He didn’t have five silver coins.
He would have to borrow them from his friends. And how would he ever pay them back?
The next morning at nine o’clock the Judge entered the court room. Sanji stood quietly, with his head bowed. The baker was there too, grinning and rubbing his greedy hands together. The Judge spoke first to Sanji. ‘Have you brought the silver coins? ‘Yes your Honour,’ he answered in a whisper.
The judge took a large copper bowl and placed before him. He told Sanji to throw the coin, one at a time, into the bowl. To the Baker he said, ‘Now listen carefully…’
The first coin clinked into the bowl. The second coin tinkled beside it. The third coin clattered. The fourth coin clanged. The fifth coin rattled on to the pile.
The Judge turned to the Baker. ‘Did you hear those coins clatter and clink?’ ‘Yes, your honour,’ replied the Baker, looking hungrily at the bowl of coins. ‘And did you enjoy the sound of their rattle and clang?’ asked the Judge. ‘Oh, yes! I certainly did!’ cried the Baker.
‘Good,’ said the judge. ‘Because that was your payment.’
‘’And you, Sanji,’ he continued, ‘may have your five silver coins back.’ ‘Thank you, your Honour.’

Michael-This story tells us that the Baker isn’t a good person. Smelling other’s bread isn’t illegal. Sanji didn’t do any thing wrong but the Baker wanted him to pay him money for smelling his bread. The Baker did this on purpose. He really wants Sanji’s money. The Baker is a greedy person we can not be like him. The baker is always doing some nonsense and boring things. Doesn’t he think this is a very boring thing? Because of Sanji smelling his bread his said that Sanji was stealing the smell from the bread. Getting a lot of money isn’t always a good thing. The Baker will get a lot of feed back. Such as didn’t get what he wanted. I think this is really a ridiculous thing. We should feel for others. Don’t do something that they can’t do it. Or the things will be very complicated. Be nice to others.
Dazzle---使目眩,使眼花
Aroma--- (植物、酒、菜肴等的)芳香,香氣,香味[C][U]

Bowling

980818 Bowling

Bowling was invented in ancient Egypt, Finland and Yemen. Bowling is an anaerobic sport. Bowling is a dangerous game because the bowling ball is very heavy. On Sunday we went to 壽山 bowling alley to bowl. This was the first time I bowl. Bowling needed to wear special bowling shoes. A game is 50 dollars. And a game has ten times to play. The highest score is 300 points. It is that you hit 12 strikes. It is also called a perfect game. You just need to aim the bottles and then throw it. Dad and mom showed us how to throw the ball. I just got like 80 something. I didn’t get a high score. But I will try my best. We all had a great game. It is very excited. You can finish a game in about 30 minutes. I wish that I can play it again next time.

Bowling rules:
Wear on special bowling shoes
Choose your own ball don’t mix with others
Let the right lane throw the ball first
Don’t stay on the lane too long
Don’t be loud to annoy others
Bowling Equipments:
Bowling alley
Bowling pins
Bowling balls
Bowling shoes
Yourself
Scoring:
Spare-throwing two times to hit all ten pins
Strike-hit ten pins at a ball
Gutter ball- didn’t hit any thing.
Double Strike-two strikes
Turkey- Three strike
Sea Turkey- Throwing three strikes at the last three chance.

Earth is a special place

Earth is a special place. The Earth turns imperceptibly. It turns very fast, because of the gravity we can't feel it. The Earth has three parts. It is the crust, mantle and the core. The crust is the outside part of the Earth. The core is all lava. It is very hot in there. The middle of the Earth is very mysterious. No one will know what is going to happen next.

http://www.sfscience.com/english/grade_5/unit_C/chap

The Kingdom of Bhutan

980815 the Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan is a country in the middle Asia. The Himalaya Mountains are bordered on Bhutan. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. Bhutan has a lot of strict rules. I know that one of the rules in Bhutan is that you can not smoke. Next time if you go to Bhutan don’t bring any cigarettes. Bhutan is a very mysterious country. It is beside Nepal and Bangladesh. I have never been to Bhutan before. I think that the people at there have good lungs, because they don’t smoke. Maybe next time I will go there and visit the Himalaya Mountains.

Eiffel

980814 Eiffel

The Eiffel Tower is considered to be one of the most striking pieces of the structural art in the world. The Eiffel Tower is next to the Seine River. It is in Paris. It was named after its designer-Gustave Eiffel. It is a beautiful place to go. Everyone likes it. The Eiffel Tower is three hundred meters high. It took a long time to build this big tower. Everyone in France was very excited to see the Eiffel Tower. At now people in France still thinks that the Eiffel Tower is the most famous symbol in France. I think this is a good place to go too!

The Olympics

980814 The Olympics
The Olympics is the most famous sports competition in the world. It is in different country and cities every four years. The Olympics first originated in ancient Greece about two thousand years ago. The first modern games were in Athens, Greece. The Olympics is a good game. It has five rings on the Olympic flag. The five famous rings stands for the five continents of the world. They are Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas, and the Oceania. There are a lot of kinds of games. Such as, swimming, tug of war, athletes, gymnastic, and judo. I like the Olympics very much. Maybe next time I will have a chance to see the game.

McKenna on the Inca Trail and the Sun Gate

McKenna on the Inca Trail and the Sun Gate

http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/handsonexplorer/2009/07/mckenna-on-the-inca-trail-and-the-sun-gate.htmlPosted By2009 Kids Expedition Team
Hey, everyone! It's McKenna again, with one last blog about a memorable moment in Peru. I'd like to take you back to "The City in the Clouds" for a quick visit to a special spot nestled in a narrow notch on a mountaintop overlooking Machu Picchu.After exploring and shooting pictures for hours in the marvelous ruins of "The Lost City of the Incas," and after eating a quick buffet lunch at the Machu Picchu restaurant, many members of the expedition, including myself, decided to take on the challenge of a 45 minute hike about a mile up the Inca Trail, a long, twisting, ancient stone path made and used by the Incas. Our destination? The Incan Sun Gate. The length of the trail we traversed curves up the side of the mountain and overlooks the grand city of Machu Picchu. It was an amazing experience. We had to keep reminding ourselves that we were walking on the same stones the Incas used to trek. But, overall, the trek wasn't all that easy.The stones of the trail are jagged and serrated, and one misstep at certain places could have caused us to tumble down the steep precipice of the soaring mountain. YIKES! At 8,000 plus feet in the sky, it was sometimes tough to get the oxygen we needed to climb without breathing pretty hard at times. And, being ever so high in the sky, we had to be on guard to avoid getting sunburned. We were told that, at that height, even if it doesn't feel like you are getting sun, if you aren't careful to wear sunscreen or cover up, you are likely to get sunburned--even on the tops of your hands!Some of us moved quickly up the side of the mountain, while others took their time and trekked at a snail's pace. If the Incas could trek up the trail nearly every day in their Inca-style sandals, then surely Team Peru could do it just this once in our rugged hiking shoes! We used our determination to our full advantage to give us a greatly needed boost of energy. It was a slow-but-steady incline to the top, but as they say, "slow and steady wins the race!" I think the few of us who trudged leisurely up the Inca Trail had the most energy when we reached our destination. No matter the pace we chose to traverse the twisting trail, we were all determined to reach the Sun Gate, located far above the ruins of Machu Picchu. It is the first point on the Inca Trail from which hikers (who have made the three- to four-day-long trek on the Inca Trail from the bottom of the mountain all the way to Machu Picchu) get their first glimpse of "The Lost City." It is also said that this "gate of stone" was supposedly used by the Incas to control the entrance of outsiders into their sacred city at the lower end of the Inca Trail.The sun was setting rapidly, stretching beams of bright-colored vitality across the yawning cloud-dappled sky. They say that the best time to be at the Sun Gate is during dawn or dusk, when the sun is rising or setting. That's when hikers are able to get the most stunning views of Machu Picchu, the Urubamba River snaking its way below, and the endless mountain peaks stretching into the clouds above. Hikers rise bright and early to catch a glimpse of this postcard panoramic.Finally, after nearly an hour or more of hiking--or, to put it more accurately for most of us, "stumbling"--up the Inca Trail, we reached the Sun Gate! Like Machu Picchu, the Sun Gate was a spectacular sight, built with stones cut in perfect configuration. No rain water, or even the late afternoon breeze, could seep between the stones. The Sun Gate is just another manifestation of the intelligence and ingenuity of the Incas. Their intellect marked in the stone masterpieces of Machu Picchu, the Sun Gate, and other temples and structures, is absolutely awe-inspiring. The strenuous trek up the Inca Trail was definitely worth the sight of the Sun Gate. From where we stood, in one panoramic view we could see the 14 switchbacks that carry buses of visitors up the mountainside, slices of the Inca trail, and Machu Picchu, looking like a miniature model far below the Sun Gate. I'm glad we didn't give up when the going got tough, because this was a sight not to be missed!As we stood on the many jagged stones and terraces of the ruins of the Sun Gate, we all peered anxiously at the soaring mountains reaching for the heavens all around us, and the valley below, with the Urubamba river flowing over rock and mud, and Machu Picchu sitting peacefully on a outreached ridge. And then it happened. The light started shifting as the sun moved farther across the sky and ever so slowly started sweeping the day closer to dusk. Streaming, glistening rays from the sun stretched from the deep, murky sky above onto Machu Picchu, spotlighting the city's features as if the Incas themselves were shining a light onto their beloved city, yet again revealing its true beauty to the modern world. It was an unbelievable sight, sending chills down our spines as we watched in silent wonder. It was an amazing moment.Since our trip, I have thought about that and other such moments a million times. It was hard to leave Peru and the adventure behind. I find myself missing my new friends--the other winners, the parents, the people from National Geographic, and the people from Peru--and missing that beautiful country almost every day.But when I get sad that the adventure is over, it helps to remember a quote our tour guide, Mr. Edgar, shared with us when we were all together."Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Michael-The Machu Picchu is a beautiful place to go. It is in Peru. It is a lost city from long time ago. But someone discover it. Machu Picchu is very high. It is about eight thousand feet above the sea level. Sometimes you will even think it is hard to breathe up there. The Machu Picchu was a place that ancient people lived. It is also a good place to take a trip and see what they use in the ancient city. Maybe someday I can go there and climb up the mountains to see Machu Picchu.

A High-Flying Adventure

A High-Flying Adventure
TFK tests out the new Flightline ride at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
By TFK Kid Reporter Claire Epting
Ever wondered what it's like to fly like a bird? At San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in Escondido, California, you can! The park's brand-new Flightline ride is a zip-lining experience unlike any other. The ride allows you to soar high above the park and see the animal exhibits the way a bird would.

What is zip lining? It's a sport that involves using the force of gravity to "zip" from one end of a suspended cable to the other end. Participants wear a harness and pulley that is hooked onto the cable. The starting platform is higher than the landing platform. This helps riders to gain speed as they glide through the air to the other side.
A Hands-On Zoo
The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park is more than just an average zoo. Its main mission is conservation. The park is a 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary that houses over 3,500 animals representing 260 species. It is also a botanical garden where more than a million plants can be found.
There are many unique ways for visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. One experience called Photo Caravan takes you on a safari through the African or Asian habitats. You can learn all about the park's conservation efforts by taking part in special experiences like the Photo Caravan, and of course, Flightline.
Prepare to Soar!
The Flightline experience begins with a training session on how to fly and use the gear. You can even rent special helmets with cameras on top to record your adventure. Then, it's off to the "fledgling" line. This is where you practice how to take off and how to land. The fledgling line is 470 feet long.
After practice, riders are driven up a hill to the main zip-line. Along the way, the trucks pass an area where California condors are housed and cared for. As part of the experience, visitors learn about the rare birds and other endangered animals and plants found at the park. Finally, you reach the top of the mountain. After reviewing safety and flying techniques, your harness is secured onto the zip-line cable. You overcome the butterflies in your stomach and push off. It's time to fly!
A Bird's Eye View
Four passengers can fly at one time. The zip-line is more than two-thirds of a mile long. It features a 421-foot drop in elevation. Riders can soar across the park as fast as 60 miles per hour, and are suspended between 36 and 130 feet above the ground. You fly right over the animals' exhibits and watch giraffes and deer stare up at you. After about two and a half minutes, you land at Kilima Point, and the ride is over.
It's a little scary at first, but the ride is so smooth that it quickly becomes fun and exciting. "There's no other ride quite like this one," says Adam Ringler, the park's director of operations. "The goal was to create something that gives people the experience of what it's really like to fly--while letting them also experience many of the animals from a unique, exciting angle."
If you're near San Diego this summer, I recommend a visit to San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park--and a ride on Flightline. Part of the proceeds from Flightline ticket sales will go directly to the park's condor conservation program. Special thanks to Dani Dodge and Adam Ringler and for making this report possible.

Michael-The San Diego Zoo is a great place to go. There are a lot of plants and animals in the zoo. It is a beautiful place. There are over three thousands of animals and two hundred sixty kinds of different species and there are also over millions of plants in the zoo. What a great place this zoo is. You can also take a ride on the Flightline it is a name for the trail. At first it will be scary to take a ride on it. But after you go on you can see a lot of things. The Flightline runs so smooth that it slide down very fast and makes your heart break out. The San Diego Zoo is a fun place to go with your family. Maybe next time I can go there and take a ride on the Flightline.

A Walk for Others

A Walk for Others
An 11-year-old travels to Washington, D.C., to raise help for kids
By Joyce C. Tang

Zach Bonner is "pretty tired," he says. Instead of going to camp this summer, Zach, 11, decided to walk 668 miles from Atlanta, Georgia, to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Why? Zach hopes to raise awareness about the plight of homeless kids. His journey to help others began two years ago. Zach walked from his home in Tampa, Florida, to Tallahassee. Then, in 2008, he did it again, this time walking from Tallahassee to Atlanta.

From Zach's House to the White House
Since May, Zach has traveled 12 miles every day in his trusty Adidas shoes. Along the way, he has collected more than 1,000 letters about homeless children. He hopes to give the letters to President Barack Obama. Zach says he wants his walk to make a difference.
More than 1 million children in the United States live in shelters or on the streets. During his pilgrimage, Zach spent 24 hours with a group of homeless children so he could learn the difficulties they face.
On Thursday, Zach walked the last mile of his long journey. More than 500 supporters, including 300 homeless kids, joined Zach. They marched with him down the National Mall. "It was a long walk," Zach says, "but it was definitely worth it."

A History of Service
In 2005, Zach participated in an episode of the television show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." He says that helping to build homes made him realize there were people who didn't have anywhere to live. That's when he decided that he wanted to help homeless youth. He was also inspired by a movie he saw about Mildred Norman, an activist who promoted world peace by walking 25,000 miles. Zach thought that walking would be a good way to draw attention to his cause.
Zach is also the founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation. The purpose of the non-profit is to help needy youth. Through his group, Zach has raised money and donated school supplies. "A lot of homeless youth don't get the opportunity to succeed in school because they don't have supplies," he says.
Zach's volunteerism has even inspired a Hollywood movie based on his life. "He's the most extraordinary ordinary kid I've ever met," says Michael Guillen of the Philanthropy Project, who is making the movie. "He hasn't just talked the talk. He has literally and figuratively walked the walk."
As difficult and tiring as the journey was, Zach won't be trading in his walking shoes. "When homeless kids get tired of being homeless, they don't get to quit. So why should I quit when I get tired of walking?"
To find out more about Zach Bonner and his walk to the White House, visit zachtracker.com.

Michael-I think that Zach is a very kind person. He helps the poor children and homeless children. For helping the children Zach wants to tell the US president-Barack Obama about these homeless children and poor children. So he decided to walk to the White House from his house at Florida. Many poor and homeless children walked with him. I wish that Zach will make it.

What is Swine Flu?

April 27, 2009
What is Swine Flu?
TFK answers this and other questions about the flu outbreak
By Nellie Gonzalez Cutler

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that 40 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States. People have fallen ill in several states. All of those who have come down with the flu have either recovered or are recovering. Many of them visited Mexico recently.

The flu is taking a serious toll on Mexico. Officials believe that swine flu may have sickened 1,614 people since April 13. The virus is suspected to have caused more than 100 deaths. The Mexican government has closed all public schools and canceled hundreds of public events in the country's capital, Mexico City. Soldiers handed out six million face masks, hoping the masks will stop the spread of the virus.
Governments around the world are taking steps to stop the spread of the illness. They are questioning travelers and encouraging citizens to take precautions. The WHO is keeping a close watch on the situation. No one wants the illness to become a pandemic (pan-dem-ik), or worldwide outbreak. In 1918, the severe "Spanish flu" killed an estimated 40 to 50 million people worldwide. But the world is better prepared for a flu outbreak today. Antiviral drugs can help fight swine flu. Doctors and hospitals are better equipped than they were 100 years ago.
Here are answers to questions you may have about swine flu:
What is swine flu?Swine influenza, or flu, is a respiratory disease of pigs. Type A influenza viruses cause it. Humans do not normally get swine flu. But when they do, infections are believed to spread from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) has determined that swine flu is contagious.
How does swine flu spread?Flu viruses are mainly spread when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes near another person. Droplets from an infected sneeze move through the air. Sometimes people become infected when they touch a surface that is infected and then touch their mouth or nose.
Can I get swine flu from eating pork?No. The flu is not spread through eating or preparing food.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?Yes. Your doctor can prescribe drugs that will help you feel better.
Should I be worried?Officials say that the swine flu situation is serious. You should take precautions, but there is no need for you to worry. On Sunday, the U.S. government declared a public health emergency. The government is working hard to determine how best to deal with the flu outbreak. More than 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications are being shipped to states. President Barack Obama said on Monday that the threat of spreading swine flu infections is a matter of concern but "not a cause for alarm."
What can I do?• Wash your hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw the tissue in the trash.• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your arm rather than your hand.• Let your parents know if you are not feeling well.• Stay home from school if you are sick.

Michael-Swine flu is a very important disease. It is very dangerous. It started from Mexico and then spread the swine flu all over the world. People in every country are very scared of this kind of disease. And the worst thing is that the swine flu is now spreading in Taiwan. Everybody is all very scared. We should protect ourselves to get swine flu. Make sure to cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough. And wash your hand before you eat.

Comets and Meteors

980806
Comets and Meteors
When you look up at the sky at night, sometimes you can see a lot of stars. But in Taiwan you can hardly see any stars in the sky. If you are lucky enough you will might see a shooting star flying across the sky. Shooting stars fly very fast that you can’t always see them. Another name for shooting star is meteor. Meteor and comet is not the same thing. They are different. Meteor is just little pebbles fall from the space. When it fly across the atmosphere the heat will make the pebble burn and when we look from the earth it looks like a shooting star. But a comet is different from a meteor. Comets stay outside the earth they don’t get in. comets are made of ice and dust. The Halley Comet is famous it comes near the earth 76 years a time. Watching meteor and comets isn’t easy. You can’t see it all the time. So make a wish to see them in your life.

Cheesecake

980805
Cheesecake

Cheesecake is a kind of cake. If you are a patient person you can do it well by yourself. Cheesecake is delicious. You will need to prepare the ingredients for making a cheesecake. You will need to buy sugar, sour cream, cream cheese, eggs and a bottle of vanilla extract.
I have eaten a cheesecake before. Cheesecakes are one of the most delicious cakes I have ever eaten. In my memory, the first time I have eaten a cheesecake was at my birthday. On that day my father went to a cheesecake store to buy a cheesecake to celebrate for my birthday. There are two parts of the cheesecake. It is the crust and the cake. The cake is made of cheese, eggs and butter. The upper part of the cheese must be soft and the top of the cheese cake must be a little brown and yellow. The bottom of the cheesecake is the crust. The crust is made of crusty cookies. It is good to eat with the cake. We eat cheesecakes only for special days or on my birthday. I think that eating cheesecake is a kind of luck. I like to eat cheesecake very much. Maybe some day I can make a cheesecake by my own. Eating cheesecake is a good memory to me.

A Big, Bright Idea

August 5, 2009
A Big, Bright Idea

What's the best way to celebrate National Inventors' Month? Build a giant Lego light bulb!
By Laura Slot

Even before the project started, Lego master builder Steve Gerling was excited. "We're going to build our fingers to the bone," he told TFK. Last weekend, Lego teamed up with the Smithsonian's Center for Invention and Innovation in Washington, D.C., to build an eight-foot-tall version of Thomas Edison's light bulb. August is National Inventors' Month, and the light bulb is the symbol for a big idea.

Brick by Brick
More than 10,000 kids helped build the giant plastic structure with hundreds of thousands of Lego bricks. It took two days to build it. "The little plastic bricks are so accessible," Gerling says. "It's a medium of creativity and inventiveness."
Gerling has been a Lego master builder for 13 years. For this project, he first made a drawing of the light bulb and then a prototype, or a smaller version of the bulb. Anything can be built with Lego, the master builder says, but large projects need extra support. "We have a couple of very small glued sections, because it's a round shape," he said. "It's just a little bit of insurance."
The Spark of an Idea
Edison invented the incandescent lamp 130 years ago. He succeeded only after conducting many experiments. Edison became one of America's most successful inventors. He held more than 1,000 patents for inventions.

The Lego light bulb was built in the National Museum of American History. At the museum, visitors can learn more about remarkable inventions in the "Invention at Play" exhibition. The Spark!Lab features a building and engineering laboratory.
Unlike Edison's inventions, the Lego light bulb will not stand the test of time. It was constructed in the middle of the museum's entrance and was broken down right after the project was completed. Still, Gerling says that he and the museum's visitors had a fantastic experience. "Watching the kids plowing into this," he says, "was a great deal of fun."
Inspired? Try building your own Lego light bulb with these instructions.

Michael-I think it is very exciting to make a Lego light bulb. You will need a lot of Lego pieces to make an enormous light bulb. Children and the Lego master are making this gigantic light bulb. They spend two days to make the light bulb. August is National Inventors' Month and the light bulb is the symbol for a big idea. So they also wanted to memorial Thomas Edison.

Global Warming

980804
Global Warming

The earth is getting worst. We need to protect the earth from being dead. The problem of global warming is getting more important. The ice in Arctic and Antarctica are now melting and become smaller. The sea level will arise and drown us. Scientists talk about the “greenhouse effect” is one of the reasons, too. But the most important reason is that human beings are producing too much gases and pollution. The global is getting warmer and warmer. We need to find and search for new sources of energy to take place of oil. We should be careful of our environment. Or maybe someday the earth will be destroyed by us. So we need to solve the problem of global warming.

A Rare Dolphin Discovery

A Rare Dolphin Discovery
Scientists find thousands of Irrawaddy dolphins off the coast of Bangladesh
By Vickie An

Scientists are flipping over a recent dolphin discovery. On Wednesday, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced that nearly 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins have been found along the coast of Bangladesh. The marine mammals were spotted in freshwater areas of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Others were found nearby in the Bay of Bengal.

The discovery is good news for the rare dolphin species. Experts say Irrawaddy dolphins are vulnerable to extinction. At last count, the largest known populations of Irrawaddy dolphins in a single area numbered in the low hundreds or fewer.
A Sign of Hope
Irrawaddy dolphins are related to orcas, or killer whales. The creatures can grow up to 8 feet in length. They live mainly in freshwater lagoons, large rivers and estuaries in South and Southeast Asia. An estuary is where the river meets the sea, and where fresh and salt water mix.
Scientists are unsure of how many Irrawaddy dolphins remain in the wild. In 2008, the animals were categorized as vulnerable on the International Union of Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. The IUCN Red List, released each year, classifies species by how close each is to extinction.
WCS researchers launched the latest Irrawaddy dolphin study in 2004. The full report was revealed this week at an international conference on marine mammal protection in Hawaii. "This discovery gives us great hope that there is a future for Irrawaddy dolphins," said Brian D. Smith, the lead author of the study. "Bangladesh clearly serves as an important sanctuary [or protected area] for Irrawaddy dolphins. Conservation in this region should be a top priority."
Troubled Waters
Still, experts warn that the newly discovered dolphin population continues to be threatened. During the survey, researchers came across two dolphins that had drowned after getting tangled up in fishing nets. Fishermen in the area say that this is fairly common.

Climate change is also putting the species at long-term risk, the WCS said. Rising sea levels are slowly shrinking Irrawaddy dolphins' freshwater habitats. These factors are also threatening the endangered Ganges River dolphin, which shares part of its range in the Sundarbans with the Irrawaddy.
Conservationists are trying to stay optimistic, however. The WCS is working with the Bangladeshi government to set up a protected area for the dolphins in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. "The sanctuary may take time," said Mohammad Jalilur Rahman, an official at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute. "But we are already motivating the fishermen not to harm the dolphins which get entangled in their nets."

Michael-The Irrawaddy dolphins are almost extinct. They are very rare to see now. There are only a few more Irrawaddy dolphins left. But scientists found out that six thousand of Irrawaddy dolphins are found along the coast of Bangladesh. It is good news to know that they aren’t extinct. They are related with the killer whale. We need to protect these animals.

The Jonas Brothers Play Ball

The Jonas Brothers Play Ball
TFK and Sports Illustrated Kids team up to talk to the Jonas Brothers before their softball game in Newark, New Jersey
By Joyce C. Tang

Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, the talented threesome that form the Jonas Brothers, may be great musicians, but how well can they handle a bat and ball? Last week they spent a day swinging for the fences. Between sold-out shows of their 2009 world tour, the Jonas Brothers made time to play a game of softball on a nearly cloudless summer day. They have played six games so far, and some of the events have raised money for charities.
Team Road Dogs, which includes the trio, their father, band mates and road crew, went up against The Flyers, a group of executives from private jet companies Marquis Jet and NetJets. Joe wears the No. 1 jersey, but youngest brother Nick is the die-hard baseball fan. He told TFK that if he could play one sport professionally, it would "definitely" be baseball. He was also first at bat and played the key position of shortstop. Joe scooped up balls as short center, and eldest brother Kevin caught hits in right field.
A Different Kind of Stage
Though the game was a private event, the Jonas Brothers announced their location via Twitter just moments before the first pitch was thrown. "10 minutes to game time...450 Broad Street, Newark Bears Stadium...Come root for the home team." Newark is in New Jersey, the brothers' home state. The band has more than 400,000 followers on Twitter. Several hundred breathless fans rushed to stadium to catch a glimpse of their favorite crooners.
Before the game, Sports Illustrated Kids and TIME for Kids caught up with the Jonas Brothers to talk about their favorite sports teams, touring around the world and their new album, Lines, Vines and Trying Times. Check out the slideshow and watch our exclusive video.

Nick, Kevin and Joe proudly sport their Road Dogs apparel before a competitive game against The Flyers.

Michael-I think the Jonas brothers are good at playing baseball. They can join the team with their father too. It is special that three sons and a father are on the same baseball team. They can catch balls and pitch too. They are playing a game with The Flyers. They have played six games so far.