What is a panda?
Firstly, there are two types of panda, the giant panda and the red panda: the giant panda is commonly classified as a bear: the red panda is usually linked with the raccoon family. When a panda cub is born it is no bigger than a hamster! The tiny cub is blind and helpless at first, with hardly any hair, but its distinctive black marking already show on its pink skin. A baby panda doesn’t take its first steps until it is five months old, by then it weighs 25 kilograms (55 lb)….and in another six months its weight will have doubled!
Adult pandas spend up to 16 hours a day eating! The bamboo plant on which they feed has little nourishment, so they must eat up to 45 kilograms (100 lb) of shoots and leaves daily.
Only a thousand giant pandas survive in the wild, high up in the mountains and bamboo forests of Southwest China.
The panda’s special paw
Each front paw of the panda has six digits. The extra one is really an enlarged wrist that works as an opposite thumb – perfect for grasping tiny bamboo shoots and stems.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Will we live in space?
We’ve landed a man on moon and sent a spacecraft to Mars. But the space missions we’ve made so far are just baby steps. Later in this century humans may be able to live on the other planets! Says Dwayne Brown of NASA: “Science fiction will turn into science fact.”
NASA astronauts are already living and working on the International Space Station, which is due to be completed in 2006.
Humans may one day live on Mars or the moon. Mars may once have water on its surface. If that water is now frozen underground, humans may be able to use it. Settlers on Mars would probably live inside domes filled with air.
On the moon, settlers might live in tunnels. A group called the Artemis Project is raising money to begin a moon colony by 2015. Just think: you may be a pioneer on the space frontier!
Will Aliens Visit Earth?
For years, scientists have been using radio telescopes to listen for signals from space. So far, they haven’t heard a peep! Our Milky Way is one galaxy among billions. There are many places where life could exist. The wait continues.
WHAT WILL WE DO FOR FUN?
In this century, videogame players will use the Internet to connect with other players around the world. But they won’t be playing on TV screens, says Greg Thomas of the Sega Company. Instead, the life-size figures from the game will appear in the playroom as holograms, a kind of 3-D picture. Imagine battling a life-size dragon.
LOW – GRAVITY SPORTS
Star skateboarder Tony Hawk performs amazing tricks in the air. But gravity always drags him back down. Maybe not in the future! He thinks skateboarding will be done I places where the level of gravity is lowered. These low-gravity sports arenas might be on Earth or even on the moon.
SAME OLD, SAME OLD
There will be many new ways to have fun in the future. But it doesn’t mean that old favorites will be forgotten. Chances are, kids will always want to play catch!
ELECTRONIC ART
Paint smocks and messy hands may be a thing of the past. A compute “wand” will be used to draw on flat screens attaches to walls, says Warren Buckleitner, a children’s computer expert. Changing color will be as simple as waving the wand.
Source:
Time For Kids Almanac 2002
NASA astronauts are already living and working on the International Space Station, which is due to be completed in 2006.
Humans may one day live on Mars or the moon. Mars may once have water on its surface. If that water is now frozen underground, humans may be able to use it. Settlers on Mars would probably live inside domes filled with air.
On the moon, settlers might live in tunnels. A group called the Artemis Project is raising money to begin a moon colony by 2015. Just think: you may be a pioneer on the space frontier!
Will Aliens Visit Earth?
For years, scientists have been using radio telescopes to listen for signals from space. So far, they haven’t heard a peep! Our Milky Way is one galaxy among billions. There are many places where life could exist. The wait continues.
WHAT WILL WE DO FOR FUN?
In this century, videogame players will use the Internet to connect with other players around the world. But they won’t be playing on TV screens, says Greg Thomas of the Sega Company. Instead, the life-size figures from the game will appear in the playroom as holograms, a kind of 3-D picture. Imagine battling a life-size dragon.
LOW – GRAVITY SPORTS
Star skateboarder Tony Hawk performs amazing tricks in the air. But gravity always drags him back down. Maybe not in the future! He thinks skateboarding will be done I places where the level of gravity is lowered. These low-gravity sports arenas might be on Earth or even on the moon.
SAME OLD, SAME OLD
There will be many new ways to have fun in the future. But it doesn’t mean that old favorites will be forgotten. Chances are, kids will always want to play catch!
ELECTRONIC ART
Paint smocks and messy hands may be a thing of the past. A compute “wand” will be used to draw on flat screens attaches to walls, says Warren Buckleitner, a children’s computer expert. Changing color will be as simple as waving the wand.
Source:
Time For Kids Almanac 2002
TRY THESE RIDDLES!
I know a word of letters three.
Add two, and fewer there will be.
I am always hungry.
I must always be fed.
The finger I lick will soon turn red.
My life can be measured in hours.
I serve by being devoured.
Thin, I am quick
Fat, I am slow
Wind is my foe.
Source:
World Almanac For Kids 2003
Add two, and fewer there will be.
I am always hungry.
I must always be fed.
The finger I lick will soon turn red.
My life can be measured in hours.
I serve by being devoured.
Thin, I am quick
Fat, I am slow
Wind is my foe.
Source:
World Almanac For Kids 2003
A Titanic Disaster
When the cruise ship Titanic set sail from England on April 10, 1912, everyone thought it was unsinkable. But just four days later, disaster struck.
On April 14, shortly before midnight, the ship hit an iceberg. Within hours, the largest and most spectacular vessel of its time sank to the floor. About 1,500 of the more than 2,200 passengers died, including some of the wealthiest people in the world. The first ship to reach the site rescued 705 survivors, mostly women and children.
Sadly, many more lives could have been saved. The Titanic only had enough lifeboats for half of its passengers. A nearby ship could have rescued more people, but its radio operator was off duty and didn’t hear the Titanic’s call for help.
Today there are much stricter rules that ships have to follow. By law, there must be enough lifeboats for every one. Ships are required to have lifeboat drills or practices so that every one knows what to do in an emergency. Radio operators must always be on duty, and the International Ice Patrol warns ships about icebergs.
On April 14, shortly before midnight, the ship hit an iceberg. Within hours, the largest and most spectacular vessel of its time sank to the floor. About 1,500 of the more than 2,200 passengers died, including some of the wealthiest people in the world. The first ship to reach the site rescued 705 survivors, mostly women and children.
Sadly, many more lives could have been saved. The Titanic only had enough lifeboats for half of its passengers. A nearby ship could have rescued more people, but its radio operator was off duty and didn’t hear the Titanic’s call for help.
Today there are much stricter rules that ships have to follow. By law, there must be enough lifeboats for every one. Ships are required to have lifeboat drills or practices so that every one knows what to do in an emergency. Radio operators must always be on duty, and the International Ice Patrol warns ships about icebergs.
Because GMTA
In e-mail and online chat rooms, people often try to type as fast as they can. Using acronyms or abbreviations helps them keep up their speed. Here’s a quick taste of the language sometimes known as “e-mailese” or “chatroomsy”
ACE: am confused, explain
BIF: before I forget
BRB: be right back
DTS: don’t think so
FWIW: for what is worth
FYEO: for your eyes only
GMTA: great minds think alike
GTG: got to go
HAW: homework a-waiting
ICCL: I couldn’t care less
IMHO: in my humble opinion
KWIM: know what I mean?
LOL: laughing out loud
MMBS: mail me back soon
MMD: made my day
TTFN: ta ta for now
Source:
Time For Kids Almanac 2002
ACE: am confused, explain
BIF: before I forget
BRB: be right back
DTS: don’t think so
FWIW: for what is worth
FYEO: for your eyes only
GMTA: great minds think alike
GTG: got to go
HAW: homework a-waiting
ICCL: I couldn’t care less
IMHO: in my humble opinion
KWIM: know what I mean?
LOL: laughing out loud
MMBS: mail me back soon
MMD: made my day
TTFN: ta ta for now
Source:
Time For Kids Almanac 2002
“My Best Friend” by John Patience
My best friend is a giant.
He’s bigger than our house.
He’s stronger than an elephant,
But quiet as a mouse.
No-one else can see him,
He’s invisible, you see,
But he pushes me on the garden swing
And helps me climb the tree.
Sometimes he tells me stories,
As I sit in the palm of his hand,
Of fabulous beasts, of fairyland feasts,
Of a mystical, magic land.
But it’s a shame when it starts to rain.
He often starts to cry,
‘Cause he’s too big to come indoors
And we have to say goodbye.
He’s bigger than our house.
He’s stronger than an elephant,
But quiet as a mouse.
No-one else can see him,
He’s invisible, you see,
But he pushes me on the garden swing
And helps me climb the tree.
Sometimes he tells me stories,
As I sit in the palm of his hand,
Of fabulous beasts, of fairyland feasts,
Of a mystical, magic land.
But it’s a shame when it starts to rain.
He often starts to cry,
‘Cause he’s too big to come indoors
And we have to say goodbye.
“When Giants get Sneezes” by John Patience
When giants get sneezes
And coughs and diseases,
They ought to stay home
And keep warm.
For gigantic sneezes
Can blow down our treeses
And coughs and diseases,
They ought to stay home
And keep warm.
For gigantic sneezes
Can blow down our treeses
And whip up a terrible storm
“My Pet” by John Patience
The annual competition
For the most interesting pet,
Was held upon the village green
And judged by the local Vet.
There were cats and dogs and guinea pigs
And hamsters by the score.
There were parrots, rabbits and goldfish
(Which were really quite a bore).
Tadpoles in jars and spiders from Mars
(At least, Tom said they were),
A pony and a donkey,
A goat and something rare.
A pelican pinched the third prize,
And a python squeezed in second,
But my pet won the first prize,
‘Cause everybody reckoned.
He’s the best pet that there ever was,
A thing that seldom seen.
He’s a great big scary dragon,
For the most interesting pet,
Was held upon the village green
And judged by the local Vet.
There were cats and dogs and guinea pigs
And hamsters by the score.
There were parrots, rabbits and goldfish
(Which were really quite a bore).
Tadpoles in jars and spiders from Mars
(At least, Tom said they were),
A pony and a donkey,
A goat and something rare.
A pelican pinched the third prize,
And a python squeezed in second,
But my pet won the first prize,
‘Cause everybody reckoned.
He’s the best pet that there ever was,
A thing that seldom seen.
He’s a great big scary dragon,
All scary weird and green!
“The Fearsome Dragon” by John Patience
Underneath the mountain,
In his dark and gloomy lair,
Lurks a fearsome Dragon.
Go see him if you dare.
I popped in only yesterday,
Cross my heart and hope to die.
I don’t go in for stories
And you know I wouldn’t lie.
He’s horrible and slimy,
And his coiled up on his hoard
Of silver, gold and precious stones
And you’d think that he’d get bored,
‘Cause he wouldn’t spend a bit of it
On lollipops or sweets.
He wouldn’t touch your candy.
I can’t imagine what he eats.
But there’s bones that lie all around him
And I thought I saw a cap
That belonged to Billy Bamber –
Do you recall the little chap?
I haven’t seen him lately,
He doesn’t come out to play.
Perhaps he’s got a cold,
Or maybe moved away?
Now about that fierce dragon,
He’s there all on his own.
He’s got no friends to speak of
And he isn’t on the ‘phone.
I’m sure that he gets lonely.
Do drop in and say hello.
Does the way head is shaking
Mean to say that you won’t go?
In his dark and gloomy lair,
Lurks a fearsome Dragon.
Go see him if you dare.
I popped in only yesterday,
Cross my heart and hope to die.
I don’t go in for stories
And you know I wouldn’t lie.
He’s horrible and slimy,
And his coiled up on his hoard
Of silver, gold and precious stones
And you’d think that he’d get bored,
‘Cause he wouldn’t spend a bit of it
On lollipops or sweets.
He wouldn’t touch your candy.
I can’t imagine what he eats.
But there’s bones that lie all around him
And I thought I saw a cap
That belonged to Billy Bamber –
Do you recall the little chap?
I haven’t seen him lately,
He doesn’t come out to play.
Perhaps he’s got a cold,
Or maybe moved away?
Now about that fierce dragon,
He’s there all on his own.
He’s got no friends to speak of
And he isn’t on the ‘phone.
I’m sure that he gets lonely.
Do drop in and say hello.
Does the way head is shaking
Mean to say that you won’t go?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
"Charmed" spells
The Truth Spell:
For those who want the truth revealed
Opened hearts and secrets unsealed
From now until its now again
Until then which the memory ends
Those who now are in this house
Will hear the truth from others mouths.
Smart Spell:
Spirits, send the words
From all across the land
Allow me to absorb them
Through the touch of either hand
For 24 hours from 7 to 7
I will understand all meaning
Of the words from here to heaven.
Good luck spell:
From this moment on your pain is erased
Your bad luck as well
Enjoy your good luck, (name)
You're free from this hell.
To see helpful spirits:
In this tween time this darkest hour
We call upon the sacred power
My self and all will stand alone
Command the unseen to be shown
In innocense we search the skies
Enchanted are our newfound eyes
The Lost and Found Spell:
Guiding spirits I ask your charity
lend me your focus and charity
Lead me to the one I cannot find
restore that and my peace of mind.
Lost and Found Spell Reversal:
I return what I didn't want to find
let it be out of sight, out of mind.
( I posted this just because I love magic)
For those who want the truth revealed
Opened hearts and secrets unsealed
From now until its now again
Until then which the memory ends
Those who now are in this house
Will hear the truth from others mouths.
Smart Spell:
Spirits, send the words
From all across the land
Allow me to absorb them
Through the touch of either hand
For 24 hours from 7 to 7
I will understand all meaning
Of the words from here to heaven.
Good luck spell:
From this moment on your pain is erased
Your bad luck as well
Enjoy your good luck, (name)
You're free from this hell.
To see helpful spirits:
In this tween time this darkest hour
We call upon the sacred power
My self and all will stand alone
Command the unseen to be shown
In innocense we search the skies
Enchanted are our newfound eyes
The Lost and Found Spell:
Guiding spirits I ask your charity
lend me your focus and charity
Lead me to the one I cannot find
restore that and my peace of mind.
Lost and Found Spell Reversal:
I return what I didn't want to find
let it be out of sight, out of mind.
( I posted this just because I love magic)
Esmeralda by John Patience
Esmeralda was a witch's cat,
but found it none too easy.
Looping loops and swooping swoops
It made her feel quite easy.
And one wild night, by pale moonlight,
Green with travel sickness,
She lost her grip, began to slip
and found herself broomstickless.
Where she fell it's strange to tell
it's weird to be relating.
Down my chimney pot the feline shot,
her speed accelerating.
Now, it's no joke to be awoke
by wild things from the chimney.
My heart went BUMP, it made me jump,
it made me shout "By Jimmeny!"
But you'd never guess her origins
from looking at her now.
She's just like any other cat,
the same purr and meow.
There's just that look that gives you,
the one that makes you shiver,
shudder, shake, turn cold and quake.
Tremble, squirm and shiver!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Halloween by Mark Jason Casiño
though skies of darkness may bring all fright,
happiness hides and then takes flight
when stars blaze out and the moon acts as queen
surprises are in store when it feels like halloween.
may be a night or two but is not by time
or not with breezes nor sound of chimes
had been related to magic,witchcraft or so
and also with fright or when braveness is low
in my heart, I feel that it's my night
'cause I've never felt so good in my entire life
to be honest with all, I'll make my confession,
I do believe in wizards and potions of their possession
Halloween for me is a night I've waited
though I never have someone to share and be with
but that's okay, I know I'll do my part
to imagine 'cause that's how magic start
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