Century's Longest Solar Eclipse
For almost seven minutes, parts of Earth were in the shadow of the moon
By Joyce C. Tang
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1912174,00.html
As the sun rose over Asia on Wednesday morning, the sky turned from light to dark. It was the longest solar eclipse that will happen during this century. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon's path crosses directly in front of the sun. The glow of the sun's light creates a brilliant ring around the moon.
"The sky turned dark like in the dead of the night. The air turned cooler and cicadas stopped singing. Everything was so exciting and moving," said Seiichiro Fukumitsu, an official from Akuseki, a small island of Japan. The total eclipse was visible from India, China, Japan and other parts of Asia. At its longest, over the Pacific Ocean, the eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds.
An Exciting Event or a Sign of Bad Luck?
While millions turned out to gaze at the eclipse, some made sure to stay indoors. To many Hindus in India and Buddhists in China, an eclipse can represent bad luck. But for the most part, people celebrated. In China, there were fireworks. In Japan, the eclipse was greeted with cheers and applause. Even the early morning clouds and rain couldn't keep viewers away.
Because looking directly at the sun can be dangerous, people use sunglasses, masks and other special devices to enjoy the eclipse.
Last century's longest eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 53 seconds and took place on July 11, 1991. A total solar eclipse is rare. The next one won't be seen until July 2010.
Max-I think the solar eclipse happening yesterday is a beautiful sight and lets many people excited. But I think that staring at eclipses will let your eyes blind because it is the same as staring at the sun. Some people say the eclipse is bad luck but many people still celebrated the eclipse. Although we don’t know if it is bad luck or good luck, we should be surprised to see the eclipse.
2009/08/07
2009/08/06
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
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1909865,00.html
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.
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.
Max-I think Zach is a good person because of helping poor and homeless children. He donated money to the children that are poor and homeless to buy things, and even walking from his house to the white house to help children! I hope more and more people will join Zach and help children.
An 11-year-old travels to Washington, D.C., to raise help for kids
By Joyce C. Tang
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1909865,00.html
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.
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.
Max-I think Zach is a good person because of helping poor and homeless children. He donated money to the children that are poor and homeless to buy things, and even walking from his house to the white house to help children! I hope more and more people will join Zach and help children.
Training for a Marathon
August 6, 2009
Training for a Marathon
By Max
Running marathons will be very hard, and only healthy people can run to the marathons’ finish. But people even me can train running for many weeks to run a marathon.
I am not good at running, since I can’t run too fast or run too far without stopping. I would like to be Lin Yi-Chieh in advertisements, since he is good at running and can run very far, like running the Sahara desert, and other far places. But I can run faster and faster because of playing Counter Strike (or CS) with my friends. Like training for a marathon, bodywear and footwear is very important. You can wear clothes that are comfortable and can let your sweat evaporate. You can use running shoes to run a marathon, but you need to change it every 200 to 400 miles. Then, you need to train yourself running. You can start with 3 miles, and you can train to run farther and farther than 20 miles! Then you can eat healthy foods, sleep longer and practice running until the big day comes!
Training for a Marathon
By Max
Running marathons will be very hard, and only healthy people can run to the marathons’ finish. But people even me can train running for many weeks to run a marathon.
I am not good at running, since I can’t run too fast or run too far without stopping. I would like to be Lin Yi-Chieh in advertisements, since he is good at running and can run very far, like running the Sahara desert, and other far places. But I can run faster and faster because of playing Counter Strike (or CS) with my friends. Like training for a marathon, bodywear and footwear is very important. You can wear clothes that are comfortable and can let your sweat evaporate. You can use running shoes to run a marathon, but you need to change it every 200 to 400 miles. Then, you need to train yourself running. You can start with 3 miles, and you can train to run farther and farther than 20 miles! Then you can eat healthy foods, sleep longer and practice running until the big day comes!
2009/08/05
Cheesecake
August 5th, 2009
Cheesecake
By Max
Cheesecake is a good kind of cake, because it is good to eat and it is easy to make one. If you are a patient person, you can make a cheesecake yourself.
My experience about cheesecake is even my mother didn’t make one for me to eat, I still can’t forget it in my mind. We eat cheesecake very rarely, and last time we ate cheesecake is in my brother’s birthday last year. We don’t know how to make a cheesecake, so we bought one outside to eat. After we opened the box, we saw a nicely round-shaped cheesecake, and a layer of brown crust is on the bottom of the cheesecake. I ate the cheesecake first, and I felt the cake was very soft and the crust was very crispy. But I think it was very dry, so I ate it with a cup of milk. After eating it , I thing it was good to eat, and now when I remember that time eating the cheesecake, I will bring it to my sons born it the future to eat.
Do you have any experience eating cheesecake? I bet it is a good memory of eating that. Because this “magic” cheesecake can let our souls become more happy.
Cheesecake
By Max
Cheesecake is a good kind of cake, because it is good to eat and it is easy to make one. If you are a patient person, you can make a cheesecake yourself.
My experience about cheesecake is even my mother didn’t make one for me to eat, I still can’t forget it in my mind. We eat cheesecake very rarely, and last time we ate cheesecake is in my brother’s birthday last year. We don’t know how to make a cheesecake, so we bought one outside to eat. After we opened the box, we saw a nicely round-shaped cheesecake, and a layer of brown crust is on the bottom of the cheesecake. I ate the cheesecake first, and I felt the cake was very soft and the crust was very crispy. But I think it was very dry, so I ate it with a cup of milk. After eating it , I thing it was good to eat, and now when I remember that time eating the cheesecake, I will bring it to my sons born it the future to eat.
Do you have any experience eating cheesecake? I bet it is a good memory of eating that. Because this “magic” cheesecake can let our souls become more happy.
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
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1914688,00.html
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.
creativity -創造力
inventiveness -有發明才能;有創造力
Max-Thomas Edison is a great inventor because he invented many things that we use. He invented the light bulb, which is a great invention, and they want to build a large light bulb, in Lego Blocks! Many people and children came to help make the light bulb, and they used two days and several thousands of Lego Blocks. When the light bulb is formed, it still collapsed after done building. But it is a great way to know Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
A Big, Bright Idea
What's the best way to celebrate National Inventors' Month? Build a giant Lego light bulb!
By Laura Slot
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1914688,00.html
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.
creativity -創造力
inventiveness -有發明才能;有創造力
Max-Thomas Edison is a great inventor because he invented many things that we use. He invented the light bulb, which is a great invention, and they want to build a large light bulb, in Lego Blocks! Many people and children came to help make the light bulb, and they used two days and several thousands of Lego Blocks. When the light bulb is formed, it still collapsed after done building. But it is a great way to know Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
2009/08/04
Obesity
I think that obesity is a bad thing, and it causes unhealthy, and when you’re fat, you’re fat that even you can’t walk and exercise very rarely! Also, this causes some public problems. Like park your car in a handicapped parking place. This can let handicapped people have no place to park! Some people are fat than you can’t get in your own car or your house’s door and staircase. Man, if I was the fat person, I will go to exercise, but not going to stay in the house and eating food like a pig! So today, many people want to decrease weight by having a diet, but they mostly didn’t get thinner, and get fatter than themselves before the diet! So now there are more people getting obese, and less people are normal. So we need to do some exercise and eat some vegetables instead of meat!
2009/08/03
A High-Flying Adventure
A High-Flying Adventure
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1915220,00.html
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.
Max-This is a great game in the San Diego zoo. Instead of seeing 260 species and over a million plants, you can take a Flightline ride. First, you can take lessons on how to fly and use the gear. Then they will hook you to the fledging line and you practice how to start and land. Then, they will take you up the hill and to the main line. They will hook your harness to the zip cable and after reviewing the flying techniques, you fly off! The ride occurs a 421 foot drop and you glide as fast as 60 miles per hour. After two and a half minutes, you land and the ride is over. It is really scary game but it’s really exciting!
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1915220,00.html
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.
Max-This is a great game in the San Diego zoo. Instead of seeing 260 species and over a million plants, you can take a Flightline ride. First, you can take lessons on how to fly and use the gear. Then they will hook you to the fledging line and you practice how to start and land. Then, they will take you up the hill and to the main line. They will hook your harness to the zip cable and after reviewing the flying techniques, you fly off! The ride occurs a 421 foot drop and you glide as fast as 60 miles per hour. After two and a half minutes, you land and the ride is over. It is really scary game but it’s really exciting!
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