tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27519038145742462682012-02-01T19:21:54.852ZInspired by "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and the upcoming "The Daring Book for Girls". We are not connected in any way to the authors or publishers of those books.Tednoreply@blogger.comBlogger611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-27498041133964027292012-02-01T17:14:00.002Z2012-02-01T17:19:26.589Z

Written by Lewis Carroll as part of the second book in the Alice in Wonderland series, Jabberwocky is considered the greatest 'gibberish' lyric in the English language. If you're going to learn a poem, this is a great one to start with. It's fun, and most everyone already knows at least the beginning lines. Jabberwocky'Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe;All mimsy

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-25848864331177149722009-05-18T01:20:00.002+01:002009-05-18T01:24:28.306+01:00

If you're planning to do the summer vacation thing this year, a website that may help you figure out where to go is Discover America.You can click on "Places" and go to a particular state or region to find links to their official tourism sites, stories from people who have been there, and ideas for places to see.

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-8755446219256996622008-10-16T05:26:00.000+01:002008-10-16T05:29:10.584+01:00

(cross-posted to JH&S)To recap, I am identifying dinosaurs found in my nephew's toybox. Because I am desperate for material.Second dino:(click for dino-size)What we have here is a mighty herbivore that I grew up thinking was the Brontosaurus, but which is actually a Brachiosaurus. There is no such thing as a Brontosaurus! The guy who found the "Brontosaurus" skull mistakenly identified it as

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-61836378329321041742008-10-03T18:25:00.002+01:002008-10-03T18:31:12.220+01:00

(cross-posted at JH&S)So, I needed a little inspiration to post, and I found it in my nephew's box of dinosaurs. He's always liked dinosaurs, and I have encouraged that interest. I try to teach him the names of the different dinosaurs, and what they eat, etc.Here is the first dinosaur...(click to enlarge)Notice the trees I positioned to make it more life-like? Awesome.Now. What I believe we

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-9506201665793027622008-07-01T19:06:00.000+01:002008-07-01T19:07:05.400+01:00

(Click to enlarge.)Saying “God bless you” or “Gesundheit” in response to someone’s sneezing is extremely common throughout Europe and America. “Gesundheit” simply means “health”, and a post-sneeze wish for good health is found even in the writings of Pliny the Elder.This early mention of the practice disproves the widespread belief that “God bless you” originated during the 17th Century Plague,

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-37741775981252241792008-06-02T06:49:00.001+01:002008-06-02T06:51:50.645+01:00

Crossing your fingers can give you good luck, ward off bad luck (like, say, when you have to walk under a ladder), and protect you from the consequences of a lie.This practice is seen in America, Britain, and some parts of Scandinavia. The earliest reference found dates only from 1890, so it is surprisingly new. Before this, it was more common to clench the thumb with the fingersSo why cross

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-42773472178193993032008-05-16T15:51:00.000+01:002008-05-16T15:52:08.080+01:00

One of a gazillion versions of the Bloody Mary tale...Hundreds of years ago, she lived deep in the forest in a tiny cottage and sold herbal medicines for a living. The townspeople called her Bloody Mary, and said she was a witch. No one dared cross her, though, for fear that their cows would go dry, their food would rot away before winter’s end, their children would get sick, or any number of

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-22067213338335428332008-05-13T02:02:00.001+01:002008-05-13T02:04:16.427+01:00

Cross-posted at Jennifer's History and Stuff.The superstition that walking under ladders is bad luck is fairly widespread. In America and Europe, this belief originated around the late 1700s.There are a few theories as to the original thought behind this superstition. The first is that a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle--or trinity--with the ground. Walking through this triangle

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-39897186371730841262008-04-30T19:59:00.001+01:002008-04-30T20:00:19.512+01:00

Cross-posted at Jennifer's History and Stuff.Americans tend to think of black cats as bad luck, especially if one crosses their path, but the black cat is actually a very popular good-luck symbol in England today. Historically, cats in general have had a mixed bag of luckiness/unluckiness in Europe. In France, cats of any color that were suspected of being witches were caged and set on fire.

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-64754697530194627712008-04-26T20:12:00.002+01:002008-04-26T20:14:24.276+01:00

This is one version of a very famous Japanese ghost story.Over 300 years ago in the Edo Period of Japan, there lived a master-less samurai named Iemon. He and his wife, Oiwa, lived in Tokyo. Oiwa was happily expecting a baby, and loved her husband very much. Oiwa didn’t care that Iemon was poor, but he was depressed about his lack of prospects anyway.A rich young woman named Oume fell in love

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-74571449496793405652008-04-25T20:28:00.002+01:002008-05-16T15:53:37.792+01:00

Cross-posted to Jennifer's History and Stuff.In the late 1300s, we see the first British record of a found horseshoe being considered lucky. This belief has been held by pretty much every horseshoe-producing culture, from Scandinavia to Asia. The key was to have a found horseshoe, rather than a new horseshoe, and various degrees of luck were associated with intact nails, number of nail holes,

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-5642412660996797322008-04-18T22:08:00.003+01:002008-04-18T22:43:33.137+01:00

Danny was sulking, standing along the wall and watching his friends dance with their pretty partners. His girlfriend, Anita, had stayed home that night to take care of her sick mother.His friend, Nathan, came up to him between dances and said, "Anita is not the only girl in the world. There are many pretty girls here: dance with one of them." Danny started looking around the room. His gaze fell

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-13547275643381674932008-04-15T14:52:00.003+01:002008-04-15T14:56:03.115+01:00

(Cross-posted to Jennifer's History and Stuff.)Salt and garlic have long been used throughout the world for medicinal and preservative purposes, and as a result generally have "lucky" reputations.For example: if you spill salt, take a pinch and throw it over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck. The earliest record of this practice dates from around 1584; it was seen quite commonly thereafter.

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-8706471723440106182008-04-12T18:09:00.008+01:002008-04-12T19:40:30.982+01:00

Over a hundred years ago, an old couple lived in the English countryside with their adult son. Henry White worked in a saw mill for the Meggins Lumber Company, helping to support his parents.One cold and rainy night, an old friend came to visit. He was a retired Army sergeant who had spent years in India. The family rarely had visitors in their lonely little homestead, so to hear the

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-51998373093905983252008-04-10T01:05:00.001+01:002008-04-10T01:07:06.257+01:00

(Cross-posted at Jennifer's History and Stuff.)Some superstitions may have lost their original meaning, but have become ingrained in cultural behavior. These behaviors are no longer tied to a superstitious belief; throwing rice is one of these behaviors that simply became part of the culture. Of course, now you are more likely to see bubbles, flower petals, or birdseed at a wedding in the United

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-78345423528141628782008-04-10T01:02:00.001+01:002008-04-10T01:05:01.701+01:00

(Cross-posted at Jennifer's History and Stuff.)If you say something to tempt fate, knocking on wood will protect you. (Example: "I'm the only one in my house to not get the flu. Knock wood.") This superstition can be traced to the early 1800s, with some people believing it invokes the wood of the crucifix for protection.The real origin seems to be a children’s game from the early 1800s called “

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-42342582029150626562008-04-02T16:43:00.003+01:002008-04-02T16:49:30.650+01:00

(Cross-posted at Jennifer's History and Stuff.)The number 13 is thought to be an unlucky number, with some people refusing to live in a house numbered 13 or stay on a hotel floor numbered 13.Why? Well, around 1700, the belief that having 13 people at a meal was unlucky was fairly widespread. Therefore, the number 13 must be unlucky because of the Last Supper, right? After all, 13

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-21842264432832282352007-11-06T00:52:00.000Z2007-11-06T01:05:16.961Z

A few Thanksgivings ago my mom gave me the task of bringing to dinner something hearty enough that my visiting vegetarian cousin would still get a main dish. (My cousin, incidentally, insisted that we didn't need to go to any trouble, she'd eat whatever was around that wasn't meat, but my mom, the equally insistent hostess, wanted to make sure she got some protein.)I found this "tradition

Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09375965234259999377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-32377423370765905872007-10-04T13:44:00.000+01:002007-10-04T13:59:45.509+01:00

Fifty years ago today, the Space Race was won, but the Soviet Union. The USSR launched Sputnik, a small, simple satellite whose continuous beeping announced to the world their victory.Three and a half years later, on 12 April 1961, the USSR would take the next step into space, when Senior Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin travelled into space aboard Vostok 1 (while in orbit, he was promoted to the rank of

Victorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094693913202628541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-75502749048805382512007-09-16T00:25:00.001+01:002007-09-16T02:27:49.370+01:00

The first part of this series is here, and the second part is here.House rabbits eat three things: hay, rabbit pellets and fresh fruits and veggies. Let's look at them one at a time.Hay - Rabbits need plenty of fresh hay to stay healthy, it provides much needed roughage. Timothy hay is best, and should always be given instead of alfalfa. I'm starting to sound like a broken record about this,

Tednoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-61558299977397958632007-09-13T00:48:00.000+01:002007-09-13T00:55:09.044+01:00

A while back, Victor posted this quote:A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die

Danielnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-32409847613846469792007-09-08T16:29:00.000+01:002007-09-08T18:27:54.556+01:00

This time around, I'll talk a little bit about how rabbits behave and how you can read some of their body language. Part 1 of "Keeping Rabbits" is here.This is going to sound obvious, but rabbits are not cats and dogs. Cats are natural predators and dogs are natural scavengers, but rabbits are natural prey. Rabbits react completely differently to the world than the two animals that we're most

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-29758943187379625212007-09-01T21:11:00.000+01:002007-09-02T00:15:23.737+01:00

We love animals. We have two dogs and three house rabbits. Most everyone knows how to care for a dog or a cat (or thinks they do), but rabbits are probably a bit of a mystery. I know they were to us a couple of years ago, before we started keeping them as pets. Our dogs and rabbits get along fine, and even take cues from each other. If the rabbits are getting a treat (raisins), then the dogs

Tednoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-74899514809867325442007-08-29T01:37:00.000+01:002007-08-29T02:10:29.447+01:00

Ok, I hope nobody's lunch is dangerous, and I wouldn't expect lunch to even be described as daring. But then I had a conversation with some friends over lunch at work.It began when one of them said that she had eaten a tuna salad sandwich for lunch every day from first through eighth grade. I didn't believe her. Nobody can be that picky, I said.Another friend had no problem accepting that the

Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09375965234259999377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-42331962539408133502007-08-26T00:05:00.000+01:002007-08-26T00:19:35.615+01:00

Some printable paper rulers - Inches and centimeters, of various types, including some without markings to see if you really understand the measurements you're using.Three printable protractors - Three kinds of markings, for three different types of measurement.A decimeter box - "The idea: Having a 10 cm cube helps you get to know how big millimeters and centimeters are. Here are pages you can

Tednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-7306507356344203482007-08-21T17:18:00.000+01:002007-08-21T19:52:13.969+01:00

Several years ago, I used to babysit my old roommate's son, Matt. He and I always got along well and I was happy to do so. One day, I was babysitting him and he had to contact his mom, so I showed him my telephone.It was an old, wall-mounted rotary dial telephone that had conveyed with my condo. As Matt was six or seven at the time, he had never seen a dial phone before and he looked at it as if

Victorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094693913202628541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-37364236087840755722007-08-21T01:47:00.000+01:002007-08-21T02:16:28.716+01:00

As a kid, the absolute best gift I could receive was a book. I was a bookworm for sure, but early on I also recognized the power of a good reference book. I still have most of those books today, still in excellent condition, and I still reread them occasionally.My uncle Art always surprised and delighted us with books. We used to visit him and his "library", which was a good sized bookcase

Tednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-10769329160736106732007-08-20T00:38:00.000+01:002007-08-20T01:18:59.472+01:00

Construction on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal began in 1828 in Washington, D.C., although the idea for a navigable waterway from the Potomac to the Ohio Valley was envisioned as early as George Washington's time. The 184.5 mile canal was completed in 1850, ending in Cumberland, Maryland, and for nearly 75 years it was a major route for moving coal (850,000 tons in 1871). Flooding was always an

Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09375965234259999377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-5094759574434933632007-08-18T20:53:00.000+01:002007-08-18T20:55:41.470+01:00

"Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself." -- Harriet Nelson

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-19945290522438999892007-08-17T18:01:00.000+01:002007-08-20T02:11:36.803+01:00

If you like the book, "The Dangerous Book for Boys" (Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden), and I assume you might since you're here on the Dangerous and Daring Blog for Boys and Girls, there are two other books you might want to check out. The Boys Book: How To Be The Best At Everything.How to do almost anything in one handy book. Found yourself in a sticky situation? Inside you'll learn how to escape

Stephen Macklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344159571105881645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-4221378247116724072007-08-17T03:57:00.000+01:002007-08-17T04:14:01.490+01:00

Some of the problems with pursuing modern science at home - or in a school - (particularly electronics or the study of matter at the atomic scale) is that the equipment to be able to see the effects of that scale can cost so much!Well, here are instructions on making two pieces of equipment used in modern science.First, the oscilloscope (with a nice history of oscilloscopes to boot):The

Danielnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-31679824012661410702007-08-16T13:04:00.000+01:002007-08-16T13:11:42.977+01:00

As kids, we used to make these as needed every summer, although occasionally someone would fashion a more elaborate one and keep it from year to year.And no, none of us ever put an eye out with one of these. Then again, we were bright enough not to intentionally aim at the face. We also did a lot of target shooting with 'em. That's what I recommend: target shooting at cans or flies or plastic

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-89259747063953286792007-08-13T05:35:00.000+01:002007-08-13T11:24:37.016+01:00

Bernard Smith was born in 1910 in New York City. By age 22, he had dropped out of high school, working odd jobs and spending most of his time at the libraries and museums of the city.One night, he attended a meeting of the American Rocket Society and while looking over one of their failed rockets, made some suggestions on how to improve the device. The president of the Society, Edward Pendray,

Tednoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-41809148879712895352007-08-12T03:16:00.000+01:002007-08-12T03:38:06.960+01:00

You can learn a lot about people by looking at the symbols they use to represent themselves.About 2 million people call the country of Bhutan home. Over 90% of these people make their livings with agricultural pursuits. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy located between India and China.Around 75% of Bhutan's residents are Buddhists, and the rest are Hindus. Religion is very important in

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-66872629974938306502007-08-11T01:11:00.000+01:002007-08-11T01:27:03.062+01:00

This weekend is a treat for skywatchers and amateur astronomers. The annual Perseid meteor shower should be beautiful because it arrives while a new moon is in the sky. As many as 60 meteors per hour may be visible, with larger ones leaving a streak across the night sky as they burn up in our atmosphere.As a bonus, the planet Mars will be visible as a bright red dot in the sky to the

Tednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-11453908629651742702007-08-10T02:00:00.000+01:002007-08-10T02:04:36.606+01:00

A very excellent website where Popular Science is taking its HOW 2.0 projects and turning them into quick 5 minute videos. Up right now are a use for old, died out hard drives, how to make a coffee can cellphone antenna, and making a bottle cap tripod.Enjoy!

Danielnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-35789010176409842362007-08-09T20:08:00.000+01:002007-08-09T20:36:25.962+01:00

Have you ever stood outside on a cold, clear night, looking at the stars?If you can get out into the country, away from city lights, you can see thousands of stars...and once in a while, the quick streak of a meteor.There's no denying the beauty of the night skies. When you look at the stars, you are looking at the last, greatest unexplored frontier, a frontier into which Mankind has taken its

Elissonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299361897381169534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-52681561720621963132007-08-08T22:24:00.000+01:002007-08-08T22:26:52.229+01:00

"I've done everything I know how to do, so if this doesn't work, we're going to learn something." -- Doug Pratt

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-63319366615745681512007-08-07T16:52:00.000+01:002007-08-07T17:06:58.822+01:00

This story was told and retold around the campfire last week by the 10-and-under crowd:A teenage girl was left home alone for the weekend by her parents. She was very responsible and didn't have any friends over. She just made herself dinner and went upstairs to her room to read before bedtime. She read for a little while with her dog lying on the floor beside the bed, then she turned out the

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-60068868753681744202007-08-07T16:21:00.000+01:002007-08-07T17:23:59.304+01:00

Modern digital photography has made taking pictures a simple affair. Press a button, and BINGO! You can look on the display screen and see exactly what your picture looks like.In the Olden Days of film cameras, you had to wait three days to get your pictures back from the drugstore, only to find that you left your lenscap on for half of 'em, two of them have your Aunt Betty's head chopped in

Elissonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299361897381169534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-85177166601327175032007-08-06T11:24:00.000+01:002007-08-06T16:25:29.239+01:00

Imagine showing a mysterious envelope to your friends. On the outside of the envelope are warnings about the contents, letting people know that whatever is inside is very dangerous. The envelope isn't flat, there is obviously something in there. You tell everyone that the envelope contains rattlesnake eggs, and if they're very careful they can take a peek. You lift the flap, you hold the

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-6582068384458537022007-08-06T01:13:00.000+01:002007-08-06T01:59:01.234+01:00

Hello everyone. Stephen Macklin here. Most of the time I'm over here where the only real danger I pose is to the English language, and I occasionally pose a threat to rational thought.When Ted invited me to do "some peices about sailing, as well as anything else that might catch your fancy" I gave it serious thought for 1.3 seconds before agreeing. Then I thought, "how do I teach someone how to

Stephen Macklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344159571105881645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-37344516746594255542007-08-05T07:39:00.000+01:002007-08-05T19:24:06.455+01:00

My son served a tour in the navy on the submarine USS Philadelphia. One night I got to wondering about the method the US uses to name its' subs. Here’s a little bit about what I found.Before WWII, all US subs were numbered by type, so you had the O-25, the R-14, and the S-12. Militarily efficient, but not very inspiring.In WWII, US submarines were named after fish and marine creatures. So we

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-27675758129235312352007-08-04T03:38:00.000+01:002007-08-04T04:11:05.096+01:00

I like thinking about the world before electronics. Not that I'd like to return to those days, but the machines invented to perform tasks in the world of mechanics are sheer brilliance. Probably topping the list of really cool mechanical machines is the machine known as Archimedes Screw.Archimedes Screw enables water to be drawn up hill (or to irrigate some Hanging Gardens that might be hanging

Danielnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-10260618970745351972007-08-03T02:44:00.000+01:002007-08-03T03:56:47.061+01:00

You've probably heard about the recent voting for the "new 7 wonders." The expressed aim of the project was to call attention to world heritage and I hope that it does this. We all have an interest in preserving the heritage of the world. It is important to note, however, the difference between these wonders and the canonical Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.The Wonders of the Ancient World are

Danielnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-58424953692597025072007-08-02T21:06:00.000+01:002007-08-02T21:09:51.486+01:00

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lighted." -- Plutarch

Tednoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-59741954582693839622007-08-02T11:04:00.000+01:002007-08-02T02:27:11.599+01:00

If you want to figure out how tall something is (like a house or tree), or how high it goes (like a rocket or balloon), there’s a simple and inexpensive way to get a fair estimate.You’ll need a couple things for this, but they’re easy to find and you probably already have them around the house. Find a protractor and a rectangular piece of cardboard bigger than the protractor. You’ll also need a

Tednoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-67845837179512735362007-08-01T04:12:00.000+01:002007-08-01T04:23:50.864+01:00

Liftoff!For those of you that have read Ted's Model Rocketry Q & A for Beginners post, this is what you'll see when you launch your very own rocket.Within moments of engine ignition, a model rocket is moving at a speed of several hundred miles an hour...so you'd better have a quick trigger finger! Not even a shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second can completely "freeze" the motion of the rocket

Elissonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299361897381169534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-61857719096248959212007-08-01T01:12:00.000+01:002007-08-01T01:44:01.115+01:00

Greetings, readers of The Dangerous & Daring Blog for Boys and Girls. I am Mike. You may know me as The Maximum Leader from the blog Naked Villainy. If you happen to read my blog, you will know that I opine (with varying degrees of seriousness) on politics, history, philosophy, culture, and whatever else happens to strike my fancy. I was surprised and pleased that Ted invited me to be a

The Maximum Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049183891152402775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-81860824899146353992007-07-31T03:03:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:35:34.800+01:00

In the White Mountains of California you'll find the oldest living things on planet Earth. Bristlecone Pine trees have survived there for thousands of years, including "Methuselah", which is over 4,670 years old! These trees were saplings when the pyramids in Egypt were being built. They were mature trees during the time of Christ, and they still live.You can learn more about Bristlecone Pines by

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-75838140076883897192007-07-28T17:12:00.000+01:002007-07-29T01:46:08.083+01:00

Greetings, Boys and Girls!My name is Robert the Llama Butcher (although I often go by Robbo the LB) and I usually post over at http://www.llamabutchers.mu.nu. I'm in my early forties and have three daughters aged nine, seven and five, respectively, so when Ted came along and suggested the idea for this blog o' stuff kids oughta know, I was all for it.If you've ever spent any time over at my

Robert the Llama Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745329850965246998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-57336300838102130942007-07-28T02:12:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:36:08.991+01:00

People have houses. Dogs have houses. Birds have houses. Even butterflies and bats have houses. Let's learn how to build a spider house.Why in the world would you build a spider house? Firstly, spiders are fascinating creatures and it's neat to be able to go outside and watch one doing its spider-thing in a frame that you built. Secondly, spiders eat a lot of pesky insects, including some that

Tednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-24907747330698382002007-07-27T16:20:00.000+01:002007-08-02T11:16:18.287+01:00

During the Apollo missions that landed on the moon, one member of each crew stayed in orbit while the other two descended to the surface. One of these Command Module Pilots was Stu Roosa, who was a smoke jumper before he became an astronaut. Besides photographing the moon from orbit and performing other scientific experiments, Roosa carried with him 500 tree seeds. The idea was to plant them when

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-25525096734849447602007-07-26T01:58:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:36:42.347+01:00

One of the first ghost stories I ever heard was told to me by an older cousin. She was watching over some of us younger kids as we spent the night in a tent. We begged her to tell us a ghost story, and she told us one that I have remembered ever since. It is a well-known American folktale, and here is one version for those who are brave enough to read on...best told in the dark with a flashlight

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-51822297492050955062007-07-23T22:56:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:36:59.116+01:00

"Old Glory" is a red, white, and blue flag with thirteen alternating red and white stripes, and a blue field with white stars. The earliest explanation for the colors came from Secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thompson. He did not explain the flag specifically, but rather the seal of the country:"The colors of the [stripes of the seal] are those used in the flag of the United States

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-56256608794108582462007-07-20T13:27:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:37:14.368+01:00

Thirty-eight years ago today, for the first time in history, a human being walked on the surface of another world.

Victorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094693913202628541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-51384434695759442252007-07-18T23:25:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:37:42.936+01:00

Oscarsborg is the name of the fortress protecting the seaward approaches to Oslo, Norway. Her guns have only been involved in one battle, and the two biggest guns only fired once each in anger.The ship was the German cruiser Blücher. The first hit took out the Blücher's forward fire control station, effectively disabling the ship's forward guns. The second hit took out the aircraft hangar,

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-38200573787961716162007-07-16T01:26:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:37:28.721+01:00

Several years ago I put together a web site devoted strictly to model rocketry. One of the most popular pages was an introduction set up in question and answer format. Looking back on it, I can see that we've come a long way since those early days. I've copied that page below and added links where I could.Q: Why do you think rockets are such a great thing to do with your kids?A: If I sit down to

Tednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-90746228632441391252007-07-12T20:47:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:37:57.158+01:00

I think a little alteration is useful...A human being should be able to change a diaper, repel a home invasion, train a dog, drive a stickshift, design a treehouse, write a limerick, balance a checkbook, build a snowfort, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, change a tire, start a fire without matches or lighters,

JenLarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908830614239479223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-78897463299472308072007-07-12T00:25:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:38:10.126+01:00

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for

Victorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094693913202628541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751903814574246268.post-73449624042156043042007-07-10T13:56:00.000+01:002007-08-01T13:38:22.550+01:00

I suppose a welcome is in order, along with a standing invitation to return often to see what sort of updates have been made since your last visit.This blog is a group effort started by a group of friends who've met thanks to this wonderful thing called the internet. One thing we all have in common is a love for the type of information and adventures collected together in "The Dangerous Book for

Tednoreply@blogger.com2