Duct-tape dilemma

Can one make a duct tape wallet that isn`t bad??? Can they?!?!?!

Equipment:

·         Duct-tape (duh.)

·         Scissors (possible adult supervision required)

·         Ruler or other measuring tool

·         (optional) Marker/pens

Procedure:

1.       Make eight pieces of 7-10 inch pieces of duct-tape, and lay them on top of one another in groups of four, with a quarter of an inch overlap. Take one of the groups and lay it on top of the other to make a “fabric”.

2.       Fold the new piece in half, and take a new piece of duct-tape the same length as the short edge of the fold. Cover said fold, and then tape other fold in the same manner.

3.       (Extra) to make a pocket, take two pieces of tape, on larger than the other. Place the small piece on the sticky side of the large piece, with the sticky parts together. Then, trim the edges of the large piece so that it can fit on the inside of the wallet.

Conclusion:

Livi didn`t make a too bad wallet, although she didn`t have pockets. She then proceeded to attempt to shove it off on me.

Olivia's book review

The thieves of Ostia

The thieves of Ostia is set in 79 A.D., in ancient Rome. The main characters are a Christian boy named john, a ship captain’s daughter, Flavia, a mute boy called lupus, and a slave girl named Nadia. It is a mystery, and the first book in a series.  Someone is killing watch dogs and taking the heads. Also, someone stole from a very important man in Rome. Could the 2 be connected? Flavia must find out.   

      This book was really good and the second book is called the secrets of Vesuvius. Also, I liked how every place in the book really existed, like Ostia was really in Rome and is a town, and Pliny really is a person.

Luke book review

Struts and Frets

                This is the high school life of Samuel Bojoer, a guy whose full life probably sucks in the extreme. His mother is a therapist, the frontman in his band, Joe, is a total meat-head who is only in because he can beat the other three members in  a fight (or in that case, massacre) can`t sing for his life, and Sam`s beginning to have “feelings” (Note: this is not the words used. There IS a reason this book was put in the young adult`s section.) for his oldest friend, Jen5 (It`s because there were 4 other Jennifer).

                This book was pretty amusing, namely because the characters seem to have an almost “real” feel, (although some things the author probably didn`t know about now modern teens/high-schoolers) with the random emotions, and also because one of Sam`s friends, Rick, is homosexual, which is actually more or less a lot more common in today`s society (and to those of you who are anti-gay/don`t like gay people/find it “blasphemous” (in case you`re religious), shut it. It`s their choice, jerks.) And it adds a bit more depth to the relation Sam shares with Rick, because he had never known that Rick was homosexual before.

                I also felt that it was a good story because of how Sam and Jen5 grew over the course of the book (well, grew together, as a couple, y`know?) because both were discouraged by their parents (sadly) to quit what they wanted to be most (which was an artist and musician, respectively.) and become doctors or lawyers (I hate lawyers, they`re the ones who become politicians, and I`ve never been too fond of visiting doctors/health agencies in general) instead, which I found to be dumb as heck.

                It wasn`t a bad book. That`s the most honest thing I can say about it. I can`t say it was the best, but I liked it.

Luke's science experiment-written up by Liv

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Why do peppers burn our mouths? Peppers contain an acid called capsaicin, oil in the pepper’s flesh. This acid in the pepper causes your mouth to ‘burn’, which is actually the pain sensor in your mouth telling your brain this is hot. We wanted to find out what cure works best: water or milk?

       Luke tried a jalapeño pepper, and for him, milk worked best. Why? To relieve your tongue, you have to get the oil off. When there is oil on pans, we use soap, which breaks down the oil, to clean them. Although soap isn’t good to put in your mouth, milk also emulsifies [breaks down] the oil, while water doesn’t. Therefore milk is a better choice when eating hot foods.