4Kids.org: July 30, 2000

Come to the Playground
Meet Alfy, a cool pup who knows his way around a computer. Alfy's place is like the neighborhood playground for kids in cyberspace. Skate on over to www.alfy.com and see what he's up to today. Slide into the fun with colorful crafts, clever games and silly cartoons. Alfy speaks Spanish and English, so you're sure to be friends right away. Alfy's Surprises features a daily joke and an adopt-a-pet game. And there are tons of games in the Arcade: snapping crocodiles, flying cupcakes, outer space adventures--you name it! When you've had enough adventure for the day, have some quiet time in Storyville. There are funny stories for you to read along with, and music and activities to help you get in on the action. Then explore Music Mania where you can listen to the Jukebox or Sing-A-Long. Whatever you and Alfy do together, you'll definitely have fun and get lots of practice working a computer. Go play! (Disclaimer: This site now contains advertisements.)

High-Tech Humanities Jump into the high-tech world of the Virtual Smithsonian at http://2k.si.edu. You'll find great sites about art, history, music and more. History buffs will love the Remembering Gallery, with exhibits about the Civil War, the American presidents and famous inventors. Or brush up on your pop culture by getting the scoop on the country's best-loved films, books, music and athletic events. The Discovery Gallery features great American land and sea expeditions. Interested in space? Then visit Reaching Beyond the Earth, a section all about space exploration. At the Virtual Smithsonian, you'll get the full story--in high-tech style.

Where the Buffalo Roam
Once considered "lords of the prairie," buffalo are one of this country's most noble, legendary animals. At American Buffalo: Spirit of a Nation, you'll learn about how these great mammals were almost wiped out by greedy hunters a century ago, and how folks today are trying to rebuild the bison herds. Roam across the Web to www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/american-buffalo-spirit-of-a-nation/introduction/2183 and get the lowdown on these beautiful animals. You'll revisit the glory days of the buffalo, and find out how they were tragically killed by the thousands. You'll also travel to Yellowstone National Park, one of the safe havens for wildlife, and now home to more than 2,000 free-roaming bison. The Spirit of a Nation journey will also take you to South Dakota's Black Hills, where you'll learn about the efforts of Native Americans to restore the bison to millions of acres of tribal lands. The spirit of the buffalo awaits you on the Web.

When you know the answers to the questions below, enter your answers. If you are correct, you will become a "4Kids Detective of the Week." If a question is not answered it is considered wrong. Good luck.

1. How much can modern North American bison weigh?

2,000 pounds

1,000 pounds

500 pounds

2. How long was the Wright Brothers' first flight?

1 hour

1 minute

12 seconds

3. What toy is broken in the story "Alfy's Broken Toy"?

Stuffed Animal

Toy Truck

Skateboard

Dear Amy: My friend just got DSL, and I have cable modem. Which is better? --Nathan, La Jolla, Calif.
Dear Nathan: Cable modems and DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines) are both high-speed Internet connections. DSL can be a little faster but often downloads info at speeds similar to most cable modems, about 1.5 megabits per second. Both are capable of delivering full-motion video. Cable modem signals come through your cable television lines, whereas DSL comes through telephone lines. The main difference is that cable modems exist in a shared network, while DSL is a dedicated line that is not shared with others. When cable modem use in your neighborhood increases, your modem speed may get slower. However, right now DSL is available only if you live close to a phone company office. It used to be that telephone service was also shared in a neighborhood. Now almost every residence has its own phone. Whether cable modem or DSL service will win the broadband war remains to be seen. For more info, check out these Web sites: http://whatis.com/dsl.htm and http://whatis.com/cablemod.html. There is also an excellent article at www.salon.com/tech/feature/1999/09/23/cable_dsl/index.html. (The first two sites are no longer available.)

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