4Kids.org - Week of August 10, 2003

Week of August 10, 2003

Deep in Time

Swim back in time with PaleoIndustrial at www.paleoindustrial.net and learn about three reconstructed Paleozoic creatures. In A Trilobite’s World, you’ll find out what creatures lived with trilobites. Nicknamed the tully monster, the discovery of the Tullimonstrum gregarium was as simple as a walk on the beach. But controversy over the fossils led to a tale of two tullies. Animated versions of the Anomalocaris’ appendages show how the animal cracked down on its prey. Digital dioramas capture the activities of these ancient sea creatures. (This site is no longer available.)

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Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

What is the most diverse group of extinct animals known?

Trilobite
Anomalocaris
Tully Monster

Who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico?

Francisco Coronado
Joshua Abraham Norton
Juan Cortina

How old was Norman Rockwell when he painted his first Post cover?

22
25
31

Happy Trails

Tired of the same old stories? Discover New Perspectives on the West at www.pbs.org/weta/thewest. The West is overflowing with stories about people, places and events between 1800 and 1917. Experience Crazy Horse’s fight for the Black Hills, or read about the last stand of George Armstrong Custer. When your wagon stops in Lawrence, Kan., you can learn about the destructive raid by William Quantrill’s men. An interactive map shows trails and territories of the Old West.

American Icon

Take a leisurely step into the past and rediscover Norman Rockwell’s vision of the American identity at www.nrm.org. The Norman Rockwell Museum highlights the prolific artist’s Saturday Evening Post illustrations, which portrayed daily life in the ‘30s,‘40s and ‘50s. In The Artist, read how Franklin Roosevelt inspired some of Rockwell’s most famous Post covers. Then browse gallery highlights on exhibit at the actual museum in Stockbridge, Mass., such as a portrait of entertainer Bing Crosby.

Do you agree with
the ratings on software
and console games?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: What are optical image keyboards?
— Russ, Gardena, Calif.

Dear Russ: Optical image keyboards are a recent development in the tech world. Also known as virtual keyboards, they project the image of a keyboard onto a flat surface. A light sensor translates finger movements into keystrokes on the keyboard. One such keyboard is the Canesta Keyboard, at www.canesta.com/ products.htm. The technology used to create this device may allow for development of virtual knobs and switches that could be used in hospitals or hazardous environments. (This site is no longer available.)

Dear Amy: How can I avoid straining my eyes when I use my computer?
— Rajiv, Las Vegas

Dear Rajiv: When you work your eyes endlessly, scanning and reading from a monitor, they grow weary. Two ways to alleviate the strain on your eyes are to keep your monitor between 18 and 30 inches away from you, and to give your eyes a short break every 10 to 20 minutes. An article at www.sc.ist.ucf.edu/webletter/ itsc/Iss_28/art_64.htm from the University of Central Florida discusses the problem of eye strain and gives more suggestions about creating a more comfortable workspace. (This site is no longer available.)

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