websites

You know there are around 30,000 searches a month in the search engines for butterfly information - that's people who are interested in learning more about our little butterfly. From Africa to America, from Ohio to the Orient, someone somewhere is looking for butterfly information to help them;

- identify a butterfly
- collect butterflies
- breed butterflies
- display a butterfly
- buy butterflies

Not all of these are politically-correct these days although farming seems to be acceptable, but searches they nevertheless are. That clearly demonstrates a huge interest in facts about butterflies around the world.

With over 17,500 species of butterfly on this planet, there is plenty to learn about this colorful insect and its habits and habitats. The life cycle of the butterfly has fascinated many people, and rightly so. It is one of the few insects that doesn't go through a nymph stage (an immature form that resembles the adult) but instead has the following life cycle:

- egg
- larva (caterpillar)
- pupa (chrysallis)
- butterfly (imago)

That's pretty unique and the end result is something that delights many when the butterfly emerges from its sleep. Of course, butterfly spotting usually happens during the summer, so we often associate butterflies with this brighter, warmer time of year (when we tend to be happier).

So what sort of butterfly information do people want? Well surprisingly, whilst many people can recognize at least a handful of butterflies in the region, most are not sure about basic information such as feeding habits, where butterflies go at night and how weather affects them and so on.

Did you know for example that butterflies don't eat? Did you know that they don't grow and they can't fly when the temperature is below a certain point?

There is plenty of new butterfly information and and an abundance of fascinating facts that you can gather that will keep you amazed for a long time, as I have been. The information may help you identify a butterfly that often flies in your backyard. It may help you understand how to help butterflies survive better by giving them the right foods in your garden. You can also try raising butterflies yourself in your own home - and that can be really rewarding.

Take time out and learn something new to surprise you or your kids.

Make it easier to find interesting or useful butterfly information, quickly & easily. Amaze yourself, friends and family with bizarre butterfly facts. To start your search visit the: Butterfly Information website.

posted by qhishjq  # 7:33 PM 0 comments

The following are some things to consider before packing up and moving to an offgrid location.

Cost:

How will you finance your offgrid home? Cash, pay as you go, home mortgage loan, private loan? The answer to this question effects how your plans will progress.

If you have cash to pay for your offgrid home, do you have enough? Conservatively speaking, building the home yourself will cost between $80.00 to $100.00 per sq. ft. That's if you userecycled materials where possible and depending on your own your own skill level, cut labor costs.

Research home mortgage loans for offgrid, they are not as easy to get as a conventional loan.If you are relocating the mortgage company is going to need to know how you will pay for the loan.

Building permits:

Check with your local city, county and state codes. Laws for your state may supersede local laws. Be sure that you understand the building codes and their cost. Your local office may or may notbe very helpful with this information.

Where to purchase land:

Are you relocating? How far away is the property you want to develop from your current location?Will you live on the property while it is being built? What permits do you need? Does the landhave any improvements like well (shared or private) or septic?

Modern conveniences you cannot live without:

If you cannot live without an air conditioner, you may want to rethink living offgrid unless youhave unlimited funds. Large energy consuming appliances are unrealistic for offgrid applications.

Type of home construction:

The type of construction for your offgrid home should reflect your climate and region. Assess the climate were your home will be located. If it is a cold climate, heating and weatherizingyour offgrid home may be one of your main concern.

If it is a hot arid climate, keeping your home cool from the scorching hot sun may be the prime issue. If it is hot and humid, cooling and moisture may be relevant. There are many factors to consider when choosing the type of construction of your offgrid home. Personal style, environment, pests, insects, weather, type of soil and land elevation should also to be considered.

Who will build your offgrid home:

Owner/builder, contractor, some subcontractors.

Life style:

Does your personal life style mesh well with offgrid living? If you have no experience with livingoffgrid, read articles of other people's life styles to see if feels right to you. Things that you may havetaken for granted like turning on tap water or a light and it is there. Offgrid living doesn't have to bea meager life style. It depends on your financial and creative resources.

Environment:

Is the natural environment where you choose to build your offgird home compatible with your visionof how you want to live?

Usually, but not always, offgrid homes are off the beaten path. This means that you will be living in a natural habitat with animals, reptiles and insects where you or your pets could be the prey. Learn all that you can about the area in which you would like to build. If there arepotentially dangerous animals, learn about their behavior and habitats. Sometimes we createand invite animals close to our homes because we are unaware of their behaviors. They need food, shelter and sometimes water. If we provide these, they will come.

Employment/how to make money:

If you do not have a home based business in mind, you may want to look for one.

Or check the local newspapers for employment before you build. Know the job market in nearby towns.

http://www.offgrid-desert-living.com

My husband Ron and I built an offgrid dry stack concrete block home in the Arizona desert. We knew nothing about offgrid when we started our venture. We have learned alot about ourselves and our dreams (mostly that we still had some). I decided to share some of our experiences with others who are considering building offgrid.

posted by qhishjq  # 1:12 PM 0 comments

Testing the value of a ball full of air is a great science project idea.

With more students being involved in sports today we can easily do science experiments around sports issues. We are going to test by the amount of air in a ball how it affects the ball by testing the bounce, throwing ability and hitting ability.

Use 3 volleyballs for this experiment. Make sure they are all the same size and type of ball with the same covering, fill the first volleyball full to a normal weight as listed on the ball for its size and pressure.

Fill the second ball over full past the normal pressure. You do not want the ball to pop but the ball will be very hard if you try to press on the sides. Fill the third ball with less air. You do not need to make it flat but you should be able to press on the sides and be able to push in a fair distance. The ball should still be useable but just not totally full with air.

Do 3 tests with the balls.

Test #1

Hold a ball and drop it onto a concrete or hard surface using something nearby or a measure to make sure you hold each ball at the same height before dropping it. Hold the first ball at this measured height and drop the ball on the ground. Have someone hold a yardstick by your side to measure the height the ball bounces after it is dropped.

Do the same with ball #2 and #3.

Record these findings on a sheet of graph paper. What did you determine from this ball drop? Probably that the ball with the most air bounced the highest. It is actually the lightest because of its air buoyancy even though it feels heavier. It dropped faster because of the amount of air inside and the pressure of contained air inside the rubber ball exterior caused it to have a large reflex.

Test #2

Draw a line on the ground or place something on the ground as a place marker. Hold ball #1 in your throwing hand and with one arm throw the ball as far as you possibly can. Have someone further away from you to mark the exact location of the first ball drop. You can use cones or any means to mark this. Do the same with Ball #2 and Ball #3. Record which ball flew the farthest. What did you find?

Test #3

Stand at the same line or place marker as for test #2 and toss the volleyball and hit it overhand. Have someone further away to mark and determine the furthest path easy volleyball makes. Which volleyball flew the farthest by striking it? Why do you think this occurred?

Using sports you can find great science project ideas.

Find more 8th grade science projects and easy science projects at http://scienceprojects.fetching.us

Lesa Bolt is a contributor to science projects.

posted by qhishjq  # 6:52 AM 0 comments

A Fifth Grade Science Project can be one of the most fun school projects that a parent and child can do together. Here are some really good science project ideas that are easy enough to do, yet meet the requirements of most science fairs and most fifth grade teachers.

These are investigative science projects, which involve a science experiment:

Does the shape of ice affect melting time? Use the same amount of water, place into different shaped containers and freeze. Then see how much time each piece of ice takes to melt.

Which toilet tissue is most biodegradable? Take samples of different types of toilet tissue, and soak them until they fall apart. Run the samples through a strainer, and see which sample leaves the most paper undissolved.

Which citrus fruit has the most Vitamin C? Make an indicator solution with iodine and starch (it's EASY to do!), and test samples of citrus fruit or juice to see which one has the most vitamin C.

Which brand cereal stays crunchy longest? Weigh different brands of the same cereal, soak in water, and then weigh again to see which one absorbed more water.

These are demonstration science projects - when your teacher wants you to demonstrate a scientific principle to the class.

Demonstrate that yeast gives of gas. Place a yeast and sugar solution into a bottle, put a balloon on top, and watch the yeast give off gas so that the balloon blows up!

Demonstrate how static electricity works. Make a ball of aluminum foil dance between your finger and a pie plate. Watch this one on www.youtube.com/watch!

Demonstrate how chemical reactions can be sped up. Put alka seltzer into a cup, and watch it fiz. Then do it again with crushed alka seltzer, another time with warm water, and yet another time with TWO alka seltzers.

Whatever you do, remember, fifth grade science projects really can be fun and a learning experience at the same time. So grab your slide rule and your test tubes, and get started on your project now!

(Note: We've done all of these science projects with our four boys, and they are easy to design on your own. Do an internet search for more information, or visit our website and find out how to purchase step by step instructions for each.)

Kayla Fay and her four boys are the creators of Online Science Project Guides, science projects that are fun, easy, affordable, and teacher pleasing! Find out about these guides, and get a free copy of "The Non-Scientist Parent's Guide to Science Fair Projects" at http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com

posted by qhishjq  # 12:31 AM 0 comments