Are you a fan of the Washington Wizards? Then http://www.donbrashear.com/2008/12/07/the-washington-wizards.html is the web site for you. Here you will read all about how they became the Washington Wizards. Like how they started off as the Chicago Packers and then changed their name to the Zephyrs and then became the Maryland Bullets. Learn all about their different owners and about the teams many career accomplishments. Also find out which famous basketball player came out of retirement and joined the Washington Wizards. At www.donbrashear.com you will read up on all of the ups, downs, and many career changes this very successful and accomplished team has gone through over the years.

The Watson's Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis takes place during a time of great racism. I think it is a great book for students to read. It deals with family, friends, acceptance, bulling, apperance and racism. If I were to use this in a classroom I would follow it with a discussion on what it means to be racist and prejudice. The church was blown up because the white people did not want the blacks in their schools. I would ask my students how they feel about that and if they think it still exists today. I would also talk about accepting those who look and act differently than others. Kenny had a lazy eye that made him look different and some of the other children made fun of him and beat him up. But physical differences are not the only ones we need to be aware of, studens need to be tolerant of religion, ethnicity, and exonomic status. This book opens up conversation for a variety of topics and I think it is wonderful.

Has still life photography always fascinated you? At http://www.sceneryphotogallery.com/2009/01/09/photographing-flowers.html you can learn the best way to photograph a still object like a flower. Get tips like walking around the flower in order to see the light from all angles. According to this site it is not impossible to take photos in the rain, at night, or on a cloudy day. In fact these times can be a great opportunity if you know how to take advantage of the opportunity. So visit www.sceneryphotogallery.com and learn how to take great still life photos without spending a fortune on expense new cameras and equipment.

Chocolate Chip Monster Pops

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
15 popsicle sticks

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a large cookie sheet.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla; mix until smooth. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips.

3. Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup, drop cookies onto the cookie sheet. Be sure cookies are at least 2 inches apart. Insert a popsicle stick into each cookie, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

What you'll need:

· An earthenware or terra cotta pot: you need a heavy base to keep it from tipping

· A chunk of Styrofoam or oasis (green florists' foam) at least as big as the pot

· Long, heat-proof wooden sticks, skewers, or chopsticks

· Small cellophane bags or plastic wrap to cover the cookies

· Frosting and sprinkles for decorating cookies

· Curly ribbon to tie around the "stems"

· Raffia, Spanish moss or crumpled tissue paper to hide the foam block

· Decorations for the pot, such as:
- Puffy paints or acrylic paints
- Glue
- Cutout shapes from fabric or felt
- Small photographs

When decorating the pot, anything goes: paint flowers and vines, landscapes, animals, or whatever you like. Or affix colorful fabric shapes or photographs. Trim the foam to fit snugly inside the pot, making sure the top of the foam is just below the top of the pot.

Making the Cookies

If you're making rolled cookies (like sugar cookies) rather than drop cookies (like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies), roll them out nice and thick--between ¼ and half an inch. You'll also want to choose a cookie recipe that will not spread too much when it bakes, or your cookies will be too thin to stay on their sticks. To control the spread of your cookies:

· Use half margarine or vegetable shortening and half butter as the shortening in your recipe

· Refrigerate the cookie dough before shaping, and again before baking

· Do not grease the cookie sheets. For easy clean-up, use parchment paper

Follow the recipe directions for making the cookie pops, ensuring that the sticks you use are long enough for the purposes of your bouquet. Gently push the sticks or skewers far enough into the cookie so they will stay firmly planted on their "stems." The portion of the stick that's inside the cookie should be completely encased in dough and not poking out; patch with extra dough if necessary. Always put the sticks in before baking!

Baking

Watch the baking time carefully: if you've made large cookies, you may need to turn down the oven temperature and bake them longer if they appear to be done on the bottom before the middle can catch up. Remove the cookies from the pan with a spatula; don't handle them by their sticks until they're completely cool.

If you have ever wondered what your gold jewelry is worth or how what its worth is determined? Then http://www.icoincollect.com/2008/11/26/value-of-gold.html is the web site for you. Here you will learn how the value of gold is measured and how its worth is directly related to the currency used to purchase it. Also find out how the countries economy determines how much gold is worth. For example if the economy is in crisis then the price of gold will rise. this is a helpful site for those thinking about selling off some their gold jewelry or thinking of purchasing new gold jewelry. So visit www.icoincollect.com and find out all you need to know about the changing value of gold.

EducationAndOutdoorFun.com

The Washington Wizards

The Watson's Go To Birmingham

Photographing Flowers

Chocolate Chip Monster Pops

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

DIRECTIONS

The Value of Gold