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The Website of Mr. Thomas McLaughlin
CNET News.com
- SpaceX launch scrapped in last-second drama May 19, 2012Engineers hope to resolve an engine problem that triggered a computer-ordered launch abort at the last possible moment Saturday, delaying a critical test of the commercial spacecraft. […]
- SpaceX set for historic commercial flight to station May 18, 2012The first of a new breed of private-sector spacecraft built for NASA as a commercial venture is poised for blastoff Saturday on a high-stakes inaugural test flight to the International Space Station. […]
- Neuroscientists develop video game for stroke recovery May 18, 2012Stroke experts in the U.K. work with Limbs Alive to develop the first in a collection of action video games that encourage movements to relearn arm and hand control. […]
- Singularity University launches synthetic biology accelerator May 18, 2012The new program will give three initial companies a leg up in getting their startups off the ground. The accelerator will be modeled on those that traditionally work with tech and biotech startups. […]
Who Knew
- Tip of the Day: Love Birds May 19, 2012It may seem silly, but not to your bird—put a mirror in his cage to make sure he doesn’t get lonely. The bird will see the reflection of himself and think it’s another bird to keep him company. Of course, the other solution is simply buying your bird a real feathered friend! […]
- Recipe of the Week: Chile Lime Hummus with Homemade Tortilla Chips May 18, 2012photo courtesy of A Kitchen AddictionA great way to save money on groceries is to make your own chips. Think that's time consuming? Think again. This recipe from A Kitchen Addiction shows how easy it is to bake tortilla chips as well as make a delicious hummus dip. Who knew?Ingredients:1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, peeled1 15-ounce can cannelloni/wh […]
- Tip of the Day: Reduce Green Odors May 18, 2012Kale, cabbage, and collard greens are delicious to eat, but can sometimes smell stinky when they’re being prepared. Make sure not to overcook them, which will make them release more odors, and place a few unshelled pecans in the saucepan while cooking, which will help absorb any scents. […]
- Tip of the Day: Plastic Lid System May 17, 2012Are plastic lids taking over your kitchen? We feel your pain, and can offer a solution: Store a dish drainer in your cabinet, and file the lids on their sides in size order. You’ll find the lid you need in seconds, and your kitchen will seem much more organized. […]
- Tip of the Day: Strawberry Berry Straws May 16, 2012Hate the waste of lopping off strawberry stems with a knife but like to serve the delicious treats ready-to-eat? Try this: after washing, push the stems out from the bottom up using a plastic straw. […]
- Tip of the Day: Salt of the Earth May 15, 2012Did you know Epsom salts are one of the best natural lawn fertilizers around? They’re composed of magnesium and sulfur, both of which are highly beneficial to grass. Magnesium kick-starts seed germination, and is also a player in manufacturing chlorophyll, the substance that plants manufacture from sunlight in order to feed themselves. Sulfur, meanwhile, als […]
- Every Tip You Need to Know for Your Backyard Barbecue May 15, 2012Who doesn't love a BBQ? Time to throw some steaks on the grill, grab a nice cold drink, and celebrate summer in style with these tips for great backyard barbecues.The Quickest Way to Chill DrinksThe best way to chill beer or soda fast is to fill a cooler with layers of water, ice, and salt, then plunge the beers inside. In about 20 minutes or less, the […]
- Tip of the Day: Fruit Ruins Flowers May 14, 2012When deciding where to place that beautiful bouquet you just got for Mother's Day, steer clear of the fruit bowl. Ethylene gas given off by fruit will cause the flowers to die more quickly. Choose a spot farther away from any fruit, and your flowers will last longer. […]
- Tip of the Day: When Wine Wins May 13, 2012If you spill wine on a tablecloth, blot up as much as you can as soon as you can with a cloth, then sponge with cool water. Wash immediately. If the fabric is not machine washable, cover the stain with a small cloth dampened with a solution of detergent, water, and vinegar, then rinse. Get the cloth to the dry cleaner as soon as you can. […]
- Tip of the Day: Sending Flowers? May 12, 2012If you’re sending flowers for a special occasion, skip the national delivery services and web sites. Instead, find a flower shop that is local to the recipient and call them directly. Most national services simply charge you a fee, then contact these very same stores themselves. […]
DEN Blog Network
- More Than Just a Day of Discovery May 19, 2012Today we hosted a Day of Discovery in Miami-Dade County at Westland Hialeah HS where over 100 educators from across the county gave up their Saturday to join us. It’s hard to put into words the energy and excitement that filled the air throughout the day. We started the morning by recognizing Miguel, a $1500 […]Ginny Washburne
- DEN Weekly Update 5-19-2012 May 19, 2012Enjoy the DEN Weekly Update for May 19, 2012. […]Porter Palmer
- 2012 DENny Awards – Thank You May 19, 2012I have been a Discovery Educator Network (DEN) STAR and part of the Louisiana DEN Leadership Council since 2009. As part of this wonderful organization, I have participated in so many wonderful events sponsored by Discovery Education including Day of Discovery in Silver Springs, Maryland and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the DEN Leadership Council Symposium in [.. […]Paula Naugle
- DENny Awards- Go Team Georgia! May 18, 2012I am so proud that I won a DENny award from The Discovery Educator Network– for my blogging work and help at Georgia DEN events. I think DEN member David Andrade said it best when he said the DENny Awards are the Oscars for Discovery Education. So once more– If you haven’t joined the DEN […]sandi dennis
- Introducing Google Knowledge Graph – better search results May 18, 2012Today Google is announcing a new tool in search: The Knowledge Graph. It will be phased in over the next few days for all users. The Knowledge Graph adds new results to your search. You will see panels on the right side of the search results page with additional, factual, information about the search topic. This will have […]David Andrade
- WhatWasThere – historical photos linked to Google Maps – visit the past! May 18, 2012WhatWasThere is an excellent resource for geography, history, and fun. It connects historical photos to Google Maps, letting you see what places looked like in the past. You can tour locations, browse photos and even upload your own historical photos. This is a great way to explore the world historically, or just […]David Andrade
- Nature Works Everywhere – free resources for learning about nature’s factory May 18, 2012Nature Works Everywhere is a great, free site from The Nature Conservancy and Discovery Education. The site has resources to help learn about how nature works and the fact that nature is a factory, making many of the things we need. There is an interactive online game that helps students discover the connections […]David Andrade
- ISTE Newbie Project – help send a deserving teacher to ISTE conference May 18, 2012ISTE (International Society of Technology in Education) puts on a great, huge, educational conference each year. I was lucky enough to attend ISTE 2011 in Philadelphia last year (thanks to winning a Discovery Education contest that paid for it for me) and had a great time, learning, sharing, and connecting with educators from around the world. Philadelphia […]David Andrade
- DENny Award Winners 2012 – Discovery Educator Network Awards May 18, 2012Last night was the DENny Awards 2012, the annual awards where the Discovery Educator Network and Discovery Education honor DEN members for their efforts throughout the years. It’s the Oscars for us. In fact, the Discovery Education employees that ran the event were wearing tuxedo t-shirts! You can view the entire thing, which was live streamed from Disco […]David Andrade
- For Administrators: Dear Colleagues, Guess what I learned… May 18, 2012At today’s Admin Day of Discovery Kyle and I facilitated conversations about the free resources Discovery Education provides through our many partners, as well as the essential tools and ideas educators can access and use. As we had multiple discussions with principals and tech specialists, the recurring theme became: “I’m going to send this stuff […]Lance