From: "bigchalk.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 14:13:23 EDT Subject: Adventures of the e-Team
bigchalk's Adventures of the e-Team Newsletter April 2002 http://www.bigchalk.com Welcome to this month's installment of the Adventures of the e-Team, sponsored by Start Something. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/targetstart02/&Userid; Six kids travel through unknown universes to stop the mind-erasing plans of Dr. Ignorance. Follow them as they save elections, the environment and all citizens of the cosmos from Dr. Ignorance's brain-deadly domination. Plus, see below for links to the latest online activities and resources designed for students just like you -- from your friends at bigchalk. ****************ADVERTISEMENT****************** Start Something is a program designed to help kids from 8-17 discover their dreams and interests, and take steps toward achieving them. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/targetstart02/&Userid; ********************************************** TABLE OF CONTENTS * Recap of Last Month's Adventure * Episode XIII, Chapter 3 -- Look Homeward, Children Student Resources @ bigchalk * Games, Homework Help, Study Collections, Online Activities, Resources, Contests -------------------------------------------- Adventures of the e-Team LAST MONTH the e-Team witnessed the bizarre "word-making" ritual of Scronrac. As it ended, they were forced back onto their pogo-dogs. While traveling through the Scronracian countryside, the group chafed under the constant, unpleasant watch of their pogo-dogs until Jimmy led a rebellion. Where will the e-Team and the Salerian rebels go next? Can they avoid the iron fist of the lunatic Elmboy the Third? Has Jimmy always been a rebel? Find out this month in... Episode XIII: One Hundred Years of Ineptitude Chapter 3 -- Look Homeward, Children We had freed ourselves from the pogo-dogs, but it looked like our relief would be short-lived. Before we'd even caught our breath, a buzzing began to sound from the other side of the bridge. Greek Novelist Nikos Kazantzakis | Article http://i.bigchalk.com/U/E-E021501/&Userid; "Great," said Billy, "here come the Scronrac police. Whatever they're like, it's not going to be pretty. Thanks a lot, Jimmy." "You'd rather be on that robot dog-thing right now, Billy?" Jimmy asked. "Better than jail," Billy said. "Relax, guys, we don't even know what's coming," Barbara said. The buzzing grew louder and louder until we saw five bald heads appear over the crest of the hill. Soon after, five stout little bodies came into view. The little bodies seemed to floating towards us in a cross-legged position. "What the..." George mumbled. "Weirdest police I've ever seen." "They are not police!" shouted our friend Tadoo, the Salerian rebel. "They are holy people of Scronrac! We believed they no longer existed!" Michael Ondaatje | Life & Works http://i.bigchalk.com/U/E-E021502/&Userid; The five bald Scronracians glided gently to a stop in front of us. Arms and legs crossed, they lifted their heads to speak with us, all at once. Tadoo and his band of Salerian rebels made some sort of gesture to greet the holy people, holding one hand vertically to the bridge of their nose, fingers together and extended, palm facing to the side. "Bimbolplatzma!" the rebels shouted. "Bimbolee!" the holy people said softly together. "How'ya doin'?" I said, when the holy people turned their eyes to me. Jamaica Kincaid | Interview http://i.bigchalk.com/U/E-E021503/&Userid; "Hello, D.T." said one in the middle. I couldn't tell for sure which of the holy people were male and which were female. All wore loose brown robes suffused with red iridescent fibers that flashed in the sunlight. Each sported a shaved head. And how do they know my name? After the holy people had greeted the rest of the e-Team, the one in the middle spoke to our whole group. "It is good to meet holy people in this region. We see few." "Wait a minute," said Hillary. "We thought you were the holy people." "Anyone without a pogo-dog we consider holy," said one of the robed people. "It's obvious you have somehow lost yours; this means you have taken the first step." Jose Marti | Poetry http://i.bigchalk.com/U/E-E021504/&Userid; "What first step?" Billy asked. "Aren't we going to get in trouble?" The people in front of us laughed. "Of course not," one answered. "Trouble may come some day, but not from where you expect it. Those who have given you your personal jailers cannot track you without them. You are free of their power." "But we're lost here," George said, "and we have to stop Elmboy the Second from destroying this planet." "Ahh, so many responsibilities, so young," said a holy person on the left. "Would you not rather come with us, and learn about our ways? After all, I believe it was one of your fellow humans that said 'Not all who wander are lost'." "But what about the Vizlork bomb?" asked Jimmy. "What about all these brainwashed people standing on their heads and whistling all the way to their destruction?" "The Salerians behind you are more than capable of bringing about the necessary changes in Scronrac," said the middle one. "You witnessed the work they did in the Confusion Federation, on the other side of the planet. Their dedication and strength are legendary in this solar system; the misguided fear them and those with clear thinking revere them. They will stay and attempt to awaken the people of Scronrac. But it is time for you all, the e-Team I think it is, to come with us." How do they know so much about us? "You have traveled far and fought hard," said a holy person on the left. "Like everything, you require rest from time to time. I believe you've found yourselves a long way from home. Perhaps we can do something about that." "Maybe you wonder how you got here, or how we know so much about you," said the last holy person to speak. "Maybe it was us who brought you here, who set in motion the events that led to Dr. Ignorance, that led to ICOSI, that led to you passing through dimensions you have never dreamed of, and that no human eyes may ever see again. And how would you like it, if we could give you an answer to all your questions?" I looked at my friends, who had been through so much with me and with each other. Written across all their faces was the longing for home that I felt in my heart, that the holy ones' words had stirred and amplified. "We'd like that very much," I said, my voice almost breaking. The holy people of Scronrac produced six metal plates from beneath their robes and set them gently to hover in the air in front of us. "You can travel the same way we do," the one in the middle said. "Climb on and cross your legs." Ralph Waldo Emerson | Philosophy of Education http://i.bigchalk.com/U/E-E021505/&Userid; As the others climbed onto the plates, I turned to Tadoo. The Salerian had tears streaming down his face as he looked back at me. "In the most desolate of places, we have found the most beautiful of people," he said. "Always remember that, D.T., as I will. It will serve you well in your life." "I will miss you, Tadoo," I said, clasping his outstretched hand. He produced the reading rock from his belt and handed it to me. "Learn what you must," he said gravely. "Always learn, my friend. As you grow, so will the truth. And its power." "Goodbye, Tadoo," I said, my own eyes beginning to tear. "Goodbye," he answered quietly, turning away. With that, I sat down upon a floating plate, and nodded at the holy ones. Read the full text of this month's adventure: http://i.bigchalk.com/U/ecurrent/&Userid; *****************ADVERTISEMENT******************* ADOBE MAKES IT EASY! bigchalk and Adobe are proud to bring you the latest versions of Adobe's award-winning, easy-to-learn Web design and graphics tools -- Adobe GoLive 6.0 and LiveMotion 2.0 -- now in a single Pack. The Pack includes a bonus CD to help you make the most of these powerful products so you can build, animate and manage dynamic school Web sites. Find out more! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/adobepack02/&Userid; ************************************************* Student Resources @ bigchalk: Games, Homework Help, Study Collections, Experts, Online Activities, Resources, Contests bigchalk's study collections will help you get your homework done in a flash. Take an online field trip, learn more about today's events online or cast your vote in week's poll. It's bigchalk to the rescue! COLLEGE ZONE You've been accepted by three competitive schools, they're expensive, and they offered you less than adequate financial aid packages. What should you do? Visit bigchalk's College Zone for admissions advice from myFootpath's college counselors. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/czone01/&Userid; BIGCHALK WEB SITE OF THE MONTH Looking for a new way to help kids learn about the eco-friendly themes of Earth Day? Since 1994, thousands of students from around the world have participated in the Earth Day Groceries Project. The project is simple and free of charge: parents and teachers "borrow" paper grocery bags from local supermarkets, which students decorate with messages about recycling, pollution, wildlife conservation and more. The bags are returned to the grocery store, and on Earth Day (April 22), customers receive their groceries in the decorated bags. Connect to the project's Web site to obtain a project starter kit, free print materials and educational activities. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/april02site/&Userid; WEEKLY POLL Last week's question: Do you think administrators should have the right to censor school newspapers? Results: Yes 47% No 52% This week's question: The prom is... Cast your vote today. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/wpolle/&Userid; CALENDAR Turn up your speakers and connect to the official Space Day 2002 Web site! This special day (May 2) is dedicated to the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. The goal of Space Day is to advance science, math and technology education and to inspire young people to realize the vision of our space pioneers. This year's theme is Adventure to Mars and focuses youngsters' attention on expanding our scientific frontiers to one of Earth's nearest planetary neighbors. Find out how to get involved at this multimedia-rich destination. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/spaceday02/&Userid; SEARCH BOX Want an easy way to give friends instant access to the Internet's largest, most up-to-date directory of learning sites? Add a free bigchalk search box to your Web page. Users can search our collection by keyword and filter their query by grade level. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/bcsearchbx/&Userid; ASK AN EXPERT Have a burning question that only an "expert" can answer? Send your queries to more than 75 Net-connected knowledge gurus today. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/eexperts/&Userid; GAMES Link to 250+ games to help improve your academic performance. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/egames/&Userid; STUDY COLLECTIONS & HOMEWORK HELP Mine our 100,000+ educator-reviewed links. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/estudyc/&Userid; ****************ADVERTISEMENT****************** Click here for a chance to win a TechnoK'NEX Multi-Lab Set! TechnoK'NEX Sets are hands-on teaching tools that bring real-world science and technology concepts into your classroom -- and engage your students like never before. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/knexw022/&Userid; ********************************************** Thank you for reading this month's e-Team newsletter. Be sure to preview each link and try any included projects or experiments before using them with your students. All Web sites included in this publication are subject to the bigchalk Linking Policy. http://www.bigchalk.com/corp/linkpolicy.html We offer several newsletters of interest to students, parents, teachers and Web surfers. To find out more, link to our newsletter signup page today. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/signupe/&Userid; To find out more about bigchalk, connect to our Web site: http://i.bigchalk.com/U/bchomee/&Userid; Looking for an archive of all past e-Team adventures? 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