GO FLY A KITE
By Everett F. Stevens
Staff Writer
Thursday, May 8, 2008 — The weather is getting nicer, and it's time to head outdoors.
You may be wondering what fun stuff you can do outside after you've been indoors for so long during winter.
How can you harness the wonder of great weather for your own enjoyment?
Kite flying is a great hobby to pick up. Even if you're just a novice, or starting out, you can still have a ball with just a few simple items.
You could always go out and buy a kite, but some are pretty easy to make too.
If you ever wonder where kites originated, some people claim they come from China, and some argue that they're actually from the South Pacific.
Did you know that in some places like the Solomon Islands, kites are used as fishing aids? They used them to show where they good fishing areas were out at sea.
Kites in Korea have also been used to announce the birth of a child.
Regardless of where the first kite was flown, there's a history of amazing designs and techniques for flying kites.
At this point, you may be wondering how kites actually work.
Kites are actually heavier than air, but in that case, how does the air manage to support them?
They weigh more than the air they replace, but they actually overcome the force of gravity and are suspended in air by the power of the wind blowing. This aerodynamic force is called lift.
So for a kite to fly, the airlift potential must be greater than the weight of the actual kite. Logically, it's better to make kites that are as light as possible, so they become easier to fly.
Knowing the strength of the wind and the wind direction are very important things to take in consideration when flying a kite.
If you want to add some balance to your kite, you may want to consider using a classic kite tail. Some people knot their kite tails to add extra weight density, thus increasing their balance.
Whatever the case may be, there's nothing better than flying a kite on a beautiful day, so get out there and touch the sky.
FEED CHILDREN IN MALAWI A SUCCESS
Thursday, May 8, 2008 — Laslo Balint's Feed Children in Malawi turned out to be a huge success. An outpouring of support from the citizens of Millsberry resulted in achieving the goal of raising $10,000 to Feed Children in Malawi in under a day. The first in line to donate was kha_12. Needless to say, she was not the last. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who donated and helped contribute to making Feed Children in Malawi a success.