Rubber Band Fun

Making toy cars using rubber bands is a lot of fun to do with kids. Rubber bands can be used for power or for traction. A toy car that uses a mouse trap is a fast, fun little car. The spring in the mouse trap releases energy to the wheels, that are wrapped in rubber bands, for traction. Get a few neighborhood kids together and make several for a race. Adult supervision is highly recommended in building a toy car using rubber bands. And fun is mandatory.

Get together all supplies for building a mouse trap car. This car requires a mouse trap, 2 metal rods, 4 small eye hole screws, some plywood, 2 rubber bands, some string, washers that the rods will fit into, a drill and bit set, jig saw or hack saw, an hammer, a vice, a wood file and a jewelers file., wood glue and some 2 part epoxy, and a drafting compass

Begin by taking the mouse trap and pulling out the wire that holds the trap open with the pliers. Keep this wire for later use. Remove the bait holder on the mouse trap. Remove any staples that may be present.

Using the eye hooks, screw them into an end of the trap. Place them 8 mm from the edge of the trap. Drill a small starter hole to keep the wood from splitting.

With the drafting compass to draw 2, 75 mm circles on the plywood. Cut them out with the jig saw. File the edges smooth with the wood file.

Place the rods side by side and check to see if they are exactly the same size. Cut and file to the right length if needed. Using the hack saw, cut approximately half way through one rod. File the cut so it is wide enough for the wire removed in step 1 to rest in.

Cut the wire from step 1 to 7 mm. Glue the end of this wire into the slot just cut with the 2 part epoxy. This will need to dry overnight.

Position the wire that is now dry to the back of the mouse trap. Slide the other wire through the eye hole screws.

Place the washers on the wires. With the drill and 3.7 mm bit, drill a hole in the center of the wheels. Slide the wheels on to the rods.

Tie the string in the center clamp on the mouse trap. Stretch the string to the end and tie it to the axle. Trim off loose ends.

Wrap the rubber bands around the wheels. Glue them in place.

Lift the clamp of the trap enough to get the loop end of the string over the wire on the rear axle. Pull the car backwards so that the string winds around the axle and lifts the clamp on the mouse trap. Sit the car on the floor and let it go.

Control Ants Safely

There are ants in the house. Ants in the kitchen. Ants in the living room. Ants in the bathroom. Ants come in through the smallest cracks in doors, windows and even the foundation of a home. Poisons and pesticides will kill the ants, but they are not healthy around children, pets or even kitchens. There are safe ways to kill ants safely for households that have children or pets.

Here are what is needed for 2 methods of getting rid of ants safely. Method 1 items are, a small spray bottle, some vinegar, water, black pepper and paper towels.

Method 2 items are, a paper plate, some syrup, powdered boric acid, some sidewalk chalk.

Mix equal parts of water and vinegar and pour into a small spray bottle. Fill 2 bottles and keep them in a couple of handy places. Spray ants anytime they are seen, inside and out.

Spray any ants as soon as they are seen in the home with the vinegar and water mixture. The vinegar kills the ants quickly and cleanly. No pesticides needed. To clean them up, just wipe them up with a paper towel and toss them away.

Locate a trail of ants inside or outside. Spray the ants with the vinegar mixture. Dust the trail with black pepper to prevent the ants from taking the same path into the house.

Follow the ants as they rush back to their nest and sprinkle more black pepper in and around the nest. This will repel the ants from their own home, and will cut down on how many are around the house.

The ants will run from the nest, spray the ants with the vinegar mixture as they leave the nest.
Pour hot water down the ant hole to boil and drown any remaining ants.

Another child and pet friendly way of controlling ants in and around the home is using boric acid and side walk chalk. Boric acid is toxic to ants and a few grains of dust can kill the hole colony safely.

Place a dot of maple syrup in the center of a paper plate. Sprinkle a line of boric acid around the syrup. The ants walk through the powder and take it back to their home, killing the whole nest.

Draw a line around the foundation of the home with sidewalk chalk once the ants are all out. Be sure to draw a wide line, with no breaks. This line will keep ants from entering the home.

The Rights of Grandparents and Adoptions

Adopting a grandchild or grandchildren is a noble and caring gesture for any grandparent. There are several situations in which a grandparent in Indiana can adopt a grandchild. Some children, as adults and parents, can become ill, get caught up in bad behavior, such as drinking and driving and get into other trouble with the law. Indiana court systems will grant custody to a grandparent rather than put the child or children into foster care.

The Beginning: Child in Need of Services

Initially, the Indiana court will order the child to be in need of social services. Indiana Child Protection Services will then attempt to locate a family member, beginning with a grandparent. The grandparents will then become legal guardians.