When finished, I found that the best items to launch from this type of catapult was mini marshmallows commonly found for a few dollars at a grocery store.

I chose a simple design that would be easy for the boys to follow and would allow plenty of time to launch marshmallows at a target. Many designs (including the one provided in the scout handbook) were fairly complex and would require a long time to built. Some I saw were just as big as the scouts themselves. After following these instructions, it only took the scouts about 10 minutes to complete everything and start participating in trying out their new catapult.

If you’d like to print these instructions, download this PDF.

Materials

Instructions

Step 1 – Take 7 of the craft sticks and tie a rubber band tightly around one end.

Step 2 – Tie another rubber band tightly around the opposite end so all 7 sticks are bound together.

Step 3 – Take the remaining 2 sticks and tie a rubber band on one of the ends. Try to tie the band close to the edge of the sticks.

Step 4 – Insert the 7 sticks banded together through the 2 stick bundle as shown in the illustration below.

Step 5 – Tie a rubber band in a cross fashion joining the two pieces. The closer the 7 stick bundle gets to the edge, the more leverage the catapult will have.

Step 6 - Use a few rubber bands and attach the plastic spoon on the end.

If these instructions helped you in anyway, please leave me a comment or link to this page so others can find these instructions as well.

Bundles – Most cable companies also provide internet access. Without paying for cable, the price of the internet climbs. This can really make paying for yet another subscription more expensive if you drop cable.

Viewing Device – Most TV’s don’t come pre-bundled with a way to view Netflix or Hulu built-in. Cable companies usually include a cheap digital box that provides lots more content that Internet streaming devices.

The Food Channel (and other cable-only channels) – I can’t find any other way of watching this channel except through getting a cable subscription. I really wish they offered an alternative method of watching their channel. Until they do, the wife (and I) will not spend money on Internet streaming.

Although there are these issues, Internet streaming is becoming more popular. Devices (like Google TV) are starting to roll out in TVs and external devices. Streaming is also getting cheaper, $8.99 for Netflix and $7.99 for Hulu (pick up a Hulu Plus referral code to get a few weeks free). Stay tuned, the cable companies better do something quick, or they are going to loose out to disruptive technology.

Here are some highlights of our trip:

Reed, Dave, and I are hard at work during the Application Development contest. Here, Reed literally singlehandedly writes a sweet console application in Java getting the team 3rd place overall. Dave was the master planner and I worked on a small Microsoft Access application for another portion of the contest.

Landon and Bryce are working hard to develop a Flex program for the Application Development contest.

Here's a shot of other teams competing in the Application Development contest.

Before the ending awards ceremony started, we sat down to a great meal in the conference center.

Here we are at the awards ceremony near the end of our trip. We had an excellent team go this year that won many awards.

For more pictures, check out the official flickr album.

D – Duplex (prints both sides of the page automatically)
N – Networking built-in to the printer
T – Extra tray included
MFP – Multifunction Printer (copy/fax/print/scan)
M – Retired term for Macintosh compatible printers
F – New letter that means fax machine included
X – Super Extended model with all the bells and whistles (tray, networking, toner)

So what does XI mean? Well from looking at a few forums and HP’s website I couldn’t really find much, but a printer with XI on the outside packaging generally comes with everything you need (like a USB or Ethernet cable), toner, support/warranty, etc. Here’s a list of possible meanings, although these are just guesses. Any suggestions appreciated in the comments.

XI - Extra Ink
XI – Extras Included

Computers

• Apple //e – $50
• Apple Macintosh Plus – $20
• Apple Macintosh SE – $50
• Apple Macintosh SE+ $45
• Apple Macintosh LC III – $300
• Apple Macintosh Performa 630 – $400
• Compaq Presario 6550 – $680
• Apple PowerMac G3/333 – $500
• Apple PowerMac G3/350 – $600
• CompUSA BTO PIII700 – $200
• Custom BTO AMD 2800+ – $350
• HP Pavillion ZE1100 – $70
• Dell 600m – $300
• Dell 700m – $690
• Dell 6000D – $600
• Apple iBook G3 800 – $100
• Apple iMac G5 17″ – $900
• Dell Latitude 630d – $900
• Apple MacMini 1.6 Solo – $325
• Apple Macbook (1) -$900
• Apple Macbook Pro (1) -$1200
• Apple Macbook (2) – $700
• Apple Macbook Pro (2) – $900

Printers

• Apple Stylewriter II
• Apple Laserwriter
• Canon BubbleJet D60
• HP LaserJet 3150MFP
• HP LaserJet 3200MFP
• HP Color LaserJet 4550N
• HP Color LaserJet 2550
• HP Color LaserJet 3500N
• HP LaserJet 1200
• HP LaserJet 1300
• HP LaserJet 3330
• HP LaserJet 2200DN
• HP LaserJet 2300DN
• HP Color LaserJet 1600
• HP Color LaserJet 2605DN

The following is a list of what could make any professor or teacher the smartest professor ever to his or her students. The list is not comprehensive, but provides good direction on how anyone can determine if his or her teacher is the best ever.

• Education - There is a “doctor” somewhere in the teacher’s name or they have a high level of formal education.
• Setup to Succeed – The teacher strives to setup their students for success in class and in life with lessons designed to push each individual to new heights of understanding.
• Questions - They plan for and answer student’s questions with ease no matter how big or small it is.
• Expectations - Each student knows what is expected of them because of how the teacher has structured the assignments and material in class.
• Latest and Greatest – Being informed with the latest news and information is critical to ensure that what is being taught in class directly relates to everyday life.
• Willingness to Help – Any person that is not only willing to help, but also offering that help makes the difference with students struggling to find answers.

Here at BYU, we’re privileged to have many professors who I would declare are the “smartest professors ever”.

Here’s a small list of wonderful professors who are the “best” in their respective fields.

• Dr. Conan Albrecht – Programming
• Dr. Steven Liddle – eBusiness and Programming
• Professor Craig Lindstrom – Technical Communications
• Dr. Gary Hansen – Database and diagramming design
• Dr. James Hansen – Database Design
• Dr. Marshall Romney – IT Audit

In my Information System class, our group has been asked by the smartest professor ever to share a little about Search Engine Optimization. We decided to post the many reasons why our Information Systems BYU professor is the greatest teacher ever to help illustrate how powerful correct optimization of a blog or webpage can be.

He’s a Mac guy.
There are many Macintosh users in the Information System’s program. Each user seems to appreciate a well built computer, and Dr. Albrecht is no exception. He knows his stuff and the operating system he uses daily (Mac OS Leopard) is Unix based.

He’s funny and makes the class enjoyable.
There are some subjects that students find boring or especially challenging. Programming can be one of them. Thankfully, the best professor ever really tries to incorporate ideas and stories that help everyone understand the concepts of Object Oriented design.

Our professor enjoys video games.
It’s not everyday that you can hold a long conversation about the good old times. Dr. Albrecht’s blog revels his gamer’s side as he comments how newer gaming consoles are bringing back the great games of olden times.

He’s been to the dark side.
Dr. Albrecht reminds his students every so often about how he originally graduated BYU as an accounting student. He gives us wise and smart council to stay away from lots of numbers and statistics.

All these reasons and more help illustrate the fact that Dr. Conan Albrecht is really the smartest professor ever and we highly recommend that everyone should jump at the chance to take a class from him.