students

Who Won The Week — 05/29/22

Fandango11 Comments

The idea behind Who Won the Week is to give you the opportunity to select who (or what) you think “won” this past week. Your selection can be anyone or anything — politicians, celebrities, athletes, authors, bloggers, your friends or family members, books, movies, TV shows, businesses, organizations, whatever.

Don’t you hate it when your tacos, burritos, or wraps come apart as you’re eating them, making a mess and dripping all over your shirt or pants? I know I do. That’s why this week’s Who Won the Week winner is a team of students at Johns Hopkins University. They have created a unique solution for one of dining’s greatest frustrations: the burrito or wrap that keeps falling apart.

Photo credit: John Hopkins University

As part of Engineering Design Day at Johns Hopkins University, a group of students created Tastee Tape, an adhesive meant to keep burritos, wraps, and similar food intact.

They tested a variety of ingredients before choosing the combination that was edible and safe, but strong enough to contain larger wraps.

“First, we learned about the science around tape and different adhesives, and then we worked to find edible counterparts,” said a Johns Hopkins senior majoring in engineering who helped work on the project.

After several months of testing prototypes, the team created rectangular strips measuring half an inch by two inches. To use the tape, a strip is peeled off a sheet of wax paper, wet thoroughly, then applied to the food.

So congratulations to these ingenious students who have come up with a way of keeping it all together (“it” being tacos, burritos, and wraps).

What about you? Who (or what) do you think won the week?

If you want to participate, write your own post designating who you think won the week and why you think they deserve your nod. Then link back to this post and tag you post with FWWTW.

#100WW — Signs of the Times

Fandango17 Comments

27B0A749-FE80-4EEB-BDC9-1BF547E2C1A4“Remove them, both of them,” the first man said.

“But, sir, won’t we need these signs when the students return this fall?” the second man asked.

The first man got a sad, faraway look in his eyes. “No, I’m afraid we won’t,” he answered. “We’re closing the academy. The students won’t be returning in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic and we simply can’t afford to keep our doors open.”

“This school has been around for more than 150 years, sir,” the second man said. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”

“Just remove the damn signs,” The first man snapped.

(100 words)

Written for Bikurgurl’s 100 Word Wednesday prompt. Photo credit: Bikurgurl.

Only in TODAY’S America

Fandango9 Comments

4743DF4B-7F2C-4F9E-9FF5-E1B38EDBE3D9I saw the following short blurb in this week’s issue of The Week magazine.

3D425AEF-8DDC-4DDC-B2FC-88BC5510EB1BYou are witnessing the brainwashing of America’s youth by conservatives who want to eliminate any references in schools and text books that conflict with their revisionist ideology.

FFfAW — The Ant Hill

Fandango16 Comments

“Whoa! What the hell is that?” Jim asked.

“It’s an ant hill,” Mr. Stevens answered.

The students gathered around the tall formation. “I’ve never seen one that big,” Sharon said.

“I think you’re wrong, Mr. Stevens,” Brian said. “It’s the petrified remains of a tree trunk.”

“I agree with Brian,” Sally said. “It’s way too big to be an ant hill.”

“Actually,” Mr. Stevens explained, “some ants create soft, low hills out of dirt or sand. Others build towering creations of clay. Ant hills can range from less than an inch high to over ten feet high.”

“Ten feet high! Wow,” said Jim.

“Yes,” said Mr. Stevens. “Ant hills have many chambers connected by tunnels. These small rooms serve different purposes. During the day, worker ants work nearer the top of the ant hill to stay warm. At night, they move back to the lower chambers.

“How long did it take the ants to build this hill?” Brian asked.

But before Mr. Steven could answer, Brian began feverishly kicking down the entire ant hill.

(173 words)

Written for this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers prompt from Priceless Joy. Photo credit: Yarnspinerr.

The Harmonizer

Fandango8 Comments

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“The harmonizer,” Fred said. “Definitely the harmonizer.”

The group of five MBA students had gathered in a conference room they’d reserved at the business school library for a meeting of their team as part of their Organizational Dynamics class competition. The professor had given each of three teams of students a project to complete and had asked them, in addition to successfully completing the assigned project, to pay close attention to roles each individual within the groups played, and how each member’s behavior within the group either contributed to or detracted from the successful completion of the project.

“What does that mean?” Mark asked Fred. Mark preferred to think of himself as the team’s leader.

“Your role is to harmonize,” Fred replied. “When you see conflicts arise between team members, you seek out ways to achieve consensus, to get to yes.”

“As any good leader should,” Mark said.

“Ha!” Clark exclaimed.

Mark shot Clark a dirty look. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re no leader,” Clark answered. “You couldn’t lead your way out of a wet paper bag.”

Then Clark spun around to face Fred. “And you are an obstructionist. “Without contributing anything at all, you block anyone who has any ideas or suggestions.”

“Don’t be an asshole,” Fred said to Clark.

“Boys, boys,” Sally, the only female in the group, chimed in.

“The bitch is back,” said Jeremy. “Go back to the kitchen, honey.”

“Fuck you, Jeremy! Fuck you all,” Sally screamed.

Mark, “the harmonizer,” shook his head and thought, “There goes my grade.”

This post was written for today’s one-word prompt, “harmonizer.”