Sun Signs Read online

  Sun Signs

  Sun Signs

  Shelley Hrdlitschka

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  Copyright © 2005 Shelley Hrdlitschka

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data

  Hrdlitschka, Shelley, 1956-

  Sun signs / Shelley Hrdlitschka.

  ISBN 1-55143-388-5 (bound).--ISBN 1-55143-338-9 (pbk.)

  I. Title.

  PS8565.R44S95 2005 jC813’.54 C2005-900094-5

  First Published in the United States: 2005

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2004118008

  Summary: While taking online courses, fifteen-year-old Kaleigh

  learns that on the Internet, people are often not who they seem.

  Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its

  publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of

  Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP),

  the Canada Council for the Arts, and the British Columbia Arts Council.

  Cover Design and interior typesetting: Lynn O’Rourke

  Cover font: (Astro Font)

  In Canada:

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  BOX 5626 STN. B

  VICTORIA, BC CANADA

  V8R 6S4

  In the United States:

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  PO BOX 468

  CUSTER, WA USA

  98240-0468

  09 08 07 06 05 • 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Printed and bound in Canada

  For Kyla, my favorite Aries

  —S.H.

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Kim Denman, Diane Tullson

  and Beryl Young for their ongoing encouragement.

  Distant Learning Inc.

  Term #2

  Science 10 Research Project

  January 9 – April 2

  Assignment: Choose a science topic Of Interest To You and gather information on it. Using the Scientific Method (see attachment #1), form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment to test/support your hypothesis.

  This assignment is in lieu of the traditional science fair project. Although this is the same kind of endeavor, as you are correspondence students, you will only be marked on the written portion of the project.

  I will expect six progress reports over the next twelve weeks, as well as an initial proposal, and a final report due April 2. Also, before you go to too much work on your initial proposal, e-mail me with your topic and I will give you the go-ahead if I think it’s suitable.

  This assignment will be in addition to your weekly assignments, but will account for 50% of your final grade.

  Have fun!

  Mr. J. Selenski

  Contents

  Scientific Method

  State a Problem

  Gather Information

  Form a Hypothesis

  Experiment

  More Experimenting

  Even More Experimenting

  Record and Analyze Data

  More Recording and Analyzing

  Even More Recording and Analyzing

  State a Conclusion

  Share Your Discoveries

  Attachment #1

  Scientific Method

  Seven Steps to Discovery

  1. State a Problem

  2. Gather Information

  3. Form a Hypothesis

  4. Experiment

  5. Record and Analyze Data

  6. State a Conclusion

  7. Share Your Discoveries

  State a Problem

  Forecast For the Week of

  Jan. 15 – Jan. 21

  by B.A. Stargazer

  Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

  Gemini, you can no longer ignore

  the project that’s been left undone.

  A slight shift in your reaction to

  things is all that’s required.

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: distantstudybuddies

  Subject: calling all science 10 victims

  Who else thinks science projects should be outlawed?? Have any of you started It yet? He says 2 choose a topic we’re interested in. Yeah right. What if we’re just NOT INTERESTED IN SCIENCE? Hey, Mr. Selenski? Did you ever think of that??? It’s a mandatory course! We’re not taking it because we WANT 2.

  And get this. My horoscope this week is right on, as usual. It says I can’t continue to ignore the project that’s been left undone. Can you believe it? It’s like it’s directed exclusively at me. Do all geminis have science projects they haven’t started yet? I don’t think so. Okay, it can be argued that the word “project” could be interpreted in different ways. But still, you can’t convince me there’s no truth to this stuff. Take this week’s cancer forecast. (Are any of you cancers? UGLY word.) “Your mood is totally upbeat. Your boss loves you for being innovative and a team leader.” That is so NOT me. I don’t even have a boss.

  My horoscope also says I should shift my reaction to things. Fine. I’ll just pretend that science is really cool. That I just can’t wait 2 do a research assignment. That there are so many INTERESTING things I can study…

  Not.

  Science sucks.

  Help!

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: starlight

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  Hey Kaleigh, how about a project to determine which lipstick has the most stick? U could choose 5 different brands, apply them, then kiss your favourite guy for, say … 5 minutes apiece. The one (lipstick — not guy) that’s still on at the end wins — assuming u still care after 5 minutes of kissing!!

  You’re right. It’s a bit lame. Okay … how abou … which zit cream works the best? Yes? Mind u, it would be hard to find a control group. I can hear u now. “Okay zits. You, over here, the cluster on the chin—you’re the control group and u only get air and water. Now, u, the cluster on the forehead, you get product A … and u —over here, around the nose … product B.

  No? You’re right. U probably don’t even have zits. That’s the trouble with this distantstudybuddies connection — we have no idea what each other looks like! Okay, how about … which tampon is the most absorbent? All us girls have to deal with that!

  Okay, I’ve got it. You could investigate which love potion (the ones they sell at those sex shops) is the hottest. Or which tastes the best. Do u think Mr. S. will go for that? I bet he’s pretty hot! :) (Has anyone ever met him? Is he for real???)

  Just doing my best to help a distantstudybuddy in need.

  Shari

  ---------------

  From: 2good4u

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  Kaleigh? R u blind?? U ARE SO interested in science already! Do your report on astrology. i can’t believe i have to point that out 2 u.

  2good

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: 2good4u

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  Is astrology really a science?

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: 2good4u

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  Of course it is. Anything with “ology” at the end has 2 b science.

  2good

  ---------------

  Fr
om: cosmicgirl

  To: 2good4u

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  You’re right! How could I not see that?? It’s a COSMIC science, 2 PERFECT for me! I could do research on how horoscopes are created … but what about an experiment? Somehow I’d have to prove that astrology makes sense. That by studying the planets and stuff, astrologers can forecast the kind of day/week/year u are going to have. That the forecasts are accurate …

  I know! I’ll get some of our distantstudybuddies to help me. They can keep track of how accurate their forecasts are …

  All of a sudden I’m excited about this. Go figure!

  But first, Mr. Selenski.

  Thanks, 2good! You’re a lifesaver!

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: 2good4u

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all science 10 victims

  They don’t call me 2good for nothing.

  U r welcome.

  2good

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: jselenski

  Subject: Science Research Assignment

  Dear Mr. Selenski,

  For my Science Research Assignment, I would like to study astrology. I will write a report on how astrology works, and I’ll set up an experiment proving that horoscopes are not just light entertainment.

  Yours in science,

  Kaleigh Wyse

  ---------------

  From: jselenski

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: Science Research Assignment

  Dear Kaleigh,

  Although this topic may be amusing, I don’t take the study of astrology seriously, nor do I think you should. Kindly choose another topic.

  Mr. J. Selenski

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: jselenski

  Subject: Re: Science Research Assignment

  Dear Mr. Selenski,

  According to my dictionary, astrology is “the study of the movements and the relative positions of celestial bodies (that’s planets and stuff, in case you didn’t know) interpreted as an influence on human affairs. It assembles random bits of the universe in which you live into a pattern that makes sense.” Mr. Selenski, astrology is studied by millions of people and has been for thousands of years and in lots of different cultures! For this reason, I hope you will reconsider and let me study it for my term research paper. Please!

  Thanks in advance!

  Kaleigh Wyse

  ---------------

  From: jselenski

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: Science Research Assignment

  Dear Kaleigh,

  Although you haven’t convinced me that studying astrology is a worthwhile pursuit, you have convinced me that you are interested in it. Therefore, I will allow you to study it this term. Be sure to follow the Scientific Method, as outlined in the attachment you received with your assignment. I admit, I am curious about what on earth (no pun intended) your hypothesis will be and how you will run an experiment. That said, perhaps you can turn this skeptical old teacher into a believer.

  Good luck.

  Mr. J. Selenski

  P.S. I know what celestial bodies are, thank you very much.

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: distantstudybuddies

  Subject: calling all leos!

  Hey everyone! Mr. S. is letting me do a report on astrology for my science research project. Cool, huh? A big thanks to 2good for the idea!

  Here’s the thing. I have to do an experiment, and I need some of u to be my guinea pigs. I’ve decided to study the astrological sign of Leo because they are the party animals of the cosmos and sound like fun! If you are a lion (born between july 24th and august 23rd) and want 2 help me out, all you’d have to do is read a daily, weekly, monthly and maybe even yearly astrological forecast (supplied by me) and record how accurate it is. You’d have to send me weekly reports on your findings, written in YOUR BEST English (in case I have to submit the data).

  So, who wants to play?

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: 2good4u

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all leos!

  Kaleigh, has selenski really given u the green light on this topic? He must be getting soft in his old age. i was actually kidding about the whole thing. Anyway, u r not going 2 believe it but i’m a lion, and i’m in if u want me, though i don’t know about that best english shit. R u serious?

  2good

  ---------------

  From: starlight

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all leos!

  Hey Kaleigh, can you believe it? I’m a leo and i love stargazing! Count me in.

  Shari

  ---------------

  From: blondeshavemorefun

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: Re: calling all leos!

  cosmicgirl,

  i’m a leo and i’m all yours.

  blondie

  -------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: distantstudybuddies

  Subject: Re: calling all leos!

  U guys Rock! And u must all luv science! In less than 1 hour I have 3 leo subjects and at least 6 others who want me to change the astrological sign I’m studying to a different one so they can play. I wish I could include u all, I really do, but I’m thinking there’d be way too much data to handle. Who’d have guessed there’d be so much interest in astrology? Not Mr. Selenski, that’s for sure.

  Thanks thanks thanks!!! i luv u all!

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: 2good4u

  Cc: starlight; blondeshavemorefun

  Subject: Leo team

  It’s official. You are IN!!

  A few introductions are in order.

  First, we have 2good4u, commonly known as 2good.

  Then we have starlight, alias Shari.

  Last, but not least, there’s blondeshavemorefun (blondie).

  Say hello. Shake hands. Maybe even a polite little cyber hug would be appropriate, for you are now the LEO TEAM. Is that RAD or what? Maybe my finished project will be so amazing, so mind altering, so so so … okay, so startling, that some scientific journal will pay me for it, publish it, and u (and i) will become famous.

  Just imagine.

  Cuz that’s the only way something like that would ever happen!!!

  Seriously, thanks to each of u leos for volunteering to be guinea pigs (my all-time favorite little rodent). I’ll be in touch again soon.

  May today’s planetary positions bring you all heaps of positive energy!

  With her head in the stars,

  Kaleigh

  ---------------

  From: blondeshavemorefun

  To: cosmicgirl

  Cc: 2good4u; starlight

  Subject: Re: Leo team

  hi hi. shake shake. hug hug.

  blondie

  ---------------

  From: 2good4u

  To: cosmicgirl

  Cc: blondeshavemorefun; starlight

  party on fellow leos!

  2good

  ---------------

  From: starlight

  To: cosmicgirl

  Cc: 2good4u; blondeshavemorefun

  i’m partying, 2good! hugs and shakes back to you, blondie.

  Shari

  ---------------

  From: cosmicgirl

  To: jselenski

  Subject: SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

  Topic: Astrology

  Problem: By studying the position and movement of the celestial bodies, can astrologers accurately predict events?

  Method: I will use the library and the internet to research the history of astrology, how it works and the ways in which astrologers determine horoscopes using the cosmos. Then, using three Leo subjects, I will gather dat
a indicating whether the forecasts (previously supplied to them) are coming true. I predict that the results will demonstrate that the forecasts are accurate. This is based on my own personal experience.

  Yours in science,

  Kaleigh Wyse

  P.S. Do you happen to be a Leo?

  ---------------

  From: jselenski

  To: cosmicgirl

  Subject: RE: SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

  Dear Kaleigh,

  This is a very sketchy proposal at best, but I am glad to see you have addressed the first step in the Scientific Method, and that is, stating a problem. My concern with your project is that so many variables could impact your research and data collection, making the results questionable. For example, one variable could be the attitude of your subjects towards astrology. If they are firm believers in the “science”—like you—might this affect the results? Could this not potentially skew their data collection? Then there’s the reverse. If your subjects are skeptics—like me—this too could affect the way they collect data. Just something to think about.

  In the meantime, you may proceed with your research and data collection. And no, I am not a Leo. Guess again.

  Mr. J. Selenski

  P.S. I received a note from your mother indicating that you will be receiving radiation treatment soon. I am willing to give you an extension on this project if need be.