Santa has been under extreme stress this year, nearly giving himself an ulcer. In past years, January has typically been the month that Santa’s Reindeer have negotiated new yearly labor contracts. However, this year has proven to be more challenging than most.

RAINDEER FEEL UNAPPRECIATED

The reindeer, feeling unappreciated and needing more leverage, have joined the Professional Elf Tactical Environment (PETE), which is a splinter group from HDPE, (Height Deprived Professional Elves), which is affiliated with the Professional Miniature Men’s Association (PMMA).

This group’s mode of operation is to encourage groups to do nonviolent demonstrations or work walkouts although they have been known to do minor acts of property destruction.

The reindeer have called in sick and are unable to get out of bed!

Trouble in Santa’s Workshop

Upon visiting the workshop, Santa found his bag emptied and broken toys strewn throughout the shop. Santa noticed a white substance near the door, on some of the toys and on Santa’s desk.

Note

There will be no joy this year until we are appreciated!

Suspects

• Raindeers cannot write

• Only 8 elves are left working in the shop

• Most elves are south working in shopping malls.

Jack Elf

• Recently, Jack has been having arterial fibrillations, telling Santa that he has been unable to leave his bed for the past week and a half. Jack is very fond of sugar donuts and brushes his teeth after each meal. He believes that a contract is unachievable at the current level of talks

Elmore (Sneezy) Elf

Sneezy has had his share of health issues which include asthma and sore feet, both of which he is currently being treated for. He compensates for his infirmities by wearing lots of jewelry and talking loud.

Ellie May Elf

No one seems to know how Elly Mae feels about the contract issue. She has never voiced an opinion, she just keeps baking those Danishes that Mr. and Mrs. Claus seem to love. Recently, she has started making salted pretzels as well.

William (Will) Elf

During the off-season, Will spends his time gardening and helps maintain the roads and walkways of the North Pole. He hates insects and keeps Santa’s stall insect free. He is probably the most outspoken of the elves, constantly bringing up thoughts of a strike.

Ebenezer (Ben) Elf

Ben loves salt! He salts everything! Because of this he has developed high blood pressure and a diuretic condition, creating a constant danger of dehydration. His patience is further tested since he has contracted athlete’s foot. His primary duty is making play dough.

Snowflake (Flake) Elf

Most of her days she spends gardening in her window boxes, keeping the walkway clear of ice or sleeping. Although disenchanted by the entire contract talks, until recently Snowflake has had trouble staying awake long enough to hear both viewpoints. Currently, she has a canker sore that has been keeping her awake.

Elroy (Roy) Elf

Will is a diabetic, requiring a constant balance of insulin and sugar. He enjoys making homemade ice cream with salted nuts. He has been a member of PMMA for the past 20 years and feels that it is high time that Santa pony’s up some cash for this contract.

Leilia (Sugar Plumb) Elf

The apple of Santa’s eye, she is fond of sweets and tries to help Mrs. Clause keep everything clean and smelling nice. She also helps Mrs. Clause make pickles.

Possible Chemicals: Sodium Chloride NaCl Predominantly used as a seasoning for foods, believed to cause

high blood pressure , solubility, 35.9 g/100 ml (25 °C) pH 7

Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate

NaHCO3

Used as an antacid, to absorb mois ture and odors, a cleaning agent, and toothpaste, used in baking, solubility, 7.8g/100g water @ 18C, pH 8

Calcium Chloride CaCl2 Used to melt ice and snow on walks and highways. It is also used to make ice cream and is used in concrete to reduce acidity. Solubi lity 74.5 g/100 ml (20 °C)

Sucrose C12

H22

O11

a disaccharide sugar commonly known as table sugar , solubility, 211.5 g/100 ml (25°C) pH 7

Magnesium Sulfate

MgSO4 AKA Epsom Salts: Used in gardening. Also used to control

seizures, asthma, and ar terial fibrilla tion. Also used in foot baths , solubility, 25.5 g/100 ml (20 °C) pH 6.5-7

Magnesium Sulfate

MgSO4 AKA Epsom Salts: Used in gardening. Also used to

control seizures, asthma, and ar terial fibrilla tion.

Also used in foot baths , solubility, 25.5 g/100 ml (20 °C) pH 6.5 -7

alum K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O, Alum powder found amongst spices at most grocery stores, is used in pickling recipes as a preservative, to maintain crispness, and as an ingredient in some play dough recipes. It is also commonly cited as a home remedy for pain relief for canker sores . Solubility, 19.5 g/100 ml (20 °C)

Boric Acid H3BO3 Antiseptic for burns and cuts, trea tment for yeast infections and athletes foot. Als o used as a pesticide

and a jewelry cleaner , solubility 5.7 g/100 ml (25°C) . pH 5.2

White Substance Matrix

STRONG CONDUCTER WEAK OF ELECTRICITY

CaCl2

WITH AMMONIA FORMS WHITE PRECIPITATE

EPSOM SALTS

ALUM

Boric Acid

pH 5.2Sugar

Melts to black solid

NaCl

CRYSTALPowder

Baking Powder

Exothermic in water

• SOLUABILITY• 5.7 g/100 ml H3BO3 • 7.8g/100ml NaHCO3• 19.5 g/100 ml Alum• 25.5 g/100 ml MgSO4• 35.9 g/100 ml NaCl• 74.5 g/100 ml CaCl2• 211.5 g/100 ml C12H22O11

Chromotography

Four different brands of black pens have been identified. Each has its own chromatograph.

Using water and alcohol as solvents make a chromatograph of the pens. Use this information to help identify the culprit.

Fingerprints• Loop Plain Arch: Tented Arch: Whorl

• Central Pocket Loop Double Loop:

• Accidental

Results

• Crime Summary; Period _______ • Team Members• What was the ID number of the powders that you

received?• What were the powders?• Which suspect(s) would have used these powders? • What type of pen wrote the note?• Which suspects had this type of pen in their

possession? • Whose finger prints were present on the book?• Who did the crime? • Give name and ID no.