Keep the love from Feb. 14^th going all year. Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(by O. Schmidt, Gifted Programming Consultant, Toronto, ON)

Most gifted students are typical children and have the same needs as others - physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social needs. Giftedness, however, can sometimes add an extra dimension of intensity or depth which can result in additional stress.

The following are some of the areas in which extra stress may be produced. They should be carefully considered by teachers, parents and gifted children themselves:

• accepting their exceptional skills, talents, and abilities as well as admitting their weaknesses and limitations
• being understood and accepted by other gifted students, "normal" peers and adults
• understanding the difference between pursuing excellence and trying to achieve at a perfectionist level
• developing acceptable socialization skills with all people
• developing a healthy self-concept and self-appreciation
• dealing with people who stereotype them and have unrealistic expectations of them
• understanding the ways in which they are like and different from other students.

• develop a solid understanding of giftedness
• recognize efforts, achievements and improvements in a way that is free of unrealistic performance expectations
• provide opportunities to engage in challenging and exciting activities that test abilities without any pressures
• help them develop patience with themselves and others
• provide opportunities to be safely and extravagantly creative
• distinguish between hard-and-fast rules and those that can be changed
• help students learn when and how to share creative perceptions, insights and thoughts appropriately with others
• show what is and is not in their control i.e. their energy and attitudes but not their marks or awards
• allow and accept stronger emotional responses within limits

• provide methods for dealing with "boring" subjects and the occasional incompatibility with teachers
• provide counselling and advice when needed
• set appropriate expectations for effort and achievement
• decide on appropriate goals given strengths and weaknesses
• engage in activities with gifted peers as well as others
• provide realistic expectations as to what they can and can’t solve in life
• help students learn how to make life meaningful
• accepting and loving them the same as other children
• do not allow giftedness to be an excuse for rudeness, inappropriate behaviour or words
• provide opportunities for silence, contemplation, reflection, meditation
• encourage participation in sports and other physical activities in different environments
• encourage doing things for fun once in a while, not always for educational purposes

Being gifted can be the greatest gift or the greatest burden. By reducing their stress and nurturing and respecting gifted children, they often work more readily to their full potential. By doing this, the chances of them possibly providing significant contributions to society are greatly increased.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The DT Shopping Center has many interesting products for sale. Each has been carefully selected to be reputable and of service and value to visitors to the DiscoverTeenergy site.

You might want to start your tour at "How to Shop Safely Online." Read about how to protect yourself from credit card fraud. The special credit card advertised protects you 100% from any abuse. It would be a good idea to use only one credit card for online shopping. Shop safely and in comfort next time. FREE.

"ABC Inkjets" is a fast and easy way to order any model replacement laser and inkjet cartridges. Save a lot of money as the prices (US$) are much lower than what you would pay in Canadian retail stores. Make this your regular place to purchase replacement cartridges. They have very quick delivery service too. They offer some great bargain basement prices! Try it and tell your friends about it.

"Hickory Farms" has many fine gift baskets that include crackers, candy and chocolates, jams, nuts, fine sausages and other sweets. They ship all over the world. Again, this is something a little different as a gift. Save yourself a trip to a store and the postage for shipping. Have a look at their site.

"Spencer Gifts" has many gift items that are fun and unusual. If you are tired of giving the same old bland stuff, check out Spencer Gifts. They have stores in Canada and the USA so they may be in your phonebook.

"Allposters.com" is probably the most exciting spot in the Center. Purchase the best of movie, art and theme posters, photographs and truly stunning. Special Allposters.com Notice: for the next few weeks, posters are discounted and also you will get $5 off your purchases. Have a look.

"Amazing Calendars." Select from thousands of pictures. They make great gifts for all occasions.

"Phone Hog" lets you accumulate long distance phone call minutes by visiting websites. Sign up today. It’s FREE.

"Columbia House" (on the homepage) CD and DVD Club provides the best in music that can be ordered from the comfort of your home. Get a pile of FREE ones when you enroll and then buy a few over a fairly long period of time.

"Publishers Pipeline" gives you access to many products that when purchased provide a money rebate offer. Save a lot of money on the huge variety of products that are offered.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Camp Enterprise (business leadership camp)

Canoe Ontario "Canoe Expo"

Celtic Learning & Travel Services (study in Ireland)

Deep River Science Academy (science related summer course)

Encounters With Canada (one week courses in Ottawa)

Lake St. George Field Centre Environmental Science Course (credit courses)

Music Show

Rotary Club Exchanges

Shad International (leadership training)

Toronto Festival of Storytelling

Student Venture Loan (apply for a loan to start your own business)

University of… Open Houses coming up

YMCA Young Leaders (leadership training course)

Free Lectures at the University of Toronto

Free Lectures at the Royal Canadian Institute (contact for brochure of topics)

FREE FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM. SEE FILMS, VISIT EXHIBITS, ETC. EACH NIGHT HAS A SPECIAL THEME.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yi-Mei Ting, Gr. 12, George Vanier S.S., Toronto, ON is applying for a Millenium Scholarship.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------

February 2 - Groundhog Day

February 12 – Islamic Eid al Adha

February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day

February 15 – National Flag Day

This is also Heart Month and Black History Month
___________

We hear about them on the radio, get a glimpse of them on the news but what are they all about? Some will be mentioned in future issues of "Gift Rap" in the new "For Your Calendar" section.

Ashura: The tenth day of the month of Muharram (which is the first month of the Islamic calendar), in commemoration of the tragedy of Karbala in 680. Shiá and Sunni Muslims fast on this day.

Bahá'u'lláh's Birthday: Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith in 1817.

Birth of the Báb: Anniversary of the birth of one of the twin Prophet Founders of the Bahá'í Faith.

Bodhi Day: Buddhist celebration of the Enlightenment of Buddha, ca. 596 B.C.E.

Diwali: Festival of Lights: one of four seasonal celebrations in India. Jains celebrate Diwali as the time when Mahavir left for heaven (Mahavir Nirvana). Sikhs celebrate Diwaliin commemoration of the return to Amritsar of the sixth guru after his release from detention.

Eid al-Adha: Islamic festival of sacrifice, commemorates Abraham's "sacrifice" of his son; also a memorial to the dead; occurs after the Hajj or Pilgrimage. Last three days of Hajj are work-restricted.

Eid al-Fitre: Islamic festival of the breaking of the fast; end of Ramadan. The last two days of Ramadan are work-restricted.

Eid-ul-Milad-un-Nabi: Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, ca. 570 C.E.

Maha Shivratri: Lord Shiva's birthday

Navaratri: Holy celebration of gifts from goddess Ambadevi

Naw-Ruz: Bahá'í and Iranian New Year.

Paryushana: Holiest day for Jains

Passover: Eight-day celebration marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt; "Seder" ceremonies emphasize concept of freedom. The first two days and the last two days are observed as work-restricted holidays. Observance includes restrictive dietary rules.

Ramadan: The ninth month in the Islamic calendar; 30 days of strict fasting from sun-up to sun-down in honor of the first revelations to the Prophet Mohammed. Last two days are work-restricted on lunar calendar.

Ramnavami: Anniversary of the birth of Rama, incarnation of Vishnu (the Preserved) in Hinduism.

Ridván: Commemorates the declaration of Baháúllah to his followers in 1863.

Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year beginning 10 days' penitence. Two-day, work-restricted holiday.

Shavuot: Jewish Festival of Weeks; celebrates harvest of first fruits and commemorates the giving of the Torah and Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Two-day work-restricted holy days.

Shemini Àtzeret: Eighth and last day of Sukkot.

Simchat Torah: Joyous festival in which the reading cycle of the Torah is completed and its first book begun again. Symbolized by singing, dancing, and marching around the Synagogue with Torah scrolls.

Sukkot: Jewish festival of booths (or tabernacles) and the fall harvest; lasting eight days, takes name from the booths used by Israelites during desert wanderings. First two days (Simchat Torah) and last two days (Shemini Àtzeret) are work-restricted.

Yom Kippur: Jewish day of atonement; most solemn Jewish holy day, devoted to prayer, fasting and repentance.

___________

(regular article by Sandra Tipei, Gr. 10, LAT Gifted Program, Toronto, ON)

It seems as though everyone owns a cell phone, and everyone is always on it, even while driving! I know it doesn't seem like that big of a deal to multi task and talk on your phone while driving, but it has become a big problem in North America. It seems like a harmless action - certainly people don't even think twice about it – and they just pick up their phones and chat. So why is this such a big deal?

Many people don't understand why there is such a big fuss made about talking on a cell while driving, but it really is a big problem and growing bigger.

Until I started to really pay attention to how people drive, I didn't give a second thought to talking while driving. A few months ago, I started observing how people drive while I was on my way to school or anywhere else. I noticed that drivers who are simultaneously talking on their phones and driving seem to be more distracted. They didn’t drive the way other drivers did.

I don't want to sound like I’m discriminating. I know there are plenty of people who drive badly even without cell phones. But it seems as though those who are talking on phones are obviously distracted. I have seen people begin to swerve into other lanes, brake suddenly because they haven't noticed other cars and change lanes too closely to other vehicles. They also turn awkwardly. This doesn't sound like responsible, controlled driving to me!

Maybe you are the world's best driver and you have never been in an accident but if you're on a cell phone and even driving perfectly, you are still less aware of the drivers around you. How can you talk on the phone, or dial a number, watch your driving, look ahead of you and look around you? That's a little too much to take on at one time.

Driving does involve effort and if you're doing other things, chances are that your full attention isn't on the road. It doesn't matter how good of a driver you are. No one should be doing anything to compromise the attention they pay to the road. Other peoples’ lives, as well as your own, depend on you putting 100% of your attention on driving properly.

I hope that Canada soon creates a solid law about this problem before more people become injured or killed. A law banning cell phone use while driving would benefit everyone on the road. If you have an important call to make, pull over. If your cell phone rings, ask someone else to pick it up or ignore it; they'll leave a message if its that important. It’s as simple as that. You could be saving yourself and others a lot of trouble! Get off the phone and drive properly!

____________

(various sources – O.S.)

What goes around, comes around. Here are some trends to look out for in 2003:

• men will be wearing neckties more and more.
• women can expect to dress in micro-mini skirts.
• stripes are coming back into fashion.
• dots of all sizes are making a renewed appearance.
• retro music nights where patrons must wear school uniforms to get in. This has already started in Toronto’s Mod Club.
• being on time at parties and gatherings and/or letting people know you won’t be attending. Emerging emphasis is on manners.
• retro look in appliances. Rounded edges and 50’s colours. Kitchen tables and chairs are styled from the 50’s too.

_____________

______________

There are lots of expressions we use that involve words that have virtually opposite meanings, for example, jumbo shrimp. Here are some others but only one half will be provided. How well do you know them? See the answers at the bottom of the newsletter.

Simply--------, ---------tricky, sure--------, --------history, --------estimate, act--------, --------vacation, --------war, unbiased--------, still--------, --------aggressive, --------odds, --------sorrow.

Other interesting expressions: "what’s going down" & "what’s coming up" mean the same thing. "Flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing.

_____________

Important Warnings About Kazaa Music Downloads!
(by O.S.)

Since the disappearance of free music on Napster, other creative ways to get music out to people on the internet have been created. Kazaa is one of them.

When you go to the Kazaa site, you will be asked to download software to your computer. The software allows you access world-wide music files which you can then download.

Once activated, an icon - "Shared Files" - will appear on your desktop. What many people don’t know is that this means any music download they put into that file folder will be shared with everybody else in the world too!!

If you go to Kazaa for a song, you will be directed to somebody else’s computer where that piece of music is located - maybe your friend’s. Any computer that is accessed is vulnerable to anything the person does to it while there.

The idea behind Kazaa is simple. It sort of works like this. If I buy a CD, I can make a copy of it for myself and/or lend it to somebody without breaking any copyright laws. If, however, my friend copies the borrowed CD, then laws are broken. Kazaa tries to get around that by having people share their recordings which are in their computers and readily accessible. Imagine what I could see or do if I had access to your computer files and directories right now.

During the time I had Kazaa, there were unsolicited advertising and unwanted internet-related accessory bars in my computer. They usually appeared while I tried to access different internal directory windows. On connecting to my internet server, there was a "passthrough" instruction attached to my homepage. It looked like this:

Check to see if you have it!

This passthrough command could not be removed! Changing the settings back to only the homepage address did nothing. I don’t know what it was connected to but at times it interrupted my connection and again unsolicited accessory bars appeared.

It is strongly advised that you remove Kazaa completely. To do this I uninstalled Kazaa on the "Programs" window by following their instructions. Then I went to "start" and clicked "run," then typed in "regedit." I checked the files for anything related to Kazaa and deleted it. I also deleted other strange file titles which were not the types found in a computer. My annoyances disappeared and my computer is operating properly once again.

_____________

Dogs, cats and horses especially have spines susceptible to injury and trauma. When that happens, your pet will be unable to function at the peak of its ability. An animal chiropractor adjusts the spine, limb or joint to take pressure off nerves and improve overall health and activity.

Animal chiropractors provide treatment of:

• neck, back, leg, tail pain
• muscle spasms, nerve problems
• disc & joint problems, limping
• injuries from slips, falls and accidents
• jaw problems, difficulty chewing
• event or sports injuries

This is not a new profession but is starting to get more and more recognition as another service that is beneficial to pets.

If you have a facility with language(s) you might want to consider being a translator. Translators are in high demand by companies that do business in other countries. They are also invaluable at various meetings between people that don’t speak each other’s language. Magazines, book publishers also require people to translate their works into other languages. Government officials often need translators when visiting other countries and in the Canadian Parliament during sessions.

It is important not only to speak the language but also know about the idioms and slang of the language. Common expressions and subtle meanings must also be learned. Translating something directly into another language can sometimes be a problem if this is ignored. Travel to and perhaps temporarily living in the country of the language in which you are interested is often advised.

Translators can charge by the word, page, the complete job that is under contract for translating.

____________

(by O.S.)

Most people, other than mathematicians, just take numbers for granted in everyday life. We do basic shopping arithmetic, dial phone numbers and check address numbers without a thought to the magic hidden in some of them.

Here are some to think about:

Zero – is an abstract concept. There is really no such thing or place. What would it be? A vacuum or nothingness - both of which are total mysteries. It had to be invented so that mathematics could work properly and everyday events could be explained. Proof of its oddness? Mathematically an ice cube could never melt – whole thing, half, quarter, eighth, on and on forever. Reality obviously tells us that the ice cube does fully melt but how can it be expressed mathematically to that point? We skip logical math and arbitrarily decide on a zero. Here is another example. When measuring we usually select a starting point or a zero point, but is it really "nothing"? Let’s be extremely precise about where it is. It’s in your head and starts where you want it to start!

Seven – When asked when seven appears in life, the obvious answer is the days of the week. But what about: 7 waves of light (gamma, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves, radio), seven circles of sound, seven notes in a musical scale (A-G), seven colours in the rainbow, seven endocrine glands in the body, seven holes in the human head, seven chakras. Why do they stop at 7? Quite the mystery!

Nine – When dealing with any number that has nine as a factor, something special happens. Watch! 9 X 7 = 63 (add the answer digits and get 6+3=9); next (both of these numbers have 9 as a factor); 45X 56=2520 (add the digits 2+5+2=9!) This is true for all numbers that are related to the magic number 9.

Pi – Pi is the ratio of circumference of a circle to its radius. No matter how big or small the circle, this relationship will always be there! 22/7. Now here is the magic. Recently, mathematicians used super computers to take 22/7 to the billionth decimal place and were astounded to find that the division could continue even further and more astounding was the fact that there is still no repeating pattern of numbers to be found - no matter how many groupps of numbers were compared! This is considered to be the most mysterious puzzle in the mathematical world.

____________

(excerpts from an article by Donna Lypchuk in Tandem Magazine)

What fed at the bottom of the pond in 2002? Here are some of the funniest ones:

1. Grand Theft Auto video game – the worst.
2. Eminem Fever. Violent, talent-free.

____________

My husband is sitting at the piano, arms crossed, elbows to finger-ends pressing down the keys, forehead resting on his arms, dead tired after a long, stressful day. "That's a great sound," I say. "Do it again." He does--several times. He gets interested. Sitting up, he experiments with elbow, palm, and forearm sounds in different places on the keyboard. I sing with him. Before he realizes it, he is engaged, his fatigue forgotten, and we are having fun talking to each other in tone and tone-cluster syllables.

Most of us have had the experience of listening to music which, if it has not profoundly moved us emotionally, has at the least put us in a better mood. Making other people's music also affects us, whether it be singing a tune in the shower or chanting in meditative practice. But making music of one's own, spontaneously improvising authentic sounds, alone or with others, can be a powerful tool for self-healing and self-actualization which is available to us at any time, no matter what our level of musical training or perceived ability.

Though a professional musician for most of my life, I had never improvised or played by ear until three years ago. An excellent music-reader, I achieved success without the need to develop those skills. However, through the process of finding, acknowledging, and expressing ideas and emotions from my inner musical world, I have found a spiritual connection with music that was absent. Improvisation has forged a link between my center and the sounds I produce. The more I improvise, the more this link is strengthened. Improvisation has become a source of inner power and brings me levels of pleasure I had not experienced before.

The impulse to sing, play, and communicate with others musically is basic. All of us possess it. As children we engage in these activities naturally and without self-consciousness. But the idea that everyone is musical is not common in our culture, and as adults we live with a deprivation of music- making, a division between the performer and listener. We are hungry for connections with music that are comfortable, inviting, and communal.

In some parts of the world, music-making is an integral part of daily life and offers the unskilled, as well as the skilled, the opportunity to express themselves and participate in the community. In this country, we glorify the professional and the specialist, and our recordings emphasize the perfect performance without mistakes. When asked if one "does" music, common responses include, "I could never do that" or "I'm not musical." Even professionals are sometimes deeply affected by the pressure of avoiding "wrong notes" and producing on demand, which may repress their original joy and passion for music and stifle creativity.

So how do people make music when they have little or no experience with traditional musical language, and how do they learn to improvise if they have a music vocabulary, but have little or no experience with improvisation? The first step is to realize that everyone already has a musical language, and it is more than enough to start with. "If you can talk, you can sing; if you can walk, you can dance" may sound simplistic, but it is true--if one can let go of models like Pavarotti and Fred Astaire. Almost everyone can tap their knees, snap their fingers, say or sing "ah." Even someone who is uncomfortable singing can use the inflection and rhythm of her voice to great effect in a vocal improvisation. And is this music? Absolutely! For those more experienced in listening, one's own music may be a composite of favorite styles one has absorbed throughout one's life.

Second, it's important to realize the value of authenticity. Regardless of the level of expertise, authentic expression is central to effective music- making, improvised or not. How often have we witnessed a performance admirable for its technical proficiency, but lacking intention and emotional intensity? To have as one's goal the honest expression of one's inner life in the moment, being ready to accept whatever sound may come out as a consequence, frees our innate musical ability. The nature of improvisation makes this process easy, because there is no expectation of a specific product; the intent is never to create it again in exactly the same way or to preserve the result except in the memories of those present. For professionals who have spent their whole lives as interpreters of other people's music, trained to serve "the other," this connection with one's own intention can not only boost confidence in one's own interpretive ideas, but can also enhance one's understanding of a composer's intention.

Third, remember that the value of a performance does not depend on the training or experience of the performer, or the quantity or complexity of the sounds they produce, but on the extent and ways in which the listener is moved. Even one tone, produced with conviction, is immensely significant if it has moved the performer or listener. It is sometimes difficult for experienced musicians to accept their simple, unique sounds as valuable, with an extensive technical and musical vocabulary waiting in the wings.

Whatever the sounds, the process of letting them come from an inner place, hearing those sounds, and having them received non-judgmentally by open-minded listener(s) can be spiritually transforming and empowering for both creator and listener. And experiencing these sounds as MUSIC--cohesive, sensible and meaningful patterns that effectively communicate to others--can not only motivate one to acquire more performing skills and musical knowledge, but contribute immeasurably to self-esteem and communication skills in general.

(from an article in Vitality Magazine)

In 2001, the Ontario division of the Canadian Cancer Society received a record $63 million in donations. Only about $27 million went into actual cancer research projects! That is less that 43% and down from their usual average of 51%.

The CIBC Run for the Cure raised $13 million across Canada and funds were to go into breast cancer research.

What does research really mean? Many projects focus on improved screening and treatment, detection, links to exercise and viral causes, genetic contribution to cancer. Is that research? There is, however, very little being done to determine the environmental and nutritional CAUSES of the cancers. Countless independent studies have shown that this is where cancer actually comes from! Why not try to prevent it instead of putting so much of the money raised into dealing with it after it appears?

If only $27 million, as mentioned above, goes into the actual research, where does the other $36 million go? About $4 million(11%) of it goes into fundraising efforts, about $11.5 million (32%) goes into support services for people with cancer and their families – providing information, emotional support, transportation and assistance at clinics and lodges. The rest of the money (about 6%) goes toward administration costs.

_____________

(from an article by Jen Horsey in the Toronto Star)

The Canadian police see some pretty zany stuff and meet some pretty dumb criminals. Here is a sample of the some the stupid criminal things that happened in 2002 and proof that you always get paid back for what you do.

1. A guy who thought he was a stunt man in a James Bond movie tried to rig a harness and bungee down from a Vancouver bridge. He did get off the bridge but landed on a waiting police boat. It was the second time he had been arrested for the same stunt and charged with mischief.
2. A robber tried to hold up a gas station. The heist was short-lived when a police officer, who just came out of the nearby washroom, arrested him.
3. A Welland, Ontario gas station robber was caught shortly after escaping because his getaway car ran out of gas.
4. A Kenora, Ontario man was angry that after a holiday he came home to find his marijuana, weigh-scales, pipes and debt lists had been stolen. He called the police to report the break-in. Police already knew about it because they had seized the goods earlier with aid of a search warrant.
5. A fisherman was arrested after loading a fish with lead weights to try and win a $40,000 fishing contest prize.
6. At Toronto International Airport a woman was arrested when officials found 2 kg of cocaine hidden inside fake buttocks.
7. A Beamsville, Ontario woman was almost robbed in Buffalo, NY but the American robber glanced at the Canadian money in her wallet and refused to take the cash.
8. Give one to the crooks. In Montreal, jokers took over the police radio waves and spent about 1 ½ hours trash-talking, telling police jokes and uttering obscenities. This was the first time the airwaves had ever been used to speak to the police. Just think, it took until 2003 for this to happen!

____________

(from an article in the Toronto Star)

Lawyers are the brunt of many jokes and vile comments. On the other hand, who would you go to first if you were in trouble? All people in all careers fall into categories of competency and personal style. When you hire a lawyer, you might want to pay extra attention to see which one of the following types you might be dealing with:

Pit Bull: treats cases as big commercial ventures instead of something involving human beings. Makes things tough with endless motions in court and gets paid more for it. There aren’t many but a few still exist. Be careful.

The Sleaze: Can’t be trusted by colleagues or clients. Tells lies because they are too busy or think there is some advantage. They are usually not very good as lawyers and can be quite inefficient. Clients usually pay and suffer.

The Bomber: starts fast and then fades. Will allege lots of awful stuff against the other side to try and get an advantage. If the other side can be intimidated or gets defensive, they expect that there will be a quick settlement for more money. This often backfires because the other side gets angry instead and digs in.

The Sympathizer: Tries to make the client feel good by feeling the pain or suffering. They don’t like to go to court but when in court they can be very confident and effective but not always right. They can also spend lots of hours on the phone while consoling a client who then often gets upset at the bill.

Passive-Aggressive Type: Often can’t grasp the real issues. They demand lots of related paper because they don’t trust their own judgment. Everything can take a very long time and cost much more than it should.

The Reasonable, Speedy, Fair Lawyer: Family lawyers think they are like this. Judgment is combined with patience and perseverance. Goes to court regularly but only as needed. The lawyer takes cases seriously and also recognizes that there are two sides to every story. The job is seen not as destroying somebody but as minimizing the pain and suffering and getting a client out of the problem relatively intact. Their work is done in such a way that clients do not become dependent on them for the rest of their lives.

__________________

- there were 47,000 peacekeepers (soldiers, military observers and civilian police) deployed in the world in 2001-02 according to the United Nations.

- ALL Canadian air is contaminated year-round with at least eight cancer-causing industrial chemicals at levels deemed unsafe by all government standards! They are: bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, ethylene di-bromide, ethylene dichloride, formaldehyde and methyl chloride. These are only the ones in the air! (from Vitality Magazine)

-the most frequently sung song in the English language is "Happy Birthday." The copyright to the song is owned by Time Warner AOL.

- every single NHL jersey sold in the world is made in Canada.

- as many as 270,000 students receive special education support in Ontario. That is about 12.5% of the students in the province’s publicly-funded schools.

-about 50,000 cars are stolen in Ontario every year. The cost to replace them is about $600 billion. Of the total about 11,500 were stolen in Toronto. The most frequently stolen vehicles (2000-01 models) are: Hyundai Tiburon, Acura Integra, Honda Civic Si, Hundai Accent, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Honda Civic, Honda Prelude, Dodge Dakota 4-wheel drive, Dodge Dakota 2-wheel drive, Dodge Ram 1500.

- Katie Hnida made football history at the Las Vegas Bowl. She was the kicker that attempted an extra point after her team’s first touchdown and became the first woman to ever play in a men’s Division I-A football game. Her kick was blocked.

- Bridgeville, California, near San Francisco, is the first town in history to be sold on ebay! It was listed as a "fixer upper." The new owner now has his own zip code, lots of land and many buildings and machinery. The price paid was nearly $1.8 million - well above the minimum bid of $775,000 asked in the ebay listing.

- there are about 33,000 babies born in Toronto each year. This is down over recent years because people are having fewer children and also about 10% of births are never registered with the government.

- about 2 million Canadians go to Florida each year.

- Montreal is the car theft capital of Canada.

- a new TV show this summer "Live From Tomorrow" will feature product ads (Pepsi, Nokia and four others) built right into the story. Viewers will see a one-hour seamless program with advertised products placed, used and promoted by the actors "naturally" during the show. This is being done to counter electronic "ad zappers" that people add to their TVs to cut out commercials while viewing.

- Russia has lodged a formal complain with the makers of the latest Harry Potter movie. It seems that people are offended that Dobby has a remarkable resemblance to President Vladimir Putin. Since then, other people have noticed a remarkable resemblance between Dobby and Wayne Gretzky too. Who’s next?

________________

(from an America Online survey)

1. Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
2. This I Promise You – NSYNC
3. All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
4. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
5. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
6. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
7. I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
8. Amazed – Lonestar
9. At Last – Etta James
10. Truly, Madly, Deeply – Savage Garden

_____________

(based on an article in Now magazine)

"Modern" medicine has finally acknowledged what traditional and natural healers of the world have said throughout history. The mind can heal the body.

Studies have shown that there are more chemical communication routes than ever imagined. They bring together mental, emotional and physical states of awareness. Reflexology (massaging spots on the feet related to organs and other body parts) probably works. The entire body may be involved in thinking and feeling.

Heart patients heal better and faster if not depressed. People can learn to control panic attacks with thinking. Creativity is enhanced when one is relaxed.

In treating any illness, it is important to not forget the other parts of humanness. Illnesses have a psychological component that will help a person to mend. We are not just a bunch of cells sending electronic messages back and forth. The sources of healing are not always external. Self-acceptance and forgiveness in turn can bring peace, joy and love.

In Chinese medicine, emotions play a big role in causing disease. Being able to move on from emotional suffering will produce physical healing as well.

People who deny or repress their emotions should be at greater risk for illness of many kinds. Healing involves being vulnerable to one’s own emotions, thoughts, sensations and spiritual being.

(Muse-ings O.S.: most natural healing and traditional medicines work from the principle that a person’s body is the best provider of solutions and healing. By giving the body a boost in strength and the tools and sources of energy to help heal itself, it becomes stronger and more capable. "Modern" medicine suggests that something external must be applied in an intrusive way and with usually limited consideration for side effects to the rest of the body.

Just read the lists of side effects on any "modern" pharmaceutical product and begin to understand the damage that can be caused by trying to solve an internal problem. The whole digestive system is upset and internal problems compounded by chemotherapy. Hormone replacement for menopausal women brings about many new problems. Antibiotics destroy the flora and fauna of the digestive system and weaken the immune system. Some headache pills can lead to complicated internal problems and even death if mixed with alcohol.

Here is an analogy to remember next time you have a choice between natural or alternative and "modern" medicines. You call a company to remove weeds from your yard. They bring in bulldozers, shotguns and grenades. After the whole yard is in ruins, you question and are upset by the methods used and results. The reply is, "Gee, you should be grateful. Your weeds are gone, aren’t they?" Think twice before deciding what you put into your delicate body.)

_____________

(source unknown)

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

_______________

What is 'Success' in a Career
(from MSN.ca written by Peter Vogt)

What does "success" mean in a career?

This seemingly simple question is complex indeed. But it's one you'll need to answer for yourself as you proceed through your college years and make plans for your future career.

In American culture, at least, success is often defined in terms of money, perceived status and power. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's a definition that works for lots of people. The problem is, success viewed in this way doesn't work for everyone, including many college students.

I once worked with a student, for example, who was very stressed about the type of career she wanted to pursue. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but her parents were very much against the idea, believing that their daughter wouldn't make enough money in that particular field.

"But what do you think?" I finally asked the student.

"Well," she replied, "I guess I really don't care that much about money, even though I know I'm supposed to."

"Supposed to?" I reflected back, intrigued by where this line of thinking might lead.

"Yeah," she said. "You know, you're supposed to make a good salary to be successful."

"Says who?" I asked.

"My parents, my friends -- well, everybody," she answered matter-of-factly.

"Maybe that's how they define success," I pointed out, "but I'm wondering what you mean by success in your career. What's your definition of success?"

Silence. So I waited. And then...

"I guess I just want to do something that's fun and interesting, and something that really helps people. To me, the whole money thing isn't an issue."

"What's wrong with that?" I asked.

"Well, nothing, I guess," she replied.

"Nothing as far as you're concerned," I clarified.

"Right."

"Well, it seems to me that your definition of success is just different from how others in your life define it," I concluded. "And that's OK."

I don't know what this student ultimately decided to do, but I do know that she was just one of many examples of students who can boil their major and/or career decisions down to this very question of what is success. Perhaps you, too, are "stuck" on this question. If so, you're not alone. But it will be critical for you to answer the question for yourself, perhaps enlisting the help of a campus career counselor to do so.

We all deal with the expectations of -- and perhaps even pressures from -- other important people in our lives. At the same time, these people don't live our lives for us. We each live our own lives, and we therefore must live with the choices and decisions we make, particularly with respect to careers.

Is someone unduly influencing you with his or her definition of success instead of allowing you to choose a career based on your own idea of success? If so, consider the toll that's taking (and will continue to take) on you. Think about the anxiety, and perhaps even the pain, it's causing you. Is it really worth it to sacrifice your own happiness just to meet someone else's standards of "success"? I don't think so.

You're much better off in the end striving for success on your own terms, whatever they may be. In doing so, you'll likely have to stray far away from the "path of least resistance," and it will be difficult at times. But the payoff will be career satisfaction -- something that too few people can honestly claim.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is enough on earth for everybody’s need, but not for everybody’s greed. – Mahatma Gandhi

You can get old pretty young if you don’t take care of yourself. – Yogi Berra

Power is nothing unless you can turn it into influence. – Condoleezza Rice

It isn’t life that weighs us down - it’s the way we carry it. – Elizabeth Potier

Anybody who’s really successful has doubts. – Jerry Bruckheimer

The most important part of a story is the ending. No one reads a book to get to the middle. – Mickey Spillane

------------------------------------------------------------------------

During an interview, a reporter asked the bank president for the secret of his success.

"Two words."

"And what are they?"

"Right decisions."

"How are right decisions made?"

"One word."

"What is that?"

"Experience."

"How does a person get experience?"

"Two words."

"What are they?"

"Wrong decisions."

********

From the Dictionary of Occupational Titles come these funny jobs people have:

Asparagus sorter, worm-bed attendant, human projectile, leak hunter, last putter-away, brassiere-slide-making-machine tender, guillotine operator, tangled-yarn-spool straightener.

*******

A father visits his newborn in the nursery. The nurse asks him to guess the baby’s weight. Dad picked up his little one and gave the precise weight down to the gram. "That was amazing," said the nurse. "Not really," he replied, "I’m a butcher."

_______________

Answers to the oxymorons: simply clever, overtly tricky, sure bet, modern history, exact estimate, act naturally, working vacation, holy war, unbiased opinion, still life, passive aggressive, even odds, sweet sorrow.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Courtesy of DiscoverTeenergy.com
All Rights Reserved