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

Many people think that gifted people are all more or less the same in intelligence and abilities. Having worked with gifted children for many years, they tend to classify themselves into at least these four main categories:

These students often do not function at their best levels because they may have any of the following that need to be addressed: low self-esteem, poor/weak basic learning skills, evident or undiagnosed mental/physical challenges, lack of challenge and control at home, a lack of basic societal "survival" skills, learned reactions to boredom, easily distracted, lack of positive peer interaction

Causes may be: a self-esteem issue, having different priorities, fear of standing out, laziness, just a purely non-threatening or non-problematic personal choice, desire to avoid having extra pressures and expectations

This is the easiest group to work with in school as they can handle regular schoolwork without too many problems and are usually satisfied with quality enrichment added to what they learn.

These students may have: solid self-concepts, excellent learning skills, positive attitudes, a sense of altruism, and an energy directed at the betterment of themselves, others and society,

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

We all consume natural resources to survive but what does our consumption actually do? Do we consume more than is produced? How can this be measured? Ecological Footprinting is a way to measure our total impact on the earth. This is as individuals, large or small communities and even at the international level.

The biosphere of the earth has about 26.7 billion acres (or 10.8 billion hectares) of biologically productive space corresponding to less than one-quarter of the planet's surface. That includes about 5.7 billion acres (2.3 billion hectares) of productive ocean and 21 billion acres (8.5 billion hectares) of productive land.

The footprint quiz tries to measure the impact of individual or household consumption choices in the areas of food, shelter and mobility, regardless of where people are geographically located.

Footprinting includes areas to graze animals, fish, and grow food as well as the energy to process and transport the food. A plant-based diet generally requires less land, energy, and other resources. Crop-based food requires an average of 0.78 global hectares per ton of food, compared to 2.1 global hectares required to produce one ton of animal-based food.

The Footprint quiz below assumes that goods and services are proportional to three activity areas of food, housing and mobility. Lowering these latter three activities therefore reduces the Goods and Services Footprint.

Try it!! Using this online quiz, you can calculate your full Ecological Footprint.

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

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.

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

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

February 1- Islamic Holiday Eid al-Adha

February 2 - Groundhog Day

February 6 – Night of the Full Moon

February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day

February 16 – Family Day (Alberta)

February 23 – Orthodox Lent Begins

February 25 – Christian Ash Wednesday

February 15 – National Flag Day

This is also Heart Month and Black History Month

_______________

Question: What is your funniest or most embarrassing March Break story?

I got onto a crowded commuter train just before St. Valentine’s Day and my boyfriend just happened to be on it. As we were talking, I noticed a large red and gold heart-shaped box of chocolates above us on a rack and I started whispering and joking with him about what the guy was like if he was giving some poor girl that gigantic box full of hip fatteners and how it was such a huge, flashy box. As we got off, he pulled it down from the rack and smiled at me. Was my face red when I realized that I was going to be the one getting it! – L.S.
_____________

Many people still use a manual toothbrush. Ever think of using an electric one? There are several different models of toothbrushes available. Some have small rotating heads like the Colgate and Rotodent. Others have large heads that vibrate ultrasonically (e.g. Sonicare). The Oral B Braun has a small head that both rotates and oscillates at different speeds. Some are rechargeable and others are battery operated.

The brush tips must be replaced at least every four to six months. Only a small amount of toothpaste has to be used with the electric toothbrush compared to the manual toothbrush. Generally, all electric toothbrushes are effective when used to brush every accessible surface of the teeth at least once a day for at least two minutes.

Of all the different types of electric toothbrushes available, my preference is the Oral B Braun because it has a small head allowing access to difficult areas in the mouth. The Oral B Braun has different models depending on the features a person is looking for. Unlike the Solo model, the battery does not have to drain before recharging on the 3-D and the 3-D Excel models. Two speeds are available and the lower speed is recommended for patients who have loose teeth due to periodontal disease.

I have found generally less plaque in patients’ mouths when they switch to the electric toothbrush. This ultimately translates into improved overall health in the mouth and the reduction of cavities and gum disease.

Smile. It improves your face value.

____________

(from an article by Elaine Carey, Toronto Star)

The Canadian Community Health Survey (2000-01) of 13,000 teenagers in ages 12-14 and 15-17 shows some interesting conclusions on how teenagers see themselves over time. Here are some of the results:

• at ages 12-14 about 75% of boys and girls reported themselves to be in very good or excellent health. By ages 15-17 the number stayed the same for boys but dropped to 66% for girls.
• 29% of teenagers (ages 12-14) report they have a chronic condition such as bronchitis, asthma, back pain or migraine headaches. The number stayed the same for boys (ages 15-17) but jumped to 36% for girls at that age.
• Girls tend to have more emotional distress and more preoccupied by their health, appearance, weight and social relationships.
• 6% of girls 12-14 say they had a major depressive episode, 11% of girls 15-17 had an episode. Of the boys in both age groups, only 3% said they had been depressed.
• 14% of teenagers said they smoke daily, drink heavily on occasion and are overweight.
• The statistics suggest that adolescents have a reduced sense of consequences of their actions or are willing to not pay attention to them.
• The lower the teens household income and education, the worse they rated their own health.
• More than 75% of teens in the highest income homes reported good health. Only 64% reported good health in the lowest income homes. Poverty can be costly in many ways.

____________

(from the website mentioned below)

"The Antarctic tourism industry is generally considered to have begun in the late 1950s when Chile and Argentina took more than 500 fare-paying passengers to the South Shetland Islands aboard a naval transportation ship. The concept of 'expedition cruising,' coupled with education as a major theme, began when Lars-Eric Lindblad led the first traveler's expedition to Antarctica in 1966. (1) Lindblad once said, "You can't protect what you don't know." He believed that by providing a first-hand experience to tourists you would educate them to the ecological sensitivity of the Antarctic environment and promote a greater understanding of the earth's resources and the important role of Antarctica in the global environment. The modern expedition cruise industry was born shortly thereafter in 1969 when Lindblad built the world's first expedition ship, the "Lindblad Explorer", currently the "Explorer", specifically designed for carrying tourists to the Antarctic. Prior to this, human activity in Antarctica was limited to the early explorers, those seeking fortune in the exploitation of seals and whales, and more recently to scientific research and exploration. Antarctica's physical isolation, extreme climate and remarkable wilderness values are a great part of its attraction for tourism. From an industry he began in 1966, Lindblad's model of expedition cruising is still followed today by the majority of companies operating ship-borne tourism to Antarctica."

Anyone interested in studying this field in a scientific way, might become a medical doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist first. It might also be beneficial to study and have a healthy acceptance of religious beliefs, alternative healing methods, the paranormal, ESP, spirituality, life after death and belief in a soul.

___________

__________

Advice from a Failure by Jo Coudert. Maybe something important for some of us?

Headhunting in the Solomon Islands by Caroline Mytinger. Online book to read.

Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Gloeckner. This book has received national attention as it takes you into the life of a young girl struggling with abuse at home and budding sexuality. Reviewers consider it to be starkly beautiful to read.

_______________

In not only the month of February should our thoughts turn to love.

If you know somebody who is celebrating a wedding anniversary, here are the traditional gifts that are given:

_______________

(source unknown, in an email from a friend)

Just begin to read this. It will make sense.

The paomnnehil pweor of the hmuan mnid can be sohwn vrey eslaiy. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch sudty at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

_______________

Kahuna - Huna for short - is the class of shaman and spiritual leaders in Hawaii. Huna philosophy is based on seven principles. They each are influenced by elements, colors, animals, words, physical needs, and actions.

IKE: The word is what you think it is.
Element: Water (Hina)
Color: White
Power Animals: Dolphin, Chicken
Power Words: BE AWARE (I can choose my thoughts.)
Physical Need: Dancing, Bouncing
Action: Meditate, Pray

KALA: There are no limits.
Element: Stone (Haumea)
Color: Red
Power Animals: Squid, Hawk
Power Words: BE FREE (I am free to change my life.)
Physical Need: Singing, Chanting
Action: Need to remove tension.

MAKIA: Energy flows where attention goes.
Element: Fire (Pele)
Color: Orange
Power Animals: Shark, Chamilion, Cat
Power Words: BE FOCUSED (I can get what I want.)
Physical Need: Drink more water
Action: Focus on what you want. (Have clear goals.)

MANAWA: Now is the moment of power.
Element: Wind (Hi'iaka)
Color: White
Power Animals: Turtles, Rat, Cow
Power Words: BE HERE (Be still and know that I am God.)
Physical Need: Crystals, Shells, Minerals, Metals
Action: Do it now! (Don't procrastinate.)

ALOHA: To love is to be happy with.
Element: Plants (Laka)
Color: Green
Power Animals: Fish, Pig, Horse
Power Words: BE LOVING (I bless everyone and everything.)
Physical Need: Teas, Carbohydrates, Aromatherapy
Action: Let go of your anger.

MANA: All power comes from within.
Element: Animals (Kapo)
Color: Blue
Power Animals: Whale, Bat, Bear
Power Words: BE STRONG (I am confident!)
Physical Need: Exercise, Protein
Action: Let go of fears and doubts.

PONO: Effectiveness is the measure of truth.
Element: People (Uli)
Color: Violet
Power Animal: Snake, Dog, Wolf
Power Words: BE HEALED (I am at peace.)
Physical Need: Electromagnetic Fields, Symbols
Action: Be aware of rigid thinking. (There is more than one answer.)

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

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Terror is as much a part of the concept of truth as runniness is of the concept of jam. We wouldn't like jam if it didn't, by its very nature, ooze. We wouldn't like truth if it wasn't sticky, if, from time to time, it didn't ooze blood.-Jean Baudrillard

He who laughs, lasts.

We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops. –Henry Adams.

Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.

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

If it weren’t for me, there’d be just a pile of my clothes on the floor.

Last night I played a blank tape at full blast. The mime next door went nuts!

If a person with multiple personalities threatens suicide, is that considered a hostage situation?

Just think how much deeper the ocean would be if sponges did not live there.

Whatever happened to preparations A through G?

I went for a walk last night and my kids asked me how long I'd be gone. I said, "The whole time."

So what's the speed of dark?

After eating, do amphibians need to wait an hour before getting OUT of the water?

Why don't they just make mouse-flavored cat food?

If you're sending someone some Styrofoam, what do you pack it in?

I just got skylights put in my place. The people who live above me are furious!

Why do they sterilize needles for lethal injections?

Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

The other day I went to a tourist information booth and said: "Tell me about some of the tourists who were here last year."

______________

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

Courtesy of DiscoverTeenergy.com
All Rights Reserved