This month’s feature articles:

Regular monthly features:

(by O.S.)

Parents and teachers who are assertive in order to get what gifted children need usually get results- especially parents. It may take time but mountains can be moved, even if it is by single scoops of a shovel. Here are some specific approaches that parents can use:

The first Canadian privately built and privately funded space rocket will be launched in late October from Kindersley, Saskatchewan. "Wild Fire" will be released from a helium balloon that first lifts it to 24,000 metres. The Ansari X Prize is worth $10 million if the craft is able to carry 3 people into space twice within two weeks. There are a number of teams around the world competing. Keep an eye on this because it is the forerunner of space tourism.

A Stroll in the Park Walking & Adventure Club

Aberfoyle Antique & Flea Market will be closing at the end of the month. Open only on weekends, this is Canada’s largest flea market. There is something for everybody.

Air Cadets will be looking for new recruits.

Auction Sales. Check local papers for interesting sales on weekends.

Bancroft Mineral Collecting. For a fun weekend, go mineral hunting with experts who will take you into areas to find some of the 400 minerals in the Bancroft area. This activity is making Bancroft a major tourist destination. Try it.

Beach Blast Indoor Volleyball Centre. Have your next birthday party playing volleyball with your friends.

Bike ON Tours. Ontario has some of the best bike trails. Find out about them.

Black Film & Video Network will be having festivals.

Bloor Cinema. They show old and great movies in this theatre. Very cheap to get in. Take some friends and see those movies you missed.

Canadian Fencing Federation might be interesting to some of you.

Canadian Football Hall of Fame. A neat place to visit and see the history of Canadian football.

Canadian Pet Expo will be coming to the Exhibition Grounds, Toronto.

Canadian Warplane Museum in Hamilton may be of interest to war buffs.

Canzine Festival of Underground Periodicals, radical films and writing events.

Carpenter’s Square has a series of lessons on how to work with wood.

CBC Museum. See the history of Canadian Broadcasting over the last 100 years.

EF Global Citizen Awards Contest. Win a Scholarship for writing an essay.

Glen Haffy Conservation Area has it’s corn maze. Fun for the whole family.

Homeopathic College Open House showing the best of natural health care.

Ontario Public Libraries have celebrations going on. Each library has special events. Check your local library.

The International Festival of Authors will be held at Harbourfront. There will be many famous authors and poets presenting. If you are a reading or writing enthusiast, check it out.

Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Southbrook Farm, Halloween Store and Weekend Wagon Rides. Go out into the fields and pick your own pumpkin. Interesting goodies in their store. 1061 Major Mackenzie Dr. W. between Bathurst and Dufferin. 905-832.2548.

October 10 – National Metric Day

October 11 – Thanksgiving Day

October 16 – National Boss Day

October 24 – United Nations Day

October 15 – Islamic Ramadan begins

October 28 – Full moon

October 31 – Halloween

October 31 – Daylight Savings Time Ends (back 1 hour)

This is also United Way Month, Meals on Wheels Community Support Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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There is much that I am thankful for. I am still able to enjoy doing the things I want to do because I am healthy. My friends and family are also well and happy – no psychopaths or weirdos yet. I am also thankful that my family and I live in Canada which has so much to offer and is still safe and respected in the world. Every day becomes a blessing if you just say "thank you" for it. – O.S.

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Interesting Career (1): Medical Technologist (Animals)
There are many amusement/theme parks, zoos, farms, and ranches that have animals. This kind of technologist assists veterinarians by doing analysis in hematology, chemistry, microbiology, mycology, parasitology, urinalysis, cytology and water analysis. In other words, the animals and their environment are constantly monitored to prevent illness and infection.

Interesting Career (2): Planetary Scientist/Astrobiologist
Do you love outer space and astronomy? With all of the interest in space exploration beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, consider becoming a space scientist. They are the experts who study the planetary and solar systems. They devise methods of finding life-supporting chemicals and elements in space and on other planets, such as Mars. The Phoenix Mission, for example, is planned for 2007 and will be a mission to Mars again. The scientists at the University of Arizona and York University in Toronto, Canada are collaborating on finding and analyzing the dust, ice, fog and anything else in the Martian atmosphere using 3-D laser mapping. Chemistry labs on the rover will analyze and test samples from the surface. As a biologist, you would be analyzing the information retrieved.

Diane Michelangeli is a York University associate professor of atmospheric science and Martian atmospheres and develops computer models that simulate and test them. This is like weather forecasting on Earth. The Phoenix Mission, in which she is an integral partner, will help scientists understand the weather on Mars and how clouds are formed.

Here is the path that she followed to get to where she is:

B.A. from McGill University, Montreal; California Institute of Technology in Pasadena to complete a Masters and PhD in planetary science. She did a post-doctoral fellowship at the NASA Ames Research Centre in California.

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"Accent on Essential Life Skills" – This is a manual of 48 "how to" skills that enhance and enrich life and learning in a holistic way. The skills are for children and adults. Use it in education and business settings.

Teachers and gifted program facilitators will find it particularly valuable.

Corporate professional development skills training workshops are also available. Arrange for a free introduction to it.

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(submitted to Gift Rap by Pritam Singh, owner of the site mentioned in the article)

Did you know that when the opposition presented the May 19th copy of the Toronto Sun, parliament erupted in an uproar? On the cover page, it said "From Fiberals to Bald-faced Liars! " It was reported that the taxpayers were being taken to the cleaners once again.

When the media refers to taxpayers, we usually think of the size of the tax bite and how much more difficult it becomes for families to survive with less money. But there's something that we haven't been told.

When you read the Income Tax Act of Canada, you won't see any mention of people being referred to as "taxpayers". In fact, you won't even see the word "people" -not even the word "human being" is mentioned in any of the statute laws of Canada! Now, if the laws don't make any reference to people, then whom exactly are they referring to? Who exactly, is the "taxpayer"? What kind of a family does it belong to?

(by O.S.)

"Going with the flow" is one of the most important things that we can choose to do in life. It does not mean to abdicate responsibility for making a living, end enjoying life or stop feeling, but instead to give the responsibility for what happens in life back to that which ultimately controls the universe. Go along with it as it takes us for our life ride. Some people think that everything happened by accident in a giant explosion but surely the order, structure and complexity of the universe suggests a design and a designer. The flow just doesn’t seem possible without some kind of a central control.

Life is given to us constantly in a never-ending flow and it always follows natural laws not human laws. The natural flow is on the side of life, is balanced, is equally distributed and rewards goodness and has an unalterable intelligence about it. Seasons happen in their own time, babies grow in their own time in the womb. We don’t control our breathing, heartbeat, how intelligent we are, how long we will live, how many friends we have, whether we cry or not at a funeral. We don’t control the intensity of gravity, heat of the sun, length of growing seasons, height of trees. The rain comes and the water evaporates in an endless cycle and we humans do not control it. We need to realize that we don’t create or control anything that comes our way. We find, use and manipulate only that which has already been created. We get choices and make decisions which then always have consequences.

Animals and plants don’t get the same number or variety of choices as humans do and therefore follow a somewhat different flow. For example, animals and plants were given arbitrary positions in life. A fox will always do limited fox-like things, a dandelion will always be and act like a dandelion. However, humans were given creativity that allows them many extra choices and options, to make more complex decisions. We cannot, however, plan the consequences. In other words, everything has a different ability to go with the flow that is under the control of a higher power.

In this immense, powerfully complex and wise universe, we silly little humans worry about the dumbest things - consumerism, money, fame, power, image, etc. Despite all the pain we sometimes suffer when engaged in them, we still want control! The above are not wrong to have but it is wise to realize that they are all controlled by natural laws. All our choices are to either go with or against those laws that control the natural flow of everything. It seems from experience that if we make choices for the good and well-being of self, nature and others, we get rewarded. Go against that flow through extremism and selfishness and we get punished in some way eventually. Trying to be in charge of the flow usually leads to disappointment.

Becoming aware of the flow of life is easy. Here is an example. One afternoon I felt the urge – with no ulterior motives - to call an executive that participated in one of my workshops. I didn’t have to call him but I thought it would be nice to thank him for a letter he had sent me. During our conversation he surprised me. He liked what I had to offer and he had the business knowledge and connections to make new things happen for me. All of a sudden, my life was unfolding in a new positive way that was not of my doing. My decision to call was part of the natural flow in what was happening. It was the right thing to do and there was an unexpected reward in it for me. I went with the flow. If I had ignored the letter or called him with ulterior motives, he might not have made the offer.

How can we make the best decisions that help us go with the flow? Constantly improve skills, talents and abilities and learn about the world and how it works. When we learn how everything works, we can better learn to fit into the whole scheme of things. Our decisions will more likely be in synch with the flow. Feel awe and wonder at the powers and forces at work in the universe of which we are such an insignificant yet important part. The resulting humility and respect will lead to making better decisions. Do things freely from the heart, conscience, intuition, and follow gut reactions. The rational brain should not be the only thing we use in decision making. Be aware of the times when life is in charge and not you. Go with the flow.

Unfortunately, there are people – criminals, terrorists, war-mongers, tyrants, dictators, etc. who think they can control things and make life miserable for others. However, almost all of them end up getting paid back for what they do – violent or early death, loneliness, insecurity, constant tension, total humiliation, hated by many people. Does this not suggest that these consequences are the result of decisions that went against the flow?

Going with the flow may be a little scary at first but after a while one begins to see that most of life unfolds better and more clearly if one does not try to control it. It prevents a lot of stress too. Now, let’s see what life has in store for us tomorrow. Be alert for opportunities to go with the flow!

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The following have been active in my computer for several months and have proven to be the best for keeping it free and clear of all infections, etc. I do not have a firewall, purchased virus check or any other protection. These are all I use, believe it or not. Try them. No guarantees. They have worked extremely well for me and am passing them on to you. – O.S.

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· Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
· John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
· Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
· John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
· The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.
· Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
· Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
· Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
· Both were shot in the head.
· Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
· Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.
· Both were assassinated by Southerners.
· Both were succeeded by Southerners.
· Both successors were named Johnson.
· Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
· Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
· John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln was born in 1839.
· Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy was born in 1939.
· Both assassins were known by their three names.
· Both names are made of fifteen letters.
· Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
· Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.
· Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

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• The very first ice cream cone appeared in St. Louis at the 1904 World's Fair.
• the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada gets hit by lightning about 75 times each year.

• Americans chew about 50 million sticks of gum every day.
• Tooth decay is the world’s most common disease.
• There's enough salt in all the oceans to cover all the land on Earth to a depth of about 500 feet. Pass the fries.
• Takeru Kobayashi chewed up the competition as the 26 year-old, 130 lb competitor from Japan ate 53 hot dogs in 12 minutes to set a new world record and beat his old record of 50.5. The second place winner ate 38.
• About 3% of children have food allergies. Allergies are mostly related to cow milk, eggs, and peanuts. Goats milk is a viable alternative to cows milk in many cases. It has more calcium and less of the ingredients that people are allergic to.
• More people in the world drink milk from goats than from any other animal.
• About 10-15% of insurance claims are fraudulent.
• Thailand is the world centre of penis reattachment surgery.
• 71% of Americans believe in a Hell; 49% of Canadians do.

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Vodka, Tears and Lenin’s Angel: a journalist on the Road in the Former Soviet Union by Jennifer Gould Keil. The book chronicles her adventures in the former communist country. She met politicians, the nouveau riche and the suddenly homeless.

Five Factor by Harley Pasternak. This is about a 5-week program that he puts celebrities through to prepare them for TV and film projects.

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(based on an article by Robin Harvey, Toronto Star)

Did you ever have the desire to belong to a race of living creatures that doesn’t exist? How about forming a group of humans into a society and pretending to be them? How about going another step by inventing a language for them and writing their poetry, establishing a moral code and a whole culture around them? If you haven’t guessed, this is about Klingons.

There are about 100 real human members in Canada who belong to the Klingon Assault Group (KAG). There are units across the country. They dress and act like Klingons as much as possible.

Because of the Klingon reputation, as established on Star Trek, they are often asked to be the security force at science fiction conventions. Their frightening demeanour, war-like costumes and behaviour are just the right thing to keep all the other aliens in line.

If you have any yearning to go into the vastness of outer space, go with Klingons who will protect you.

OK all of you, now HighoS (pronounced Heerosh) – "go away"

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive. - Harold Thruman Whitman

Don’t look at the price of something and buy it. Look at the cost of it and sell yourself on it. – Danish Ahmed

"The biggest mistake people make once they become successful is thinking they’re smart just because they have money."…"What motivates me now is waking up with a smile and going to bed with a smile. It’s all about experiencing life. Money does not give me superpowers. Money is not the most valuable asset you can have – time is." – Mark Cuban (billionaire and star of the reality TV show The Benefactor.

If you stare soulfully at someone long enough, eventually you'll get what you want.

Don't go out without ID.

Be direct with people; let them know how you feel by piddling on their shoes.

Be aware of when to hold your tongue, and when to use it.

Leave room in your schedule for a good nap.

Always give people a friendly greeting. A cold nose in the crotch is effective.

When you do something wrong, always take responsibility (as soon as you're dragged shamefully out from under the bed).

If it's not wet and sloppy, it's not a real kiss.

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Sign on a T-Shirt: "I do my crunches everyday... Sometimes it's chips and other times it's cookies!"

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Klingon Humour:

How many Klingons does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: Two. One to chop off the hand of the mak’dar who asked the stupid question. Another to light the torch attached to his bleeding stump.

Klingon Proverb: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and prepare to die!

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Courtesy of DiscoverTeenergy.com
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