This month’s feature articles:

Regular monthly features:

Despite many years of programs for gifted students and general awareness of the presence of highly intelligent children, there are still many difficulties and frustrations caused by stereotyping.

These are examples of the kinds of thinking that frustrate many gifted children - mentally and spiritually:

• If nobody knows the answer, a gifted child should be expected to have the answer.
• Gifted children don’t really need special programs. They should be able to do it on their own. They are not less fortunate.
• Gifted children shouldn’t make mistakes because they are gifted.
• Gifted children should be gifted in everything they do. Weakness in anything must mean they perhaps are not really gifted.
• Gifted children should be expected to perform perfectly and with great creativity at all times.
• If someone is gifted, they should not be a slacker or goof off at any time.
• Gifted children are expected to obey authority figures at all times and do all the work they are assigned all the time.
• Give gifted children more work to fill their time so they don’t get bored or restless.
• Gifted children are expected to be perfect spellers, great writers, and have exceptional ability in maths and sciences.
• If gifted children act up or underachieve, they should be threatened with removal from their gifted programs.
• Gifted children should want to do lots of extra work that helps weaker students.
• Gifted children should always produce work that is better than that of regular students.

Stereotyping insults gifted children. Some make great efforts to avoid it by hiding abilities and talents as much as possible and not standing out. Others react negatively to it by just turning off and/or tuning out. (studies show that about 1 in 10 gifted students drop out of school) The undue pressures generated by stereotyping produce stress and tension in their lives and learning. When they perceive unfairness and differences in expectations there is resentment and frustration. The expectation of "perfect" performance damages self-esteem.

Giftedness is perceived as almost a curse to some children who are expected to perform in a stereotypical "gifted" way. Stereotyping demeans and ignores the beauty of individuality – full of strengths AND weaknesses.

Giftedness is not an addition to life and learning; it is not something that can be added to a person or taken away. It cannot be ordered or purchased. It is not usually a total package deal. It is a way of life!

At the same time as there are extraordinary talents and abilities, there may still be the normal human frailties and weaknesses. Intelligence needs to be nurtured intelligently.

Sept 7 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu Holiday)

Sept 8 – International Literacy Day

Sept 10 – Grandparent’s Day

Sept 16 – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer

Sept 18 – Full Moon tonight

Sept 21 – International Day of Peace

Sept 23 – First day of Fall Autumnal Equinox

Sept 23 – Jewish Rosh Hashanah

Sept 24 – Ramadan Begins (Islam)

Sept 27 – World School Milk Day

Last week – World Maritime Day

This is also Big Brothers Month and Arthritis Month

"Accent on Essential Life Skills" – a resource book of 48 personal "how to" skills that enhance and enrich life and learning in a holistic way. The skills are for children and adults. Use the skills to perform better in personal, educational, and business settings. Teachers and business people will find it particularly valuable.

(based on an article by Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service)

There are countless laws throughout the world. Which do I follow? All are made by fallible humans. Should I just follow my own instincts and beliefs or live according to what I’m told to do and not do?

The above usually lead to a discussion of whether laws, rules and regulations restrict people or give them freedom. Do these laws make me happy or do I feel stifled by them?

Religions over the centuries provided basic truths for all followers to abide by. Nowadays, it seems that these ancient laws and dictates don’t seem to matter. The Ten Commandments are considered more as ten suggestions. Me, myself and I are the three most important people on the Earth and we can decide what is best for us.

A quick look at civil laws in our society shows that man-made laws always seem to have loopholes and are constantly being revised and upgraded. Why else would there be so many altered and new ones each year? Why else do we have so many lawyers?

Strict laws of ancient times as found in all major world religions are still valid today. They are usually simple, direct, and clearly lay out expectations. They don’t eliminate human freedoms. In fact, they promote freedom and clarify purpose and intent of words, thoughts and actions.

People today often rely on their reasoning, logic and desire to pursue their own wishes and desires. There is a presumed conflict between "the will of God" as detailed in ancient laws and personal freedom.

How are your morals, principles, values, aesthetics determined? Do you listen to your own inner voice with its limited experience or do you listen to the tried and proven wisdom of the ages?

Compare ancient wisdom, laws, rules, regulations to today’s. At the very least, you will add depth and breadth to your own process of determining what laws you will follow.

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• The Innsbruck Olympics in 1976 started the craze for wedge cut hair as worn by Dorothy Hamil, a skater.
• The Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 was the first Olympics - since 1894 - that generated a profit.
• Forty is the only number in English whose individual letters appear in alphabetical order.
• 20% of methane gas that goes into the atmosphere comes from farting and burping cattle.

• Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of linen.
• Most lipsticks contain fish scales.
• The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher.
• Hybrid car batteries last about 8-10 years or about 160,000 km and cost about $3000 to replace. Hybrids have higher trade/resale values consistent with higher initial cost.

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Add "ppt" to the end of any searches you do on the internet. You will get lists of in-depth excellent Powerpoint presentations!!

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(from Word Play by Warren Clements, Globe & Mail)

Researchers at Oxford University Press reviewed newspapers, bulletin boards, web logs and other writing on the internet to discover some highly interesting information.

They compiled a list of the top 100 most common nouns used by those who post anything. Here are some of the words used most often:

• Time (1^st)
• Person (2^nd) - broken down to man (7^th), woman (14^th), child (12^th)
• Year (3^rd)
• Way (4^th)
• Day (5^th)
• Thing (6^th)
• Man (7^th)
• World (8^th)
• Life (9^th)
• Hand (10^th)
• Work (16^th)
• Government (20^th)
• War (49^th)

It seems we are preoccupied with time and its measurement. We also like to discuss war.

Top 10 most popular English words overall:
1. the
2. be
3. to
4. of
5. and
6. a
7. in
8. that
9. have
10. I

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Another interesting study was done by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. Here is a list of songs that have the word "road" or a variation in the title:

Freeway of Love by Aretha Franklin

Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane

Ventura Highway by America

Endless Highway by Alison Krauss

Too Many Highways by Merle Haggard

Highway to Hell by AC/DC

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Art plays an important role in many people’s lives. The world of art is an exciting one that involves identifying artists who may be old masters, digging into art history, determining forgeries, estimating values for estate purposes, appraising works if someone wishes to sell.

There are many places that art appraisers can find work: auction houses, insurance companies, private galleries, investment firms, charitable institutions, antique dealers, television shows, detective agencies.

Oversee the preparation, presentation and preservation of history for the world.

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Canada’s Longest Yard Sale

In the August, 2006 issue of "Gift Rap" the longest American garage/yard sale was advertised. Guess what, Canada has one too!

In eastern Manitoba in early Sept., there will be over 20 communities along a 250-kilometer route having garage, street sales, flea and antique markets. The festivities will culminate in a big dinner and party on the final Saturday in St.-Pierres-Jolys. Exotic meats such as bison, board, pickerel and emu will be served.

Too bad it’s in September. If any organizers read this, it is suggested you have it in the summer so the rest of us Canadians can visit and participate too.

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Taking Care of Your Mind

(from an article in the Canadian Press)

Crucial issues in mental health can greatly affect the quality and quantity of life. Here are some factors that people can use to gauge their level of well-being:

Ability to Enjoy Life – despite bad news do you stay focused on good news

Resilience – despite failures and setbacks, do you pick yourself up and go on

Balance – do you balance work and family, friends, relatives

Self-Actualization – are you growing and improving or passing time doing things you don’t like to do

Flexibility – do you accept incompatibility and making mistakes and possibilities for future success

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Wedding planners and couples are choreographing pets into wedding ceremonies. Adding a pet to the wedding party has become more socially acceptable.

Participation of pets means miniature sequined wedding gowns, frilly bridesmaid dresses and tiny black tuxedoes.

If you are creative and handy with a sewing machine, you should be able to make tons of money creating exciting clothing. These things fly out of pet boutiques at unprecedented rates during wedding season.

(Editors note: Pursuing this idea further, don’t forget wedding gourmet pet food, pet photography, pet-sitting at the wedding, flowers, honeymoon hotel accommodations for pets, care of pets in the wedding limousine. Anyone doing anything in the wedding business should take note and take advantage of this to increase business.)

When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud either- Leo Burnett

There is a bulldozer of change sweeping the planet. If you are not part of it, you will be part of the road. - Frank Ogden

Don’t ask someone to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet. – Anonymous

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. – Anne Frank

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. – Albert Einstein

"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew." – Marshall McLuhan

Wife to husband: "What's your excuse for coming home at this time of the night?"
Husband to wife: "Golfing with friends, my dear."
Wife to husband: "What? At 2 a.m.?!"
Husband to wife: "Yes, We used night clubs."
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A newly married man asked his wife, "Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?"
" Honey, "the woman replied sweetly, "I'd have married you NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!"