Teach your children well

Hint: Don't tell your kids how smart they are. More than three decades of research shows that a focus on effort—not on intelligence or ability—is key to success in school and in life

Praising children’s innate abilities, as Jonathan’s parents did, reinforces this mind-set, which can also prevent young athletes or people in the workforce and even marriages from living up to their potential. On the other hand, our studies show that teaching people to have a “growth mind-set,” which encourages a focus on effort rather than on intelligence or talent, helps make them into high achievers in school and in life.

20 of the World’s Weirdest Endangered Species

The ugly redheaded stepchildren of the animal kingdom don’t get much attention compared to the perennial endangered animal favorites like pandas, polar bears, and owls. These are the cute, majestic, and otherwise emblematic creatures of the endangered species list.

But there are hundreds more animal species on our wondrous planet that are critically threatened and need both publicity and support. From bats the size of bees to poison-slinging mammals, lizards that don’t eat for a decade to seals with giant inflatable faces, here are some of the strangest, most bizarre, unusual and important endangered species living on the “EDGE” (Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered).

Alaskan Independence and Sarah Palin

The Alaskan Independence Party (AIP) burst into the national spotlight when Clark released a statement reporting that Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, were both members. After the ensuing uproar, Clark issued an apology and correction, declaring that only Todd was an actual member of the AIP. (He belonged from 1995 to 2002.) The McCain campaign put out a statement denying the vice presidential nominee had ever been a member, but it said nothing about Todd Palin. Since then, other AIP members have offered conflicting information about Sarah Palin's affiliation with the party. And earlier this year, as governor, Palin addressed the AIP convention, stating that she shared the party's "vision."

How do hurricanes get their names?

Since Europeans first came to the Americas and the Caribbean, hurricanes were named using a variety of systems. First they were named after Catholic saints. Later on, the latitude-longitude positions of a storm’s formation was used as a name. This was a little too cumbersome to use in conversation.

Military meteorologists started giving female names to storms during World War II, and in 1950 the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) adopted the method. The WMO devised a system of rotating, alphabetical names. (Names can be retired at WMO meetings by request from a nation that has been hit by the storm. The name is then not used for 10 years, which makes historic references and insurance claims easier.)

In 1979, the system was given a dose of political correctness: male names were added to the list, as were French and Spanish names, reflecting the languages of the nations affected by hurricanes.

LOOK FOR YOUR NAME ON THIS LIST OF STORMS [ Wikipedia ]

Stand Up To Cancer [ SU2C ]

Bizarro

I have always liked this comic artist, and now he has a blog with lots of very funny stuff!

I highly recommend you visit it:
http://bizarrocomic.blogspot.com/

re: Obama the Community Organizer

Jesus is a friend of mine

I am not a proponent of Jesus, Christianity or religion in general, but I like this video+ ska-styled song!

The Ballad of Sarah Palin

Stratford ex-Artistic Director Richard Monette dies at 64

Richard Monette [ IMDB ], the longest-serving artistic director of the Stratford Festival, has died at 64. [ 2008-09-10 ]

Monette had been suffering from vascular disease and was going into hospital for tests Tuesday evening when he suffered a pulmonary embolism, said Antoni Cimolino, who is general director for the theatre festival in Statford, Ont.