Rexanne's Web Review - Issue #25

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Hey, did anyone else read about the 5 year study that concluded with the benefits of drinking coffee? Seems people who drink coffee are five times LESS likely to develop Parkinson's disease! Researchers have speculated that the caffeine in coffee offers protection against the destruction of nerve cells in the brain thereby guarding against Parkinson's. Ya know, I carry on about chocolate being good for you, I've gone so far as to insist coffee can't be all bad ... I think we need to enjoy our consumptions. We need to allow ourselves more pleasure in life. Because every five years or so, there's a new study that counters another study! Now, all they have to do is come up with research that PROVES cigarettes cure a myriad of conditions and I'll live happily ever after! ;-)

You all are really getting into the spirit of feedback and I love you for it! Lots of reader's comments, input and help this week. Here they are:

Janet had some very enlightening information regarding our home schooling topic from last week:

"I imagine the reason you didn't get a response (on your request for homeschool info.) is that most homeschool parents are very busy studying, teaching, and (if they have any spare time), catching up on all the other stuff that's going on around the home. I don't homeschool now, but I did, and that was my pattern."

"I love your page this week, especially the 'Tips/Tricks' Natural Remedies ... must try them to see if they work, but isn't there anything besides oysters for the memory problem?? YUCK!! LOL!"

Oh, my sentiments exactly, Deanna! Oysters make me gag! I'll just continue blaming my memory loss on distractions and my kids! LOL!

"I like onions on just about everything. I also have asthma. Guess my body is pretty smart for telling me this in the form of what I hunger for. I've always said that when people like my sister would tell me I use too much salt and pepper on things, I'd say: 'my body knows what it wants' ... this is a confirmation! She doesn't like milk but would try to drink it because it's 'good for you' and it turns out that dairy products were causing her migraines. Have to listen to our bodies and next time someone says ice cream isn't good for you, tell them your body needs it. Good issue, thanks ..."

"The nutritional tips in your last newsletter made me think that I should send you my web page on the herbal medicine chest." Herbal Medicine

"You might want to give my Idaho page to your daughter to add to her favorites for states." Idaho

This page is beautiful and has tons of information on Idaho. Thank you Jag. Great job!

And my new hero, Jeannie, was the first to send me the solution to Jacob's Ladder:

"It was driving me nuts, too. I could do four moves and then I was stuck!! Here ya go: B1, R1, R2, B1, B2, B3, R1, R2, R3, R4, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, R2, R3, R4, R5, B3, B4, B5, R4, R5, B5."

OMG! It felt soooo good to finish that sucker! LOL! Jeannie, you're a doll! Thank you thank you thank you thank you ...

Thank you also to Shelly (and her hubby!) for sending in the solution to Jacob's maddening ladder. ;-)

I did receive a few hints from others (you know who you are) but they wouldn't put me out of my misery by giving me the solution! Jeannie and Shelly (and her hubby!) rule! ;-)

Quote of the Week: Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This Week's Web Review is Sponsored By: 101 Road Trip Word Games

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No more "Are we there yet?!" ;-)

We discussed the difficult child in this newsletter a few weeks ago. This week, let's look at the gifted child. Not to imply that gifted children aren't difficult ... as a matter of fact, I hold the belief that most difficult children are probably gifted and therein lies a part of their social problem. For clarity, let's refer to the gifted child in this newsletter as the one who excels at academics and extra curricular activities of an extraordinary nature.

My older daughter has a friend, Megan, who is highly gifted ... highly gifted being a step grander than gifted in the public school system. In her special class, she has massive amounts of homework, incredibly difficult assignments and a rigorous school schedule, including mandatory extra hours. Her after school activities include piano lessons, singing lessons (she's great!) and any other challenging activity she can persuade her parents to pay for. LOL! Megan is an incredible child ... sweet, personable and kindhearted. We rally round her with each new accomplishment. This is a child who clearly shines in her highly gifted classes and is happy to be there.

My older daughter is very bright, too. OK, bragging but she really is! ;-) She was pegged by her preschool teachers as destined for the gifted groups in elementary school. Well, turns out she was never tested, which, in California, must be done only on the request of her teachers. She graduates with honors each year but her social life is much too important to her and she has never shown the focus or passion for learning that other gifted and highly gifted children we know have demonstrated.

I've come to the conclusion that these kids have a burning desire to achieve academic excellence, whether in a competitive atmosphere or not. One gifted child we know had taught himself to read at two years of age, learned a foreign language (French) by age 4 and loved nothing more than to read historical novels and advanced math books. By age 11, he had acquired an amount of knowledge that most of us would be happy to acquire in a lifetime.

Highly gifted children can be found in all walks of life, in any economic class and from parents who are themselves high achievers or not. These are children who are born to learn, excel and accomplish. There is also the consideration of the child who is gifted in more subjective or artistic talents, not necessarily academic but gifted nonetheless. These children are not as often identified but need as much stimulation and advanced learning as academic achievers.

For parents or care takers, there is a responsibility that goes with the nurturing of such a personality. These children need to be intellectually stimulated more than average and need greater outlets for their mental creativity. Sometimes, parents of these kids are hard-pressed to keep up, either financially or intellectually. The more parents and care takers can offer these remarkable young ones, the greater their chance of reaching their potential as outstanding individuals in our society.

Let's explore what the 'Net has to offer in articles and information on the gifted ones ...

Link 2 is a comprehensive explanation of giftedness in children and why our public schools need continued funding for gifted programs: Who are the Gifted?

Link 4 will explain how to discipline a gifted child without losing the battle to someone smarter than you! LOL! Read on: Discipline

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Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com – http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

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This article is available for reprint at no charge providing the resource box with the writer's information is included and remains intact.

Have an opinion about this topic or a story to share? Please send it: My Opinion

Meet Lee and Don, two grumpy guys who cook. I think, to understand this site and my fascination with it, you need to visit the about us page before you become lost in the plethora of recipes they've compiled for our extreme pleasure.

Don and Lee have recipes for everything from Aunt Matilda's Baked Knephla & Papaya Salad to Veal Shanks with Cherries and Tabouleh. Whoa ... who's gonna make that?! LOL! If you do, let us all know, please!

The recipes here are guy tested, ladies. So, if you're looking to impress the men in your life, this would be a good place to search for guys-will-love-it recipes. My male readers will feel right at home in the kitchen after taking a tour of Two Grumpy Guys. Might want to impress the ladies in your lives by tying on an apron, men! ;-)

And hey, wadda ya know?! Martha, our very own resident kitchen Goddess, has returned, better than ever. Do check out her brand new page: Still More Catchall Lots of amazing, too-easy recipes, tips, tricks and funnies. While you're there, drop her an email! She loves knowing you care. ;-)

Cosmic Yo-Yos has tons of information about yo-yos and every conceivable yo-yo maneuver your kids could imagine. There are more than 150 yo-yo tricks and moves on these pages, most of which are illustrated to help little hands learn the basic, intermediate and master moves a yo-yo maven can make.

Cosmic Yo-Yos are for sale on this site if you are so inspired but there is so much information and knowledge on these pages, I'm hard-pressed to qualify this site as a business. These people know their yo-yos and moves. The kids will learn from the experts!

Tip or Trick of the Week:
"Edible Play Dough"

Fellow reader Kat sent this recipe for edible play dough:

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup corn syrup
1-1/4 cup powdered sugar
1-1/4 cup powdered milk

"Mix ingredients to get a good consistency for modeling. Kids could create something and then eat it."

Got a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send it here for possible publication in one of the next issues: Tips

On this page you can send for a free presentation folder, designed by Nicky. Nicky is so sure you'll love these folders, he (or she!) is giving away samples just to get you hooked. ;-)

These are super for school projects, business presentations, investment data and any other use you can think of. You can see the actual folder you'll be getting on the home page of this site.

If it's hard for you to imagine bowling online, you'll come away from this site with a changed point of view! Too fun!

Brunswick has created an online bowling game almost as good as the real thing. You won't have the benefit of physical exercise, but you will be able to throw a hook, Brooklyn or whatever you want with your choice of ball. There's also the added reality of slick lanes and you will get tapped with those nasty splits just like in a real bowling alley!

This page is so awesome, I had to share it with you all as the home page of the week, even though it really is a presentation designed for children.

The music, graphics and message here are exceptionally beautiful and inspiring. Yes, it is a religious page. Mind you, I would never preach my religion or, more appropriately, my spiritual philosophy in this newsletter. But I feel this page transcends much of the differences in our spiritual beliefs and just offers a lovely, touching rendition of Creation.

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The fine print: This newsletter is copyright - 2000 - in its entirety. Please pass it on, but also please leave it intact. :-) You are receiving this email because you sent a specific message asking to be placed on the mailing list for this newsletter. If you wish to be removed from this list, see the unsubscribe notice above. This is NOT SPAM, nor will you ever see a recipe featuring SPAM in this newsletter! ;-)

I have personally checked out the links provided here but they could possibly lead you to any number of bizarre and/or offensive sites. Surf at your own risk. The DIRECT links on this page are all family friendly unless stated otherwise. While this newsletter is family friendly, it is not necessarily intended to be read by children. Parents should always monitor their children while they are on the Internet.