Mathmetical Equation

This equation should be taught in all math classes!

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint, it goes like this:

What Makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Have you ever wondered about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If
A, B, C, D, E ,F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
equals
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
Then

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
And,
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
And, look how far ass kissing will take you
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 127%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass Kissing that will put you over the top!

This is found on the Canadian College of Teachers Website - http://www.cct-cce.com/

This Was A Whale OF A Project!

APRIL 5, 2007 - 10:30 ET

Canadian Museum of Nature/Winner of 2006 Museums and Schools Partnership Award: A Whale of a Project! The Tiny Magdalen Islands Win National Award

EDS NOTE: Of special interest for Quebec and Nunavut media

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - April 5, 2007) - An educational program that brought together 50 per cent of the youth on the Magdalen Islands with their local aquarium for a project on marine mammals has won the fourth annual Museums and Schools Partnership Award. This national award is co-sponsored by the Canadian College of Teachers and the Canadian Museum of Nature, in collaboration with the Canadian Museums Association. An honourable mention was awarded to a collaboration between a school and community museum in Sanikiluaq, located in Nunavut's Belcher Islands in the south-eastern area of Hudson Bay.

The idea for the marine mammal project was conceived in 2003 when a minke whale was found on the shore of one of these islands, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The community pulled together to remove it. Due to the amount of work involved, it was thought that the involvement of youth would greatly benefit the project. Out of this came a partnership between the Aquarium des Iles-de-la-Madeleine, the school board (la Commission scolaire des Iles-de-la-Madeleine) and the CÉGEP (le campus des Iles du CÉGEP de la Gaspésie-Iles de la Madeleine). It culminated three years later in an exhibition about the marine mammals they had collected. Every stage of the project depended on youth participation, even the flensing (cutting up) of the specimens and the mounting of skeletons.

The diverse range of activities included art contests, a competition to name new seals at the aquarium, a debate in Montreal on the seal hunt, visits to a CÉGEP biology class, drawing workshops, a lecture on marine mammals hosted by secondary students, the creation of interpretive panels for the exhibition, and the mounting of a harbour porpoise skeleton by biology students. The exceptional quality of these activities was noted by the selection committee.

"Another important facet was the participation of the community in enriching this project,"noted Mary Ellen Herbert, co-chair of the award committee, in summing up the comments of the judges. "Visitors benefit not only from a scientific exhibition on marine mammals but also from the perspectives of island youth about their natural heritage. The fact that the Aquarium gave the young people a chance to engage in activities that spoke to their reality and environment gave them ownership of these themes. Further, they could discuss these issues with their parents and friends and enhance community knowledge."

"We're very, very happy about this recognition", says Aquarium director Sophie Fortier, noting the great benefit for the community that results when museums and schools work together.

An honourable mention for the 2006 Museums and Schools Award was given to a partnership with the Najuqsivik Society Community Museum which is housed in Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq, a community of 800 people.

Students were involved in projects as diverse as making archaeological castings, polar bear rugs and mounts, helping to finish a sod house, videoconferencing and more. As John Jamieson, principal of the Nuiyak School stated: "The foyer of the school is the static museum but the real action of the museum is the hands-on activities that produce these artifacts. Some of our programs will not be found in any other northern school."

The method of archaeological reproduction casting, which the students learned at the Archaeological Survey of Canada labs in Gatineau, Quebec, has resulted in over 160 moulds. The community has also produced videos on this casting process in both English and Inuktitut and has given workshops.

Submissions from across the country, involving more than 20 institutions, were entered for the 2006 award, which recognizes partnerships between schools and museums for educational programmes that enrich students' understanding and appreciation of Canada's cultural and natural heritage. Criteria for assessing projects include vision, participation of all partners from the outset, collaboration potential and relevance of the project to the community served.

The Museums and Schools Partnership Award is open to any Canadian school or school board that collaborates with any Canadian non-profit public museum, including zoos and science centres. The submission deadline for the 2007 award is Nov. 15, 2007. The Canadian Teachers' Federation has joined the sponsoring partnership and will be involved in the organization and selection processes for next year's award. For more information, visit the Web site of the Canadian College of Teachers at www.cct-cce.com.

Islands Tourist Association Holds Regional Grand Prize Awards

On Friday, March 30th, 2007, the Magdalen Islands Tourist Association unveiled the list of the winners for the Regional Grand Prize for Quebec Tourism, 2007 edition, to a large audience at the café/restaurant/bistro Aux Pas Perdu, in Grindstone. In the presence of the Director General for the administration of Quebec Tourism, Mrs. Clèmence Verret, the recipients were awarded their authentic certificates and plaques.

The winners for the 2007 edition of the Grand Prize were as follows:
Agrotoursim and Regional Products went to the company Le Barbocheux;
Touristic Attractions of less than 100,000 visitors went to Le Site d’Autrefois;
Eco and Adventure Tourism went to Vert et Mer, Expedition & Formation;
Festivals and Tourist Events for less than one million dollars went to Événement “Contes en Îles” Les Clameurs du Nordet;
Lodging, three star establishments or less went to Le Domaine du Vieux Couvent;
Restaurants for Tourist Develoment went to La Table des Roy;
Transportation and Trips went to Autobus Les Sillons.

These regional winners will go to the national competition on May 4th, at Quebec for the 22nd annual edition of the Grand Prizes for Quebec Tourism.

A Special Mention was made for the Boulangerie Fleur de Sable, by the members of the jury.

The Federation of the Golden Age 50+ Clubs for Eastern Quebec, of which Mrs Micheline Vigneau is president, in a joint collaboration with the Ambassadors Club, had been selected by the Magdalen Island Tourist Association and were awarded for their contribution of holding the Clubs Congressional Meetings on the Islands last June 3rd to 7th, 2006.

“The members of the Administrative Council and all the personnel of the Magdalen Islands tourist association warmly congratulate the businesses which have excelled, in their categories and wish them the best of luck during the National Gala in Quebec,” said Anne Bourgeois, person responsible for the Marketing and Communications for the Association.

The Magdalen Islands Tourist Association is the main working body for regional discussions, visitor welcomes, island information, promotion, development and tourist indicator on the Magdalen Islands territory. It has been actively working for the past 24 years presenting and contributing to the rapid development of our tourist industry and to the economic development of our region.

The tourist industry has become a dynamic economic motor and Magdalen Islands Tourism represents the strongest grouping of enterprises with almost 350 members. The touristic activity generated an annual economic value of near 50 million dollars and it contributes to the creation of more than 1400 employment positions in our region.

2007 Magdalen Islands Emergence Grant

On March 30th, 2007, the Islands Cultural Corporation, Arrimage with the aide of Islands Deputy to the National Assembly, Maxime Arseneau held the fourteenth annual commemoration of the Emergence Grant for artistic talent of the Magdalen Islands. This year, they were pleased to announce that the winner of the 2007 edition was Cabinet Maker and Sculpturer, Claude Cyr of Grand Entry. The amount of $2,500 was offered to Mr. Cyr by Mr. Arseneau for an internship to the International School of Kurt Koch Sculpture in Germany, to perfect his talents in ornamental sculpture.

Six projects had been submitted to the jury. Five of those were in the field of art and one was in the field of artistic scenery. The jury consisted of Martine Martin, a member of the CA Arrimage and French teacher; Sylvie Desroches, an artist in artistic scenery; and Claude Bourque, artist and winner of the 2004 grant.

The jury who had selected Claude Cyr for the project, adhered to the followed criteria:

- great interest of continuing training linked to his artistic work, mainly for the evolution of his progress and to allow him to follow his research;

- influence of the project on the discipline of the artistic trade of the region and on the islands cultural life;

- emphasizes on the perfection of the artistic technique for the artist, who wishes to develop an expertise in ornamentation;

- attachment to his first trade, the quality of his furniture production, the evolution of his ornamental work, the power and the quality of his creative work.

Claude Cyr has shown an particular attachment to the woodworking trade ever since his youth. From making willow whistles, to the toys made by his father, wood working is one of the first memories, which he clearly remembers. He first explored his artistic expressions with self-taught paintings and then courses in classical guitar for five years. Around the 1980's, he made his first piece of furniture. As a hobby, this activity would become a new means of expression for Claude. He constructed his own house, all while respecting the architectural style of the islands, an activity which gave him great satisfaction. The first armoire cupboard he made with ornamentation was inspired from the works of ‘Les meubles anciens du Canada français’, which he made in 2001. The result earned him many flattering comments which encouraged Claude to put his heart into the ornamentation side of his work. With the fabrication of house furniture, his friends were able confirmed the new passion of the artist. His creativity has taken on a new challenge - to make a contribution to the church of Grand Entry in the form of a door, a tabernacle, an alter, and other pieces. He has finished some of the pieces and will finish the tabernacle by Easter of this year. Claude has followed two separate courses in ornamental sculpture in Drummondville with Nicole Harvey, sculpturer. He has discovered his capacity to accomplish original works of art and has a desire to improve his techniques making unique ornamental creations.

The emergence grant allows Magdalen Islands artists to have access to resources for perfecting their talents and stimulate the evolution of their artistic careers. The grant has been offered by the islands Deputy, Maxime Arseneau since 1999, and has given the amount of $2,500 since 2006.