What doesn't kill you…

Start with this essay “How to learn from your mistakes”. Scott Bekrun classifies mistakes into four categories and argues that learning from mistakes requires three things: putting yourself in situations where you can make interesting mistakes, having the self-confidence to admit to them and being courageous about making changes. A long but thoughtful discussion about how some mistakes can be life-changing.

Fortunate accidents

Then, let’s remember that human error brought us Post-It Notes, x-rays and popsicles. Read Top Ten Accidental Discoveries, and Oops! Lucky Me… for listings and stories behind some of history's luckiest discoveries. Who knew that forgetting to wash your hands and dealing with irate restaurant guests would have such an impact on today’s culture. Many of these inventors were able to reimagine their mistakes as advantageous, so next time you screw up, see if you can come up with some new kind of "lemonade."

For the good of humankind

Here, a collection of humanity’s regrettable moments are published at Only Human, “A community where people share stories publicly or anonymously about mistakes they’ve made in life and their advice to others.” Here you can learn from mistakes like “leaving bread on top of the refrigerator” and “pre-spending my tax return” and post your own missteps in hopes making the universe a better place.

(Speaking of spending, check out The Story of Stuff. This 20-minute video teaches us to rethink our purchases and shows us the how inexpensive products can actually cost us more in the long run.)

The little mistakes we make everyday

While we’re waiting to remedy the really big mistakes, we can also weed out the little ones under our noses with the help of this touring band of verbal vigilantes. Check out this NPR podcast about the Typo Eradication Advancement League – a team of four people who began touring the US earlier this month to repair public punctuation and grammar mistakes “by any means necessary.” You can also follow their three-month crusade on the TEAL blog. While you’re working on your spelling, improve your reading speed and comprehension, at the Reader's Edge.

For fun, check to see how "in tune with humanity" your word association score is at Human Brain Cloud. Your random thoughts might not be so incongruous after all. And, while we like to think of ourselves as being fairly complex, this seemingly low-tech "Responsive Face" facial expression animation demo is actually an experiment “to isolate the minimal number of facial expression elements that will produce a "convincing" impression of character and personality.”

Finally, check out these 18 wonderful tricks you can teach your body. Though we may be flawed, these could just be a few of many surprises about ourselves we have left to discover.

For starters, listen to this short 5-part video featuring Ira Glass, the host of Chicago Public Radio’s Peabody Award-winning This American Life. While talking about storytelling, Glass offers some thoughtful and inspiring ideas on engaging an audience and how even dull subject matter can be made compelling.

With Glass’s words in mind, visit TheMoth.org, a non-profit storytelling organization out of New York, and hear real-life stories from a variety of different characters, including the creator of cheese-filled pizza crust.

Then, step back and consider one of the world’s most famous storytellers. While she never intended it to be made public, Anne Frank’s diary has been shared with millions around the world. The diary, which Anne kept during the time her family was in hiding, was returned to her father after World War II after he learned she had died. In reading through it, he found his daughter was a gifted, thoughtful writer who dreamed of being published one day. Visit Anne Frank House for excellent online resources and photos to follow her story, and downloads for teachers including an Anne Frank Teacher Manual. The Anne Frank Centre, USA also provides links to .pdfs that assist in classroom studies and the creation of lesson plans.

While book-bound diaries and journals are common even today, the number of blogs flooding the Internet can’t be ignored. Take a look at this 2006 study done on “Bloggers: The Internet’s new storytellers” for insight into this growing breed. We all have our favourites, but for something new and bizarre try Oddee.com for a chronicle on the "oddities" of our world, or Fark.com where the strange collection of real-life headlines can double as a list of writing prompts.

Need something less structured? Take in Jonathan Harris's latest online projects Universe and The Whale Hunt. In Universe, Harris asks “What is the mythology of today? What are the great stories?…. When we step back and look at life, what are its overarching themes?” Universe lends us the technology that allows the exploration of our own "personal mythologies" as we immerse ourselves in news stories and threads that float through a night sky. The Whale Hunt he documents nine-days in Alaska with 3,214 photographs, shot every five minutes to simulate a “heartbeat” from the time he boards a taxi to the Newark airport, to the butchering of a second whale seven days later in Alaska. He notes, “In moments of high adrenaline, this photographic heartbeat would quicken.”

For even deeper probing into the human condition, try the Wellcome Collection's online exhibits to help you "consider what it means to be human" through an intriguing interactive gallery. And in that same vein, for a newer, possibly hipper answer to Chicken Soup for the Soul, the Foundation for a Better Life offers professional and user-produced audio stories and videos set to remind individuals to "take responsibility for their lives and to promote a set of values that sees them through their failures and capitalizes on their successes."

And for still more storytelling incentive, learn about the campaign in effect to promote May 16th as International Day for Sharing Life Stories, sponsored by the Center for Digital Storytelling and the Museum of the Person. The creators of this campaign take the opinion that "sharing life stories are a critical process in democratizing culture and promoting social change" even if you're not whale hunting or filling pizza crust with cheese.

That said, February brings us no shortage of things to celebrate.

Yay! Love!

The day that comes immediately to mind for most of us is Valentine's Day, whether we're counting down to it or waiting for it to pass.

Pro-Valentiners should consider these sites to get in the mood: Consider sending an electronic greeting via Exopolis (relive the charm of a mixtape) or MushyGushy (insert your photo into a silly animation). Also, listen to anthropologist Helen Fisher explain the science behind romantic love and then consider dopamine or serotonin shaped jewelry as a possible gift for a loved-one. (These cards are also available for those of us on a budget.)

Yay. Love.

Anti-Valentiners might find the cards at SomeEcards or SappyCards more fitting ("Greeting cards with attitude for people who don't like greeting cards.") And all those couples couldn't really be THAT happy could they? See how well you do at spotting a fake smile in the bunch with this test from BBC's science website. And if somehow, despite your reluctance, you're pressured into buying a gift, a plush representation of mono "the kissing disease" might just be the sarcastic (yet arguably cute) thing you need to show someone just how much you bothered.

The creators of WeFeelFine have come up with a new heart-inspired project to satisfy both sides with Lovelines. This site "illuminates the topography of the emotional landscape between love and hate, as experienced by countless normal humans keeping personal online journals."

What goes around…

Incidentally, Valentine's Day coincides with Random Acts of Kindness week (Feb. 11-17), so consider classroom activities focusing on compassion rather than cupid this year. Depending on the ages of your students, resources like this booklet from the Dalai Lama Centre, this outline from the Vancouver School Board, and this video featuring Emotional Intelligence author Daniel Goleman could give you a few different ideas. Also, visit the Random Acts of Kindness site for a host of other class resources and online tools. When that's done, click here to perform a random act of kindness that may benefit another classroom or teacher.

Please no Harlequins

February also happens to be "I Love to Read Month", so make sure your students are exhausting the 100 books every child should read list. Visit WhatShouldIReadNext.com for suggestions on what to read yourself. This month might also be a good time for physics teachers and students to download this free textbook. And instead of spending money, consider swapping used books with someone on the other side of the world using by BookMooch or "catching" and "releasing" books locally using BookCrossing.

Leaving on a jet plane?

Finally, no matter what the Groundhog tells us on the 2nd, check the current weather at SimpleWeather and see if you should spend your new long weekend (Louis Riel Day: February 18th) at the Forks checking out ice sculptures and helping to set a new chain-skating world record, or indoors looking for cheap airfares with Airfare Watchdog and free accommodations via CouchSurfing.com in a warmer climate.

1. "I will be smarter with money."

A recent article from Reuters reported that the most popular resolution for young Britons this year is to save money. If you're trying to do the same, there are sites all over the internet about how to invest wisely, what to invest in, and free tools like Expensr.com and Wesabe.com that will help you manage your money online.

If you're having trouble shaking your spending habits try one of two things: Manufacture a false sense of accomplishment by buying something that will eventually pay for itself and then sit back and watch money flow into your bank account in real-time. Or, for a genuine sense of satisfaction and 100% less consumption, visit Kiva.org and drop $25 dollars—this site lets you lend to entrepreneurs in developing countries after viewing their profiles and business plans. It also gives you the option of reinvesting the money when the lender pays it back.

2. "I will exercise more and eat better."

Going from couch potato to gym rat may seem like a daunting task, which is probably why "losing weight" and "getting in shape" have become annual declarations for many of us. Instead of promising yourself a huge lifestyle change come January, try fine-tuning your approach by adding a simple exercise to your daily routine or committing to going from zero to five km (instead of 60) over two months with this running plan. Here are 42 more tips to consider that will help keep you on track, including advice on how to turn exercise into a habit. Also, you can track your progress by recording your workouts online using one of Gyminee.com, Gimme20.com or FitDay.com—free services that let you plan and organize your training and nutrition goals online. Take tours of each site, and decide which interface you think will work best for your needs.

While you're trying to clean up your eating routine, be wary of 10 myths you may have learned along the way and put the Cook's Thesaurus to work the next time you prepare an old recipe—the site gives you suggestions for lower-fat or more accessible substitutions for some ingredients. Another good way to improve your eating habits is to educate your own students or children about nutrition with sites like NutritionExplorations.org and Kidnetic.com. Finally, measure your current diet according to health, environmental and animal welfare with this calculator from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest and revisit the site now and again to see if your score improves.

3. "I will go green."

Next to saving money and making lifestyle adjustments that promote health, "going green" is also high priority for many this January. This could mean anything from remembering to bring reusable shopping bags to the market, leaving cars at home or educating one's self about climate change beyond the Al Gore movie. A good place to start is by bookmarking sites like TreeHugger.com, WorldChanging.com, Grist.org, and GoodMagazine.com for the latest in environmental news. You can even "green" your guilty web pleasures by crossing the eco-surfing with celebrity gossip at Ecorazzi.com.

Another way the internet can help is by helping to curb mass production by buying handmade products from sites like Etsy.com or "previously-loved" wares from UpsideDive.com (Canadian!). Or learn to make your own pretty much anything with sites like Instructables.com and Make.

For more ideas, see this list of 100 ways to save the environment or register your information at Zerofootprint for specific tips on how to reduce your ecological footprint.

4. "I will revitalize my phraseology."

If you're already pretty much perfect, the least you can do in 2008 is to spice up your language. Refresh your vocabulary in the new year with 10 new buzzwords and the nominees for Merriam-Webster's word of the year. When you have a little more time, peruse* the list of 100 words every high school graduate should know and then double-check your guesses at Definr.com—the "incredibly fast dictionary". But before showing off any of this shiny new terminology in public, check this article on commonly misused words, and see if you spent enough time "perusing" the dictionary for the basics after all.

5. "I will embrace the future with optimism and wonder."

After you've committed to saving the world and your well-being, marvel at things promised to us in 2008. For instance, Esquire recently reported these six ideas will change the world and Trendwatching.com lists these consumer trends on the rise. This futuristic car will hit North America in 2008, as will these movies. And looking beyond 2008 are designers Irene Pereyra and Tom Klinkowstein who imagine the life of a designer in 2030 in this gigantic .pdf. Take note of your favourites above (and anything else on your mind) and confirm them with your future self via an email through FutureMe.org.

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, we find ourselves reaching for snacks and goodies all the more. We could argue there's a scientific reason for our second helpings, or own up to the fact that our December food choices tend not to be the most light or nutritious. Like it or not, most winter meals are rich, abundant and frequent.

Luckily though, waistlines in North America have ballooned to the point that advice is everywhere… the Consumerist.com is grading fast food chains on nutritional transparency and CNN has a launched a Healthy Bodies segment on its website. Even our schools have taken measures to cut sugary and deep-fried items from their cafeteria menus. With the internet at hand and a flurry of bloggers to show you the way, you just may find a way of eating better this season and educating (or scaring) yourself out of a few thousand calories.

Avoid fast food and soft drinks… even the diet ones

We've all heard horror stories about fast food, but with recent additions like salads to the McDonald's menu and even more Subway "fresh" sandwich shops popping up everyday, the fast food industry has managed to clean up its dirty reputation just enough to lure even health-conscious individuals through the glass door. So as you're racing through the mall in a shopping frenzy and you feel your blood sugar drop, this article tells you to mind the food court with caution (or not at all), by pointing out that fertilizer and additives deemed too harmful for cats have been included in some of the most seemingly healthy menu options out there.

And lest we forget that triple hamburgers don't become nutritious by association, here is a comparison chart of some popular items you might consider at the counter. If that's not enough to keep you from driving "thru" on the way home, here's a reminder of what the food actually looks like when you order it, and a story about a new breakfast option from Hardee's that weighs in with more fat and calories than two McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers. Never mind the fact that most fast food sandwiches are consumed with some type of sugary, fizzy beverage. Speaking of which…

A blogger at Healthbolt claims these gory details about what a single Coke will do to your body within an hour of drinking it. For Diet Coke drinkers and aspartame lovers, here's a video about Donald Rumsfeld and a conspiracy theory brought to you by YouTube about Stevia, a natural alternative to sugar currently blocked in the US by the FDA but that is being considered for future production of Diet Coke in North America.

Make smarter food choice (duh)

So what should you be eating? Here's an exhaustive list of the world's healthiest foods to peruse before cooking for guests. For the kick in the pants you need to get everything done between visits, here are 100 ingredients towards better productivity.

That's not to say you shouldn't have any of the mashed potatoes or the pie. Allow yourself a taste of everything in small portions, with most of your plate's real estate reserved for fresh vegetables and fruits. If you're a visual person, here's a quick glance at what 200 calories looks like.

If you've already mastered your eating habits and are a little bit of a nutrition guru, then here are some finicky food tricks you can add to your diet to move you from clean living to performance eating. Until fast food chains in North America catch on to practices like those of Leon's in the UK, join the Slow Food movement and fine tune your eating philosophy.

Don't learn to eat poorly in the first place

At the end of the day, rethinking your approach to food from recreation to fuel requires a lifestyle change. It's easier to keep eating well if you grew up on free-range chicken and not KFC, but even kids brought up healthy can pick up bad food habits in adolescence.

With that in mind, the Dietitians of Canada offer Let's Make a Meal and these nutrition challenges for students. South of the border, The American Heart Association promotes healthy eating and exercise with help from Bill Clinton and I Go Hugo, while General Mills's Eat Better America campaign shakes up their approach to online recipes with The Good Food Fight.

Also, take time this season listen to this broadcast about how others eat around the world and to play Food Force, a video-game you can download from the United Nations that educates players about world hunger and the importance of a varied diet for proper health.

Finally, if you can't clean your plate, consider "replating" it instead of refrigerating leftovers.