If I were writing a history of my family , some of the darkest moments recorded would be those surrounding Christmas trees .

One would certainly think otherwise ; selecting and putting up our trees have always been filled with risk .

For example , one afternoon dangerously close to Christmas Eve my mother bought what she thought to be a bargain , a glorious tree that was so full and tall that we could hardly get it into the house .

Once we did , my father immediately realized that we would have to hire a carpenter to build a stand for it .

Another December , perhaps the very next one , we bought a tree earlier than we ever had before .

We were happy with its shape and delighted that its size was manageable .

We easily placed it in a stand , decorated it from top to bottom , and then self-satisfiedly sat back by the fire in its soft light .

Two or three days passed and the truth could not be hidden ; we had bought a tree cut so long ago that its needles were coming off .

There was nothing to do but undecorated it , take it down , and begin tree shopping again .

Our most recent Christmas tree offered still another difficult task .

When we brought it home , once again it seemed larger than it was in the great outdoors .

To complicate matters , we had bought a new stand , one whose nuts and bolts worked more mysteriously than those of our old stands .

I persuaded two young neighbors to stop playing basketball and to help us get the tree into the house and set it correctly in the stand .

Unfortunately , no one noticed the mud on our helpers ' shoes , so only after removing several reddish brown sports from the carpet were we able to discuss the question of where the lights and ornaments were stored .

Perhaps those who cut their own trees have tales more painful than these .

I do n't care to hear them , as my family 's experiences are enough to cause me to make the following suggestion : `` Let 's forget the tree next Christmas .

Let 's simply hang some flowers on the front door and over the mirror in the hall . ''


Many kids do n't drink enough water daily , according to a new study .

The study 's lead author , Erica Kenney , at first planned to look into the amount of sugary drinks kids were drinking in schools .

However , during her research she found that many kids were simply not drinking enough water .

Kenney and her team examined data from a group of 4,000 children , aged 6 to19 , between the years of 2009 and 2012 .

The data was taken from the National Health and Nutrition Survey , a study on the health of children in the United States conducted each year by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention..

While looking through the survey results , she noticed that more than half of the kids who took part in the study were dehydrated .

Of ' that group , boys were 76 % more likely than girls not to have enough water in their system .

Nearly one quarter of the kids in the survey reported drinking no plain water at all .

`` These findings highlight a possible health issue that was n't given a lot of attention in the past , '' Kenney said in a statement .

`` Even though for most of these kids this is not an immediate and great health threat , this is an issue that could really be reducing quality of life and well-being for many children and youth . ''

The United States-National Agriculture Library says average kids need between 10 to 14 cups of water every day .

This water can come from a mix of drinks and foods that contain high amounts of water , such as celery , melons or tomatoes .

It is also recommended that fluids come from water instead of sugary drinks that are high in calories and can lead to weight problems .


Every language has its own special words and expressions .

And a story can be told about each of them .

`` Hot '' is a simple , easily-understood word .

So are most of the expressions made with the word `` hot '' .

Take the phrase `` hot potato '' for example .

The potato is a popular vegetable in the United States .

Many people like baked potatoes , cooked in an oven or fire .

Imagine trying to carry a hot , baked potato in your hand .

It would be difficult , even painful , to do so .

Calling for higher taxes can mean defeat for a politician .

And yet , if taxes are not raised , some very popular government programs could be cut , which can also make a politician very unpopular .

Another expression is `` not so hot '' .

If you ask someone how she feels , she may answer : `` Not so hot . ''

What she means is that she does not feel well .

`` Not so hot '' is also a way of saying that you do not really like something .

`` A hot shot '' is a person , often a young person , who thinks he can do anything .

A hot shot was a soldier who fired without aiming carefully .

A person who becomes angry easily is called `` a hothead '' .

An angry person 's neck often becomes red .

We say he is `` hot under the collar '' .

You could say that your friend is no hothead .

But he got hot under the collar when someone took his radio .

The hot line was a direct communication link between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States .

The hot line had an important purpose : to prevent accidental war between the two competitors during the period known as the Cold War .

The American president and the Soviet leader were able to communicate directly and immediately on the hot line .


Knowing that Mrs. Mallard suffered from a heart trouble , great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband 's death .

It was her sister Josephine who told her , in broken sentences .

Her husband 's friend Richards was there , too .

It was he who had been in the newspaper office when news of the railroad disaster was received , with Brently Mallard 's name leading the list of `` killed . ''

He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram , and hurried to send the sad message .

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same .

She wept at once , with wild abandonment , in her sister 's arms .

When the storm of sadness had spent itself she went away to her room alone .

There stood , facing the open window , a comfortable armchair .

Into this she sank , pressed down by a physical exhaustion that held her body and seemed to reach into her soul .

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life .

The delicious breath of rain was in the air .

The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her , and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves .

There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it , fearfully .

But she felt it , coming out of the sky , reaching toward her through the sounds , the smells , the color that filled the air .

She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her , and was trying very hard to beat it back with her will .

When she gave up trying a little whispered word escaped her lips .

She said it over and over under the breath : `` free , free , free ! ''

She did not stop to ask if it was extreme joy that held her .

She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind , gentle hands folded in death ; the face that had never looked at her except with love , fixed and gray and dead .

But she saw beyond that bitter moment many years to come that would belong to her absolutely .

And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome .

There would be no one to live for during those coming years ; she would live for herself .

There would be no powerful will bending hers .

And yet she had loved him -- sometimes .

What could love count for in the face of her realization .

Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole .

I beg ; open the door -- you will make yourself ill . ''

Her fancy was running wild along those days ahead of her , all sorts of days that would be her own .

She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long .

It was only yesterday she had thought with a shake that life might be long .

She arose after a long time and opened the door to her sister 's begging .

She carried herself unknowingly like a goddess of Victory .

She held her sister 's waist , and together they walked down the stairs .

Someone was opening the front door with a key .

It was Brently Mallard who entered , a little travel-stained , calmly carrying his suitcase and umbrella .

He had been far from the scene of the accident , and did not even know there had been one .

He stood amazed at Josephine 's sharp cry ; at Richards ' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife .

When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease -- of the joy that kills .


Collections were the inspiration for a project at Thomas Tallis School , which formed part of the Imagine Children 's Literature Festival last autumn .

Each child ( aged 12-13 ) beatified a box and wrote a story on the subject of collections to throw inside it .

The boxes were spread within the Royal Festival Hall 's Ballroom .

The subject chosen by Luren was an imaginative one .

`` It 's a sort o f Cinderella story , '' she told me , inspired by a collection of letters from her cousin , ha the story these become love letters , burned by a creel stepmother .

Lauren 's best friend Charlotte is the stepmother .

`` I 'm in Charlotte 's story too , '' says Lauren , `` and I get run over . ''

Charlotte 's tale was inspired by the girls ' coin collection .

`` We 've collected foreign coins for years - since our families went on holiday to Tenerife . ''

`` That was before the Euro , so we put pesetas in . ''

Lauren continues : `` I fred a coin in the road , go to get it and get run over .

Charlotte adds : `` Or she might not die .

Millie Murray , who is a tea-novel author , thinks that setting the subject of collections was a useful inspiration to their creativity rather than a restriction .

`` In the beginning I thought , 'Will the children be able to do it ? ' ''

Some have their own collection , some have parents who do , and some have wlstten complete stories .

It 's made them think about something they would n't have otherwise , winch can only be a good thing . ''


One is a map of China , the other is of the world .

There 's a desk in front of the window and on the desk there is a clock .

And there are two pencils , one pen and some books on the desk too .

There is a chair on the floor and under the chair there 's a ball .

Liu Fei often studies in his room and he likes his room very much .


What makes 15,000 men and women run for hours , and what makes them run through the streets on a cold day without coats ?

I had never run more than eight miles before , and here I was training .

Since the race is in April , I had to run throughout the winter , and in Boston , winters are cold .

For most people , just putting on their shirts , sweaters , jackets , and hats is exercise enough .

I found myself out on the dark streets , running along ice sidewalks .

Even in gloves , my fingers got so cold that they looked like red carrots .

My nose did n't get warm until lunchtime !

The weather was cold , with ice and rain .

I did n't go anywhere at first because I was standing behind so many people .

The other runners just seemed to pull me along .

Somewhere around the 20-mile mark I even said to myself , `` This is nothing , why did I train so hard ? ''

`` The wall '' is what marathon runners call the special point .

I knew my body reached the point and I thought I could n't go any more .

I was out of breath and my legs turned into pieces of wood .

I ca n't remember anything about the last five miles of the race .

At last , I heard a voice at the finishing line .

`` You look good , '' my friend Ted said .

For everything , if you devote yourself into it , there will be a way .

I finished the race , at least , in my heart , I was the winner .


In my living room , there is a plaque that advises me to `` Bloom where you are planted . ''

I got to know Dorothy in the early 1980s , when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program with Union College in Barbourville , Kentucky .

The job responsibilities requested occasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program .

Dorothy stands out in my memory as one who `` bloomed '' in her remote area .

Dorothy taught in a school In Harlan County , Kentucky , Appalachian Mountain area .

To get to her school from the town of Harlan , I followed a road winding around the mountain .

In the eight-mile journey , I crossed the same railroad track five times , giving the possibility of getting caught by the same train five times .

Rather than feeling excited by this drive through the mountains , I found it depressing .

The poverty level was shocking and the small shabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of hopelessness .

From the moment of my arrival at the little school , all gloom disappeared .

I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen .

The children had been prepared to show me their latest projects .

Dorothy told me with a big smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread for `` dinner '' ( lunch ) .

In case you do n't know , poke greens are a weed-type plant that grows wild , especially on poor ground .

Dorothy never ran out of reports of exciting activities of her students .

When it came time to sit for the testing and interviewing required to receive her Child Development Associate Certification , Dorothy was ready .

She came to the assessment and passed in all areas .

Afterward , she invited me to the one-and-only steak house in the area to celebrate her victory , as if she had received her Ph .

After the meal , she placed a little box containing an old pen in my hand .

She said it was a family heirloom , but to me it is a treasured symbol of appreciation and pride that can not be matched with things .


When learning a second language , it is important to study the culture of the language you 're learning .

Anyone can learn another language 's grammar from a textbook , but what good is this learning if you do n't understand the culture of the person you 're speaking to ?

Only in learning another language and its culture will you be able to proficiently communicate with a person in that language .

There are many ways to enhance your language studies by studying the country 's culture ; this can include reading literature , watching movies , or listening to popular music .

Many schools in the United States emphasize the importance of culture understanding in language classes .

Instead of memorizing only vocabulary words and grammar patterns , classes from elementary schools to universities are teaching literature , pop songs , and films in their classes .

From these various mediums students can learn a great deal about the culture of a language they study .

These different forms of media can teach various characteristics about the language , culture , and history of a society .

Literature can allow you to understand the history and current debates confronting a culture .

For example , if you read John Steinbeck 's GraPes of Wrath you can understand the history and problems of ordinary American farmers in the Great Depression .

In watching films one can learn about what is popular in a society , and also slang phrases one definitely wo n't find in a textbook .

In pop songs one can understand what the current craze in a culture is ; what kind of music people like to listen to , what that culture finds romantic , and even what the contemporary `` cool '' viewpoint in that society is .

If you truly are interested in learning a language , do n't underestimate the importance of learning about the language 's home culture .

Of course one must learn a language 's grammar and vocabulary , but this will only get you so far in actually being able to communicate effectively .

So if you are learning a language , take the time to also study the culture .


There are millions of used cell phones in the world today .

Most of them just lay in our houses without any purpose .

Every day dozens of new cell phone models appear .

Today , you can find what was regarded as a fantasy yesterday in store and you will buy it tomorrow .

But what to do with the old phones , which work well enough and not so old ?

Simply Sellular is buying almost all models of cell phones : LG , Motorola , Siemens , Samsung , Sanyo , Nokia and many other cell phones .

Also they accept phones produced in every country , and in every condition .

Simply Sellular can offer a good price for your old cell phone in cash .

Their mission is giving you a simple way to get money for an old phone , as simple and profitable , as possible .

Also they offer a trade-in scheme to get another model instead of your phone , providing a good service after the sale .

Also Simply Sellular works with the so-called 911 cell phone program .

So you can donate your cell phone to them to help some people who need it .

They know what to do with your old phone !

You can be interested in their recycling programs , where every used cell phone could be easily recycled for a few times .

Simply Sellular donates some phones , which are good for refurbish , to people who need it , for example women or military personnel .

If the refurbish is impossible they just recycle cell phones .

Just think a minute : it 's a good deal to get some money for your old cell phone , a good deal to help somebody with your phone and really important to recycle all techniques after use .

Working with Simply Sellular you get every possibility ly free .


When people who are nature lovers worldwide wish all humans to realize the importance of their natural surroundings , many Australians are turning caring for the environment into a way of life .

Julie , an Australian housewife in Brisbane is one such example .

Even though autumn is approaching Australia 's Brisbane in April , one can still watch colorful blooming flowers in Julie 's little garden , as she tells that in her community , `` Each of us has a beautiful yard .

The whole community , from children to elderly people , takes care of the environment as if they are taking care of their own garden . ''

`` Gardening is the most popular club in our community , '' she says .

`` A lot of retired people do n't just regularly organize gardening lectures , but also personally visit families in the community to provide gardening training .

So you can see that flowers continue to blossom in our gardens throughout the year . ''

Talking about her people 's sense of caring for the environment , Julie says when people in the community take along their dog , they always carry a garbage bag to deal with the dog 's waste .

`` In our community , you will never experience the embarrassment of stepping on the dirty waste while you are walking on the grass , '' says Julie with a smile .

`` Taking care of the dog 's waste can also help to develop children 's sense of responsibility ! ''

As to protecting water resources , the Australian government has made strict rules for families .

Julie says , `` We certainly would not use tap water to water the flowers ! ''

She says almost every family in her community has a huge tank used to store rainwater , which is later used as the resource of all outdoor water use , including car washing and watering the garden .

This year , they also asked people to connect the water tank with their toilets .


I am writing in regard to the Administrative Assistant position that is available at Trinity Client Publications .

I have just completed the Office Administration program at Frayer College and am excited to try my skills in the real world .

I have a good knowledge of basic computer programs , and have writing , editing , and critical thinking skills .

I work well with tight deadlines , and am a highly-motivated self-starter .

At past jobs I have checked and corrected letters , taken notes , and made plans .

I am efficient and accurate in all my work .

Please consult the enclosed resume for additional information about my work experience .

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application .

If you have any questions you can reach me at ( 566 ) 734-4470 or at akwak @ cvva.ca .


Recently , many people have begun to try a new way of doing shopping through the Internet .

Why is it becoming more and more popular now ?

First , more and more people have their own computers and their computers can be joined with the Internet .

So it is possible for many of them to do shopping through the Internet .

Second , shopping through the Internet can save them some money and a lot of time .

Third , they do n't need to go to the shop themselves .

Because of these good facts , few people refuse it .

On the other hand , some people do n't like this new way of shopping .

They are worried about the safety of shopping online .

Customers can only see the pictures of a product on the Internet .

And they ca n't enjoy the pleasure of buying things in a large supermarket or a wonderful shopping center .

These are the reasons why they do not like it .

But I think more and more people will like this new kind of shopping in the future .


`` Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao ? ''

says Wang Wei , 28 , a writer in Beijing .

Taobao , China 's largest online shopping site , has become an important part of Wang Lin 's life .

A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joys of online shopping .

Most online shoppers are students or young workers .

Clothing and home -use products are the most popular on line .

It was reported that 250 billion yuan was spent on line shopping last year , eighty percent through Taobao .

Taobao means `` looking for _ e '' in Chinese .

People can find almost everything they need on Taobao , from clothes to books , from candies to DVD players .

You may question the _ of online shopping Wang said , `` It 's very safe and convenient .

Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them , the shop owner will not get the money .

You can also get your money back if you want to return the product ''


Children seem to care so much about their names .

A study showed that 25 % of young children feel they could n't live any more if you took away their name .

Another study shows that about one third of all young people wish their parents had given them a different name .

In many cultures , there are special ideas about how to choose a name .

For example , many people choose a name that has been in their family for many years .

It tells the child where he or she has come from .

Many parents search books that tell them the meanings of names .

They could choose a name that carries a message .

For example , Edith means `` valuable gift '' .

Names like these tell family and friends how happy they are with their new baby .

Other names can say something about the events during the birth of the child .

In Africa , a first born son may have the name Mosi and the name Ama means `` born on Saturday '' .

Some experts say that they can , but others disagree .

Is every girl called Malak like an angel ?

And is every girl called Mahira quick and full of energy ?

No parent can tell what kind of person their child will grow up to be .

Just because parents name a boy Fahim , it does n't mean he will be clever .


Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since .

A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water .

He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away .

He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son .

A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins `` Twinkle , twinkle , little star '' or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears .

One explanation is the law of overlearning , which can be stated as follows : Once we have learned something , additional learning trials increase the length of time we will remember it .

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming , bicycle riding , and playing baseball long after we have learned them .

We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as `` Twinkle , twinkle , little star '' and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks .

The multiplication tables are an exception to the general rule .

that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school , because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood .

The law of overlearning explains why cramming for an examination , though it may result in a passing grade , is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course .

By cramming , a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination , but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned .

A little overlearning , on the other hand , is really necessary for one 's future development


Lohri is an agricultural festival , filled with merrymaking .

It is celebrated in the state of Punjab on the 13th of January , which falls one day before Makar Sankranti .

While Lohri is essentially a Punjabi festival , it is celebrated in some other states of North India as well .

In cities like Delhi , which has a large population , Lohri is celebrated to show the end of the coldest days of winter .

The last week of December and the first two weeks of January are usually the coldest period in Punjab and other areas of North India .

However , after Lohri , the temperature starts to rise .

During the day , children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti , the Punjabi translation of Robin Hood , a thief who helped the poor and fought for their rights .

These children are given sweets and food , and sometimes they are also given money .

These munchies that the children collect are known as Lohri , and they are distributed at night during the festival .

The festival of Lohri is celebrated outdoors .

As it is usually very cold on the 13th of January , a bonfire is lit , and friends and s gather around .

If there has been a happy occasion in the family , like the birth of a child or a marriage , Lohri is celebrated with much greater happiness .

The happy family usually hosts a party to celebrate the first Lohri of the new child or couple .

Singing and dancing form an important part of the celebrations .

People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the best of the dhol .

Punjabi songs are sung , and everybody is happy .


Snack time is a part of the day for children of all ages .

But new research suggests that kids snacking in big groups could be at risk for obesity .

Scientists from American University looked at the eating behavior of 54 kids between the ages of 2 and 6 .

At snack time , the scientist watched the amount of food each child ate while they were in groups of either three or nine .

According to the study , the more children there are in a group , the more likely they are to eat more .

Those in the larger group ate nearly 30 percent more than those in the smaller group , and they actually ate faster .

Since this is the first such study in children , scientists are quick to point out the importance of encouraging healthy habits in kids as early as possible .

`` If you know kids eat more in large groups , it seems perfect to use this information to keep snack groups small or use small tables , '' says Dr. Jana Klauer , an expert in New York .

Smaller groups would allow for a quiet and more relaxing environment-a perfect chance to teach children about food , manners and how to know when they feel full .

`` This would have an effect on kids ' eating , '' adds Klauer .

`` They would slow down and eat less . ''


Under China 's current educational system , there are those who do nothing but study .

They of course are thought to be model students .

But I feel that there is another type of student who , perhaps not as diligent as the first type , uses his time more efficiently and achieves a lot academically .

Last year , a classmate of mine was accepted by a top university .

It was because , unlike most of us , he did n't spend too much of his time studying .

When I asked him the secret of his success , he said that the key was properly and scientifically arranging his time .

`` I spent a lot of time keeping fit and as a result , I was able to better concentrate on my class work . ''

The moral of the story is : it is n't necessary to sit at your desk all day long to get high academic grades .


The person behind you constantly kicks the back of your seat .

Your talkative seatmate does n't understand your need for sleep .

And the aircraft 's bathroom is a total mess .

These situations can make even a short flight unbearable .

Hopefully you do n't cause these unpleasant experiences for others .

Instead , you can set an example by following these common airplane courtesies .

There 's nothing worse than suddenly being slammed in the knees by the seat in front of you .

In addition , do n't keep your seat reclined for the entire flight .

Always keep it upright position before going to the restroom ( or anytime you leave your seat ) .

Avoid going to the bathroom during mealtime .

Wait until the meal is done and all the food trays have been collected .

It 's hard for passengers to stand up to let you pass when they still have their food trays .

And when using the bathroom , always clean up after your-self-the next user will be grateful !

Keep your body -- and your possessions-to yourself as much as possible so as not to crowd your in-flight seatmate ( s ) .

Share the armrest , especially on a long flight .

Also , be careful not to kick or push on the seat in front of you , and do n't allow your children to do so either .

While some people enjoy chatting with other passengers during a flight , not everyone does .

Some people may want to nap , read or work .

If the conversation seems one -- sided , take the hint .

If you are traveling with someone and want to chat , keep your voices low .

If using electronic gadgets , keep the volume down .

People can still hear through your headphones if the volume is too high .

When exiting the plane , if others are having trouble with their carry-on luggage , help them if you can .

If you ca n't help , wait patiently , and do n't push past people to get off the airplane .

On your next flight , remember that it all boils down to the golden rule .

Treat others the way you want to be treated !


European Work Experience Program ( E.W.E.P .

) is an independent British organization which began in 1991 in the city of London .

E.W.E.P.provides the opportunity for students from the 25 countries of the European Union and nationals from Norway , Iceland , Switzerland and Liechtenstein to live in England , to gain work experience , to practice their English and to get a better insight into the British social and eulturallife .

To apply you must meet the following requirements :

*Be able to work in the UK for a period of at least two months .

*Must have a good knowledge of English .

*Due to work permit restrictions , European Work Experience Program Ltd will only select you if you are a European Union Member or national from Norway , Iceland , Switzerland and Liechtenstein .

European Work Experience Program Ltd will find you a suitable job and an accommodation .

A representative of E.W.E.P.will be available during your stay to help you and you will get a 24-hour help line service during your stay .

The TOTAl fee for our services is PS264.63 ( 394.35 Euros ) .

Should you require any further information , please contact us :

Unit 1 , Red Lion Court , Alexandra Road


There are hundreds of expressions of words using `` hand '' in the English language .

Let us examine some of the expressions that use `` hand '' .

`` To get a hand in '' is to begin a job , to begin to know something about it .

When we learn completely , we will be able to do it hands down .

If we do the job well , we may end up with the upper hand .

On the other hand , if the situation gets out of hand , it is out of control .

We must consider another way of expressing phrase -- -- to hand it to someone .

For example , I must hand it to you for understanding what we have discussed this far .

You can also lend a hand to someone but without really giving up your hand .

If someone is kind enough to lend us a hand then we surely do not want to bite the hand that feeds us .

We do not want to repay his kindness by treating him badly .

Now , we have a free hand to continue examining other `` hand '' expressions .

It means you are free to act without getting permission from someone else .

Maybe you can find a friend who wants to take a hand in our project .

It would have to be someone who was interested in these expressions .

Your friend may want to work hand in glove with us .

That is good because that means he wants to work as closely with us as a glove covers the hand .

Of course , there is a danger that he may look at our project and decide to take it in hand .

If that happens , we may throw up our hands because the situation seams hopeless .

In fact , we may decide that it is time for us to end this project to wash our hands of `` hand '' expressions .


Centerville High School Essay Contest `` Write All About It ''

Calling All Aspiring Authors -- Centerville High School Essay Contest

1.Students are asked to present essays of 500 to 700 words of their own work .

Any essay containing material plagiarized from another source will be disqualified .

2.Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced , with the student 's name , address , and grade level on a separate sheet of paper .

3.Essays must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on November 30 .

They can be brought to Mrs. Elton in Rom 104 or to Mr. Markham in the school library .

1.Catch your readers ' interests -- Your opening should immediately pull your readers into your essay .

Asking a question or starting with an story , quotation , or surprising statement is a good way to do this .

2.Create a picture -- Use active words that show your readers what is happening .

Instead of telling your readers vaguely that `` the room was disordered '' , paint a picture using active verbs and lively adjectives .

3.Have a purpose -- Well-written essays do more than just describe an incident or express a viewpoint , and they also communicate a message .

4.Check for mistakes -- Read your paper over to check for mistakes .

Ask another student to read your paper and make suggestions .

Another pair of eyes will often spot a mistake you 've overlooked .

5.Format your essay -- Neatly type your essay on white paper .

Choose an attractive cover for submission .

The computer lab will be open after school from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. each day this month so that students can use the computers .

Winning essays will be published in the Centerville Times .

Every contestant will also receive a free pass to enter one school activity or athletic game this year .

Special thanks to the Centerville Writers ' Association for the prizes to help encourage our aspiring authors .


The weather is getting warmer and warmer .

It is fun to play outside , but people are afraid to play outside these days , because of the H7N9 virus .

The H7N9 virus is one type of influenza A H7 viruses .

Influenza A H7 viruses mainly affectbirds but sometimes they can also affect humans .

Most people infected with H7N9 virus look like they had a common flu .

They had a fever , a cough and shortness of breath .

This March , H7N9 virus hit Shanghai , Anhui , Jiangsu and Zhejiang .

Up until April 11th , the number of people infected had reached 35 .

But do n't be afraid , some cases are curable .

A 4-year-old boy in Shanghai and a 67-year-old man in Hangzhou got the virus , and they are getting better .

Besides , it 's not easy to be infected by the H7N9 virus .

There are some ways to save ourselves from this .

First , wash your hands with soap and running water before you eat and after you use the toilet .

You should do the same after you touch animals or animal waste .

Second , cover your nose and mouth with your elbow when coughing .

Third , you should have a good rest and do some exercises , so your body can become strong enough to beat the virus .


Why it 's cool : You 've stayed at hotels made of brick or wood , but salt ?

Tayka Hotel de Sal is made totally of salt -- including the beds ( though you 'll sleep on regular mattresses and blankets ) .

The hotel sits on the Salar de Uyuni , a prehistoric dried-up lake that 's the world 's biggest salt flat .

Builders use the salt from the 4,633-square-mile flat to make the bricks , and glue them together with a paste of wet salt that hardens when it dries .

When rain starts to dissolve the hotel , the owners just mix up more salt paste to strengthen the bricks .

Why it 's cool : Riding a pulley -operated lift 86 feet to your treetop room is just the start of your adventure .

As you look out of your open window -- there is no glass !

-- you watch monkeys and birds in the rain forest canopy .

Later you might test your fear of heights by crossing the handmade rope bridge to the main part of the hotel , or just sit on your bamboo bed and read .

You do n't even have to come down for breakfast -- the hotel will send it up on the pulley-drawn `` elevator '' .

Why it 's cool : This doghouse is n't just for the family pet .

Sweet Willy is a 30-foot-tall dog with guest rooms in his belly .

Climb the wooden stairs beside his hind leg to enter the door in his side .

You can relax in the main bedroom , go up a few steps to the loft in Willy 's head , or hang out inside his nose .

Although you have a full private bathroom in your quarters , there is also a toilet in the 12-foot-tall fire hydrant outside .

How much : Between $ 130 and $ 475 a night .

Experience what it was like 5,000 years ago , when people lived in these mountain caves formed by volcanic ash .

But your stay will be much more modern .

Bathrooms and electricity provide what you expect from a modern hotel , and the white volcanic ash , called tufa , keeps the rooms cool , about 65degFin summer .

( Do n't worry -- there is heat in winter . )


Treetops , the hotel in the trees , are famous in the world .

People know little about Kenya , but they know of Treetops .

When King George VI died , Princess Elizabeth was staying on the Treetops , and when she came down from there , `` She succeeded him as the queen of the country '' .

The hotel is in the middle of the forest , and it shows the pleasure of Africa .

When you visit it , you will be sent into the heart of the forest by hotel buses , and then a guide , with a gun to protect you against big game , will go with you to the Treetops .

Before and after dinner , for the whole night if you wish , you can sit on the corridor , watching animals come to the water pool .

The earliest hotel Treetops was built round a large tree on the opposite side of the water , but that was destroyed by fire and the new hotel Treetops , which is built round several trees , is much bigger .

The dining room at Treetops is small , and the waiters can not walk round to serve guests , so a clever `` railway service '' has been invented .

Guests take their food as it passes slowly in front of them , along a line in the center of the table .

There are many animals around the Treetops .

-- -Animals and their babies are waiting to greet the guests .

-- -Animals , enjoying the Treetops pool in the daylight .

-- -A long bodied , long ring tailed very active cat-like animal is a special one coming out at night .

He hunts and eats anything he can catch and is very destructive .

Do not get too near to him , as his teeth and claws can do you harm .

These animals can be trained and become lovely pets .


This year , some twenty-three hundred teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in their US homes .

They will attend US schools , meet US teenagers , and form impressions of the real America .

At the same time , about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world .

Here is a two-way students exchange in action .

Fred , nineteen , spent last year in Germany with George 's family .

In turn , George 's son Mike spent a year in Fred 's home in America .

Fred knew little German when he arrived , but after two months ' study , the language began to come to him .

School was completely different from what he had expected -- - much harder .

Students rose respectfully when a teacher entered the room .

They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States .

There were almost no extracurricular activities .

The father 's word was law , and all activities were around the family rather than the individual .

Fred found the food too simple at first .

'Back home , you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time .

In Germany , you walk , but you soon learn to like it . '

At the same time , in America , Mike , a friendly German boy , was also forming his idea .

'I suppose I should criticize American schools , ' he said .

But I have to say that I like it very much .

There ought to be some middle ground between the two . '


One day he went to stay at a hotel in New York .

He hoped to have the cheapest room to live in .

Mr Jones asked , `` What price is the room ? '' .

I ' m staying here by myself and only need a small room . ''

The boss said , `` That room is the smallest and cheapest we have .

But why do you choose a poor room like that ?

When your son stays here , he always stays at our dearest room .

`` Yes , '' said Mr Jones , `` his father is a very rich man , but mine isn ' t . ''


One day , when my wife and I were leaving a restaurant , I heard a man 's voice from a car in the car-park .

After a quick look at the car , I noticed the Pennsylvania license plate at once , so I knew they had come from far away .

The young man had his head partly out of the window and spoke to me as I moved closer , `` Excuse me , my wife and I are trying to find a room for the night and every place in the area seems to be filled up .

Do you have any suggestions for us where we might find a room ? ''

After all , it was the busy time of the year for tourism .

As he spoke , I noticed that his wife was pregnant .

I told them that they should just keep searching and wished them good luck in their search .

The young husband did n't say any other words and backed out of the car-park and headed off .

We also got into our car and drove home .

After a short drive , I could n't get this young couple out of my mind .

Here they were , traveling in a different state , tired , the wife pregnant .

It was at that moment that my wife told me we needed to go back and find that couple .

I 'm happy that this story had a happy ending .

We found them in the end , gave them a room , and now we are close friends .


On the way home from school , Jack always passes a park .

His mother said it was dangerous to pass by the park at night , but it is the fastest way home .

Today , after finishing soccer practice , Jack was walking toward the park as usual .

Suddenly , Jack heard someone calling him , `` Excuse me ! ''

Jack turned around , and there was an old woman .

`` Okay , ma'am , '' said Jack carelessly .

The old woman held Jack 's hand strongly , and said , `` I mean it ! ''

Jack felt the hairs on his neck stand up .

As soon as the lady let go of his hand , he started to run .

This time , he ran so fast that he did n't have time to think where he was going .

When he stopped , he realized he was in the middle of the park .

He remembered what the old woman had said , but it was too late .

He thought , `` It would be okay if I run really fast . ''

Jack was too frightened to wonder who it was .

He heard some fast footsteps approaching , so he turned around .

She walked toward him , and shouted `` I told you not to come here ! ''

Frightened to death , Jack screamed sharply and ran home like an arrow .

He thought he heard not only the old lady , but also some other people shouting at him , and it made him more terrified .

As soon as Jack saw his mother , Jack said , `` Mom !

Do you know what just happened at the park ? ''

Jack 's mother nodded , and said , `` Yes , I know .

There is a movie shooting tonight in the park . ''


In a movie , a woman reads a storybook to her friend 's daughter .

As they approach the last page , she reads , `` ... and Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after . ''

She closes the book and looks at the young girl , adding , `` You know , things do n't always happen like this in real life , I just think you should know that now . ''

We were all raised on fairy tales with glass slippers , brave princes and magic !

It did n't take too long to realize that stories like that are n't necessarily true .

In real life , you learn that glass slippers are really uncomfortable , no prince is perfect and magic does n't always work .

So what do you do when the way you planned things is not the way they turned out ?

Know that parts of your fairy tale have already been written , and sadly , there 's not much you can do about those first few chapters .

Whatever falls and failures happened in your past , there 's still more to the story .

Your life has a lot of contributors , and you are the editor-in-chief .

You take what 's there and create the masterpiece .

All the good pages and the bad can come together to make a beautiful adventure .

When you find yourself wishing your life was more like the fairy tales , remember that in some ways it already is .

There will be dragons , bad witches , great romances , winding roads and friends to help you along the way .

Live your life carefully and positively as if you are writing a long story .

Whether it 's a comedy , tragedy or a little of both , the pen is in your hand .


I 'm in Beijing Sunshine Secondary School .

He lives with his parents and his two sisters in New York .

There are four people in her family -- her parents , her brother and Mary .

Mary 's mother is an English teacher and her father is a doctor .

But now he is in Beijing with his parents .

He often visits his grandparents with his sister at the weekend .


The widespread number of food scandals in China is making many people

pause before they put their chopsticks in their mouths .

they are eating is clean , healthy and nutritious or does it contain something harmful

Most of the food we eat today is processed food .

That means the foods we buy in stores and supermarkets , especially packaged foods , are prepared in factories .

Chemicals are added to the foods in these factories to make them look better , taste better and last longer on the shelf .

The chemicals are supposed to be harmless and there are laws that regulate which chemicals can and ca n't be used .

Unfortunately , some producers do not obey the laws .

A producer of steamed buns in Zhejiang Province was recently discovered to be breaking the law .

He was adding yellow dye and other banned chemicals to the buns .

He was also taking old buns and using them to make new buns .

Most of the buns were sold to schools and eaten by students ... like you !

Why did he break the law and endanger people 's health ?

The answer is simple : he wanted to make more money .

It was a moral failing , and this is at the heart of the scandals in China .

Too many people focus on making money and not on the effects their action can have on others .


People who are about the same age as you are your peers .

Peers include your friends and your classmates .

They have strong influence on your actions .

Your peers influence how you think , how you act , and even how you dress .

Peer pressure is the influence that people of the same age have on one another .

Sometimes your peers influence you in a helpful or positive way .

A friend may notice that you have problems in math .

And he might invite you to join a study group or show you how to solve a difficult problem during lunch .

Sometimes your peers influence you in a negative or unhealthy way .

Your friend also knows that underage smoking is against the law .

This bad influence is negative peer pressure .

Your peers may not always realize they are influencing you in a negative way .

a friend might invite you to the movies .

You would love to go , but you have a lot of housework to do .

In situations like this you should make a wise decision .

You can learn to deal with negative peer pressure .

Keep away from people who try to influence your behavior in harmful ways .

Though it is not always easy to say no , it 's really necessary to learn to do that .

look at the person and say no in a firm but polite voice .

Make sure your face shows that you are serious .

Let the person know you will not back down .

Explain why you wo n't do what the person wants .

Remember to say goodbye and walk away if he or she continues .


In much of the world , authority is not challenged either out of respect or out of fear , sometimes , too , because a hierarchy of rank has been fixed for so long that people have been trained for generations never to challenge it .

In such countries children are not expected to question their teachers in school , and young scholars or inventive industrial talents are hampered in technical research because they hesitate to disagree with their `` superiors '' .

Clever researchers may be considered too young to have `` any right '' to present findings that do not agree with knowledge and wisdom of their elders .

The American is trained from children to question , analyze and search .

`` Go look it up for yourself '' , a child will be told .

School tasks are designed to demand the use of a wide range of materials .

An assignment to `` write a paper on the world 's supply of sugar '' will send even a young child in search of completely unfamiliar ideas .

Even in the primary grades , children are taught to use libraries , and to search for new ideas .

By the time they are 14 , 15 , and 16 , many young scholars are making original and valuable contributions in all fields of science .

Industry is so aware of this resource that each year , through national competitions , it offers tremendous awards among teenagers to seek out the brilliant minds across the country .

As seen by members of other nations , this emphasis on questioning and searching is bad for young people 's `` manners '' .

Foreigners often feel great `` lack of respect '' in our youth .

Foreign visitors are often surprised and frequently annoyed to find junior staff members `` daring '' to challenge older ones or argue points with them ; they do not always like it when these young men make detailed but often revolutionary suggestions .

One 's own plans , reports of analyses may be looked through in detail -- -perhaps even challenged -- -by a young person .

This is not to be considered a loss of face ; nor is it a sign of `` no confidence '' .

Our whole approach to research is different .

Your ideas are being looked at , not you yourself .

We are seeking facts ; we are not challenging you as a person .

So , too , even in social conversation you will find that people often argue , pick an idea apart , ask for your sources or challenge your conclusions .

They do not mean to be rude ; they are keenly interested and merely trying to explore the idea in greater depth .


As Sam slowly woke , he got a funny feeling in his stomach .

He knew he would have to do something that he had been afraid to do for a long time .

The school bus came on time , and he sat with his friend , Billy .

It was a great way to get his mind off what he had to do later .

As they got close to the school , he could feel his heart beating .

She was smiling , and saying hello to all her students as she did every morning .

`` Hi , '' he said and quickly sat in his seat .

Then the class began to take their spelling test .

Mrs. Owens said it was time to begin their special day .

Mrs. Owens said to the class , `` Sam has worked very hard on his report on Hawaii , and I know it is very interesting . ''

Then , he thought about the fun things he had read about surfing , volcanoes , and pineapples in Hawaii , and he started to talk .

He talked in front of the whole class , and it was fun .

The class clapped as he finished and Mrs. Owens was smiling .

It was n't terrible at all and he knew he would do better the next time .


After having exercise in the gym tonight , I just had a shower to relax for a while .

While calming myself down with soft music , I started to recall what happened in the daytime and wrote it down .

The accident that gave me much thought happened on my way to the gym after work .

When I walked about half way , I saw that many people surrounded something on the roadside and they were worried and shocked .

I joined them and found there was a man lying on the ground .

I noticed that he was a young man around 30 years old .

From his dressing , I simply judged that he worked in the office .

The hospital ambulance came over and some nurses did the regular check for him .

A nurse said that there was nothing serious with him but his body was very weak , which should be caused by overwork and less exercise .

It 's a really sad thing for a young person to fall down in the street .

A couple of days ago , I read a magazine mentioning that there is an increasing number of businessmen and white-collar workers with unhealthy bodies .

Under huge pressure , they put all their time and energy to work and ca n't find enough time for a good meal or a good sleep , let alone exercise .

But they forget that without health , work is equivalent to zero .

As I realize how important it is to put the health matter ahead , I am willing to do more exercise .

I know exercise can bring me enjoyment and health .

I know without health , even a most successful career and a great quantity of money will lose their meanings .

When I got out of the gym , I felt that every cell in my body was refreshed and I was able to have more energy to write the words above .


One thinks of princes and presidents as some of the most powerful people in the world ; however , governments , elected or otherwise , sometimes have had to struggle with the financial powerhouses called tycoons .

The word tycoon is relatively new to the English language .

It is Chinese in origin but was given as a title to some Japanese generals .

The term was brought to the United States , in the late nineteenth century , where it eventually was used to refer to magnates who acquired immense fortunes from sugar and cattle , coal and oil , rubber and steel , and railroads .

Some people called these tycoons `` capitals of industry '' and praised them for their contributions to U.S. wealth and international reputation .

Others criticized them as cruel `` robber barons '' , who would stop at nothing in pursuit of personal wealth .

The early tycoons built successful businesses , often taking over smaller companies to eliminate competition .

A single company that came to control an entire market was called a monopoly .

Monopolies made a few families very wealthy , but they also placed a heavy financial burden on consumers and the economy at large .

As the country expanded and railroads linked the East Coast to the West Coast , local monopolies turned into national corporations called trusts .

A trust is a group of companies that join together under the control of a board of trustees .

Railroad trusts are an excellent example .

Railroads were privately owned and operated and often monopolized various routes , setting rates as high as they desired .

The financial burden this placed on passengers and businesses increased when railroads formed trusts .

Farmers , for example , had no choice but to pay , as railroads were the only means they could use to get their grain to buyers .

Exorbitant goods rates put some farmers out of business .

There were even accusations that the trusts controlled government itself by buying votes and manipulating elected officials .

In 1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust .

Act , legislation aimed at breaking the power of such trusts .

The Sherman Antitrust Act focused on two main issues .

First of all , it made illegal any effort to interfere with the normal conduct of interstate trade .

It also made it illegal to monopolize any part of business that operates across state lines .

Over the next 60 years or so , Congress passed other antitrust laws in an effort to encourage competition and restrict the power of larger corporations .


Most people consider skydiving a product of the 20th century , but its history actually goes further back than that .

The Chinese attempted to parachute in the 10th century , a thousand years before we did .

The Chinese did what we would today call base diving ; that is , they jumped off a place that would allow them to float from a height to the ground .

The first person to attempt to parachute was a Frenchman named Jacques Garnerin .

He jumped from his hot-air balloon at the end of the 18th century and did tricks on the way down and stupefied the crowds by landing safely on the ground .

At the end of the 19th century , Kathie Paulus , a brave German woman , became famous for her skydiving skills .

Once the airplane was invented , skydiving took on a whole new form .

The airplane made it possible to dive from greater heights at greater speeds , allowing for more range in the movements in the air .

A woman named Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to jump from a plane in 1913 and dive free fall in 1914 .

Skydiving was not called skydiving until the middle of the 1950s , when Ronald Young invented the word .

It had been called parachuting before this and was mainly used by the military to land troops in inland locations , or for pilots to jump out of their planes when necessary .

Once World War I was over , parachuting became a sport , which we now call skydiving .

After World War II , this activity became more a hobby than a military action .

Soldiers were trained in parachuting and enjoyed the thrill so much that they continued on for fun .

From this , teams and competitions were formed .

Skydiving schools appeared in the late 1950s and now it is a recognized extreme sport enjoyed by many .


A growing number of students in the United States are studying Mandarin .

More and more people speak Mandarin than those who speak other languages in the world .

Schools that teach Mandarin want to prepare students for a future in which they are likely to work with people from China .

Business in China is booming , and that trend is expected to grow .

The US government is trying to encourage even more public schools to teach Mandarin .

Officials are considering spending about $ 1 billion on Mandarin programs in schools .

The Chinese government has donated Mandarin textbooks to US schools .

Some schools are also taking part in teacher exchange programs with China .

`` It is important for students to learn Mandarin and Chinese culture , '' said Mary Patterson , a school principal in Portland , Oregon .

`` Students who do so will have wider opportunities when they become adults . ''


Once a traveller came into a village which was suffering from hunger .

The villagers asked him to leave , for they feared he wanted them to give him food .

The traveller explained that he did n't need any food and that , in fact , he was planning to make a soup to share with them instead .

The villagers watched suspiciously as he built a fire and filled a pot with water With great ceremony , he pulled a stone from a bag , and dropped the stone into the pot of water .

After a moment , he smelt the soup and shouted with excitement , `` How delicious the soup is ! ''

As the villagers began to show interest , he mentioned how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage in it .

A villager brought out a cabbage to share .

This episode repeated itself until the soup had cabbage , carrots , onions , and beets -- indeed , a full pot of soup that could feed everyone in the village was ready .

This story describes when there are not enough resources , humans will store things .

The story of stone soup helps us realize that , in doing so , we often prevent ourselves and everyone else from having a feast .

The meaning of this story goes far beyond food .

We keep to ourselves ideas , love , and energy , thinking we will be richer , but in fact we make the world , and ourselves , poorer .

The traveller was able to see that the villagers were holding back , and he had the ability to inspire them to give .

In this way , they created a large meal that none of them could have created alone .

If you come forward and share your gifts , you will inspire others to do the same .

The reward is a feast that can feed many .


Medalists of the 1948 London Olympic Games look back on their summer of victory .

I first had my Olympic dream at 12 , when they held the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles .

My father and I were at a grocery store , and I asked , `` What are all the flags doing here ? ''

He said , `` We are having the Olympic Games .

That 's where they honor the greatest athletes in the world . ''

I said , `` Papa , someday I 'm going to be an Olympic champ . ''

Walking up the 10-meter platform , I thought to myself , `` I 've waited 16 years for this moment .

So I prayed to God that I was most deserving of winning the Games .

During the war , I spent six years in Royal Air Force .

I think in general , the 1948 Olympics meant very little to most people .

We were too busy after the war to be worried about sport very much anyway .

Our team had about six weeks before the Olympics down at Torquay and we went out sailing every day .

It was nice to stand on the platform with lots of people cheering .

In 1945 the war came to an end and I started rowing again .

In 1948 we were still on rations : 4 oz .

But the United States had all the meat they wanted .

On the day of the final , we led the Americans at the start , but their stronger staying power took them through to win .

There were no ribbons on the medals , so we just showed them round the family .

At 14 I left school and got a job delivering groceries on a bicycle , which excited my interest in cycling .

When the war broke out , I volunteered but was held back , so I continued riding .

After my team won our bronze medals , we went home just round the corner and had a sit-down and a chat and a laugh .


- A Japanese university is giving away Apple Inc 's ( AAPL .

O ) trendy iPhone to students for free , but with a catch : the device will be used to check their attendance .

The project , which is being tested ahead of its formal launch in June , involves 550 first and second year students and some staff of a department at Aoyama Gakuin University , which is located just outside Tokyo in Sagamihara city .

The school 's iPhones are meant to create a mobile information network between students and professors , but they are also a convenient way for the teachers to take attendance in class .

As students enter the room , instead of writing their name on a sheet , they simply type in their ID number and a specific class number into an iPhone application .

To prevent students from logging in from home or outside class , the application uses GPS location data and checks which router the students have logged in to .

`` We do n't want to use this to simply take attendance .

Our hope is to use this to develop a classroom where students and teachers can discuss various topics , '' professor Yasuhiro Iijima told Reuters as he demonstrated the application .

University officials insist the project is not intended to infringe on students ' privacy or track them down .

`` With Japanese cellphones it 's possible that the location data is automatically sent .

However , with the iPhone , you must always confirm before the GPS data can be sent , '' Iijima said .

Many of the students testing the system said they were happy with it .

`` Up until now , we 've been using little slips of paper to take attendance .

But with a cell phone , you do n't have to spend time collecting all of those and so I think it 's quite nice , '' 20-year-old student Yuki Maruya .

When the system goes fully online next month , the university also hopes to provide video podcasts of lectures to help students who missed classes , or just ca n't remember their lessons .


Weekends are normally a time for shopping and last Saturday was no exception .

My son Henry and I were shopping in a neighborhood market .

Henry was busy weighing each new bag of vegetables I selected .

I gave him a bag of potatoes and he walked over to the scale and waited in line .

Suddenly , a man rushed over from behind , and stepped before him , hitting him out of the way .

Seeing this I left my shopping cart and walked over to Henry , saying loudly , `` Are you OK , honey ?

When the man finished weighing his bag , his sudden turning around made all his onions fall to the ground .

The three of us stood there , frozen for a moment .

And then I bent down on my hands and knees and started collecting onions .

After I handed the onions to the man , he accepted them and put them into his bag .

After Henry and I picked up all the onions , the man walked away without saying anything .

We did n't discuss the event until we got back in the car .

On the way back home , Henry said through tears , `` Mommy , I 've a frustrating day .

And we had to help him pick up his onions !

I took a deep breath and said , `` Henry , that man seemed to have a very bad mood today .

I was also angry with the man for treating you rudely .

But doing that does n't make any sense .

If we had n't helped him , we might have felt good for a moment , but then I bet we would have felt really sorry for a long time .

People who behave badly still need love . ''

A cheerful smile appeared on Henry 's face .

It may have been my best mommy moment ever .


Happiness can mean different things to different people .

For example , for one person , it may mean being in a relationship , while for someone else it may mean feeling you have the ability to handle whatever life throws at you .

While you might think that there are certain things that make you happy ( or could make you happy if you had them ) , research has shown that there are certain common qualities among happy people -- and it is n't necessarily what you might have thought .

You might think that happy people have lots of money , are physically attractive or have great jobs .

Or , you might just think happy people are simply lucky , and are bom that way .

Research suggests , however , that there are a number of variables that make a far greater contribution to happiness than outer and more superficial factors .

That does n't mean that if you have a lot of money you wo n't be happy , or that having a lot of money is bad , it just means that other factors are more important in determining happiness .

In fact , a strong positive relationship between wealth and happiness only exists for those who live below the poverty line and/or who are unemployed .

What makes happy people different from the others is that they have a different attitude-a different way of thinking about things and doing things .

They `` interpret '' the world in a different way , and go about their lives in a different way .


Josh and Amy are like many teenagers these days .

They have jobs to do to help out around the home .

Josh washes cars for his neighbors while Amy helps their neighbor 's kids with their homework .

Like many families , both of Josh and Amy 's parents work outside the home .

Everyone in Josh and Amy 's family is busy .

Their mom works in an office and often has to stay late for meetings .

Their father owns his own small business and stays late to finish his work .

They also have lots of friends with whom they want to spend time .

Josh and Amy 's mom leaves for work at 7:00 in the morning and does not get home most days until 6:30 pm .

The same is true for their dad , but he leaves home in the morning even earlier .

Josh and Amy 's parents work to be able to provide for their family .

They need money to pay for their home and to pay their bills .

The family also wants to go on a vacation to California .

Josh and Amy need clothes , books , and other things for school .

Their parents are also saving money so Josh and Amy can go to college when they finish high school .


The U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that there is an oversupply of college trained workers and that this oversupply is increasing .

Already there have been more than enough teachers , engineers , physicists , aerospace experts , and other specialists .

Yet colleges and graduate schools continue every year to turn out highly trained people to compete for jobs that are n't there .

The result is that graduates can not enter the professions for which they were trained and must take temporary jobs which do not require a college degree .

On the other hand , there is a great need for skilled workers of all sorts : carpenters , electricians , mechanics , plumbers , TV repairmen .

These people have more work than they can deal with , and their annual incomes are often higher than those of college graduates .

The old gap that white -- collar workers make a better living than blue collar workers no longer holds true .

The law of supply and demand now favors the skilled workmen .

The reason for this situation is the traditional myth that college degree is a passport to a prosperous future .

A large part of American society matches success in life equally with a college degree .

Parents begin indoctrinating their children with this myth before they are out of grade school .

High school teachers play their part by acting as if high school education were a preparation for college rather than for life .

Under this pressure the kids fall in line .

Whether they want to go to college or not does n't matter .

Everybody should go to college , so of course they must go .

And every year college enrollments go up and up , and more and more graduates are overeducated for the kinds of jobs available to them .

One result of this emphasis on a college education is that many people go to college who do not belong there .

Of the sixty percent of high school graduates who enter college , half of them do not graduate with their class .

Many of them drop out within the first year .

Some struggle on for two or three years and then give up .


In 1905 , as part of his Special Theory of Relativity , Albert Einstein published the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a small amount of matter .

This was expressed by the equation E = mc2 .

But bombs were not what Einstein had in mind when he published this equation .

In 1929 , he publicly declared that if a war broke out he would `` refuse to do war service , direct or indirect ... . '' His position would change in 1933 , as the result of Adolf Hitler 's coming into power in Germany .

Einstein 's greatest role in the invention of the atomic bomb was signing a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt urging that the bomb be built because some physicists feared that Germany might be working on an atomic bomb .

Among those concerned were physicists Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner .

But they had no influence with those in power .

So in July 1939 they explained the problem to someone who did : Albert Einstein .

After talking with Einstein , in August 1939 Szilard wrote a letter to President Roosevelt with Einstein 's signature on it , which was delivered to Roosevelt in October 1939 .

Germany had invaded Poland the previous month , the time was ripe for action .

That October research of a-bomb began but proceeded slowly because the invention of the atomic bomb seemed distant and unlikely .

In April 1940 an Einstein letter , ghost-written by Szilard , pressed the researchers on the need for `` greater speed '' .

As the realization of nuclear weapons grew near , Einstein looked beyond the current war to future problems that such weapons could bring .

He wrote to his friend about his fear about the future use of the a-bomb .

The atomic bombings of Japan occurred three months after Germany gave in .

In November 1954 , five months before his death , Einstein summarized his feelings about his role in the creation of the atomic bomb : `` I made one great mistake in my life ... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made ; but there was some justification -- -the danger that the Germans would make them ?


Global warming happens when greenhouse gases trap heat and light from the sun in the earths atmosphere , which increases the temperature .

This is like when heat is trapped in a car .

On a hot day , the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot .

This is because the heat and light from the sun can get into the car , by going through the windows , but it ca n't get back out .

This is what the greenhouse effect does to the earth .

The heat and light can get through the atmosphere , but it ca n't get out .

Sometimes the temperature can change in a way that helps us .

The greenhouse effect makes the earth appropriate for people to live on .

Without the air to hold some of the sun 's heat , , the earth would be freezing , or it would be burning hot .

It would be freezing at night because we would not get the sun 's heat and light .

During the day , especially during the summer , it would be burning because the sun would be up with no atmosphere to filter it , so people , plants , and animals would be exposed to all the light and heat .

Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it , if there gets to be too many gases , the each can get unusually warmer , and many plants , animals.and people will die .

Plants would die because they would not be able to take the heat .

This would cause us to have less food to eat , and it would also limit the food that animals have .

With less food for the animals that we need to survive we would even have less food .

Gradually , people , plants , and animals would all die of hunger .

People are doing many things to try to stop global warming .

One thing is carpooling -- driving with someone to a place that you are both going to .

Another thing is being more careful about leaving electrical devices turned on .

Now , more people are even riding buses or bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air .

Although adults do many things to help stop global warming , kids call do just as much .


`` Make-A-Wish '' is one of the world 's most well-known charities .

It makes wishes come true for childrenwho have serious illnesses .

It gives them hope and joy and helps them forget about their health problems and have fun .

It all started in 1980 in Phoenix , Arizona .

Christopher was a 7-year-old boy who was very sick .

He always dreamed ofbecoming a police officer .

Tommy Austin and Ron Cox , two police officers , made his wish come true .

They gaveChristopher a tour of the city in a police helicopter and made a real police uniform for him .

There are four kinds of wishes children usually have :

Children usually want to travel or go to a concert , a game or a park .

Children sometimes want to meet their favourite actors , singers or

Some children wish to become actors , singers or police officers .

They often want to have a computer , a game , a bike or many other things .

Let'shope more wishes will come true in the future .

People who work in the charity always try for the best .

Almost25 ,000 Volunteers help , work or give money .


Confidence is very important in daily life .

It can help you to develop a healthy attitude .

A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier .

They can have more chances to make themselves successful .

Speak loudly When you are not confident , you ca n't do well what you want to do .

You speak in a voice so low that other people can hear you .

Try to speak aloud enough so that people can hear you clearly .

The high voice can help you become more confident .

Play sports Physical exercise makes you tired but completely relaxed .

When you are athletic , you will be full of confidence .

Encourage yourself Write down a list of things you did during the day and see how many things you have done well .

Did you tell a joke that made everybody laugh ?

Give yourself praise for the good things you 've done .

Get rid of fear Fear comes along with failure .

But it 's easy to get over if you know that failure is a part of your life .

Do n't hide your head just because you said something foolish last time .

Try to start again and believe you can do better .

Pick up a hobby If you like singing , singing as much as you can .

In some ways , a hobby can make you outstanding .

And it will make you happy and confident .


Have you ever wanted to achieve a goal and ended up doing tons of research on how to achieve the goal ?

As you learn more and more , it feels like you know less and less because when you learn something new , you find that there is a lot to know about those things .

Sometimes , people will get stuck in this needing to gather more and more information .

There 's nothing wrong with learning a lot , but when you let learning get in the way of doing , you will never get going .

When you never get going , you still never start having the things you want .

Too much learning can paralyze you in terms of taking action .

A better way to go about achieving a goal is to gather some information and immediately start taking action on the information you have gathered .

Many times you will feel unprepared , and that 's OK .

The best way to learn is to take action and learn from the results you get from those actions .

When you are able to get past the fear of not being perfect and just take the first step , you will be further ahead than the majority of people who are still in the preparation stage .

It 's good to be prepared especially in situations such as a pilot and crew making sure the plane is ready to take off , but over-preparation in trying to reach a goal wo n't give you any results .

The knowledge and skills you will need will be picked up along the way .

If a baby wants to learn how to walk , it will never be able to do it by sitting there and analyzing how to walk .

The best way for a baby to walk is to actually stand up and start walking .

Sure it may fall , but with every fall , it will learn what is working and what is not and adjust to it .

By doing this over and over again , it will eventually learn to walk .

This is the approach you need to take when you want to achieve your goals as well .

Learning more is great but if all you 're doing is learning and not taking action , it 's time to change .


As I was reading a recent story in Slate on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruining their life plans , I could n't help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled children who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them .

As a 20-something myself , I certainly share their disappointment : my husband and I probably wo n't be able to buy a house until we 're in our 40s , and we too are burdened by student loans .

Being young persons in America , should n't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers ?

Consider some of these views shared in the Slate story : Jennifer , 29 , owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband , worries that she wo n't be able to have children for at least a decade because they ca n't afford to buy a house yet .

I read that , and I thought , what planet is she living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids ?

Has she ever visited a developing country , or even downtown areas in this one ?

Home ownership is a luxury , not a fertility requirement .

A 26-year-old in the story despairs that he ca n't afford to get a Ph .

Well , that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years .

Yes , it 's sad that these young people feel so lost .

But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations , not economic reality .

Beth Kobliner , author of Get a Financial Life : Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties , says that she thinks people 's expectations are slowly adjusting , but today 's 20-somethings grew up at a time when everyone 's wealth appeared to be expanding .

Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments .

`` So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means , '' says Kobliner .

This recession will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group .

In the meantime , it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful-for our one-bedroom apartments , for living in modern cities , or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day-than on longing for some kind of luxury life .


As part of an effort to improve treatments for life-threatening illnesses , a team of scientists have created rabbits that glow in the dark .

The efforts have produced two rabbits out of a litter of eight that went from being a normal , soft white to glowing green in the dark .

The rabbits were born at the University of Istanbul as part of the cooperation between scientists from universities in Turkey and Hawaii .

The rabbits glow to show that a genetic operation technique can work efficiently .

`` The green is not important at all -- it 's just a marker to show the experiment can be done successfully , '' said University of Hawaii associate professor , Stefan Moisyadi .

To produce the glowing effect , researchers injected jellyfish DNA into a mother rabbit 's embryos .

Then those embryos were put into the mother .

Similar experiments have resulted in glowing cockroaches and cats .

Eventually , the researchers hope the technique can lead to new ways to produce medicines , Moisyadi said .

`` The final goal is to develop animals that are able to produce beneficial molecules in their milk that can be cheaply extracted , especially in countries that can not afford big factories that make drugs , which usually cost US $ 1bn to build .

Then they will be able to produce their own protein-based medication in animals , '' Moisyadi said .

The rabbits are expected to live as long as non-glowing rabbits , but Moisyadi said he understands people can object to this kind of experimentation involving live animals .

`` To the people against , I say : think , what are the benefits and what is the harm ? ''

`` And if the benefits outweigh the harm , let 's go with the benefits . ''

Moisyadi started developing the project in 2006 , and researchers are now waiting to see if pregnant sheep produce similar results .


Buy one for a friend and give it as a surprise .

He says they tell something about the person .

You are a person who likes to make things .

Picking a square shape shows something else .

This shows you have warm feelings about the past .

A person who chooses it looks toward the future .

If so , you may find it hard to make up your mind .

These are people who like to help others .

There is one sure thing about eaters of chocolate .


Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house .

In a hurry to dive into the cool water , he ran out of the back door , leaving behind shoes , socks , and shirt as he went .

He flew into the water , not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake , a crocodile was swimming toward him .

His mother in the house was looking out of the window and saw the two .

In great fear , she ran toward the water , shouting to her son as loudly as she could .

Hearing her voice , the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother .

Just as he reached her , the crocodile reached him .

From the shore , the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the crocodile snatched his legs .

That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two .

The crocodile was much stronger than the mother , but the mother was much too passionate to let go .

A farmer happened to drive by , heard their screams , raced from his truck , took aim and shot the crocodile .

Remarkably , after weeks and weeks in the hospital , the little boy survived .

His legs were extremely scarred by the attack of the animal .

And , on his arms , were deep scratches where his mother 's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved .

The newspaper reporter , who interviewed the boy , asked if he would show him his scars .

And then , with obvious pride , he said to the reporter , `` But look at my arms .

I have them because my Mom would n't let go . ''

Never judge another person 's scars , because you do n't know how they were made .


When a friend is sad about a tragedy , it 's hard to know how to comfort him/ her .

But the worst thing you can do is say nothing .

You do n't have to say much.. A single supportive phrase does n't require absolutely perfect words to break the ice .

Here are some conversation starters when life difficult situations

I ca n't begin to imagine what you are going through , but if you want to talk about it , call me anytime . ''

Do n't say : `` I never liked that rat bastard anyway ! ''

( If the couple winds up reconciling , you could end up losing your friend . )

Do say : `` Breaking up is always hard to deal with , but I 'm here for you , whatever you need . ''

Do say : `` I 'm sorry about your loss .

Do say : `` I 'm sorry for that , but I know there 's an even better job waiting for you there .

or `` My roommate does n't like her dog and she is getting rid of her dog .

Do say : `` I 'm sorry , she was such a great cat .


Ten-year-old Larry Champagne from St. Louis , Missouri , hit the brake on a runaway school bus .

He saved himself and 20 other kids on board from disaster .

It all happened in one terrible accident .

On the way to school , the bus driver , Ernestine Blackman , suddenly fell ill .

Seeing the car was running away , the other kids started to scream , but Larry ran to the front and stopped the bus .

`` At first I thought , 'We 're going to die , ' '' says Larry , `` but after I pressed the brake , I felt safe . ''

Larry 's speedy reaction made news all over the country .

His school hung a medal of honor around his neck .

`` My grandmother always tells me to do what 's right , '' says Larry .

He thanked his brother , Jerrick , 9 , who `` helped me get the bus driver up '' during the emergency .

He helps his grandfather work on his old truck .

`` He gets his hands dirty , '' says his grandfather .

One thing is for certain : Larry knows where to find the brakes .


In terms of history , Australian cuisine was on the basis of traditional British cooking brought to the country by the first settlers .

Modern Australian cuisine , however.has been heavily influenced by Australia ' s Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors .

The trend , encouraged by long-term government health programs , is towards low-fat healthy cookery including low-fat meat and lightly cooked , colorful , steamed or fried vegetables .

Besides,1ike many English families , in many Australian homes , a widespread tradition of having roast turkey , chicken , and ham for Christmas 1unch or dinner still remains .

Generally breakfast is light in most parts of Australia.but in the colder regions porridge or meals similar to the full English breakfast may be consumed .

In recent years , however , most Australian people prefer light breakfast in order to control their weight .

The 1ight breakfast commonly consists of cereals , toast and fruit .

A heavier breakfast will frequently include fried bacon , eggs , mushrooms , etc .

Drinks taken at breakfast include tea , coffee , milk or juice .

The evening meal is the main meal of the day for most Australians , and when consumed at home , it is often eaten with members of the immediate family .

The dishes served will vary widely according to the tastes and background of the family .

A typical Australian restaurant might offer sandwiches , chicken or other meat-based dishes and cakes .

In recent years , take -- away food is becoming popular in Australia .

American-style chain restaurants are common including Subway , KFC , and Mcdonald 's .

Most of these restaurants sell high quality food at reasonable prices .

With the high 1evels of immigration from the Middle East .

China and other countries from a11 over the world to Australia.many authentic and high-quality restaurants are run by first-and second-generation immigrants from these areas .


Compared to night owls , people who rise early feel happier and more satisfied with life overall .

But the good news for teenagers is that most people become earlier risers as they age , and this change is also associated with greater feelings of happiness .

Researchers at the University of Toronto asked more than 700 people about their preferred time of day and how healthy and happy they generally feel .

They then compared the responses of the group of younger adults aged 17 to 38 with older people ages 59 to 79 .

Only about seven percent of young adults are morning larks , while by age 60 most people preferred to be up with the dawn .

Just seven percent of the oldest people in the study described themselves as night owls .

`` We found that older adults reported greater positive emotion than younger adults , and older adults were more likely to be morning - type people than younger adults , '' study researcher Renee Biss from the University of Toronto reportedly told LiveScience .

The `` morningness '' was associated with greater happiness emotions in both age groups .

Morning trypes also tended to report that they felt healthier than the late risers , according to the study that published in the journal Emition .

The researchers said that this apparent health benefit could come from the extra sleep they would enjoy , as their sleeping schedule would fit with society 's expectations of rising early for work .

This extra sleep could not only make them feel more clear -mined , but may also boost their immune system .

`` An evening person may go throught their week feeling unhappy because they have to get up earlier than they would like to '' .

But Ms Biss said there was hope for night owls as it was possible for them to turn themselves into morning people .

`` One way to do it is to increase your natural light exposure early in the morning , and to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier , '' she said .

`` It 's easiest if you have a consistent schedule , to make sure you are waking up at the same time every day . ''


Everyone has got two personalities -- - the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real .

You do n't show your secret personality when you 're awake because you can control yourself .

But when you 're asleep , your sleeping position shows the real you .

During a normal night , of course , you often change your sleeping positions .

The important position that best shows your secret personality is the one that you go to sleep in .

If you go to sleep on your back , you 're a very open person .

You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by new ideas .

You do n't like to make people unhappy , so you never express your real feelings .

And you also like to share your secrets with your friends .

If you sleep on your stomach , you are a person who likes to keep secrets .

You worry a lot and you always easily become sad .

You never want to change your ideas , but you are pleased with you life the way it is .

You usually live for today not for tomorrow .

If you sleep curled up , you are probably a very nervous person .

You often protect yourself and you 're always afraid of being hurt , so you are very defensive .

You 're shy and you do n't usually like meeting people .

If you sleep on your side , you have usually got a well-balanced personality .

You know your strengths and weaknesses .

You sometimes feel worried , but you do n't often get unhappy .

You always say what you think , even if it makes people angry .


It has been argued that an infant under three who is cared for outside the home may suffer because of the separation from his parents .

The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby believes that separation from the parents during the sensitive `` attachment '' period from birth to three may scar a child 's personality and incline to emotional problems in later life .

Some people have drawn the conclusion from Bowlby 's work that children should not be sent to day care before the age of three , and many people do believe this .

But there are also arguments against such a strong conclusion .

Firstly , anthropologists point out that the hidden love between children and parents found in modem societies does not usually exist in traditional societies .

For example , we saw earlier that among the Ngonis the father and mother of a child did not raise their infant alone .

But traditional societies are so different from modern societies that comparisons based on just one factor are hard to understand .

Secondly , common sense tells us that day care would not be so widespread today if parents and caretakers found that children had problems with it .

But Bowlby 's analysis raises the possibility that early day care has delayed effects .

The possibility that such care might lead to more mental illness or crime 15 or 20 years later can only be noticed by the use of statistics .

Statistical studies of this kind have not yet been carried out , and even if they were , the results would be certain to be complicated and controversial .

Thirdly , in the last decade , there have been a number of careful American studies of children in day care , and they have reported that day care had a neutral of slightly positive effect on children 's development .

But tests that have had to be used to measure this development are not widely enough accepted to settle the issue .


A mother camel is walking with her son through the desert .

The son asks his mother what water and grass look like .

The mother answers that water is blue and looks like the sky , while grass is green and nice .

`` Look , mother , there 's water and grass over there . ''

The water and grass are on the left , while the desert is on the right .

Because the mother camel is blind in her left eye , she can see nothing with her left eye .

They go on another day and night , the young camel finds a second oasis , but his mother still does not believe him .

She says that is not an oasis , but a desert .

She says she knows more than her son and ca n't be wrong .

When he sees an oasis again , he leaves his mother without telling her .

He runs into the grass and eats his fill .


A long time before I was born , my grandma and grandpa had a young family of four little girls .

During the Great Depression , work was hard to find , so Grandpa did whatever jobs he could .

On weekends he and Grandma dug a garden to grow some of their own food .

Everybody worked to keep the garden growing .

All summer long , the family ate food and enjoyed flowers from the garden .

Grandma put up strawberry jam , tomatoes , beans , peppers , pears and peaches in canning jars .

They were good to eat through the long winter .

The family grew up , and grandparents grew old .

It became hard to keep up the garden , so they made it a little smaller .

There was still plenty to eat from the garden and lovely flowers to enjoy .

Then one summer when Grandpa was eighty-nine years old , all he could do was watch from his lawn chair as the vegetables grew and the roses bloomed .

Summer slowly faded , and Grandpa died before it was time to bring in the harvest .

She sat near the window , looking out at the yard and wondering if she could plant a garden in the spring .

When spring came , she planted only a little garden .

One sunny day in the early summer , Grandma heard a commotion in the front yard and looked out the window to see a frightening sight .

A huge swarm of bees filled the air between two tall trees .

The bees made their way into a hole up in one of the trees .

Before long , every one of those bees had disappeared into its new home .

During the next few days , the bees were busy minding their own business .

Grandma could always see a few bees buzzing in and out around the opening high in the tree .

Before long , she decided the bees were n't bothering anyone , so she did n't give them another thought .

That summer , Grandma 's little garden grew and grew .

One day , Grandma 's brother Frank visited from Arizona .

As Grandma made Frank a delicious lunch of squash cakes and homemade applesauce , she told him the story about the swarm of bees .

Frank said , `` In Arizona , the farmers often hired beekeepers to set up beehives near their fields .

The bees pollinated the crops and helped them to grow . ''

That was when Grandma realized that her bees had helped with her garden all summer .

`` So that 's why my little garden had such a big crop ! ''

From that time on , Grandma always believed that since Grandpa could n't be there to help her that summer , he had sent the bees to take his place and make Grandma 's little garden grow and grow .