The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know .

Then he points to the phone and says , `` If there 's anything else you need , just call . ''

All this time you have been thinking one thing , `` How much should I tip him ? ''

To make your next trip a little easier , here 's a guide to tipping across some Asian countries .

In general , the more Westernized the place is , the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip .

Some top-end restaurants will add a 10 % service charge to the bill .

If not , waiters will appreciate you tacking on the 10 % yourself .

However , if you 're eating at a lower-end restaurant a tip is not necessary .

If you 're staying at one of Bangkok 's many five-star hotels , expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht , depending on how many bags you have .

Local custom is to round the fare up to the nearest five baht .

Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis .

Most restaurants add a 10 % service charge to the bill , but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner .

If the service is good , add another 10 % to the bill , up to HK $ 100 in an especially nice restaurant .

For HK $ 10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HK $ 20 bill may be more acceptable .

When in a taxi , round up to the nearest dollar .

Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive Westernized hotels , which often add a 10 % service charge to your meal or hotel room .

If you are at a hotel restaurant , expect a 10 % service charge .

But at local restaurants , there 's no need to add a tip .

At five-star hotels , one or two ringgit will content a porter .

At lower-end buildings do n't feel you have to tip .

Like Bangkok , many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit .

Tipping is not part of Korean culture , although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10 % service charge is often added .

If you 're at a Korean barbecue joint , there 's no need to add anything extra .

But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10 % contribution .

If you 're at a top-end hotel , so expect to pay 500~1 000 won per bag .


`` No man is an island '' is a well-known line from John Donne 's Devotion .

It was written more than three hundred years ago .

No one can live a completely lonely life .

Without other people , life will become empty and sad .

For some of us , although making friends is not difficult , feeling shy , we may not want to make the first move .

It is also difficult at times to keep the friends we already have .

There are many books about friendship , but Dale Carnegie 's How to Win Friends and Influence People , written in 1936 , is the most famous .

This `` how to '' book about getting along with other people became a best seller .

Dale Carnegie 's advice seems to be simple , but can his advice help you ?

Here is the list of advice from his book :

Begin with `` Excuse me '' or `` Would you please '' when you want to ask somebody .

Remember to say `` Thank you '' and try to be as helpful as you can .

Find some time to do special things for other people .

Making some soup for a sick neighbour may seem like a little thing to you , but it will make your neighbor feel a lot better .

They say that the sweetest music to a person 's ears is the sound of his or her own name .

Try to understand other people 's ways and ideas and learn something from them .

When someone is talking to you , look at him or her , listen carefully and say something when necessary .


Many middle school students like watching TV very much .

But from Monday to Friday , they must go to school .

So on Saturday and Sunday they stay at home and watch TV from morning to night .

They do n't know it 's bad for their eyes .

Usually children like to eat fish , meat and chicken and do n't like vegetables or fruit .

They do n't know eating more vegetables or fruit .

They do n't know eating more vegetables and fruit is better than eating meat .

At school , the children only do a few minutes of sports or never do any sports .

The teachers must know it is n't good for their health .

We always think of ways to keep healthy .

We must eat more vegetables and fruit , do enough sport every day .

And we should watch TV and read in right ways .


Suppose you do n't need your car today .

And suppose , as it happens that a stranger in your area does need a car .

Would you be willing to rent yours out ?

Several carsharing startups , including Getaround , RelayRides and JustSharelt , are eager to connect car owners with renters this way .

The companies have different rules , but participating owners receive , generally speaking , about twothirds of the rental earnings .

RelayRides says an owner of a midsize , latemodel sedan who rents out a car for 10 hours a week could expect to clear about $ 3,000 a year .

Peertopeer carsharing remains in the trial stage ; it can be found in San Francisco and a few other places .

It has a long way to go before it becomes the auto equivalent of Airbnb , the surprise success story for peertopeer sharing of space in apartments and houses .

Shelby Clark , founder of RelayRides , says potential investors in his company have been concerned that owners will be afraid to hand their car over to strangers .

To address that , he points to Airbnb , saying , `` Letting people sleep in your living room is much more of a disturbance into your personal space than letting someone use your car . ''

All of these companies offer their own insurance coverage for their renters , which are supposed to put owners ' minds at ease .

But only two states -- California and Oregon -- have passed laws to clarify that an owner will not suffer any consequences should a carsharing renter have an accident .

`` In all the other states , legal ambiguity remains , '' Shelby Clark says .

`` If a renter should be involved in a serious accident in those states , the victim can be expected to go after every party possible , including the car 's owner . ''

Also to remove the worries of car owners , the driving records of renters are checked for recent serious violations..


Erik Weihenmayer was born with an eye disorder .

As a child his eyesight became worse and then , at the age of 13 , he lost his sight completely .

However , he did not lose his determination to lead a full and active life .

He took up parachuting , wrestling and scuba diving .

He competed in long-distance biking , marathons and skiing .

His favorite sport , thought , is mountaineering .

As a young man , Erik started to climb mountains .

He reached the summit of Mount McKinley in 1995 and then climbed the dangerous 1000-metre rock wall of EI Capitan .

Two years later , while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya with his girlfriend , they stopped for a time at 13,000 feet above sea level-in order to get married .

In 1999 , he climbed Aconcagua , the tallest mountain in South America .

And then , on May 25 , 2001 , at the age of 33 , Erik successfully completed the greatest mountaineering challenge of all .

He climbed Mount Everest , the highest mountain in the world .

Erik invented his own method for climbing mountains .

He carries two long poles : one to lean on and the other to test the way ahead of him .

The climber in front of him wears a bell to guide him .

He does his share of the job , such as setting up tents and building snow walls .

Although he could not enjoy the view , Erik felt the excitement of being on the summit of Everest .

He hopes that his success will change how people think about the blind .

`` When people think about a blind person or blindness , now they will think about a person standing on top of the world . ''


Surely all of us , at some point , have watched a movie and thought : It 's simply badly researched , or , the makers must think we 're fools .

If movies were completely scientifically accurate , they 'd probably be as interesting as a Physics 101 lecture .

In real life , there are no explosions in space , gas usually does n't explode from a lit cigarette , and Bruce Willis / Jackie Chan / Will Smith would most likely be in a coma after getting kicked in the head .

Recently , the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph ran a humorous piece on unconvincing tech moments from some top movies .

Telegraph writer Tom Chivers ' first example is from the end-of-the-world movie Independence Day , in which a character comes up with a virus capable of destroying Windows , the computer system the alien spacecraft uses .

`` It 's a good thing they did n't have Norton antivirus , '' jokes Chivers .

It 's just one case of a movie that takes a lot of license with its science .

Another one Chivers mentions is from Star Wars , where glowing beams of light traveling through space look very impressive .

The problem is that in space there are no air particles for the light to reflect off .

In reality , they 'd not be seen , which would n't look so cool on the big screen .

Chivers ' second piece of Star Wars nonsense is the sound the fighters make in the movies : `` the bellow of an elephant mixed with a car driving on a wet road '' .

But sound needs a medium to travel through , like air .

In space , there would n't actually be any sound at all .

Few people would deny that the mind-bending Matrix films make for great viewing , but for Chivers , the science in the movies is a little silly .

And finally : as Chivers points out , DAN is not replaceable .

But this bit of elementary genetics passed the makers of the 2002 Bond film Die another Day by .

In the film the villain has `` gene therapy '' to change his appearance and his DNA , which is completely impossible .


Jogging has become the most popular individual sport in America .

Many theories , even some mystical ones , have been advanced to explain the popularity of jogging .

The plain truth is that jogging is a cheap , quick and efficient way to maintain ( or achieve ) physical fitness .

The most useful sort of exercise is exercise that develops the heart , lungs , and circulatory systems .

If these systems are fit , the body is ready for almost any sport and for almost any sudden demand made by work or emergencies .

One can train more specifically , as by developing strength for weight lifting or the ability to run straight ahead for short distances with great power as in football , but running trains your heart and lungs to deliver oxygen more efficiently to all parts of your body .

It is worth doing that : this sort of exercise is the only kind that can reduce heart disease , the number one cause of death in America .

Only one sort of equipment is needed -- a pair of good shoes .

Physicians advise beginning joggers not to try to run in tennis or gym shoes .

Many design advances have been made in only the last several years that make a pair of excellent running shoes indispensable if a runner wishes to develop as quickly as possible , with as little chance of injury as possible .

A pair of good running shoes will have soft pads for absorbing shock , as well as slightly built-up heels and full heel cups that will give the knee and ankle more stability .

A wise investment in good shoes will prevent blisters and the foot , ankle and knee injuries and will also enable the wearer to run on paved or soft surfaces .

No other special equipment is needed ; you can jog in any clothing you desire , even your street clothes .

It takes surprisingly little time to develop the ability to run .

The American Jogging Association has a twelve-week program designed to move from a fifteen- minute walk ( which almost anyone can manage who is in reasonable health ) to a thirty-minute run .

A measure of common sense , a physical examination , and a planned schedule are all it takes .


A Russian , a Cuban , an American businessman and an American lawyer were on a train traveling across England .

The Russian took out a large bottle of vodka , gave each of the men a drink and then threw the rest half bottle of vodka out of the window .

`` There 's too much vodka in my country , '' said the Russian , `` And really we have more than we will ever use . ''

A little later , the Cuban passed around fine Havana Cigars .

`` I thought Cuba is not a rich country , '' the businessman said .

`` But you threw that very good cigars out of the window ! ''

`` Cigars , '' the Cuban answered , `` are the cheapest in my country .

We have more of them than we know what to do with . ''

The American businessman sat quietly for a moment .

Then he got up , caught the lawyer by the arm and threw him out of the window .


The students are having their chemistry class .

Miss Li is telling the children what water is like .

After that , she asks her students some questions , and one of them is , `` Boys and girls !

She waits for a few minutes , but no one answers her .

I tell you what water is like , right ? ''

Then a boy puts up his hand and says , `` Miss Li , you tell us that water has no color and no smell .

But I think that water is something that is black when I wash my hand in it . ''

Then another boy puts up his hand , Miss Li says `` What do you think , Wang Bing ? ''

The boy says : `` Miss Li , where can we find water that has no color and no smell ? ''

`` The water in the river behind my house is always black and it has a bad smell . ''

And most of the children think he is right .

`` I am sorry to hear that , children . ''

All of us must try our best to make it clean again . ''


As is known to all , in daily conversation people often use simple words and simple sentences , especially elliptical sentences .

Here is an interesting conversation between Mr Green and his good friend Mr Smith , a fisherman .

Do you know what they are talking about ?


It has to be finished this Friday , but Gary , the boy in our group , has done nothing helpful .

Every time we talk about the work with him , he always says , `` Do n't worry .

And when he does , he does it the wrong way .

What 's worse is when Ms. Lin asks about our group , Gary always tells her that we others do n't work hard enough .

Should n't we help each other to do a better job ?

It is important for students to learn how to work together in a group .

Maybe you should talk to Gary about the problem and tell him you all need his help .

If he still does n't change , go talk to your teacher .

I believe she can make Gary do his job .


One warm September night , Mira had come down to the beach to enjoy the night air .

She closed her eyes and listened to the waves .

Suddenly , she could hear another sound , so she opened her eyes and looked down at the sand .

All of a sudden she could see a tiny head coming out .

One by one they struggled out of their underground nests .

Mira looked in surprise at the baby turtles .

Mira knew the turtles should head towards the waves and swim away , so she was puzzled when they began to pull themselves towards the dunes .

Suddenly , she remembered something her grandmother had told her .

`` Sea turtles bury their eggs on the beach every year in April and in September .

Those baby turtles hatch and head back down to the sea .

Sometimes they die going across the dunes , trying to find those bright lights on the houses .

Every day there are more houses being built on the dunes .

That means more and more lights to confuse the sea turtles . ''

Mira looked out across the dunes at her house .

Mira saw her mother and father , sitting on the porch .

She could see them because her house had two bright lights that lit up the porch .

Mira began to run to her house and shouted , `` The turtles are hatching !

With these words , Mira ran into the house and turned off the bright porch lights .

In a rush she was off running down the dunes with her whole family following her .

They reached the beach just in time to see the tiny turtles slipping silently into the waves .

Mira watched as the last turtle entered the water .

As the turtle swam away , it looked back at Mira .

In the moonlight , Mira thought she saw it smile .


The first reality TV show in the world was called Expedition Robinson and it was shown in Sweden in 1997 .

Half the population of the country watched the final event and a new kind of TV program was born .

Two years later in Holland , the first series of Big Brother was filmed .

Again , it was a great success and the final program was watched by 15 million people .

Now more than 20 countries around the world have Big Brother or Expedition Robinson on their TV screens .

The ordinary people who take part in the programs are known by millions of people in their own countries and reality TV has become big , big business .

For the TV producers , reality TV is a dream come true because many of the programs cost nothing to make .

At some point , the television viewers are asked to telephone the program to vote or to apply to take part in the show .

It is the cost of these telephone calls that pays for the shows .

One of the most popular shows is Pop Idol .

In the show a group of attractive young people are made into pop stars .

TV viewers vote for their favorite person on the show .

The winner makes a record and millions of copies of the record are sold .

His or her pictures are published on the covers of magazines or on the front pages of newspapers , and then , they are quickly forgotten .

But not everyone is happy about reality TV .

In Portugal , two TV channels got into trouble because they showed too much of the personal lives of the people in the shows .

In France , reality TV is called `` rubbish TV '' and the TV studios of Big Brother were attacked three times in one week .

In Greece , Big Brother was described as `` against human rights and civilization '' .


Do you know cows can climb onto the roof ?

To eat grass , a Swiss farmer Dieter Mueller 's cow climbed up a roof to look for fresh grass .

Mueller said the cow was walking on a road behind the house .

Then she thought the grass may be greener on the other side of it , but it did n't walk around , it decided to climb over the house .

In fact the grass was not greener on the other side .

Mueller said this is a cantankerous cow .

So it is quite difficult for her to get her down !

Mueller tried to let her get down and even put a ladder up to the roof , but it does n't work .

She stayed up there as long as she liked .

She just had to do things in her own sweet time .

At last she was tired to stay on the farmhouse roof and found the way to get down herself .


When you buy a T-shirt , or a fur coat in a store , it often carries a label telling who made it or from what store it was bought .

Indeed , some labels show the dress is famous and it is very expensive , so buyers who deal with the cheapest products would be pleased to do away with labels entirely .

However , there is another label more important than the one showing from which store the dress was bought .

When a person buys a fur coat , or a jacket , from a store , a label telling what the product is made of should be carried to it .

Besides telling what the product on show is made of , the label should be in clear English and be where one can find it easily .

The information on the label must be the truth .

The reason for this label is that most buyers today are n't expert enough to know exactly what kind of fur or material they are buying .

The buyer must believe in the store that sells the products or in what the labels say .


While you may be doing everything right , ignoring just one or two steps in the process may keep you from getting a job , especially in this fierce market .

Here is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job-search chain .

THE RESUME -- - Make sure it is up-to-date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking for .

If you can not afford a career coach , give your resume to friends or family members to scrutinize Have copies of your resume printed so that you are ready to hand them out at interviews .

COVERING LETTERS -- - Maybe you 've set up a few basic styles in advance , but that 's not enough .

Each covering letter should be designed to suit the job for which you are applying .

THE WARDROBE -- - Check your wardrobe to ensure that you have the appropriate professional dress , including shoes , ready for interview .

NETWORKING -- - Do n't isolate yourself from others for days .

Network through e-mail messages , phone calls , appointments and meetings keep you in touch with the outside world and prevent you from becoming depressed .

APPLICATION -- - A glance at huge online job sites is n't usually the best way to find a job .

You are more likely to succeed through the people you know via networking .

THE FOLLOW -- UP -- - It is quite common to apply for job and never hear back from the company .

Take measures , such as following up with a phone call a week or so after you apply .

If you know someone at the company , check whether that person will put in a good word for you .

INTERVIEWS -- - If you 've got plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers , take a look at your interviewing skills .

This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off .

But if you ca n't afford one , try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock interviews .

SUPPORT SYSTEMS -- - Finally , recognize that looking for job is rather difficult .

Even at the best of times , a job hunt is often about rejection , and that can be hard to endure .

Staying in touch with family , friends , professional networks and fellow job seekers can help you to maintain a positive attitude and a sense of perspective .


To blame the other guy is even more human .

Why tell the truth when you can come up with a good excuse ?

These three popular misquotes are meant to be jokes , and yet they tell us a lot about human nature .

To err , or to make mistakes , is indeed a part of being human , but it seems that most people do n't want to accept the responsibility for the problem .

The original quote about human nature went like this : `` To err is human , to forgive , divine . ''

This saying mirrors an ideal people should be forgiving of others ' mistakes .

Instead , we tend to do the opposite -find someone else to pass the blame on to .

However , taking responsibility for something that went wrong is a making of great maturity .

Common sense is what we call clear thought .

Having common sense means having a good general plan that will make things work well , and it also means staying with the plan .

Common sense tells you that you take an umbrella out into a rainstorm , but you leave the umbrella home when you hear a weather forecast for sunshine .

Common sense does not seem to be common for large organizations , because there are so many things going on that one person can not be in charge of everything .

People say that in a large company , `` the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing . ''

And what is wrong with a society that thinks that making up a good excuse is like creating a work of art ?

One of the common problems with making excuses is that people , especially young people , get the idea that it 's okay not to be totally honest all the time .

There is a corollary to that : if good excuse is `` good '' even if it is n't honest , then where is the place of the truth ?


A new international study shows that six people die every minute from smoking .

That is 3 million deaths around the world every year .

If the present rate of smoking continues , the number of deaths each year from smoking could rise to 10 million by the year 2020 .

The study describes smoking is the biggest cause of deadly diseases among grown-ups in industrial countries .

So far most of the smoking deaths have happened to men , especially in developing countries .

A researcher at the World Health Organization says 70 % of Chinese men smoke more than 15 cigarettes each day .

In Latin America about 50 % of the men are smokers .

There also are a very large number of smokers in Russia and in Eastern Europe .

And 25 % of all smoking deaths worldwide are in those areas of the world .

Scientists say smoking will kill 50 % of the smokers .

It also can lead to cancer of the mouth and other parts of bodies .

Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to suffer from heart disease .

Experts say that people reduce their chance of dying from smoking if they stop smoking completely .

They say smokers who give up smoking can improve their health .


London Heathrow is the biggest airport in the UK , and it also handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the world .

For this reason , enlargement was planned and on 27th March a fifth terminal opened to help to deal with the many passengers that pass through the airport .

The new terminal has taken a long time to plan and build .

The idea was first proposed back in the 1980s .

The opening of it has been talked about widely in the media in the UK and expectations were high for the PS4.3 billion project .

However , in spite of long preparations at Terminal 5 ahead of the grand opening , things soon went into a mess .

There were problems from the very beginning as staff had difficulties finding car parking spaces and getting through security to get into the building .

This consequently caused a delay when passengers started to arrive and large numbers of staff were not in place .

Long passenger queues formed and the slow start meant that everyone had to play catch-up from the beginning .

Staffs were having problems using the new systems and a baggage operator told the BBC , it was all `` shambles the moment the doors opened '' .

The terminal has been designed to handle 12,000 bags an hour but due to a reported `` lack of training and essential support that was promised '' , a backlog of luggage soon appeared .

By lunchtime on that first day , 20 flights had been cancelled to try to alleviate the problems .

Flights continued to be cancelled in the days following the opening and up to 28,000 bags have now had to be placed in temporary storage .

The British Airline , the only airline operating at Terminal 5 says it is working to clear the backlog , but the negative publicity caused by the shambles has not helped the airport or the airline 's reputation at all .


When I was a kid , I used to spend hours listening to Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew Pinsky on their Sunday night radio showLoveline .

I listened so often that I began to use one of their well-known phrases -- `` good times '' -- in my daily conversations .

Scientists have a name for this phenomenon : behavioral mimicry .

You 've probably experienced this before : after spending enough time with another person , you might start to pick up on his or her behavior or speech habits .

You might even start to develop your friend 's habits without realizing it .

There is a large body of literature concerning this sort of phenomenon , and it regularly happens for everything from body postures to accents to drink patterns .

For example , one study found that young adults were more likely to drink their drink directly after their same-sex drinking partners , than for the two individuals to drink at their own paces .

And the effect is n't limited to real-life face-to-face activities .

Another study found that the same you-drink-then-I-drink pattern held even when watching a movie !

In other words , people were more likely to take a drink of their drinks in a theater after watching the actors on the screen enjoy a drink .

At least I do n't feel so strange anymore , having picked up on Adam Carolla 's `` good times '' .

New research published today in the journalPLOS ONEindicates that the same sort of behavioral mimicry is responsible for social eating , at least among university-age women of normal weight .

That 's right : the young women were more likely to adjust their eating according to the eating pace of their same-sex dining companion .

As with most experiments , these results raise a whole new set of questions .

Still , the finding that behavioral mimicry may at least partly account for eating behavior is important , and has real effects on health .

The researchers note that `` as long as people do n't fully recognize such important influences on intake , it will be difficult to make healthy food choices and keep a healthy diet , especially when people are exposed to the eating behavior of others '' .


Then comes July , and with it examinations , but these are soon finished and with them ends the school year .

Boys and girls have nearly two months ' holiday before them as they leave school by train and car to return home to their fathers and mothers .

The summer holidays are the best part of the year for most children .

The weather is usually good , so that one can spend most of one 's time playing in the garden or , if one lives in the country , out in the woods and fields .

Even if one lives in a big town , one can usually go to a park to play .

The best place for a summer holiday , however , is the seaside .

Some children are lucky enough to live near the sea , but for the others who do not , a week or two at one of the big seaside towns is something that they will talk about for the whole of the following year .

In England , it is not only the rich who can take their children to the seaside ; if a factory worker or a bus driver , a street cleaner or a waiter wants to take his wife and children to Southend or Margate , Blackpoor or Clacton , he is usually quite able to do so .

Now , what is it that children like so much about the seaside ?

I think it is the sand , sea and sun more than any other things .

Of course , there are lots of new things to see , nice things to eat , and exciting things to do , but it is the feeling of sand under one 's feet , of salt water on one 's skin , and of the warm sun on one 's back that make the seaside what it is .


Nervous suspects locked up in Britain 's newest police station may feel relieved by a pleasant yellow color on the door .

If they are close to confessing a crime , the blue on the wall might tip the balance .

Gwent Police have abandoned colors such as greys and browns of the 20th-century police cell and have used color psychology to decorate them .

Ystrad Mynach station , which recently opened at a cost of PS5 million has four cells with glass doors for prisoners who suffer from claustrophobia .

Designers have painted the frames yellow , which researchers say is a calming color .

Other cells contain a royal blue line because psychologists believe that the color is likely to encourage truthfulness .

The station has 31 cells , including 12 with a `` live scan '' system for drunken or disturbed prisoners , which detects the rise and fall of their chest .

An alarm alerts officers if a prisoner 's breathing stops and carries on ringing until the door is opened .

Designers and psychologists have worked for years on color .

Blue is said to suggest trust , efficiency , duty , logic , coolness , thinking and calm .

It also suggests coldness and unfriendliness .

It is thought that strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter , soft colors will calm the mind and aid concentration .

Yellow is linked with confidence , self-respect and friendliness get the color wrong and it could cause fear , depression and anxiety , but the right yellow can lift spirits and self-respect .

Ingrid Collins , a psychologist who specializes in the effects of color , said that color was an `` energy force '' .

She said : `` Blue does enhance communication but I am not sure it would enhance truthful communication . ''

Red , on the other hand , should never be considered because it could increase aggression .

Mrs. Collins praised the designers for using colors in the cells .

Gwent is not the first British force to experiment with color to calm down or persuade prisoners to co-operate , In the 1990s Strathclyde Police used pink in cells based on research carried out by the US Navy .


I 've done many things that would make any parent proud .

I 've taken part in sports , community work and school events , but I am most proud to be a good big brother .

I have to watch over four sisters and a brother , plus myself .

That 's quitea task , but one I feel I have gotten good at .

My brother needs more attention than most siblings .

When he was nine , he was hit by a pick-up truck on the way to the bus stop and lost use of the lower two-thirds of his body .

He 's been in a wheelchair for six years .

My brother does many things , but sometimes he tries to do things he used to do but ca n't now .

I ' m always there with words of encouragement .

I now watch my brother struggle to do as many things as he can within and beyond his limits .

Should he fall , I will be the person to pick him up .

I also watch as my younger sisters grow up into intelligent , beautiful young women .

Whenever my brother or sisters need a helping hand or words of encouragement , I 'm on the job .

That 's what I , the big brother , am for .


According to the dictionary definition of 'create ' , ordinary people are creative every day .

To create means to bring into being , to cause to exist something each of us does daily .

We are creative whenever we look at or think about something in a new way .

First , this includes an awareness of our surroundings .

It means using all of our senses to become aware of our world .

This may be as simple as being aware of color1 and texture , as well as taste , when we plan a meal .

Above all , it is the ability to notice things that others might miss .

A second part of creativity is an ability to see relationships among things .

If we believe the expression , there is nothing new under the sun , the creativity is remaking or recombining the old in new ways .

For example , we might do this by finding a more effective way to study or a better way to arrange our furniture , or we might make a new combination of camera lenses and filters to create an unusual photograph .

A third part of creativity is the courage and drive to make use of our new ideas , to ask for them to achieve some new results .

To think up a new idea is one thing ; to put the idea to work is another .

These three parts of creativity are included in all the great works of geniuses , but they are also included in many of our day to day activities .


Do your children enjoy interesting stories , funny games , and exciting dances ?

Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00 , free .

Forget your worries on Saturday morning .

Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history .

Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30 .

Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre .

Are you tired of eating the same food every day ?

Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world .

It 's October , and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year .

`` The Zoo '' , a popular rock group from Australia , will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall , City College


Although there is no formal process of selection , in larger groups , leaders are usually chosen formally through election or recruitment .

Although leaders are often thought to be people with unusual personal ability , decades of research have failed to produce evidence that there are any `` natural leaders '' .

It seems that there is no set of personal qualities that all leaders have in common ; or rather , any person may be recognized as a leader if the person has qualities that meet the needs of that particular group .

Research suggests that there are typically two different leadership roles that are held by different individuals .

Instrumental leadership is leadership that emphasizes the completion of tasks by a social group .

Group members look to instrumental leaders to `` get things done '' .

Expressive leadership , on the other hand , is leadership that emphasizes the collective well-beings of a social group 's members .

Expressive leaders are less concerned with the overall goals of the group than with providing emotional support to group members and attempting to minimize tension and conflict among them .

Instrumental leaders are likely to have a rather secondary relationship to other group members .

They give others and may discipline group members who inhibit attainment of the group 's goals .

Expressive leaders develop a more personal or primary relationship to others in the group .

They offer sympathy when someone experiences difficulties and try to solve problems that threaten to divide the group .

As the difference between these two roles suggests , expressive leaders generally receive more personal affection from group members ; instrumental leaders , if they are successful in promoting group goals , may enjoy a more distant respect .


The skin which covers the tips of the fingers and thumbs is crossed by numerous ridges arranged in different patterns .

These patterns are permanent from birth and remain exactly the same throughout a person 's life , even when the skin becomes wrinkled and cracked as a result of old age .

Such patterns are never passed on from parents to children , and no one in the world has the same patterns as anyone else .

Even identical twins have different sets of fingerprints .

As a result , fingerprints offer a most useful and foolproof way of identifying people .

Any ridged part of the hand and the foot may be used as a means of identification , but finger impressions are usually preferred since they can be taken easily and quickly .

Fingerprints are classified in the ways : by general shapes and contours , by the finger positions of the pattern-types , and by size ( often measured by counting the ridges in the loops ) .

Every set of fingerprints has different `` ridge characteristics '' ( i. e. the print of each separate finger is different from that of all the other fingers ) , which belong to one of four basic groups : arches , loops , whorls and composites .

All fingerprints can then be divided into 1 , 024 groups .

By using details in the patterns above , these 1 , 024 groups can be further divided into thousands of smaller groups , thus making it possible to find a particular set of fingerprints in a few minutes .


I can ride a bike but I ca n't drive a car .


In every school there is a `` top '' crowd that sets the pace , while the others follow their lead .

For example , the top crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters .

Very soon everybody is wearing a brightred sweater .

There is nothing wrong with that , except the fact that bright red is not suitable on some peopleat all .

The situation can even become dangerous , if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink or to drivecars at 70 miles an hour .

Then the people who follow the lead are causing danger to people 's lives .

They arelike sheep being led to the slaughterhouse .

Perhaps you have come across situations like these more than once in your life .

In fact , at one time oranother you probably did something you knew to be wrong .

You may have excused yourself by saying , `` Thecrowd does it . ''

Well , let the crowd do it , but do n't do it yourself .

If you know the crowd is planning something with which you disagree , have the courage to leavethem politely .

You 'll have the satisfaction of standing on your own feet .


One of India 's great economic advantages is the youth of its population .

To make the most of this advantage , India 's children need to be educated .

The country has a nationwide network of state primary schools funded by a specially designed tax .

96 % of children aged 6-14 go to school , even in rural areas .

That 's well above the average for the developing world and their attendance is good .

But the attainment is poor : three quarters of third graders ca n't read a gradeone text and 53 % of grade five kids ca n't read at the standard they should have achieved at grade two .

Levels of achievement are almost as bad in math .

`` The main problem in India is not school entry or whether there is a local school ; it 's the delivery of education , the way teaching is done or not done , '' says Vinati Sukhdev , the executive director of Pratham , a charity that campaigns for better education in India .

And according to Ms. Sukhdev , the country 's teachers are the thirdbestpaid in the world but they 're poorly trained and are often absent .

Teacher attendance at the primary level is only 85 % , according to Pratham 's research and there 's little punishment for those who do n't turn up .

The government knows that state schooling needs to improve .

In 2009 it passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act ( RTE ) , a law for the national provision of free , childfriendly education .

It says that there should be two teachers for every 60 students and that they should go to work regularly , get there on time , follow the curriculum , assess how well the children are learning and meet regularly with parents .

`` What we need to do next is improve accountability , '' says Ms. Sukhdev .

Schools have management committees that are supposed to include parent and local government representatives .

`` But they do n't work or people do n't know they exist . ''

Pratham tries to help local communities and parents drive improvement .

`` You should see the kind of reaction we get when they realize the teacher is paid but is n't turning up ! ''

`` We ca n't be everywhere , so we limit ourselves to working in a few districts , where we can create model schools .

Then we try to work together with local government to make sure every school in the district or state is raised to that level . ''

The Read India programme is an example of what targeted help can achieve .

Pratham has created an easytouse teaching and assessment pack called Learn to Read .

It has trained teachers in how to use the pack at school and showed community health workers , volunteers and parents how it could support learning outside school .

The programme has now run across 19 states , involving 450,000 volunteers and training 600,000 teachers and government workers .

Among the 33 million children who have participated , the number of those who can read simple sentences has risen by 20 % .


When your pet has an emergency , first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment .

However , before you are able to get your pet to a veterinarian , knowing some basic first aid can help .

Approach the pet carefully to avoid getting bitten .

Wear a mask for the animal and then check the wound .

Clean the wound with large amounts of saline .

If these are not available , then regular water may be used .

Wrap large open wounds to keep them clean .

Apply firm , direct pressure over the bleeding area until the bleeding stops .

Hold the pressure for at least 10 minutes .

Avoid bandages that cut off circulation .

Check to see if the animal is choking on a foreign object .

If an animal is not breathing , place it on a firm surface with its left side up .

If you hear a heartbeat but not breathing , close the animal 's mouth and breathe directly into its nose -- not the mouth -- until the chest expands .

Wash the burn immediately with large amounts of cool , running water .

Apply an ice pack for 15 -- 20 minutes .

Do not place an ice pack directly on the skin .

Wrap the pack in a light towel or other cover .

If the animal has large quantities of dry chemicals on it skin , brush them off .

Symptoms include pain , inability to use a limb .

Wear a mask for the pet and look for bleeding .

If you can control bleeding without causing more injury , then do so .

Do n't try to set the fractures by pulling the limb .

Transport the pet to the veterinarian immediately , supporting the injured part as best as you can .


The Polynesian Cultural Center ( P.C.C . )

offers the best value for your vacation dollar .

There is so much to see and do for the entire family .

They offer a unique and authentic view not only of the Hawaiian culture , but also offer a taste of their Polynesian cuisines .

A fun activity for all ages , experience the beauty of true Polynesia with The Polynesian Cultural Center 's newest package .

Experience the 7 Polynesian Islands as they share with you their culture through song and dance .

Enjoy Prime Rib & Seafood Dinner at the Gateway Restaurant , finishing the evening with the Horizons Night Show .

The Twilight Package -- Ambassador 's Fine Dining

This activity is an excellent choice for those who want a shorter visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center .

You will be guided through the two villages , and you can choose from Hawaiian Luau or Prime Rib & Seafood Dinner .

You will then attend the Horizons Night Show and receive a souvenir video , program and a `` Pineapple Delight '' dessert .

Enjoy your experience at the Polynesian Cultural Center with luxury services and places of entertainment as you are guided through our seven villages by your personal tour guide .

Enjoy the delicious Ali'i Luau Feast and front row seats at the Horizons Night Show .

You will discover for yourself why the Polynesian people are known as the most hospitable in the world .

Enjoy all the luxuries and places of entertainment of the Polynesian Cultural Center as you tour our seven islands with your personal tour guide .

You can choose from delicious Prime Rib & Seafood Dinner or Ali'i Luau Feast .

Enjoy front row seats at the Horizons Night Show .


When I recall my experiences of feeling heard and deeply understood by someone , I know how much the experiences helped me to cope With whatever I was dealing with at the time .

Caring people who I have turned to in difficult times helped me the most by listening and asking about my feelings .

During one of my volunteer jobs at a local HIV and cancer clinic , I found the helpfulness of empathic listening .

As a volunteer I was providing emotional support for people with health related problems .

Empathic listening really made a difference on how patients felt about their health problems .

By sharing about their pain and suffering and my willingness to listen , they felt less alone .

We can make life easier for each other by becoming a better listener and encouraging each other to share our feelings .

We can become a better listener by avoiding giving advice and trying to solve problems unless we are asked to do so .

Pressuring others to solve their life problems -- `` our ways '' -- is not helpful .

Most people intuitively know how to solve their own problems .

As a listener it 's important to be patient and not to interrupt the speaker .

Let them know it 's OK to talk about their feelings and support them in feeling their feelings .

When one neither shares nor reaches out for support , he or she can remain a lonely mystery .

Life can feel lonely when one keeps everything inside .

Feeling alone with life problems can be worse than the problem itself .

When we let a caring person listen to our life struggle , we will no longer feel alone with our struggle .

Do n't be afraid to ask your loved ones to take time to hear you out .

Confiding in others can have a positive effect on our mood .


In 2015 , on a TV show I Am a Singer 3 , Li Jian became the most popular one , because he has great singing ability and sense of humor .

His songs can really touch the listeners . ``

Poetic Musician '' because of his poetic lyrics .

Later , he became a good guitarist and won the first prize in a national competition .

`` In my younger days , the guitar was like my best friend , '' Li said .

Then in March 2001 , Li formed a group called Shuimu Nianhua with his friend .

Later , Li did n't agree to change their musical style .

So the pair went their separate ways next year .

Unlike some other musicians , Li does very few interviews or concerts .

Writing songs is like collecting water in a cup .

When the cup is full , the water will come out naturally . ''


Walking certainly is n't the safe activity it was when many of us were school children .

There are the normal safety risks such as speeding vehicles and errant bicycles .

Here are a few tips for dads of children who are early morning and late afternoon pedestrians .

Develop a safe walking route to school and insist that your children follow it .

Avoid having them cross busy streets except where there is a signal or a crossing guard .

If your child does not make it to school or home and if you have a standard route , it will be easier to track them down .

This may seem a simple rule , but it is one that is often disregarded .

A boy or a girl alone is a much easier target for a predator .

Make sure the children walk in a group .

And besides , it is a lot more fun for them .

Follow generally smart pedestrian rules .

Remind them to use sidewalks where possible .

If there are no sidewalks , walk on the side of the road as far to the right as possible .

Where possible , walk on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic so they can see anypotential risks before they get to them .


What will the house of the future look like ?

Architects believe that there are all possibilities .

The only thing for sure is that the house will be as green as possible .

Many architects in the world would like to build a `` tree house . ''

Like a leaf , the surface of the house collects sunlight during the day .

The energy can be used to heat water , produce electricity , and even create fresh air for the home .

The `` root '' of the house is deep under the ground .

Like a lizard , changing color with the weather is the most important design of a lizard house .

When it 's in the bright sun , the cover of the house will turn dark to protect it from strong heat .

During dark days , it turns white and takes in as much light and heat as possible to produce energy .

It has gardens on the outside wall of the house .

People can plant tomatoes , carrots and green tea on them .

So every day in the morning , you just need to walk outside and collect your meals .

Looking to the future is n't the only way to be green .

Sometimes , ancient techniques can also help cut down energy use .

For example , a chimney can be a useful air conditioner because it is easier for hot air to flow out at the chimney .


I was raised on a farm in the Fraser Valley along with five sisters and one brother .

When I was 15 , I got addicted to drinking at weekends and then dropped out of school .

By the time I was 17 , I continued to drink heavily .

I could n't find a job to support myself .

So , I had no other choice but to join the army .

I retired and went back home three years later , still a heavy drinker .

When I was 22 , I met Sue whose father was also a heavy drinker , so my behavior did n't surprise her .

We were soon married and later had two daughters .

I started my first business when I was in my mid-twenties .

A few years later , I bought a large chicken farm .

Even with this success , though , my drinking was always a problem .

It affected my marriage and family so much that I knew I had to make up my mind to stop drinking .

But two years later , I began drinking again .

When I was in my mid-thirties , I sold both of my businesses , and bought the big house on the hill .

I was not at all happy , although I had everything that was supposed to make me happy .

I sold our big house on the hill and bought a large land , where I built a new house .

Our marriage was in big trouble , and my finances would down the drain .

For the first time in many years , I had to go to work for someone as an employee .

I took a job as a heavy equipment operator in a road building camp .

My marriage still came apart when I was 38 , and my kids had to go through our divorce .

I spent 6 months in giving up drinking on a school camp .

Nearly a year later , I met my childhood neighbor girl , June .

My kids learned to trust me again and I have two stepchildren that also love me .

Everything was going so well when I felt there was something wrong with my body .

I went to see a doctor , and the medical examination came out that I had ALS .

Record shows that people with ALS generally survive between two to five years after symptoms appear .

I 've probably had the symptoms for one-and-a-half years already , so I do n't know how much time I have left ... .


All over the world , libraries have begun the great task of making faithful digital copies of the books and records that protect the mental efforts of mankind* .

For armchair schools , the work promises to bring such a wealth of information to desktop that the present Internet may not match .

Librarians see three clear benefits to going digital .

First , it helps them preserve rare and easily broken objects without refusing the demands of those who wish to study them .

The British Library , for example , holds the only medieval ( middle-aged ) manuscript of Beowuif in London .

Only quantified scholars were allowed to set and put the images up on the Internet for anyone to use .

Once books arc changed to digital form , readers can find them in seconds rather than minutes .

Several people can read the same book or view the same picture at the same time .

Clerks are spared the chore of reserving .

And libraries could use the Internet to lend their collections to those who are unable to visit in person .

The third advantage of electronic copies is that they occupy millimeters of space on a magnetic disk rather than meters on a shelf .

The cost of library buildings is increasingly high .

The University of California at prefix = st1 /Berkeleyrecently spent $ 46 million on all underground addition to house 1 .

5 million books at an average cost of $ 30 per set of them .

The price of disk storage on the contrary , has fallen to about $ 2 per 300-page publication and continues to drop


We human beings have n't been good friends to animals .

For thousands of years , we have been polluting the environment , making it hard for animals to live on the planet .

We have been killing animals for their fur , feathers or meat , or simply because they are dangerous .

As a result , many kinds of animals have disappeared forever .

Hundreds more are on the endangered list today .

If animals of a certain kind all disappear , they will never come back again .

Animals are more than just resources of things we need .

Every kind of animal has its place in the balance of nature .

Destroying any kind of animal can lead to many problems .

For example , when farmers killed large numbers of hawks , the corn and grain that the farmers stored were destroyed by rats and mice .

With less and less hawks to keep down their numbers , rats and mice multiplied quickly .

And if people kill too many birds , more and more insects will eat the crops .

Luckily , we 've realized that we should n't kill animals any more .

And people are working hard to save those animals that would disappear soon .

The government also passed laws to protect the endangered animals .

In fact , quite a few countries have passed such laws .

These laws forbid the killing of any kind of animal on the endangered list .

We should try our best to protect and save the endangered animals .


Imagine if you could have any house you wanted .

You can place the house anywhere in the world and you can build the house from any materials you wish .

What would be the color1 and texture of the walls , the shape of the rooms , and the quality of the light ?

Carl Jung said : `` When I was a child , I dreamed of a house shaped like a ring .

Rooms would be arranged in a ring around a central courtyard , and the courtyard would have a glass roof , a steamy climate , and unusual birds .

All windows in this house would look inward at the courtyard .

No windows would look outward at the outside world .

This was an introverted , perhaps proud , house .

As I aged , my dream house reshaped itself .

Instead of an inner courtyard , it developed sociable porches and big bay windows .

The house of my dreams reflected who I was becoming . ``

For the psychologist Carl Jung , building a house was a symbol of building a self .

In his autobiographical Memories , Dreams , Reflections , Jung described the gradual evolution of his home on Lake Zurich .

Jung spent more than thirty years building this castle - like structure , and he believed that the towers and windows represented his soul .

Clare Cooper Marcus said , `` Can we know more about who we are by looking at where we live ? ''

Clare Cooper Marcus , a Professor of Architecture at the University of California in Berkeley , has written widely about the relationship between homes and the people who occupy them .

Her book House as a Mirror of Self explores the meaning of `` Home '' as a place of self - expression , as a place of growing , and as a place of sociability .

Marcus spent years looking at people ' s drawings of memorable childhood places .

If the houses we live in are so significant , what about the houses we imagine ?

What do our wishes say about who we are ?


One cold , rainy night in 1979 , staying on the deck of the nuclear attack submarine USS Birmingham entering Hampton Roads Harbor , a soldier who was called Jeff Harris was suddenly hit by a huge wave that took away his ship 's ball cap .

Months later , while walking along Chesapeake Boulevard beach in Hampton , Will Miller , a Vietnam veteran and Navy commander , happened to find Harris ' cap which was half-buried in the sand then .

Knowing how important a ship 's cap was to its owner , Miller saved the hat , hoping one day to find its owner .

The cap was packed away for years but recently appeared again at Miller 's home in Florida .

`` It suddenly fell out of a box onto my computer keyboard , right in front of me , '' said Miller .

`` I guessed it was telling me , 'It 's time to get me home . ' ''

An extensive Internet search led Miller to a USS Birmingham website and finally to Harris .

The two sent e-mails back and forth , and one night Miller 's phone rang .

`` This is Jeff Harris , '' the voice on the phone said .

The two sailors talked for almost half an hour , telling sea stories to each other and thinking of the common relationship between seamen . ''

`` Most non-seagoing people would n't understand how much a sailor likes his hat , '' Miller said .

`` Your hat protects you from sun , wind , salt and cold , and when you lose it , especially one with your ship 's name on it , it 's a big thing .

I 'm delighted to get it back to Jeff . ''


There is a big picture in Mary 's bedroom .

Mary 's mother is a teacher of Chinese .

There is a big red flower on his black coat .


Long long ago , there was a man who was good at shooting arrows .

He asked the king to declare him as the greatest archer of the country .

The king was about to do so when an old servant of the king said , `` Wait , sir .

I know an old man who lives in the forest .

Let this young man go to him and learn from him for at least three years . ''

The man could not believe what the servant said , but he went and found the old man and he was !

Then one day , when he thought he had learned everything , the thought arose in him : `` If I kill this old man , then I will be the greatest archer . ''

The old man had gone to cut wood and he was coming back carrying wood on his shoulder .

The young man hid behind a tree , waiting to kill him .

The old man took a small piece of wood and threw it .

It struck the arrow and the arrow turned back and wounded the young man very deeply .

The old man came , took out the arrow and said .

`` I knew that some day or other you were going to do this .

That 's why I have not taught you this secret .

My Master is still alive , and I 'm nothing before him .

You must be with him for at least thirty years .


An Dun is a daily newspaper reporter in Beijing .

And she has a great `` Chinese dream '' .

Everything about Cao Yulan 's life changed when her mother died during a heavy storm .

`` I felt like I 'd grown up overnight , '' she told author An Dun .

At the age of 16 , Cao left for Beijing .

She has worked as a tea salesgirl and a babysitter , among other odd job , over the past 11 years .

Her last job before giving birth to her daughter was managing a breakfast stand .

What she wanted was to help her little brother and sister grow up to live a better life .

Cao is one of the main characters in An Dun5 s latest book .

An Dun shared Cao 's story with the readers at the book launch in late June .

The book , written in both Chinese and English , Is the third volume of The Chinese Dream series .

The project will tell the true stories of 100 Chinese people from all kinds of life in 10 volumes , with An as the interviewer .

An Dun enjoys talking to people and she keeps on writing the true stories of `` small potatoes '' .

Her first volumes of The Chinese Dream series have : already been published .

Now An is working on the series ' fourth volume .


You can use this website to learn English and other languages .

Click the links below to explore our language learning resources .

You can speak English online with another person or practice any other language on our Live English Conversation Linkup service through Skype , Google Talk , MSN , etc .

You can use the service to get information about travel , language , food , customs , climate , travel , business , work , study etc .

Or , you can speak any foreign language on our Live Language Linkup page .

Learn English with our free World English Course .

Listen , speak , read , write and understand English through our free weekly online activities and linkups .

Take a look at some of the courses we offer .

*Be Aware : Use this free English course to brush up your grammar , vocabulary , and writing skills .

*Interactive Stories : Learn a new technique for learning languages by using stories with this free English training course .

*The Business Trip : Develop your business English with this unique free business English course .

*The Water Car : A full-length interactive story English course for intermediate level leamers .

*The Children of Kenji Takeuchi : A full-length interactive story English course for upper- intermediate level learners .

*World English : A free English course designed for topic-based discussions .

Follow a story in English through free English dialogues .

*Lower Intermediate : Hiromi 's Trip to Thailand

*Upper Intermediate : A New Life in Mosquito City

We provide recordings of real conversations and interviews , with transcripts of the conversations so you can read and listen at the same time .

It is a good way to learn real English .


A woman is at the cinema , and she is enjoying the film very much , but there is a man in the next seat , and he begins looking at the floor under her .

The woman is angry and asks , `` What are you doing there ? ''

`` A piece of chocolate '' , the man says to her , `` I drop it on the floor . ''

the woman says angrily , `` It is dirty now . ''

She gives the man a big piece of chocolate .

But the man says , `` One of my teeth is in the chocolate ! ''


It was an afternoon Truman would never forget .

Rayburn and his friend were talking in the office before Truman arrived .

It was a call from the White House asking whether Vice-President Truman had arrived yet .

The caller asked to have him telephone the White House as soon as he arrived .

He put down the phone and raced out of the door to his car .

Truman arrived at the White House within minutes .

An assistant took him to the president 's private living area .

Eleanor Roosevelt , the president 's wife , was waiting for him there .

`` Harry , '' she said , `` the president is dead . ''

He asked Mrs. Roosevelt if there was anything he could do to help her .

But her reply made clear to him that his own life had suddenly changed .

`` Is there anything we can do for you ? ''

Mrs. Roosevelt asked the new president , `` You are the one in trouble now . ''

Truman had been a surprise choice for vice-president at the Democratic Party nominating convention in nineteen forty-four .

Delegates considered several other candidates before they chose him as Roosevelt 's running mate .

That was at a time when presidential candidates did not make their own choices for vice-president .

Harry Truman lacked the fame , the rich family and the strong speech-making skills of Franklin Roosevelt .

He grew up in the Midwestern state of Missouri .

Truman only studied through high school but took some nighttime law school classes .

He worked for many years as a farmer and a small businessman , but without much success .

Truman had long been interested in politics .

When he was almost forty , he finally won several low-level positions in his home state .

By nineteen thirty-four , he was popular enough in Missouri to be nominated and elected to the United States Senate .

And he won re-election six years later .

Most Americans , however , knew little about Harry Truman when he became president .

They knew he had close ties to the Democratic Party political machine in his home state .

But they had also heard that he was a very honest man .

They could see that Truman had strongly supported President Roosevelt 's New Deal programs .

But they could not be sure what kind of president Truman would become .

At the center of all the action was Harry Truman .

It was not long before he showed Americans and the world that he had the ability to be a good president .

He was honest , strong and willing to make decisions .


A student walks into his first class and realizes he forgot all about the midterm exam .

He knows he needs to bring his grades up , and getting a zero will make it nearly impossible .

He quickly jots down some notes and shoves them under his lap hoping it will help him pass .

Cheating is a major concern in all academic environments .

Students are creating new and more outrageous ways of cheating every day ; some claim that certain accounts of cheating can be justified , but overall it can always be prevented .

Cheating has been around forever , and millions of ways to cheat have been fashioned .

Copying homework and cheat sheets are some of the most basic ways students in all education levels have cheated .

Some students think nothing about writing a few answers on their hand , in a gum wrapper , or boldly using a study guide to cheat .

Desperate students have even gone as far as to steal the test or scan in bottle wrappers and put answers into the nutrition label .

The internet has now become available in almost every location .

Computers can be accessed at school , at home , and now even on cell phones .

This opens a doorway for even more methods of cheating to be born .

There are countless opinions on whether or not cheating can be justified .

The truth is this behavior will always be a matter of opinion with each scenario of cheating .

Students often rationalize their cheating by claiming they forgot to look over the material or did not understand what the teacher or professor was saying .

Some may counter these arguments by saying that the student could have set reminders or asked the teacher to explain the material before the day of the test .

Some other reasons students believe cheating is justified are their heavy workloads and trying to find time for school , sports , friends , and family .

This may be true in certain instances , however , all students have these problems , and it is unfair to the students refrain from cheating when the student who is dishonest receives a better grade .

The majority of students who think cheating is acceptable may believe the reason for this is that sometimes students are unaware they are cheating , there is not enough time given for assignments , or that the information is too much for the course .

It may be difficult to accomplish , but cheating can be prevented .

Teachers and professors have tried many options to stop cheating .

These options can range anywhere from simply spreading test-takers out in a room , to expelling a student , which will most likely hindertheir plans of getting into another college .

One simple way to fix the problem is to scold the student when caught .

They may be so scared or embarrassed that they never do it again .

This is a risky way to prevent cheating in some cases , however , because it can possibly damage self-esteem .

Another simple way to avoid cheating is to create many different kinds of the same test .

This prohibits students from getting the answers off of a neighbor 's test , but students still have the option of using other cheating tactics .

There may be a million ways to cheat and get away with it , but there are few times , if any , that it is justified .

Cheating never has to be a necessity and is never worth compromising morals and losing years worth of working towards a degree .

This problem is spreading throughout America ; with everyone 's help , it can be stopped .


As the pace of life continues to increase , we are fast losing the art of relaxation .

Once you are in the habit of rushing through life , being on the go from morning till night , it is hard to slow down .

But relaxation is necessary for a healthy mind and body .

Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it .

In fact , it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .

A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life .

It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health .

The amount of stress a person can bear depends very much on the individual .

Some people are not afraid of stressand such characters are obviously important material for managerial responsibilities .

Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties .

When exposed to stressin whatever formwe react both chemically and physically .

In fact we make choices between `` fight '' and `` flight '' and in more ancient days the choice made the difference between life and death .

The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme , but however little the stress , it involves the same response .

It is when such a reaction lasts long , through continued exposure to stressthat health becomes endangered .

Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress .

Since we can not remove stress from our lives ( it would be unwise to do so even if we could ) , we need to find ways to deal with it .


Every girl dreams she could be the most beautiful in the world .

Some girls went under the knife to change their looks .

Rim Seong Wan , a 23-year-old girl , did some operations in 2009 , and she looked different .

Before the operations , she was shy because she thought she was not beautiful .

After the operations , she had much bigger eyes and higher nose .

When she talks with others , there is always a big smile on her face .

When she does the work , she 's much happier and can finish it more quickly .

She 's called the most talented girl in the company .

However , the scientists did n't think it was good to change life by this way .

It 's more important to adjust our minds .


Every year her classmates voted her the favorite student .

The friends she had were much more than those of anyone else .

One day Mini was caught yakkety-yakking and ordered to stay back as punishment .

Staying back meant doing something `` useful '' , like helping in the library after school .

Once a month , if you had something else to do the day you were punished , you could ask a friend to stand in for you .

Unluckily , her aunt was visiting Mini that day .

That afternoon was the only chance Mini had of seeing her for another five years .

Mini needed someone to stand in for her .

She asked Betty , her `` best '' friend .

`` Oh , no , Mini , I ca n't , '' Betty said .

`` I must help my brother do his homework . ''

`` Tony , will you stay back for me ? ''

I have to go to a relative 's house with my father , '' he said .

Now , Mini was beginning to doubt if even one of her friends would agree to stay .

She asked three more friends and each one refused .

So , after school Mini stayed to help the librarian .

And , when she found Mini crying after everyone had left , it was she who surprised Mini by allowing her to leave to meet her aunt .

`` I may have many friends , '' Mini said to herself , `` but in reality I have none . ''


Sun Liping , 6 , lives in a small village in Yunnan .

Her biggest wish is to have running water in her home .

All 35 families in Sun 's village have a serious problem -- - they do n't have enough water .

Every day , the villagers have to walk 20 minutes to get water .

Last year , the worst drought since the 1950s hit Yunnan , making more than 2 million people short of drinking water .

Not only Yunnan , but many other provinces in China are short of water as well , such as Gansu and Qinghai .

According to a report on February 17 , each Chinese person has about 28 % of the world 's average person 's amount of available water .

Two thirds of China 's cities are short of water and nearly 300 million people in rural areas do n't have safe water for drinking .

Waste a drop of water a day and you lose a bucket a year .

Here are some tips for you to save water in your daily life :

Put plastic bottles of water in your toilet to cut down the water waste when you flush your toilet .

Do n't keep the water running while you 're brushing your teeth or washing your face and hands .

Use a bucket to collect shower water while you wait for it to warm up .

Set up a rain bucket to collect rainwater for watering plants or flowers .


His telephone number is 138-5430-1234 , and my telephone number is 159-5432-3456.My telephone is black .


Today our lives are changing faster than at any time in history .

Here we report on three important changes that will have a big impact on our everyday lives in the future .

Cash and bank-notes will disappear almost completely .

They will be replaced by smart cards , namely plastic cards : microchip processors loaded with some money .

When we pay for goods , the shop assistant will put our smart card into a payment terminal and money will come into his card from our card .

When all the money is used up , we will be able to reloadit by putting it into a telephone , dialing our bank account and money will be put into the card from the account .

Talking computers will play an important part .

They will recognize speech , ask us what information we need , look through a database , and put the information into speech .

If we want to book a flight or pay a bill by phone , we will interact with a talking computer to do so .

Human telephone operators will be used only for more complex operations such as dealing with complaints or solving special problems .

Traffic jams in cities will be reduced because drivers will use electronic route maps to find the quickest route to their destination .

Electronic systems will start changing motorists for driving in cities .

As soon as motorists have to pay to drive in cities , they will stop using their cars and use public transport instead .

Speed control systems will be built into cars .

These systems will automatically regulate the speed of the car to take account of traffic and weather conditions and prevent accidents .

It will be many years before these changes bring results but when they do , there will be a great improvement in road safety .

With the development of science and technology , more and more advanced things will be invented or created .

Life in the future is undoubtedly different from that at the present .


Memory , they say , is a matter of practice and exercise .

If you have the wish and really make a conscious effort , then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things .

But even if you are successful , there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you .

Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen .

One morning last week , for example , I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night , yet I clearly remembered locking it carefully the night before .

Memory `` tricks '' work the other way as well .

Once in a while you remember not doing something and then find out that you did .

One day last month , for example , I was sitting in a barbershop waiting for my turn to get a haircut , and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barbershop across the street from my office .

We always seem to find something funny and interesting in incidents caused by people 's forgetfulness or absent-mindedness .

Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years .

Unfortunately , however , absent-mindedness is not always funny .

There are times when `` tricks '' of our memory can cause us great trouble .


Have you ever heard the saying `` If you want a friend , be one '' ?

Here is how a new teacher made friends with the girls and boys in her class on the first day of school .

As the bell rang , the teacher smiled at each girl and boy .

Then she said in a quiet voice , `` Good morning .

How nice it is to have all of you in my class this year .

I am sure we will enjoy working together . ''

Everyone felt that she meant what she said because of her sweet voice and her friendly look .

She told the girls and boys her name and wrote it on the blackboard .

Then she told them some of the things she liked to do and she was hoping to do with them during the year .

Then she said to the class , `` Now you know my name and the things I like and I want to know your names and the things you like .

Could you make friends by doing the same as this teacher did ?

One way of getting to know girls and boys in your class is to find out more about them .

It is often easy to be friends with those people who have the same hobbies with you .

You play the same games and go on journeys together .

You may find that some new comers in your class miss their old friends and feel strange and lonely .

You can invite them to take a walk or to ride bikes with you .

You will find many things in common to talk about .

Just talking together in a friendly manner is one good way to make friends .


Nations plan next steps to end global warming

On December 3 , more than 10,000 scientists , environmental activists and government officials from 187 countries met in Bali , Indonesia , which is the largest global warming conference ever held .

One of the main goals of the two-week meeting is to develop a replacement for the international treaty called the Kyoto Protocol , which has been signed by 174 , countries , calling for limits on the emission of greenhouse gases .

Under the Kyoto Protocol , nations were legally bound to reduce greenhouse gases , but since it was signed in 2005 , they have continued to increase worldwide .

Of the largest greenhouse gas emitters , only Russia and Japan have agreed to follow me rules .

China and India-second and sixth on the list-are making efforts to make cuts .

The U.S signed the treaty in 1997 but has not yet agreed to follow the strict rules , which require that greenhouse gas release be reduced by 10 % by 2012 .

U.S. officials are opposed to these mandatory , or required , cuts in emissions .

`` We 're worrying that it would be too costly and would hurt the U.S. economy .

But we 're not here to be a roadblock , '' said Harlan L. Watson , a top U.S. climate official .

Even if greenhouse gases are reduced , scientists say it will take decades or longer to stop the global warming that is already underway .

To help poor countries deal with rising temperatures and climate changes , the UN has developed the `` Adaptation Fund '' to help them improve farming techniques and water systems .

But so far , it has only raised $ 67 million .

`` The money should come from the countries most responsible and most capable , '' said Kate Raworth , a senior research official from the Oxfam International aid group .

She listed the U.S. , European Union , Japan , Australia and Canada .


Now let me tell you something about my after-school life .

When I have time , I can read all kinds of books in the school library .

I learn more in the library than in the classroom .

Of all the sports , football is my favorite .

I often play football with my friends after school .

On the weekend , I usually help children with my friends in the dancing club .


Some mothers in Senegal are learning a new way to save the lives of babies born too soon .

The idea is borrowed from the way mother kangaroos carry their young in front in a pouch .

The baby kangaroo stays in this built-in baby carrier until it can survive independently .

Kangaroo mother care is also known as the skin-to-skin method for premature babies .

The direct contact with the mother keeps the baby warm .

It also lets the baby breastfeed at any time .

The mother 's heartbeat also helps control the baby 's breathing rate .

Every year , seven thousand babies are born at the health center where Ousmane Ndiaye works in Guediaway , outside Dakar .

But Senegal has few incubators in which to keep premature babies warm .

In Africa , one newborn in twenty dies .

A major reason is prematurity , so the death rates are among the highest in the world .

Doctor Ndiaye says babies who weigh less than two kilos get special attention from midwives who assist with the births .

They teach the mother how to keep the baby wrapped to her chest .

The health center has a Kangaroo Clinic , a special area for teaching this method .

Doctor Ndiaye says they plan to expand the program throughout Senegal .

But he believes the best way to get more people to use the kangaroo method is for mothers who have used the method to tell others about it .


Starting from this month , you wo n't be hearing the word `` NBA '' on sports programs on CCTV .

Instead , sport hosts will give the full Chinese name when they refer to the NBA - National Basketball Association .

You also wo n't hear any other English abbreviations on CCTV 's Chinese programs , such as GDP ( gross domestic product ) or WTO ( World Trade Organization ) .

You will hear their Chinese translations .

CCTV received a notice from the State Administration of Radio , Film and Television , telling it to avoid using English-language abbreviations in their reports to protect the `` purity '' of the Chinese language .

A few other TV stations also received the notice .

Fu Zhenguo , an editor of People 's Daily , is one of the people who proposed the change .

`` Using English in a Chinese-speaking environment is against Chinese law , '' he said .

`` Using English on Chinese TV programs is unfair to people who do n't understand English .

It will have a bad language influence on kids and teenagers . ''

But some experts have a different opinion .

Liu Yaoying , a professor at the Communications University of China , said the move shows cultural conservatism .

`` If Western countries can accept some Chinglish words , why ca n't the Chinese language be mixed with English ? ''

A lot of people have criticized the move , saying that it will cause problems for them .

`` I understand what CD , VCD and DVD mean when I hear them .

But I wo n't know what the TV programs are talking about if I hear those products ' full Chinese names , '' a person wrote in a BBS post .

Following the same post , another person wrote jokingly : `` I 'm not listening to my MP3 now .

I 'm listening to my Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 .

Some people also question why CCTV is keeping its logo , since it is also an English abbreviation .


My name is Tony , 13 years old from Los Angeles .

She thinks most of the foods the students eat at school are healthy .

The cooks make different food and I can eat different things every day .

Today , I have some noodles , an apple , a cookie and a glass of milk .

Juice is my favorite , but they have n't got any juice today .

It is n't healthy food , but it is my favorite part of my school meal .

Apples are n't my favorite fruit , but they have n't got any oranges .

Sometimes I give my apple to my friend Sam .

Sam gives me some chocolate for the apple .

My mother makes sure I can eat a healthy dinner .

She never gives me hamburgers , cola , candy , ice cream and too much meat .

She thinks eating a lot of fruit , vegetables , some noodles , rice , fish , cheese and milk is good for me .


Why are so many students not doing well ?

Why is there such a huge achievement gap between urban and suburban students ?

Just this week , in my school the seventh grade team leader called a meeting to discuss academic detention .

The purpose of the detention is to allow students who are doing poorly a second chance to redo the work .

Now if a student did not understand an assignment I have no trouble allowing that student to redo a test or give some extra credit work , but if a student did poorly because he/she opted not to do the work out of sheer laziness , that student should not be given a second chance .

And parents should be held accountable for their children .

That is another reason why there is such a huge achievement gap .

All children should be monitored at home in order to achieve great success in school .

Perhaps it might be a great idea for urban school districts to offer free classes to parents on how to help their students at home .

Of course this idea is far fetched , after all we do not want to offend the parents .

What we will do instead is to spend a fortune on teacher training because if the kids are not doing well it must be the fault of the teacher .

That kind of mindset , if allowed to continue will be a perfect recipe for greater achievement gaps .

I started working at my current school in August and I have been in the teaching field for 25 years .

What I believe is that you can lead a horse to water but you ca n't make that horse drink .

You ca n't force kids to change bad habits over night , nor can we afford to lower standards just so a kid can pass a class .


One was black , and the other three were white .

The black lamb was friendly to the others in the group .

But the white lamb s often laughed at him .

One winter day , the four lambs went out to eat grass .

It was such a heavy snow that the ground was all white soon .

When the farmer found that the lambs were not at home , he went out to look for them .

The farmer said excitedly , `` Thanks to the black lamb , I can find you ! ''


My description of a hero is a person who sacrifices his all for others .

A person who puts others before himself .

A person who does ordinary things , not because they have to , but because they want to .

But there was one that really stuck out in my mind .

I guess I really thought about it , but this man really is my hero .

I know , we all think our dads are our heroes .

But the truth is , I really ca n't ever remenber thinking of my dad really as a hero .

I am sure that I have said that he was .

But I an not sure if I ever really thought about in terms of what is a hero ?

He never invented anything to make life easier for others .

I found myself saying yes , he is a hero .

He worked hard to provide for his family .

He made sure that there was money to buy food , and clothes for his family .

But that is what Daddys are supposed to do .

So that does n't really make him a hero .

It just means that he is a man who wants the best for his family , even if that means he has to go without .

In my eyes what makes my dad a hero is his faith .

My dad is a man who has a very deep belief in his faith .

He has put a good life before us his children .


Every morning , when we wake up , we have 24 brand-new hours to live .

We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace , joy , and happiness to ourselves and to others .

Peace is right here and now , in ourselves and in everything we do and see .

The question is whether or not we are in touch with it .

We do n't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky .

We do n't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child .

Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy .

We can smile , breathe , walk , and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available .

We are very good at preparing how to live , but not very good at living .

We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma , and we are willing to work very hard to get

But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment , the only moment there is for us to be alive .

Every breath we take , every step we make , can be filled with joy , peace , and serenity .

We need only to be awake , alive in the present moment .

is that we were but to open ourselves to the richness of the moment , to concentrate on

I have lived in the present from time to time and can tell you that it is much overrated .

Occasionally , as a holiday from stroking one 's memories or brooding about future worries , I grant you , it can be a nice change of pace .

But to `` be here now , '' hour after hour , would never work .

I do n't even approve of stories written in the present tense .

Ads for poets who never use a past participate , they deserve the eternity they are striving for .

has a way of intruding whether you like it or not .

Why should I go out of my way to meet it ?

Let it splash on me from time to time , like a car going through a puddle , and I , on the sidewalk of my solitude , will salute it grimly like any other modern inconvenience .

If I attend a concert , obviously not to listen to the music but to find

in which to meditate on the past and future .

I realize that there may be moments when the music invades my ears and I am forced to pay attention to it , note for note .

I believe I take such intrusions gracefully .

, so long as it does n't stay too long and cut into my remembering or brooding time .


The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world .

The bite of the mosquito can be deadly .

The insects carry serious diseases like malaria .

It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012 , and most of these cases were in African countries .

In the United States , a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes .

The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes .

They found the insects use the same receptor for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin .

Anandasankar Ray , who is leading the investigation , says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate .

He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes ' receptors inactive .

`` When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage , very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out , '' said Ray .

Genevieve Tauxe , a member of the research team , says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin .

`` With the device used to examine the mosquito , we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito 's nose , where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening , '' said Tauxe .

Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT , the most effective chemical treatment now in use .

He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria .

`` Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors , we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products , '' said Ray .


After all , he works for a large auto insurance company .

It wo n't hurt to leave the key in the truck this once , he thought , as he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station .

But minutes later , as he was paying the money , he saw the truck being driven away .

In 2010 , 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States -- one every 20 seconds .

If present trends continue , experts predict vehicle thefts could be over two million every year by the end of the decade .

Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon , which has a direct effect on over four million people a year .

Many police officials blame professional thieves for the large number of the thefts .

It is a major moneymaker for organized crime .

Typically , stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals .

But as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled out of the country every year .

Most go to Latin America , the Middle East and Europe .

Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest , because few police departments specially conduct in depth auto investigations .

When thieves are arrested , judges will often sentence them to probation , not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals .

One exception is a Michigan program that calls for 92 police officers to work full time on the state 's 65,000 car theft cases a year .

Since 2006 , when the effort began , the state 's auto theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth .

If you live in a high theft area or drive an expensive model , consider a safety system .

It may cost anywhere from $ 25 to $ 1,000 .

Some systems work automatically - simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter .

When cars are equipped with such systems , thefts may drop by one third .

In some states , you may be able to use a device that transmits radio signals , allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police .


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At your desk , or at dinner , plug RichardSolo into iPhone to instantly transfer charge .

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Even charge the RichardSolo 1800 and iPhone together at the same time .

Take only one charger when traveling and wake up in the morning with the RichardSolo and the iPhone charged .

RichardSolo 1800 is largest in its class and holds its charge for months .

Your satisfaction is guaranteed , with our 30-day return privilege .

If you 're not satisfied for any reason , we 'll email you a pre-paid return label .

To have your company exhibit such good service is unbelievably refreshing .

This is what I call great customer support .

I wish more companies would figure this out these days .

You have provided me one of the best services I have ever seen on any online/ telephone shopping .

You must have the fastest processing and shipping in the industry !

This is the best customer service experience I have had in a long time .

I 've read online about your amazing customer service , and I must say I 'm now a true believer .


Most foodies agree that eating healthy food is important .

But sometimes making good food choices can be tough .

Now , there are apps that can help people learn about the food they eat to improve their diets and their dining out experience .

Open Table helps people choose restaurants when they want to go out to eat .

Open Table users can also make restaurant reservations directly through the app or website .

Open Table gives userspoints when they make reservations .

The points can add up to discounts on restaurant visits .

Wine and cheese can be a great combination .

But which wines go best with which cheeses ?

Max McCalman 's cheese and wine app can help .

It provides information about hundreds of different cheeses and suggests wines to pair with each .

Max McCalman 's Cheese & Wine Pairing app is free for iPhone and iPad .

Calorific provides images of 200 calories worth of food .

The pictures can help people on a diet and those who just want to eat healthier .

There is also a version that provides more information for a price .

The HappyCow app is made for both groups .

Users can search for vegetarian-vegan restaurants and stores around the world .

A free version of HappyCow is available for Android that has ads and requires an Internet connection .

Restaurant chains , like McDonalds , can be found almost anywhere a person might travel .

But sometimes travelers want to eat like locals .

The website and app LocalEats is designed for that .

It lists locally owned restaurants so users can try foods from that area .


I was in a shopping mall recently , and I decided to go and get a cup of tea .

As I was making my way to the coffee shop , I noticed an old gentleman rather poorly dressed sitting on a bench nearby .

I knew from the first sight that he was in need of some kind of help .

He had a little lunch in front of him and was wholeheartedly enjoying it .

There was a young man in front of me in the line also waiting to be served .

The young man handed the servant a twenty-dollar bill and asked for an orange juice as well as a favor .

The servant looked at the young man with a little surprise , not fully understanding him .

The young man asked her to give the juice to the old gentleman eating his lunch outside on the bench .

The young man also told her that he would be watching every second so that she would be completely safe at all times .

Later , there was a wonderful exchange between the waitress and the old man .

I only wished I had taken a photo of the smiles on both of their faces .

As I was thinking about this event later on , I wondered why the young man did n't just perform this act of kindness himself .

I thought he was hoping that this act of kindness might inspire others to do something for the old man as well .

Thinking of the happy smiles on the old man 's face , I felt how worthwhile it is to help others .