`` Is there anything else you need , honey ? ''

my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand .

I was traveling back home from a family visit , and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas , it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road .

I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed , although I turned 40 .

Yet I realize that in my father 's eyes , I will always be his little girl .

He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right .

Now that he has enough money , he loves to give whenever he sees a need .

Divorced from my mother when I was 11 , my dad could n't be around his kids as often as he would have liked .

Money was also tight ; even weekend visits were rare .

However , my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives .

Though he could n't always be there in person , I knew he was only a phone call away .

Even now , almost 30 years later , I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad , and he 'll be there for me .

I have a wonderful husband , but that has n't changed how Dad sees me .

I 'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met .

I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad .

I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house .

Well , that 's all it took for Dad to take action .

By the time I got to the checkout line , all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought .

Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few `` items '' .

By the time we were finished , my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store !

My sister and I joke that if you do n't want Dad to buy it for you , avoid even mentioning you want something .


At the moment , it may be difficult to imagine , but many people believe that , by the year 2100 , we will live on the planet Mars .

Our own planet , Earth , is becoming more and more crowed and polluted .

Luckily , we can start again and build a better world on Mars .

First of all , transport should be much better .

At present , our spaceships are too slow to carry large numbers of people to Mars -- it takes months .

However , by 2100 , spaceship can travel at half the speed of light .

It might take us two or three days to get to Mars !

Secondly , humans need food , water and air to live .

Scientists should be able to develop plants that can be grown on Mars .

These plants will produce the food and air that we need .

However , can these plants produce water for us ?

There is a problem for us to live on Mars .

Mars pulls us much less than the Earth does .

This will be dangerous because we could easily jump too high and fly slowly away into space .

To prevent this , humans on Mars have to wear special shoes to make themselves heavier .

Life on Mars will be better than that on Earth in many ways , People will have more space .

Living in a large building with only 10 bedrooms is highly possible .

Many people believe that robot will do most of our work , so we have more time for our hobbies .

There will probably be no school on Mars .

Every student will have a computer at home which is connected to the internet .

They can study , do their homework and take exams in online schools .

Each student will also have their own online teacher called `` e-teacher '' .

However , in some ways , life on Mars may not be better than that on the earth today .

Food will not be the same -- meals will probably be in the form of pills and will not be as delicious as they are today , Also , space travel will make many people feel ill .

The spaceship will travel fast but the journey to Mars will probably be very uncomfortable .


Would you like to know how successful people usually think and what drives them ?

Here I am going to tell you the key to success that successful people share .

First of all , successful people never blame someone or something outside of themselves for their failure to move ahead .

They realize that their future lies in their own hands .

They understand that they ca n't control things in life , such as nature , the past and other people .

At the same time , they are well aware that they can control their own thoughts and actions .

They take responsibility for their life .

Perhaps what most separates successful people from others is that they live life `` on purpose '' -- - they are doing what they believe they are put here to do .

In their opinion , having a purpose in their life is the most important element that enables them to deal with things around them .

They hold the view that when they live their life `` on purpose '' , their main concern is to do the job right .

People want to do business with them because of their commitment .

To live their life `` on purpose '' , successful people find a cause they believe in and create a business around it .

Once they have set up goals in their life , they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals .

To achievers always bear in mind what they do n't have forever .

Rather than see this as negative or depressing , they would use the knowledge to spur themselves on and go after what they want energetically and passionately .

So keep in mind what successful people always hold to be true so that you will have a clear idea of what you should do to be successful in life .


Anyone who has experienced the joy of driving through a rainstorm with the sunroof open understands how airflow around the moving vehicles can keep him dry despite the exposure .

Now a similar principle is being employed to create an umbrella that protects people from the rain using nothing more than an invisible air force field .

Air Umbrella , developed by a Chinese company and recently funded by Kickstarter , uses forced air rather than fabric to create a protective canopy that keeps people from getting wet in the rain .

It 's a clever concept and designers have done a good job of answering several questions about the product .

For instance , the sound generated by the device is minimal , especially when compared to the pitter-patter of the falling rain .

It can create a protective canopy wide enough for two people to fit under and it performs well even in the heavy rain .

The air shield can be cut through by high winds , but given that regular umbrellas typically fold over in similar windy conditions , the air umbrella is still an upgrade .

For instance , the battery life is only about 15-30 minutes depending on the model , so you 'll still want to walk briskly to your next destination when it 's raining .

Also , while the air shield might keep the rain away from you , it 's likely to splash all that blown-away water onto anyone else like a sprinkler .

So the device might draw the ire of anyone else walking with you , or any helpless bystanders .

There are currently three different types to choose from if you 're interested in investing .

Air Umbrella-A is the lightest model , and is apparently designed specifically for females , according to the Chinese developers .

It is about 12 inches in length and weighs a little over a pound , and it runs for 15 minutes per charge .

Air Umbrella-B measures nearly 20 inches long and weighs 1.7 pounds , and lasts 30 minutes per charge .

Finally , Air Umbrella-C also lasts 30 minutes , but is scalable between 20 and 32 inches depending on your needs .


When you were a child , did you plan to forecast wind , rain , and snow on TV ?

I took courses in weather science at Eastern Kentucky University , but I majored in broadcasting news .

How did you finally become a weatherman ?

My first job in the early 1980s was at the local TV station in Paducah , Kentucky .

I did everything from turning on the lights in the morning to writing and delivering morning news .

I put together weather forecasts , and became interested in them .

Back then , how did you forecast weather ?

Independent companies collected computer information that showed , for example , how a single weather system might split into snow or snow mixed with rain .

The information was often opposite and the job of a weatherman was to study the information and make the best educated guess about the storm .

Has weather forecasting changed much with new technology ?

Advanced computers , satellites , and Doppler radar ( sound waves used to track storms ) have made forecasting more exact .

But we still know very little about how weather is shaped .

Any advice for children who 'd like to become weather scientists ?

To me , weather is the most exciting field in the world .

There are still so many more questions about weather than answers .

After all , if we ca n't foresee floods or hurricanes , how safe a society are we ?

Weather forecasting is wide open for scientists who love to solve puzzling problems .

The next generation of meteorologists ( weather scientists ) will unlock many of Earth 's weather secrets .

So get a general knowledge of Earth science , and study meteorology in college .


Ten years ago , Morgan Zuch , a two -- year -- old girl from Long Island , New York , was diagnosed with leukemia .

The day that Morgan 's father Rod knew it , he made a promise , `` If my daughter gets better , I will devote the rest of my life to helping others who are in the Same condition . ''

Morgan recovered gradually , and since then , Rod and his wife Nancy , have been helping other families with cancer.stricken children through the Morgan Center .

It is the country 's first preschool for children with cancer .

Because of the risk of germs , children with cancer are usually forbidden from playing with other kids .

They must spend their days in hospital rooms or lying in bed at home .

The Zuchs believed that children with cancer should have the opportunity to play , too .

The center offers the kids and their families a safe place to connect with others who have the same problem .

To reduce the risk of infections , the center 's staff wash their own and the children 's hands frequently , and provide each child with his or her own toys and supplies .

`` You feel like you 're not the sick kid 's mom , '' said one child 's mother , Maura Lewinger .

`` It is nice because none of the parents at the center are alienated . ''

The Zuchs run the center as a non-profit organization and any family can bring their children to the center for free .

Nancy Zuch works as the head teacher-with a little help from her daughter Morgan , now l2 years old .

Today , Morgan is strong and healthy , and loves to provide support for the children who are going through the difficult time that she once went through .

She says she wants to be a teacher at the Morgan Center when she grows up .


Today you come here , you are sure to be attracted by its beauty .

Hangzhou is famous for West Lake which is a famous fresh water lake , It lies in central Hangzhou , in Zhejiang Province of eastern China .

Traditionally , there are ten best-known spots on the West Lake .

They are called Ten Scenes of West Lake by Qianlong Emperor .

The West Lake is divided by three causeways called Su Di , Bai Di , and Yanggong Di .

First I want to tell you the history of Bai Di .

In the middle of the Tang Dynasty , Zhen yuan era ( 785-804 ) , poet Bai Juyi came to Hangzhou as a governor .

He realized that the farmland nearby depended on the water of West Lake , but the old dyke had collapsed , the water of West Lake had dried out , and the local farmers suffered drought .

He ordered the construction of a causeway of a stronger and taller dyke to solve the drought problem .

The lives of local people improved over the following years .

Then Bai Juyi had more free time to enjoy the beauty of West Lake .

This causeway was later named after Bai Di in Bai Juyi 's honor .

Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway is considered as the first of ten scenes .

It was built by Su Dongpo , the great poet , during the Noah Song Dynasty .


Dogs and millionaires have a lot in common .

They are absolute opportunists ( especially when it comes to rewards ) .

And in general , they do n't like cats .

Perhaps that explains a new survey showing that millionaires are far more dog-friendly than the rest of Americans .

According to a study by Spectrem Group , 58 % of millionaire pet owners have a dog .

Only 3 % keep fish , 2 % birds and 2 % have a horse .

Similarly , 39 % of U. S. households own a dog , compared to 33 % of households owning a cat , released by the Humane Society .

Jennifer Cona , a trust and estates attorney and partner with Genser Subow Genser & Cona in New York , does a lot of work on pet trusts .

She said of all the pet trusts she 's worked on , 90 % are for dogs and only 10 % are for cats .

She said dogs provide one thing especially important for the wealthy : unconditional love .

`` You do n't get that from a cat , '' she said , `` Dogs are like children for some families , except that they do n't mess up in college or run off with money .

Sometimes it 's easy to see why dogs are the favorite children . ''

Millionaires show their love for their dogs in part by their spending .

One quarter of millionaire pet owners spend more than $ 1 , 000 a year on their pets , the Spectrem study said , while more than half spend more than $ 500 a year .

Many would say those numbers are understated , given all the diamond-dog collars , dog foods and booming dog spas in evidence these days , not to mention the medical bills .

The survey showed 34 % of pet owners spend money on decorating , while 6 % spend on `` sweaters , outfits and costumes . ''

More than half of millionaire pet owners spend money on teeth cleaning for their pets .

More than 16 % , meanwhile , said they would spend money on reconstructive surgeries and `` anti-anxiety , anti-depression '' medication for their pets .


One morning , my husband Jerry went back to the kitchen as he just finished loading his car .

`` I guess filling my thermos is all that I have left to do , and then I 'm off . ''

Down the drain went the hot water that had been warming his thermos .

With a nostalgic look on his face , he softly said : `` Anytime I fill my thermos I think of your mom . ''

The tone in his voice was so tender as he spoke of my mother , who is sadly no longer with us .

`` Oh honey , I know she 's watching and listening right now with a big smile on her face , '' I responded , tears in my eyes .

One morning years ago when we were leaving , mother watched as Jerry was to fill his thermos .

Mom then casually said , 'Jerry , if you filled your thermos with hot water and let it sit a while , your coffee would stay hot for longer then . ''

With her simple suggestion , his face showed that he was shocked by his own lack of common sense .

He poured out the small amount of coffee already in the thermos and refilled it with boiling hot water .

Then he poured the water and refilled it with hot coffee .

Words of wisdom from a loving mother-in-law made an impact that will never be forgotten .

She never dreamed her words would be a treasured and everlasting memory in the heart of her son-in-law .

The lasting memories don ’ t necessarily come from major moments in life .

Memories are often made during those small , ordinary times .

Life is about small moments we share with friends and loved ones .


Even as Americans have been gaining weight , they have cut their average fat intake from 36 to 34 percent of their total diets in the past 15 years .

And indeed , cutting fat to control or lose weight makes sense .

Protein and carbohydrates have just four .

Moreover , the body uses fewer calories to metabolize fat than it does to metabolize other foods .

Compared with protein and carbohydrates -- which break down into amino acids and simple sugars , respectively , and can be used to strengthen and energize the body -- -- dietary fat is more easily converted to body fat .

Therefore , it 's more likely to stay on buttocks , thighs and bellies .

But cutting fat from your diet does n't necessarily mean your body wo n't store fat .

For example , between nonfat and regular cookies , there 's trivial difference in calories because manufacturers make up for the loss of fat by adding sugar .

Low-fat crackers , soups and dressings can also be just as high in calories as richer versions .

No matter where the calories come from , overeating will still cause weight again .

The calories from fat just do it a little quicker .

A Wisconsin computer programmer who decided with a diet coach to eat only 40 grams of fat a day learned the lesson firsthand .

Then he showed his food diary to his coach and revealed he 'd been eating half a pound of jelly beans a day .

`` They do n't have any fat , '' he explains .

But they had enough sugar to keep him from shedding an ounce .

When we add them to our diet , we actually increase the number of calories we eat per day and gain weight .

That was borne out in a Pennsylvania State University study .

For breakfast , Prof. Barbara Rolls gave two groups of women yogurt that contained exactly the same amount of calories .

One group 's yogurt label said `` high fat '' -- the other , `` low fat . ''

The `` low fat '' yogurt group ate significantly more calories later in the day than the other group .

`` People think they 've saved fat and can indulge themselves later in the day with no adverse consequences , '' says Richard Mattes , a nutrition researcher at Purdue University .

`` But when they do that , they do n't compensate very precisely , and they often end up overdoing it . ''


First Lady Michelle Obama is on a five-day trip to Asia .

She is visiting Japan and Cambodia to help publicize a program called `` Let Girls Learn '' .

Administration officials set up the campaign to support the education of millions of girls worldwide .

Before her trip , Mrs. Obama and her husband noted the inability of an estimated 62-million girls to attend school .

They said educating the girls should be a foreign policy goal .

This week , Mrs. Obama criticized the fact that tens of millions of girls are not receiving a satisfactory education .

In her opinion piece , she wrote this failure to educate girls was more than `` a tragic waste of potential . ''

It is both a serious public health issue and a problem for the economic health of nations and the world .

She also said it was `` a threat to the security of countries around the world '' .

The First Lady noted by 2012 , every part of the developing world was educating both girls and boys in primary schools .

But this is not the case in secondary education .

She wrote in some areas girls face `` the cultural values and practices that limit the prospects of women in their societies '' .

The Obama administration launched the `` Let Girls Learn '' campaign earlier this month .

At the time , Mrs. Obama noted plans to involve the U.S.Peace Corps , and the Volunteer Development Agency .

`` This effort will draw on the talent and energy of the nearly 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers serving in more than 60 countries .

Through this effort , Peace Corps will be supporting hundreds of new community projects to help girls go to school and stay in school .

And , I want to emphasize that these programs will be community-generated and community-led .

They will be based on solutions devised by local leaders , families and yes , even the girls themselves . ''

President Obama also spoke at the same White House event , saying that campaign is important to his administration .


My dad , over ninety years old now , sat weakly on the bench .

He did n't move and just sat with his head down staring at his hands .

He did n't realize it and the longer I sat , the more I wondered if he was okay .

Finally , not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him , I asked him if he was okay .

He raised his head and looked at me and smiled .

Thank you for asking , '' he said in a clear strong voice .

I said , did n't mean to disturb you , Dad , but you were just sitting there staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were alright . ''

`` Have you ever looked at your hands ? ''

`` I mean really looked at your hands ? ''

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them .

Dad smiled and said , `` Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have .

How have they served you well throughout your years ?

Though these hands are thin and weak , they have been the tools I have used all my life . ''

They caught my fall when as a baby I crashed upon the floor .

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back .

When I was a little girl , my mother taught me to fold them to pray .

They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots .

They wiped my tears when my son went off to war , '' I said .

After that day , I never looked at my hands the same again .


A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6degC .

Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate .

Without the forest cover , these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere , warming the rest of the world .

Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns , potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world .

In the past hundred years , humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources : land for crops , wood for paper and other products , land for raising farm animals .

This action affects the environment as a whole .

For example , a lot of carbon dioxide in the air comes from burning the rainforests .

People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit .

Firstly , when people cut down trees , generally they can only use the land for a year or two .

Secondly , cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now , but in the long run it actually reduces the world 's wood supply .

Rainforests are often called the world 's drug store .

More than 25 % of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests .

However , fewer than l % of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value .

It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world 's shrinking rainforests .


Nathan 's second-hand bike was good enough to get him anywhere he wanted to go .

Of course , it could n't match Tim 's in a normal speed race , but all the fancy gears in the world would n't get you up Black Mountain .

It was so steep in places that you had to get off your bike and push .

On this particular afternoon , the odds were all on Nathan 's side .

Tim had always been thin , but recently he 'd started to grow so fast that his arms and legs were like pieces of spaghetti .

As well as being considerably fitter than his friend , Nathan knew the shortcuts up prefix = st1 /BlackMountain .

So when Nathan accepted the challenge , he was sure he 'd win .

He nearly always did , in competitions with Tim .

Tim was so competitive , and yet he was n't any good at physical things .

By the time the two boys were three quarters of the way to the top , Nathan was clearly ahead .

While the road zigzagged back and forth up the mountainside , in certain places , there were also vertical tracks , where water rushing down the slope in winter had bitten erosion courses into the soil .

These had in turn been so overgrown by bushes and long grass in the spring that they looked like tunnels through the bush .

The trick was to know where you could cut off a whole bend in the road by leaving the road and pushing your bike up one of these half-hidden pathways .

If you chose the wrong one you 'd struggle up for ten minutes and then suddenly reach a dead end .

Then there was no choice but to go back .


When I was struggling with cancer a few years ago , my wife and I formed our own `` couple caution circle '' .

Anytime a doctor came with news of my progress , my wife would give me a big hug .

The reports were seldom good during the early stages of my illness , and one day a doctor brought particularly frightening news .

Staring at my reports , he said in a low voice , `` It does n't look like you 're going to make it . ''

Before I could ask him a question , my wife stood up , handed me my clothes , adjusted the tubes fastened to my body and said , `` Let 's get out of here .

As she helped me struggle to the door , the doctor came near us .

As we walked together down the hall , the doctor attempted to catch up with us .

`` Keep going , '' said my wife , pushing the intravenous stand .

`` We 're going to talk to someone who really knows what is going on . ''

Then she held up her hand to the doctor .

We escaped to the safety and hope of a doctor who did not confuse diagnosis with conclusion .

I could never have made that walk toward wellness alone .


With around 100 students scheduled to be in that 9:00 am Monday morning lecture , it is no surprise that almost 20 people actually make it to the class and only 10 of them are still awake after the first 15 minutes ; it is not even a surprise that most of them are still in their pajama 's .

Obviously , students are terrible at adjusting their sleep cycles to their daily schedule .

Along with other alerting systems , this governs the sleep/wake cycle and is therefore one of the main processes which govern sleep behaviour .

Typically , the preferred sleep/wake cycle is delayed in adolescents , which leads to many students not feeling sleepy until much later in the evenings .

This typical sleep pattern is usually referred to as the `` night owl '' schedule of sleep .

This is opposed to the `` early bird '' schedule , and is a kind of disorder where the individual tends to stay up much past midnight .

Such a person has great difficulty in waking up in the mornings .

Research suggests that night owls feel most alert and function best in the evenings and at night .

Research findings have shown that about 20 percent of people can be classified as `` night owls '' and only 10 percent can be classified as `` early birds '' -- -- -- the other 70 percent are in the middle .

Although this is clearly not true for all students , for the ones who are true night owls , this gives them an excellent excuse for missing their lectures which unfortunately fall before midday .


As my dad unwrapped the new bicycle helmet that I got him for his birthday , I realized that a number of people ride their bicycles every day without the protection of a helmet .

Due to cold winters across the country , riding has become increasingly dangerous as many roads have potholes and are torn-up .

Not everyone realizes that there are laws requiring the wearing of helmets in many places .

Where I live , there has been a law in place since October 1 , 1992 stating that cyclists of all ages are required to wear helmets .

Unfortunately , accidents can happen to the best of riders .

My dad has been a cyclist for many years , and he often rides around my county and to Rockland Lake State Park .

One afternoon , as he was just entering the park , he lost control of his bicycle and flew off and landed on a nearby patch of grass , breaking his helmet into pieces and losing consciousness .

When he was just awakening , a lovely couple found him and brought him back to our house , where he attempted to recap the events leading up to his fall .

Later that day , a CAT scan showed that he had a concussion .

That evening , while my dad was showing me the pieces of his broken helmet , _ .

If he had not worn his helmet , he probably would have cracked his skull and perhaps died .

Today , when my dad and I go out cycling , the wearing of our helmets is not even a question .

Regardless of age , everyone should wear a helmet whenever they get on a bicycle .


Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable , whether you are a book-lover or only there to buy a book as a present .

You may even have entered the shop just to hide from a sudden rain .

Whatever the reason , you can soon totally unaware of your surroundings .

You soon become interested in some books or others , and usually it is only much later that you realize you have spent too much time there and have to rush off to keep some forgotten appointment .

This chance to escape the realities of everyday life is the main attraction of a bookshop .

A music shop is very much like a bookshop .

You can walk around such a place for as long as you like .

If it is a good shop , no assistant will come up to you with the greeting `` Can I help you ? ''

You need n't buy anything you do n't want .

In a bookshop an assistant should remain in the background until you have finished reading .

Then , and only then , are his services necessary .

Once a medical student had to read a textbook which was far too expensive for him to buy .

He could n't borrow it from the library and the only copy he could find was in a certain bookshop .

Every afternoon , therefore , he would go along to the shop and read a little of the book at a time .

One day , however , he was disappointed to find the book missing from his usual place .

He was about to leave , when he noticed the owner of the shop beckoning to him .

Expecting to be told off , he went towards him .

To his surprise , the owner pointed to the book which was put away in a comer .

`` I put it there so that nobody would try to buy it ! ''

He said , and left the delighted student continuing his reading .


Language is a major problem for the European Union ( EU ) .

The agreement or treaty which created the organization that eventually became the EU , the Treaty of Rome , stated that each country 's language must be treated equally .

The original six countries had only three languages between them : French .

However , there are now 15 countries in the EU , with a total of 12 languages .

EU documents must be translated into all these languages , and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters .

All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming .

it is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches , and nearly half of the EU 's administrative costs are spent on this task .

In the near future it is probably that several more countries , most of them having their own languages , will join the EU , thus making the situation even worse .

The problem is not just cost : there are practical difficulties as well .

With 12 languages , there are 132 possible `` translation situations '' that might be needed .

It is often ' difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from ( for example ) Danish into Greek , or Dutch into Portuguese , at a high professional standard .

In practice the problem has been made less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials , since almost all of them speak some English .

However , any move to reduce the number of official languages ( perhaps to four or five ) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries .

Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business .

However , powerful member countries like France and Germany are strongly against it .


If you like bicycling as much as you like playing ball and ca n't seem to decide between the two sports , you may want to consider cycle ball -- a fun sport that adopts the key attributes from both activities and transforms it into a totally new game..

Also known as red ball , the game was invented in 1893 by German laborers who wished to play polo , but could not afford horses .

While the sport has not caught on in North America , it is very fashionable in Europe and even Japan .

Played in an indoor court , cycle ball is similar to soccer in many ways -- the aim is to score as many goals as possible , and only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball .

Instead , players have to guide the ball across the court , using the front wheels of their bicycles or with their heads .

In fact , if a player even touches the floor with his feet during the 14-minute game , it is considered a foul and the opposing team gets a free kick .

While the game was initially played with normal bikes , things are a little different now .

The seats of these specialized bikes are positioned over the back tire and they sport a single fixed gear , making it easier for the rider to control the constant back and forth movement required for the game .

The handlebars also point straight up so that the competitors can sit upright while playing and they are about twice the weight of normal bikes , which helps with the stability .

While cycle ball may sound a little strange , it is a fast-paced sport that requires much training , skill , and , is also really fun to watch .


For many years , a small percentage of homeowners have fixed solar panels on their rooftops .

Those panels collect some of the sun 's energy and either change it into electricity or use it to heat water .

Until recently , the panels were too expensive for average homeowners , and their designs were not attractive .

Thanks to new advances , however , solar panels for homes are becoming cheaper and less large and heavy .

Now more homeowners are considering using them .

Last fall furniture retailer IKEA began selling solar panels in its U.K. stores .

IKEA has brought the DIY solar choice to the public .

While shopping for furniture , shoppers could not add a box or two of solar panels to their shopping cart .

The company deals with fixing and servcing of the solar panels on the roofs .

So it is easy for customers to change from old energy system to solar system .

If all goes well , IKEA plans to begin selling the panels in other countries soon .

SolTech , a Swedish company , offers a really great solar-power solution .

Instead of flat panels , SolTech covers the panels with a special glass tile .

And the shape of the glass tile fits traditional tiled roof designs .

SolTech recently offers solar systems that heat the home 's air or water .

And it also offers one solar system that produces electricity .

New technology has turned windows into solar panels .

SolarWindow technology enables see-through windows to produce electricity after the glass surface is added with a special coating .

Amazingly , SolarWindow can produce electricity in low-light conditons and can even turn indoor , man-made light into electricity !

Since buildings are getting taller and about 60 percent of an office building 's surface is covered with windows , solar window could become a very popular way for people to produce energy and save money .

Turning your home -business-into a solar-powered one is a choice that 's becoming a lot more attractive these days !


Could radar be the answer to keeping an eye on elderly people without invading their privacy ?

That 's what the researchers are aiming to prove with their experiment .

They say using radar could keep track of older s and even detect when they fall over .

Right now , 40 million Americans are over the age of 65 , and the Census Bureau predicts that by the year 2030 , 80 million Americans will be 65 or older .

Due to these rising statistics , families , communities and health care providers are at a cross-road in terms of how to best serve this growing aging population .

Many elderly individuals choose to live alone , which causes a great risk as falls and other illnesses become more likely as a person ages .

In order to increase the safety and security of an elderly person living alone , researchers are examining the use of through-the-wall radar technology to detect falls and monitor the elderly in their individual living spaces .

Graduate students were trained in walking , falling , and functioning like an elderly person and experiments were conducted in the radar-imaging lab on the campus .

A clinical instructor and an expert educated and trained the students on how the elderly carry themselves and walk -- with or without the assistance of canes or walkers .

Their research focuses on various applications for radar imaging , including search and rescue , defense , and law enforcement .

Dr Amin and his team , through a grant from Qatar University , are now developing a series of algorithms to identify the patterns and routines of an elderly person in his or her home .

The radar , with the help of these algorithms , can detect when a person is sitting , standing , walking and so on .

They say detection of motion , and even classification of what sort of motion it is ( such as walking or falling ) , can be achieved in all rooms inside a home with just one or a few radar units .

`` Radar has become a mature technology , '' explains Dr Amin .

`` So people have started thinking about transitioning this technology into healthcare . ''


Two new electronic book products ( the SoftBook and the PocketBook ) have gathered extensive press coverage , including articles in ABC News , the New York Times , San Jose Mercury News , and WIRED .

An electronic book ( e-book ) is a book-length publication in digital form , consisting of text , images , or both , and produced on , published through , and readable on computers or other electronic devices .

Different from a traditional printed book , e-books are born digital .

Being a firm believer in tablet computers for many tasks not involving heavy data entry , I applaud these new designs of the products .

In particular , the SoftBook has nice leather binding , going far beyond the traditional ( and boring ) industrial design used for other portable computers .

The PocketBook has a more traditional industrial design , typical of leading electronic gadgets .

Unfortunately , neither company mentions their product 's screen resolution .

Low-resolution monitors ( including all computer screens until now ) have poor readability : people read about 25 % slower from computer screens than from printed paper .

Scientists believe that only the screen with 300 dpi displays has the same reading speed as print .

So unless they have much better screens , electronic books will have a problem .

A project called `` the last book '' is getting much attention , which aims at producing a computer in the form of a folio : a set of pages using `` digital ink '' .

Users would move forward in the information by turning pages just as they do in a printed book .

Hopefully , the scientists will eventually invent a way to make the `` digital ink '' display characters at a high enough resolution to gain the same reading speed as print .

Even when e-books gain the same reading speed as print , they will still be a bad idea .

Page turning remains a bad interface , even when it can be done more conveniently than by clicking the mouse on a `` next page '' button .

Another problem is that most e-book publishers do not warn their customers about the real meaning of the digital rights management ( DRM ) tied to their products .

Generally they claim that it is meant to prevent copying of the e-book .

However , in many cases it is also possible that it will result in the complete denial of access by the purchaser to the e-book .

The e-book is tied to a specific computer or device .

In these cases , the DRM will usually let the purchaser move the book a limited number of times after which they can not use it on any additional devices .

If the purchaser upgrades or replaces their devices , they may lose access to their purchase .

Some forms of the DRM depend on the existence of online services to authenticate the purchasers .

When the company that provides the service goes out of business or decides to stop providing the service , the purchaser will no longer be able to access the e-book .


You must have been troubled by when to say `` I love you '' because it is one of the greatest puzzles in our life .

What if you say it first and your partner does n't love you back ?

Or if they do say it but you do n't feel they mean it ?

Being the first to declare your love can be never racking and risky and can leave you feeling as vulnerable as a turtle with no shell .

But is the person who says it first really in a position of weakness ?

Does n't it pay to hold back , play it cool and wait until the other half has shown their hand faster ?

`` A really good relationship should be about being fair and being equal , '' says psychologist Sidney Crown .

`` All relationships go through power struggles but , '' he says , `` if a love imbalance continues for years , the rot will set in . ''

That feeling of `` I 've always loved you more '' may be subverted for a time , but it never goes away completely and it often emerges in squabbling .

In love , at least , the silent , withholding type is not always the most powerful .

`` The strongest one in a relationship is often the person who feels confident enough to talk about their feelings , '' says educational psychologist Ingrid Collins .

Psychosexual therapist Paula Hall agrees .

`` The one with the upper hand is often the person who takes the initiative . ''

In fact , the person who says `` I love you '' first may also be the one who says `` I 'm bored with you ' first . ''

Hall believes that much depends on how `` I love you '' is said and the motivation of the person saying it .

Is it said before their partner flies off on holiday , and what it really means is `` Please don ' t be unfaithful to me '' ?

By saying `` I love you '' , they are really saying `` Do you love me ? ''

If so , would n't it just be more honest to say that .

Collins agrees that intention is everything .

`` It 's not what is said , but how it 's said .

What it comes down to is the sincerity of the speaker . ''


It was almost six years ago that my family and I waited for her at the airport .

Unsure of what to expect and a little bitter about such an experience that my mother was forcing upon me , I had mixed feeling about the girl from Madrid .

Today , after making many memories and discoveries , I could n't be more thankful for what that experience taught me .

My family had the privilege to host Teresa for several summers .

I became fond of her cheerful chatter , constant laughter , and addiction to online shopping .

She seldom took my unkind jokes seriously and always gave it right back to me , making our relationship closer .

She could go on talking for hours about the beach outside her house , her family and friends , and her life at her school .

While several aspects were very similar to my life here , I was always left with a certain level of mystery and excitement as I wondered how the picture in my head compared with reality .

Through hard work , she became fluent in English in almost no time .

While this was a big success for her , it made me ashamed as I was not forced to develop the little Spanish that I was learning in class .

This experience aroused my interest in traveling to Europe - especially Spain .

While l know that not everyone has this same interest in other culture , I believe that it is important for us to be willing to learn about what makes certain customs and activities significant to them As Americans , we may be some of the most arrogant people about other culture , which history has proven can have disastrous consequences .

By at least making the effort to appreciate what is important to them , we show respect to the people who have such culture .

Through the unique experience that in a sense I was forced into , I learned far more about the Spanish culture than I could have in any classroom .

I discovered new interests that I had never considered before , and I am excited for the opportunity to experience it first-hand this summer .


Nowadays , studying abroad gains popularity in China .

Many parents would rather send their children abroad to receive education than let them be educated in China .

Every coin has two sides and studying abroad is no exception .

There are advantages for people to attend school abroad .

In the first place , he can use the foreign language in his daily life so that his ability in the second language may be greatly improved , as it is obvious that there is no better opportunity to improve second language skills than living in the country where it is spoken .

While studying in a foreign country , he will mostly meet many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends with people from all over the world .

This is not only exciting on the social level , but could lead to important overseas contacts in his career as well .

He can learn the latest knowledge in science and make use of the first-rate facilities available .

In this way , there are many chances for him to widen his horizons and broaden his mind .

Of course , attending school abroad may bring about a series of problems as well .

The most serious problem is language barrier .

Not all of the students who plan to go abroad are good at the language spoken there .

As a result , on arriving there , they will find it difficult to understand what the teachers say .

Besides , for lack of knowledge of the customs of the local people , they may constantly run into trouble in dealing with various situations .

Furthermore , the tuition and the cost of living are much higher than those in our country , which may add more burdens to their family .

Therefore , given an opportunity to attend a school abroad , one must consider both its advantages and its disadvantages carefully before making up his mind .


This is a gift that , if we 're being honest , many dads want to own for themselves .

This huge ship is the greatest Star Wars toy .

Every boy from 3 to 53 will absolutely like it , if they can find room for it .

I dare say even a few grandfathers might go for it .

You may clearly know that a pet can be a great thing to a child 's development but you probably do n't think that you can take care of a dog properly .

the disorder of your house and except for a few dead batteries , wo n't leave any surprises on the floor .

It will be a good playmate for your kids .

It 's increasingly common for kids to enjoy themselves on long journeys with a portable DVD player or an iPod MP3 , but the headphones that come with expensive electronics are seldom suitable for young ears .

Kids should use JVC headphones that have a sound limiter that can be set by the concerned parent .

Sparrow-kids Kit makes a huge range of craft tools .

There are lots of pretty but achievable projects for young girls to take up their ( safe plastic ) needles and sew .

It might be said that Britain does n't need another airport but when it 's a traditional wooden toy like this all of you would agree that it 's a good thing .

Treated with a little care , this play-set could easily entertain your young air traffic controllers .


Every day when I enter the classroom , I will take a look at the wall beside my seat .

You will find nothing special about this old wall if you just look at it .

But for the students in my class , it is a special wall .

Take a good look at it , and you will get to know the real feelings and thoughts of us , the 9th graders .

In the middle of the wall , there is a big `` VICTORY '' .

I guess it must have been written by someone who got a good mark in an exam .

A little higher above the formulas , there is a poem .

It reads : All those sweet memories have disappeared .

It must have been written at the end of the last semester in middle school .

Classmates had to leave school and good friends had to part .

If you `` explore '' the wall more carefully , you will find many other interesting things , like a crying face , or a happy face , and other patterns .

There are still some patterns and letters that I ca n't understand , but they all show the feeling of the students who drew them .

For years , the wall has witnessed all the things that have happened in the classroom .

I do n't know how it will be next year , two years from now , or even ten years from now .

But I hope more smiling faces will be drawn on it .


Are you always unwilling to do housework and cleaning for no reason ?

It 's time to forget about housework and be relaxed .

No Housework Day is always on April 7th .

It is your chance to do anything , except housework .

Better still , have someone else do housework for a day .

Housework is a daily and endless job and most people think it 's boring to do housework .

I have many friends and their wish is to stay away from housework .

In fact , their wish can never come true .

Do you know how to celebrate No Housework Day ?

If you usually do the housework around the house , forget it on this day .

Relax and do anything , except housework .

If you never do housework , you can do it for your family .

It gives your parents a break from the housework .

And , you just might get a chance to know how much housework your parents need to do every day .


People usually talk about two groups of colours : warm colours and cool colours .

Scientists think that there are also two kinds of people : people who prefer warm colours and people who prefer cool colours .

The warm colours are red , orange and yellow .

Where there are warm colours and a lot of lights , people usually want to be active .

People think that red , for example , is exciting .

Sociable people , those who like to be with others , like red .

Scientists also find that warm colours can produce a comfortable feeling and that time seems to pass quickly in a room with warm colours than with cool colours .

So a warm colour , such as red or orange , is a good choice for a living room or restaurant .

The cool colours are green , blue and violet .

These colours , unlike warm colours , are relaxing .

Where there are cool colours , people are usually quiet .

People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue .

Cool colours are better for offices because it can make people who are working feel relaxed and calm .


Not having done physical exercise for some time , I found myself a little low-spirited and could n't study efficiently , so I decided to do some running the next day .

At 6:15 the next morning , my alarm clock rang .

Unwilling to rise from my bed , I turned it off and went back to sleep .

However , 5 minutes later , I struggled to get up .

After washing and brushing , I had my sneakers on and went out .

The air was so fresh that I could n't help breathing it deeply .

I stretched my arms and legs , then started to run .

I found all things around me were so attractive .

Look , the branches were waving , as if they were welcoming me ; the blossoming flowers were bowing , with shyness , just like girls .

Listen , the wind was whispering , as if to say `` come on , girl '' .

What 's more interesting was those two birds , perching in the tree .

They were scared and flew away when I passed them .

`` Let 's enjoy the beautiful morning together ! ''

The two little creatures seemed to understand what I said .

They turned back and twittered around me .

They twittered again and again , sounded like `` Yes '' .

Ah , what a wonderful morning and how beautiful life is !

Actually , there are a lot of charming things around us .

Helen Keller wrote in her famous article Three Days to See , `` The seeing see little '' .

Indeed , many of us ignore the beauty around us , just because we are familiar with them .

They always complain that life is boring .

But , I just want to say , if you live each day with appreciation of things around , you 'll find life is very charming .


Your children 's teacher will be providing extra time for test preparation .

This school year 's test will be held on January 8 and 9 .

The test preparation time is open to all students , and we strongly encourage your children to attend .

This year we are changing the time for our test preparation : it will be on Thursday mornings from 8:10 to 8:50 .

This helps children who ride the bus and can not stay for the after-school period .

It also helps avoid conflicts with after-school activities .

Danielle and Marina will be working with the recent new test takers 6 days on the following Thursdays : 15th , Nov ; 29th , Nov ; 6th , Dec ; 13th , Dec. ; 20th , Dec. and 3rd , Jan .

Besides the test preparation lectures on these dates , teachers are already putting test preparation into their usual courses .

We are finding that we can help our students to be both skillful and whole-hearted readers and test takers -- after all , we all know that the best test preparation is good reading and writing training .

Again , the best and most effective test preparation for the ELA test is reading and more reading .

The research is quite clear -- students who do well in the tests are those who are good readers .

Reading not only builds reading ability , it also helps build confidence -- important for successful test taking !

But do discourage your children from spending too much time on books that are too hard or even a bit too hard .

Children best develop comprehension skills when they are reading books just right for them ( too easy does n't hurt here either ) .

Finally , on Friday , December 7 , we will have a morning lecture on the ELA .


Certain plants and animals can survive under what seem like impossible conditions .

Blind fish live freely under ocean depths that are ly dark and cold .

Bacteria live at temperatures of 600 degF or a higher in places where the heat comes from the deep earth .

One of the most remarkable achievements that we can observe directly is the ability of the plants and animals in the desert .

In the Death Valley , temperatures of 134 degF in the shade have been officially reported Yet lizards live there , along with 600 species of plants , 30 species of mammals ?

While the days are terribly hot , the nights are extremely cold .

Temperatures can fall down by as much as 50 degF .

Plants called xerophytes are perfectly adapted to the extremely dry conditions .

These plants have survived by developing techniques for coping with their environment .

Like all living things , they must have water , and they get it in several ways .

The mesquite and the prickly pear pick up moisture in opposite ways .

The mesquite sends its roots down as deep as 60 feet to tap the water table .

The prickly pear , on the other hand , spreads its roots wide .

These roots are shallow but they pick up whatever moisture is available at ground level .

The paloverde saves water by shedding leaves in times of extreme drought The barrel cactus makes sure of a water supply by storing water in the plant itself .

The saguaro cactus stores so much water that it can survive years of drought .

But even the saguaro will die sooner or later if there is no rain .

All these plants , although well adjusted to their environment , must eventually get water .

Even if the parent plants die , there are always seeds to keep the species alive .

Since the desert is so tough , thousands of seeds must be released to produce one plant .

To get rooted , these seeds must have exactly the right conditions .

They can lie dormant for months , even years , until a little water stimulates the sparks of life .


Andy is the most unreasonable , pigheaded life form in the world , and he makes me so angry I could scream !

Andy and Amy ( that 's me ) have the same curly hair and dark eyes and equally stubborn character .

Yet , though we may look alike , on most issues we usually take completely opposite positions .

If I say day , you can count on Andy to say night .

Just this week , the hot topic in school was all about the PTA 'S proposal to adopt a school dress principle .

Every student would be required to wear a uniform .

The dress style would be sort of loose and free .

I think a dress principle is a good idea .

School is tough enough without worrying about looking cool every single day .

The fact is , the less I have to decide first thing in the morning , the better .

I also would n't mind not having to see guys wearing oversized jeans and shirts .

And I certainly would welcome not seeing kids showing off designer clothes .

He says he ca n't believe that I would be willing to give up my all-American teenage birthright by dressing like -- well , like a typical teenager .

Last night , he even dragged out Mom and Dad 's high school photo albums .

What a couple of peace-loving hippies they were !

The vote for or against uniforms took place later that day .

The results of the vote and the headmaster 's decision will be announced next week .

I know how I voted , and I 'm pretty sure I know how Andy voted .


Each time a city building is set up , the grass in that spot and trees that once reached up to the sky are replaced by a tar roof .

In addition to that , roads , parking lots , and yet more buildings are being constructed .

The total lost green space can have a very real effect on a city 's air temperature , air quality and energy costs .

On a summer day in most American cities , a tar roof can feel like the inside of an oven .

But what if we could replace the hot roof of each skyscraper or building in a city with grass or a garden ?

Whether it holds vegetable gardens , wildflowers , or meadow grasses , a green roof can lower the temperature above a building by 60 degrees , which can reduce the building 's energy costs .

If used more widely , green roofs could decrease a city 's total energy costs , reduce polluted air from power plant , and improve air quality and public health .

But that 's not all -- green roofs are a great way to deal with water management in urban areas with overwhelmed sewerage systems , and actually extend the life time of the roof itself .

And green roofs do something else : They beautify the city -- whether you 're on the 3rd floor or the 30th .

The environmental nonprofit group Earth Pledge is promoting a Green Roofs progamme .

To learn more about how to create a green roof -- and the benefits it will provide -- visit its website at EarthPledge.com .


No one knew each other ; the passengers all sat there sleepily in the morning .

One of the passengers was a small gray-haired man who took the bus to the center for senior citizens every morning .

No one ever paid very much attention to him .

One July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled .

The next day , the old man boarded with a big smile and said in a loud voice : `` A very good morning to you all ! ''

Some of us looked up , amazed , and murmured `` Good Morning '' in reply .

The following weeks , our friend was dressed in a nice old suit and tie .

His thin hair had been carefully combed .

He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other .

One morning he even had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand .

The driver turned around smiling and asked : `` Have you got yourself a girlfriend , Charlie ? ''

We never got to know if his name really was `` Charlie '' , but he nodded shyly and said yes .

The other passengers whistled and clapped at him .

Charlie waved the flowers before he sat down on his seat .

Every morning after that Charlie always brought flowers .

Some passengers also brought flowers for him .

Then , one morning , as autumn was closing in , Charlie was n't waiting at his usual stop .

When he was n't there the next day and the day after that , we started wondering if he was sick or -- hopefully - on holiday somewhere .

When we came nearer to the center for senior citizens , one of the passengers asked the driver to wait .

We all held our breaths when he went to the door .

The old gentle man was fine , but one of his close friends had died over the weekend .

How silent we were the rest of the way to work .

The next Monday Charlie was waiting at the stop , stooping a bit more , a little bit more gray , and without a tie .

Even though no one had talked about it , all of us sat there silently , our eyes filled with tears and a bunch of wild flowers in our hands .


He smiled a big smile and told me this story .

`` Once when I was about ten years old , '' my father told me , `` I went treasure hunting with my older sister .

She had heard some people talking about a treasure box hidden in a hillside cave .

One day we went there and spent two or three hours looking for the entrance to the cave .

Then , as I was trying to squeeze between two big stones , I suddenly fell into a hole .

It was the mouth of a tunnel that led to the cave .

My sister and I crawled through into it .

It was very dark but we had brought a flashlight and we were shocked to see that there was a large wooden box ahead of us .

It was filled with silver and gold coins .

I started to count them but my sister told me to stop .

`` This is only money , '' she said , '' This is not a real treasure .

If you want money , all you have to do is to work for it '' .

I was going to argue with her when I suddenly noticed a big metal box on the other side of the cave .

Some statues were made of ivory or gold , with diamonds for eyes and rubies for lips .

I took one of the gold statues out of the box .

We searched and searched , but there was nothing else in the cave .

Then the battery in the flashlight started to die .

I wiggled through but my sister got stuck half way between the stones .

I tried to pull her out but I could n't .

I ran up and down the street knocking on doors but nobody would come .

The only one who would help was a girl about my age .

She got a rope and a spade and a water bottle .

About an hour later , we got my sister out of the stones .

I became good friends with the girl who had helped us .

She was very responsible , faithful , kind and loving .

When we finished college I realized that she was the woman I wanted to marry .

I thought I had found the best treasure in the world . ''


Most young people enjoy some form of physical activity .

It may be walking , cycling or swimming , or in winter , skating or skiing .

It may be a game of some kind : football , hockey , golf , or tennis .

Those who have a passion for climbing high and steep mountains are often looked upon with astonishment .

Why are men and women are willing to suffer cold and hardship , and to take risks on high mountains ?

This astonishment is caused probably by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure .

Mountaineering is a sport , not a game .

There are no man-made rules , as there are for such games as tennis and football .

There are , of course , rules of a different kind which it would be dangerous to ignore , but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people .

Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods .

If we compare mountaineering and other more familiar sports , we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a `` team sport '' .

There are , it is true , no `` matches '' between `` teams '' of climbers , but when climbers are on a rock surface linked by a rope on which their lives may depend , there is obviously teamwork .

A mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man .

This sport requires high mental and physical qualities .

A mountain climber continues to improve his skills year after year .

A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty , and most international tennis champions are in their early twenties .

But it is not unusual for a man of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in Alps .

They may take more time than younger men , but they probably climb with more skills than waste less effort .


A Day of Design will encourage those interested in flowers and design to get in touch with their creative side and get some tips from the experts - Jeff and Scott .

Pleas see the schedule below for details about this wonderful opportunity !

Registration for the day runs from 9 a.m. in the Student Center .

Later guests will take a tour of the Thomas College campus before the day 's events .

Jeff and Scott will design more than a dozen arrangements in a variety of sizes and colors and auction will be held and guests will have the opportunity to bid on the flower arrangements .

A delightful boxed lunch will be served .

During the lunch hour , Jeff and Scott will create a

for the holiday table and give tips for creating a beautiful centerpiece using things found in the home .

A fitting way to end the day - guests are invited to enjoy a wine and cheese party .

Jeff and Scott will be available to answer questions or just talk about flowers !


The popular song 'Gangnam Style ' from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever , getting more than 808 million views on the popular media site .

The distinction was previously held by another pop heavyweight , Justin Bieber , whose song 'Baby ' had a little more than 804 million views at press time .

PSY made the announcement on his Twitter page earlier today .

Since its release , the song has defeated such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez 's 'On the Floor ' and Eminem 's 'Love the Way You Lie ' .

And in September , 'Gangnam Style ' also became the most liked video on YouTube , now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up .

At the time of the announcement , the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying : `` In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times , and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube .

PSY , your certificate is waiting here at our office , come pick it up any time ! ''

Despite its massive popularity , the video shows no signs of slowing down , and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views .

If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day , 'Gangnam Style ' would be in line to break that record by the end of the year .

The YouTube honors are just the latest in a long list that shows just how popular the song has become .

Since it was released in July , the song has seen a meteoric rise through the music industry .

It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries , including the United Kingdom , Germany , France , Spain and Canada , while providing material for thousands of parody videos .

It became part of the 2012 presidential elections with the now famous 'Mitt Romney Style ' video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda films promoting their supreme leader .

Meanwhile , such influential figures as President Obama , UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song .


Life is full of sweet surprises for Chinese pop singer Edell .

She majored in design in a Canadian college .

But when she was looking for a job after graduation , she found herself rising as a star in singing .

`` These are roles I never expected to take , '' she said .

Edell is open to every possibility in life , not afraid to try new things .

She says that every day she tries to get herself ready to take any chance that occurs in life .

`` My mom told me chance only rewards those with a prepared mind , '' she said .

`` So I 've tried to explore my potential talents .

Thus I wo n't be at a loss when the right opportunity comes up . ''

Edell learned ballet in her childhood until she broke her back in practice .

Like many girls of her age , she has a rich collection of CDs .

But she never dreamed of being a singer .

One day she was noticed by a talent scout .

Once she was invited to be the hostess of the Asian MTV Awards in Thailand .

Though she has never had any experience , she accepted the invitation .

`` At least I could make a trip to the foreign country , '' she said .

Upon arrival at the ceremony , she had to read through a 91-page English biography of every guest .

She studied it so much that she could recite all the details in it .

She greeted those strange faces she had never seen before and talked with them like an old friend .

The MTV channel was so satisfied that they offered her a job as a TV hostess .

`` Try to get yourself well-prepared in life , '' she said .

`` In the meantime , try to live your life with brains . ''


A good friend of mine was complaining about her son the other day .

`` Did you notice , '' she started , `` how he did n't wait for me to get my salad before he dove into his ? ''

True enough , the boy attacked his plate faster than a cat in the wild .

Without manners , we 're no more than animals .

I 've been watching and feeding a group of wild cats , and they show unusual politeness toward each other .

Even when food is scarce , they take turns , leaving at least a small part for the next in line .

My mother educated her three children to have good manners all the time .

We were made to feel very uncomfortable as if we were sitting on pins and needles until we got used to saying please , thank you , pardon me , and I 'm sorry .

And I have to say , while it was a painful learning experience , it was one of the most valuable .

I ca n't tell you how often I sat with my friends , eating at their dinner tables , and their parents thought highly of my good manners .

While it was a little embarrassing , I knew even then that my mother 's teachings were paying off .

Many years later , when I was attending seminars across the country , my manners were quite useful .

While I regret that I have n't been a perfect example , I 'm still working on it .

I suppose , in this regard , my mother lives on through me .

I did n't have her beautiful singing voice or her green eyes , but she did make sure I received one of her finest characteristics .


Have you heard of the scandal that happened in one of Great Britain 's biggest supermarket chains called Tesco ?

The British love Tesco as it sells very cheap products and it can be found on almost every corner of a British city or town .

On January 15th 2013 food inspectors discovered 30 % horsemeat in a certain brand of frozen beefburgers that were mostly sold by Tesco in the UK and Ireland .

In times of social media like Facebook and Twitter the news has spread fast and customers have been very concerned about what the food they buy actually contains .

Tesco said it had taken away the burgers from the shop shelves immediately , and apologized to their customers .

They also promised that they would find out what exactly happened and that they would work harder than ever so this would never happen again .

Customers are also able to return the beefburgers and get a refund , that is , their money back .

However , it will be hard for Tesco to get the people 's trust back .

Just imagine buying lovely beefburgers that you fry at home and suddenly you find out that you have actually eaten horsemeat !

In this case not only horse lovers will be upset !

By the way , why are British people so shocked about eating horsemeat ?

In history , horses have played great roles as working animals and as an important means of transport .

When Britons of today think of horses , they think of majestic animals or cute pets rather than meat .

But this is not the only reason for the protest : Customers also want to be sure that the products they buy contain what it says on the label .

Hopefully , supermarkets can avoid mistakes like that in the future .

Maybe there should be stricter regulations and more controls of our food ?

Otherwise we will soon find ourselves eating panda meat instead of pork and parrot instead of chicken .

So the next time you are in a supermarket maybe check the ingredients of your food before you buy it or you could get a nasty surprise ...


Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun .

It has game nights and student dances , after-school activities , and sports teams .

However , students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun .

If they do n't do their homework , participate in class , and behave at all times , they 're banned from participating in after-school activities .

Students and parents say the threat of being excluded appears to be working .

Kenny T. of Reno , Nev. , says it taught him that actions have consequences : `` I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard . ''

Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central .

The teen used to perform poorly in her studies , but then she was banned from a school dance .

The message got through loud and clear .

`` It 's nobody 's fault but hers , '' LaMacchia said .

Although exclusion may help teach responsibility , some psychologists say it can also be threatening , especially for students who often cause , or may cause , trouble in school .

They might become more aggressive and antisocial , which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent .

Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave ?

I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer .

For some troubled students , activities can be their motivation to stay in school .

`` Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school , '' says Duace Wood , a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam , N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class .

Even if they do n't do as well as their classmates , they are still learning .

The more time they spend at school , the less time they have to even think about starting trouble .

Teams also provide support and role models , and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed .

If students who do n't behave are banned from activities , they might give up on school altogether .


This year , `` Wild China '' is famous , it shows us the beautiful scenes .

But in fact , the environment around us is getting worse and worse .

In some places , we ca n't see fish swimming in the river or trees on the mountains .

Many animals are facing the danger of living .

At the same time , man is killing animals just for getting their skin and meat .

In our country , the number of wild animals is becoming smaller and smaller .

For example , we can go to school on foot or by bike .

we can use shopping baskets not plastic bags when we go shopping , and we can use both sides of the paper to write .

Also , we should plant more trees to protect the animals ' living .

In a word , if everyone does more to our environment , our life will be better .

`` There is only one earth '' , I hope everyone will protect our environment well .


Earlier this year , the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a stricter nationwide health standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial benefits to millions of Americans .

With a final rule expected by the end of this month , some opponents , mainly from industrial and oil-producing states , are pushing back .

They say investments required to produce cleaner air are too expensive and not scientifically justified .

administrator , needs to stick to her guns .

This is only the first of several political tests to come this fall , as she also seeks to tighten rules governing individual pollutants like mercury and global warming gases like carbon dioxide .

The health standard she is proposing covers ground-level ozone , commonly known as smog , which is formed when sunlight mixes with pollutants from factories , refineries , power plants and automobiles .

Ozone is a major health threat , contributing to heart disease and various respiratory problems .

Ms. Jackson 's proposal -- to reduce the permitted level of smog in the air from the current 75 parts per billion to between 60 parts per billion and 70 parts per billion -- is sensible , no matter what industry 's defenders may claim .

It had been recommended by the agency 's independent scientific panel but rejected by the Bush administration , which proposed a weaker standard .

Industry will have to make investments in cleaner power plants , and new technologies may be required .

As it is , about half the counties that monitor ozone levels are not yet in compliance with current standards , let alone the proposed standard .

Fears about burdening industry raised by critics like George Voinovich , a Republican of Ohio , and Mary Landrieu , a Democrat of Louisiana , can not be dismissed out of hand , especially in the middle of a recession .

says , far outweigh the costs , and the time frame for compliance is generous .


Have you thought about what determines the way we are as we grow up ?

It started following the lives of a group of children in 1963 .

We first meet them as wide-eyed seven-year-olds and then catch up with them at seven-year intervals : nervous 14-year-olds , serious 21-year-olds , then grown-ups .

Some of the stories are inspiring , others sad , but what is interesting in almost all the cases is the way in which the children 's early hopes and dreams are shown in their future lives , for example , at seven , Tony is a lively child who says he wants to become a sportsman or a taxi driver .

When he grows up , he goes on to do both .

How about Nicki , who says , `` I 'd like to find out about the moon . ''

and goes on to become a space scientist .

As a child , soft - spoken Bruce says he wants to help `` poor children '' and ends up teaching in India .

But if the lives of all the children had followed this pattern , the program would be far less interesting than it actually was .

It was the children whose childhood did not prepare them for what was to come that made the program so inspiring .

Where did their ideas come from about what they wanted to do when they grew up ?

Are children influenced by what their parents do , by what they see on television , or by what their teachers say ?

How great is the effect of a single important event ?

Many film directors , including Stephen Spielberg , say that an early visit to the cinema was the turning point in their lives .

Dr. Magaret Mc Allister , who has done a lot of research in this area , thinks that the major influences are parents , friends and the wider society .


Before leaving he hurriedly looked at the newspaper and stood still !

He threw the paper in the bin and screamed .

He remembered that last night when he went to bed he had a chest pain and he was rushed to hospital .

He could suddenly see his living room filled with people ... all in tears ; his mom , his wife and his children .

He also saw his best friend , the one he had a serious misunderstanding a few days back .

He wanted to say `` Sorry '' to him ... but now no one could hear his voice .

He wondered how he could tell his mom that he felt so thankful to have her in his life !

He wanted to tell his children how much he loved them .

He wanted to tell his wife how much he loved her ; he felt sorry to have hurt her sometimes .

Richard started crying and pleading to God for one LAST chance !

`` God , one last chance , please '' , shouted Richard and opened his eyes .

He was on his bed ; his wife lay beside him , deep in sleep .

Richard whispered in her ears , `` You are the best thing to have ever happened to me ! ''

He went up to the window , looking outside .

Yes , everything was just the way he has been knowing so long .

He decided to meet up his friends and clear all misunderstandings ; he also decided to tell everyone who mattered to him all that has remained unsaid so far !


She worked so hard that she became ill. She could n't go to sleep at night .

But when she got up the next morning , she felt very tired .

Hearing the student 's words , the doctor said , `` You are too stressed out .

You must eat more yin foods like vegetables and tofu Besides , you can try to count numbers when you are lying in bed .

By the time you count one thousand , you will be asleep .

The next day , the student came to see the doctor again .

`` Well , '' said the doctor , `` How are you feeling today ?

I tried to count one , two , three , four. , up to one thousand .

But when I counted five hundred and sixty , I felt sleepy .

I had to get up and drink some coffee so that I could go on counting up to one thousand .


Alicia is waiting for you outside , '' my mother called from the kitchen .

My mother did n't like me going for this weekend to my friend 's house in the mountains .

`` I trust you , but I do n't trust the people out there , '' she said seriously .

`` I 'm going to be fine , '' were my last words before closing the door of the Jeep .

The vehicle went along the dusty road and my mother grew smaller in the distance .

The trip over the rough road was uncomfortable .

It was scary to climb the steep hills surrounded by great pines .

After a long trip we finally arrived at the house .

From the moment I got there I knew I would forever love the house .

It was decorated like an old country home .

That night I went to sleep early , not because I did n't want to continue my search , but because I was tired after the long trip .

In the morning , the singing of the birds woke me up .

The light was just getting through the window .

A strong smell of baking and fresh coffee came from the kitchen .

I wandered around looking for a living soul , but the house was empty .

I had the whole day to myself ; my friend had gone hiking .

The main reason for this trip was to spend some time alone to think about the events happening in my life .

After an icy shower , my energies were at their fullest .

With basket in hand , I started my hunt .

I did not mind walking alone ; it was a wonderful feeling to be in contact with nature for the first time .

The sound of the water running through the rocks gave me great peace .

I never felt such independence in my soul before .


He taught well and his students liked him .

So he decided to work in the middle school all his life .

But a terrible accident changed his fortune .

One spring he took his class to visit a place of interest .

The children saw a lot of interesting things and had a good time there .

But on their way to school , their bus was hit by a truck because the young driver was drunk .

Five students died and more than half of the children were injured in the accident .

He did n't know how it had happened and was very sad about it and after he came out of hospital , he left the school and became a policeman .

He tried his best to stop the drivers from breaking the traffic regulations .

He worked hard and was strict with the drivers .

He was standing at the crossing and watching the traffic .

Suddenly he saw a car rushing towards the crossing .

It ran so fast that it almost hit a man on a bike .

He stopped it at once and saw a girl in it .

`` Show your license to me , madam , '' said Mr. Evans .

The girl handed her bag to him and said : `` Please look for it in it .

I ca n't see anything without glasses . ''


There are many kinds of ants in America .

They can kill and eat elephants , and they can eat wood houses .

Sometimes even people are killed by them .

When the ants come , people leave their homes .

But people are sometimes glad after the ants pass through , because they can see no insects or snakes .


Paris is a very beautiful city but l will not call it the most romantic city at all !

Some policemen help us and then we find a hotel !

The hotel is on the sixth floor and it is tired to climb up the stairs !

The room is very simple but it has a big bathroom .

We go out for a walk to visit the city .

The Louvre Museum is our favourite one .

There are some wonderful pieces of art there .

The Eiffel Tower looks so cool from a far place , but when we get close to it , it does n't look so good .

We also do n't feel well about the expensive food .

Most of the time , we enjoy Paris , but the weather is not always good .

We feel a little difficult because not many people can speak English and we ca n't speak French .

But I 'm still glad that this is the beginning of our travel .


Here are some of the best movies you like .

I believe they can accompany you to spend your dull weekend .

In this story a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force .

In the 22nd century it turns out that the world is controlled by a magic computer system called the Matrix and people live in an unreal world .

The computer hacker and his comrades overcome much difficulty and at last find the way to take over the Matrix and save the world .

This comedy is about J and K , agents in a top secret agency , and they fight bravely with the alien to save the galaxy from a bad-tempered alien `` bug '' and save the Earth from being destroyed .

Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle 's house .

But on his 11th birthday , he learns he 's a powerful wizard -- -- with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry .

There , he uncovers the truth about his parents ' deaths and about the bad man who 's to blame .

When a satellite crashes in New Mexico , the Air Force sends two men to reach it .

To their horror , they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that 's already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed .

Now , scientists must stop the virus from spreading .

In the year 2035 , James Cole is forced to be sent back to 1996 by scientists to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth 's population .

When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 , he 's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital , where he meets the son of a famous virus expert .


Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss .

Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery store combined .

Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and Bernie did n't mind the long hours .

The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country .

No one had money to purchase pretty things or even food .

In 1930 , Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone .

Following Marie 's death , which Bernie felt was brought about from worrying about the store , He lost interest in everything .

He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome , Bernie wandered about the store , dusting a bit and sweeping the floor .

His inventory remained almost the same , as nothing much was sold .

He had lost Marie , his true love , and now his business seemed lost as well , Why did he want to live ?

A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard times .

Julie , the youngest girl , was fourteen .

Julie worried about Mr. Mears ' getting so thin .

At meal time , she would take a portion of their meal to Bernie .

She would stay and talk to him , dusting and cleaning .

After several months Bernie began to improve .

He still had no customers to speak of , but from what he had left in the stor , he would sack a few cans to take to Julie 's family .

In early spring , Julie saw her father planting a garden .

She suggested Bernie making a garden in the big space beside the store , which they had once thought would become a parking lot , and sell the produce really cheap in the store .

It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise .

They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time .

Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground .

When the seeds sprouted , Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots .

They all came up and produced the best crop of vegetables Bernie had ever seen .

They soon became well-known in the community for having the best prices and finest produce in town .

They also extended credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise .

The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930s and made a very successful business .

As the economy picked up , so did sales at the store .


Well-known as gourmets , the French spend more time sleeping and eating than anyone else among the world 's rich nations , according to a study published on Monday .

The average French person sleeps almost 9 hours every night , more than an hour longer than Japanese and Korean , who sleep the least in a survey of 18 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) .

Despite their siesta habit , Spanish rank only third after Americans , who sleep more than 8.5 hours .

And while more and more French people prefer fast-food chains these days or wolf down a sandwich at their desk , they still spend more than two hour 's a day eating .

That means their meals are twice as long as those of the average Mexican , who spends just an hour a day on food , the OECD 's `` Society at a Glance '' report on work , health and leisure in Asia , Europe and North and South America found .

The Japanese manage to spend close to 2 hours a day eating and drinking , placing them third behind New Zealanders .

Despite the limited time , Americans spend eating each day -- -about an hour and a quarter -- -U.S.obesity rates are the highest in the 30 members of OECD .

The Japanese like to spend their rare free time watching TV or listening to the radio .

This takes up 47 percent of leisure time in Japan .

Norwegians spend the most time at leisure , just over a quarter of their day , while at the low end , Mexicans spend just 16 percent of their time having fun .

The survey covers only the countries for which proper figures were available .


Karl goes shopping with his mother on Sunday .

Karl 's mother likes bananas , but there are many bananas at home .

But she buys some strawberries for herself .

Karl likes oranges very much , so his mother buys some for him .

The vegetables in the shop are very good .

Karl does n't like onions , but his father and mother like them .

After shopping , Karl and his mother have some milk and ice creams .

And then they go back home with the fruits and vegetables .


The southwest of Australia has been named as one of 25 `` hot spots '' for future species extinction because of global warming .

A new study says global warming will become a top cause of extinction across the world , with thousands of species of plantsand animals likely to be wiped out in the coming decades .

According to the study , global warming ranks among the most serious threats to the planet 's biodiversity and , under some conditions , may be more than that due to deforestation .

This study provides even stronger scientific evidence that global warming will result in catastrophic species losses across the planet .

Last month , a UN study said humans were responsible for the worst extinction and urged extra efforts to reach a UN target of slowing the rate of losses by 2010 .

Scientists disagree about how far global warming is to blame compared with other human threats such as deforestation , pollution and the introduction of some species to new habitats .

But the new study looks at the 25 `` hot spots '' -- areas that contain a big concentration of plants and animals -- and predicts that 11.6 percent of all species , with a range from 1 to 43 percent , could be driven to extinction if levels of heat trapping gases in the atmosphere were to keep rising in the next 100 years .

The range would mean the loss of thousands of species .

The study gave a wide range because of uncertainties , for instance , about the ability of animals or plants to move towards the poles if the climate warmed .

Rare plants , tortoises or birds found only on the southern tip of Africa can not move south because the nearest land is thousands of miles away in Antarctica .


For the first time in Hong Kong 's history , an entertainer has been written into middle school textbooks .

He is considered one of the best actors in Hong Kong .

The example of his long hard struggle for success has been used in a chapter in a Hong Kong middle school textbook .

Using his experience , students can learn to make the most of their time and to grab every opportunity to succeed .

On hearing about this , Chow said happily , `` I really hope that my experiences can make young people understand that one should not be afraid of difficulties and setbacks , for they are the only way to success . ''

Indeed , Chow has travelled a long and difficult path to reach his success .

In 1955 , he was born into a poor family in Hong Kong .

When he was 17 , he had to leave school .

He worked in a number of jobs -- as a postman , camera salesman and taxi driver .

These experiences paved the way for him to play all kinds of roles later in life .

Chow broke into the film industry in the late 1970s .

He was one of the hardest working actors and starred in a number of popular TV dramas and films including `` Shanghai Bund '' ( < < > > ) and `` A Better Tomorrow '' .

Since 1985 , he has won many awards including Taiwan 's Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards .

Although he was already over 40 , he had to learn English .

He even put chopsticks in his mouth to practise pronouncing certain sounds His film , `` Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon '' , began to gain him more fame and recognition around the world .

In 1998 , the mayor of Chicago set aside January 12 as `` Chow Yun-fat Day '' .


Thousands of people began pouring into Pennsylvania from other states .

But that small spending could bring them a reward of $ 90 million .

That was the second largest lottery jackpot in history .

More than 87 million tickets were bought for the Pennsylvania lottery drawing .

Those who bought tickets had to choose seven numbers from 1 to 80 .

The chance of winning was one in 9.6 million .

But that little chance certainly did n't affect ticket sales .

In the last few days before the drawing , tickets were selling at the unbelievable rate of 500 per second .

Experts say many people buy lottery tickets because they just want to have a piece of the action .

Others say the lottery is a stock market for poor people .

It allows them to dream about wealth they 'll probably never have .

But many people believe lotteries are no better than legalized gambling .

Some critics note that most people who play are poor and may not be able to afford the tickets .

There are also many addicts who take the game seriously .

They may pour their life savings into lottery tickets .

Some clubs have been formed to help them kick the habit .

Politicians like lotteries because they provide money that would otherwise have to come from new taxes .

The profits from lotteries are usually used to pay for education or programs for senior citizens .

But critics say this arrangement just allows states to legalize vice , under the name of social progress .

No matter whether you regard state lotteries right or not , you can not refuse to accept their extreme popularity with many Americans .


Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse , and when he arrived in this hard world , it was very doubtful whether he would live beyond the first three minutes .

He lay on a hard little bed and struggled to start breathing .

Oliver fought his first battle without much assistance from the two people present at his birth .

One was an old woman , who was nearly always drunk , and the other was a busy local doctor , who was not paid enough to be very interested in Oliver 's survival .

After all，death was a common event in the workhouse，where only the poor and homeless lived．

However , Oliver managed to draw his first breath , and then announced his arrival to the rest of the workhouse by crying loudly .

His mother raised her pale young face from the pillow and whispered , `` Let me see the child , and die . ''

The doctor turned away from the fire , where he had been warming his hands .

`` You must not talk about dying yet , '' he said to her kindly .

Lovingly , she kissed the baby on its forehead with her cold white lips , then stared wildly around the room , fell back -- and died .

said the nurse , hurriedly putting a green glass bottle back in the pocket of her long skirt .

`` The baby is weak and will probably have difficulties , '' he said .

`` If so , give it a little milk to keep it quiet . ''

`` She was brought here last night , '' replied the old woman .

She 'd walked some distance , judging by her shoes , which were worn to pieces .

Where she came from , where she was going to , or what her name was , nobody knows . ''

The doctor lifted the girl 's left hand .

`` The old story , '' he said sadly , shaking his head .

And so Oliver was left with only the drunken nurse .

Without clothes , under his first blanket , he could have been the child of a king or a beggar .

But when the woman dressed him later in rough cotton clothes , yellow with age , he looked exactly what he was -- an orphan in a workhouse , ready for a life of misery , hunger , and neglect .

If he could have known that he was a workhouse orphan , perhaps he would have cried even more loudly .

There was no one to look after the baby in the workhouse , so Oliver was sent to a special `` baby farm '' nearby .

There , he and thirty other children rolled around the floor all day , without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing .

Mrs Mann , the old woman who `` looked after '' them , was very experienced .

She knew what was good for children , and a full stomach was very dangerous to their health .

She also knew what was good for herself , so she kept for her own use the money that she was given for the children 's food .

The board responsible for the orphans sometimes checked on the health of the children , but they always sent the beadle , a kind of local policeman , to announce their visit the day before .

So whenever the board arrived , of course , the children were always neat and clean .

This was the way Oliver was brought up .

Consequently , at the age of nine he was a pale , thin child and short for his age .

But despite frequent beatings by Mrs Mann , his spirit was strong , which was probably the reason why he managed to reach the age of nine at all .

On Oliver 's ninth birthday , Mr Bumble , the beadle , came to the house to see Mrs Mann .

Through the front window Mrs Mann saw him at the gate , and turned quickly to the girl who worked with her .

Take Oliver and those others upstairs to be washed ! ''

Then she ran out to unlock the gate which was always kept locked .