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     Late last year, I needed to transport some furniture from our house in Sussex to my son's flat in central London. I should have paid a man to do it for me, but foolishly confident in my driving ability, I decided to hire a van and drive it myself. It was a Ford Transit 280, long and wide; you couldn’t see out of the back. You never really knew how close you were to anything else on the road.
     Reversing in my home yard, I crashed into a small shed, causing permanent damage. At least I owned the shed.
     I loaded up the furniture and set out. By now it was rush hour. My nerves broke down, as I steered the huge van through ever-shifting lanes, across oncoming vehicles, between distances of buses, at last to Charlotte Street.
     Here, I found an available parking space. As I reversed into it, I noticed three people at a pavement cafe waving to me. I got out, trembling violently, like one who has just endured a stormy Atlantic crossing. “You've shifted the car parked behind you three feet", they said, and it belonged to a disabled person. I examined the car. There were white scratches along its front bumper. It bore a disabled sign. So, now I was a bad driver and a bad man. Under the stern gaze of the three, I left an apologetic note on the damaged cars windscreen, giving my phone number.
     I unloaded the furniture, dripping with sweat. Wanting only to escape the monster, I drove the van back to its base on the Edgware Road. On arrival, the hire man told me I must fill it up with petrol before returning it. "Just charge me." I cried, still shaking with fear. He gazed at me with understanding. No doubt he’d witnessed others in this state before. How about I drive you to a petrol station, you fill up, and I drive her back?" he asked.
     He danced the great van through the traffic so casually that it would have shamed me if I had not been so grateful.

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     Every year for more than a decade I've gone with some good male friends to the music festival. Women are not invited, but they do prepare a picnic for our trip. The better the food, the more likely we are to continue our annual tradition and give them peace at least one week out of the year.
     When we're not eating, we sit around in circles and talk about manly stuff: women, mostly. After years of this special journey I have figured out women are different from us, especially when it comes to how we communicate. Women don't need to manufacture reasons to chat, but guys need excuses like outings or organized events.
     And I've noticed that when women are in groups there can be several conversations going on at once. When men are in a group, one man talks, and everybody else listens. It's like bluegrass jamming in a way: one musician plays the lead, and the rest try to follow.
     I've had more heartfelt conversations with other men at the festival than I've had at any other time in my life, partly because there are no women there, and partly because we're all a little drunk. It was males bonding over whatever parts we still had left. The festival is also the only place I've ever cried in front of other men.
     As the years have slipped by, some in our group have lost parents and grandparents, some have divorced, and others have changed careers, not always on purpose. It seems that every year something distressing has happened to at least one member of our crew, and the rest of us are there to listen and offer support.
     I hope that this column can offer some comfort to women: if your man heads out on a bowling or poker night with the guys, be happy. Chances are good he's not fleeing you and the kids, but he's running toward the conversations he can only have with other men, and he'll come home the better for it. 

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     We've read how babies stare longer and cry less when held by pretty people, and heard tales of handsome children doing better in school, given special attention by their teachers. In life, as in love, beautiful people seem to have it awfully easy. But what if we told you that when it comes to online dating, good looks could actually hurt you?
     According to a recent survey of 43,000 users by OK Cupid, an online dating site, the more men disagree about a woman's looks, the more they end up liking her. What does that mean for ladies looking for a match?" We now have mathematical evidence that minimizing your weaknesses' is the opposite of what you should do," says the site's co-founder, Christian Rudder. "If you're a little fat, play it up. If you have a big nose, play it up. Statistically, the guys who don't like it can only help you, and the ones who do like it will be all the more excited."
     The results of this study end up highlighting an idea that recent scientific research does indeed support. Which is this: the beautiful may have it good, but online, as in work and life, women who are too attractive don't always have an advantage.
     Beauty creates more competition—among women, taught they must out-look each other for men and jobs and everyday satisfaction; and among men, who are competing for the most attractive prize. All of which might help explain why 47 percent of corporate recruiters believe it' s possible for a woman to suffer for being "too good-looking" ; why attractive women tend to face heightened examination from their female peers; or, finally, why men on OK Cupid end up contacting women who may ultimately be less attractive—because it removes the opposition. "If you suspect other men are uninterested, it means less competition," explains Rudder. "You might start thinking: maybe she's lonely, maybe she's just waiting to find a guy who appreciates her, at least I won't get lost in the crowd."
     In the end, being beautiful will always have its blessings—but sometimes, there's more to an advantage than meets the eye. 

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     “The price of books for our students is just getting higher and higher and, along with the rising cost of tuition (学费). It’s killing these students,” said Peter Jason, a college professor. “Remember, students are one of the poorest groups of people in America. Almost half of them have at least one part-time job. In fact, one of my students has three jobs. And she still manages to have high scores and go to school full-time.”
     Textbook prices are usually high. Adding to that problem, many college teachers change textbooks year after year, their either upgrade to a new edition (版本) or change to a different textbook. This further hurts students because if a teacher no longer uses a textbook, that book has no resale value.
     Dr. Jason decided to make life a little easier and a lot cheaper for his students by writing his own book on public speaking. “Many books have an increased price because of CD-ROMs, lots of color photographs and pictures. I talked to my students, and many of them, like me, prefer to keep things simple. So, a few years ago, I wrote my own textbook. I made sure that it was simple. Compared to most of other public speaking books, mine is half the number of pages, and one-third the price. That is $ 30 instead of $ 90. when I wrote a second edition last year, students only had to buy the 35 new pages. For only $ 7. 00, they had almost a new book.”

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     Persons who are overweight should watch their diet carefully in order to lose pounds. The, best way to do this is to start a weight control program. At first it is wise to talk with your doctor. He can advise you of the number of calories you should have in your meals each day. He can tell you about exercising while on your diet. A good rule is to lose slowly. A loss of a pound or two is plenty.
     Plan meals around foods you know. This means that it is wise to include foods that you are used to and that are part of your regular eating habits. When you have lost the weight you wish, simple items can be added to your diet so that you can maintain the weight you want. While you are dieting, try to build a pattern of eating that you can follow later to maintain your desired weight.
     When dieting, choose low-calorie foods. Avoid such items as fats, fried food, sweets, cakes, cream and soft drinks. Try to take coffee and tea without sugar or cream. Snacks can be part of your diet. For example, a piece of fruit or a simple dessert saved from mealtime can be eaten between meals.
     Keep busy! This way you will not be tempted to go off the diet. Make full use of opportunities to exercise. Try walking instead of riding whenever possible. Happy dieting!

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     Given the choice, younger professionals are most interested in working at tech companies like Apple and government agencies like the State Department, but they are comparatively disinterested in working in the financial industry, according to a survey conducted by Universum, a research firm.
     What attracts college graduates to big tech companies like Apple is mainly the cool factor surrounding these companies and their products, as the survey found young professionals were most influenced by the strength of the corporation's brand when picking their most desired companies.
     "Companies that have appealing consumer brands generally also succeed in being perceived as attractive employers. People nowadays love to work for companies that produce their favorite products and services," said Kortney Kutsop, employer branding specialist for Univesum. "Also, market success is an important factor: The company needs to be generally seen as innovative and best-in-class in whatever they do—that's the recipe for success."
     By contrast, financial institutions like Citigroup, whose brands have been spoiled in recent years by the collapse of the financial industry, ranked in the lower half of the list of 99 companies desired by young professionals.
     Beyond the power of a company's brand, college graduates were also heavily influenced by the perceived financial stability of each company, which may explain why major corporations like Apple would rank at the top, since they are constantly expanding and hiring new employees. On the other hand, government agencies, which fared slightly worse than the tech companies, may have been hurt by perceived weaknesses in recent years, given that the public sector as a whole has been forced to freeze wages and lay off employees.
     Universum, which surveyed more than 10,000 young professionals who graduated from college in the last eight years, also found that many of them are looking to switch jobs in the near future. In fact, half of those surveyed claimed to have applied to other jobs in the past year and a quarter plan to switch jobs within six months, suggesting that the organizations at the top of this list may be flooded with new applications in the coming months. 

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     Nancy wanted to make good use of her spare time. So she decided to work for the underdog. For the past several years, she has been putting her experience and energy to help disadvantaged (条件差的) high school student.
     Nancy knew that her knowledge would be best shared in a one-to-one situation. She found her perfect match in Operation Jump Start (OJS）.
     OJS was founded in 1994 in Long Beach, California, with the goal of helping students reach for higher education. It pairs students with experienced volunteers (志愿者) and provides them with workshops on writing, leadership development, and guided tours of various colleges.
     Since its start, OJS has helped 80 students graduate from high school, with 95 on to higher education.
     Nancy and the girl, Yanira, spent most of their time on school work. Together the two often went to museums, zoos, the movies, and concerts; they even sang in the school holiday show together！
     “I know I'm not like anyone else in Yaniras' life" Nancy says, “It’s been great to get to know her and to watch her change, grow, and learn."
     Much to Nancy's excitement, Yanira plans to attend John Jay College in New York City, where Nancy's father taught for his whole life. "These days I share her dream, and if she gets accepted, I hope to travel to New York with her and show her around,” Nancy says.

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     In 1997, 25 Japanese citizens, all older than 60, launched Jeeba ( the name means “old man and old woman”）to make senior-friendly products. They knew they were making history when they coined their company motto: “Of the elderly, by the elderly and for the elderly.” They do not hire young people, and the oldest of their workers is 75.
     Firms run by senior citizens are still a rarity, in Japan and worldwide. But the elderly have numbers on their side. Healthier and longer-living seniors, born immediately after World War II, are reaching retirement age in huge numbers all over the developed world. Extremely low birthrates in those same countries mean there are far fewer young workers to take their place. One likely consequence is now clear: shrinking work forces. 

     While the streamlining effects of international competition are focusing attention on the need to create and keep good jobs, those fears will eventually give way to worries about the growing shortage of young workers. One unavoidable solution: putting older people back to work, whether they like it or not. Indeed, advanced economies like those of Finland and Denmark have already raised their retirement ages. Others are under severe pressure to follow suit, as both the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have recently warned their members that their future prosperity depends on a growing contribution from the elderly.
     Whether these changes are good or bad news to workers depends on whether they anticipate retirement with eagerness or dread. In the United States, half of working-age Americans now expect to work into their 70s, whether by financial necessity or by lifestyle choice, according to a new study by Putnam Investments.
     Contrary to still widespread assumptions, there is very little hard evidence to suggest that companies cannot stay competitive with a rising share of older workers. At British hardware chain B&Q, its “elder worker” stores in Manchester and Exmouth were 18 percent more profitable than its regular outlets—due in part, the company says, to six times less employee turnover and 60 percent less shoplifting and breakage. 

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     Isabel has turned down two job offers in the past year. In 2006, she started her own consulting practice, but by 2008, most of her larger clients had to drop her because of the economy. In 2011, she was undertaking irregular assignments and knew she needed a steady job. The first job she considered was Director of HR for a company in Utah. After the initial interviews, she felt the job fit her except for the location. Still, she flew west to meet the hiring manager. The hiring manager explained that Isabel was the top candidate for the job but that, before she continued with the process, she should better understand the firm's culture. She directed Isabel to several videos of the company's CEO, who regularly appeared in front of the company in costume as part of morale building exercises and expected his senior leaders to do the same. "Even though I was desperate for a job, I knew I couldn't do that," Isabel says. She called the recruiter to turn down the job and explained that she didn't feel there was a cultural fit.
     A few months later, she interviewed for another job: a director of employee relations at a local university. After several interviews, the hiring manager told her the job was hers if she wanted it. The job had many positives: it was a low-stress environment, it offered great benefits, and the university was an employee-friendly place. But the job was relatively junior despite the title and Isabel worried it wouldn't be challenging enough. Finally, she turned it down. "It would be great to have a paycheck and great benefits but I would definitely have trouble sleeping at night," she says.
     In both cases, she was frank with the hiring managers about why she wasn't taking the jobs. "In the past, it felt like dating, I was worried about hurting people's feelings," she says. However, they appreciated her frankness and thanked her for her honesty. She says it was hard to turn down the jobs and it was a risk for her financially but she felt she had to.

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     Robert Kohout, 39, was working outside his home last October when he heard a frightening noise. He turned round and saw Walter Graham’s car sinking into 8 feet of water of the swimming pool a little distance away from his yard. 

     Kohout immediately called to Graham’s wife, Evelyn, to phone 911. Then he ran back to his house to get Terence Reif and Glenn Fajardo to help, who were at work inside the house. “There was no time for second thoughts,” said Reif, a farmer’s son. “The only thing to do is to get in the pool.”
     The car doors were locked. Graham, 73, was unconscious (失去知觉), and his mercury was rapidly filling with water. Reif struggled to break the driver’s side window with a hammer but had trouble getting it done underwater.
     Finally—some four minutes after the car had fallen into the pool, the glass was broken. By then, Graham was floating at the top of the flooded passenger compartment (车厢).
     The three men pulled Graham out through the broken glass. He wasn’t breathing and his heart stopped beating, so they performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The rescue (急救) team arrived in no time. Doctors supplied him with advanced life support on the way to the hospital.
     “These people were getting to Graham through the glass,” said Dr. Jeff. “All three acted without regard for their own safety.” Added Evelyn Graham, “They were truly angels (天使), watching over us.” 

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     A zoo is a place where animals are kept and displayed (展示) to the public. Some people argue that a zoo need not be a place for animal display alone, and may also include raising animal species (物种) which are becoming less and less.
     Animal rights groups are divided on the matter of keeping animals in zoos—with some in favor of this practice, and others calling for a ban (禁令) . The most important reason that those in favor of this practice put forward is that it offers protection for animals. For those species which are fighting for their life, zoos are the best places where they get plenty of food, water and medical care when needed.
     Those who are against the practice argue that the idea of"displaying animals to the public"is itself a strong enough reason for banning. They further add that the practice of using animals for our own selfish gains cannot be a good reason under the excuse of protection. The treatment of animals in these zoos is yet another big worry, with quite a few reports about ill-treatment (虐待) of animals once in a while.
     It's very difficult to come up with a clear idea on whether it is right to keep animals in zoos or not. It is true that the animals are protected in these places as they don't get into conflict with humans. But, at the same time, one has to admit that keeping them in zoos equals a disrespect for nature. These animals are born to live in the wild, and we should accept this fact. 

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     "Most children carry their phone in their back pocket, and when someone reaches for it, in my mind they're reaching for a gun, "said Della Fave, a spokesman (发言人) for New Jersey police.
     Della Fave shared a photo of the iPhone case (外壳) that he found on a social website (网页) . In the photo, a model stands with her phone in her back pocket, and the case looks like a gun.
     Della Fave said, "If a child draws the phone with the gun-like case before policemen, the first thing they're going to see as it's coming up is a gun. This doesn't seem like a good idea at all to a policeman.
     The phone case is sold online by various sellers at prices from about $5 to $49 and comes in several different colors. "The case is popular. That's why we sell it. If you have the case, you can play games of shooting at parties," said the Trend Shop. "Don't worry. You can't actually shoot anyone! "
     A policeman gave a few words of advice, "I would NOT suggest buying this kind of phone case, which was designed to look like a gun.
     It is not clear who makes the case. "If it's on the web, then it's out there somewhere；that's the bottom line," said Della Fave. 

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     Last fall was a first-of-its-kind season. I did not arrange (安排) any after-school classes for my children. No swimming. No music lessons. No playdates. Nothing.
     Once they finished their homework, they were free to do what they pleased, but only one hour of TV. In the beginning, my sons, Ben, 11, and Nick, 9, were anxious about this sudden, unplanned freedom. I had to push them out of the door with a ball, a bike, and so on. "Play!" I ordered.
     I learned that this new plan takes time, patience and a lot of faith in the theory that having excellent grades isn't really important.
     When my older kids, now in college and high school, were young, I brought in the rules of modern parenting. They are unspoken, but followed carefully. First, you must let your child have a variety of activities. After all, you never know where you'll find a genius (天才). Second, if the child shows the slightest talent (才能), the activity must be pushed with lessons, special coaching (辅导) and practice of several days a week. Every minute should be taken and every minute has a purpose. That was really too much for my children.
     Now with the new plan, we told stories. We listened to music. And the kids played with bikes, balls, and whatever was handy. Nobody kept score. In fact, the boys played outside so much that the lawn was worn down to the soil in places. They've made friends with those who come from all over the neighbourhood to play games.
     We like those peaceful evenings. Ben and Nick have a good time this fall. Maybe that's because the time off has allowed us to enjoy each other's company.

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     This is not a diet (减肥食谱)—or a hard exercise program. Nobody can stick to those for long. Instead, it's a simple way to make weight loss a natural part of the life you already live. And guess what? It's fun! You don't have to give up the foods you love or do regular exercises. It's about balancing calories (平衡卡路里) in tiny ways that add up to big benefits (好处). You just use some tricks the "naturally thin" people do. Pick the ones you like, stick with them, and you'll lose weight and be strong!
     Talk it UP  Every time you pick up the phone, stand up and walk around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more every day than thin people, according to a study.
     Get face time   We use e-mail so much that we've forgotten what our colleagues look like. Pick a colleague or two who sit farthest from you and deliver 10 of those daily messages in person. And go out of your way: go to a bathroom or a copy machine on another floor—and take the stairs, of course.
     Think about your drink   Consider beer or wine instead of a frozen drink: A glass of regular beer has 140 calories and a serving of wine has 126 calories, while a strawberry daiquiri has about 300 and a margarita 340.
     Reduce a total of 100 calories each day and you'll be able to lose about 10 pounds in a year. This is really not difficult to do.

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     “Seasame Street” has been called "the longest street in the world”.
     This is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world.
     The program, which went on the air in New York in 1969, uses songs, jokes, and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships. More than 6 million children in the United States watch it regularly. The viewers (观众) include more than half the nation's children before school age.
     Many teachers consider the program a great help, though some teachers find that problems happen when the first-year pupils who have learned from "Seasame Street" are in the same class with those who have not watched the program. Tests have shown that children who watch it five times a week learn more than those who seldom watch it. In the United States the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it.
     Why has "Seasame Street" been so much more successful than other children's shows? Many reasons have been suggested. Perhaps one reason is that mothers watch "Seasame Street" along with their children. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching it feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more.

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     If you are writing or studying, it makes very much difference where the light comes from. People who use books and pens every day have to be specially careful about the way the light shines on their work.
     Every house gets its light either from daylight through windows which is the very best to use or from the lamps or electricity; but whichever kind of light it is, the way it slants towards our books or our work is a matter of great importance to the eyes.
     Take a book, stand with your back toward the window, and try to read. Your shadow (影子) falls all over the page and makes it almost as bad for your eyes as if you were in a dark room.
     Now turn around and face the window. The page is in the shadow again, while the bright light is in your eyes.
     Try standing with your right side toward the window. This is very good for reading, but if you were writing, the shadow would fall across the page and bother (打搅) you a little.
     There is just one other way: stand with your left side to the window. Now everything is perfect for reading and for writing, too.
     Whatever kind of light is in the room, the rule about the right way to sit is always the same.

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     The political career of Cicero, a great Roman statesman and the most well-known speech maker of his time, was a remarkable one. At the time, high political offices in Rome, though technically achieved by winning elections, were almost exclusively controlled by a group of wealthy noble families that held them for many generations. Cicero’s family, though noble, was not one of them, nor did it have great wealth. But Cicero had a great deal of political ambition; at a very young age he chose as his basic belief the same as Achilles was said to have had: to always be the best and overtop the rest. Lacking the advantage of a proper family origin, there were especially only two career options open to them. One was a military career, since military success was thought to result from exceptional personal qualities and could lead to popularity and therefore political opportunity as was the case much later for American presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Cicero, however, was no soldier. He hated war, and served in the military only very briefly as a young man.
     Instead, Cicero chose a career in the law. To prepare for this career, he studied law, rhetoric, and philosophy. When he felt he was ready, he began taking part in legal cases. A career in the law could lead to political success for several reasons, all of which are still relevant today. First, a lawyer would gain a great deal of experience in making speeches. Second, he could also gain exposure and popularity from cases. Finally, a successful lawyer would build up a network of political connections, which is important now but was even more important in Cicero’s time, when political competition was not conducted along party lines or on the basis of doctrine, but instead was based on loose, shifting networks of personal friendships and commitments. Cicero proved to be an excellent speech-maker and lawyer, and an outstanding politician. He was elected to each of the principal Rome offices on his first try and at the earliest age at which he was legally allowed to run for them. 

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     After working long hours on her feet everyday in the operating room, Taryn Rose knew a lot about foot pain. But unlike most of her colleagues(同事), she turned her pain into money: Today she is the boss of Taryn Rose International, a $528 million company that makes nice and comfortable shoes.
     At the beginning, Rose realized the only thing that could stop her was fear of failure. "I could hear my friends and family saying, 'Why did you leave a good job?' If I failed, would I be okay facing them? And I thought, 'So what? I can go back for further study in medicine.' I started to accept that it would be okay to say, 'I failed, but I tried.' Once I was comfortable with that thought, the fear came to an end. I realized I feared regret more than failure. And after you turn to the path you choose, there is nothing acceptable but success."
     Now, Rose has no regrets about leaving medicine. "What I'm doing is not all that different from what I was doing as a doctor.The goal is the same:to relieve (减轻) pain. A former professor told me: 'You're helping hundreds of thousands of women with your shoes. As a doctor, you would have helped only the few who went to your office. You're having a much greater effect.'"
     Looking back, Rose admits she caught a couple of lucky breaks. "To me, luck is about being prepared for those opportunities (机会) that come knocking. You have to have an open mind, the right skills and all your senses working to see what opportunities present themselves. Luck can open the door, but you still have to walk through it."

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