Growth

by Vaclav Smil

When I first heard that one of my favorite authors was working on a new book about growth, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. His latest doesn’t disappoint. As always, I don’t agree with everything Smil says, but he remains one of the best thinkers out there at documenting the past and seeing the big picture.

Prepared

by Diane Tavenner

As any parent knows, preparing your kids for life after high school is a long and sometimes difficult journey. Tavenner—who created a network of some of the best performing schools in the nation—has put together a helpful guidebook about how to make that process as smooth and fruitful as possible. Along the way, she shares what she’s learned about teaching kids not just what they need to get into college, but how to live a good life.

Why We Sleep

by Matthew Walker

I read a couple of great books this year about human behavior, and this was one of the most interesting and profound. Both Jenn and John Doerr urged me to read it, and I’m glad I did. Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is important—but what exactly counts as a good night’s sleep? And how do you make one happen? Walker has persuaded me to change my bedtime habits to up my chances.

These Truths

by Jill Lepore

Lepore has pulled off the seemingly impossible in her latest book: covering the entire history of the United States in just 800 pages. She’s made a deliberate (深思的) choice to make diverse points of view central to the statement, and the result is the most honest and unflinching (无畏的) account of the American story I’ve ever read.

Ever since I was a boy, I have been a penny picker upper. I would find them on sidewalks, on playgrounds, and even in swimming pools. Back then a penny was still worth a penny. If you managed to find two, then you could buy a big piece of bubble gum and once you had collected a handful, you could get a small bag of chips. Each penny back then was a little treasure. It was only later that I heard the saying that pennies are also blessing and that you are watched over from above.

I never thought much about this growing up, though, until the winter of my 25th year. That was the year that my Mom died from cancer at only 55 years old. After watching her breathe her last, my sorrow weighed on me like a stone. The darkness of the days matched the darkness in my heart. How I longed for just one more hug, one more “I love you” from my Mom. It was then on the coldest day of the year that I stopped at a gas station to fill my car’s tank. As the wind cut through me, I lowered my eyes and saw it on top of some dirty snow: A Bright, Shiny, New Penny. I remembered the old saying. I smiled, bent down, and picked it up. Suddenly, I felt a wave of love enter my heart. Warmth surrounded me. My eyes filled with tears. I knew then that Mom was joyfully watching over me with all of her love.

Since that day 30 years ago, I have found at least a thousand pennies. They come to me everywhere and at all times. Sometimes they lift my spirits on a down day. Sometimes they encourage me that I am on the right path. But above all they always remind me that I am loved.

These days, our health and wellness should be a priority. Gone are the days when people take themselves for granted. It is about time that we should start investing in good health. But with all the health and wellness tips found on the Internet, which one should you consider doing?

You may already know the basics of healthy living. But if you want to boost your efforts, it only makes sense that you use strategies tested and proven by scientists. Here’s what you can consider investing in so that you can finally enjoy better health and wellness.

Some people spend a considerable amount of time working while sitting down. You can be working in an office and spending most of your time doing reports on a computer. But if you want to be healthier, get up and walk more often while at work.

This is not to say that you should ignore your role and slack off. Walking more often, even for at least ten minutes at a time, can already help you achieve better health. You can always do a bit more walking when in a meeting, when going to and from work, and by taking the stairs instead of the elevators.

Making those legs work will help you get more exercise no matter how busy your work schedule is. Stop thinking that you have no time to go for a walk or run with your friends. By putting your mind on your goal, you can get more walking even if you already have your hands full at work.

Sitting all day is the new vice of many people. This increases one’s risk of diabetes, heart issues and even some cancer. You don’t want your mental health to suffer just because you were too lazy to walk while you spend hours at a time working behind a desk.

A group of German Scientists have discovered that the lotus plant is truly spotless. It does not allow any dirt to remain on its surface. And there is a clear reason for it.

Lotus leaves are round and large and it is almost impossible to get them wet. You may splash as much water as you want on a lotus leaf, but the droplets immediately roll off. What makes this water plant’s leaves water repellent (防水剂)?

Scientists have always known that aquatic (水生的) leaves secrete or give out wax crystals (蜡质结晶). These crystals help prevent the leaves from getting flooded with the water around the leaves. They also help the leaves gain the required amount of moisture. The leaves are able to do this because wax resists water.

Now the scientists have discovered that these leaf surfaces have an amazing ability to clean themselves. Scientists at the University of Bonn carried out extensive research to show that the water droplets rolling off a lotus leaf carry away dirt particles, leaving the surface perfectly clean. This phenomenon has been named the “Lotus Effect” and works best on rough surfaces. A report on the scientists’ study was published in the journal “Planta”.

Contrary to popular belief, lotus leaves are not smooth at all. When examined under a powerful microscope, the leaf cells show a bumpy surface. That makes the surface rough. As a result, dirt particles rest only on the tips of wax crystals coating the leaf surface. The roughness reduces the contact area between the particles (颗粒) and the leaf surface.

A rough surface structure with wax crystals makes it impossible for water to stick. Due to the friction, the water contracts at once. It forms spherical droplets to minimise the contact area with the rough, waxy leaf surface and runs off the leaf very quickly. Since the dirt particles only rest on the tips of the wax crystals, they stick more strongly to the water droplets than to the leaf surfaces. They are washed away when the water falls on the leaves.

Chinese Zodiac (生肖) Story

According to the legend, the Jade Emperor(ruler of heaven) would like to measure time by twelve different animals. He told animals that he would hold a great race on his birthday, the prize of     41     was twelve positions on the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The cat asked the rat to help it sign up,     42     the rat forgot its promise, so the cat wasn’t included. Thereafter, the cat and rat were     43    (enemy).

The ox was     44    (original) first, but he was so kind that he agreed     45    (carry) the little rat across the river. Just as they were about to reach     46     other side of the river, the rat jumped off the ox’s back and crossed the finish line     47    (one). So, the rat became the top of the zodiac animals, and the ox had been tricked into the second place.

The 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac     48    (divide) into 2 categories by Chinese philosophy—Yin and Yang Theory. Yin is receptive and feminine; while Yang is     49    (act) and masculine (阳性的). It’s believed that odd (奇数的) numbers belong to yang and even numbers belong to yin.

The yin or the yang of the animal is defined based on the number of     50    (they) toes. The 12 animals are arranged in an alternating yin-yang sequence.