【推荐1】Saturday, 22 April, 2017

We are currently on a camp site near Calais, on our way to the UK, and it is pouring with rain. As if gods want to prepare us for the UK at all costs. As if we don't know what rain is... Our ferry to the green isles will leave tomorrow at 10：30 and despite the rain, I am really looking forward to it.

It has taken us a while to get here, as we already left EI Chorro on 4 April. After rushing through Spain in two days, however, we came to an inevitable slow－down when we entered France. Inevitable, as France has simply too much to offer for us, so as soon as we crossed the Pyrenees, our driving sequence became something like driving a few kilometres, visiting a castle, driving a few kilometres, taking pictures of a nice church, driving a few kilometres, having a quick peek at a flea market, driving a few kilometres, visiting a museum etc. When we entered Brittany the real sightseeing started, in Vannes, in Lorient, in Brest and then on to Normandy: Le Mont St Michel, Bayeux and finally, finally the D－Day beaches. I always wanted to visit these, for obvious reasons I would say, but my father, realistic as he was, calculated the chances that it would rain a considerable amount of days of a three－week holiday and always decided against it. But a few days ago I finally stepped onto Gold Beach (where the Brits landed) and I was greeted by the Norman sun. A beautiful day.

The year’s best thriller, Arrival follows a professor to a military camp in Montana, where she works to translate the language coming from alien visitors. The film, set in the wide landscape of Montana, connects the vastness of the universe with the natural beauty of Bozeman. Travel to Bozeman, and you’re bound to feel its quietness. In this town, the wildlife of the Bridger Mountains lives alongside the constant inflow of Montana State University students. With all its breathtaking landscape, Bozeman is the perfect place to do some soul-searching.

Fences tells of an African-American father supporting his family during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s. The film was shot in Pittsburgh, known for its blue collar history. Today it has grown into a center of progress and culture. It is home to the world’s first green convention center. On top of its environmental development, the city has worked to keep its diverse cultural heritage. Visitors can discover Pittsburgh’s history at the Heinz History Center and taste the Mediterranean food at Cure.

A masterpiece of self-discovery, Moonlight follows an African-American boy in Miami who is trying to find his place in the world. Much of the film is set in a low-income neighborhood north of downtown, but visitors to Miami will likely see a different side of the lively city. Modern art museums and restaurants fill the inner corridors, while Miami Beach is filled with music and ocean lovers. There’s something for everyone in Miami, so enjoy the party.

【推荐1】There’s a lot to see in Badlands National Park (BADL).

Castle Trail: A Badlands National Park Favorite.

We’re kicking things off with the longest trail in the park — and it is an excellent one. This 5-mile journey takes you through the backcountry of Badlands, with the main destination being the incredible Castle Rock formation. Along the way, you’ll hike through grassland. And as always in the Badlands, watch out for snakes.

See Bison in Sage Creek Wilderness Area

Are you as crazy about wildlife? Sage Creck is for you. Located in Wall, SD, this is one of the largest areas of preserved mixed-grass prairie (草原) left in the United States. And it’s one of the best places for North American bison (野牛). But remember to always stay in your vehicle, and never get out to approach a bison. This is not only illegal (非法的), but can cost you your life.

Ascend the Amazing Saddle Pass Trail

Saddle Pass is a short trail, but one you won’t want to miss. One of the most photographed spots in Badlands National Park is also one of the coolest climbing experiences, hands down. Here, you’ll climb up the Badlands Wall itself into a view of the White River Valley. The trail gets its name from the shape of the prairie you’ll travel.

Badlands National Park’s Top Hike: Notch Trail

As the most popular hike in the Badlands, Notch Trail features a fantastic ladder climb and absolutely breath-taking views. This trail is worth the difficulty, but it is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights, and can be dangerous during or after heavy rains. The most Badlands injuries take place here, so be sure to practice safely.

【推荐1】The 2020 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to former U.S. Poet Laureate（桂冠诗人）Louise Gluck. The prize committee cited “her unique poetic voice that with plain beauty makes individual existence universal”. Gluck is the first American woman to win the award since Toni Morrison in 1993. Gluck, 77, joins a list of literary giants and previous Nobelists who include, in this century, Canadian short-story master Alice Munro, Chinese magical-realist Mo Yan, etc.

Gluck’s work includes 12 collections of poetry and a few volumes of essays on literary writing. “All are characterized by a striving for clarity（清晰）. Childhood and family life, the close relationship with parents and siblings, is a theme that has remained central to her,” Anders Olsson, the chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, said. “She seeks the universal, and in this she takes inspiration from myths and classical motifs,” Olsson added, citing her 2006 collection Averno, which the committee described as “masterly” for its “visionary interpretation of the myth of Persephone’s (珀尔塞福涅) fall into hell in the captivity (囚禁) of Hades(哈得斯), the god of death”.

Being a professor at Yale and a resident of Cambridge, Gluck also served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2003 to 2004 and is no stranger to awards. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for her collection of poems titled The Wild Iris, in which “she describes the incredible return of life after winter in the poem Snowdrops,” the Nobel literature committee said Thursday. She also won the 2014 National Book Award for the poem Faithful and Virtuous Night. In 2016, President Obama awarded the National Humanities Medal to Gluck in a White House ceremony.

The publicity-shy Gluck did not immediately issue any comment about the latest honor for her body of work, which spans more than half a century. In a 2012 interview, she acknowledged that prizes can make “existence in the world easier” but did not amount to the immortality(不朽) of a true artist.

【推荐2】It all started when Campbell Remess was nine years old and asked his parents if he could buy Christmas gifts for sick children, for he wanted to do something to brighten their spirits. His parents had to turn down his request, for Campbell is one of nine children and ... well, money, you know? However, Campbell took up the challenge and started creating his own bears. Meanwhile, he named the project “Project 365" , which means making a bear a day in a year.

Every week he delivers some bears to sick children not only at the Royal Hobart Hospital near his home but all over the world. He even creates personalized teddy bears, the Winning Bear, for cancer patients to hold onto during treatments and at those down times. Campbell has even sent bears to victims of terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris. These bears all become a treasured companion and are something to hug during difficult times. But it doesn't end there ...

Not only does Campbell make bears, but he has a variety of fundraising events to help further causes he supports. At one such gala last year, Campbell made a bear on-stage and auctioned （拍卖）it off for $ 5 ,000. The night raised more than 26,000 for the Love Your Sister charity. He hopes to expand the amount and locations of fundraising events he hosts.

Campbell's message of love and kindness has spread around the world, and he has spoken to schools about how each effort counts. Project 365's Facebook page has amassed over 26,271 followers and is a platform for people worldwide to spread positivity.

Campbell, a 14-year-old boy, has a lot of different interests such as film and laboratory work, but whatever path he chooses，he will continue to follow his heart to help people around the world through his acts of kindness!

【推荐3】World heritage is a tricky thing to protect. Even when something makes it onto UNESCO's list, other factors can still put it at risk of being damaged. The environment, climate change, tourists and development-all these can affect world heritage sites.

Recently, the National Geographic listed the best-and worst-protected heritage items in the world.

The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal scored last because the ancient temples there are surrounded by modern construction and dense air pollution.

Sometimes it is difficult to protect a world heritage site because the factors that threaten it, like climate, are hard to control. The Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Australia;for example, is suffering because of ultraviolet(紫外线的)sun rays coming through the hole in the ozone layer(臭氧层).

These rays affect the coral(珊瑚)there and kill off smaller ecosystems. There are things that can be done to preserve the life in the reef and help it survive, but repairing the hole in the ozone layer itself-the root cause of the problem-would be a difficult task.

Often the biggest damage is done by people. The Amazon Rainforest, for example, is threatened by companies wanting to chop down its trees, some of which have been there for centuries. Mining companies want to dig deep into the Amazon basin to reach the valuable resources there.

The cost of all these human actions is enormous. It's not just that whole species of animals are disappearing, or that natural beauty is being destroyed. Scientists have not had the chance to study all the plants in the Amazon, and believe some could hold potential cures for diseases.

The area is now called the Central Amazon Conservation Complex and there are rules banning or limiting destructive practices. But people-often ignore them and the destruction goes on

However, many UNESCO sites are success stories of how world heritage can be protected. The Alhambra Palace in Spain and Te Wahipounamu in New Zealand are great examples of how UNESCO and the local community can work together to save priceless landmarks. Both gained top spots on the National Geographic list as the best-protected heritage sites in the world. “Local people are all active protectors. All tourists need reminding that they are entering an exceptional place, that it is a privilege to be there, “ commented the magazine.

【推荐1】Ever since I graduated from high school I’ve worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer. However, making the transformation between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be unacceptable, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I’m so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.

There are few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People of my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine I ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.

The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like being laid off and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.

After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have become only too clear. "This job pays well, but it’s hell on the body," said one co-worker. "Study hard and keep reading." she added. When I’m back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.

My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.

【推荐2】Welcome to BookCrossing!

It’s a smart social networking site, where books get new life.

There are currently 1,583,246 BookCrossers and 11,350,976 books travelling throughout132 countries.

It’s easy to find books, share books, and meet fellow book lovers.

Step 1. Label

Register your book for FREE, and get a unique BookCrossing ID (BCID). This ID allows you to follow your specific book. There are several ways you can label your book:

Download free BookCrossing labels here and print them from your computer.

Create custom labels with our Bookplate Creator using your own image and message.

Step 2. Share

There are a few different ways you can share your book:

Give it away. Pass your book on to a friend, or a stranger! You can find someone in the BookCrossing community who’s looking for your book and make their day by sending it to them. These particular methods are referred to as “controlled releases”.

Release it into the wild. Referred to as “wild releases”, this type of sharing needs you to leave your labeled book on a park bench or in a train station — anywhere it’s likely to be caught by another delighted reader.

Be creative! BookCrossers might establish an “Official BookCrossing Zone”, a physical location where books are regularly caught and / or released. They may start a “bookring”, “bookray” or “bookbox”, all of which are controlled ways of passing books throughout a set group of members.

Step 3. Follow

Once you’ve labeled and shared it, follow your book’s adventures.

When another reader finds your book, they can enter the BCID on BookCrossing.com and report that it’s been caught. Some books tend to stay in one region while others really move!

【推荐3】Most of the time, the ground feels solid beneath our feet. That's comforting. But it's also misleading because there's actually a lot going on underground. Masses of land (called plates) slip, slide, and bump against each other, slowly changing the shape of continents and oceans over millions and billions of years.

Scientists know that Earth formed about 4. 5 billion years ago. They also know that our planet was hot at first. As it cooled, its outermost layer, called the crust (地壳), eventually formed moving plates. Exactly when this shift happened, however, is an open question.

Now, an international group of researchers has an answer. They've found new evidence suggesting that Earth's crust started shifting at least 3. 8 billion years ago. The new estimate is 1. 3 billion years earlier than previous ones.

Not long before 3. 8 billion years ago, lots of small planets were hitting Earth, keeping its crust in a hot, melting state. After the hard crust formed, much of it sank at various times into the planet's hot insides. There, it melted before returning to the surface.

In some places, however, the crust never sank. One of the oldest such places is in Greenland, in an area called the Isua supracrustal (上地壳) belt. The rocky crust there is between 3. 7 and 3. 8 billion years old. The belt was once part of the seafloor, but now it is exposed to air.

The researchers recently took a close look at the Isua supracrustal belt. They noticed long, parallel cracks (裂缝) in the rock that have been filled in with a type of volcanic rock.

To explain this structure, the scientists propose that tension in the crust caused the seafloor to crack open long ago. Hot, liquid rock oozed from deep inside Earth to fill the cracks. Finally, the whole area cooled, forming what we see today.

That explanation, plus chemical clues inside the rock, suggests that the Isua supracrustal belt was once part of a plate under the ocean, beginning around 3. 8 billion years ago.

“It's a fantastic case of solving a jigsaw puzzle (拼图),” says one of the researchers. He notes that the puzzle was “ a very difficult one because these rocks are all very old and have been badly ruined".