【推荐2】The quiet residential street in Glendale, Calif, has become a battleground in California’s annual fight against wildfires, with about 300 goats deployed to combat the threat. These goats are strategically spread across the foothills and steep ridges of the Verdugo Mountains, where they eat dried-out vegetation that flourished after recent rains.

Despite the hot 94°F heat, these goats tirelessly munch on (咀嚼) dead grass, scrubby bushes, cactus, and even invasive plants like star thistle and black mustard. Michael Choi, the owner of Fire Grazers Inc, is amazed at their ability to consume even thorny (带刺的) plants.

Fire Grazers Inc. is a family-owned business that uses goats to clear brush from challenging terrain (地势). This year, the company is busier than ever due to increased demand following a rainy winter that led to more vegetation growth. Choi has extended the grazing season by a couple of months, and he’s added more goats to keep up with the workload, bringing the total to about 900.

The goats clear about 1 acre of vegetation each day. They are transported to various sites, including wealthy areas with challenging terrain, where they help reduce the risk of wildfires. Targeted grazing (放牧), an age-old practice, is important in California’s wildfire risk reduction strategy, especially after years of devastating wildfires.

Patty Mundo, vegetation management inspector for the Glendale Fire Department, said it was local residents who suggested the idea of the goats two years ago. Since then, she’s brought Choi and his goats back for an annual “Bleat and Greet” event, where the community is invited to get to know the fire-fighting heroes. It’s a great way to raise awareness about the importance of proper land management, Mundo said.

Compared to traditional brush crews that rely on power tools and equipment, goats are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. They only require water, minerals and the protection of an Anatolian shepherd dog.

Choi takes pride in contributing to the safety of California’s communities. As the goats graze, he reflects on the potential of these animals to create firebreaks that could save homes and lives, giving firefighters crucial time to respond to emergencies.

【推荐1】Getting hit on the head can cause a serious injury. Sometimes, even if a person feels okay, they may have a brain injury called a concussion (脑震荡). Even a good doctor can have trouble telling if a person has a concussion or not. And if a person is not careful and gets hurt again while they have a concussion, the problems can be even worse. Now Neurology researchers at the University of Pennsylvania think they may have found a solution—an easy-to-use two-minute reading test that can assess (评估) the possibility that a concussion has occurred.

The test was originally designed to test reading skills in children, but it also catches problems with vision and eye movements, which makes it useful for studying concussions. The test consists of a series of numbers arranged in zigzagging (锯齿) patterns on cards, which children read from left to right as quickly as possible. The Pennsylvania researchers tried out the test on boxers and martial (武术) arts fighters in a study earlier this year and found it worked well as a predictor of head injury.

The researchers gave the fighters the test before and after a match. Typically people can complete the test faster the more times they take it, says Laura Balcer, a lead author of the study. But the athletes who had experienced head injury during their fights read the cards more than 11 seconds slower when they took the test a second time. Fighters who had a concussion read the cards especially poorly, worsening by 18 seconds on average.

Now Balcer and her colleagues are studying the test’s ability to predict concussions in athletes who play football and other rough sports. Their goal is to create an evaluation tool that could serve as an early warning sign for coaches, who would need only the cards and their stopwatch to determine whether a player needs to be sent to a doctor.

【推荐2】Does your dog always want to go wherever you’re going and most of the time, this behavior is welcomed?    1    However, if you find your dog doing this too often or if it’s accompanied by other troubling behavior like eating less, going outside less often or interacting less with other family members, there could be potential issues.

    2    Usually, it’s simply out of loyalty and the close relationship that’s been created with its owner, because he or she is the one that provides care and comfort and keeps it safe. However, sometimes, your dog wants to follow you possibly due to something negative.    3    

Dogs are emotional animals and may feel anxious for some reason sometimes. It may take much time and training to help your dog work through what’s causing the problem    4    You’ll have to work with your dog consistently or hire a professional trainer.

One way to stop your dog from following you might be putting it in a secure and reliable area.    5    If your dog spends all of its time with you and you alone, it may express a dislike for being away from you or interacting with other humans or dogs.

【推荐2】Do you fancy seeing some sights that aren’t heaving with other visitors? You might have to travel a bit off the beaten path while you’re in Italy. We’ll take you through four of the best hidden gems that you can find in the country.

Chioggia, Venetian Lagoon

Arranged across five islands, Chioggia is enchantingly spliced by beautiful canals. The adjoined town of Sottomarina throws in a six-mile sandy beach. Further south are more beaches plus empty riversides lovely for cycling—which, unlike Venice, one can also do in Chioggia.

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, Venice

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli church was a key filming location in the 1963 film Don’t Look Now. “Mendicoli” is translated as “beggars” in Venetian language; this area once housed poor fishermen and the church used to shelter the homeless. Beyond set-jetting (电影主题旅游), further incentive to visit is provided by some superb Renaissance ceiling frescos and the celebrated Resurrection of Christ oil painting.

Borromini’s Perspective, Rome

There’s a beguiling reason to visit this impressive Centro Storico palace. On its first floor, find a peaceful orange tree courtyard and look down the colonnaded (柱廊式的) gallery whose distant statue of Mars is about 35 metres away. In fact, the passage is actually only eight metres long, and its god of war merely 60 centimetres high. Not that you’ll believe it until stepping forward.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, Florence

In Florence, visiting one particular apothecary (药商) is a must, partly because the Santa Maria Novella is thought to be the world’s oldest pharmacy. Today, while admission to the neighbouring, tremendous Basilica (大教堂) costs €7.50, pharmacy entry is free. Friendly staff will guide you through handmade soaps, lotions, potpourri (精油) and fragrances made according to centuries-old recipes.

【推荐3】Saddle attached. Mount up. Reins in hand. Racing with the wind and jumping to the sky, freshmen Natalle Gordon and Lauren Tate become one with their horses. Gordon and Tate participate in equestrian (马术) jumping and hunting with the Texas Rose Horse Park and King’s Equestrian organizations. They will be competing in jumping and hunting events during October.

“My favorite part about riding and jumping is the high speed,” Gordon said. “I’ve had a lot of exciting and crazy moments.” Gordon has been riding for 4 years and participates in hunting events, a slow and complicated variation of jumping. Hunting events are subjectively judged based on how well the horse performs over fences. The pair of rider and horse is judged on style, pace, and manners as well.

Gordon’s horse, Casino, is a Welsh pony. Together the two have achieved impressive results including first place in a Derby, a large competition in the equestrian world, which was a big accomplishment.

Tate, on the other hand, participates in jumping events and has been riding since childhood. Jumping is a fast paced and less formal event. Jumping is scored objectively. The horse and rider’s goal is to clear all the fences in the course as quickly as possible without making any mistakes by knocking over the bars of the fence.

“It’s a speed round,” Tate said. “You just have to be the fastest person and get to the jump and win.” Tate’ horse, Chief, is a Chestnut Appendix. Together they have gotten champion awards in jumpers. “I love Chief,” Tate said. “I’m really proud of the work we’ve done together.”

Both Tate and Gordon have bonded through horse riding. Along with bonding with each other, they have established a deep love of their horses. “It’s you and your horse out there,” Tate said. “You are never alone. You’re partners through it all.”