【推荐1】The global energy crisis is approaching. What can we do? Here are some steps you can take.

Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Clean or replace filter monthly or as needed.

For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners, look for the ENERGY STAR, the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency. For central air, purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. (SEER)

Use energy efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air. When used with air conditioning, fans allow you to raise the thermostat and cut costs. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so before you leave, turn off the ceiling fan.

Let a programmable thermostat “remember for you” to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent. You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and creating pollution all day while you are at work.

Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.

Cut your air conditioning load, and reduce pollution by planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.

Close blinds or shades on south-and west-facing windows during the day, or fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.

Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers. And use fluorescent bulbs, which provide bright, warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy, producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle. If you drive 12,500 miles a year, switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 miles per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than £65 per year.

Carpool. The average U.S. commuter could save about £260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two other people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg-assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.

【推荐1】Communicating with elderly parents is an important part of making sure they’re doing okay.     1    

It’s important to set aside time every week to call up or drop by and see how your parents are doing.     2     Also listen for the things they’re not telling you, such as health problems or money worries.

Your parents might be slower and less active than before.     3    It’s important to respect this. Don’t think that your elderly parents can’t take care of their needs unless there are clear signs that this is the case. Remember, your elderly parents always care about being treated as someone who matters.

    4     Also you must keep your words simple and often ask your elderly parents whether they’ve really understood. If you realize your parents need to make a major change, like moving to a nursing home, talk about such future issues early in small steps. Ask them about their plans for the future and what they hope. When you get a feel for what they prefer, you can slowly mention the topic of starting to make such changes.

Accepting the generation gap (代沟) is also important.     5     For most people, making changes to their lifestyles, their opinions and their beliefs gets much harder as they age. Your views might differ a lot, but it’s best to agree to disagree.

【推荐2】The summer I turned 16, my father gave me a car, which permitted Hannah and me to drive around Tucson whenever we wanted to.

Hannah was my best friend. “Hannah’s amazing," my mother always said. And sure enough, that summer she signed with a modeling agency. She was already doing runway work.

One day, Hannah and I went to the movies. On the way home, we stopped at the McDonald's drive-through, putting the fries on the seat between us to share. "Let’s ride around a while," I said. It was a clear night, moonlight shone over the desert. Taking a turn too fast, I hit a patch of dirt and fishtailed.

French fries on the floor. An impossible amount of blood on Hannah’s face. They took us in separate ambulances. In the ER, my parents spoke quietly: Best plastic surgeon in the city. End of her modeling career.

We'd been wearing lap belts, but the car didn’t have shoulder harnesses. I’d cracked my cheekbone; Hannah's forehead had split wide open. What would I say to her?

When her mother, Sharon, came into my hospital room, I started to cry, bracing myself for her anger. She sat beside me and took my hand. “I almost ended my best friend when I was your age,” she said, “I totaled her car and mine.”

“I'm so sorry,”I said.

“You’re both alive,”she said, “The rest is window dressing.” I started to protest, and Sharon stopped me. “I forgive you. Hannah will too.”

Sharon’s forgiveness allowed Hannah and me to stay friends throughout life. I think of her gift of forgiveness every time I want to resent someone for a perceived wrong. And whenever I see Hannah, the scars are a symbol of grace for me.

【推荐3】Smile, when making an introduction

Every day we meet people in a number of business and social situations.     1     It’s important to do so in a proper way, no matter whether you are introducing yourself to someone, or introducing two people to each other. To keep you aware of this, we have gathered tips to make a proper introduction.

Always stand when making an introduction

When you are seated and someone comes up to greet you, make the effort to stand up.     2    

Always maintain eye contact while making an introduction

Many people not aware of the value of this simple action.     3    

Always introduce a person of lesser authority to one of greater authority.     4    

For example, when introducing, your supervisor to a job candidate (求职应征者), you would give your supervisor’s name first. “Bob Jones, may I introduce Susan Lee, who has just graduated from AB University?” In a situation where rank is unimportant, an introduction is based on sex and age. A man is presented to a woman and a younger woman to an older woman.

What if you find yourself in a situation where you have forgotten the other person’s name?     5     When doing this, you will usually cause the other person to do the same. However, if the other person does not take you suggestion, it is OK simply to apologize and let the person know that you cannot remember her or his name. This is not the ideal situation, of course, but it does happen to all of us. The other person should be forgiving.

【推荐1】How to Fix a Relationship

If you’re having a problem in your relationship, you’re not alone. Most people have trouble in relationships at one point or another.     1     However, you can make it work out if you decide to work together to fix it, starting with trying to understand what’s gone wrong in your relationship.

Recognize the problems. Any number of problems could do harm to your relationship. You should look for signs and symptoms of the problems you’re facing. Listening attentively is the key, which can help you understand what he or she is feeling.     2     Actually think about what the person is saying, and maybe try to understand what is behind the words as well. You also have a right to discuss what you’re feeling and thinking . The key is to keep a calm head.

    3     Once you’re figured out what some of your problems are together, have a conversation to find ways to solve them. How can you solve the problems in a way that both of you can live with?     4     Start with the place you both agree on. Maybe you can both agree on the problem at least, or maybe you can agree on the first step to the solution. For instance, maybe you agree that you are feeling disconnected. Maybe you can take it one step further and agree that you need to spend more time together.

Make a plan together. Once you’re agreed to solutions, it’s time to put them into concrete terms. For instance, if you both agree you need to spend more time together, then maybe the agreement will be that you should make a date at least once a week.

Find ways to compromise(妥协). The key to any relationship is learning to compromise.     5     Compromising is about finding common ground, and both of you giving in a little on the issue.