【推荐2】If you are dreaming of visiting one of those picture­perfect European towns filled with old­world attractiveness and scenic beauty, here is a look at the most beautiful small towns in Europe.

Manarola

Manarola, Italy, is filled with rainbow-colored homes along the Mediterranean coast. This attractive fishing town is famous for its unbelievable wine, and the paintings. There are no cars here, no traffic lights, or traffic noise. You can drive to Manarola, but you will have to park just outside the town and then take a shuttle bus or walk in on foot.

Garmisch­-Partenkirchen

Garmischh-Partenkirchen, Germany, is an attractive mountain town, once two separate towns, one Roman and the other Teutonic. The 1936 Winter Olympics forced them to become one, though the two sides still have different characters. The town dates back to the 15th century AD, filled with narrow streets lined with historic three or four­story buildings painted with religious scenes.

Marsaxlokk

The energetic trading port of Marsaxlokk, Malta, was built in 900 BC. Today, this picture­like town is the main supplier of fish to the island nation that sits in the Mediterranean Sea. It has no modern buildings to ruin its attractiveness. With such quiet surroundings, including the traditional fishing boats, it is a particularly charming place to visit.

Portmagee

In a country filled with beautiful towns, Portmagee, is a standout, sitting on the southwest coast of Ireland. This seaside fishing town has a row of brightly colored buildings along with a rich and colorful history. At The Bridge Bar, you will find live music many nights of the week along with nice food and a fine glass of beer.

【推荐3】Watching the latest Hollywood movie in a great cinema brings about a lot of excitement. Here are the best movie theaters in the world.

Prasad—Hyderabad, India

Can you think of anything better than a movie viewed on a screen measuring 97×117 feet? Prasad has the answer. It has been screening movies since 2003. Every day, it gets round 1,500 inquiries (咨询) on its phone booking system.

Castro Theater—San Francisco, United States

Back during the 20s, movie palaces with huge reception halls and video halls were put up for the pleasure of customers. This theater, with a cathedral façade (立面), is one of the last from that period.

Cine de Chef—Seoul, South Korea

Want to go out for dinner and a movie? Here you get to do both. And the food is not just the typical popcorn and soda, but a real meal made up of French and Italian cuisine (菜肴).

Secret Cinema—Worldwide

Secret Cinema is a group based in London that holds monthly screenings of a movie. You have to sign up for it, and they will tell you where and when to go for the movie. Hired actors will then act out the scenes from the film.

【推荐2】The financial climate, the job market, family tensions, Obama moving into the Lincoln bedroom. Even the climate’s getting in on the list. Yup, change is everywhere in 2009. If you’re not careful, all kinds of strange things might happen in your otherwise ordered life, so it’s best to work at avoiding change whenever it rears its head (出现).

Here are 5 ways to do just that:

Imagine if everyone went around listening to what they really wanted and acted on it — what a mess! No, best to ignore it and carry on with what you’re doing.

【推荐3】Expectations can be tricky and this is no different in the workplace! As I listen to some Baby Boomer managers relate their frustrations about working with Generation Y( Gen Y/millennials千禧一代) workers, their two main complaints center on their perceptions of the younger generation’s work ethic and sense of entitlement. These managers express that Gen Y workers want the honors of the workplace without putting in the sacrifices to earn them .

The Baby Boomer/Generation Y Conflict is a good title that I often use to describe this new millennium divide between Boomers and Gen Y workers. This conflict comes from different life experiences and generational expectations. Can Baby Boomers and Gen Y just get along? The answer is yes! As managers understand and account for the generational differences, they can move workplace dynamics from frustration and conflict to productivity and mutual understanding. To do so, we have to first understand Boomers and Gen Y.

Born between 1943 and 1960, Boomers, grew up in an environment of social unrest where challenging authority was the norm. As noted in Generations at Work significant events of the Boomer generation include the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the women liberation movement and the Cold War. Boomers reflect that time in many ways: they tend to think they can change the world and they want to fulfill their own individual goals and potential. They come to the workplace confident, prepared to work hard, and expecting to be rewarded for their efforts.

Born between 1980 and 2000, Gen Y workers grew up in an environment of adult attention where monitoring, recognition, and support were the norm. Significant events of their generation include technology, protective parenting, school yard violence and multiculturalism. Gen Y workers reflect this time in many ways: they are the most technically talented generation and they are the most spoiled generation. Gen Y workers come to the workplace with confidence and a continuing expectation of recognition and support independent of results.

With the understanding that Generation Y workers have significantly different life experiences and expectations, Boomer manager can adjust their own interaction style and move from frustration and conflict to mutual understanding and productivity.

Gen Y workers are used to immediate feedback on how they are doing. It comes from their digital world where information is shared frequently and quickly. Give them ongoing feedback. Be sure to balance the feedback: tell them what they did well as well as how they can improve.

Many Gen Y workers are used to multiple supportive adults in their lives who spoiled and praised them. They respond better to coaching that focuses on outcomes than a direct management style.

Boomer managers sometimes make the assumption that Gen Y workers are rude or disrespectful of authority. More often, however, Gen Y workers do not understand normal standards of workplace behavior. For example, Gen Y workers often expect immediate responses from their bosses on whatever they communicate to them. This comes from their life experiences. They have had cell phones at a young age and are masters at communicating through text messages, social media, etc. Further, they are used to calling the adults in their lives and getting immediate attention. They bring these expectations to the workplace.

Boomers are partly responsible for launching some work-and-life balance programs for Gen Y workers. These younger generations have seen the negative effects that work has produced on some Boomers and decided that they want some balance in their lives. Many do not want to work like what Boomers have done. Boomer managers can engage Gen Y workers by supporting workplace flexibility and work-and-life balance. For these younger generations, work-and-life balance is among their top working priorities.

Expectations are hard to manage and different generations have different workplace expectations！Boomer and Gen Y conflict, however, does not have to continue. When Boomer managers understand these differences, they can both adapt their own interaction style and educate others to promote organizational productivity. These generations do not have to continue to collide in the workplace!

You’ve been around forever. I can remember all the pain you’ve caused for me.

Do you remember the night you almost took my father’s life? I do. He loves you. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves me. He’s addicted to you, to the way you promise to rid him of his problems only to cause more of them. You just sat back and laughed as his car went spinning through the street, crashing into two other cars. He wasn’t the only one hurt by you that night.

Do you remember the night of my first high school party? You were there. My friends were intrigued (被迷住了的) by you. They treated you as if they were never going to see you again, drinking all of you that they could. I spent two hours that night helping my friends who had fallen completely. “I’m so embarrassed,” they said as I held their hair back so that they could vomit (呕吐). “I’m sorry,” they said when I called taxies for them, walking them out and paying the driver in advance. “This won’t happen again,” they said as they were sent to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped. Two 15-year-old girls slept in hospital beds that night thanks to you.

Do you remember the night when you took advantage of my 17-year-old neighbor who had to drive to pick up his sister from her dance lessons? Do you know how we all felt when he hit another car and killed the two people in the other car? He died the next morning too. His sister walked home from her dance lesson, and passed police cars and a crowd of people gathering on the sidewalk just two blocks away from the dance studio. She didn’t realize her brother was in the midst of it all. She never saw him again. And it’s all your fault.

I wish you’d walk out of my life forever. I don’t want anything to do with you. Look at all the pain you’ve caused. Sure, you’ve made people happy too from time to time. But the damage you’ve caused in the lives of millions is inexcusable. Stop luring (诱惑) in the people I love. Stop hurting me, please.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

【推荐3】It is never too early, or too late, to encourage a child to read. With the chill (寒冷)of winter upon us, the following is a list of wonderful stories with winter and or snow themes.

Waiting for Winter

It was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. A little squirrel(松鼠), who has never seen snow, is determined that he will not miss it this year. He gets the help of his good friends, a bear and a hedgehog, trying to stay a- wake until they can all see the first snowfall of winter. This book is a wonderful story to read aloud to young children or for older children to read by themselves.

The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a short read, but since its first publication it has been loved by millions. It tells about a beautiful story about the magic and possibility of the first snowfall of winter, which appeals to young and older children.

The Polar Express

Popularized by the 2004 Warner Brothers all-digital film, The Polar Express was first published in 1985. The hero of this story is a boy who is given the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa himself. A magical train appears outside his bedroom window» taking him away on a fantastic journey to the North Pole.

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

It was written by Robert E. Barry. Mr Willowby orders a lovely new Christmas tree, and when it is delivered to his home he finds it far too tall. He has the top of the tree cut off in order to make it just the right height. This book follows the treetop on its journey through the forest, where it brings the joy of the holidays for some woodland creatures. This book teaches us a valuable lesson about the joy of giving, and happiness that it can bring to the hearts of recipients (接受者).