1 . Over the course of more than 250 years, the US Postal Service has gone through many changes, including switching its focus from newspapers to package delivery service.

In the early 1830s, the Postal Service focused on delivering newspapers to keep Americans informed and connected. To keep newspaper subscriptions cheap and accessible, the Postal Service charged high prices for letter postage as much as a full-day’s wages. In order to help the expansion of the passenger transportation network in the new nation, the agency often shared the letter delivery with stagecoach lines. Later, it did the same for private steamboats and railroads, even airlines

But the competition for the letter delivery became so fierce that a wave of laws between 1845 and 1851 made the Postal Service the only letter-carrier and set aside an annual budget to support the agency. Helped by lowered rates, letters soon became the agency’s main business.

In 1863, the Postal Service began to experiment with home delivery, instead of just carrying letters from post office to post office. By the dawn of the 20th century, even remote farmers’ letters were dropped into their mailboxes. Since then, home delivery has become a “universal public service (UPS)” that every American deserves to receive at a low price.

By the early 20th century, the Postal Service had set a four-pound limit on mail: Anything heavier was supposed to be left to private companies. But the four largest private carriers secretly cooperated to charge confusing and often terribly high rates. In 1913, the Postal Service eventually took the parcel (包裹) service away from the private carriers.

Now the Postal Service’s only growing business is package delivery fed by the online shopping addictions. Since it is required by law to visit every household six days a week, the Postal Service now offers cheap rates to private companies like Amazon and FedEx to deliver their goods to our doorsteps. However, most Americans think that it is unfair to use taxpayer’s money to help such big private companies to deliver their goods.

2 . It is a windy day. Glenn Gould has got a coffee cup sitting on the piano top and is working on a music written by Bach. As he plays, he gets so totally lost in the music that suddenly, he stands up, and walks in what looks like a dream to the window.

There’s a total silence. Then the Bach flows out of him. He’s still playing, but in his head. Then he turns, wanders back, sits down on a low chair in front of the piano and picks up right where his voice left off, but now with new energy.

Gould, the greatest interpreter of Bach, is a strange man. He doesn’t like to practise. Instead, he’ll prepare for concerts mentally, running the piece over and over and playing with imaginary fingers.

Gould, for some reasons, reminds me of Michael Jordan playing basketball or Etta James singing the blues: There’s a concentration that’s so deep that it feels special, like a kind of “flow”.

“When you are in it, you lose track of everything except what you’re doing,” writes neuroscientist Daniel Levitin. “There was a surgeon, who wasn’t aware that the roof of his operating room had collapsed until he was done with the surgery. In this state, what you think becomes what you do. You get blissfully lost in an activity, forgetting time, yourselves and your problems.”

How does one get there? That’s still a mystery. Practice is important. Strong will matters. Talent helps. When you find your “flow”, your brain changes. Sex, hunger and thirst matter less. You are chemically released and can now wander far and wide. Yes, you have no idea where you are or how this is happening. But once you find your “flow”, it’s one of the most wonderful experiences ever.

When I watch Glenn Gould walking back to his piano, I see a man living in heaven, if there is one.

3 . Etiquette & social skills: classes for teens

Keep teens busy while learning important etiquette and social skills for personal and professional success. This interactive online class will cover introductions and greetings, confident body language, digital diplomacy (cellphones, email, texting, social media and video conferencing), conversation skills as well as table manners and dining etiquette. The class is four days long, taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 75 minutes and is conducted with Zoom. Fee: $100 per teen (a 10% discount for two or more children).

In this class, teens will learn the essential skills they need to confidently and comfortably deal with social and professional situations. This fun, interactive four-hour class will also cover the same topics as our online class does. However, the class takes place on Saturdays and Sundays. Fee: $120 per teen, which includes a three-course lunch and workbooks. Space is limited to 12 teens. Additional classes can be added if the class fills up.

Dates and time: August 13/14, 2022, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Location: World Trade Center Seattle

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received up to 10 days before the first class in the series are 100% refundable(可退费的). Cancellations received less than 10 days before the class if there is space available in the same class series at a later date. Transfers are not allowed for the parent/child dining etiquette class. Students who cannot complete all classes in the series cannot transfer to another course to complete the series. To cover the food and venue charges, if fewer than 10 children are registered seven days before the class, the class will be cancelled and refunds issued.

5 . Scientists have done a lot of research on sleep. They’ve shown that sleeplessness can lead to both weight gain and poor performance in school. Might it also affect your moods (情绪) or your behavior? A team of scientists based in Shanghai, China decided to investigate.

To do that, they took advantage of data (数据) from what’s known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Begun in 2015, this study followed over 10, 000 U. S. kids into adulthood. All were 9 to 10 years old when they started taking part. ABCD researchers have been collecting records from parents on how much their kids sleep on a regular basis. The scientists also have been surveying whether a kid might have a habit of getting into fights or breaking rules. They even note whether students have difficulty focusing their attention.

Wei Cheng, a mathematician from China, teamed up with other researchers, making a detailed study of the ABCD data. Cheng’s group found out that kids who on average slept less than 7 hours a night were more likely to have behavior problems than kids who slept more. Kids who missed out on sleep also had more mood problems, including depression. Feeling sad or blue for longer than a week or two can be a sign of depression. Poor sleepers were also more likely to have stomach problems and headaches.

According to Kyla Wahlstrom, a professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, at night, your brain sorts information to link related facts but it takes the brain longer to organize negative (消极的) moods than positive ones. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain might not have time to finish tidying up. If the brain runs out of time, you’re left with negative moods. That may explain why Cheng’s group found out not getting enough sleep was connected with mood problems, says Wahlstrom.

In China, the 24 solar terms     1    （create）thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But solar term culture is still useful today to help with people's lives through cultural     2    （ceremony）, special foods and even healthy living tips     3     correspond with each term.

Start of Autumn,（Li Qiu in Chinese）, the 13th solar term of the year,     4    （reflect）the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, meaning the     5    （fruit）season is approaching. Start of Autumn is also a big solar term for farmers. It's time     6    （gather）crops. There's a saying: “If it rains on this day, a good harvest is expected."

On this day, usually people will weigh themselves and compare their weight     7    what it was at the Start of Summer. If one has lost weight during the summer, then at the beginning of autumn, he or she needs to gain weight by     8    （eat）many different kinds of delicious food, especially meat.

    9    Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, usually lasting for 30 days, is called “Autumn Tiger" or “Indian Summer". Because of decreasing rainfall, it is even     10    （hot）during this period than during Major Heat.

8 . Have you imagined spending a night in a museum? Fortunately, your fantasy may come true in the following museums.

Spy Museum | Washington, DC

The Spy Museum is entirely committed to the all-but-invisible profession and displays the largest collection of spy objects in the world! "Operation Secret Sleepover" invites a group of juniors and parents for a night of detective training, like creating a fake name, gathering intelligence, studying questioning techniques, breaking codes, hunting for a lead, and more. The next mission kicks off on Friday, September 9, 2022.

Ages: 9 to 13

Cost: $115 for general admission/$105 for members

Baseball Hall of Fame | Cooperstown, New York

Fans of America's hobbies will take the opportunity to stay a few extra nights here. Travel along the hallowed galleries; enjoy a screening in the Grandstand Theater; show your respect to honoring legendary players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams. Dates sell out quickly. To secure your spot, call（607）547—0329.

Ages: 7 to 12

Cost: $50 for general admission

Milwaukee Public Museum | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Who says kids get to have all the fun? The adults-only overnight at Milwaukee Public Museum is intended for the 21+ crowd. Tickets include dinner, two drinks, snacks, special tours, films in the six-story theater, entry to the new traveling exhibit “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed,” and continental breakfast. The next event is October 20, 2022. Registration closes two weeks prior.

Ages: 21+

Cost: $125 for general admission

Baltimore National Aquarium | Baltimore, Maryland

Ocean and shark lovers will be delighted to spend nights at BNA. Dive into the fascinating underwater world, reveal myths, and discover the importance of these incredible creatures. Join experts for a behind-the-scenes tour, interact with marine life, and watch a 4D film.

Ages: 8+

Cost: $120 for general admission | $100 for members

I used to abandon myself to despair(绝望). Last year my mother said to me, ”I     1    (suffer)from a brain disease for a month. I will have an operation on my brain next week.“ The anxiety     2    (arise)from her words filled my heart. I felt my whole world turn upside down and I wondered how I could help her to relieve her pain. I imagined life to become worse and worse.

I lost a precious watch, which had been bought by my father as an 18-year old birthday gift. The reason     3     I couldn’t fall asleep for a couple of nights was that I felt unhappy about the loss.

There have been many incidents like these in my life. I could never figure out how to deal with such tough things until I read the book If You Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade. The author said, ”When     4    (hand)a lemon, what lesson can the wise man get from this?     5     what means can he improve the situation? How can he turn this lemon into lemonade?"

I suddenly realized that life consists of ups and downs. Contrary to feeling     6    (depress)at times, I need to stay positive     7    (consistent). Now when I think of my past, I wish I could have handled things differently. When my mother was fighting for recovery, I should have held her hands in mine, telling her things would get better instead of hiding and crying.

Several weeks ago, I participated in a singing competition held in our city. Several     8    (celebrity)acted as judges there. I didn’t win a prize. If I had not found this article, I would definitely have felt discouraged again. But instead, I smiled after that, I was happy     9     by then at least I had got some stage experience.

Life is not a bed of roses. There are thorns(刺)as well, but these thorns help us strengthen ourselves and become brave. When life hands us a lemon, let’s try to make lemonade. Let’s make     10    (join)efforts to make a difference to our world.