1 . Many years ago, when we first went to Canada, we were driving through Montana to Colorado with our two children. As it was getting late we _________looking for a hotel only to find out that it was _________ time in that part of the country, and all the hotels were _________.

Finally, we stopped at a gas station to fill the car up with gas. My husband asked for a(n) _________ book and told the woman at the counter that we were trying to find a hotel. She told us it would be _________. He tried for 15 minutes. When he was _________, the woman, Linda, said she and her family lived nearby and would be happy if we spent the night at her home.

My husband was _________ at her offer of generosity. She called her son to _________us, since she had to work at the gas station till midnight.

When we reached their home, her husband _________ us. He invited us to have coffee and chat while we __________ his wife. She came back past 12 am. We asked if we could slip away in the morning so as not to __________ them. They said we were now __________ and we would have to have breakfast with them.

Next morning, we ate breakfast, and when we were leaving, my husband asked if he could offer some __________. They would not hear of it and __________ we were their guests. We kept in touch with them for many years, and invited them to our home, too. Over the years, we have lost touch with them, but have __________ forgotten their kindness.

2 . One Concern is an AI company (人工智能公司) in California. It is using machine learning and AI to help firefighters. The company hopes its software (软件) can make exact predictions about earthquake damage. It can tell firefighters how to plan for an earthquake and how to do their jobs better when it happens.

Nicole Hu, a technology officer from One Concern, says the key is to feed the computers a lot of data (数据) about an area. The data may include information about homes and other buildings, the natural environment, and the size of an earthquake. The computers then use the information to make predictions about what would happen if there were an earthquake in the area. It then uses data from past earthquakes to see whether its predictions are any good, and changes its predictive models accordingly.

Gregory Deierlein, earthquake engineer at the Stanford University, says one of the most surprising things about the company’s software is its ability to make use of data from an earthquake as it’s happening, and to change its predictions in real time.

In the past, researchers would collect data after an event and a few years later they’d produce new models, says Deierlein. Now the new models appear in a matter of minutes.

Dan Ghiorso leads the Woodside Fire Protection District (区) near San Francisco, which covers about 32 square miles. He says in the past, when an earthquake hit, he’d have to make educated guesses (based on experience and training) about what parts of this district might be badly damaged and then drive to each place to have a look around. He hopes One Concerns’ software will change that.   “Instead of driving thirty-two square miles, in fifteen minutes on a computer I can get a good idea of the damage,” he says. ‘‘Instead of me taking my educated guess, they’re putting science behind the predictive models.”

4 . A number of events are going on at the Cooperage Project, located at 1030 Main Street in Honesdale. Enjoy!

The Cooperage Maker Fair

The Cooperage Maker Fair will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, June 12 on the grounds of the City Museum. The Maker Fair is a place where people show what they are making—a showcase for invention and creativity,and share what they are learning. Anyone interested in presenting their projects, hobbies and experiments should apply to take part at www.cooperagemakerfair.com.

Such Sweet Thunder

At 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17, there will be a film screening of comedy Twelfth Night as part of the Such Sweet Thunder: Shakespeare’s Plays on Film Series. Dr.Robert Dugan will introduce the play with a brief background. Admission is free, but due to limited seating, booking is required at www.suchsweetthunder.com.

Sounds Like Teen Spirit

On Thursday, June 24,there will be an event called Sounds Like Teen Spirit from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.Sounds Like Teen Spirit is designed to provide an opportunity to showcase the talent of our community’s youth.School-aged students are encouraged to share their performing art on stage at the Cooperage Project!

Great Brazilian Music Tour

On Saturday, June 27,a fantastic opportunity is ready for you to listen to some great Brazilian music by the musical group Minas. It is from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and doors open at 2:00 pm.We encourage children and their families to come to learn all about the rhythm, excitement and sound of Brazilian music.The two-hour performance is sure to be fun for the whole family. The admission charge is $5 for each person, and all the money will go to the local food bank. You can also give away old clothes and money at the entrance.

6 . The e-mail request came in to Ekiben restaurant in Baltimore late on a Thursday afternoon. The man, Brandon Jones was writing for his mother-in-law, who loved the dish. He explained that she was now in the final stages of lung cancer at her home in Vermont and that he was hoping to get the recipe (食谱) to make it for her there.

Steve Chu, one of the Asian fusion restaurant’s co-owners, read the e-mail and quickly replied with another suggestion,“Thanks for reaching out,” he wrote. “We’d like to meet you in Vermont and make it fresh for you.”

For the past six years, every time Brandon’s mother-in-law visited Baltimore, the first place she wanted to go was Ekiben so she could order that dish. She had always told us, “When I’m on my deathbed, I want to have that broccoli (花椰菜),” recalls Brandon’s wife, Rina Jones.

That Friday after work, a day after receiving Brandon’s e-mail, Chu prepared all the food ingredients and then headed for Vermont with his business partner and an employee. They stayed overnight in an Airbnb rental and drove the next day to where Rina’s mother lived. After cooking and boxing everything up, they knocked on their customer’s door.

“As soon as she opened the door, she recognized the amazing smell,” Brandon says.

Rina says her mother also recognized Chu and his coworkers. “My mom kept saying, ‘You drove all the way up here to cook for me?’ She was so happy and touched to have that broccoli.”

“It was an honor to help make the family’s wishes come true,” Chu says. “There was a lot of good positive energy in doing this.” Rina was happy that her mother was able to enjoy her beloved broccoli with a side order of excellent kindness one last time. “My mom cried later about their generosity, and so did I,” Rina says. “I’ll carry that positive memory with me always.”

7 . People need to relax and enjoy themselves. One way they can have a good time is to watch a baseball game or another sports event. Even thousands of years ago, groups of people gathered to watch skilled athletes.

Over 2,000 years ago in Greece, some days in the year were festival days. These were holidays when people stopped their work and enjoyed themselves. During festivals, people liked to watch athletes take part in races and other games.

The most important festival was held every four years at the town of Olympia. It was held in honor of the Greek god Zeus. For five days, athletes from all corners of Greece took part in the Olympic Games.

At the Olympic Games, people could watch athletes run, jump and so on. They could also watch exciting races, which included a relay race between two teams in which a lighted torch (火炬)was passed from runner to runner.

The Olympic Games were thought to be so important that cities throughout Greece which were at war with one another had to stop fighting. During the time, people were allowed to travel to the Games safely.

Thousands of people came to the Olympic Games from cities in Greece and from its colonies (殖民地)in Africa, Asia, and Italy. They met as friends to cheer their favorite athletes and to enjoy themselves.