1 . Cities around the world are racing to become “smart”. It’s just like a classroom full of hard-working students. Take Toronto, Canada, for example. Tech company Google has made public a 1,500-page plan. It is going to remake two neighborhoods with things like snow-melting roads.

To build smart cities, we need lots of new technologies, such as robots and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies will lead to safer and more efficient (效率高的) cities. However, they will also raise questions about privacy.

But there is a more serious problem: Smart cities will be difficult to manage.

As we know, tech products are sometimes unreliable (不可靠的). The Internet and our computers break down regularly. Tech products also age quickly. Only a few years into their lives, problems may become commoner and commoner.

In smart cities, many basic systems and services, such as water services, are based on such tech products. What if they break down regularly? Can you imagine the result?

New technologies in 2020 will be outdated before 2025. If we use smart technologies widely in cities, we will need to be prepared to replace them every few years. But who would want to pay this bill?

The most important problem is whether having a smart city will make us better at solving urban problems, Smart technologies can’t solve problems on their own. Suppose AI programs discover a road that needs to be repaired. It still requires people to show up with asphalt (沥青) and a steamroller (蒸汽压路机), doesn’t it?

As an engineer, I think smart technologies should have a place in cities. However, that place is not everywhere. For many of our urban problems, we don’t really need the latest technologies. The best of the old ideas works better.

3 . Where to Eat in Bangkok

Bangkok is a highly desirable destination for food lovers. It has a seemingly bottomless well of dining options. Here are some suggestions on where to start your Bangkok eating adventure.

Offering Thai fine dining. Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary (烹饪的) experiences. It’s the only Thai restaurant that ranks among the top 10 of the world’s 50 best restaurants list. Head Chef David Thompson, who received a Michelin star for his London-based Thai restaurant of the same name, opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in 2010.

Issaya Siamese Club is internationally known Thai chef Ian Kittichai’s first flagship Bangkok restaurant. The menu in this beautiful colonial house includes traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.

Bo.lan has been making waves in Bangkok’s culinary scene since it opened in 2009. Serving hard-to-find Thai dishes in an elegant atmosphere, the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine’s roots, yet still manages to add a special twist. This place is good for a candle-lit dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food. For those extremely hungry, there’s a large set menu.

Earning first place on the latest “Asia’s 50 best restaurants” list, progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues (场所) to arrive in Bangkok in recent years. The best table in this two-story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen, where you can see chef Gaggan and his staff in action. Culinary theater at its best.

4 . Bike Rental & Guided Tours

Welcome to Amsterdam, welcome to MacBike. You see much more from the seat of a bike! Cycling is the most economical, sustainable and fun way to explore the city, with its beautiful canals, parks, squares and countless lights. You can also bike along lovely landscapes outside of Amsterdam.

Why MacBike

MacBike has been around for almost 30 years and is the biggest bicycle rental company in Amsterdam. With over 2,500 bikes stored in our five rental shops at strategic locations, we make sure there is always a bike available for you. We offer the newest bicycles in a wide variety, including basic bikes with foot brake (刹车), bikes with hand brake and gears (排挡), bikes with child seats, and children’s bikes.

Prices

Guided City Tours

The 2.5-hour tour covers the Gooyer Windmill, the Skinny Bridge, the Rijksmuseum, Heineken Brewery and much more. The tour departs from Dam Square every hour on the hour, starting at 1:00 pm every day. You can buy your ticket in a MacBike shop or book online.

Beijing is a city bridging the ancient and the modern. From Buddhist temples to museums, narrow hutong     1     royal palaces, it is home to more than 3,000 years of glorious history even down to its layout, with the city keeping its carefully     2     (build) system of ring roads.

But for all its ancient buildings, Beijing is also a place     3     welcomes the fast-paced development of modern life, with 21st-century architectural     4     (wonder) standing side by side with historical buildings of the past.

It is a distinct visual contrast (反差) that shouldn’t work,     5     somehow these two very different worlds make a good combination.     6     (visit) several times over the last 10 years, I     7     (amaze) by the co-existence of old and new, and how a city was able to keep such a rich heritage (遗产) while constantly growing. As a photographer, I have spent the last two years     8       (record) everything I discovered.

The     9     (remark) development of this city, which is consciously designed to protect the past while stepping into the modern world,     10     (mean) there is always something new to discover here, and I could be photographing Beijing for the next 50 years.

6 . Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of ranger programs throughout the park, and throughout the year. The following are descriptions of the ranger programs this summer.

Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone (May 26 to September 2)

Whether you’re hiking a backcountry trail (小径), camping, or just enjoying the park’s amazing wildlife from the road, this quick workshop is for you and your family. Learn where to look for animals and how to safely enjoy your wildlife watching experience. Meet at the Canyon Village Store.

Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics (June 5 to August 21)

Kids can test their skills and compare their abilities to the animals of Yellowstone. Stay for as little or as long as your plans allow. Meet in front of the Visitor Education Center.

Canyon Talks at Artist Point (June 9 to September 2)

From a classic viewpoint, enjoy Lower Falls, the Yellowstone River, and the breathtaking colors of the canyon (峡谷) while learning about the area’s natural and human history. Discover why artists and photographers continue to be drawn to this special place. Meet on the lower platform at Artist Point on the South Rim Drive for this short talk.

Photography Workshops (June 19 & July 10)

Enhance your photography skills — join Yellowstone’s park photographer for a hands-on program to inspire new and creative ways of enjoying the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone.

6/19 — Waterfalls &Wide Angles: meet at Artist Point.

7/10 — Wildflowers &White Balance: meet at Washburn Trailhead in Chittenden parking area.

9 . Traveling itself is an experience hard to be described in words.     1     Especially the solo (独自) traveling experience is so transforming that it lives with you forever. Here I am sharing some lessons.

    2     Thinking how I would manage my entire day among strangers on campus, I pretended to be sick. Then I had the same feeling when I was planning to travel alone. Exploring a city on my own was a big fear for me but I successfully managed it all and now, I seek out new opportunities and experiences. I love to push myself.    3    

Having grown up and lived all my life in a single place, I had a small set of friends since my school days which continued till my college days.    4     I met a few very interesting people with whom I could feel an instant connect and got some new friends for life.

I totally agree that traveling with family and friends is fun and enjoying. But traveling alone is satisfying too. It’s among those few things that you do for yourself and nobody else.    5     During my solo travels I have explored my inner self and have expanded my boundaries which people around me have acknowledged at times.

It is well known that aero(航空) sports have been popular in the US, New Zealand and other countries for years. China’s Hainan is famous for its natural     1     (beautiful) of endless sea, and golden beaches.     2     a warm climate and over 300 sunny days each year also provide favorable conditions for aero sports here.

Aero sports, including items such as skydiving and hot air ballooning,     3     (be) in rapid growth in China, and Hainan has seen the combination of such sports and tourism thriving over recent years. A great many frequent visitors     4     China’s southernmost island province choose to admire Hainan’s fantastic scenery not just at the beach, but also from high above with the help of     5     (professional) qualified skydiving coaches. Visitors can give full expression to their feelings and personalities, and liberate     6     (they) from their sometimes boring everyday life by participating in aero sports. What is shown in statistics is     7     a skydiving club saw a record-breaking single-day reception of 166 customers during this year’s Spring Festival holiday.

With the     8     (rise) popularity of aero sports, as well as advantageous policies in building the Hainan Free Trade Port,     9     increasing number of people from home and abroad have settled in Hainan. The province     10     (host) several national-level aero sports events in the past few years and is striving to build a national sports tourism demonstration zone by 2025.