1 . The Last Generation is an activist group in Germany, the name implying that our unsustainability will push us to extinction. To force their government into action, some of the group went on a month-long hunger strike in August 2021. It wasn’t a half-hearted effort: several ended up in hospital.

But I’d like to take the opposite framing. I think we have the opportunity to be the first generation that leaves the environment in a better state.

There are two kinds of optimism: complacent optimism and conditional optimism. Complacent optimism is the feeling of a child waiting for presents. Conditional optimism is the feeling of a child who is thinking about building a tree house, “If I get some wood and nails and persuade some other kids to help do the work, we can end up with something really cool.” The group actually did take bold action, yet I want to address the climate crisis from a different angle.

Yes, my framing seems hard to believe. I’ll explain why. Here I’m using the term “generation” loosely. I am from a generation that will be defined by our environmental problems. I was a child when climate change really began. I will see countries move from being almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels to being free of them. I will be 57 when governments hit the “2050 deadline” of reaching net-zero carbon emissions that so many have promised.

But, of course, there will be several generations involved in this project. There are a couple above me and a couple below me. And we all need to work together to achieve that.

For a conditional optimist, criticism is essential. We need to work through ideas to find the most promising ones. Most innovators have been optimists. But they were also strongly critical: no one would pick apart the ideas of Thomas Edison or Marie Curie more than they did themselves.

Don’t look away from the climate crisis that faces us. Let’s face up to it, not from a place of “damage control” but with a clear vision of the future we can build: one that not only stops warming in its tracks but builds a better world for us, all of us, and the species hat we share the planet with.

2 . Be a Beekeeper for a Day!

Learn about the fascinating world of honey bees in a way that few get to experience:

Your tour, led by a professional beekeeper, will include suiting up in protective gear, lighting a bee smoker, and getting up close with more than 100,000 bees.

Each tour is capped at 12 people, providing you an intimate experience of this fascinating species.

Guided tours include protective gear and select drinks.

At least one paid adult must accompany any children under the age of 18.

Things to know:

Ensure you arrive a few minutes before your start time to sign waivers (豁免协议) and get signed in. Particularly for evening tours, it is important that we start on time so that we finish the tour before sunset.

Tours are weather dependent, so if the forecast calls for rain, please watch your email 24-48 hours before in case we need to cancel/reschedule.

What to bring:

We will have a variety of protective gear (beekeeping masks, gloves) for all of you. You will see that the bees are incredibly gentle and tame, but it’s better for everyone to enjoy their time and not feel worried about getting stung! Additionally, please adhere (遵守) to the below guidelines:

Closed-toe shoes that cover the ankle are required.

Wear long pants and a long sleeve top. Blue jeans are fine. Try to stick to lighter colors on top — button downs work great!

Choose clothing that is loose fitting — nothing especially tight! (Black yoga pants are NOT a good clothing choice.)

Avoid using materials that are hairy or made from sweater type materials.

Please avoid using any perfumes or heavily fragrant creams — the bees are not fans of our smells.

Finally, your tour guide may make his/her job look easy, but they work hard to ensure your bee experience is informative, fun, and most importantly, safe. If you enjoyed your time and the experience, a tip to show your appreciation for their work is not required but always appreciated.

3 . Jon Fosse was born on September 29, 1959, Haugesund, Norway. He is an author of novels, plays, poems, children’s books, and essays.     1     He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023 “for his innovative plays and prose (散文) which give voice to the unsayable.”

Fosse grew up on a rural farm near Strandebarm, Norway. He started writing at age 12 or 13, first composing song lyrics (歌词).     2     Then he started to create poems. In 1979 Fosse graduated from high school and moved to Bergen, where he began working for the newspaper Gula Tidend, Throughout the 1980s he studied at the University of Bergen, receiving an M. A. in comparative literature in 1987.

During the 1980s, Fosse published his first novels, namely Red, Black in 1983 and Stringed Guitar in 1985. Both works feature the simple style of prose.     3     By this time, he had become an instructor at the Academy of Writing in Hordaland.

    4     And he initially refused to write plays when asked. He gave in in 1992, however, when he needed money. He started writing the dialogue for Someone Is Going to Come in 1996 and found it to be surprisingly easy. Many plays quickly followed. It was, however, French director Claude Régy’s 1999 staging of Someone Is Going to Come in Paris that led to Fosse’s breakthrough in Europe.

Following that success, Fosse focused primarily on writing plays. At the turn of the 21st century, productions of his plays included A Summer’s Day and I Am the Wind. The former one is about a woman who anticipates the return of her husband from a trip out on his boat.     5    

4 . Where to Find the Perfect Christmas Tree Around Baltimore This Year

A handful of the area’s best choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms are only a quick road trip away.

A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE TREE FARM

This choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm of 16 acres has been run by a couple since 2005. Open for one weekend only, Dec. 3-4, this year, the new location in Woodstock will offer eight and nine-inch pre-cut Fraser Firs or cut-your-own White Pines & Blue Spruces.

10231 Harvest Fields Drive, Woodstock

DAVIDSON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Although it’s been active for more than two centuries, this family-owned Upperco Farm didn’t start to plant Christmas tree seedlings until the late 1960s. The fields are open seven days per week from Nov. 18 to Dec. 17. Wander through its 60-plus acres for eight tree varieties, such as the silver-blue Concolor Fir.

1101 Emory Church Rd., Upperco

FROSTEE TREE FARM

The appropriately named Helen and George Winter began planting and selling trees at their Perry Hall farm in 1974. The two have since passed away, but the farm, now operated by Paul Stiffler, has 15 acres of ready-to-cut trees ranging from Scotch Pine to White Pine, Douglas Pine, and Norway Spruce. The farm re-opens on the last weekend of November, after Thanksgiving.

8926 Cowenton Ave., Perry Hall

GAVER FARM

Owner Michael Gaver was just 17 when he established this Mt. Airy farm in 1978. Today, it holds 70 acres of cut-your-own trees, with varieties such as the Colorado Blue Spruce and the whisper-soft White Pine. Christmas tree shopping starts on Nov. 24. What distinguishes this farm from others is that you can step into the family farm’s cafe for apple cider doughnuts, beef sandwiches, and hot cocoa before you leave.

5501 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy

5 . Ten million Americans are considering freelancing (从事自由职业), according to Upwork’s Great Resignation survey. Among those planning to quit their jobs, 52% are giving freelancing serious consideration. What’s more, many are choosing freelancing over full-time work; it’s no longer just a fallback or a side job.

One of the key benefits of freelancing is that you get to choose your own workload. Unrealistic expectations at work and the lack of boundaries have seen many a full-time worker burn out. However, freelancers have much more control over their workloads. This is not to say that freelancers don’t burn out. They manage their workload better and prioritize other aspects of their life. They don’t usually get to choose their boss or their teammates at a traditional job. They get to choose who they work with. Unlike full-time workers, freelancers have greater freedom to do the work they enjoy — and say no to the work they don’t. This results in greater job satisfaction.

Of course, there are disadvantages of pursuing freelancing. Employees in many countries receive benefits that are part of their employment contracts. When you’re a freelancer, you work for yourself so you let go of these benefits. Your workload may be inconsistent. Sometimes when it rains, it pours and you may have multiple projects on your plate. At other times, you may not have much work. This fluctuation in cash flow can feel like a huge negative for new freelancers. As a business owner, your business’s success or failure is entirely dependent on you, which can feel overwhelming. You will also have to learn to become your own best advocate, promoting your products to find new projects and clients and expand your business.

Of course, to freelance or not to freelance depends on yourself. Anyway, businesses are increasingly adding skills. Independent professionals are powering the rebuild. Therefore, more businesses are open to remote work, hiring talent irrespective of their distance from a corporate office. This changing attitude has increased the number of opportunities for freelancers to find high-paying and meaningful work.

6 . As a high school student, you’re likely used to learning through reading textbooks.     1     This lies at the heart of “experiential appreciation,” a philosophy that encourages you to engage directly with the world around you. It’s about learning from real-life experiences, and discovering a more profound and engaging way to learn.

To practice experiential appreciation, you can start by getting involved in hands-on activities related to your subjects. They will provide a firsthand understanding of the concepts you’re studying, making learning active and meaningful. So, try joining a sports team, picking up a paintbrush, or taking part in a local charity event.     2    

As you dive deeper, immerse (沉浸) yourself fully in the surroundings and activities. When you’re in nature, don’t just look around.     3     Touching the leaves, feeling the wind and listening to the birds can enrich your learning and make each moment more memorable.

    4     After trying something new, ask yourself what you learned and how it made you feel. Write in a journal or discuss it with friends. This self-discovery turns experiences into life lessons and offers a deeper understanding of the world.

Experiential appreciation transforms learning from a task to be completed into a journey to be treasured.     5     So, explore the world around you, let every experience shape you, and discover the endless possibilities that await. This is the core of true learning, where every moment is a step towards a richer, more enlightened life.