I'm still not sure how I got talked into it, but last year I agreed to throw a New Year's Eve party. It took me days to prepare. Then there were lists to be made and shopping to be done in the crowded supermarket. After shopping, I really wanted to have a rest, but I hurried to make food in the kitchen.
The night before the party, my husband helped me set up tables. I felt pleased. On the morning of the party, I woke to the sun shining. Everything was ready. It was going to be a lovely evening.
At 4:00 pm, my husband was working in his company and would be home in an hour. At 5:00 pm, I texted him, "Are you on your way? Everyone will be here in an hour." He replied, "I'll be held up here for a few minutes. Sorry." At 5:45. pm, I texted him again. He answered, "Sorry. I'm still tied up." I was worried I'd be holding the party alone. I kept texting him as guests arrived.
I felt embarrassed and unsure of how to hold the party. By 7:30 pm, stomachs were growling (低声吼叫). We were hungry. So we all sat for dinner, with one empty chair beside me. My husband texted me and promised he would be home before dinner was done.
At 9:30 pm, my husband called, "Honey, I never imagined this could have happened. Things are crazy here. Some employees made mistakes in the numbers of our products. Now we have to recount them all. I'm the manager. Everyone is mad at me because they have to stay instead of being at home with their families."
I realized what the night had been like for my husband. "Will you forgive me?" he asked again. "Yes." I took a breath. "I'm sorry for being impatient. Take your time. Happy New Year." My husband said, "Thank you! Happy New Year!"
Robots are one step closer to gaining a human sense: touch. Scientists published an artificial skin that makes robots feel and respond to physical contact, a skill that will be needed as they come in increasingly close contact with people.
In 2017, robot-makers worldwide used over 85 industrial robots every 10,000 workers, according to a report. The report predicts the global supply of industrial robots to grow 14% every year until 2021. But if robots end up working more closely with their co-workers, one worry is how they will work together safely.
"Nowadays, robots do not have any sense of touch," says Professor Gordon Cheng, who developed the special skin with his team at the Technical University of Munich.
To develop the artificial skin, the researchers began by studying humans. Each person has about 5 million skin receptors (接受器) that sense what's happening on the body's surface and send signals to the brain. But the brain can't deal with information from each one at the same time. Instead, the nervous system deals with new senses at first. Copying this, the team covered a human-size autonomous (自动的) robot with more than 13,000 sensors, which are able to test temperature and pressure.
Some scientists doubted it. The high cost of each sensor and its fragility (易碎性) is a main problem for lots of production of robots, says Etienne Burdet, a professor of human robotics.
"Technology like this could open opportunities where robots could work much more closely with humans, such as the caregiving jobs," says Bob Doyle, president of the Robotic Industries Association. "They could help someone get out of bed, or help them around the house," he adds. However, Doyle says that these technologies are still a long way from actual uses in the field, and that making sure of the safety of humans will come first.
There are a lot of names for people who travel the world — backpackers, tourists, explorers, travelers. Labels (标签) are everywhere but seem especially popular among travelers trying to differentiate (区别) their style of travel. For many travelers, these labels make them feel better over another.
Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods once said, "Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what's right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in." The idea here is that travelers are better at exploring the world than tourists. They dig deep into the culture, drink it up, and get to know a place while a tourist takes pictures and declares to have "done Paris."
But that's wrong. We are all tourists.
Out on the road, backpackers love to talk about how real their travels are and how unreal tourists are. "Look at those tourists over there," they say. They scoff at others who travel too quickly or to places that they think are not well worth visiting. However, they do so while eating hamburgers and drinking beers with other travelers.
The only way to really get to know a place deeply is to live there. If you want to live like a local, find an apartment, get a job, go to work, and do the same things as you did back home.
We are all only passing through a culture, getting a small taste before moving on to the next place. Even if we stay weeks or months, we're just getting in touch with the surface. As a matter of fact, we are all really just tourists, or explorers, or travelers. Call yourself whatever you want — it's all the same as we're all trying to do the same thing — see the world.
So don't label anyone and don't let anyone label you. We're all tourists. We're all travelers. What we are all doing is more important than what we call ourselves. Let's just enjoy the fact that we are simply people on the road.
How to Use a Modern Public Library
Has it been a while since your last visit to a public library? If so, you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better. They have turned themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge, meet interesting people, or find out how to start a business.
Check out a book. While libraries still lend out books, you'll find it easier to get a copy of whatever you're looking for, thanks to a cooperative network of area libraries. With such networks, libraries share their books with each other through the use of delivery truck. Once it is ready, they will inform you by e-mail, so you can pick it up.
Libraries will often hold reading-group activities targeted to various age groups. Perhaps you'd like to learn a language or improve your English. The library may set up a language group you could join. If you have difficulties reading, ask about special reading opportunities. Your library might be able to accommodate you. And you might find it relaxing to bring your small kid to a half-hour Story Time while you sit quietly in a corner with a good book.
Check out other items. The library is now a multimedia place, loaded with information in many formats. Some libraries even lend out toys and games. If a popular magazine you want isn't offered and the library keeps a list of such requests, they may bring it in when enough interest is shown.
Start a business using the help of your local library. If you want to have a business of your own, your local library can become a launch space for it. In library books and computers, you can find information on starting a business. This information is shared through chambers of commerce and government agencies, and they will offer printing, faxing and database services you need.
A. Learn a foreign language.
B. Join targeted reading groups.
C. The book you've requested is delivered to the nearest station.
D. Days are gone when they were dusty little rooms with books.
E. You can borrow movies on DVDs, music on CDs, and popular magazines.
F. Here you can find plenty of articles and other references that you may want to check out.
G. Many libraries will help you with locally supplied information about business management.
It was December 2019, and Arens Smith, a US delivery (快递) driver, was taking his routine work as usual near the lake when he heard a sound.
He guessed about 15 feet from the 1 banks was the 2 of that cry—a half drowned dog, struggling to catch the ice on the lake.
How she got there, no one knows, but an elderly man was already on the scene, determined to3 her. He'd entered the lake in a rowboat and was breaking the ice with a rock to create a 4 to the dog.
It was slow going, and Arens, 44, thought he had a 5 chance.
“Animals are my weakness,” he told the reporter, explaining why he 6 his coat to save her, 7 the temperature was -30℃.
His heart beating wildly, he 8 16 feet of freezing water. Using all his energy to keep warm, he 9 about five feet toward her, caught hold of her 10, and pulled her to the ice. He then lifted the dog into the boat and slid it back to the 11, where anxious bystanders carried the dog to visit a vet (兽医).
Later, back home, Arens took a warm 12 with the dog until they both recovered from cold. A few more minutes in the lake, the vet told Arens, and she would have 13suffered heart attack.
The next day, Arens was back 14 in the same neighborhood when the dog's owner came over to 15 him for saving the dog.
"Would you like to16 her?" he asked. He opened the door to his car.
And she rushed out. She ran straight to 17, leaping on him and bathing him in wet 18. “That 19 delivery," laughs Arens, "was the most 20 experience in my career."
