Wonderfully cheap Beach vocations
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is home to golden-sand beaches, and the shoreline is dotted (点缀) with stately and amazing 19th-century buildings. Other highlights in the area include shopping at the stores and galleries downtown, golfing at one of the area's many beautiful courses and, of course, spending time on the lake.
Cambria
Located in San Luis Obispo County along the scenic California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Cambria is one of the best-kept secrets on the Pacific Coast. The town takes pride in architecture dating back to the late 1800s, as well as Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, a mile-long, ADA-accessible path along the beach.
Puerto Rico
It's easier to visit Puerto Rico than you might think. Since this beautiful tropical island is part of the United States, you don't have to pass through customs (海关) or even bring a passport. Puerto Rico is home to many sublime beaches, but what's even better is that those photogenic beaches in San Juan are among the most accessible, since the capital city is home to a major airport. You can make this vacation even more affordable by using your miles to get there and knowing the best time to book a flight.
Biloxi
Biloxi is not only one of the best beach destinations in Mississippi — it's also one of the most affordable. The highlight here is Biloxi Beach, where the sand is soft and white, and the Gulf of Mexico's barrier islands ensure the warm waters are quiet enough for swimming. Other draws in town include historical sites such as the Biloxi Lighthouse.
Leslie Jones is a well-known comedian and actress, best known for her time on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) and her work in stand-up comedy. Her journey into comedy started unexpectedly.
When she was a college freshman, and a friend signed her up for a campus comedy contest. Despite having no previous experience in stand-up, she immediately felt comfortable on stage and won the contest. This experience lit her passion for comedy. However, Leslie Jones faced challenges in pursuing (追求) a professional comedy career.
At the age of 19, she received advice from Jamie Foxx, who suggested that she needed more life experiences to draw material from for her comedy. Foxx advised her to go out, live life, work various jobs, and gain a broader range of experiences to enrich her comedy. Jones took Foxx's advice to heart and took on a series of jobs, including working as a justice of the peace at weddings and even working for a construction company owned by Scientologists. Throughout these experiences, she kept her ultimate goal of becoming a comedian in mind.
In her memoir, Leslie Jones, she reflects on her upbringing as a military brat, her journey through the male-dominated (男人主宰的) world of comedy clubs, and her eventual breakthrough when she joined the cast of SNL in 2014 at the age of 47.
One unique aspect of Leslie Jones' comedy style is her commitment to physical comedy, even if it sometimes results in injury. She's willing to take risks and use her physicality to get laughs from her audience. She's known for her energetic and bold performances, which often involve physical performance or exaggerated movements.
In summary, Leslie Jones' comedy career began unexpectedly in college, and despite facing initial challenges, she pursued a variety of life experiences to enrich her comedy. Her devotion to physical comedy and her unique approach have contributed to her success in the entertainment industry.
Disastrous floods in eastern Libya killed at least 5,100 people, according to local authorities. The disaster comes after a series of deadly floods around the world this month, from China to Brazil to Greece. In every case, extremely heavy rain was to blame.
The enormous loss of life on many continents strengthens the extreme danger caused by climate-driven rain storms, and the need for better warning systems and basic facilities to protect the most vulnerable (脆弱的) populations.
Climate change makes heavy rain more common, even in dry places where the total amount of rainfall is small. That's because a hotter atmosphere can hold more moisture. Everyday rainstorms, as well as bigger storms such as hurricanes, are increasingly dangerous as a result. In Libya, a storm called Daniel swept in from the Mediterranean over the weekend and resulted in a jaw-dropping 16 inches of rain in just 24 hours, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That is far too much water for the ground to absorb, especially in a dry climate where the soil is dry and is less able to suck up water quickly.
The massive amount of rain caused widespread flash flooding, and damaged at least one dam near the coastal city of Derna. That released torrents of water powerful enough to sweep away entire neighborhoods. In Brazil, flooding from a hurricane last week killed more than 20 people and left a large piece of southern Brazil underwater. Cities around the world are hurrying to improve their basic facilities to handle increasingly common heavy rain.
The disasters in the last two weeks also stress the vulnerability to climate change of people who are not wealthy or who live in places that are at war. While extreme rain has caused floods around the world recently, the number of the death is significantly higher in places where there isn't money or political will to maintain basic facilities and enough weather warning systems.
People are motivated to try a vegetarian (素食的) diet for different reasons — from ethical and religious, to potential health and environmental benefits. But many people have a hard time sticking to it. In fact studies show many self-reported vegetarians actually do consume some animal products.
"A lot of people who want to be vegetarian are perhaps not able to," says Dr. Nabeel Yaseen, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine." We wanted to know if genetics (遗传学) is part of the reason," he says.
Yaseen and his team members compared the DNA of about 330,000 people. They found 34 genes that may play a role in sticking to a strict vegetarian diet. And they identified 3 genes that are more tightly linked to the feature.
"What we can say is that these genes (基因) have something to do with vegetarianism," Yaseen says. "Perhaps vegetarians have different variants of these genes that make them able to choose a strict vegetarian diet," he explains. The study is published in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed science journal.
Interpreting the genetic role is not exactly an easy task to finish. Humans have thousands of genes and there are millions of tiny variations (变异) in DNA building blocks, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), where you can see differences between individuals.
To identify SNPs that are connected with the particular feature of sticking to a vegetarian diet, Yaseen and his workmates did a genome-wide connection study. When they found a SNP connected with vegetarianism, they looked to see the genes around it in the same area.
Of the three genes most strongly connected with vegetarianism, the authors say two of them (known as NPC1 and RMC1) have important functions in lipid — or fat — metabolism. The study can't answer exactly how genetic differences could shape or influence vegetarians, but Dr. Yaseen has some ideas. His research has disclosed many unknown aspects of genetics.
Habits to live a healthier life
At a time when life expectancy in the U.S. has fallen and diet-related disease is a leading cause of death, it's no wonder that Dan Buettner's decades-long exploration of centenarians (百岁老人) is attracting lots of attention. He says they have unconsciously created a long-lived environment through their habit. .
● Change social media to make friends
The best longevity secret is to manage your immediate social circle. . If you're happy and engaged, positive emotions can spread. If you aim to live a healthier life, your odds improve if those around you are committed too. So, try this principle of human behavior to help align (使协调) yourself with people who can serve as a sounding board to help you live with purpose.
● Trade the La-Z-Boy for a garden
. For those of you who don't like the gym, you may be inspired by the way people in the long-lived zones put movement into their everyday routines. Plant a garden in your backyard. It pushes you to weed and water almost every day and that keeps you moving.
●
The nap (小睡) is an age-old tradition, of course. And though modern life has pushed it to near extinction, the most recent science shows that a 20-minute nap in the afternoon can make up for an hour of lost sleep and helps keep you sharp later in the day.
On the whole, we'd be wise to stop and take notes. : Good food, good sleep, good friends, plenty of movement and a sense of purpose are a recipe for living better.
A. Take a nap in the afternoon
B. Build movement into your day
C. Make yourself become a joiner
D. Find people who can inspire you
E. There's no single change to create a culture of health
F. Scientific research confirms the centenarians' way of life
G. Here are my opinions on ways to change old habits for new ones
One January evening in 2008, Rachel Lapierre bought a $4 lottery (彩票) ticket at the grocery store. The 46-year-old mother of four was wearing herself thin as a full-time 1 and part-time volunteer aid worker. After an exhausting day, she needed something to 2 her spirits.
For years, Lapierre longed to be able to 3 her nursing job and focus on the volunteer work she found most 4 . She promised that if she ever won the lottery, that's what she would do.
5 , the next day, the lottery office informed her that she had won a sum of $675,
000. Staying 6 to her word, Lapierre devoted her life to her passion project, Le Book Humanitaire, which has since become a non-profit 7 .
Le Book, as Lapierre, now 62, affectionately calls it, 8 as a simple list of good deeds she wrote down in a notebook to 9 what she had done to help others. To her, the deeds were just small acts of 10 that anyone else might have done. But word
started 11 , her phone began ringing and a Facebook page she created for the project became an effective way to deal with 12 from those in need and those who wanted to help.
Le Book Humanitaire now has a team of 80 volunteers, 13 local emergency support, medical outreach and food delivery to seniors.
"When you do a good deed, it has a butterfly effect, " says Lapierre."One good deed
can 14 ten people. So if we all do a good deed? That can 15 the world."
Around 160 experts attended the International Forum on Cave Temple Conservation in Chongqing August 19 to 21 to explore opportunities for cooperation and methods to protect rock carvings in cave temples around the world.
The carvings run the risk of damage over time as a result of weathering and climate change. Li Qun, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, (say) in the opening ceremony that Chinese cave temples displayed remarkable characteristics in terms of their subject matter, and artistic style, which reflected the (peace) nature of Chinese civilization.
The Chongqing forum was held to improve the preservation of cave temples and uncover their value and historical significance, (contribute) to the preservation of humanity's intellectual achievements.
Experts agreed (promote) the protection of cave temples in light of global climate change, develop new materials, build early warning systems, and create a global database of historical images, they hope would help future generations appreciate their beauty.
"Water and wind are the primary factors causing damage to the cave temples and stone carvings (global)," said an expert, adding that climate change had led to the increasing uncertainty (cause) by natural threats. He called for in-depth (study) on core factors such as water-related damage and the geological environment. Moreover, efforts should be directed toward strengthening archaeological investigations exploring the values of these sites, as well as managing tourism.
Oh, Brother!
A few months ago, my mom got remarried, making Drew my stepbrother. She hoped we'd get along. But he was like a headache I couldn't get rid of. Mom thought inviting Kendall, my best friend, for a sleepover would take my mind off Drew. So far, that wasn't working.
Later in my room, Kendall and I were doing our nails when Drew came in, with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. "Does anyone want popcorn?" asked Drew.
"Mom doesn't like food in here, and you got into my room without asking!" I said angrily. "Time to leave, Drew." I pointed to the door.
I decided an ice cream would cool me down. In the kitchen, Kendall and I had hardly started eating when I heard Drew hurrying down the stairs. "Hey, who wants to have a pillow fight?" he asked.
"I do!" cried Kendall, sticking her ice cream in the freezer. She and Drew ran upstairs, leaving me alone with my bad attitude.
I wasn't about to follow them like a puppy. There was something I had to do. I took the cream and slipped into Drew's room. I found his slippers, and stuck the cream inside them. Satisfied, I grabbed a pillow, ready to fight him.
I ran into my room and hit Drew with the pillow. He countered with a blow to my legs. Kendall threw her pillow into his side. Before long, we were all laughing. I lifted my pillow over my head to give Drew a final blow. But I missed. It crashed into the popcorn bowl left on the dresser. The corns rained everywhere just as mom walked into the room. "Stop! You kids are being too wild." she cried. "And, Sarah, you know I don't like food in here."
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为120左右；2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1
I froze, not knowing what to say.
Paragraph 2
I cornered Drew to tell me why he took the fall (承担责任).
