R. U. Darby and his uncle were digging for gold in the West. After weeks of labor, he was rewarded when he discovered shining ore(矿石). He needed machinery to bring the ore to the surface. So he borrowed money from his relatives and neighbors and went back to work on the mine.

    The first car of ore was mined and sent to a smelter. The gold that they got in return proved they had one of the richest mines in Colorado! A few more cars of that ore would clear the debts. Then would come the big profits.

    Down went the drills! Up went the hopes of Darby and Uncle! Then something happened! The vein of gold ore disappeared! The pot of gold was no longer there! They drilled on, desperately trying to pick up the vein again, but they found nothing.

    Finally, they decided to quit. They sold the machinery to a man for a few hundred dollars, and took the train back home. That man asked a mining engineer to look at the mine and do a little calculating. The engineer said that the project had failed because the owners were not familiar with “fault lines(裂纹线)”. His calculations showed that the vein would be found just three feet from where it was found.

    The man took millions of dollars in ore from the mine, because he knew enough to ask for expert advice before giving up.

    R.U. Darby was struggling for years to pay back the money from his relatives and neighbors. He went into the business of selling life insurance.

    Remembering that he lost a huge fortune because he stopped three feet from gold, Darby profited from the experience in his chosen work, by the simple method of saying to himself , “I stopped three feet from gold, but I will never stop because men say 'no' when I ask them to buy insurance.”

    Darby is part of a small group of fewer than 50 men who sell more than a million dollars in life insurance every year. His “stick-ability” comes from the lesson he learned from his “quit-ability” in the gold mining business.

    How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments, mostly for entertainment purposes, is fair and respectful?

    Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats. Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.

    Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals' natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species' name, diet, and natural range. The animals' normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don't usually take care of the animals' natural needs.

    The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusually and self-destructive behavior called zoo-chosis(圈禁性精神病). A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.

    Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding(圈养繁殖) of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven't we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?

    Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals' natural habitats.

    A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment? As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in a garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower.

    A biodegradable (生物所能分解的) mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle.

    Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and is able to change shape. Over time it can also break down into the soil without giving out any poisonous chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of cover turns into waste, it forms fertilizers. These feed the seed and help the flower grow.

    Engineers have designed a small transparent (透明的) window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is throw n away. “We've only put sunflower seeds into the covers so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time.” said one scientist.

    As phone technology is developing so quickly, people are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means manufacturers are under pressure to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be throw n away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists.

    “The seed comes out and the flower grows in the pot so you don't have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using it,” said Kerry Kirwan. She leads the research team, which is based at the University of Warwick in Britain.

    Knowing what to do at checkout and properly preparing for it can turn a potentially heated situation into a quick thank you add goodbye. Below we made a list of five things you should remember at hotel checkout.

Don't be late to check

    Hotels may add an extremely high price for being just a half hour late. If you know you won't make the cutoff time, it never hurts to call ahead and try to negotiate away a potential charge.

    Don't forget to double cheek the room and safe

    Make sure you don't leave things behind. If you have an early flight or checkout time, pack up as much as you can the night before so that last-minute rush isn't too annoying. Also, be sure to take out anything in the room safe.

    Don't forget to tip the housekeepers

    It's always polite to leave some money for the people keeping your room clean.

    Don't ignore the detailed bill

    You may be in a rush, but give the detailed hill a careful look to see if the hotel charge is different from the rate you initially booked.

    Don't get angry

    Shooting at the assistant manager standing behind the front desk probably won't help.

    When dealing with an unexpected item on the bill. Think about how difficult it can be to deal with annoyed customers. Keep calm and things may be solved better and sooner.

What is Small­sided Soccer?

    Small­sided Soccer starts with games of 3­on­3 from the youngest participants and progresses to 4­on­4, 7­on­7, 11­on­11, in a graduated manner for the older groups. Out school's training course will give kids a better chance to take part in the game and get excited about the game of soccer. The small­sided approach gives each child more individualized attention so they can each improve their skills. And, it's FUN!

    Some general practical information

    • Cafeteria is open.

    • We supply participants with soccer clothes and football boots.

    • Please bring a water bottle for your child.

    Soccer season training times

    Costs

    The cost is $70 per month for Tykes and PeeWees and $115 for all the other teams.

    Those who enter online will get a 10% discount.

    Volunteering

    Can I coach?

    Of course! Our training course is always looking for volunteer coaches. We will provide coaches with plans for activities and training, and help set up the small­sided fields. It's a great opportunity to get involved with kids and help develop their love for sports.

    How can I volunteer in other ways?

    It's your club and you are welcome to volunteer! There are volunteer opportunities with programs, fields, publicity, facilities, uniforms, website development and the board, to name a few. Let us know how you'd like to help­and we'll put you to work!

    Do parents stay?

    Yes. Parents are strongly encouraged to stay and support their children and the club. The club is a volunteer­run organization. Parents and athletes are encouraged to help with clean­up and . set­up activities.

    If you have any questions about program specifics, please contact recreational soccer coordinator(协调者), Pablo Vercelli, at recreationalsoccei@abfsport.nl Tel: 043­239­4409.