“A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with asmart phone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website” is the definitionof “selfie” in the Oxford English Dictionary. In fact, it wasn't even in thedictionary until August of last year. It earned its place there because peopleare now so obsessed with (对……痴迷) selfies ─ wetake them when we try on a new hat, play with our pets or when we meet a friendwhom we haven't seen in a while.

But is there any scientific explanation for this obsession?Well, you should probably ask James Kilner, a neuroscientist(神经系统科学家) atUniversity College London.

Through our lifetime we become experts at recognizing andinterpreting other people's faces and facial expressions. In contrast,according to Kilner, we have a very poor understanding of our own faces sincewe have little experience of looking at them ─ we just feel them most of thetime.

This has been proved in previous studies, according to the BBC.

Kilner found that most people chose the more attractive picture.This suggests that we tend to think of ourselves as better-looking than weactually are. To further test how we actually perceive our own faces,Kilner carried out another study. He showed people different versions of theirown portrait ─ the original, one that had been edited to look less attractiveand one that was made more attractive ─ and asked them to pick the versionwhich they thought looked most like them. They chose the more attractiveversion.

But what does it say about selfies? Well, isn't that obvious?Selfies give us the power to create a photograph ─ by taking it from variousangles, with different poses, using filters (滤色镜) and so on ─that better matches our expectations with our actual faces.

“You suddenly have control in a way that you don't have innon-virtual(非虚拟的)interactions," Kilner told the Canada-based CTV News. Selfies allow you“to keep taking pictures until you manage to take one you're happy with”, heexplained.

    Think of life as a game in which you are playing with five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you keep all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce(弹跳) back.

    But the other four balls, family, health, friends and spirit, are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be broken. They will never be the same. You must understand that and try to have balance in your life. How?

    Don't look down on your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different and each of us is special.

    Don't let other people set goals for you. Only you know what is best for yourself.

    Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

    Don't be afraid of difficulties. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

    Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

    Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.

    Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is a treasure you can always carry easily.

    Don't use time or words carelessly. You can't get them back. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery(秘密), and today is a gift; that's why we call it "the present". Life is not a competition, but a trip, step by step.

    Last night's meteor(流星) shower left many people in Emerald Valley dissatisfied. They gathered in the suburbs of the city with heavy telescopes，expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. However, what they found was a sky so brightened by the city's lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.

    “My family was so frustrated，” admitted town resident Duane Cosby, “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing，but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”

    Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for many years. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.

    Besides professional and amateur(业余的) star observers, there is yet a population that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds，bats, frogs, and snakes etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating(迁徙的)birds. According to the International Dark­Sky Association, “100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers. ”

    Countless animals injuries and deaths result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings, but some scientists think it can be harmful to humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase people's chances of getting cancer.

    Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff, Arizona has enforced lighting rules in its city in order to help astronomers with their observations. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.

    One of the most important aspects of an image is color. People are very sensitive to color, and different colors have different on people.

    In general, red is an exciting color, which creates an image of action, energy danger. Red is also the most frequently used color in flags. Eighty percent of the world's flags contain red. A study in Germany showed that football teams wearing red are more successful. Blue is a very calm color. Business executives usually wear dark blue suits. Blue is also a peaceful color. The flag of the United Nations is light blue. Yellow is associated with openness and freedom. Green is a very relaxing color. Surgeons nowadays wear green, because it's less tiring than white. Black creates an image of power and authority. It can also be a very threatening color. Gangsters and vampires often wear black, white is a pure and strong color. This is one reason why doctors wear white coats. We trust them more. Grey is a very anonymouscolor. People wearing grey don't want other people to notice them. Brown is the opposite of black. It's warm and friendly, while black is threatening

Dear Jamie,

    I'm writing to you because I feel like we've grown distant lately. I know you have two little babies now that take up most of your attention, but I want to remind you that I'm your dog. My name is Max, and I am here long before those two troublemakers joined our family. The older one, Hannah, keeps trying to ride me. She knows I'm not a horse, right? Let's remember that I'm 11 now. That's 77 years old to you, friend. So how about showing me some respect I deserve?

    Anyway, I'm still an official part of this family. I know I have made mistakes with food, but those kids are covered with so much food. It's like an alcoholic living in a wine store. I have tried harder not to eat their food, but this business of forcing me to the backyard for most of the day was unacceptable.

    And when you told your wife Kate that you wanted to drop me off in the valley to live with wolves, well, that hurt my self-respect. And did you have to do it right in front of me? I might be old, but I can still hear.

    Remember the old days? By the time you came into the picture, I had already known Kate for three years. And then you came along. I knew she liked you so I welcomed you into our world. I remembered one night, she asked me if I thought you were the one. I barked "yes" repeatedly because I thought you would take great care of us. And you did.

    Look, I know you're a father of two now, but please try to include me a little bit more. That's all I'm asking.

Sincerely yours,

Max the Puggle

No matter which place you decide to visit in Spain, you'll find a beautiful beach waiting just for you. These popular beaches can meet the needs of people from all walks of life.

Cala de Algaiarens, Minorea

With soft golden sand and clear water, this beach is perfect for snorkeling (浅滩潜水) and visiting underwater caves. The beach belongs to a local man, so tourists have to pay a small entry fee. The waves here can sometimes be huge so the beach isn't safe for kids.

Cala Tarida, Ibiza

Besides the big music festivals and the exciting nightlife, Ibiza is home to some of the most beautiful beaches; one of them is Cala Tarida. Just relax on the white sand or go swimming in clear water. It is an ideal location to spend a sunny day if you are in Ibiza.

Beach of La Concha, San Sebastian

It has been called the best city beach not just in Spain, but also in Europe. It's so popular during the holidays that tourists have to struggle to get some space. Even though the beach is a 10- minute walk from the city, the white sand and the amzing clear waters do make the city a new world.

Sotavento, Canary Islands

As an ideal choice for travelers, Sotavento offers 17 miles of white sandy beach. It is blessed with strong water and winds, making it a paradise (天堂) for surfers and kite flyers. The beach also hosts the popular World Kite Surf Championship every August.