It is necessary to be reasonable and flexible enough to avoid conflicts as much as possible and live in peace with others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you have done all your best to avoid conflicts and you are still arguing, then read these effective tips on how to avoid conflicts.

● Don't get in the center of the conflict.

    Sometimes people can get in the center of conflicts due to their enthusiasm for offering help. Frankly speaking, it is very unwise, because it can make you the main figure of the conflict. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You should focus on your own life issues.

● Be kind.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Life is full of conflicts and disagreements, that's why you should find more conservative ways of dealing with them. For example, kindness can lessen the conflict.

● Try to be a peacekeeper.

    Peacekeepers tend to cooperate with people without bad emotions which usually lead to arguments and even conflicts. “{#blank#}4{#/blank#}” This saying is the life motto of a natural-born peacekeeper. Don't worry if you are not a natural-born peacekeeper; you can gain this skill during life.

● Walk off.

    When the conflict is gathering pace and you can't manage to control yourself, you should choose to handle the situation in another way. By all means, try to keep yourself away from stress. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You should get away from the situation for a while.

    Today's museums include plenty of high culture, but you can still find shrines（圣地）to the extraordinary. Here's a look at five curious museum stops across Canada.

Vancouver Police Museum

    The setting, terrible enough, is the old Coroner's（验尸官）Court and forensics lab, including the morgue(room where dead bodies are kept). Artifacts, from the 1870s on, include badges, uniforms, police equipment, items from criminals, and even preserved organs—all in all an arresting experience.

Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station

    Designed to resemble a spacecraft, the Treck Station celebrates Vulcan's coincidental relationship to Mr. Spock's planet, Go to a building that features an 800-piece collection of Star Trek memorabilia — including Spock's ears and floor-to-ceiling space paintings. If you want to know more about it, click here: http//www. Vulcantourism. com

Accordion（手风琴）Museum

    Through instruments, photos and recordings, the museum traces the history of the accordion and its influence on Quebec culture. They've even acquired Asian instruments that show the use of the free reed— call them ancient ancestors of the accordion—that date back 4000 years.

Chocolate Museum

    It's chocoholic heaven — whole museum featuring displays on how chocolate is made, hands-on exhibits, collections of historic chocolate boxes, and antique candy- making equipment and, of course, lots of chocolate treats ,located in an old candy factory building. Click below to learn all about their hours and admission rates. http:// www. Chocolate museum .com

Potato museum

    A 14--foot high potato greets you at what's billed as the world's largest exhibit of potato artifacts. Explore the humble potato's role in the economy, a collection of farm tools related to growing and harvesting potatoes, Hall of Fame.

    In the four months since I last posted articles on my blog, I've been spending a lot of time studying Chinese. I wanted to pass the HSK. From the beginning of my program, the HSK was the end goal of my Chinese learning this year. Luckily, I passed it and now I have one and a half months to go home and stay with my family.

It's really exciting to learn Chinese in an environment where I can study very fast. What's more, I can see my own progress in different ways. When I got here eight and a half months ago, I only knew a few of the 150 words tested in the HSK 1.However, until now, I've taken and passed the 2500­word HSK 5.

    I remember a time around January. I thought my Chinese had reached the point where I was comfortable in my day­to­day conversations. So my progress would slow down greatly. However, it turned out that I was totally wrong. The conversations I can have now far surpass(超过) the ones I was having in January.

    Today I hit a language­learning landmark(里程碑) that was particularly exciting for me: I finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Chinese. It might not seem that exciting, but it was for me because it's the first full book I've read in Chinese. And it's the third language I've read Harry Potter in. I'm especially proud because I spent about seven months reading the first 35 pages, but in the last month and a half, I managed to read about 150 pages. My next challenge is to read a novel written by a Chinese author, rather than one that I've already read many times in English!

    Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up my language­learning progress over the next month and a half, because I know I'll probably never have another opportunity to learn a language like this.

    Do you want to learn a new language？If you do, go to the country where people speak it and learn it from the locals.

    An online supermarket company—Ocado in the UK, has recently displayed a robotic hand that can pick fruits and vegetables!

    When an embryo (胚胎) is in the womb, the very first sense it develops is touch. The sense of touch is also the one that lasts the longest—as we get older and our vision and hearing begins to weaken, touch still remains. Humans use their touch to protect themselves, to create emotional relationships with other people, and to experience pleasure. Can you imagine life without it?

    The sense of touch comes from a network of nerve endings and special touch receptors on the surface of the skin. While there are different kinds of touch receptors (感受器), they help us judge pressure, texture and vibrations (震动). They are located in our fingertips, palms, soles of our feet, face, lips and tongue.

    When we touch something, the mechano-receptors perceive the touch and through a network of nerves, send signals to the brain. This informs the brain about the location of the touch, the amount of force used, and the speed at which it was used.

    Several different techniques have been tried in the past to create such a robotic hand—using three fingers. But this latest design by SoMa copies the human hand. The gripper (夹具) is made up of flexible materials which grasp onto the thing based on its size and shape. Then air pressure is used to control the movement of the robotic fingers to pick objects safely and without causing damage.

    The next step would be for the robot to judge how ripe the fruits and vegetables are, and apply pressure accordingly. Members of the research team are currently working on adding computerized vision to the robots, so that they can see what they are gripping.

    Does all this mean robots can replace people? According to Ocado, it helps improve productivity by removing some of the repetitive tasks done by humans.

Luxury symbols of China, all-inclusive cruise and Mount Fuji adventure

From the architectural riches of China to the awe-inspiring beauty of Mount Fuji, discover wonders of the world during this epic adventure, paired with hotel stays in interesting cities and an all-inclusive cruise on board Silver Muse.

Days 1-3 Beijing—Hotel Stay and Tour

Discover China's greatest treasures during a fully accompanied tour, wonder at the weaving Great Wall of China, admire the Temple of Heaven and uncover history in the Forbidden City.

Days 4-5 Xi'an—Hotel Stay and Tour

Travel by fast train to Xi'an, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Here you'll visit the Terracotta Army, one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world.

Day 6 Shanghai—Embark Silver Muse

Today you'll embark Silver Muse for your cruise to Osaka. Settle into your surroundings and choose from a wealth of dining experiences, personalise your suite to the finest detail— including your choice of perfume, toiletries and pillow—and get to know your personal butler who will keep your fridge stocked with your favourite drinks. Cruising with Silversea is simply impressive.

Days 7-9 Osaka—Disembark Silver Muse, Tokyo Hotel Stay and Tour

You'll disembark in Osaka and transfer to the airport for your flight to Tokyo. Japan's capital boasts an incredible combination of both modern and tradition as soaring neon skyscrapers gather next to ancient temples. During your three-night stay you'll embark on a fully accompanied tour of sacred Mount Fuji. Witness its splendid appearance during a ride on the Hakone Ropeway cable car, admire its quietness during a cruise trip across Lake Ashi and experience the speed of the bullet train as it whisks you back to Tokyo.

Days 10 Tokyo—Fly Home

Fine Arts Students Deliver Magical Performances

As the winter holidays approach, Brookhaven School students presented an array of extraordinary performances showcasing immense talent within our fine arts community. From the band concert to the choral concerts, each event highlighted the dedication and exceptional gifts of our students. 

The December 12 Eagles Band Concert filled Woodruff Auditorium with melodies that captured the festive spirit. On December 14, the Foundations Christmas Choral Concert featured spirited performances by our 7th graders. The finale of seasonal fine arts showcases occurred on December 18 in Brady Theater with the Senior Chior Concert, spotlighting high school singers. 

A highly anticipated tradition, the school-wide Holiday Assembly on December 19, hosted by esteemed (受人尊敬的) Fine Arts Department Chair Mr. Kaminer, embodied (包含) the true essence of the holiday season. Angelic songs filled Young Gym, followed by joyous laughter and cheers as the "best costume" winners received their awards. Even the youngest War Eagles, the children in the Brookhaven Early Learning Center, attended the celebrations. Following the event, students merrily left school for the holiday break. 

Looking toward 2024, anticipation builds for the Brookhaven theater spring productions. "Something Rotten! promises high-energy comedic performances by theater students, while "Tuck Everlasting" assures a moving portrayal by talented Foundations students. Furthermore, the Brookhaven Dance Company will hold their showcase April 11-12 in Woodruff Auditorium. Tickets will soon be available for purchase.