Choosing the Right Resolution (决定)

     Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.

To reach our goal of losing weight — the output, we need to control what we eat — the input ( 输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to construce goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I'll stop having desert for lunch,” or “I'll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.

    Recently a new science behind incentives (激励) , including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output. Fryer's conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because do not know how to do better on exam, aside from general rules like “study harder.” Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.

    As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. And it's easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do.

    If you want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn't a goal because it's too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don't stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.

    In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.

    Snorkelling in Silfra

The clear water at this UNESCO world heritage(遗产) site in Thingvellir National Park will leave you speechless. It is one of the highest rated dive sites in the world. During this journey, you will snorkel within a crack between the Eurasian and American continents. You'll experience truly amazing views of the colorful underwater landscape, marine life(海洋生物), and geological formations. Silfra's water is fresh and drinkable at around 2℃ - 4℃ all year round. Visibility can reach more than 100 meters, and swimming often feels more like flying.

    This trip is for anyone who knows how to swim and is up for a unique adventure. We offer transportation with a pick-up in Reykjavik, and provide you with a dry suit. The total length of the tour is approximately five hours, and includes in-water snorkelling lasting around 30 minutes. We'll guide you through the main Silfra Big Crack, Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral and Silfra Lagoon.

Included:

    All necessary snorkeling equipment;

    Hot drinks and food;

    Silfra entrance fee of 1,000 ISK.

    Availability: All year at 09:00 and 15:00. Pick-up in one hour before.

    Requirements:

    Participants need to complete the Silfra medical statement before the tour.

    Divers must:

    Be at least 18 years old (young people under 18 years old need a signature from their legal guardian), and the maximum age is 65 years old;

    Be able to communicate in English.

    Be physically fit;

    Not be pregnant;

    Not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

    Sign a medical form.

    L.S. Lowry Exhibition

    Some 30 oil paintings and artworks on paper by British artist, L.S. Lowry (1887-1976), are on display at the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts. It's the first-ever solo exhibition of the artist's work outside the UK. Lowry is one of Britain's most famous artists, and was a close observer of his country's social life in the era of industrialization and modernization. His works mainly depict (描绘) ordinary people on streets, in factories, parks and football fields. It has been said that the depiction of modern life by Lowry's works was permeated (洋溢) with an atmosphere of sadness and loneliness, but also with respect and a sense of humor.

    Date: November 15 to December 16, 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)

    Venue: Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts

    Address: 15 Huju Road North, Gulou District, Nanjing

    Admission: Free

    Call 025-8349-8693 for details

    Golden Songs of Teresa Teng Concert

    Teresa Teng (1953-1995) was an influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan who was known for her folk songs and romantic ballads. Her voice and songs are instantly recognizable throughout the whole of Asia and in areas with large Asian populations. Chen Yajuan, a Japanese-Chinese female singer, will perform Teng's classic songs, including Moon Represents My Heart and When Will You Come Back Again?

    Date: December 20, 7:30 pm

    Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

    Address: 425 Dingxiang Road

    Tickets: 80 yuan to 580 yuan

    Call 021-6132-6586 for details

    The 20^th Anniversary of Riverdance

    This year welcomes the 20th anniversary of Riverdance, which is being marked with a world tour. This 20th anniversary version will have a new stage setting, and when it tours in China it will add some local elements like taking traditional Chinese folk songs, Love Song of Kangding and My Motherland, as accompaniments.

    Date: January 13 to 18, 7:30 pm

    Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

    Address: 597 Fuxing Road Middle

    Tickets: 80 yuan to 800 yuan

    Call 021-6472-9000 for details

    There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.

    I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly(特别) relish the long train journey and had brought along many magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.

    It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johor Bahru was just a city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive, I decided to wave back.

    From then on, my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.

    The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all round me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.

    I looked forward to the return journey.

    Benjamin Franklin clearly knew how to get things done. After scanning the long list of Benjamin Franklin's achievements, one can only come to one conclusion that the American man probably never had a wasted day in his life. When he was 84 years old, he became a successful author, printer, politician, postmaster, inventor, musician, and diplomat.

    There's much we can learn from Benjarin Frankin's work habits and opinions on life that can increase our own productivity. Here are some ways Franklin overcame lazy, wasted days.

    Start a group and share knowledge. When Franklin was 21, he was a struggling printer in Philadelphia. To increase his connections and to learn more about his industry, he created a group. The group was in great need of books, but books were expensive. Franklin helped start a library where books were bought and lent to members. This sharing of knowledge, experience, and connections helped Franklin become a famous and respected printer in Philadelphia.

    Attack opportunities. "To succeed," Franklin wrote," jump as quickly at opportunities as you can." We can all agree, but when an opportunity comes we often look the other way. It's because the opportunity isn't dressed the way we expect. We often think that the opportunity was only in the form of a golden egg or a million-dollar lottery ticket or a new job offer. But more often than not, the opportunity comes in smaller, less beautiful packages.

    Time is something in short supply. Franklin wrote "Lost time is never found again." This may sound like it came from the pen of a poet, but it's really an inspirational call to action. Franklin worked, created, and lived knowing that time is scarce. He never put off his work.

    While Franklin was an able inventor we can be sure that his notebook contained a few unsuccessful ideas. Franklin wrote, "Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out."

Bullying on campus is increasingly becoming a problem, but the move by the Sherrard School in California, to set equipment inside toilets to catch bullying incidents is getting a lot of attention.

The school has put up a campus alarm system in sensitive places such as toilets that employs voice recognition and sensitive word activation, so that if someone is being bullied, the system can alert members of staff by sending specific signals. The system uses artificial intelligence for voice recognition, but its effectiveness doesn't depend only on these technologies. More important than the technology are the members of the school staff that are arranged to respond quickly and effectively to the warning calls.

Basically, technology serves as a way of reporting instances of bullying to the school authorities. What is truly noteworthy is the authorities' realization that timely intervention is required to stop bullying. In most cases of bullying in schools, educators and the administrators have overlooked early warning signs. And this can, at times, prove fatal. For instance, in a recent tragic case in Indiana, three junior school students plotted and took the life of their 10-year-old classmate. If the school had paid closer attention to the bullying, the tragedy could perhaps have been prevented. 

Returning to the system in California, should it prove effective, relevant government bodies can consider applying similar mechanisms in other schools to hold back bullying on campus. However, it is significant for them to bear in mind that it is human action, not just technology, that can help address this universal issue. Technology can definitely serve as a vital tool, but it is the human element — attentiveness, care, and timely intervention — that ultimately holds the key to creating a safer environment for all students.