Off the coast of Hawaii's Big Island swim masses of colorful tropical fish. Some of these fish will be caught and sold, ending up in aquariums around the world. Is the industry putting populations of the fish at risk?

    Scientists who have studied the Big Island fishery say it is well managed. Rules put in place more than 15 years ago have helped to protect the fish. Along 35% of the coastline, for example, fish collecting is banned. Two years ago, the state cut the number of fish species for the aquarium trade from hundreds to just 40.

    Conservationist Robert Wintner objects to the findings. Wintner, who owns snorkel shops across Hawaii, started the Snorkel Bob Foundation to protect the island's coral reefs(珊瑚礁). He says he simply doesn't see yellow tang(刺尾鱼)in the protected areas. “There should be millions of them,” he says. “Where are they?”

    Wintner says people believe the numbers in reports. But few people have actually dived into the coral reefs to see for themselves how many fish can be found there. According to Wintner, the coral reefs along the coast should be filled with yellow tang, but they are “virtually empty”. Empty reefs are not good for tourism, Wintner points out, which brings out $800 million yearly. By contrast, the aquarium-fish trade brings out just $2 million yearly.

    On a recent visit to the Museum of Modem Art with a friend and her daughter,wandering through the museum's exhibits,I was struck by how often my friend's 13-year-old daughter asked us to take photos of her with her smart phone in front of the artwork.Then,she gazed at the photos which she would then post on Instagram,Snapchat and all the rest.She was not the only person who was doing this; it seemed everyone was busy taking photos of themselves "experiencing" the museum.

    This is by no means a criticism of my friend's daughter or anyone else.What was concerning,at least to me,was that in between being photographed and posting,my friend's daughter had no interest in the artwork,a fact which didn't seem to matter or have anything to do with wanting to post herself as someone enjoying the experience.

    When I was her age,I had no interest in going to museums either.Having no interest in art at her age (and any age) is completely normal.But what is disturbing is how much of a young person's energy these days goes into creating an image of the life they're living and the character they "are" in that life.While creating a self-image has always been a big part of growing up and figuring out our identity,social media seems to have changed the rules of the game.Social media has not just increased the pressure and possibility of creating a self-generated（自我创造的）  self-image,but also distorted（歪曲）the process through which we become who we are.Young people now seem to be creating an image of who they are in place of becoming who they are,posting their life rather than living it.

    Social media has turned life and its experiences into an exercise in narcissism（自恋，自我陶醉）.No matter what the experience is actually about,it becomes about you,the person who is living it.A concert is not about the music,a restaurant not about the food and a sport event not about the sport;it's all about you,the doer,and what the event says about you.As a result the more we use life create an identity,the more distant from life we feel.Instead of being part of it,we feel as if we have to keep generating new life material.

    I hope the next time you post your story,pause for a moment and experience where you are,feel what it feels like to live what you're living without using life for your benefit,or for anything at all.Just live,without the narrative（叙述）.While you may feel this practice is a threat to your identity,causing you to miss a chance to prove your value,in fact,the benefit will far outweigh any loss it brings.

Holidays are the main times to see both sides of my family.

    At Thanksgiving, my mom, dad, brother and I go to my dad's side of the family, my grandpa's. When I was in 2nd grade, my grandma got in a car accident only miles from their house. At the time, I was in school. I was checked out and brought to church. Since then, holidays have never been the same. However, Thanksgiving is still good, although it would be better with grandma. At my grandpa's house, my uncle, aunt, dad and mom all get the dishes prepared for the feast. When the final family members arrive, and the food is downstairs, we dig in, the little ones first.

    Christmas is a little different. We have Christmas with my mom's side at my uncle's house, usually on Christmas Eve. We have dinner with homemade cupcakes for dessert, and relax until it is time to open presents. The kids get the most and we usually take a family photo. After everybody's gifts have been opened, my family say goodbye and go home.

    Easter has been a little different in the past few years. It started 3 years ago, when my family hosted my mom's side of the family. We put our dishes we made for the day on the counter. We kids go downstairs and play ping-pong or football. We are called up when everything is ready and begin eating. The kids go to a table in the living room, and the adults use the kitchen table. That is usually the Easter day for us.

    Each tradition gets better and better each year for some reason. I wonder what new traditions my family might come up with in the coming years.

    More students than ever before are taking a gap year (间隔年) before going to university. It used to be called the "year off" between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated (起源) with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.

    This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS).

    That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. "Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible?" he said.

    But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship—young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. "New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to £ 15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods," he said.

    See our editors' top 5 picks in print books and Kindle books, and discover our editors' picks for the best books of the year.

    # 1 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

    In Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grami revisits a shocking series of crimes in which dozens of people were murdered in cold blood. Based on years of research and new evidence, the book is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction.

    Kindle: $14.99 Hardcover: $ 17.37 Paperback: $15.36

    # 2 Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

    Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the fierce pull of motherhood and the danger of believing that following the rules can avoid disaster,

    Little Fires Everywhere is the perfect gift for the holidays!

    Kindle: $13.99 Hardcover: $ 20.96 Paperback: $ 12.95

    # 3 Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

    It is a novel about a forgotten town bothered by scandal and the amateur hockey team that might just change everything into a better place. Winning a junior ice hockey championship might mean everything to the residents of Beartown.

Kindle: $10.99 Hardcover: $ 12.95

    # 4 Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

    Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, Exit West tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time.

Kindle: $12.99 Hardcover: $ 15.73 Paperback: $11

    # 5 Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Harari

    Yuval Noah Harari, author of the international phenomenon Sapiens, returns with an equally original and attractive book, turning his focus toward humanity's future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.

    Kindle: $17.99 Hardcover: $ 28.95 Paperback: $22.99

Please SIGN IN here to see more picks from our editors.

    The San Diego Center for Children recently added three acres of land to its 9-acre Linda Vista campus. Thanks to the efforts of Assembly member Dr. Shirley Weber, the state sold the land near the Center's main campus. Now the Center, which is the oldest children's nonprofit (非营利的机构) in the region, will be able to provide more treatment and educational foster care (看护) to kids and families who need it most.

    Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) received a $10, 000 grant from the USS Midway Foundation to support its Hand Up Food Pantry (食品贮藏室). "Jewish Family Service works every day to help struggling families and individuals in San Diego move forward and build more stable, secure lives," says JFS CEO Michael Hopkins.

    St. Madeleine Sophie's Center raised more than $16, 000 at its Swing with Santa Golf Tournament (锦标赛). The funds will go toward programs for adults with developmental disabilities. The 5th annual tournament included 18 hotels, food and drinks, and two celebrity appearances: both Santa and Elvis made a dramatic entrance via helicopter.

    Coming Up: Raise money for the 4SRanch-Del Sur Community Foundation and Helen's Closet (壁橱，衣帽间) at the 9th Annual Thank You Run on Thanksgiving Day, November 22. Helen's Closet serves patients with ALS. The distance is 5K with a 1K Fun Run for children aged 8 and under.