How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings

    Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical(经验的，实证的) basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation.

    Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room's ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.

    In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant's ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.

    Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.

    Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim(暗淡的) light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.

    So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. "We have a very limited number of studies, so we're almost looking at the problem through a straw(吸管)," architect David Allison says. "How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we're all struggling with."

    A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, DC. I saw many of our nation's treasures, and I also saw a lot of citizens on the street—unfortunate ones, like beggars and homeless folks.

    Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice ask. “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an old blind woman with her hand extended. In a natural reflex (自然反射), I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it in her hand without even looking at her. I hated being disturbed by a beggar.

But the blind woman smiled and said: “I don't want your money. I just need help finding the post office.” In an instant, I realized what I had done. I had acted with prejudice (偏见)—I had judged another person simply for what I thought she had to be.

    I hated what I saw in myself. This incident brought back my central belief. It reminded me that I believed in being humble (卑下的), even though I'd lost that belief for a moment.

    The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant (移民). I left Honduras and arrived in the US at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother, my sister and a strong mother. Through the years, I have been a dish washer, roofer, mechanic, cashier and pizza delivery driver, among many other humble jobs. Eventually, I became a network engineer.

In my own life, I have experienced many acts of prejudice. I remember a time at age 17—I was busboy (餐馆工), and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. I have also seen the same treatment of family and friends, so I know what it's like, and I should have known better.

    But now, living my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to go. The blind woman cured me of my blindness. She reminded me of my belief in being humble, and to always keep my eyes and heart open.

    By the way, I helped that lady to the post office. And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson she gave me.

    The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place. Now it is an ecological disaster area. Nauru's heartbreaking story could have one good consequence — other countries might learn from its mistakes.

    For thousands of years, Polynesian people lived in the remote island of Nauru, far from western civilization. The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798. He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship. He called the island Pleasant Island.

    However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first. The whaling ships and other traders began to visit, bringing guns and alcohol. These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island. A ten-year civil war started, which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.

    Nauru's real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate (磷酸盐)on the island. In fact, it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate, which was a very important fertilizer for farming. The company began mining the phosphate.

    A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground; it is a strip mine(露天矿). When a company strip-mines, it removes the top layer of soil. Then it takes away the material it wants. Strip mining totally destroys the land. Gradually, the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.

    In 1968, Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world. Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.

    Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars. In addition, they used millions more dollars for personal expenses. Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem — their phosphate was running out. Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing. By 2000, Nauru was financially ruined. Experts say that it would take approximately $433,600,000 and more than 20 years to repair the island. This will probably never happen.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events around Tampa Bay

    Plant City Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend

    Plant City celebrates the holiday for three days with opening ceremonies, a photo display, a street festival, a parade and a battle of the bands competition on Saturday; and a leadership breakfast and gospel festival on Sunday. Food and drinks are free Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center (Plant City), 1601 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , Plant City. (813) 757-9195. 10 a. m.-10 p. m. Saturday, 7:30 a. m. -4 p. m. Sunday.

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tarpon Springs

    A community parade lines up at the corner of Levis Avenue and Tarpon Avenue and ends in Dorsett Park with a festival featuring performances by church choirs, mime teams and dance groups. Free. Dorsett Park, 500 E Harrison St. , Tarpon Springs (727) 798-5718 11 a. m. Saturday.

    Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Unity Breakfast

    Enjoy breakfast, entertainment and readings of the winning student essays about social development. A march to a festival in Pioneer Park follows. Free. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 550 Laura Lane, Dunedin. (727) 738-2920. 8:30 a. m.-10 a. m. Saturday.

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

    Meet at the park for opening ceremonies and a breakfast snack before departing to participate in various community service projects. Then, return to the park for an appreciation lunch. Free. Tomlinson Park, 1820 55th St S, Gulfport. (727) 893-1118. 8 a. m.-12: 30 p. m. Saturday.

    Great Ex Martin Luther King Jr. Day

    Children can make necklaces that represent Martin Luther King Jr. 's ideas and design a paper doll for an "I Have A Dream" doll chain throughout the museum. Included with admission: $10, $ 9 seniors, 1 and younger free Great Explorations Children's Museum, 1925 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 821-8992. 10 a. m.-3 p. m. Monday.

The World's Largest Insect

    This giant insect can be used as a toy.

    A child ties one end of a string to a stick and the other end around the "neck" of an insect. Holding the stick, the child lets the insect go. With a loud whirring sound, the insect takes off, pulling the string in a large curve over the child's head. The child laughs as the stick jumps around.

    The child is African, and the toy is the African Goliath beetle, the largest insect in the world.

    The Goliath is a true insect because it has six legs and a body that is divided into three parts. Like all beetles, it has two pairs of wings. The front pair are thick and stiff and protect the back pair, which are soft. It is these soft back wings that make the beetle fly forward. They also cause the loud whirring sound the beetle makes when it flies. To steer, the beetle twists and turns its legs the same way you steer a bike by turning its front wheel.

    African children often use the Goliath beetle as a toy. Although it is over 15 centimeters long, it is quite harmless.

Scientists and spiritual teachers alike agree that the simple act of smiling can transform you and the world around you.It can make us appear more attractive to others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So before you read on,slap a nice,genuine smile on that face of yours.

How Smiling Affects Your Brain

The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness.For starters,smiling activates the release of neuropeptides(神经肽) that work toward fighting off stress.The feel-good neurotransmitters(神经介质) are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

How Smiling Affects Your Body

You're actually better-looking when you smile.A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive,smiling face activates the region in your brain that processes sensory rewards. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It also explains the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratory.They found that both men and women were more attracted to images of people who made eye contact and smiled than those who did not.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Did you know that your smile is actually contagious(传染性的)?In a Swedish study,subjects were shown pictures of several emotions:joy,anger and surprise.When the picture of someone's smiling was presented,the researchers asked the subjects to frown.Instead,they found that the facial expressions went directly to what subjects saw. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If they don't,they're making a conscious effort not to.

A.How Smiling Affects Those Around You

B.Each time you smile,you throw a little feel-good party in your brain.

C.So if you're smiling at someone,it's likely that they can't help but smile back.

D.And it can even lengthen our lives.

E.How Smiling Affects Your Facial Expressions

F.They not only relax your body,but also lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

G.This suggests that when you view a person smiling,you actually feel rewarded.