WeChat is a social mobile application with voice and text messaging timeline and several social features like ‘Message in a Bottle'. WeChat, a popular instant messaging tool run by Tencent Holdings, aims to help users access mobile services without downloading separate apps, which experts said may challenge the business of smartphone app distributors such Apple Store.

This new feature, named ‘Mini Programs', allows WeChat users to find a variety of services such as ticket buying by scanning a QR (quick-response) code, saving them the trouble of installing a number of different apps on smart devices, according to the transcript of a speech by Zhang Xiaolong, Tencent's senior executive vice president, on Wednesday. The new function is expected to come online on January 9.

    Zhang, known as the father of WeChat, emphasized that ‘Min Programs' is not a mobile app distributing function.

    Still, experts and app developers said that the rollout (推出) of ‘Mini Programs' on WeChat will erode the market share of app distributors like Apple Store in China.

     “‘Mini Programs' will attract lots of start-ups, because a program based on WeChat can help them build up businesses at much lower costs,” a Shanghai-based app developer, told the Global Times Wednesday.

    If a start-up wants to promote its business via a separate application, it has to hire a special team to develop two different apps— one each for iOS and Android.

    Lsiunched in 2011, WeChat has evolved to include services such as ‘Order Taxi', ‘Food Delivery', e-commerce and payments from just an instant messaging app.

    The summer before my dad died, we moved house. Up until that point, our family had our own space to spread out. Money was tight, so there was no television set, but we owned a turntable on which my dad's records played constantly. Mostly, it played Bob Dylan. Tracks from The Basement Tapes and Desire became an important part of our new life. My brother and I, aged 8 and 10，climbed trees, built hideaways and learned the words of Clothes Line Saga. We would chant over and over, lost in our own joy.

    It was January when my dad left us forever because of the cancer. He was 36 going on 37 then, the same age as Dylan. Afterwards, our laughter disappeared, but we kept on playing the records, which became our only ritual of remembrance. The two men became so intertwined in my head, I struggled to tell them apart.

    Dylan was my dad's gift to me. What child wouldn't be fascinated by songs full of pirates and seasick sailors? How did it feel to have No direction home? Farewell, Angelina became my party-piece. I would sing this at church cheese and wines to the assembled audience. A lot of donations were made.

    Growing up, I remained a fan of the music, but I wasn't obsessed with Dylan until one day in early 1995, my brother bought us both tickets to see him play at Brixton Academy. London felt like a long way to go. But finally seeing Dylan step out on to the stage brought a sudden rush of excitement.

    I have seen Dylan a couple of times since. My brother is not around so much these days. But he was up for a visit recently. We passed a happy evening laughing and drinking, while his son, aged nine, performed his party—piece Subterranean Homesick Blues for us. He sang it word-perfect. And so it goes on: Dylan's music as a gift, passed down the generations.

    Throughout history scientists have risked their health and their lives in their search for the truth.

    Sir Issac Newton, the seventeenth century scientist was very smart, but that didn't stop him from doing some pretty stupid things. In his laboratory in Cambridge, he often did the strangest experiments. Once, while testing how light passes through lenses (晶状体), he put a long needle into his eye, pushed it to the back, and then moved it around just to see what would happen. Luckily, there was no lasting bad effect. On another occasion, he stared at the sun, for as long as he could bear, to discover what effect this would have on his sight. To escape suffering permanent damage, he had to spend some days in a dark room before his eyes recovered.

    In the 1750s, the Swedish chemist Karl Scheele, was the first person to find a way to produce phosphorus (磷) He, in fact, discovered eight more chemical elements, including Chlorine (氯), though he didn't get any place for them. He was a very clever scientist, but he had a strange habit of tasting a little of every substance he studied. This risky practice finally caught up with him. In 1786, he was found dead in his laboratory, surrounded by a large number of dangerous chemicals, any of which might have been responsible for his death.

    Eugene Shoemaker was a respected geologist, he spent a large part of his life studying craters (陨石坑), and how they were formed, and later the research into the comments of the plane Jupiter. In 1997, he and his wife were in the Australian desert, where they went every year search for places where comets (彗星) might have hit the earth. While driving in the Tanam desert, one of the most open places in the world, another vehicle rushed into them, and Shoe maker died on the spot. Some of his ashes (骨灰) were sent to the moon by the Lunar Prospect or, a spacecraft, and he is the only person who has this honor.

    Environmental experts warn that our planet is drowning inplastic.

    The world's cities produce 2 billion tons of trash everyyear. By the year 2050 that number is expected to rise to 3 billion tons. TheWorld Bank estimates that the largest amount of trash today, about 44 percent,is plastic. But we often have to buy packaged goods. And often that packagingis made of plastic.

    Now, that may be changing. A new environmentally-friendlyshopping model was recently launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos,Switzerland. This shopping model, called Loop, aims to replace throwawaycontainers with reusable ones.

    Loop is the idea of Terra Cycle, an American-based recyclingcompany. Its chief, Tom Szaky told the Associated Press (AP) that "removingplastics from the ocean is not enough." He said the point is to get awayfrom single-use packages. Szaky said that Loop is the future of shopping. Butit comes from an idea of the past.

    He compared it to the "milkman model" of the 1950sin the United States. Back then, someone brought milk to your doorstep in glassbottles and then left with empty bottles. These could be cleaned and used again.The result is zero-waste.

    Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profitorganization Greenpeace also joined in the discussion about Loop at Davos. Shesaid that "Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop Alliance to move awayfrom throwaway culture and disposability." But Morgan questioned whethercompanies worldwide are ready to change their business models.

    Loop is set to launch later this year in three eastern U.S.states, and also in Paris, France and some of the surrounding area. Then Loopplans to expand to the U.S. West Coast, Toronto, Canada and Britain by the endof this year or 2020.

Amsterdam Destination Guide

    Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the "Venice of the North" because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.

Must-See Attractions

    Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You'll also want to check out Amsterdam's Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.

    If You Have Time

    There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city's museums, including the Jewish Historical Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum, and the botanical gardens.

    Money Saving Tips

    Unless you really want to see the tulips (郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.

    Look for accommodations in Amsterdam's South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.

    Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.

    Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They're inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.

    Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.

Spring rolls, those crispy delights of golden pastry（油酥面团）, featuring a mix {#blank#}1{#/blank#} finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and sometimes meat, are among the most popular choices for a quick and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（taste）bite. The rolls are fried to a perfect crunch and are {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（typical）eaten when hot. To eat one, you have to decide {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to dip the spring roll in a sweet and sour sauce first, adding an extra layer of flavor, or to simply enjoy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} on its own, letting the roll's own taste shine through. While spring rolls {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（serve）in many places, the classic version can be found in the busy street markets, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} they are made fresh on the spot and provided straight from the fryer. Good spring rolls have a light crust, allowing them {#blank#}8{#/blank#}（pick）up easily without breaking or becoming unpleasantly wet. The filling is carefully prepared to guarantee a harmonious variety of tastes and textures（口感）. No matter where I get them, one is rarely enough, but two or three {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（be）too many. Anyway, I am always content every time, yet left {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（look）forward to my next spring roll experience.