On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that 42% of Americans could be overweight by 2030. Our expanding bodies not only lead to a medical problem, but also endanger personal safety in some situations—in an airplane crash, for example, according to a recent article in The New York Times.

The New York Times' Christine Negroni reports that engineers and scientists are questioning whether airplane seats are designed to protect overweight travelers. Government standards(标准) for airplane seat strength—first set more than 60 years ago—require that the seats be made for a passenger weighing 170 pounds. Today, the average American man weighs nearly 194 pounds and the average woman 165 pounds. Negroni reports:

     “If a heavier person completely fills a seat, the seat is not likely to behave as designed during a crash,” Robert Salzar, the leading scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia. “The energy that is built into the aircraft seat is likely to be overpowered and the passengers will not be protected properly”.

     “Nor would the injury be limited to that passenger only,” Dr. Salzar said. “If a seat or a seat belt fails,”he said, “those people who are seated nearby could not be safe from the uncontrolled movements of the passenger.”

    Most complaints(投诉) about airplane seats focus on their lack of comfort and high ticket price, and whether overweight passengers should be made to buy two seats. But The New York Times' article brings up another reason to feel anxious about flying. Investigators(调查者) got in touch with the airplane seat and seat belt makers, but they refused to talk about the problem. Experts agreed that crash testing should be done. Both airplane seats and seat belts should be tested, they said.

    Fortunately, however, according to Nora Marshall, a senior adviser at the National Transportation Safety Board, the board's investigators have never seen an accident involving a commercial plane in which the weight of a passenger was a problem.

    A business executive（主管）was deep in debt and could see no way out. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company.

    Suddenly an old man appeared. “I can see that something is troubling you,” he said. After listening to the executive's words, the old man said, “I believe I can help you.” He asked the man his name, wrote out a check, and pushed it into his hand saying, “Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time.” Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come.

    The executive saw a check for $ 500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! “I can settle all my debts immediately!” he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the uncashed check in his safe. Just knowing it was there would give him the strength to work out a way to save his business, he thought.

    With renewed optimism, he made better deals and extended terms of payment. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as he was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man.

    “I'm so glad I caught him!” she cried.” hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller.” And she led the old man away. The astonished executive just stood there.

    Suddenly, he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned him around. It was his newly found self-confidence that gave him the power to achieve anything he went after.

Destination Travels

78 Soho St,

New York, NY

Dear Ms Pierce,

    Thank you for trusting Destination Travels for your honeymoon plans. This letter includes all the information regarding the flights and accommodation arrangements we have already agreed on.

    On arriving at Puerto Rico Int, Airport, a representative of The Caribbean Hotels &Resorts will be waiting for you in order to transfer you to the hotel. The transfer to and from the airport is offered by the hotel as part of your honeymoon package. The reservation has been made for a nine-night stay under your future husband's last name. The price of the newlyweds' suite includes breakfast and one more meal at the hotel restaurant. You can also use all of the hotel facilities—pool, gym, sauna, etc. for free as part of your honeymoon package. In addition, you can take scuba diving or snorkeling classes with the hotels trained staff at a reduced price—40% off.

    Thank you for choosing Destination Travels. We guarantee your honeymoon with us will be an unforgettable experience. To aid us in improving our service, please visit our website at www. destinationtravels.com and complete the questionnaire.

    Destination Travels wish you all the best.

Sincerely.

Rebecca Simms

Customer Service Manager

Destination Travels

A new book called "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua has caused a debate (争论) about cultural differences in parenting. Amy Chua is a teacher in an American university and both of her parents are Chinese. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she taught her daughters. She told NBC television that she had a clear list of what her daughters were not allowed to do, such as having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.

Many people are against Amy Chua's parenting style (风格), even her husband, who is American. They say it is rude and unfair to children. But she says her parents raised her and her three sisters in that way.

Ms. Chua says after her younger daughter shouted "I hate my life! I hate you!" she decided to retreat because she was afraid of losing her daughter. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children's abilities.

"The debate is about what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child," said Stacy DeBroff, who has written four books on parenting. She says Amy Chua's parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. It is a tradi-tional way of parenting among immigrants (移民). They hope to get a better future for their children.

She also sees a risk (风险). When children have no time to be social or to develop their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. DeBroff advises parents to develop their own style of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.