Inside the Rain Room

    The Rain Room has arrived and local art lovers are taking notice. Is it worth the wait? Yes, I assure you it is. Once inside, visitors find a long, dark room with a high ceiling. A single bright light shines through heavy rain falling around visitors. The mist. The damp air. The noise. It feels like a mighty storm is pouring down. But the storm is inside. And visitors aren't getting wet. Instead, visitors wander in awe, admiring the rain and the artists who created it.

    The Rain Room was created to highlight the connection between humans, nature and technology. With a tracking system that senses movement and stops the rain wherever visitors move, it does just that. Light and sound produce an experience that feels both natural and foreign. The exhibit is moving on to Atlanta next month. I urge you to visit before then. It's time to experience the Rain Room for yourself!

Welcome to the Rain Room

• The Rain Room features falling water. Please be aware you may get slightly wet. However, visitors wearing raincoats will be turned away.

• This exhibit features advanced technology. To ensure its effectiveness, please avoid wearing dark or reflective clothing.

• Visitors are welcome to take photographs of the exhibit.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• For the convenience of all guests, visits are limited to 10 minutes.

    In American schools there is something called Homecoming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation or commencement day(毕业典礼)．Students plan Homecoming Day for many weeks in advance.

    Several days before Homecoming，students start to decorate the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team，and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.

    The members of school clubs build booths(摊位) and sell lemonade(柠檬)，apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors.

    During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.

    Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over，the band comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen or King appears. All the students vote a most popular student. It is a great honor to be chosen.

    Homecoming is a happy day，but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the team loses，the students still enjoy Homecoming. Some stay at the school to dance，and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering.

    You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world's temperature. But, rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation (撤离) of an island nation — the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.

    During the 20th century, sea level has risen 8～12 inches. As a result, Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country's drinking water.

    Paani Laupepa, a Tuvaluan government official, reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years. Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.

    Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their green house gas emissions (排放), which are a main cause of global warming.“By refusing to sign the agreement, the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.

    Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries.

    Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable (易受影响的) to rising sea levels. Maumoon Gayoon, president of the Maldives, told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311 000 an“endangered nation”.

    Anyone who has ever played the game of Tetris (俄罗斯方块) knows the game's surreal ability to spill into real life. After you shut off the game, you still see those Tetris blocks falling in your mind. You're grocery shopping and find yourself thinking about rearranging items on grocery shelves. Your mind continues to play the game, even when you're physically not.

    Robert Stickgold, a Harvard professor, noticed something similar after a day hiking a mountain. That night, he dreamt he was still going through the motions of mountain hiking. Curious about this, he tried something: he got a group of college students of various skill levels to play Tetris and let them sleep in the Harvard sleep lab.

    Over 60% of the students, including those who suffered from amnesia (健忘症), reported dreams of images of Tetris pieces falling, rotating (旋转), and fitting together. Interestingly, half the Tetris expert students reported such Tetris dreams, while 75% of the beginners did.

    A study found that playing Tetris can grow your brain and make it more efficient. Adolescent girls played the game for an average of 1.5 hours a week over three months. The cerebral cortex (大脑皮层) of the girls grew thicker, while brain activity in other areas decreased. Richard Haier, who had found that there was a "Tetris learning effect", in which the brain consumed less energy as mastery of the game rose, concluded, "The brain is learning which areas not to use."

    Haier's study showed that as the girls practiced playing the game, nerve cells made connections, communicating through synapses (a synapse is a connection between two nerve cells). When you learn something, you change those connections. Every time you reactivate(激活) a circuit, synaptic efficiency increases, and connections become more durable and easier to reactivate. Stickgold says sleep plays a role in this memory process.

    So to sum up, whenever you do specific tasks over and over again, they take up less of your brain power over time. And that's pretty amazing.

    There's a warm and wonderful tradition that the British observe on December 26. It's called Boxing Day.

    For many people, Christmas can be a magical day filled with delight. But for those down on their luck or the disadvantaged, it can be a time of sorrow and disappointment. That's why the British have set aside the day after Christmas as Boxing day, and its purpose is to bring a bit of magic to those who could use it

    Every December 26, going at least as far back as the 1830s, the United Kingdom and other countries that are part of the British Commonwealth(英联邦) such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, have observed Boxing Day as an opportunity to provide some holiday joy for those who most need it.

    There are competing stories behind the name boxing Day. One is that it refers to the giving of "Christmas boxes", a term that started in the 17th century to describe gifts, money and the leftovers from Christmas that lords of the manor(庄园)would give to their servants and employees for having worked on Christmas Day. Basically, "Christmas boxes" were holiday bonuses(奖金) for the working class.

    The other is that it refers to the "contribution boxes" that would traditionally appear in charities in the weeks leading up to Christmas for the purpose of collecting money from donators that charity staff would distribute to those in need after Christmas Day.

    The day is still a national holiday in many parts of the British Commonwealth, and while people still give something back to people who have bad luck or give tips to service people on Boxing Day, it has also become a major shopping day like Black Friday in the U.S.

Graduating is indeed a momentous occasion that calls for a memorable celebration. Here are some destinations that could make your post-graduation vacation truly special:

Iceland

Why Go: Iceland is a land of dramatic landscapes and natural wonders. The chance to witness the ethereal beauty of the northern lights, explore geothermal pools, and admire the majesty of waterfalls makes it a unique destination.

What to Do: Beyond Reykjavik, venture into the countryside to experience the solitude and beauty of the Icelandic wilderness. Consider a road trip to chase waterfalls, explore geysers, and soak in hot springs.

Budget Consideration: While Iceland can be pricey, the experience of its otherworldly landscapes is often considered worth the investment.

Florence, Italy

Why Go: Florence is a city steeped in history and art, offering a rich cultural experience that can be both intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying.

What to Do: Visit the Uffizi Gallery to see masterpieces like Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus," stroll through the Boboli Gardens, and enjoy leisurely dinners in the piazzas. Climbing the Duomo for a panoramic view of the city is also a must.

Budget Consideration: While Florence can be costly, the cultural richness and historical significance make it a worthwhile destination for a graduation trip.

Greece

Why Go: Greece is known for its idyllic islands, ancient history, and vibrant culture. It offers a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration.

What to Do: Visit the Acropolis Museum in Athens to delve into the origins of Western civilization, enjoy the sun and sea on the Greek islands, and indulge in the local cuisine.

Pro Tip: Don't overlook Athens. It's not just the capital but also the cradle of Western thought, making it a fitting place to reflect on your educational journey.

Vietnam

Why Go: Vietnam offers a budget-friendly and immersive experience, allowing you to step out of your comfort zone and explore a different culture.

What to Do: Navigate the bustling streets of Hanoi, enjoy local delicacies like pho, and embark on a boat trip through the stunning Halong Bay.

Budget Consideration: Vietnam is an affordable destination that offers a rich cultural experience without breaking the bank.

Each of these destinations offers a unique experience that can help you mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in your life. Whether you're drawn to the natural beauty of Iceland, the historical richness of Florence and Greece, or the cultural immersion of Vietnam, your graduation trip can be a celebration of your achievements and an adventure into the unknown.