Often people receive a guitar, mandolin, or some other musical instrument as a birthday or Christmas gift. There's joy everywhere. The giver of the gift knows how much the receiver wants to learn this instrument and the receiver is actually holding it in his hands instead of longing for it through the shop window.

    Finding an instructor that fits into a busy work schedule is hard enough, but once you decide on a lesson plan, then you must consider the practice time, how to practice, what to practice—and let's face it...not all people learn something the same way. So in order to learn a musical instrument, how much practice time is enough and what kind of practice is right for you?

    There is no set amount of time that anyone should practice a musical instrument. When I was in programming classes, I could have studied nightly for 5 hours each night. It would have taken me years to learn the art of computer programming. Though I'm attracted by the systematic logic of it, my talent is towards another thing. However, on the other hand, if I spent an hour every couple days with a passionate hobby like playing the violin, not only would the time fly quickly...I'd also be learning at a much greater speed since the built-in passion is the motivation for advancement.

    So as much as it's important to practice, a step back is to first find the harmonious instrument that fits you as a person; as development of your personality. If you're learning the guitar because it's cool....obviously that's the modern-day mindset, however, you might not be actually linking your talent for musical satisfaction with your most creative advantages you have to offer.

    It's been my experience that every person has a certain level of musical talent. My pleasant challenge has been to assist them in this adventure and actually locate their best abilities as quickly as possible. Then and only then can we match learners with instruments and truly begin a fun and exciting walk down the road of happiness and contentment, where music, ability, personality and soul all meet. Once this piece of the mystery puzzle is in place, I've never had to work at motivating a learner to practice...

    Knowing the “right” thing to say and do as parents is not easy. But what if I told you there's ONE word you can add to your vocabulary that will help set your kids up for success for the rest of their lives? You'd let it flow effortlessly from your parenting lips, right?

    Well, that word is “practice”. It generates confidence and a “can do” attitude in kids when you use the word “practice” in place of the more commonly used word “try”. And here's why.

    “Try” means failure, or at the very least, doubt. From a very young age, we are always told to “try this”, “try that” and “try, try again”… “just try”. But “try” suggests the act of wondering what will happen instead of a clear intention of success.

    How many times have you heard someone say they tried something over and over, and it didn't work? Or that they will try to call you or come over and never show? Our subconscious(潜意识的) programming tells us that “try” is a way out for many. It's a word we use when we don't expect success or don't want to do something. We usually think, “Oh well, at least I tried.”

    The word “practice”, however, is different. Practice always makes you better. everyone who is good at something has practiced－doctors, musicians, athletes, students, speakers, singers and the list goes on and on. Did they try it the first time to see if they wanted to pursue it? Yes, but when it came to improving, they practiced. Even toddlers learning to walk are practicing. They have every intention of working successfully, and they keep at it until they do… and that in itself is a great lesson for us adults.

    ⒈Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Siem Reap is a fast-growing city with plenty of new hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. But many people are here not because of the city itself, but for the things nearby: amazingly well-preserved ancient temples. Even if you have the worst jet lag (时差反应) ever, drag yourself out of bed to be at Angkor Archaeological Park when it opens. The sunrise over Angkor Wat is worth losing sleepover.

    ⒉Rome, Italy

    Rome is a city of contrasts (差异) — where else on earth could be home to both the Vatican and La Dolce Vita? Rome is unique in that it offers a great combination of different art, culture and food. If your preference is for sports, then Rome also has a lot to offer. In terms of music and live entertainment, a lot of the most famous Italian and international artists also tend to include Rome on European and world tours.

    ⒊New York, America

    The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sightseer- everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighborhood and go deep. You will find hole-in-the-wall bars, strange shops...Exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an extremely rewarding experience for a traveler.

    ⒋Istanbul, Turkey

    Europe and Asia meet in Istanbul. Throughout this energetic city, you will find centuries-old churches and markets happily coexisting (共存) with modem restaurants, galleries and nightclubs. Though no longer a capital, Istanbul is the heart of the Republic of Turkey and the financial center with a large population.

    CHICAGO(Reuters)－Smoking not only can wrinkle (皱纹) the face and turn it yellow—it can do the same to the whole body, researchers reported on Monday.

    The study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, shows that smoking affects the skin all over the body－even skin protected from the sun.

    "We examined non-facial skin that was protected from the sun, and found that the total number of packs of cigarette smoked per day and the total years a person has smoked were linked with the amount of skin damage a person experienced," Dr. Yolanda, who led the study, said in a statement.

    "In participants older than 65 years, smokers had significantly more wrinkling than nonsmokers. Similar findings were seen in participants aged 45 to 65 years." Yolanda's team added in their report.

    The researchers tested 82 people, smokers and nonsmokers, taking pictures of the inner right arms. They ranged, in age from 22 to 91 and half were smokers. Independent judges decided how wrinkled each person's skin was.

    When skin is exposed to sunlight, especially the face, it becomes coarse(粗糙的), wrinkled and discolored with a pale yellow color, Yolanda's team wrote.

    Several previous studies have found that cigarette smoking led to premature(过早的)skin aging as measured by facial wrinkles, the study said, but little has been done to measure the aging of skin not exposed to light.

    The previous research has found that cigarette smoke, among other things, causes blood vessels(血管)beneath the skin to constrict(紧缩), reducing blood supply to the skin.

    Smoking can also damage the connective tissue(组织)that supports both die skin and the internal organs (器官).

    A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. To get the most out of your visit read our tips below:

    Visit at Night

    Riding up the Eiffel Tower at night and looking out over the streets of Paris, you'll see why Paris is known as the “City of Light”. At street level, the spotlights on the top of the Tower and the reflections (倒影) of the Tower in the Seine (塞纳河) are sights not to be missed.

    Purchase (购买) Your Ticket in Advance Online

    Avoid the long ticket lines at the Eiffel Tower by purchasing your ticket online from the Eiffel Tower website.

    You'll pick a time to visit and then select whether to print out the ticket or display it on your phone or iPad, a convenient choice if you buy your ticket in Paris without a printer.

    Don't Bring Valuable Objects with You

    Before entering the Eiffel Tower, your bags will be examined by a security officer. If an item you are carrying sets off the metal detector, the officer will take you away from the line for further inspection. Probably you will miss the chance to go up the Eiffel Tower.

    Have Drinks and Snacks at the Eiffel Tower

    If you're like us, after an exciting trip to the Eiffel Tower, you'll be ready to rest your legs and have a relaxing snack and a drink in a Parisian cafe. Across the Seine in the Trocadero area, there are many elegant cafes. The atmosphere is great, but the prices are in the stratosphere (极高水平). Actually, the perfect place for common visitors to eat and drink is on the Eiffel Tower itself.

Max Du emerged victorious at the Canada-Wide Science Fair with an innovative project that could revolutionize emergency response: a drone designed to assist individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. His creative spark was ignited during the Christmas break of the previous year when he received a toy drone from his parents. Due to the snowy conditions, Max was unable to fly his new gadget outdoors, prompting him to explore its potential as an indoor robot that could be of service to people in need.

In Canada, approximately 35,000 individuals suffer from cardiac arrests annually, with the majority of these incidents occurring outside of hospital settings. Sadly, less than 10 percent of these individuals survive. Max was convinced that a drone could provide more rapid assistance and deliver life-saving medication, but he knew he had to construct one himself to validate his hypothesis.

The process of testing his drone spanned six months, during which Max's parents had to tolerate their son's persistent drone flights and mishaps within their home. Each innovative feature Max developed, such as a deployable arm, added weight to the drone, causing it to disintegrate. This necessitated the purchase of new components. Through experimentation, Max eventually discovered a more lightweight material, leading to a better-balanced design.

After a series of trials and adjustments, the 14-year-old successfully perfected his drone. It is now capable of opening door handles, navigating through the air, and landing gently on the ground. The drone features a new extendable arm designed to administer injections or deliver crucial medication to a patient. Additionally, an integrated camera allows for direct communication with an emergency response team, enabling remote monitoring of the patient.

Max is looking forward to filing for a patent to establish connections within the healthcare sector and bring his invention to fruition. He spent his summer acquiring knowledge in artificial intelligence at Stanford University in California, where he was one of only 32 students chosen globally. Following this, he will attend the University of Pennsylvania to enroll in a college-level robotics course before resuming his high school studies in September.