For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call "amusic." People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.

As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. "I used to hate parties," says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.

Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see certain colors.

Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed (诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. "When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I'm amusic,'" says Margaret. "I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy." (335 words)

    A family story is like a puzzle. Each family member leaves some clues. Family members come together because they have a common tie with one another, sharing a name and special traditions. Exploring family roots and sharing past memories ensure each tradition lives on.

    Ancestory.com has created customized (订做的) “Our Name is History” books to give your family a look into your history by learning about your last name. By visiting it, you can check if information is available for your last name. Ancestory.com researchers have collected more than 5 billion names from records such as passenger lists, immigration records and from birth, marriage and death records. The collected information is then used for each customized book.

    “Our Name is History” books are available for nearly 200,000 last names, accounting form 85 percent of all the US homes. The collected information is a great start of learning about your family roots. This book will not only surprise your mother, but also become a precious memory to pass down through the generations. It can also be an inspiration for her to talk about all the special women in her life. So instead of just giving her flowers or jewelry, give her a special family name book and share your favorite memories with her.

    After learning the general history of your last name, your might be inspired to continue your exploration. The “Our Name is History” books include a special software product for building, searching and sharing your family history.

    To learn more about “Our Name is History” books, visit www. Ournameinhistory.com. The deadline to order in time for Mother's Day is April 30.

    We could say that any animal that knows how to find food, avoid being eaten, and raise babies is pretty smart. But can animals learn and remember or can they solve problems?

Many animals have good memories for where food is — a useful skim Scrub jays (灌丛鸦) may be the champions. In one experiment, scientists put them in pre-made holes. After the jays had hidden some food, they were taken out. Scientists mapped where the food was hidd6n and then remove ii, which meant the jays couldn't find the holes by smell. But when the jays came back again, they went right to the hiding they had used. In the wild, they remember where thousands of holes arc. Could you do that?

    Another important smart skill is being able to spot shapes and generalize. This kind of test work best with animals that see well and are interested in pictures. Call in the pigeons(鸽子)! In this test, pigeons had to learn to pick out photos with trees in them, and to ignore photos that didn't include any trees. Once they had learned the rules, they were very adept at it.

    Scientists have to be careful when they test animals for smarts, and the person giving the test has to know the animal really well, in one experiment, a few bananas were hung out of reach over a p on the ground. Monkeys figured out right away how to get the bananas: pick up a stick and knocked down. But clever elephants kept failing this test. Finally scientists figure out why. An elephant's trunk work as both its hand and its nose. When it got the stick, it couldn't smell the bananas. When the elephants were given a couple of boxes instead, they quickly use them to make a step and got the bananas.

    As we're learning, the world is full of smart animals, each thinking in its own special way.

    Sydney Trains is one of the most economical, reliable and convenient ways to travel throughout Sydney and its surrounds.

    Our network, the NSW Trains Intercity, covers suburban Sydney and extends to the Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast regions.

    The network is made up of several color-coded lines. Trains from different lines can share the same platform, so check display screen and listen to announcements.

    Ticket prices are generally based on the distance traveled. You can visit transportnsw. Info for details.

    Getting to the City.

    In Sydney, if you're near a train station, you're on your way to the city. Every rail line leads directly or indirectly to the City Circle. It's the loop around the central business district of Sydney. Most City stations are underground so look out for the sign on street level.

    Automatic ticket gates

    Large stations have automatic gates for entry to, and exit from, the station. If you have an Opal card or a ticket which has a magnetic stripe you must use the automatic gates. You may use the wide gate for wheelchair, pram or luggage access. Station staff will assist you.

    Night Ride buses

    Most trains do not operate between midnight and 4:00 a.m. For your convenience a special Night Ride bus service is available between these hours on most Sydney suburban lines.

    Track work

    In order for the tracks to the maintained, we sometimes have to replace train with buses, particularly at weekends, Please check the track work section for the latest service alterations on your line.

    It is back to school time in the United States, which for children is bittersweet. The bitter part is saying goodbye to carefree, unscheduled summer days. The sweet part is saying hello to a new school year and school friends.

    This exciting time is filled with smells of new books, paper and pencils. Children might be dressed in a new set of clothes and wear new shoes.

    However, going back to school can also be a stressful time for children and families. Everyone must make the change from easy summer life to routines, schedules and homework. Families might also feel stress about spending extra money for a new school year.

    Back-to-school stress is different for different grades of students. Younger children may feel scared to leave their families. Making new friends and dealing with bullying(欺负) can also cause stress for students. Older students may feel stressed about their appearances, grades and getting into college.

    However, teachers and children can all help to make the transition back to school easier. Lori Bambina has been a teacher for 22 years. She focuses on the class routine during the start of the new school year.

    "Well, for the students, I have my classroom set up with a very clear system. So I will introduce the system. Then I will revisit the system because at this young age they enjoy structure and predictability. And that routine is very comforting and will not cause them to feel stressed if they know exactly where things are located and what type of behavior is expected. That really reduces the stress and the anxiety because they have their own comfort level now," she said.

    Whether you are in the 1st grade or 10th grade, knowing what your teachers expect is a good way to reduce stress.

Norwegians would perhaps highlight their custom of "gå på tur"— going on a journey on foot or on skis. In Denmark, everyone knows what "hygge" is — to freely enjoy the good life with the people you love. They're the issues of "intangible cultural heritage", things that cannot be physically touched such as traditions, stories, music, dance and craft skills.

In 2003, UNESCO, the education, science and culture organization of the United Nations, adopted an agreement to "preserve the intangible" and many developing-world countries were quick to get their traditions included on the official list. But it would take almost 10 years for "Agreement for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" to be approved by the Scandinavian countries.

Annika Sjöberg is responsible for managing the work of the agency in Sweden. She has been, and continues to be, flooded with suggestions of intangible cultural heritage worthy of protection, submitted by committed citizens and organizations wanting to see their particular traditions included on the list that should be ready sometime in the next couple of years.

Suggestions have also been received concerning various maritime traditions: old shipwright skills such as the building of wooden hulled vessels, are in decline and at risk of being lost forever.

"Our work has attracted considerable attention as it is regarded as being a little out in left field," says Sjöberg. "In addition, it's also opened people's eyes to the fact that the things we can't physically touch indeed have a major bearing on the way in which we live. Even in an urbanized society, there is knowledge we carry with us that we've inherited from previous generations-knowledge that's important to preserve and take care of."

Sjöberg explains that the point is not to preserve this cultural heritage in a stony rigid form, as traditions must be allowed to change and evolve. She also emphasizes that her work should not be interpreted as a nationalistic project, rather as a means of multicultural spreading.

It's actually a matter of documenting the knowledge that exists in the various traditions. What is most exciting is the diversity that now exists and the ways in which different cultures interact with each other.