If you had a strange sound in your ear, what would you do? One man in Wales who thought he had a fly in his ear called 999, the emergency services number in Britain. And so did a woman who was worried about her green potatoes. Could she make chips with them? Were they poisonous? She didn't hesitate about calling the local ambulance service to ask. According to a recent report, more than 31,000 non-urgent calls were made to the Welsh Ambulance Service in the last year.

    Inappropriate calls are a headache for health professionals everywhere. In the US, prank calls to 911 happen on a daily basis. Many callers use apps which hide their identity. But those who try to be funny shouldn't be surprised if the police have the last laugh. One man from Colorado was arrested for making more than 1,200 prank calls, according to a report on the US television station KOAA—TV.

    People who take these calls are trained to stay calm and keep a straight face, no matter how strange the call sounds. “There's no way for us to know whether the call is real, accidental or a prank call,” said a public safety worker interviewed by the American TV channel.

    The Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Richard Lee, has a warning for prank callers. He says:“ When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help.” Indeed, these hotlines are supposed to help the seriously ill or those with a life-threatening injury. You never know, one day, the person who needs assistance could be you or someone in your family.

    There is a lot to learn about the creations of Beatrix Potter—not only is she the author of one of the world's most famous children 's books, The Tale of Peter Rabbit ,but also a pioneering conservationist(自然资源保护论者) with the spirit of a scientist.

    “Potter grew up as the daughter of a wealthy Victorian family, but along with her brother who filled an entire floor of their large house in London with all sorts of animals, which contributed a lot to her works,” said Anne Lundin, a retired professor for the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies.

    “As an adult, she was a frustrated botanical scientist. That field was not open to her because she was female,” Lundin said. Potter was urged to turn the charming stories she wrote in letters to children into books. She wrote 23 books in all--a body of work that has inspired plays, ballets, films and an astonishing amount of merchandise.

    “The Tule of Peter Rabbit is probably the most famous children's book in the world, which was published in 1902 and has really stood the test of time. It's been translated into 36 languages. The parents and grandparents will share it with the next generation,” said Lundin.

    Potter also made a mark on the world through her land conservation.“In many ways, she was like Peter Rabbit, risking into a world of adventure. She withdrew from London as soon as she started making some money on her books to the Lake District and became an extremely important farmer and conservationist. She preserved and passed on 15 farms and over 4,000 acres, which were given back to the country as gifts in the 20th century,” said Lundin.

    Even though she was born 150 years ago, she was amazingly modern--her embracing of the natural world, commented Jennifer Blatchley Smith, an artistic director of the show Peter Rabbit Tales to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Potter's birth.

    Can you imagine being paid millions for playing in a sports team? That you were able to fill stadiums with people coming to see you play? That you could attract fans crazily like a superstar? ESports have made all that possible and more. The fever for video games has had a great influence on the sports industry.

    To what degree ESports, or electronic sports can be considered a sport remains a question. If we stick to the meaning in the dictionary, sport is understood to be any physical activity, whether a game or competition, that requires training and following rules. A second meaning is: all kinds of physical activities are done for health or for fun.

    Spending hours and hours in front of a computer or with a mobile phone in hand playing video games is not a physical activity. But when the voices that defend it belong to famous athletes, and when the International Olympic Committee itself is, seriously thinking about the possibility of introducing eSports in the 2020 Olympic Games, it is at least worth considering the argument.

    It is clear that eSports has had a big influence on the sports industry and its fans are increasing all the time. Athletes, sports teams, sponsors （赞助商） inside and outside the sport, and the media support the industry greatly, which attracts and satisfies the young generation. Professional video game competitions have made nearly $900 million over the past three years thanks to sponsorship and advertising. The industry is expected to make over $1.1 billion and reach 215 million users in 2019, according to a study by the consultant Newzoo.

    The big players in the eSports leagues have turned their ‘hobby' into a profession which offers a chance to gain fame or become famous. Those guys who distance themselves from the world, shutting themselves up for up to 12 hours a day in a dark room to connect with people from all over the planet through a video game, now fill large stadiums and compete for prizes that are over one million dollars. They are the envy of half the planet!

    As a famous NBA superstar, Shaquille O'Neal says “the fans themselves are the ones who opened my eyes. ESports are a great business chance and the industry cannot be left out.”

    While millions of dollars are paid around the world for these new idols, we can continue to argue whether they are sports or not. If only for fun…

Hong Kong Science Museum

    You might really like the Science Museum if you are interested in science. The Museum wants to teach kids science. It gives them a place to have fun with the equipment there. However, adults can learn some science too.

    The Museum has 6,500 square metres. There are over 500 exhibits, and nearly 70 percent of them are suitable for visitors of all ages. Since its opening in April 1991, the Hong Kong Science Museum has proven itself to be a good place for learning science. Through having better exhibits and fun science programs in an enjoyable environment, the Museum wants to popularize science to the public and the support science education in schools. Visitors at the Science Museum can visit the exhibition in their own way and enjoy the fun of discovery learning.

    If you want to have a visit, you'd better read the information carefully.

    No one knows how much money Dr. Lyle Tullis gave away to students. I was his colleague for nearly a decade and I never stopped being amazed at his generosity. Our college has a program of providing cross-cultural experiences for students. Lots of students take advantage of summer experiences oversea. I discovered that no group left for overseas without some of its members receiving financial help from Dr. Tullis.

    It wasn't that he made a lot of money. For one thing, he taught in a church-run school. There, his salary (薪水) was half of what those people earned in a tax-supported school.

    Other colleagues occasionally complained about the low pay. Not Lyle Tullis. Occasionally some professors would leave our campus for a better-paid position. They told me they did so because, with better pay, they could provide for their families.

    The size of Lyle Tullis' paycheck never seemed to be the most important thing to him. I realized that one day when I was thanking him for helping a student, his eyes shone as he said to me, "I've got so much money that I don't know what to do with it. So, I just give it away."

    Most people wouldn't have thought that way. Dr. Tullis drove one of the oldest cars on campus. It was even older than almost any of the students' cars. His home, while comfortable, was not fancy at all. But Lyle Tullis lived with the feeling that he had so much money that he needed to give it away.

    He was one of the favorite on campus. Cynics (愤世嫉俗) might say he bought fame. But they would misunderstand. Lyle wanted to devote his life, all of it, to helping others.

Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruise(乘船游览)& Dolphin Tours

Myrtle Beach is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places to visit,and there is no better way to have a memorable time in the area than by taking a Myrtle Beach Dolphin Tour. Reserve your spot on the gorgeous New Inlet Princess,a magnificent vessel that creates some of the best fun in Myrtle Beach!Embark upon this Myrtle Beach dolphin sightseeing cruise to experience the wonders of Murrells Inlet. Keep your eyes open for stunning dolphins in their natural habitats and other wildlife as you sail along its waters. This attractive tour is topped off with a memorable sunset for some of the best fun that Myrtle Beach has to offer. 

About the Dolphin Guarantee

This dolphin cruise is the ONLY dolphin cruise backed by VME's guarantee. If you do not see dolphins on your cruise,please contact us at 1-800-987-9852 for tickets for another dolphin cruise to betaken within 7 days of the first cruise. 

Details:

•Unique Online Offer:Buy 1 Get 1 Free (Must book in advance online or toll-free at 1-800-987-9852)

•Appropriate for All Ages

•Handicap Accessible

•Restaurant On-site

•Kid Friendly Dolphin Cruise -Kids Love This Cruise!

•Large boat with covered shade area,air-conditioned enclosed deck,and large open sun deck. 

•Two Bathrooms On Board

•What to Bring:Camera/Phone for great photos,cash for shacks and drinks available on board. 

•Cruise lasts approximately 75 minutes.