IELTS SPEAKING

Speaking test #1

1. Is bicycle a good way to move around?

A bicycle is a mechanism that has transported man for many decades. Nowadays, bicycling is a great way to move from one place to another in short distances. I believe you should use a bicycle for short distances to protect the environment as well as your health. The purpose of this essay is to explain why people should ride a bicycle for short distance trips. By riding a bicycle, people can decrease gasoline consumption, improve the quality of their lives, and protect the environment. The first reason to use a bicycle for short distances is that you can cause a decrease of pollution. Because many people use their cars to move short distances, they increase the rates of pollution causing more pollution problems to our environment. That is why the use of a bicycle for short distances is a really good idea to help lower the rates of pollution. The second reason to use a bicycle for short distances is that you can help lower gasoline consumption. If you use a bicycle or a car to move to a place that is near your home, you will decrease the gasoline consumption of your car. This can save you a lot of money because the price of gas is expensive. Maybe, it is the laziness of some people who use their cars to drive to places that are near their homes. However, this habit of driving causes an increase of gasoline consumption. Finally, the most important benefit of riding a bicycle on short trips is that it can help you have good health. When you ride a bicycle, you use your legs to move, and this physical exercise is aerobic which means that your heart is pumping blood throughout your body, so it fortifies your heart, lungs, and other important parts of your body.

2. Do you think that there should be a separate lane for bicycles?

The provision of a separated bicycle lane aims to improve the safety for cyclists by providing (physical) separation from other motor traffic whilst maintaining directness of travel and priority at intersections. Without a separated bike lane: 1. potential bike riders will avoid the road or, if it is the only reasonable route to their destination, avoid riding entirely.

2. vulnerable or timid bike riders such as children or elderly will perceive cycling as unsafe and not ride at all. Riders using a busier road without a separated bike lane risk:

being squeezed for space by motor vehicles who fail to respond responsibly to painted lane markings and encroach on the bike lane.

riding into a car door opened in front of them as there is insufficient room to manoeuvre if riding too close to parked cars as a result of being intimidated by moving vehicles

being hit by a motor vehicle whose driver, through lack of awareness of the bike lane, drives in the bike lane or crosses the bike lane without giving way to people using it.

Separated bicycle lanes change the risk profile of streets. There is less chance of getting hit from behind of hitting an opened car door but more risk or being struck by a turning vehicle, especially a left turning vehicle. This applies for both one-way or two-way separated bicycle lane. Since bike riders are riding behind parked cars or street furniture rather than alongside the moving vehicles they can be less visible to motor vehicle drivers. This can be an issue when they reappear at the approach to intersections or at driveways. Especial care needs to be taken with the design of intersections and crossing points so that bike riders are protected from left turning vehicles or those entering or exiting the roadway.

3. Why should a child have a bicycle?

Kids grow so if they are in a child seat or trailer it won't be long until they outgrow it. At 2-4 years they can move on to their own appropriately sized tri-cycle. On a bicycle, kids can experience/learn the laws of inertia, pedaling, steering, braking and sitting on a saddle. You are an adult; you have a commute; and (unless you home school), your kids have a commute as well. If you think there are good reasons for you to ride a bike to work, you may also consider good reasons for your kids to ride to school. In a recent post on five things your commute teaches your children, I held up the power of example as a teaching tool. There is another almost equally powerful teaching tooldoing. When you teach your children and then have them do what you have taught, you reinforce teaching with experience.

Heres an interesting fact from the Safe Routes To School website: In 1969, 48% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 walked or road a bike to school. In 2009 just 13% of children that age walk or bike to school. It is probably no coincidence that childhood obesity and its related health issues have skyrocketed since 1969. Which leads to my first reason why you should consider letting your child bike to school. Bike to School for Health The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children have 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. If riding a bike to and from school takes a half hour each way, your child has met this requirement without even trying. With many schools eliminating recess, this twice-daily activity may be your childs best hope for movement. Bike to School for Quality of Life Although we have studies showing that physical activity promotes psychological well-being, we dont really need them. We all remember the sense of well-being that comes from running for a ball, riding a skateboard, or pedaling at high speed with friends. Exercise releases chemicals that provide a feeling of well-being. Riding to school gives children a break from adults. It empowers them by demonstrating that they can survive without the immediate presence of an adult and by proving that they can get themselves anywhere they need to be. Bike to School to Build Habits The proverb says, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it. The lessons and attitudes we learn when young exercise the greatest influence on us, and habits of activity, empowerment, and thinking differently will pay big dividends later in life. Why You Dont Want Your Child to Bike To School Why shouldnt kids bike to school, I asked my wife. Because they will end up with their heads cracked open bleeding by the side of the road, she answered, only half facetiously. *Everyone knows* that sending your child to school on foot or on a bike is a death sentence, but consider:

In 2010 311 children were killed and 23,000 injured biking or walking in the United States, while 1,21o children were killed and 171,000 were killed inside motor vehicles. Parents driving children to school comprise up to 25% of morning rush hour traffic. When we kids used to get on my dads nerves, he would tell us to go play in traffic. I was reminded of those instructions when I saw kids being dropped off curbside at the elementary school. All those idling cars are generating pollution, and cases of childhood asthma. Accidents are dangerous, but so are juvenile diabetes, high blood pressure, joint and bone problems, and high cholesterol.

What You Can Do

Think about whether riding a bike to school makes sense for your childthen think about it again. If your child attends a neighborhood school biking may be a good option. If you child is at a charter school across town where she plays the double bass in the orchestra, biking to school may not work. Scout a route to school. Look for side streets, other kids on bikes, low traffic speeds and good visibility. Ride the route with your child and make sure he understands the route. Have him lead to show you that he knows where he is going. Talk with other parents and the principal to address real and perceived obstacles to getting kids on bikes. Google biking to school for sites like bike.walk.schools! Make sure your child knows the rules of the road, how to lock up her bike, and how to be safe.

Cue card Describe a famous person, you should say: - Who he/she is, - Why he/she is famous, - Whether or not you would like to meet him/her and why. Discussion 4.

Which qualities should a famous person have?

"traits plus motivation equals leadership"

Successful leaders come in a wide variety of personal characteristics such as their ability to make speeches in public or to relate to people in groups or individually. We have all met successful leaders that we wondered what enabled them to be effective. Some are smooth and some are rough. Some are charming and some.. It is impossible to find any one characteristic that all of them have and many non-leaders do not have. Motivation is the most important characteristic (yes, it can be called a trait) of any leader. Even the shyest person may become a hard charger if something near and dear to them is threatened. I have seen numerous quiet people suddenly find their public voices when NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) became real to them as some type of development became threatened their back yards. Talk to parents of school age children and many will step out of the quiet shells. After the threat or need passes, some of these people return to their non-public roles, but others find that they have some previously unknown or newly developed skills that can be used in other leadership activities. These will become the community and organizational leaders of the future. Communications skills are the second most important. If you cannot communicate effectively, you cannot be an effective leader. But as I discuss below, communications is much more than being a good speaker. Despite the great diversity among leaders, there are some characteristics or traits which most successful leaders have. These are the "Traits" listed here. Very few leaders have all of them to the limit, but the most effective leaders will have most of them well developed. A few leaders will

have only a few of these traits such persistence or the ability to get people to work together, but they are likely to have those few very well developed. The fourteen traits described here are the "tools of the trade." Not all of them will be used in every leadership situation, but like other tools, they are available if needed. All of these characteristics can be developed or attained. None are genetic, although some of the traits may be the gifts of wise parents to some very fortunate young people. For many of us, they are the results of hard work over years of time (very slowly developed habits in most cases). I have talked to many successful politicians, bankers, judges and leaders of many other types, almost to a person they have said that they have worked over the years to further improve their skills. Some have done it through formal classes or sessions with professionals, other through observation and practice; but all have worked at honing their abilities. After looking back over my own struggles to obtain more of these, I have come to strongly believe that almost any person can with sufficient motivation and work develop to a considerable degree all fourteen of the traits. I quickly not that today, I am not a skilled speaker or writer, but I can get my message across. One of favorite activities is selling - of ideas. Turn me lose with a small group and a good idea and I am in close to heaven. personality 1. An outgoing style - the ability and enjoyment of "working the crowd" is a very useful skill both for leadership and many other parts of life. I have a friend who whenever he is in a meeting or a party, makes sure that he shakes every hand and greets every person. Charisma is often thought of as a trait of many leaders. We are not quite sure what charisma is. It is probably the ability of a person to gain very quickly the attention, respect and trust of others. Famous leaders like Martin Luther King and John Kennedy is said to have had charisma. No question, it is an effective tool for leaders in certain situations, but it is difficult to learn. Humor and warmth are effective in most leadership (and non-leadership) situations. If we are not fortunate enough to have them now, we can develop them. Start by developing a good smile andlaugh. This will be hard for many males in our culture who have been acculturated to be stoic with a stone face. Women have a distinct advantage in being encouraged to smile and to

show emotions. This will take a long period of consistent self-conscious efforts. My father was a wonderful, but stoic Missouri farmer who smiled little. I, of course, modeled myself after him. Thus, I have worked on my smile for years (still do). The ability to deliver one-liners and tell a few jokes helps also. Joke telling must be done with considerable care. The most effective humor concerns your self. Forgetful jokes work well for me. After all, professors are supposed to be forgetful. Don't tell jokes that put down any group - no ethnic, no mother-in-law jokes, etc. You will lose more than you will win with such jokes. Another useful characteristic is the ability to remember personal characteristics such as names, items about the family, how many children they have, etc. People like to hear their names. It recognizes them as a unique individual. I suggest taking one or more courses in "acting" for helping to add traits to your personality. We all "play" many different roles every day. Every young person knows the "child" roles as well as parents know the "parenting" role. Learning acting helps us to focus on characteristics of our own personalities by learning to more formally play roles. Some people think of acting as "faking it." The line between "faking" it and real behavior is thin and hard to define. We must always be sincere; people do not like "acting" in real life. persuasive 2. Communications skills - you must be able to speak effectively in public and in most cases, you must have good writing skills also. You must be able to communicate in the style or jargon of the group or organization. Your message must fit your audience. For example, large words and complex sentences will not work with people of limited formal education. Writing in technical terms may help in a few instances, but writing in clear simple terms helps in almost all cases. Well-educated people can understand simple clear information; but those with limited education cannot go the other way. The old KISS principle (keep it simple - stupid) has much utility. Words are often not enough. Most people today get most of their information from TV and the most widely read newspaper is USA Today. TV news programs and USA Today both use

simple styles with lots of color, pictures and graphs. Pictures and other visual aids are especially useful in helping people understand abstract ideas. I strongly encourage you to take every opportunity through courses or informal opportunities to improve your communications skills. These traits, truly, are the bottom line of leadership - with them, successful leadership (and many other types of success) is an open door - without them, success will be a struggle. [top]

persistence 3. Keep trying - most social changes, large and small, is and should be slow. Major changes in values and beliefs often occur between generations. It is unusual for major social changes to occur in less than a few years or even decades. Changes in the educational system often take several decades. If change occurs too fast, people become uncertain about what is "right," good or appropriate. They lose their sense of security. Something as simple as a small change in curriculum of the local school system may take years. But if the idea is good, the results may last decades and effect many people. Also realize that in historical perspective, the changes you are working toward are small and incremental. Be prepared for an effort of several years when you start the process of bringing about change in your organization or community. A university employs me and universities are very slow to change. For example, we are still teaching using nineteenth century methods even though we are almost in the twenty-first century. The major change has been in some cases, the chairs. Most, but not all, have been changed, but the professor still uses a chalkboard and basically, lectures. Obviously, many people with excellent leadership skills have tried to change the teaching methods, but the rate of change is very slow. It takes about fifty years for a significant change to occur in education. Leadership in major projects will require a large among of stamina and perseverance.

patience 4. There are times when you will need to relax and wait for events or time to pass. Many new ideas will become accepted after people have had time to think about them. Most people who are angry or excited about a proposed change will cool down with time. Patience is a hard attribute for many young and not so young to learn. Most things, especially if they are worthwhile, do not happen quickly. Self-discipline is an essential trait for leadership. Patience and persistence are essential twins for getting things done. Always remember it takes time, time for leadership, and time for change. Patience and persistence are very difficult traits for the young. The American culture wants it now - not tomorrow. But the real world does not work that way.

perceptive 5. You must be sensitive to other people's wants and needs and to changes in these wants and needs. Genuine interest in another person will often develop a sense of trust by that person. A gifted politician is one who can carefully always perceive the current mood of his constituents. The ability to listen is an essential skill of a good leader. You must stay in touch with your supporters. If the group is large or unorganized, this is very difficult to do because of the lack of accurate feedback. As a public leader, I find it difficult to differentiate between isolated concerns about issues which effect only one or a few people and more general concerns. Most people will not take the time to make contact and discuss issues unless the issue becomes important to them. Public leaders also have to aware of organized campaigns by relatively small special interest groups. How large a group or how important an issue do these people really represent? They often have the intent of benefiting only themselves.

probity 6. Honesty and trustworthy, you need to be honest both now and in the future. Most people will believe and follow someone they trust. Openness and candor are characteristics that most people appreciate. There are a few people who will take advantage of such traits, but the vast majority will appreciate them. The age-old Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a good standard to follow both today and tomorrow. Leaders of today are under very careful public scrutiny from the press and the people. Formerly private actions and records are now public. Several potential political appointments have been turned down because of past "sins." You may not plan to be a leader in the future, but events and plans change and you may find yourself unexpectedly in a leadership position. Suddenly, all of your current qualifications and past actions are under scrutiny. How will your college activities or other youthful escapades look in the future when you are seeking the office of _____? President Clinton's problems of trying to explain his youthful marihuana smoking with his famous "but I didn't inhale" statement illustrates the difficulty of justifying past actions. It is very difficult to reclaim a reputation that has been tarnished with charges of dishonesty or other questionable behavior. I cannot leave this topic without noting that honesty along with some other traits is often more admired than practiced. Indeed, a question can be raised here. People want honesty, but do they also want in the same measure of candor? My observation is that people will say they want to know, but actually prefer not to have details, especially if they may be somewhat disagreeable.

praise giving 7. "Strokes" - almost all people like praise and compliments. Almost everyone likes to be recognized especially if they have worked hard on the project. It may be possible to give too many kind words, but it is very difficult to do so especially if they are given in a sincere manner.

If you, a leader, are working with a committee or other team, make absolutely sure that everyone is given full public recognition. If you don't, your support the next time is likely to be much less. The folk saying: "praise in public and criticize in private" is very effective. But the praise should be deserved; a person can quickly develop a reputation as overly "smoothie." Mistakes and errors must be dealt with as quickly as possible. If the errors are part of the public record, then your responses should be public also. However, you should take the public blame. Do not point to some supporter or employee and say: "it was all their fault." If you do, your career as a leader will be short! Another folk saying that comes to mind: "honey attracts more flies than vinegar." People are more attracted by praise than by criticism and will be willing to work on change if their contributions are acknowledged. I can not say it to strongly, it is very important that people be given recognition for their contributions. A self-effacing leader who gives the credit to his/her supporters will attract many more followers than one who brags on "my" accomplishments. A simple thank you is very effective especially when sincerely given and meant! Note: you should also be gracious in accepting compliments.

positive orientation 8. The future should always be seen as bright and optimistic. Tomorrow will be better than today. Norman Vincent Peale in his best selling book of fifty years ago, The Power of Positive Thinking, contributed to a deeply held American belief about what the future will be like. We as a culture have an aversion to the negative except, paradoxically, in the mass media where the only "news" is defined to be negative stories - what went wrong today - crimes, injures, death and destruction. We prefer the positive in our personal and everyday lives. We want to think that the future will be better than today, that things can and will improve. Problems can be solved by our

actions. And we want our leaders to portray a positive optimistic attitude. Problems are not "problems", but opportunities. Simultaneously, we want our leaders to be honest and realistic. So in dismal situations, the statements of optimism must be tempered. If there are no easy answers, say so. You must be open and honest. W. I. Thomas wrote many years ago about self-fulfilling prophecies. If a person or group believes a thing to be true and operates, as though it were true, often it becomes true. This has been proven often in education and other fields. If a leader takes a positive stance, it will be more popular and the desired action is more likely to occur. Always assume that someone will closely examine your stance on almost anything you say or do. A motto you might want to try: "Pessimism breeds negativity. Optimism breeds opportunity."

people based 9. Leadership must be of, by and for the people. The only reason for leadership should be for the benefit of the people. The current tendency is to look for the benefits to an individual and not to the larger group. One reason why many so-called leaders are distrusted today is that they are seen as self-serving - primarily interested in their own benefits. Congress is seen as a "good old boys' club" with high salaries and super plush benefits; not at all like the citizen-legislators which the founding fathers had in mind. The rapidly passing term limits on politicians are an attempt to reduce the number of professional politicians. Professional leaders of any type are likely to be seen as suspect.

Possible 10. A leader must be realistic to determine the art of the possible. How much can realistically be accomplished in the time and resources available? How strong is the desire for

change? Are the people willing to pay the price either in reduced services or higher taxes - what ever it takes? Very often people call for changes, but when they find out how difficult or expensive it will be to solve the problems, they will not support the proposed solutions. Determining which ideas in any organization or setting are politically and economically feasible and which are not is a vital asset for any leader. Do not jump into "solving" a problem until you have given very careful consideration to the process of solution. Will the other people support the proposed solution? A little caution is a good asset for a leader. Bold and swift action by the knight on the white horse occurs primarily in the movies. An old folk saying has considerable wisdom for leadership: "fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

practical 11. A leader must realize that pleasing all of the people all of the time is not possible. A leader must be practical in decisions made catering to the majority, perceptive enough to realize when the majority is right and strong enough to take action without the support of the majority when the majority is wrong. At the same time you must be strong enough to stand by your convictions and accept the criticisms - valid and invalid - which are sure to come. Again, practical and possible are twins that have considerable interrelationships.

progressive 12. An effective leader will move the group forward. Incorporating new strategies in leadership and communications is important. Sometimes progress may mean maintaining the current situation. It depends upon the group's needs and desires. And you must be progressive in other things such as media usage. A person cannot be a successful candidate for president or most other public offices if he/she cannot make full use of the media. The Kennedy - Nixon debates proved that many years ago. Similarly, many CEOs of

businesses have found themselves suddenly facing the media to answer questions about their organization.

prepared 13. A leader must be knowledgeable about his or her goals, the variety of means for reaching the goals, the needs necessary to meet the goals and about the people in the group. An effective leader must be both organized and prepared. Many leaders have opened their mouths and inserted their foot and suddenly found that they were no longer regarded as leaders. A more modern folk saying is that "you should not have your mouth in gear while your mind is in neutral."

power-building 14. Even the best leaders can not tackle most leadership jobs alone. They need to have and to motivate followers to become involved in getting the job done. They must trust other people to get a job done and they must be able to delegate. A similar trait is the ability to network - to build linkages of friends and acquaintances that may be able to provide needed assistance at some future time. A classic study by James Coleman many years ago showed that who you knew was one of the most important things that influenced life successes.

Close examination of all fourteen of these traits show that all are learned. Some are learned early in childhood and some later. However, the average person such as you or I can make major changes in any of these. I know that many of my characteristics have changed greatly from my early years. If I were the same person as then, I could not begin to do what I do today. Changes in personality are very possible, but for you, only you can do it . The first step is to want to do it.

5. Why does the young generation copy them?

Because i think main reason is they like them and always want to follow their ideal for example the way they dress and the way they do their works. Young people think that the celebrities are "hip and cool", also they think that they are the most.

6. Who were the famous people 50 years ago and who will be famous in the next 50 years?
Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president in 1952 Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955, for refusing to give her seat to a white man on the city bus. After her arrest, black protesters in Montgomery, Alabama organized a bus protest, which eventually put an end to the practice of separate seats for white and black and to making black riders give their seats to white riders. The effort was led by a young black minister by the name Martin Luther King, Jr. He chose a method of passive resistance. None of the protesters were to react with violence no matter how they were treated.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Famous authors, actors, and movies: Godzilla: a special effects movie made by the Japanese. Charlton Heston starred in the movie "Ben Hur". Marlon Brando starred in the movie "The Wild One". Marilyn Monroe starred in many movies including "Gentlemen prefer Blondes". James Dean: nominated for awards in 2 movies: "East of Eden" and "Giant", but died in a car crash. Doris Day: starred in many movies, one was "Calamity Jane", she also was a music star. JD Salinger: famous writer, wrote Catcher in the Rye. "The Cat in the Hat" was a famous book, written by Dr. Seuss.

His real name was Theodore Geisel.

TELEVISION AND MOVIES Before the 1950's the only place people could watch movies were in the theater, but the invention of the television changed all that. TV's were all black and white and had small screens. One actor that was very popular on TV was Lucille Ball, who starred in "I Love Lucy" as a loveable, mischievous, redhead with a sidekick named Ethel. Other TV shows that were popular were: Howdy Doody, Lassie, and the Mickey Mouse Club. New show like "Ozzie and Harriet" and "Father Knows Best" became popular because they showed people's life the way they wanted it to be. Because of TV, movies had to get better. So they tried to make movies with lots of action, sound, and color. One invention called the smell-o-vision even pumped scents into the theater. On Saturdays, they had special shows just for children called matinees. They showed Lassie, Roy Rogers and other children's shows. The theaters also held talent contests during the intermissions. Lots of low budget movies were science fiction and in them movie makers tried to warn people what would happen if we continued to use atomic weapons. Another famous actor was Marilyn Monroe, a beautiful blonde which Hollywood went crazy over. A famous movie was "Singing in the Rain" and to make the rain easier to see they added milk to the rain. West Side Story was also a popular movie, based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. It was considered at that time to be one of the greatest musicals in America. Other Musicals that were popular were: Guys and Dolls, The King and I, Gypsy, The Pajama Game, and The Sound of Music. MUSIC Elvis Presley: the king of rock n' roll Little Richard: Wild piano style Buddy Holly: rock and roll giant Rodgers and Hammerstein: produced many musical hit movies, like "Oklahoma". Chuck Berry: known for guitar playing and rock n' roll music A new kind of music came onto the scene. It was loud, fast and upbeat. It was a mixture of black rhythm and blues and white country and western. It was called Rock n' Roll and became popular among teens. At first parents hated it, but it became more accepted in 1957, when Dick Clark hosted American Bandstand on TV. American teens went crazy over the show. They began to copy the clothes, the music, and the dances they saw on the show. To get on the show, the kids had to look a certain way. The boys had crew cuts and wore ties and jackets. The girls wore dresses that came high up on the neck and could not show too much.

Ritchie Valens was the first Mexican-American to make it big in rock n' roll. Chuck Berry was a famous African American and well known in the rock n' roll world. He is not yet in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame because you have to be dead 10 years before you can be put there. Elvis Presley is considered the King of Rock n' Roll. He was not like any other white singer to make records. Many felt that he sang "black". He swung his hips and curled his lip and captured the hearts of millions of young girls across the US. Buddy Holly was one of the greatest rock n' roll songwriters of his time. In 2 years he had 7 hit singles. The world was stunned when at the age of 22, he was killed in a plane crash. Return to top of page SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Famous names in the 50's: Jonas Salk: developed an oral vaccine against polio Francis Bacon: created the 1st practical hydrogen oxygen fuel cell. The invention of the electric guitar also changed the face of music forever. Labor saving devices were more affordable, due to improved methods of mass production, like the washing machine and the vacuum cleaner.

This commentary will withhold its answer until the end. Celebrity for many is fleeting, but for a select few is permanent. Will these famous people and things of our time be equally famous a half-century from now? In our opinion ... Bill Gates Yes. For massive wealth, and mastering business of computing. Steve Jobs Yes. For revolutions in computing, digital music, possibly smartphones. Warren Buffett No, will be superseded by the next great investor. Alan Greenspan No. The mystique is in permanent decline. Tiger Woods Yes. Groundbreaking career, huge victory margins. Arnold Schwarzenegger Toughest call on the list. Yes. Warhol No. The art world awaits another character.

Harrison Ford No. Blockbuster films, low-key lifestyle. Donald Trump Yes, for the name; no, for the person. Tom Brady No, because Otto Graham, a great, isn't that famous. Bono No. Not the pizzazz of Mick Jagger. "Where's the Beef?" Yes. Unforgettable. David Letterman No, unless he morphs into Bob Hope. Hillary Clinton Yes, especially if there is still no woman president. Jeff Bezos No. Too low-profile. Princess Diana No. The palace will have other princesses. Sacha Baron Cohen Probably not. George S. Patton Yes, one of the last old-school warriors. Rosie O'Donnell No. Just doesn't seem possible. Louis Rukeyser Yes. The first big name in business television. Ronald Reagan No. Too many other presidents between now and then. Barack Obama Yes. New Coke Yes. Most effective business flop of all time. Steve Wynn Yes, the kingpin of modern Vegas. Shakespeare Yes. Closest thing to a guarantee. Harvard Yes. In higher education, there are no upstarts. Charlie Rose Yes. Interviewing is a lost art. Bob Barker No. Enjoy it while it lasts. The Beatles Yes, permanent giants of modern popular music.

The Monkees No. Possibly completely forgotten. Maria Bartiromo Yes. Female business legend. Richard Nixon No. His audience is an aging one. Bernie Madoff Yes, a real-world name that supersedes Ponzi. Jennifer Aniston No; immensely popular, but not the Kate Hepburn of cinema. Ted Turner No, cable TV will no longer be a fascination. "It's a Wonderful Life" No. Somewhere along the way, another film will steal our heart. Hugh Hefner Yes. Fascination will increase over time. Will Smith No. Other films have more staying power. Neil Armstrong Yes. A distinction that's his for life. Fidel Castro No. There will always be another dictator. Spider-Man No. Eventually, new superheroes will take over. Tom Cruise No. Films won't age well enough. "SportsCenter" No. Doing great at 30, but 50 more seems a stretch. Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather No, waning influence of network news. Marlboro No. It seems something will unseat the Man. Rev. Al Sharpton Yes, a lifetime of headlines and controversy. Jumping the shark No. Tough call. Feels like it might fade. Britney Spears No. Needs no explanation. Abraham Lincoln Yes. Bill O'Reilly No. Not a factor in the future. Big Mac Yes. But Egg McMuffin could wither away. Secretariat Yes, horse fame is long-lasting.

Christie Brinkley Yes. Came of age just as the Swimsuit Issue did. "American Idol" No. Standards on public auditions will change. Peanuts Yes, comic strips will never be the same. Barbara Walters Yes, most famous woman journalist. "Baywatch" No. Waves of reruns come crashing down. Steven Spielberg No. Greatest films will seem dated. Segway No. Better ways to get around. The NCAA Tournament Pool Yes. Sports betting is ageless. Fantasy baseball No. Probably in its 7th inning. "You Light Up My Life" No, but will hang on for a long time. Windows No, but its replacement remains a mystery. Gordon Gekko Yes. Polarizing character is standard-bearer of greed. "The Brady Bunch" No. Here's the story of fleeting glory. Oprah Winfrey No. Daytime TV relevance is a fast fleeting. Space shuttles No. Space travel will be much different. Dr. Phil McGraw No. But you can't be 100% sure. Lawrence Summers No. Mild interest from government/academic historians. Michael Jackson No, but judged by album sales, the Thriller is never gone.

7. Should they have personal life?

Yes, everyone should have his or her public and private life. Everyone needs to have peace of mind. They SHOULD but they don't. Most very famous celebrities get followed by fans and paparazzi every where they go. The life blood of celebrities is publicity or they cease to be celebrities. They promote themselves and their life styles, their excesses and egomania is boundless in many cases. They can hardly complain when the press also delves into this.
How would you like it to have paparazzi all around you, flashing you, and blinding tyou, and never leaving you alone, at home, at the movies, at restaurant, no matter where you go you would be followed, and then if you see certain people, go certain places, or if a picture is taken a certain way, then anything could be said, and once its published its out there, nothing can stop it. That's a nightmare, why would anyone want that? I'm sure that even you want your privacy at some point or another, right? well their human beings too, and their just like you and me, but with a lot more money, and people following them, so im sure they want their private moments too!

8. If you had a chance to become famous what would be your attitude?

If I could be famous for a day I would like to be my Great grandfather Thomas Jefferson. I would like to know the power of controlling a Country. I always adored things from the past and it would make me very happy to surround myself with the things I love. I would have so much fun being Thomas Jefferson. I would make a new Holiday day. I would call my new Holiday day Shine day. Where everyone would have to be super nice to one another. If I could be famous for a day and get to choose who I would be, I would like to be Jim Carry. He is an awesome actor and very funny. I also feel that he has done many amazing, funny, and entertaining movies, and I would like to be him for a day just to feel what it is like to be in his shoes. And also maybe I could actually be funny for a day.

9. What do people usually do on weekends in your country?

about me , somtimes I hung out with my friends or family , do shopping , play basketball , or just stay home and enjoy reading a book with a cup of coffee , add to that; chating with friends in Skype or msn .

I usually read, hang out with friends, and drink hot cocoa unless it's summer, then I drink lemonade. If you don't like reading, I know a lot of people who draw or write or something like that. If this doesn't help, I'm very sorry. Movies are also very entertaining. I hope this coming weekend is fun for you. Oh, I also write emails to friends from school and stuff. Scources: my past weekends

10. What do you do on weekends? Weekends are usually an exhausting but fun smorgasbord of fort-building, bike-riding, soccer-playing, chess-tournament-competing, stroller-pushing, zoo-going, diaper-changing, book-reading and birthday-party-going. There is alot to do. But depends if you have the right company and people you actually enjoy being with. You can go out bowling, movies at home or theatre, restaurants, park, wathc outdoor sports and just sit around and talk. You can also do the things you are not able to do during the week..........laundry, clean your house, mop and sweep. 11. Did you think art is important in life, such as painting and sculptures?
Art is the beauty and emotions of the world expressed. Art is important because it allows expression, learning, creativity, and a topic of conversation. We had art class in school and I play the trumpet and piano. I believe art is very important in ever aspect in our lives. It starts with types of art like television/media, furniture, technology, pictures in books, posters, pencils, erasers, labels, purses, clothing, and the art in museums. There is art all around us. The most popular art right now is media art. Media art refers to commercials and advertisement. Art influences us to either buy things or to feel a certain way. So it has a big impact through out our lives. Also there is culture art. Art can identify us by culture. For example, I come from a mexican family. If I were to wear sandals, a white blouse, a green and red long skirt,[of course people over there don't dress like that anymore but just for the sake of explaining] people would think i come from a hispanic background. Or for a more better explanation when i see people who wear baggy clothes and where lot of bling bling, I automatically assume they listen to some sort of rap or hip hop. Anything can be art; the way you walk, talk, dress, etc. Most artists have a vision that they need to express. This vision usually can't be explained adequately with words art has its own language and vocabulary, of visual ideas, form, color, space, art history, emotions, spirit - which need to be learned by artist and viewer, in order for us to know what an artwork is "about." By educating our eye to see relationships of color and form, and art historical references, we can learn the language of art. This may not be crucial to enjoying art - but, as with other creative fields, such as music and literature, the more we know about what we are looking at, the more its meaning will be communicated to us. This can be done by looking at a lot of art many different kinds - for a long time; as well as learning about the history of art, in books, gallery and museum lectures, etc. It is often thought that art is one of the inessential frills of life, that its purpose is simply to decorate a room, or to be beautiful. But the best art deals with the essentials of life - whether it be love, death, war, human relationships, or affirmation of the human spirit. Contrary to Madison Avenue, the most important things in life are intangible, most of us would agree - love, friendship, personal sacrifice, honor, etc. - things of the spirit. Though, in the beginning of the 21st century, many of us feel that we are technologically and materially invincible, the truth is that we still don't know the answers to the eternal and most important questions: Who are we? How did we get here? How were the universes created? What happens when we die? Life itself, and consciousness, are both awesome mysteries, that fill us with wonder, if we stop to think about them. The job description of an artist is to make us look, think, and feel, by whatever means necessary, and according to the particular artist's training, vision, experience, and point of reference.

Art can be much more than a rectangular painting on a wall, or a piece of sculpture on a pedestal. Since the early 20th century, art has continued to evolve more forms, many of which cross over old or arbitrary barriers of labels and categories. Like today's music, contemporary art wants to mix forms together, and create entirely new ones. If we ask why, can't we also ask, why not? The main objective, and distinguishing characteristic, of good art, is its expression - what it is "saying." To accomplish this communication, artists need to create freely and question assumptions about art, and about themselves and their audience. Traditional paintings (until the 20th century) tried to be an illusion of reality - as though the viewer was looking through a window into a space or the outside world. Techniques used to create this illusion of reality were perspective, foreshortening, shading to create three dimensions, and other spatial cues to give the illusion of spatial depth. In the late 19th century, artists began to put aside this need for illusion, and with Cubism in the early 20th century, created collages which had no pretensions of three dimensionality. On the contrary, they contained real pieces of fabric, chair caning, cut paper, etc., placed in a flat pattern with no attempt at perspective or other illusion of spatial depth. Paradoxically, they were not "realistic" - yet they were what-you-see-is-what-you-get - no illusion of reality - rather, the concrete reality itself. Which is more real - the illusion of a landscape on a flat surface, or a non-illusory arrangement of colors and forms? Also, in the 19th century, paintings were about what they were about - a landscape was just that; a historical or religious painting had a clear meaning related to the historical or religious event depicted. Or, they could have symbolic intent - 'vanitas' still lifes, for instance, were meant to contain symbols representing human mortality, and hence the temporal vanity of physical beauty, etc., in the face of eventual death, and presumably, being judged by God. In modern and contemporary art, the work may not have a "subject" in this sense, if it is abstract or nonobjective. And often, the work is about art itself - that is, it is related to other art of the past or present; or its "subject" is the nature of art - what is art? what is perception? and other questions related to the nature of art in contemporary society (as in conceptual art). So often, I've heard other artists talk about one of their works by saying, "I was looking at ___________, and/or, I was thinking about __________." The first blank could be filled in with another artist's name (Picasso for instance), or a type of art (for example, Italian primitive painting). The second blank could be filled in with any number of things in the visible or internal world of the artist - from other art, to the physics of visual perception, to natural processes, to societal issues, and much more. There is also a difference between subject matter and content in modern and contemporary art. Subject matter means what the work of art depicts, that is, what the image is. Content means what the meaning of the work is. This can be illustrated with a literary example: In the novel Moby Dick, the subject matter is a man against a whale. The content would be the extended meaning of this subject - all of Melville's symbolism, metaphor, etc. about man's existence, his relationship with nature, etc. A more contemporary example would be One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey. The subject matter is patients in a mental hospital. The content/meaning is Kesey's view of the individual in society, the freedom of the human spirit, etc. In visual art, the subject matter in the Abstract Expressionistic painter Mark Rothko's work is rectangles of color; its content is related to spiritual concerns. The style of artworks is a relatively superficial issue, and style labels are often inaccurate and misleading. Most artists do not fit neatly into categories of style; plus, they grow and change as artists, moving among stylistic areas freely, as many musicians do. However, there are some characteristics to certain art movements, even though some of its members may not have these characteristics. For instance, Impressionism can be said to be about color and light, though the style of Degas is very different from Monet or Renoir. Expressionism can be said to be about emotion, and perhaps suffering, though styles varied among expressionistic painters. Cubism was about space and composition, though it had several types - analytical, synthetic, and collage. Surrealism tended to be about the unconscious, fantasy, dreams and other Freudian imagery, though its artists produced wildly divergent styles of art. The Abstract Expressionists tended to deal with abstract imagery and spirit/emotion, though their work varied from Jackson Pollock to Barnett Newman to Clyfford Still. Much modern and contemporary art has art as its subject, or at least many works comment on past or present art. Edouard Manet, in the mid-19th century, when modern art is said to have begun, used the compositions of Old Masters in his paintings, for instance of Giorgione. His paintings, which shocked the critics and the public because of their boldness and frankness, actually were meant to refer back to these painters of the past. Painters imitate other painters to: 1) pay homage; 2) learn about painting; 3) for compositional or subject ideas; or 4) make a comment or express a visual or intellectual idea. Many modern paintings are about painting - composition, color, paint handling, imagery, art history. Art comments on other art - like a conversation - over time. Like musicians, artists influence one another greatly, in a mutual fashion, answering one another through ages and places. Music can just be about itself - how "great" it is - whether classical, jazz, rock, blues or world music - its technical and expressive excellence is the subject. When we hear great music, we know this - it is its own justification - it just

IS. It doesn't have to be about something - we can enjoy a Beethoven symphony even if we don't understand what it is about - though knowing surely would enhance the music for us. I remember when the Beatles first arrived in America - the reporters kept asking, "What do you call your haircut?" One of the Beatles responded, "George." And I remember when a viewer asked an artist friend what her yellow abstracted sculptural form was; she replied, "It's yellow." Art and music don't have to have names or subjects - they just have to be listened to and looked at. Their meaning may not be expressible in words - that doesn't affect their value. Sometimes, the greater the music or art, the harder it is to express just why it is so great - because it is just beyond our grasp, not easily categorized or understood, like Cezanne. And sometimes it doesn't matter what a work of art is about. It's like a great rock song, where the lyrics are barely distinguishable - we may have a vague idea what the song is about - but it really isn't that important. What interests us most are the "beat," the sound of the instruments together (the arrangement), the melody, the vocals, the harmony, the cool guitar riffs, and the main impact of the song on us - its excellent expression, its power, its ability to move us, etc. Sometimes the subject of a song is very important - for instance, Bruce Springsteen's Philadelphia. But just as many times, the subject matter is not as important as the music or artwork itself. It seems that this is a modern phenomenon - perhaps the self-consciousness that arrived at about the same time - Freud, Darwin, Einstein - all explaining our place and configuration in the universe, making us examine ourselves. Art is often about the visual elements: color, structure, and the forms themselves - whether organic, curvilinear, gestural, or geometric, and the underlying structure of the composition. (See Illustration: the leaves and stems of this lily are beautifully curved; in a painting or photograph, it is these curves which are the subject, whether they represent something actual or not; and the visual relationships between the stems and leaves which are expressive.) Mondrian is an example of a modernist who wanted to use the eternally beautiful forms of geometry (rectangles) in his work, and have the beauty of mathematical proportions in the spacing intervals of the forms. There is also much beauty in visual relationships in art - such as Mondrian's mathematical proportions, or color relationships. This is like harmony in music - made up of different voices, instruments and notes - and is as powerfully expressive as subject matter or words - maybe more. For example, close vocal harmony in music whether Boyz II Men, the Beach Boys, or celtic music - is a thrill for the ear to hear, not easily translated into words, and also has an effect on the heart of the listener. In art, relationships of proportion, color and forms to an educated eye are just as eloquent. And it can be a simple relationship - Beethoven's Evening Sonata is a simple melody, a great guitar riff is often extremely simple - this doesn't alter the quality. In art, Rothko's rectangles of translucent color are pretty simple, but they conjure up the feeling of stained glass windows with light pouring through, a powerful spirituality. This excellence of technique and expression in the arts is its own reason for being - it adds to life and enriches us immeasurably. I believe that this kind of excellence is itself an affirmation of life, and inspires us to aim for the same excellence. This is another reason for Cezanne's greatness - his enormous effort to produce the greatest paintings possible - they are our best hope made visible, the best in us. Another example is the film Schindler's List, which made something meaningful out of perhaps the worst period in history, making something positive come from the worst negativity and destructiveness. Another powerful artwork is Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. A young student at the time, she designed something that managed to do the impossible - create a catharsis for Americans that allowed healing for all of us after the Vietnam war. Many artists over the centuries have continued to create in the most difficult of circumstances - through wars, poverty, illness, even blindness. The German Expressionist Emil Nolde painted secretly during the Nazi era, since his work was declared 'degenerate' by the Nazis. Degas and Monet both continued to paint after they were almost blind; Renoir continued to paint his happy pictures after his hands were so crippled with arthritis that the brush had to be strapped to his wrist to paint. Van Gogh attempted to continue, even though very few were interested in his works - which sell today for many millions of dollars. Cezanne, Rembrandt and many others painted in obscurity and sometimes poverty, and painted with much love and devotion, leaving us works that people wait many hours in line to see. There are many artists now who do the same.

Specific Modern and Contemporary Artists:

Mark Rothko, Abstract Expressionist painter - (Born Marcus Rothkowitz in Russia, 1903, came to the U.S. (Oregon) in 1913, changed his name to Mark Rothko, attended Yale University for 2 years, studied with Josef Albers, moved to New York as a young man, became part of the Abstract Expressionist movement, took his own life in 1970) Rothko first painted images influenced by such things as ancient Greek vases with their horizontal bands. During the 1940's, with the world in tumult, he and some other artists began to feel that a new artistic vision was needed to express this new world, and his work gradually developed into simple abstract areas of soft color. He became part of the group later known as the Abstract Expressionists, or the New York School, who became very prominent in the late 1940's and early 1950's. His work gradually developed into horizontal, floating soft-edged color rectangles, eventually known as color-field painting. Most of his mature paintings are large and vertical, with translucent color areas softly brushed on in layers, creating the effect of luminosity, such as in stained glass windows. His intention was to create a spiritual atmosphere for the viewer, hopefully drawing the viewer's attention away from the humdrum world, and toward a more spiritual orientation to life. His work also contained a sense of the tragedy of the human condition; he wanted to create work that was timeless and spiritual, with the power of primitive art. Although he became successful as an artist, he did not feel comfortable with his fame. Personally, he suffered from depression, physical illness, and alcoholism, all of which contributed to his suicide in 1970. He felt that paintings created with visual ideas alone, without emotional or spiritual meaning, were not truly good paintings, although he did not like talking about his work - he felt that silence was more "accurate." Ultimately, his work could be said to be about the power of color - color relationships and the emotional power of color. As Albers' student, he was exposed to the methodical study of color relationships - but he went on to make color much more than a visual element - it became a very expressive element as well. National Gallery of Art webpages on Rothko (click on the triangle in the upper right corner to see images and text) Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Environmental artists - (Both born in 1935, on the same day, he in Bulgaria, she in Morocco; he escaped from Communism in 1956; they met in 1958; they came to the U.S. in 1964. He had formal art training in Sofia and Prague, she completed a degree in Latin and philosophy; they create their works together, though he does the preliminary drawings) Christo Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude de Guillebon (they both go by their first name only), create large temporary environmental artworks which sometimes span great distances in the landscape, which they pay for themselves, without contributions or grants, partly through the sale of Christo's preliminary drawings, early works from the 1950's and 1960's, and lithographs. They are usually of manmade materials, mostly fabric, created in the form of large curtains, wrapping fabric, large umbrellas, and other forms, in the natural and urban environment. They work with a large army of paid workers to build these works, which often cover a large expanse of populated terrain. They also sometimes wrap things, such as buildings, as when they wrapped the Reichstag building in Germany. Their work is very expressive, of romanticism, whimsy, poetry, etc., and like much contemporary art, attempts to engage the public in a less passive way than viewing a work of art in a museum might be. Kerry James Marshall, representational painter/installation artist - (Born 1955, Alabama; he received a B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles; he lives and works in Chicago) Marshall was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1955 - during the birth of the Civil Rights movement; in 1963 he moved to Los Angeles, at the time of the strong Black Panther presence and the turbulence of the '60's. As an

African-American artist, this background has influenced his work greatly. His work has given homage to Civil Rights and African-American heroes, and also reflected stereotypes of African-Americans, and perceptions of black America by white America. So - finally - art to me is not a frill. It often deals with the most important issues in life, and can affect us very deeply, especially noticed in music. It inspires us to positivity - brotherhood - survival - understanding. Leonard Cohen, poet and songwriter, in his song Suzanne, says that "there are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning, they are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever." Perhaps this sounded corny to many, prior to September 11th. Cynics can no longer say that it is every man for himself - and we have seen exactly why it shouldn't be. Beauty and truth (art) are not only necessary for survival - the truth is that the alternative reality is not livable. We have always had a choice - we do now too. Richard Serra, Minimalist sculptor - (Born 1939, in San Francisco, California; he studied English Literature at the University of California, then received his MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree at Yale University; he has received Fulbright and Guggenheim grants; was originally a painter and filmmaker; continues to make prints and drawings, as well as sculpture) Richard Serra makes large minimalist sculptures in steel and concrete, of simple abstracted forms. As a young man, he worked in steel mills and bridge construction, where he learned a great deal about how to work with steel. This also formed his later approach to making steel sculptures - an 'industrial' approach to creating artworks in this material. He uses sheets of corten steel, as it will not rust or decay, and also works in concrete and other materials. He wanted to create sculptures in this 'construction' manner of construction - as did David Smith, a noted Abstract Expressionist sculptor - though Serra's works are usually massive in scale. The sculptures he makes involve the assistance of computer programmers and steel riggers to actually build them. He has also made many works which were not welded, but rather depended on gravity and other physical forces to hold them together. Many of his works involve viewers actually walking through, as well as around them, and are site-specific, meaning that they were designed with a lot of thought for a particular site, often an urban site, and planned for many years before construction. Minimalism began in the 1960's, partly as a reaction to the emotion of Abstract Expressionism. It deals with simplicity of form, usually geometric, and an objective, as opposed to expressive, approach. Serra's work is also concerned with art as the process and materials of art-making, rather than as a finished product. As sculpture, his work deals with space - 'articulating' the space - the space of the work itself, and its interaction with the natural or urban landscape surrounding it. Powerful in their size and aspect, his steel sculptures also stretch and bend in a way not usual in this heavy material. In an interview with Mark Simmons, Serra spoke of his art by saying that although art cannot change the world, it can potentially change the way people think, and therefore may indirectly change the world, and that maybe all art does is point out possibilities, and broaden the viewer's experience. He said art is about possibilities - the "potential for change in all of us." He took pride in the fact that often, people who don't know anything about sculpture or art, can seem to "get" his work. You can also see links to see Serra's work at www.artcyclopedia.com. Maya Lin, Sculptor/Architect - (Born 1959, in Ohio; attended Yale University, where as an architecture student she submitted a design entry for the Vietnam Memorial in 1980, which was chosen and the famous monument executed; she attended graduate school at Harvard briefly; designed several more monuments; then focused on her own sculpture and architectural projects; she lives and works in New York City and Vermont) The film A Strong, Clear Vision, by Freida Lee Mock, documents the events surrounding Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The story of the 21-year-old college student's controversial Vietnam memorial design in 1980, its selection, the protests of Vietnam veterans against the design, and the process of listening to complaints, explaining her concept, and the final construction of the sculpture, this film shows clearly Lin's quiet strength of conviction through this arduous process, which at times included personal attacks on her race,

age and gender. Many were not pleased that a young student's design was chosen over many professional designs submitted; the fact that she was female and Chinese-American also contributed to the displeasure, particularly since Vietnam is an Oriental country. At the time, America had not yet healed its deep wounds from Vietnam, and Vietnam veterans perhaps felt this wound most deeply. Once the famous monument was constructed, however, people (including vets) visited the granite wall and were greatly moved by it, allowing for an eventual healing and catharsis that was nothing short of incredible, especially after the sturm and drang of its birth. Her feeling about the monument was that to heal, one must first accept death, and grieve. Prior to creating her design, she studied memorials of past times and cultures, and also read some journals of World War I soldiers. Raised in Ohio by her Chinese immigrant parents, who were both college faculty professors, her father a ceramic artist, and her mother a poet, Maya grew up surrounded by art and the quiet landscape, which included nearby Native American burial mounds formed in the shape of a serpent. This earth sculpture influenced some of her later works, such as The Wave Field, made entirely of shaped earth. Many of her later sculptures have been made of water, earth, and recycled materials, such as glass, and are related to a concern with nature (the land, the environment and geology). She cites influences from Japanese and Shaker design. She also designed a Civil Rights memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, of water flowing over granite engraved with the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., that the Civil Rights movement would not rest until "justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

She once got an idea for a sculpture while eating, and hastily made a model for it with her mashed potatoes. She is a focused, gentle person who is able to translate her ideas into strong forms. A good link for Maya Lin (click on the photos at bottom) An interview with Maya Lin Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Environmental artists - (Both born in 1935, on the same day, he in Bulgaria, she in Morocco; he escaped from Communism in 1956; they met in 1958; they came to the U.S. in 1964. He had formal art training in Sofia and Prague, she completed a degree in Latin and philosophy; they create their works together, though he does the preliminary drawings) Christo Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude de Guillebon (they both go by their first name only), create large temporary environmental artworks which sometimes span great distances in the landscape, which they pay for themselves, without contributions or grants, partly through the sale of Christo's preliminary drawings, early works from the 1950's and 1960's, and lithographs. They are usually of manmade materials, mostly fabric, created in the form of large curtains, wrapping fabric, large umbrellas, and other forms, in the natural and urban environment. They work with a large army of paid workers to build these works, which often cover a large expanse of populated terrain. They also sometimes wrap things, such as buildings, as when they wrapped the Reichstag building in Germany. Their work is very expressive, of romanticism, whimsy, poetry, etc., and like much contemporary art, attempts to engage the public in a less passive way than viewing a work of art in a museum might be. Kerry James Marshall, representational painter/installation artist - (Born 1955, Alabama; he received a B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles; he lives and works in Chicago) Marshall was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1955 - during the birth of the Civil Rights movement; in 1963 he moved to Los Angeles, at the time of the strong Black Panther presence and the turbulence of the '60's. As an African-American artist, this background has influenced his work greatly. His work has given homage to Civil Rights

and African-American heroes, and also reflected stereotypes of African-Americans, and perceptions of black America by white America. So - finally - art to me is not a frill. It often deals with the most important issues in life, and can affect us very deeply, especially noticed in music. It inspires us to positivity - brotherhood - survival - understanding. Leonard Cohen, poet and songwriter, in his song Suzanne, says that "there are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning, they are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever." Perhaps this sounded corny to many, prior to September 11th. Cynics can no longer say that it is every man for himself - and we have seen exactly why it shouldn't be. Beauty and truth (art) are not only necessary for survival - the truth is that the alternative reality is not livable. We have always had a choice - we do now too. Richard Serra, Minimalist sculptor - (Born 1939, in San Francisco, California; he studied English Literature at the University of California, then received his MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree at Yale University; he has received Fulbright and Guggenheim grants; was originally a painter and filmmaker; continues to make prints and drawings, as well as sculpture) Richard Serra makes large minimalist sculptures in steel and concrete, of simple abstracted forms. As a young man, he worked in steel mills and bridge construction, where he learned a great deal about how to work with steel. This also formed his later approach to making steel sculptures - an 'industrial' approach to creating artworks in this material. He uses sheets of corten steel, as it will not rust or decay, and also works in concrete and other materials. He wanted to create sculptures in this 'construction' manner of construction - as did David Smith, a noted Abstract Expressionist sculptor - though Serra's works are usually massive in scale. The sculptures he makes involve the assistance of computer programmers and steel riggers to actually build them. He has also made many works which were not welded, but rather depended on gravity and other physical forces to hold them together. Many of his works involve viewers actually walking through, as well as around them, and are site-specific, meaning that they were designed with a lot of thought for a particular site, often an urban site, and planned for many years before construction. Maya Lin, Sculptor/Architect - (Born 1959, in Ohio; attended Yale University, where as an architecture student she submitted a design entry for the Vietnam Memorial in 1980, which was chosen and the famous monument executed; she attended graduate school at Harvard briefly; designed several more monuments; then focused on her own sculpture and architectural projects; she lives and works in New York City and Vermont) The film A Strong, Clear Vision, by Freida Lee Mock, documents the events surrounding Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The story of the 21-year-old college student's controversial Vietnam memorial design in 1980, its selection, the protests of Vietnam veterans against the design, and the process of listening to complaints, explaining her concept, and the final construction of the sculpture, this film shows clearly Lin's quiet strength of conviction through this arduous process, which at times included personal attacks on her race, age and gender. Many were not pleased that a young student's design was chosen over many professional designs submitted; the fact that she was female and Chinese-American also contributed to the displeasure, particularly since Vietnam is an Oriental country. At the time, America had not yet healed its deep wounds from Vietnam, and Vietnam veterans perhaps felt this wound most deeply. Once the famous monument was constructed, however, people (including vets) visited the granite wall and were greatly moved by it, allowing for an eventual healing and catharsis that was nothing short of incredible, especially after the sturm and drang of its birth. Her feeling about the monument was that to heal, one must first accept death, and grieve. Prior to creating her design, she studied memorials of past times and cultures, and also read some journals of World War I soldiers. Some of the ideas involved in their work:

- Christo escaped from Communism in 1961; the notion of freedom is extremely important to him, thus in their art. - They want feelings of love, joy, beauty, tenderness and sharing surrounding their work. - Their work is related to painting, sculpture, architecture, and urban planning. - They like the idea that their work is 'irrational' - that it has absolutely no practical function - just poetical creativity, that makes people feel free and smile. - They see their work as 'sublime and unique', as opposed to the abundance of triviality and repetition in the world. - They like to create 'gentle disturbances' in spaces owned by human beings - to make people become more aware of themselves and their surroundings. - They like the fact that their art is not just part of the hermetic world of art museums - it is in the street, the world - in populated spaces. (NASA asked them to create a work in space - JeanneClaude answered that NASA should call them back when there are lots of people up there.) - The fabric used is dynamic, sensual and tactile, and moves with the wind, as opposed to the static, heavy quality of bronze or steel sculpture. Christo and Jeanne-Claude are sometimes called conceptual artists - which they say isn't so, that they are environmental artists. A website created by two of their friends is interesting to visit, to see photos of their works, and information about them. They are interesting people, and want to share their work with the world, openly. A webpage of Stanford University is also informative, containing a link to an interesting interview with them. Also, see the Artist Profileof Christo and Jeanne-Claude for more information. Kerry James Marshall, representational painter/installation artist - (Born 1955, Alabama; he received a B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles; he lives and works in Chicago) Marshall was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1955 - during the birth of the Civil Rights movement; in 1963 he moved to Los Angeles, at the time of the strong Black Panther presence and the turbulence of the '60's. As an African-American artist, this background has influenced his work greatly. His work has given homage to Civil Rights and African-American heroes, and also reflected stereotypes of African-Americans, and perceptions of black America by white America. During his artistic development, he studied the work of Renaissance painters, and also the work of artists such as Gericault, a Romantic painter in early 19th century France who painted what were called at the time 'history' paintings, scenes from history, often of a passionate or idealistic nature. He was interested in the underlying (geometric) structure (composition) of these works, which he came to see as something he could use in his own work, to give the same sense of monumentality to his ideas about African-American history.

Because of this study and mastery of classical composition, and other formal explorations, Marshall's work has visual rigor and sophistication, and formally inventive compositions, concepts, and methods of constructing the image. For instance, an installation work called Rythm Mastr is based on the idea of the newspaper comic strip - a commonplace item also associated with inner-city windows - which is blended with the serious art image; his "comic"-like images were placed behind glass display cases, and lights from inside the glass illuminated and abstracted the images into a geometric pattern. Ideas involved in Marshall's work include the 'invisibility' of African-Americans, particularly until the 1960's (as described by Ralph Ellison in his book, Invisible Man). Marshall realized that, in his painting, he could represent this state of invisibility by using the color black to paint the African-American faces and bodies, while also painting the surrounding area a near-black color, thus having the figures and ground partially merge into each other. As his work progressed, he tried to further indicate that, though these figures seemingly were alike, each had very unique qualities - the opposite of the apparent stereotype. Marshall's paintings are very well painted, and also very interesting to look at - the design and color - and also the images themselves, which are crammed full of figures and objects in a carefully planned environment. They are also painted to make people notice the image details, and perhaps think about the meaning of the work and its relationship to themselves. Check out Kerry James Marshall and his work at the following links: PBS website, PBS webpage, Carnegie International website, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Janine Antoni, Conceptual artist - (Born 1964, Bahamas; attended Sarah Lawrence College and the Rhode Island School of Design; her work takes many forms - sculpture, installation, video, painting, performance and photography) Antoni creates many of her works with her own body. One painting, called Butterfly Kisses, was painted by using her mascara-covered eyelashes, blinking thousands of times to create the image. This is part of her interest in works that portray everyday things and events, in an attempt to minimize the distance between "art" and "viewer." Another area of interest is stereotypical activities of women, such as cleaning and applying makeup, which contribute to their self-representation and identity; these ideas often inform her performance art pieces. Another piece,Slumber, was composed of a weaving loom, yarn, a bed, a nightgown, an EEG machine, and the artist's REM reading, which was set up to determine by its movement the actual weaving done on the loom. Other works deal with the nature of art, defining what is the meaning of a work of art; and emotions such as desire and fear, or the internal versus the external world. Antoni's work might be an example of how some contemporary art seems more difficult to understand, based on cerebral concepts more than on visual concepts. Work such as this certainly demands more of the viewer, often needing some background information or explanation to entirely appreciate it. Perhaps this can be compared with difficult works in other creative areas, such as Shakespeare or the composer Wagner, where such study can help decipher the meaning of the work. The context in which this kind of work is seen is also important - the contemporary ideas and attitudes surrounding its creation and viewing. If we had been asleep for 500 years, hiphop music would seem bizarre to us, having last heard Renaissance madrigals. Read more and see Antoni's work. So - finally - art to me is not a frill. It often deals with the most important issues in life, and can affect us very deeply, especially noticed in music. It inspires us to positivity - brotherhood - survival - understanding. Leonard Cohen, poet and songwriter, in his song Suzanne, says that "there are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning, they are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever." Perhaps this sounded corny to many, prior to September 11th. Cynics can no longer say that it is every man for himself - and we have seen exactly

why it shouldn't be. Beauty and truth (art) are not only necessary for survival - the truth is that the alternative reality is not livable. We have always had a choice - we do now too.

12. Did you draw anything when you were at school?

How old were you when you started to draw? Really small! I have a few drawings I did when I was three! What did you draw when you were a kid? When I was young, I drew anything and everything. I loved to draw clothes. After I learned to sew, I designed and made my own clothes. One of my favorite things was to create little fantasy worlds. I did aliens, people, animals, fairies, monsters, mermaids, bugs-the list just goes on! Some of the characters you see in my collection, especially Caitlin's Garden, actually began when I was in high school! What other things did you like to do as a kid? Being outside! We lived across the street from our elementary school. There was a creek and marsh behind the school. I'd spend hours catching polliwogs, building forts, playing with bugs, having mud fights, riding bikes, and swimming in my grandparents' pool. My family also spent summers in Lake Tahoe, California. When did you know that you wanted to be an artist? It's always been a part of me. I remember reading a book in third grade and looking at the illustrations. I though how great it would be to be able to draw like that. I wondered if I'd ever get as good as those drawings. When did you start to paint? When I was in eighth grade, I got my first easel, four tubes of acrylic paint, and a paintbrush. I'd throw it on the back of my bike and take off for the day when I was in high school. I really didn't know what not to do, so some of my first efforts were awful. But, I learned about seeing and color mixing by having only those four tubes of paint! When did you become an artist? I like to think that I've always been an artist. "Being" an artist is as much about attitude and how you perceive yourself as it is about developing your skills as an artist. If you believe you are an artist, and work towards that goal, you are an artist. What is your inspiration? Why do you draw what you draw? It's really hard for me to pin down the one thing that inspires me. I'm attracted to different play of the elements of art: Color, the play of light and shadow, contrast of light and dark, movement, mood. Also, things with a sense of history and timelessness appeal to me. A lot of the fun things I draw just come up because I like to laugh. I don't try to copy or improve on what I see. I try to capture my emotional reaction to what I'm seeing. What do you like to draw the most? I like to draw my world, my life. I enjoy drawing people, and have sketchbooks filled with drawings of my family. I also love drawing animals. I always have my sketchbook with me. I take it on bike rides, trail runs, skiing, hiking, walking, and just driving to town. That way, I can always do a quick sketch of a landscape, or an interesting group of people. I also like to draw interiors. Still-lifes that just "happen" are fun. Where do you get your ideas? My ideas come from my day-to-day life. Something may strike me as funny or absurd, and I'll make a note of it in the back of my mind, or in my sketchbook. I might draw out the idea right away. Sometimes I need to let it float around before it "gels". Some ideas I've let float for years until I worked on them. I've gone back to old sketchbooks years later for ideas. Is there anything you can't draw?

I think if you take any subject and draw from the big shapes down, you can draw anything. It's a matter off looking and drawing what you see, not what you know. Also, familiarity with a subject makes it easier to draw. If you really like hot rods, chances are you'll draw them well. How do you come up with new characters for your collection? They just seem to happen. I keep my eyes open to possibilities all the time. Sometimes, I'll get the idea for a new character because of a person I'm talking to, or what I'm doing at the time. A lot of ideas need time to float around in the back of my mind. Then, the characters come to me when I'm not thinking about them. That usually happens at inopportune times, like during the middle of the night, or when I'm on my bike. Another good reason to always have a sketchbook at hand! When you illustrate a book, how do you come up with all the characters? I brainstorm with the writer and publisher after reading the book a few times. It's really fun because we all have different ideas. Part of my job is to incorporate all those ideas and come up with suitable characters for the story. The characters have to capture the essence of the story, satisfy the writer's and publisher's needs, and appeal to both parents and children. The illustrations also have to be fun! What is your favorite media? That's a tough question to answer. I enjoy working in many different media. It's fun to discover and learn new media. This adds to the sense of play and spontaneity in my work. If I find myself struggling with one project in one media unsuccessfully, I can always switch to another media and try something else. Different types of work require different media, so I like to be proficient in many rather than just one. I love the simplicity of graphite (pencil). It's affordable for everyone, who doesn't have an old number 2 lying in a drawer somewhere? Graphite can be used for simple sketches, or highly rendered pieces. Pen and ink appeals to me because of its portability and adaptability. When the line's drawn, the line's drawn. Add water and a brush for wash effects. Watercolor is expressive, colorful, and can be as sloppy or as neat as I want it to be. I love the feel of buttery oil paint as the brush slides across the canvas. The luminosity of the colors is amazing. Acrylic paints are great for their instant gratification. They dry quickly, can be used for watercolor or oil color like effects. I love acrylics for murals and plein air painting. I also like to work in colored pencils, markers, conte crayon, and pastels. As with all the other media I enjoy, they're portable, and so versatile! With school, homework, sports, and band practice, I'm really busy. How can I find time to draw? If you keep a sketchbook readily at hand, odd moments here and there become opportunities for a quick sketch. I also draw when I have a current idea or thought that I might forget, so I draw what I visualize in my head onto the paper. I draw anywhere and everywhere. I draw in the car in parking lots. I draw while waiting to meet friends for coffee (and during coffee!) Having just a few moments to capture what appeals to you increases your drawing speed and eventually your accuracy. A little bit is better than nothing. I don't have time to waste "practicing". Why should I try to draw every day? Drawing daily isn't a waste of time. Think of it as continuing education. Working on your drawing and painting skills consistently helps you draw accurately. It increases your eye-hand coordination. It helps you solve problems like shading, foreshortening, and perspective. There's always room to grow as an artist. Without growth, your work can stagnate. As the saying goes practice makes perfect. Professionals in every walk of life work hard to improve and add to their skills. Why shouldn't you? How can I develop my own style as an artist?

Don't worry about creating your own style. Just enjoy drawing, learning, and reading about other artists whose work you admire. Connect with other artists. While I don't have a degree in art, I've taken lots of classes from a variety of instructor with different approaches and techniques. I learned something valuable from each class. The more exposure you have to other artists and their working methods, the broader base you have to pick and chose techniques that work for you. By absorbing those techniques, and combining them with others you use, and practicing, you'll develop your style. I want to be an artist. Why should I go to school? Why should I care about math, science, English, or computers? Just because you want to be an artist doesn't mean you don't need an education! As a well rounded, educated person you bring more to your artwork. Most artists have to do their own promotion and marketing, so good language skills are essential. Communicating professionally on the phone and in promotional and marketing materials set how prospective gallery owners, clients and buyers perceive you. Language and communication skills will help you in a lot of ways: understanding contracts; negioating rights: following submission guidelines: and writing proposals: to name a few. Good business skills never fail you. You can use them to get a job while you are starting out. They'll come in handy in your studio to help you promote yourself. You'll use math for financial matters like balancing a checkbook, budgeting, keeping inventory, doing estimates, invoicing, and tax returns. Computers and technology are vital for any artist in today's marketplace. Using email, the Internet, and graphic programs will become even more important to artist in the future. Being an artist who also thinks like a businessperson will definitely set you apart in your field. How did you get started professionally? I can trace that back to when I was a kid. In elementary school, money was tight, and we were encouraged to make gifts and greeting cards. In high school, I started doing signs for my brothers and sister's service club functions. I started designing and making my own clothes in junior high. When I entered the work force, I'd do small spot illustrations for newspaper ads. Once I began studying painting seriously, I did costume and bridal party design and construction. Donating art or murals to charitable causes I believed in gave me a way to give back to my community. I also wrote and illustrated my own children's books at night. My family relocated to a small town and I found a job working for a small educational publisher. This let me learn about publishing from the ground up. The experience was invaluable to me. I created small characters for some of their publications, this led to the first book I illustrated. This job gave the opportunity to begin working with computers, and opened the door for me to continue to learn about them. I continued on with my illustration and painting, freelancing at night after work and family time. I started doing portraiture, focusing on children and pets. I continue donating artwork to charitable causes and institutions that I believe in. In 1990, I took the jump into becoming a full-time artist, and haven't looked back. How can I get experience? Start small, think big. Donate your time and talent to help build a portfolio and gain valuable experience. Your school may have a fundraising project coming up that you could donate artwork for. Does your school have s student newspaper? Does the yearbook need ads for local business sponsors? Think about posters for upcoming sports and special events. There are lots of events that need this type of work, and can really appreciate your help. Ask the local coffee shop or library if they'd like to exhibit your work. Remember that your work will be in a public place and must meet the viewing sensibilities of the patrons of the establishment. You may even be able to make some money! There are lots of

opportunities for you to share your art and build your name, portfolio, and experience. You just need to look. Network with other artists. Meet them, learn, and share with them. I have gotten some of my best client from other artists. I also refer work to other artists I know who may be able to create what the client is looking for better that I can. The more you get your name out there, the more people will associate you being an artist. Be persistent in reaching your goals. Be generous with your art, you attitude, and your time, and it will come back to you in a positive way. I can't always get out to draw or paint. Should I copy photographs? Drawing from reference photographs can be helpful. I don't encourage "copying" photographs, just draw from them. A drawing copied from a photograph tends to be stiff and lifeless. Use photos as a point of departure. You can use them to record valuable details. There are a few things to keep in mind, however. Photos tend to flatten the picture plain. Shadows can be flat. Colors may be inaccurate. When I know I might work from a photo, I make sure I also do a quick reference sketch of the subject. I use this to remind myself what captured my interest in the first place. I make notes on the sketch about color, lighting, and mood. I always use my own photos for reference. Try to use your own photographs, or royalty-free photos that are in the public domain. You don't want to risk copyright infringement by using someone else's picture without their permission. Besides, that picture or design already exists, so why not dare yourself and come up with your own ideas. Use your imagination! What kind of camera do you use for you reference shots? I used to use a 35mm camera. I've pretty much replaced it with my digital. With the amount of pictures I take, developing can get expensive. With my digital, I can download the picture into my computer, edit them if I need to, then print only what I want It saves me a lot of time and money. Describe your typical workday. I try to be at my computer by 5:30 AM, seven days a week to check email. I put in two four-hour shifts at my drawing tables or easels. I schedule one eight hour day per week for marketing, running scans, sending samples, prepping files for my web designer to update my site, billing, and paying bills. Some days it doesn't go so smoothly, and I run between my office and my studio to get it all done. I make sure I take regular breaks. My lunch hour is usually spent on my mountain bike or running my dogs. I also make sure I have projects with me to work on when I know I have to spend anytime waiting. When I'm really pushing a large project, like a book, I tend to work ten-hour days, six or seven days per week. I get tunnel vision and have to remind myself to take a break. While I try to keep a steady work schedule, invariably problems come up. Scheduling conflicts arise, the client needs the art yesterday. I have to keep my sense of perspective and be flexible. There are days when I just can't draw, no matter how hard I try. Then, I just walk away from it for a few hours and come back to it later. Is it lonely being an artist? In some way it is. I happen to like my solitude. I need long hours by myself to work. Being an artist is a solitary profession. I need "alone" time to create and work uninterrupted. My studio is part of my home. We live in the middle of the forest outside a small town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. My studio overlooks the trees and my garden. I really enjoy working there. Sometimes, I have to force myself from becoming a hermit. If I find myself feeling isolated, I can email friends, family, and business associates. I love the internet because I can stay in contact with people all over the world! I go to town once or twice a week to run errands.. I get out everyday, even if it only riding my bike to town to pick up the mail. I find myself talking to my three dogs a lot!

Who are your favorite artists? There are so many artists whose work I admire. I grew up on the work of Walt Disney, and that definitely had an impact on my work. Norman Rockwell, Mary Engelbriet, all the Wyeths, The great masters I admire include Vermeer, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, add more here. I'm also a big fan of the Impressionists, especially Berthe Morissot and Mary Cassatt. The work of Frida Kahlo, Paul Klee, and Gustav Van Klimt are also some of my favorites. There are also a lot of merging and local artists whose work I really admire.

13. What kind of animals do people have in their home? There isn't just one pet that I like having...I like having dogs, cats and fish. Fish are just really fun to own, they're beautiful--and if you're having a bad day it REALLY does help to watch them swim. I have two Beta Fish (Frankie and Boomer) Dogs--come on! I really don't understand ANYONE who doesn't like dogs! No offense to anyone! lol. But dogs are just the most loving, protective, good pets!! They love unconditionally and always want to be right by 'their people.' Cats are great! They may not always be as loving as dogs, but they certainly add personality to any household. And they can be very loving when they want to, it's just by their scedule lol. I have been having aquariums for over 55 years and cannot think of being without them in my life. I like to raise and breed tropical fish as well as some of the inverts such as shrimp and crawfish in aquariums. I also like to raise aquatic plants (not the plants that are really terrestrial "pot plants") but the ones that really live under the waters surface. With a lot of healthy plants in your aquarium, you can go longer without changing water because the healthy aquatic plants are acting as a filter but you do still have to do partial water changes. This water that you take out can be used to water house plants or garden plants ( when the garden is growing and as long as it is fresh water as opposed to salt water).The water from the tank will have nutrients that your plants can use as food. Also during the winter the humidity from the fish tanks will help .

14. Tell me about an animal you saw which is very rare in your home town. To many people, the fox is the animal they least expect to see in the city when, in fact, foxes are well adapted to urban life. Like most other successful urban mammals, foxes use a wide range of habitats, exploit a wide range of natural and human-produced foods, and alter their activity schedules, if necessary, to be primarily active when humans are not. The reward for this is a longer life than their rural counterparts and a death that is more likely to come from disease or accident than by predation, hunting, or trapping.
Common problems and solutions You may be surprised, and even frightened, to discover that foxes live in your neighborhood, but these fears are almost completely groundless.

Foxes arent dangerous to humans, except when they are rabid (which is very rare) or are captured and handled. Even then, it takes a lot of handling for a fox even to defend himself by biting. Quite the opposite: the foxs n atural tendency is to ee rather than ght. Red foxes occasionally prey on small house cats or kittens and will take small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and poultry when they are left outside unprotected. Both red and gray foxes will eat cultivated grapes, raspberries, and other fruit, but they usually dont bother garden vegetables. In all, foxes do such little damage and cause so few conflicts with people that we hesitate to characterize them as a problem at all. Nonetheless, thousands are killed every year because they are perceived as threats. Do foxes eat pets? People are frequently concerned about their pets being outdoors when foxes are around. The best way to avoid encounters between foxes and pets is to keep pets indoors, especially at night. If pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs are kept outside by day, they should be housed in structures that are secure from predators (birds and mammals). By and large, foxes seem to pay little heed to adult cats, recognizing that theyre dealing with an a nimal often almost their same size, with a well-deserved reputation for self-defense. Smaller adult cats and kittens, however, could be easy prey for a fox. So may dog toy breeds. The Bold Fox Sometimes red foxes will exhibit a brazenness that is so overt it is disconcerting. A hiker along a woodland trail may encounter a fox who does not retreat but rather sits and watches the human approach. Likewise, a homeowner hanging laundry may watch a fox walk through the yard, going about her business, seemingly oblivious to the human nearby. Why this occurs is any humans guess, and the foxes arent telling. Tolerance Sometimes foxes are blamed for damage they never caused. For example, a trash can knocked over by the neighborhood dogs may attract a fox, who is then seen eating and then blamed. Foxes may also cut through yards when moving from one hunting area to another, and a homeowner may become unreasonably concerned about their presence. In fact, the fox is not a bother at all. If left alone, he will probably do most homeowners a service by performing a little free rodent control as he passes by. Exclusion Poultry should be protected with secure hutches or pens built to withstand any effort by foxes, raccoons, or dogs to break in. Because predators can dig under fences, it is important to make sure that an L-shaped footer is buried around the outer perimeter.

Fencing Electric fences can also exclude foxes, but they work best in conjunction with other permanent perimeter fencing. Place a single-strand electrified fence about four inches off the ground in front of a chain link or other fence. Repellents No repellents are registered expressly for use on foxes, although the many products sold to repel domestic dogs from yards and gardens undoubtedly will have a similar effect on a passing fox. Scare devices There are several scare devices that are both humane and effective at keeping these extremely sensitive animals out of areas where they are not wanted.

Noise-making devices, ranging from transistor radios to motion-sensitive alarms, work well when combined with repelling and harassing strategies. A motion-activated sprinkler can be an effective deterrent in lawns or gardens. Using a loud voice or banging on a pot or pan can frighten foxes.

Harassment Fox dens under porches and decks are one of the most commonly reported issues with these animals. As with any wild animal who is denning or nesting in an inconvenient spot, we recommend you tolerate the family until the young are old enough to follow the parents on nightly forays and the family moves on. When they are gone, exclude them from reusing the den. Fox kits will spend time playing outside the den just before they are able to go out with their parents, making this one of the most enjoyable wildlife viewing experiences people can have. Still, some people will want the family to move sooner rather than later. In these cases, mild harassment may make the parents uncomfortable and encourage them to move their litter to a more secure location:

Start by placing objects, leaves, soil, or mulch in the den openings to disturb the residents. Used kitty litter or almost anything with a strong human scent will also alarm the foxes. (Try a sweat-soaked T-shirt after a good jog.) People claim success in getting fox families to move simply by mounting Mylar balloons two to three feet off the ground, just outside the entrance to the den.

Note: After you think the foxes have moved, make sure all the kits are out of the den before permanently excluding them. Remove sources of food Food lures foxes so to reduce the likelihood of their visiting your yard be sure to...

Never compost meat scraps. Store trash securely or place it outside only on the morning of collection. Dont leave pet food outside. Never deliberately feed wild animals such as foxes. Keep area under birdfeeders free of spilled seed.

Is that fox rabid? Its not all that unusual to see a fox out during the day. Foxes prey on squirrels and birds, who are only active during the day. So if you see a fox out during the day, hes as apt to be looking for a meal as sick and disoriented. Take time to observe the behavior of the fox before calling for assistance. Look for:

Partial paralysis of limbs. Circling. Staggering as if drunk or disoriented. Self-mutilation. Signs of unprovoked aggression. Acting unnaturally tame.

Dont approach the fox yourself. Call your local animal control officer, wildlife rehabilitator, health or police department, if you see an adult fox showing any of these signs. Beloved in Britain In Britain, foxes are not only welcomed when establishing dens under sheds in backyards but are also fed regularly to make sure they feel accepted and appreciated. Here we discourage this practice, no matter how benign it may seem, because the fox that is used to getting handouts in one yard may be perceived as a threat in another, sometimes with lethal results.

Public health concerns

Foxes are the primary carrier of a strain of rabies that infects them as well as other animal species. In some parts of the country, foxes carry the echinococcosis tapeworm, which can cause a serious and sometimes fatal disease in humans. Sarcoptic mange is a very serious problem in some fox populations, but it is not a health concern for humans.

Resources
What species of urban wildlife has been more studied than any other? If you guessed the red fox, you are right. Thanks to work in Europe and Great Britain, there is a body of research publications, ranging from population and behavioral studies to reviews of injury and disease, devoted exclusively to urban foxes. In the United Kingdom, Stephen Harriss Urban Foxes (Whittet Books, 1994) summarizes many years of fascinating natural history. A more personalized account is David MacDonalds Running with the Fox (Facts on File, 1987), which describes a graduate career focused on these animals. The Fox Project in the United Kingdom has information on deterrence and other natural history facts about foxes.

15. Why do people have pets in their homes?

People have pets for various reasons. Some people keep pets because of their physical attractiveness, some for their playfulness or other unique personalities and characteristics, while others keep pets for companionship. While the majority of pet owners enjoy the attachment and fun their pet(s) bring into their lives, few paid close attention to the other benefits. Pets can help their owners relieve stress and loneliness. When you just got home from a long day of work feeling exhausted and stressed, there is that tail wager so very happy to see you. When you sit down on the couch and turn on the TV, there is that little fluffy thing jumps onto your lap meowing at you.

Pets such as dogs will definitely increase their owners chances for exercise and outdoor activities. Most dog keepers walk their pets on a daily basis. Thus, both the dog and the owner get fresh air as well as exercise to build their physical fitness. Dogs will also boost their owners opportunities to meet and to socialize with other dog owners, thus enlarging their circle of friends and enriching their lives. Most fish keepers do tank maintenance at least once a week, such as water change for the fish tank. This involves carrying the buckets filled with water, which creates chances for people to get more physical exercise than if they do not own those fish. In some cities in China, many retired old folks would carry their bird cages out for a walk to a nearby park in the morning, where they gather around with many other bird keepers. While the birds are socializing by singing with one another, their keepers are socializing with each other too. This is indeed beneficial for both the birds and their owners both physically and mentally. Keeping pets can also increase our sense of responsibility. Unlike the wild animals, pets depend on their owners for food and shelter. Parents can take the opportunity to teach their kids to become more responsible, and more warm hearted if they let the kids to own and to take care of their own little pets. In addition to the above mentioned benefits, there are health benefits for pet keepers. A recent study at the University of Buffalo shows that owning a pet such as a dog or cat can help lower blood pressure. According to National Center for Infectious Diseases, pets can decrease the owners cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Some doctors have fish tanks in their waiting rooms and a study shows watching fish swimming in an aquarium has a calming effect and helps lower blood pressure. Children in general love to play with pets and parents can engage their kids in some games that involve their pets. One such game is the fetch. Research shows that children growing in families with cats or dogs are less likely to develop allergies but will have a higher immune system down the road. Keeping pets helps reduce anxiety and enhance mood. Dogs and cats can also lower their owners risk of dying from cardiac disease, including heart failure. The list of health benefits that pets bring to their owners can go on and on. Aside from the health benefits, pets help boost their keepers self-esteem because pets are not snobbish or prejudiced against their owners by their social status or their appearance. Whether we are rich or poor, good-looking or ugly, overweight or underweight, our pets just do not care. Their unconditional loyalty gives us a sense of satisfaction and pleasure. Now that you have read the above, are you happy that you have made a good decision because you are a pet keeper? If you are not yet a pet keeper, are you planning on having one soon?

From a housekeeping point of view, I suppose a pet is a kind of ornament - the best ornament you can have because not only is it (usually) very aesthetically pleasing, it moves around the home of its own accord, it is warm and smooth to the touch, and it responds to our presence and keeps us company! From a more biological viewpoint, perhaps it is our instinct to keep horses, camels, goats, hounds, pigeons and other practical animals that drives us to look after more decorative creatures such as cats or goldfish. The same could be said of plants.

16.

Do you think people do not respect animals these days? What about 50 years ago?

I'm going to try to offer an answer without putting any of my own viewpoints into it. People believe animals should be treated just as well as humans for different reasons. Some people belong to religions, such as Hinduism, whose followers recognize animal deities or believe their ancestors can reincarnate in the form of an animal. Others simply recognize the immense ways animals have contributed to humankind over the years, providing us with transportation, food, clothing, and companionship. And from this recognition comes appreciation for them, to a point at which animals are seen as our equals--or, at the very least, they deserve the same level of treatment, respect, and affection we do. But perhaps the biggest reason people think animals should be treated just as well as humans is they see no reason NOT to treat them just as well. They too can feel physical pain, they too suffer when they're neglected, abandoned, and abused. They too thrive on affection. People figure, why not treat them just as well as we should treat one another? There really is no logical or ethical argument for the inferior treatment of animals. PLEASE READ THIS IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME. the animals have helped developed many medicines and surgical techniques. i won a debate about animal testing and everyone in my class thought animal testing was so mean and at first everyone was with the affirmative side but once they heard what we had to say they ended up siding with us. that just proves that most people make opinions without doing research for both sides of the argument. we don't give the animals much credit and i think they should have some type of holiday for the animals in animal testing. maybe give them a day off. but the truth is we need them that's all there is to it. unless you want to go up and have them test on you. don't be a hypocrite and protest against it.ok so i take this question a little diffrent. i take it as farm animals like horses for instance. i think you should put your animal in an inviroment close to what it would be in the wild. like no heated barns they stay outside. and i don't put blankets on them they have a coat and the blanket gets it so that coat wont grow. if they were in the wild they wouldn't have that. animals have their instinct and they are smartenough to figure things out they have for years. don't get me rong i respect my animals and i think people do need to realize wat these wonderfull animals have done for us and a holiday would be great i think people take this animal abuse to far. like if a horse kicks you i think you have every right to hit it back. in the wild that's wat would happen. im not saying beating but you need to get the point across your the boss not them. My opinion differs from those above. With regard to the first answer, the primary assumption seems to be that our (i.e., human) needs or desires come before and above any other creature's needs or desires. Man is not the only animal in this world, and he's not the only one needed to sustain it. Why should Man's needs come before those of other species? Simply because we appear to have a greater intelligence than many? Wouldn't a better use of that intelligence be to find a way to make life better for ALL the world's animals, including humans? I would make the

argument that animal testing is no longer necessary and, should volunteers be needed for a test, at least humans can voice whether or not they choose to participate. An animal is given no such choice and I do not believe that we have the right to "volunteer" them. By the way, giving the animals used in testing a "holiday" would be like giving slaves a day off from whippings; a sad and sorry gesture meant to ease the conscience of those who abuse them. With regard to the second answer above, I'd have to disagree with: 1) treating animals that have long been domesticated and used by Man as if they are still wild and still have the resources their ancestors did, and 2) hitting or beating an animal that you have asked to work with you. Domesticated animals do not have the survival skills their ancestors did and have become dependent upon humans. To expect them to provide their own warmth, shelter, or food neglects the owner's responsibilities to their animals. Similarly, to hit or beat an animal whose "rules" of communication or trust you've broken (if a horse kicks you, it has perceived you as a threat, intended or not) is to abandon the intelligence you possess to solve a problem and instead resort to expressing your anger violently. It's much easier, and better for all, to work with animals in a leader/follower relationship than in a boss/slave relationship. I agree with the last person in for the most. A holiday for animals would mean nothing to the animals. Unlike we humans, they are not goal oriented, emotional, or contemplative. I won't deny that animals are smart. My dog pees on my shoes if I don't take her places, but I also know she's not human. She doesn't need to be talked to or know her parents. To address why people think that she should, I'll put it in one word; Disneyeskanthropomorphism; because of Disney and other media types, humans have related themselves to stories of animals. They believe that Bambi knew his father when naturally deer breed and run. They believe that because of Lady and the Tramp, that dogs fall in love and are gregarious. They believe that because of Finding Nemo that every fish must stay in the ocean because they've got a frog-fish flipper and have to support their dads because their mom got eaten in a very unfortunate series of events. They think that because of Babe, every little pig has a mind of its own and fears the chopping block. Having been raised on a farm, I know these things to be false. Humans try to make humans out of animals, when they're completely different all together. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I think that some people think, "Treat them how you want to be treated." So if you think like that too, wouldn't you not like it if you were treated differently?

This is also REALLY IMPORTANT: I respect the answers given, but nobody has really argued the opinion that I have myself. People ARE animals, like it or not. You are an animal, but you're blinded by civilization to the reality of the matter. We are raised to be blinded like this. If children were raised in the wild they'd behave savage, because that's who we really are. In short, animals are only different to humans in the way that your left hand is different from your right, one isn't developed and the other is over-developed. well think about it this way: if u wer an animal (what am i saying, humans r animals), how would u like it if u were treated cruelly? or, if u were a poor human, how would u like it if u saw sume really pampered poodle walking down the street or something?

17. Earlier people used animals for their work. Now, what do people use to do their work?

Tool and die makers are specialized machinists in the manufacturing industry who make (tooling)|jigs]], dies, |molds]], machine tools, cutting tools and form tools), gauges, and other tools used in [1] manufacturing processes. Depending on which area of concentration a particular person works in, he or she may be called by variations on the name, including tooling specialist, tool designers, mold designers, tool designer or tool and die specialists. Tool and die makers work with engineering and work primarily in tool rooms environments sometimes literally in one room but more often in an environment with flexible, semipermeable boundaries from production work. They are skilled artisans (craftspeople) who typically learn their trade through a combination of academic coursework and hands-on instruction, with a substantial period of onthe-job training that is functionally an apprenticeship (although usually not nominally today). Art and science (specifically, applied science) are thoroughly intermixed in their work, as they also are in engineering. Mechanical engineers and tool and die makers often work in close consultation. There is often turnover between the careers, as one person may end up working in both at different times of their life, depending on the turns of their particular educational and career path. (In fact, there was no codified difference between them during the 19th century; it was only after World War II that engineering became a profession exclusively defined by a university or college engineering degree.) Both careers require some level of talent in both artistic/artisan/creative areas and math-and-science areas. Jobshop machinists can be any combination of toolmaker and production machinist. Some work only as machine operators, whereas others switch fluidly between tool room tasks and production tasks. A machine tool is a machine for shaping or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, boring, grinding, shearing or other forms of deformation. Machine tools employ some sort of tool that does the cutting or shaping. All machine tools have some means of constraining the workpiece and provide a guided movement of the parts of the machine. Thus the relative movement between the workpiece and the cutting tool (which is called the toolpath) is controlled or constrained by the machine to at least some extent, rather than being entirely "offhand" or "freehand". The precise definition of the term machine tool varies among users, as detailed in the "Nomenclature and key concepts" section. It is safe to say that all machine tools are "machines that help people to make things", although not all factory machines are machine tools. Today machine tools are typically powered other than by human muscle (e.g., electrically, hydraulically, or via line shaft), used to make manufactured parts (components) in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation.

18.

Researchers are being conducted on animals, is this a good idea?

The use of live animals in controlled laboratory tests is common place the world over. This debate aims to lay out the argument both for and against. Before you cast your vote, I ask you to put aside your initial persuasion, and weigh up the relative merits as outlined below.

All the Yes points

1. Animal research has played a vital role in a great many of the major medical advances of the last century 2. There are no satisfactory alternatives to animal research 3. Future medical developments will depend on continued animal research 4. Animal research is extremely tightly regulated by independent authorities 5. Allows us to advance as a species 6. animal testing 7. The medical and scientific advances far outweighs the minor inconveniences 8. Alternatives exist and are required 9. Although many accusations are made that animal research provides "inaccurate results" it is the most accurate method available at this time.

All the No points

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Couldn't agree less old chap Animal experiments retard medical progress due to providing misleading results Animal experiments keep unsafe substances on the market due to inability to reproduce the effects no no Number 2 is a lie, there ARE alternatives to animal testing! Other companies use them, and animal testing doesnt prove anything, because although close, they arent people. Cost All animals (human included) have the right to life, dignity and a pain-free existence. humans are animals as well so tenchinally we can test are own kind because it is "animal testing"!!! 9% 11. According to the US-based Foundation for Biomedical Research, 'animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century - for both human and veterinary health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint replacement, practically every present-day protocol for the prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and suffering is based on knowledge attained through research with lab animals.' 12. Without such testing, most, if not all of these procedures that save thousands of lives and elevate the pain of millions of people would simply not be possible.

Conceptual framework[edit]
Buddhist and Christian values are combined to form an idea that humans should take sole responsibility for the treatment of laboratory animals so good Karma can be attained while using animals for scientific research. For example, the most important event for animal researchers in Japan is a memorial service [18] for the dead animals. In Japan the religious influence comes for fear of Samsara. For this Japanese scientist can achieve the 3Rs principle without the strict regulations that are used throughout the rest of the world. Currently strategies are being discussed so that compromises with the Western system can be [18] made since the need to collaborate with Western colleagues often arises.

At the moment there is a stalemate over whether or not to enact more stringent regulation to follow those of European countries or to stay the course and continue in the direction of the self-regulation system that is in current use. In the future to maintain a solid and ethical self-regulation system, clarification on responsibilities need to be addressed for people who conduct research on animals as well as [17 implementation of good animal welfare practices to ensure compatibility with scientific needs.

3Rs[edit]
Further information: Alternatives to animal testing The 3R principle of animal experimentations was introduced to the world by Russell and Burch in [19] 1959. In terms of ethics in animal experimentation, it gave detailed information on the guidelines that were formulated through the concerns of the ministries and the Science Council of Japan. The 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement, which are also known as "the standards relating to the care and management of laboratory animals and relief of pain", are covered in a detailed guideline based on the current law. The replacement and reduction parts of the principle are related scientifically to animal experimentation and the technical methods of animal experimentation are emphasized. In 1985 the 3Rs were outlined into 11 principles by the Council of International Organizations for Medical Sciences (CIOMS) which have become the international standard to govern animal experimentation. Regulation at the local level, or "in house", is based on national government guidelines. There is however no governmental inspections of the institutions and no reporting requirement on the number of animals [20] used. A 1988 survey published by the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science reported [21] that eight million animals had been used that year. The self-control systems are managed by each institution itself and based on the belief that most animal testing is "the public act" that brings good to humans in the future. Such science, they believe, should not be regulated and the proper treatment of animals is a just consideration in weighing the benefits against the disadvantages. Due to the role-sharing between animal welfare and science, Japanese animal experimentation regulations are considered to be very reasonable worldwide. This type of research is completely unnecessary. Research on dogs tells you virtually nothing about human biology. If you make use of alternative and complementary medicine, you won't need research on pharmaceuticals. They keep doing this type of research because they keep getting FUNDED to do it. We need to stop the FUNDING. Animals deserve peaceful lives just like people do. Animals never harm anyone unless bothered and we should treat them the same way. People have no right to kill or even harm an animal for purposes for people animals have nothing to do with it so no one should bring them into it. You are supposed to live your life so that if everything was in reverse you would be as happy as you are now. Are you living your life that way? What if the animals were testing on you, killing over 100 million humans each year, putting you in an oven and burning you to death just to see the results? Would you be happy? James D. Miles once said, "You can easily judge the characteristics of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." Right now I'm judging you if you want animal testing to continue, the animals are to. Try caring for something besides your safety for once, just remind yourself, what is dog backwards? It is that way for a reason. I'm asking you to do something because RIGHT NOW ANIMALS ARE BEING BEATEN IN A CIRCUS. BURNED AND POISONED IN A LAB. SHOCKED AT A CATTLE AUCTION. ELECTROCUTED ON A FUR FARM. SUFFOCATED ON A FISHING LINE. CAGED FOR LIFE IN A ZOO AND OTHERWISE DENIED ALL THAT IS NATURAL TO THEM ANIMAL RIGHTS NOW. Unheard they suffer,

unheard they cry, speak up for those who can't do so for themselves. You wouldn't make your best friend drink poison would you? Even though where curing diseases, it still hurts the animals. And sometimes, even kills them. We have different DNA then the animals. So, we wont have one -hundred percent accuracy on the data, and we react differently to drugs than the animals react. When animals pass through the medical experiments, it usually doesnt work on humans. This is also cruelty to the animals. A lot of animals die in the medical testing, or at least are badly injured. This is also a waste of money!

Thanks to animal testing for medical purposes, we are able to live much longer and enjoy life without the burden of numerous diseases prevalent. People need to realize that testing for medical research is DIFFERENT from testing for cosmetics (which i am against). Those who say that animals have rights that we humans are abusing , then shouldn't we all be vegetarian/vegan? It is mostly toxic/cosmetic testing that produces inaccurate results but in medical research, scientists are able to perform experiments (in vivo or in vitro) that directly translate to human results form the molecular level. We must make a small sacrifice in order to benefit the entire population. Those who say we shouldn't use animals probably support using humans for testing. Would you volunteer to be tested in a laboratory? No I didn't think so.

19. So many animals are extinct these days. What do you think about this? Why it is happening?

Well, extinction is always a part of the nature: weak species must go extinct in order to make strong species able to survive. But I like the point you are making: now a days more species are disappearing at a much faster rate than ever before. The reason for this is us. By contaminating, over hunting, destroying ecosystems, etc we are forcing many species to the extinction. Scientists agree that the number of species that are extinct because of us could easily approach the number of species that became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous (all dinosaurs, plus many other reptiles and birds). Those reasons that you give are very true. Over-hunting is the responsible for the extinction of many species. In many cases these species were just hunted until extinction; in carnivores is the over-hunting of their prey that makes them endangered. Global Warming could be a real threat in the future, but as of today no species have gone extinct because of global warming. Destruction of habitat is for me the most lethal among the three. Deforestation and burning of forests threaten thousands of species in the World. Contamination in seas, lakes, and rivers is just as lethal.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIES THAT BECAME EXTINCT BECAUSE OF US: 1.-Dodo: a flightless bird endemic to the country of Mauritius, it was hunted until its extinction in the 1600s 2.-Caribbean Monk Seal: the only seal that lived in the Caribbean, it became extinct because of over hunting soon after the arrival of the Colonists in the Americas. 3.-Thylacine/Tasmanian Tiger: the largest carnivorous marsupial; it became extinct during the 1900s

because of over-hunting, destruction of its habitat, and the introduction of the Dingo to Australia. 4.-Quagga: similar to the zebra, but it had brown skin; it became extinct during the 20th Century because of over-hunting. 5.-Golden Toad: a small toad endemic to Costa Rica, it became extinct during the 1980's because of climate change.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIES THAT COULD BECOME EXTINCT BECAUSE OF US IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS: 1.-Tiger: only 3,500 left in the wild, mostly on India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. 2.-Javan Rhinoceros: around 70 individuals left in the wild, almost all of them in Java, Indonesia. Around 3-7 still live in a National Park in Vietnam. 3.-Spix's Macaw: probably extinct in wild, endemic to Northeastern Brazil. There are aroun 73 of these macaws in captivity. 4.-Saola: an ox species from Eastern Indochina. Nobady knows how many are still alive 5.-Polar Bear: although not in immediately risk of extinction, the Polar Bear could go extinct by the end of the 21st Century if the Earth's Temperature rises by 3 degrees Celsius.
20. Tell me about the recent changes in your home town.

My hometown called Qingxian which is a small town located in Hebei province of China.It has been enjoying a accelerating development in recent years. Many modern building have sprouted out from ground and there are more cars running on the streets. A increasing number of young people choose to stay in their hometown instead of moving to the cities,which is the most common trend in my hometown. What changes have happened in your hometown these? In recent years, sense of values has become diversified and people have a diversity of opinions about a school system. Especially in Japan, where I was born, some people might think private schools are better for students than public schools. However, if I could change one thing about my country, I would turn all the schools into public schools for the following reasons. First of all, public schools can offer a lot of opportunities to learn basic or even high education for poor people. Nowadays, many poor children cannot go to school due to their financial problems. And when they become adults, it is very difficult to find a high-salary job because of their educational background. Afterward, when they have children, they cannot experience beneficial education as their parents could not do. In this way, the gap between a high class and a low class becomes bigger gradually. However, if all the schools are public schools, this problem cannot be generated. This example shows that turning all the schools into public schools creates fair chances for everybody. Beyond that, by turning all the schools into public schools, students can go to the closet schools to their home, because all the schools can share the same curriculum. For instance, when I was a junior high school student, lots of my friends go to private schools which are so far, and it took

them about 2 hours to get there. However, if all schools use uniform lessons, students do not need to go remote place for schools. Moreover, students can feel an attachment for their hometown by going to schools which are located in their hometown and the community will become more active. In conclusion, as examples illustrate, I would substitute public schools for private schools if I could change one important thing in my hometown in terms of fair opportunities to receive basic education for everybody and the same curriculum. Originally from Croydon, in South East London, I currently live in Ikebukuro Tokyo. These two towns are very similar; both are part of the capital city and are very busy business and commercial districts. They are also great places for young people to live, and at first glance I dont think I would change anything. However, change brings improvement, it advances standards of living and simply makes life more bearable. So, if asked what I would change, the answer for both these places would be to take action on behalf of the homeless. Homelessness is a huge problem anywhere in the world. It does not matter whether the city or country is in the developed world, or the developing world, homelessness is a very real and serious problem. The reasons vary, from financial difficulties to psychological inabilities to live as an active member of society, yet the result is the same the world over. Every city has places where homeless people gather, be they under bridges, on park benches, outside train stations or in shop doorways. These places make grim, and somber viewing for passers by, and never fail to shock. The filth, dirt, and grime it is an affront to all advances made by modern society. Something needs to be done. If I could do one thing to improve my hometown, be it Croydon or Ikebukuro, it would be to provide more shelters for the homeless, which in turn would give them a support network that is vital for reintegration into society. The lack of an address is a real hindrance for those trying to find jobs, and so having a place, even if it is a homeless shelter, would be the first step on the road to reintegration. Without an address attempts to get out of the abject poverty is nothing short of a vicious circle of despair which probably leads many to give up on their futures altogether. We are very social animals, and so the camaraderie that could be offered within a shelter is invaluable. The friendship of other homeless people, those experiencing the same struggles and the support from the shelter staff will give the occupants human contact that is immeasurable, and in the particularly harsh and lonely winter months could even save lives. Many people and politicians object to these kinds of shelters. They think that providing these facilities to the homeless would instill in them a sense of dependence on outside assistance. Be that as it may, they are still human beings worthy of our respect and love. Besides, there are still those who are simply unable to or even choose to live off the land even if it is in a city. Whatever their reasons for being homeless are, we must never forget that they are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives. They started out with all the love and attention of family and friends, and there are bound to be people searching desperately for news of their loved ones; people who may have simply disappeared off the radar. The least we can do, in todays society, is treat to these people as the human beings that they are!

21.

What is the meaning of your name?

Despre numele Tudor

Derivat din cuvantul celtic "teutorigos", care inseamna "legiuitorul poporului". Se pare ca are si provenienta englezeasca. Henry VII (Henry Tudor) a fost un mare conducator al Angliei in sec. XV-lea si primul monarh din Dinastia Tudor.Forma Tudor este o varianta a numelui in limba greaca Theodore (dar de la Dumnezeu).

About the name Tudor Derived from the Celtic word "teutorigos" which means "people of the legislature." It seems that he and English origin. Henry VII (Henry Tudor) was a great leader of England in sec. Fifteenth century and the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty Tudor.Forma is a variant of the Greek name Theodore (gift from God).

22. What moments make other people happy?

Happiness is found by living in the now, particularly if the now involves having sex, according to a major study into mental wellbeing. But the study also found that people spend nearly half their time (46.7%) thinking about something other than what they are actually doing. The benefits of living in the moment are extolled by many philosophical and religious traditions, but until now there has been scant scientific evidence to support the advice. Psychologists at Harvard University collected information on the daily activities, thoughts and feelings of 2,250 volunteers to find out how often they were focused on what they were doing, and what made them most happy. They found that people were happiest when having sex, exercising or in conversation, and least happy when working, resting or using a home computer. And although subjects' minds were wandering nearly half of the time, this consistently made them less happy. The team conclude that reminiscing, thinking ahead or daydreaming tends to make people more miserable, even when they are thinking about something pleasant. Even the most engaging tasks failed to hold people's full attention. Volunteers admitted to thinking about something else at least 30% of the time while performing these tasks, except when they were having sex, when people typically had their mind on the job around 90% of the time. "Human beings have this unique ability to focus on things that aren't happening right now. That allows them to reflect on the past and learn from it; it allows them to anticipate and plan for the future; and it allows them to imagine things that might never occur," said Matthew Killingsworth, a doctoral student in psychology and lead author of the study. "At the same time, it seems that human beings often use this ability in ways that are not productive and furthermore can be destructive to our happiness," he added.

For the study, Killingsworth and his supervisor, Daniel Gilbert, author of the 2006 book Stumbling on Happiness, developed a web application for the iPhone that contacted participants at random times during their waking hours. When they received a message, those taking part had to respond with information about what they were doing, by selecting from a list of 22 activities, such as doing housework, shopping, or watching TV. They went on to rate their happiness on a scale from zero to 100, and said whether they were focused, or daydreaming about something positive, negative or neutral. The results showed that happiness was more affected by how often people drifted off, and where they went in their imagination, than by the activity they were doing at the time. The researchers say they're confident that being distracted was the cause of unhappiness, rather than the other way round. The authors write in the journal Science: "A human mind is a wandering mind and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. The ability to think about what is not happening is a cognitive achievement that comes at an emotional cost." Asked why people seemed to be particularly focused during sex, Killingsworth observed: "If you were messaged while you were having sex it probably wouldn't turn out so well if you whipped out your iPhone. Sex is one of the few broad categories of activity that requires and perhaps benefits from our full attention." More than 5,000 people have signed up for the happiness study and the researchers hope to attract more so they can look at mental wellbeing in different geographical regions and between the sexes with greater accuracy. "Hopefully we will get a lot of new participants from all over the world and be able to answer questions we've not really been able to ask before, because we've never had this kind of data on people's experiences," Killingsworth said.

23. What moments are happy for the elderly? When we grow into adults and form our own families, we understand better the role our own parents had when they were raising us: the joy, the pain and challenges that come with having a family. As our parents get older, it can be a lonely experience for them as they miss the chaos, fun and noise of having their children around. As a tribute to your parents, there are several things you can do to make them feel happy in their old age. Older people are happier than younger adults because, simply, they avert their eyes from things that are likely to make them upset, research shows. The finding explains research that has shown that older adults display more positive emotions and are quicker to regulate out of negative emotional states than younger adults. Given the declines in cognitive functioning and physical health that tend to come with age, we might expect that age would be associated with worse moods, not better ones. Derek Isaacowitz of Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, says older adults may be better at regulating emotion because they tend to direct their eyes away from negative material or toward positive material. He has presented evidence which indicates that, compared to their younger peers, older adults prefer positive looking patterns.

Furthermore, they show the most positive looking when they are in bad moods, even though this is when younger adults show the most negative looking. Research by Professor Isaacowitz and his colleagues indicates that there is actually a causal relationship between positive looking and mood. Downward spiral: While older adults show the most positive looking when they are in bad moods, this is when younger adults show the most negative looking This means that for adults with good attentional abilities, positive looking patterns can help to regulate their mood and stop them from slipping into a malaise. Nevertheless, Although older adults prefer to focus on positive stimuli, the research shows that they aren't necessarily missing any salient or important information. Professor Isaacowitz's findings are published in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. According to psychologists its because of the fact that they spend most of their time reminiscing about their happy experiences in the past and forgetting about those which they find negative. This helps older people have a positive and brighter outlook in life. However, a psychologist named Derek M. Isaacowitz of Northeastern University claimed that most of the researched on this theory regarding old age and happiness have no direct evidence. As a matter of fact, Isaacowitz and the late Fredda Blanchard-Fields insisted in an article in the journal, Perspectives on Psychological Science, that such theory requires further intensive research. So far there are research findings that back the theory such as a study that showed how older people tend to go back to their happier moments in life by simply looking at pictures of faces and situations. In addition, there are also studies that revealed how older people engage in situations that can make them feel happier and this includes withdrawing themselves from those who can dampen their mood. Further, there are also findings that proved how older individuals learn to accept their disappointments in life especially with regard to goals which they failed to achieve in life. Instead, they make new goals geared toward their wellbeing. However, Isaacowitz and Blanchard-Fields believe that theres something missing and thats the link between the strategies presented and the theory itself and the changes in feelings of these older individuals. Isaacowitz mentioned that some lab tests failed to deliver the required results. He said that this is evident in the process when they tried using cognitive processes in predicting the change in mood. He also explained that looking at pictures doesnt really make people happier or better about themselves. There are also some contradictions. For instance, some psychologists discovered that high scores in cognitive tests help older people feel happier while there are those that claimed that happiness among older individuals is due to cognitive loss which forced those to focus more on simpler and happier memories.

Isaacowitz also mentioned that intensive methods can only complicate the latest findings more. He added that even if research proves that older people are on average happier, they still want to find out what situations make them happier and what strategies a particular older individual utilizes and the qualities he or she possesses which contribute to happiness.
24. Are rich people happy?

All right, all right, we know that money doesn't buy happiness. But let's be honest: More money doesn't exactly make us miserable, either. The wealthy enjoy an intangible benefit that often eludes the paycheck-to-paycheck worker: a sense of control over their lives. They feel secure in their jobs and less stressed about their futures. (Plus, they can order room service instead of trying to make three meals out of a Subway sandwich.) But are they much happier We all know money cant buy us love, at least according to the Beatles. But could money buy us happiness? New research suggests higher incomes may actually be associated with a more positive outlook on life [1] For a long time, some experts believed in the Easterlin Paradox, or the idea that money could only make people happy up to a certain point [2]. After we start making a certain amount of money (about $75,000 in the U.S.), the thinking went, we sort of become immune to the happiness rush on payday [3]. They also believed that well-being was only related to how much moolah we have in relation to other peoples incomes. This latest research, a discussion paper from two professors and one grad student at the University of Pennsylvania, is basically a big slap in Easterlins face [4]. The authors make a few arguments that refute the old logic. First, people who live in rich countries have, on average, a higher well-being than people who live in poor countries. Second, even within the same country, wealthier people tend to have a higher well-being. And third, the more money people make over time, the happier they get. There doesnt appear to be a satiation point, as Easterlin suggested. The only place where people dont seem to get happier as they get richer is the U.S., and researchers say thats possibly because of significant economic inequality in the states. The findings are supported by similar research that suggests money actually can put a smile on someones face [5] [6]. One survey, distributed to more than 136,000 people in 132 countries, found that people in wealthier countries reported greater life satisfaction than those in developing countries [6]. MO MONEY, MO HAPPINESS THE ANSWER/DEBATE Of course, whether the source of satisfaction is a result of higher income (and the amenities it can buy) or simply life in a more stable environment is difficult to pinpoint. But in another more recent survey, U.S. citizens of different economic standings were asked to rate their

emotional well-being and outlook on life. The results suggest that as income rises, so do feelings of comfort, well-being, and overall satisfaction amongst residents of the same country [8]. Researchers believe that money can provide greater peace of mind, which in turn tends to make us happier. Someone who makes six-figures a year doesnt necessarily have the same stresses as someone who makes minimum wage. Studies have also found that those with lower incomes are at higher risk for health problems such as cardiovascular disease and even marital issues [9]. Its also possible that the relationship works the opposite way happier people tend to make more money. One recent study found that happier adolescents were more likely to be big earners by age 29 than their Debby-Downer peers [10]. And theres also the possibility that its not just about having money but rather spending it that can boost peoples moods. Regardless, if funds are low, it might be worth looking beyond the dollar for happiness. For some, that could mean spending quality time with family or friends, or making the effort to enjoy a favorite past time. Or, for an added dose of happiness, try saying something positive every day. Like love, optimistic words dont cost a thing.

25. Why do people want fame?

To be noticed. I believe fame seems fun to them, me on the other hand, don't want to be famous because I'm shy. I can't really expand my anwser because I'm so introverted and think fame makes you exposed. I don't like that, I want privacy. BQ: Well, it all depends on what the downsides are, like the press invading you all the time and having people spread nasty rumors about you. Yeah, if your greedy and want the whole world to know your name, then you won't mind. It's all about who you are talking about. People do not necessarily want fame.... People want power! Fame is just one source and one avenue to power and there are many different avenues to achieve power and many different types of power. For instance: A famous athlete may achieve fame from his power whereas a powerful businessman may achieve power from his fame. But the common denominator here is power. Sometimes fame, in and of itself, does not equate to very much power such as a famous serial killer but this limited amount of notoriety or power might bring him some small satisfaction nonetheless. And yes, I do think that a lot of times some famous people find out the downsides of fame that they did not expect. Often as not power demands responsibility and some people find that hard to handle. But to answer your question remember this. Often times fame is fleeting and doesn't last. One may find oneself briefly famous only to be forgotten in short order. But power lasts and that is what people long for. And whether or not it's power or influence over a small group or a large one it is a longing for power that drives us. Fame is just one way to get it. I do not believe people are looking for fame per se. I believe people are looking for power through fame.

There can be many reasons. Some want fame just for greed and shallow reasons. Others want it because they crave attention and wish for an outlet to help prove to them that they mean something--even if it's only for a short while.

On the other hand, many wish to just voice their own observations about life and the world, and try and reach many others to create a certain connection among many individuals. As well, some might wish to make a certain legacy that will, at least to an extent, make their existence worth it. After all, what is the point of life if it is lived in anonymity? Those are just a few of the reasons for the desire for fame.
In todays world fame is not merely seen as a by-product or as a consequence of achieving something; fame is pursued directly and as a goal in and of itself. With there being numerous examples of people who place fame as the ultimateachievement in life and above anything else; it might seem that fame is what one is on this planet to attain. In the past one typically became famous through what they had given to the world. And although this might have not always been something that benefited humanity, it was usually something significant. In the modern day world, there are people that are routinely in the media who are classed as being famous simply for being famous. Needs It would be easy to say that the majority of people who are famous today have very little to offer and that they are famous simply because they have been in the media so often. But if these people are in the media, then they are fulfilling certain needs that society has. These needs may be different to the needs of long ago, at least on the surface, but they are needs nevertheless. And unless people needed what they were offering, then these people wouldnt be elevate d to the position of being famous. Two Sides On one side we have the desire of some individuals to be famous. And on the other side we have the individual that is prepared to look up to and assist in another person achieving fame. It is a symbiotic relationship; where In order for one to exist, the other also has to exist. Now, as I have stated above, fame per se is not negative or dysfunctional, it is often unavoidable and merely a consequence of doing something that one enjoys. For an individual that enjoys singing, playing an instrument or for someone who enjoys acting, due to the nature of what they are doing, it is often natural for them to become famous. Fame However, this type of fame is not pursued directly by the individual. It just so happens that what they like doing, interests enough people and therefore they will become famous. The other type of fame is not achieved through people appreciating and valuing what one has to offer the world, the other type of fame is fuelled out of the need to be famous. And how this person achieves this is not important, all that is important is to be famous. Questions One might ask: is being famous the highest possible achievement in todays world? Is this the whole purpose of life itself? Lets pause here and take a moment to reflect on this modern day obsession and addiction. Is This New?

What is clear to see is that this is a relatively new occurrence in the world, at least in its current expression; but I think it would be naive to think that this means it is a desire that didnt exist before. The reasons that motivate an individual to want to be famous may have existed for a long time, before this craze came to the fore in todays world. What todays world has created, with the development and power of the media and through the internet, is a platform for fame to exist and to grow like never before. Survival One might also argue that this has a lot to do with our survival needs and that the more people one knows, the better chance one has of surviving. And I believe there is an element of truth here, and what it also clear to see is that in the modern day world, one doesnt need to be famous in order to survive. A Closer Look I believe that in order to understand peoples motivations and behaviours, one has to look not only at anothers current psychological disposition, but also at anothers childhood development. Ones childhood may have occurred many years ago and one may have no interest inpsychology today. The body might have changed and one may have had many experiences since that time, however one thing has remained. The Inner Child How the inner child affects ones life today will depend on the quality of their upbringing and also if they have done any work on themselves. The needs of a child are going to be radically different to the needs of an adult. A child is described as being egocentric and this is ultimately because the child doesnt have the capacity at the age to be any other way. This is neither good nor bad; it is just how a child is. The child has to rely on its caregivers to take care of every need it has. This could be to do with being loved unconditionally, being emotionally mirrored and validated and being accepted and approved of. As Time Goes By When these needs are not met during ones childhood, ones inner child will have been wounded during these important stages. And what this will then do is influence and affect ones present day needs, wants and behaviours. The wounded inner child is also what conditions ones ego mind. Here one will regress to the wounded inner child and will then become emotionally dependent on others. And this is because a child has no way of validating or approving itself; it has to gain this externally through its caregivers. Insatiable Needs These needs of the inner child cannot be fulfilled directly and this is due them being childhood needs and not adult needs. As the child has no way of fulfilling these needs, it meant that these needs were insatiable and needed to be constantly fulfilled by caregivers. And when one regresses to these needs today, it is like an abyss; these needs can never be met directly and will only lead to obsessive and compulsive behaviour. One has to grieve these forgotten needs and to acknowledge and validate what happened. This is possible through awareness, observing what is occurring and feeling these original feelings and not through the attachment to what happened. Similarities

What is evident among people who want to be famous or who are famous is there constant need for attention. It is as if they have no identity other than the one that is given to them by other people. Whether they feel good or bad or love or hate themselves is being defined by the views of other people. The ability to approve or accept themselves internally does not seem to be in action. And although they are adults, their behaviour is very similar to that of a needy and egocentric child. And just like how a child can only be regulated through other people, people that desire fame also often exhibit this inability to regulate themselves. What this shows is how powerful this wounded inner child is and that as long as it is left unobserved, it will continue to affect and influence ones life. The Other Side So what about the people who help to elevate these individuals, what is their benefit? What is occurring here is an action of the ego mind called - identification. Here the ego mind will identify with people who are expressing the behaviours that it wants to display. And through this process one can feel and experience these things through the attachment to the other person. Conclusion I believe that the obsessive need for fame in todays world is a consequence of ones childhood. On the surface these people can be judged as attention seekers and as being self centred. While this is an appropriate description; I believe that what we are seeing is the emergence of ones wounded inner child. And this child is craving all the things that it didnt have taken care of many years ago. This age regression will continue to appear, until one has validated and acknowledged these neglected childhood needs.

26. How can a person become famous?

Everyone wants to be famous right?...... Wrong!. I would never want fame for all the money in the world. I shall be keeping my privacy. In-fact, thinking about it, most people I believe don't want to be famous, but if you are one of the many people that do, then here's some ideas to help get you on your way. Some will require no talent what-so-ever and what-ever your skills, or lack of them, becoming famous can still be possible for anyone including you.

1. Enter a reality show. We all now someone who is famous just for appearing on a reality show. It's hard to turn on the TV now-a-days without seeing some sort of show on which gives anyone the chance of becoming famous. Look at Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent, or Jade Goody from Big brother, Kelly Clarkson from American Idol, and Leona Lewis from X Factor. Enter one of these shows and you can become famous over night if you have natural raw singing talent. Jedward never had any talent but they had something which made them very famous.

2. Get fame and become a modellike one of the worlds richest supermodel 'Gisele Bundchen'. This way is very easy without any skills other than just looking good. 3. Invent something which is a sure way to becoming famous just like 'Erno Rubik' who was the inventor of the Rubik's cube. The wheel has already been invented and is still being reinvented to this day, but there are still many things that have not. Sometimes invention have been created purely by accident. 4. Good at sports? Do something your good at like Football, Baseball or Ice hockey or become an athlete and be famous In seconds by breaking the current world record holder Husain Bolt's 9.58 seconds. Some sports can be quite easy way if you're naturally the fastest or strongest. Become a world champion but try not to break a leg doing so. 5. Write a best selling novel, I'm sure you all know many novelists by name more than their face. If you have great writing skills you could be the next 'Jackie Collins', or 'J.K. Rowling' or who wrote the 'Harry Potter' books. 6. Be a Scientist and find a cure for the common cold and you will be remembered forever . Don't forget that most vaccinations and antibiotics were created purely by mistake. 7. Be a comedian, magician or entertainer. If everyone tells you your funny and you naturally make people laugh, you may just have something. Some people are just naturally funny without even trying. If this is you, your half way there. When it comes to comedy it's not what you say, it's how you say it and of course---------------timing is everything. 8. Become a politician. We all know the former UK prime minister Tony Blair and president George Bush who had so much power. Did you know the former US president and late Ronald Reagan and the 38th governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger were all former actors 9. Have a successful businesslike 'Bill gates' who owns Microsoft, or Mohamed al-Fayed who used to own Harrods. This route is not the simplest, and requires a lot of hard work but is a sure way to become famous and have all the trappings of success. 10. The easiest way to becoming famous is to marry, date, or be a relative of someone famous. Hello Jaden Smith, Willow Smith and of course Paris Hilton, and in her words,that's hot.

Helpful Information
Some people are born with the IT, or just have the X Factor. Most people have to acquire it. Many people with talent lack confidence. Some people just look like a star and have no talent and others are very talented, but don't look anything special. A makeover could make a difference. Many people have real talent and star quality but don't even want to be famous and vice verse.

Being famous is one thing, but being famous and successful is another. You don't need to become famous to be rich and successful. If you really have what it takes, don't let anyone or anything stop you... Don't ever give up on your dreams - nature will-'may' take its course. Work hard and eventually, your talent or gift may be recognized. Last few things to remember. Don't let your passion become and obsession. Try not to show your too desperate or eager. No matter how individual and unique you are, you're certainly not alone. Believe in yourself and persevere. With the help and support of your family and friends, anything is possible.. in the meantime, don't quit your day job, or your studies as you may find you need something to fall back on just in case you don't succeed. Even if you do, you cannot sing, dance or act forever for whatever reasons.

Write to various TV stations, theatres, etc. offering to do voluntary work-anything for experience. Like most things in life, it's not what you do, it's how you do it. Getting your foot in the door is a great start. On the way up, be careful who you trust. There are many who will sell you a bill of goods, so look before you leap. Be sure before making any commitments. Right now, You or your parents may be paying for a vocal coach who knows you don't have the potential to sing well and will continue taking your money.

Whether you're young or old, experience is the key. Take part in school plays and your local theatre. It will give you experience while building up your confidence. Singing, acting and dancing classes help. Learn something new. You may want to work in one field but, by trying something new, you could discover you have hidden talent.All music videos, films, TV shows, etc. all require stand-ins and extras and even walk-on parts are always available. These are just a few ways to learn new things, meet new people and more importantly, be spotted.

Most big stars started at the bottom and worked their way up.They may have started by sweeping the stage, but now they're dancing on it. Don't always think big.

You may be one of the thousands of people who have talent but lack the likability {personality} factor. Most times it's not what you say or do it's how you say and do them. If this is the case, you will need to change your ways as you will have to work with many people who may not want to work with you. Getting along with people is very important in gaining success. If you can't get along with people, you'll have to work much harder! Unless you're super uber talented then it doesn't matter - as much!. Or, you may not have talent at all but are surrounded by people who always praise you and give you positive feedback whenever you sing or dance, or show your (so called talent) because they don't want to hurt your feelings and are just being kind. Try recording your voice and play it back! What can you hear!? What-ever your talent, try videoing yourself, what can you see? Are you a great performer?

Practice makes perfect right? Wrong. Practice makes better because nothing is perfect. There is always room for improvement. Uploading videos of your talent to Viewastar.com or even YouTube which is a great way to get honest and sometimes brutal feedback so you'll need thick skin. This day and age it's much easier to become a famous singer like Justin Bieber who came from a very small town before becoming famous just singing at home and uploading his songs to Youtube before eventually being signed up. Even the magician Dynamo used Youtube to become famous.

You don't even need talent to become famous or achieve Internet stardom. Just doing, crazy or really weird and strange stuff is enough to get you millions of hits and become an overnight sensation, just like Matt Harding who videoed himself dancing in over 70 countries. Tay Zonda's song titled Chocolate Rain earned him an appearance on the animated TV sitcom South Park and a TV commercial deal.. Find something your good at or very bad at and share it to the world no matter where you live. It's If you have a computer, an Internet connection and that something special, there's no excuse to become famous without leaving your bedroom.

You can also be a famous inventor, photographer, film director, scientist, clothes designer among many other trades that will require talent and in some cases, an education.

Do you ever wonder which famous celebrity you look like, as you canbecome a celebrity lookalike. You may not think you look like anyone famous, but there are many celebrities around the world who could look just like you. So, you may have to travel abroad. Find out who you most look like by uploading your picture. Ironically, the people with the most enduring fame are the ones who weren't aspiring to it, but simply loved the work and focused on being the best they could be. They also tend to be happier, since fame comes and goes, but being proud of your life's work is permanent.
27. What kind of people get inspiration from celebrities?

In a society that largely obsesses about entertainment and celebrity culture, celebrities can have a powerful impact on a person's life. From fashion trends to political views, the attractiveness of a celebrity's lifestyle can influence people's beliefs, interests and behaviors. This obsession with celebrity culture often starts at an early age. Many children and teens are infatuated with young, pop-culture icons. They think of celebrities as role models and may choose to imitate them.

Creativity, innovation and brilliance: why do some people have it and other people dont? Creativity and innovation are the source of new business ideas, excellence in entrepreneurship and talented

individual success stories. It would be nice to assume that creative people are just talented and fall back on the assumption that you either have it, or you dont. The truth is, the most creative people understand what it takes to be creative: diligence, persistence, hard work (and perhaps a bit of a struggle) and tap into sources of inspiration. Behind every success storyfrom Steve Jobs of Apple and Bill Gates of Microsoft to Mark Zuckerberg of Facebookthere is an individual or a team working hard and following these three tenants of productivity: 1) they understand sources of inspiration, 2) they know how to create moments where creativity can flourish and 3) they certainly understand that behind every creative idea is unwavering determination, productivity and a whole lot of hard work.

First: The Best Sources of Inspiration

The number-one cited source of inspiration? The people and the networks around you. If you want to be inspired, just watch interesting people, follow talented businesses, engage in new activities and commit yourself to learning something new. Become a student of what you want to learn. People are inherently fascinating. Bruce Desilva, a novelist who teaches part-time at Columbia University, describes people as endlessly interesting. When asked what inspires him, he replied: People do. Human beings are endlessly interesting if you just learn to pay attention. In business, most successful ventures start with simple ideas about how to improve upon something that already exists. Red Box and Netflix took movie rentals to the next level by changing the way that movies were delivered to the customer, offering an additional layer of convenience. The idea of renting movies was not new; how they were made available was changed in a way pleasing to more people. PayPal and ebay took the sales and exchange of goods and items to a new front by opening up a virtual marketplace and reconfiguring how we exchange money. Facebook and other social networking sites reconfigured how we think about networking, replacing Excel networking spreadsheets with a system that manages our networks and allows friends to update and exchange their personal information with us for free. Petes Coffee and Starbucks Coffee are profiting wildly from the sale of a cup of joe mixed with varying amounts of sugarnot a new invention. Want to make a few dollars? Bottle some water or brew some coffee. Hundreds of companies are doing it. The premise is the same: people and businesses are inspired by the world around them. Each of these ideas began with several concepts that werent new. Most complaints are actually opportunities to make something new and better by fixing or improving upon something thats existing.

Second: Cultivating Great Moments for Inspiration

How do you get that ah-hah! moment? In each human mind, we revisit our understanding of the world as it exists from time to time. The mind is the most creative during sustained, semi-focused activity. Here are a few moments that creative people use for cultivating great thinking:

Drifting off to sleep. The mind, as it settles and unwinds, often is the most creative during this unplanned thought time. Many artists and writers keep notebooks by their bedsides to capture these moments. Meditation. Practicing putting the mind into a relaxed, free-flowing state has been shown to induce more creative thinking. Exercise. Many marathon runners and elite athletes describe exercise as a sense of focus beyond everyday thinking. Walking. Some of the greatest philosophers were known to have many of their conversations while walking. Just as there are activities that are conducive to creative thinking, there are also sustained activities that are not advantageous to free-form, imaginative thinking. Activities that are overstimulating or entertaining by their nature (watching television, spending time in front of a computer) can, depending on how and how often they are used, reduce the creative impulses. Furthermore, interesting research by Modupe Akinola, a professor at Columbia Business School, and Joe Forgas of the University of New South Wales, Australia suggests that our dispositions and our emotional framework can influence our creative impulses. In The Dark Side of Creativity, Akinola finds that being somewhat melancholy can actually improve your creativity. The research suggests that a sad mood can make people better at judging, accuracy and observing the world around them. Jonah Lehrer, author of Wireds science blog, The Frontal Cortex, sums up the results of their research succinctly: Many of our creative challenges require diligence, persistence and focus. Its not easy making a collage or writing a poem or solving a hard technical problem, which is why sometimes being a little miserable can improve our creative performance.

Finally: Putting In the Work Behind the Inspiration

Not every moment of brilliance comes during a casual stroll on a beautiful sunny day without any effort. Creative people dont sit lazily by a lake, waiting for the next great idea. Most great inventors and thinkers toil away at their ideas, producing new iterations daily, until they figure out something that works. Perhaps hard work facilitates a sense of angst or anguish, stimulating further creativity through some emotional strain, as suggested by the research of Akinola and Forgas. People that are productive, putting their ideas to work, find successful ideas over time through careful consideration, reflection and hard work. Robert Sutton describes it well: The truth is, creativity isnt about wild talent as much as it is about productivity. To find a few ideas that work, you need to try a lot that dont. Its a pure numbers game.

28. What sort of people were famous in the past, 50 years ago?

A half century ago, much of the news in the United States was dominated by the actions of civil rights activists and those who opposed them. Our role in Vietnam was steadily growing, along with the costs of

that involvement. It was the year Beatlemania began, and the year President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin and delivered his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Push-button telephones were introduced, 1st class postage cost 5 cents, and the population of the world was 3.2 billion, less than half of what it is today. The final months of 1963 were punctuated by one of the most tragic events in American history, the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Let me take you 50 years into the past now, for a look at the world as it was in 1963

29. What are your ambitions for the future?

My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities, and contribute as much of value as I can. I see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organization, like this one. I plan on enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in (related) professional associations. Once I gain additional experience, I would like to move on from a technical position to management. In the XYZ Corporation, what is a typical career path for someone with my skills and experiences? 30. What are the advantages of studying instead of working?

To work and study at the same time have certain advantages such as

to get a degree it is good to work because you learn better many things about you field of studies and you have good work experience once your studies are over. can pay the school or university with your salary. money you receive isn't calculated as income when you apply for fin aid for next year. usually earned on campus (where you will be anyway) and your boss will understand YOU ARE A STUDENT FIRST and will work with you regarding your work schedule often you can position yourself in a good dept on campus - maybe a clerk in the office of your major, or in the library, or in the scholarship office or similar situation usually don't have to work during the breaks - Christmas, spring break etc. usually the jobs are pretty easy and vary a great deal on campus, departmental offices English, psychology, computer labs, tutoring, food services, dorms, grounds maintance, library, media dept, recruiting dept, basically all aspects of college life.

In my opinion, spending time on working may affect our studies badly. Thats because wed have to spend too much time on working and spend less time on studying. We wouldnt have enough time for self-study, research, or getting homework done. So, every day, we may focus on making high earnings instead of being an outstanding student. There can be some exceptions, though. If we take a job or start a career that relates to our major in school, then there can be benefits from working. In class, we only study theory, so it could be a great way to

gain practical experience. Therefore, those students who work a job related to their major might have more opportunities for employment after they graduate.

Work Study Cons * Don't have time to study. at nights, a student is very tired and doesn't learn very well.Students might not have enough rest and sleep and this causes people in the classroom only think about resting and sleeping

*you are limited in the amount of money you can earn. Usually no more than 10-15 hours a week depending on your hourly wage.
*the hourly wages aren't always the most compedative when compaired to non workstudy jobs. I've noticed this has gotten better in recent years. *You can't always work during the breaks to earn extra money during semester down times.- Christmas, spring break.. *At times finding a job can be difficult ( this may vary, depending on your school). You will be responsible for finding your own job on campus and will likely have to go through a regular interview process. Just because you were awarded Work Study, there is no guarantee they have to give or find you a job.
31. Can you describe your job to me?

Greets customers and offers them full attention to take, assemble and present food orders; requests for and receives payment according to company standards and ensures balance of cash on hand with invoices as recorded in the cash register. Cleans dining and kitchen areas according to company and statutory sanitary standards through sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning walls, tables, counters, and kitchen/service equipment; responsible for maintaining cleanliness at the customer service area by removing trash, cleaning restrooms and checking the parking lot Assisting new crew members with training; responsible for the preparation of food items according to company and statutory requirements; checks stock levels and ensures proper rotation (FIFO). Checks equipment to ensure that it is in proper working order; informs management of potential problems to ensure uninterrupted service; provides backup to crew members to ensure preparation, packaging and delivery of food in a timely manner.
32. What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?

My current job has been wonderful because I get to split my time between creative and organizational tasks. I love having that duality, because when I get stuck on the creative stuff, I can switch gears and do the organizational stuff. Its nice being able to use both sides of my brain. I also like that my bosses are very effective managers. They understand the importance of hiring good people and then simply clearing the way so their team members can do what they do best with few obstacles.
How much do you love your job? We all know people who have happily found a compatible, lifelong profession and others who just can't seem to settle on one career path. Where do you fall along this spectrum? Take our quiz and find out!

1. Which statement best describes your overall attitude about your career? A. Without work, I'd feel empty and life would have little meaning. B. I work to pay the bills. C. My career is a fulfilling part of my life. I derive a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment from my work, as I do from other parts of my life. D. I've done a lot of different kinds of work, but I haven't found anything I'd commit to for the long-term. 2. If you were to lose your current job tomorrow, what would you do? A. I'd have no reason to get out of bed in the morning. B. I'd be glad, because I'm bored with this job already. C. Initially, I'd feel disappointed. But then I'd assess my options, activate my professional network and launch a full-scale job search. D. I would be disappointed at first, but given time, I might actually look forward to moving on to something new. 3. How would you characterize your career plan? A. It's solid. I don't let anything get in the way of achieving my professional goals. B. I don't really have a career plan; I just go where my career takes me. C. My career plan is like an unfinished painting within an established framework. I know where I'd like to go, but I'm open-minded and flexible about how best to get there. D. My "plan" is to preserve my freedom as much as possible and not get stuck in a routine. 4. What's your attitude about having to work overtime? A. I'm usually so wrapped up in what I'm doing that I end up staying after hours anyway. B. I only put in the hours that are required; there's no overtime for me. C. I accept it as an inevitable and occasionally necessary part of today's workplace. D. If I'm asked to work overtime too often, I'll probably put feelers out for a new job. 5. Which choice best describes your relationship with your supervisor? A. I want her job. Then I want her supervisor's job. B. I try to stay out of my manager's way. C. My supervisor is a mentor as well as a capable manager. D. I'm not too close with my boss, since I don't stay at any job for too long. 6. Which of the following best describes your relationships with your co-workers? A. If they can help me advance in my career, I cultivate a close professional relationship. B. I wouldn't be able to survive without them; bantering with my colleagues helps me pass the hours. C. I generally like the people I work with and enjoy collaborating with them. D. I don't know them that well, but they seem friendly. 7. A co-worker takes full credit for a project on which you did the majority of the work. As a result, she -- not you -- will be considered for a promotion to a higher-paying, more prestigious position. How do you handle this situation? A. I would consult with an attorney about my options for redress. At the very least, I would send a letter to the CEO and request a meeting to air my grievances. B. I'd let her have the promotion -- although I could use the extra cash, I really don't want the additional responsibilities. C. I'd request a private meeting with my immediate supervisor and explain my role in the project. If my coworker receives the promotion anyway, I'd try to get over the episode and move on. D. I've been considering a career change anyway, so ultimately it doesn't matter. 8. You make a mistake on a project. Another member of your work team corrects it. How do you react? A. I offer to buy my co-worker a fancy lunch in hopes she won't tell the boss. B. Mistakes happen, and I appreciate my co-worker covering for me. C. I thank my co-worker for catching the error and try to make sure it doesn't happen again. D. The mistake is probably a sign that it's time to look for another job that stimulates and engages me more. 9. You're on a weeklong vacation in Costa Rica. You didn't think you'd be accessible, but there's an

Internet caf at your hotel. How often do you check in with the office? A. I answer most of my e-mail every day so there will be less work go come back to. B. Never. C. I scan e-mail once or twice to make sure nothing important has come up. D. I e-mail my manager to say that I'm considering pursuing a new career as a surfing instructor and not to expect me back anytime soon. 10. Your significant other is transferred to a new position 3,000 miles away. What do you do? A. I suggest a long-distance relationship since this will give me more time to work. B. I give notice and start packing. C. I check with my employer about opportunities within the company in the new location. If there are none, I revise my career plan accordingly and start a long-distance job search. D. I can't wait to start a new career in a new city. Answer Key If most of your answers were... A: Be careful -- that's not the best grade on this quiz. In fact, too many A's may mean you have an unhealthy obsession for your job. Does the term "workaholic" ring any bells? You tend to put work before everything else, including relationships with others and even your own well-being. Because you often focus on the job to the exclusion of other aspects of your life, you're at real risk for burnout. You also may alienate your boss and others you are trying to impress by being too competitive; teamwork requires shining the spotlight on others, and, on occasion, admitting you're wrong. Develop a hobby, set aside time to socialize and relax. You'll find that it actually pays off professionally. You'll have more energy and creativity at work if you lead a balanced life. Good luck! B: You're at the opposite extreme of the A type. In fact, you have very little interest in -- or passion for -- the work you've chosen. It's time to re-evaluate your goals and aspirations. What do you really want to do with your life? What are your major talents and strengths? What's your idea of the perfect job? What matters most to you? If you can answer these questions honestly, you'll be able to determine what sort of job best aligns with your core values and abilities. Then you can begin to chart a more satisfying career path and find work you really love. C: Congratulations! You've been fortunate enough to find a career that's rewarding and fulfilling. You're passionate about your work without crossing the line into obsession. You have a healthy outlook that will enable you to weather job-related setbacks with poise, and you've been able to achieve a balance between work and your personal life. The fact that you have a clear career path enables you to acquire new skills while advancing professionally. D: It's the first letter in "dilettante," which is what you tend to be when it comes to your professional life. You are most likely ambitious and multitalented, but have trouble settling down because it means foregoing other choices. This isn't necessarily a bad quality many people change careers several times throughout their lives but you should try to make sure these switches in direction are based on careful thought and consideration rather than impulse. Perhaps you're reluctant to commit to one job or career because you haven't prioritized your goals. Since it's impossible to do everything, try narrowing your options by assessing your talents and preferences. Ask basic questions do I like to work with people or am I happier with solitary pursuits? Do I have a knack for mathematics, science, languages, music, art or sales? Could my interest in a particular field lead to a career or merely a hobby? Can I make money at this? Do I want to do this work 40 or more hours a week? Finding the answers to these questions is the first step toward committing to a career choice. 33. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Actyally, i don't have much free time in my life.Since i'm employ and student at the same time ,so i'm always try to strike a balance between my study and my work.but if have time i usally love entertaining my self either by watching movies,listening music or

going on a trip.

I like hangin' with my friends. (Do you actually do anything with those friends, or do you just take up space on our little planet?) I do Facebook in all my free time. (This is true for many students, but too much online time is a major source of poor academic performance in college) I like partying. (Another activity that, if a abused, has caused many students to fail out of college) I watch lots of TV. (Many of us watch too much TV; don't highlight that fact during your interview) I don't have any free time. (This answer is true for some highly involved students, but it is an evasive answer; what would you do if you did have free time?) I've been reading all of the Greek classics. (Good for you, but really? Colleges like good scholars, but they also want students who occasionally take their heads out of their books) 34. Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?

Horse Riding As A Hobby Has Many Advantages

Horse riding as a hobby can bring many benefits. Horse riding as a hobby is a great way to go out and see the surrounding area. Many people end up seeing their surroundings on the freeways and other streets. Many people never get off the beaten track unless they take up horse riding as a hobby. Horse riding as a hobby will take you to the trails that surround the city. People buy all terrain vehicles so they can get off the commonly traveled roads, but they can do the same thing when they have horse riding as a hobby. Horse riding as a hobby has an added advantages for seeing the surrounding areas in a four wheel drive vehicle. Horse riding as a hobby brings the rider closer to nature. A person riding through the countryside can see the local terrain from a special vantage point. The riders have the wide open spaces all around them. A beautiful blue sky through a sun roof is just not the same as a completely open view from the back of a horse. The cool fresh air away from the city is usually clear and clean. Horse riding as a hobby is often very relaxing for the rider. The pressures of every day life seem to disappear on the back of a horse. Horse Riding As A Hobby Teaches Responsibility Horse riding as hobby can be enjoyable for adults, but it is also a very wonderful hobby for children. Children can learn many things about life through horseback riding. First of all, children will learn the responsibility of caring for an animal and the equipment that is needed for their hobby. They will usually have to care for the stables where their horse is kept. They will have to make sure that the area is completely clean on a regular basis. The horse should be groomed, washed and fed regularly. These duties should be the responsibility of the child with the hobby.

Horse riding as a hobby is great for children because they should constantly learn to control a huge animal. They will have to practice and learn techniques in order to make sure that this animal responds to their commands. The child will learn from their mistakes and they should learn to have a great deal of confidence in their abilities as they increase their skills through their hobby. Children can compete in different activities with their horses and this should help them determine their progress compared to others in the same age group.

35. How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

Probably the biggest change in leisure time in the last century has been the emergence of the automobile and airplane and the ability to 'travel' whenever and where ever desired. In the West, the automobile gave ordinary people the ability to see the world that they normally would not have been able to do. Travel, especially intercontinental travel, was something only the upper class was able to afford, usually. But by the mid-1920's in America, and later in Europe and other industrialized countries, a family could hop in the old Model T and motor on over to whatever part of their world they wanted to see - the "auto vacation" became a stable of the summer, and travel to things like National Parks, seashores, and other 'tourist destinations' became more and more common. And once the large passenger plane arrived, the idea of travelling from, say, the US to Europe or the Orient became far more affordable for many people. Cultures and communication intermingled like never before. They have changed by we now are using electric kettles but in the old days they did not have electricity so they did not have DS's or play stations but they played games with a piece of string and made shapes for an example a fishing net. They did not have TVs. And today we have kettles that you just switch on and then you have your cup of tea but then you had a kettle and you would put it over a stove and it would boil.
I am close to 60 y.o. when I was a child, Saturdays, the Jewish owned shops were closed and on Sunday the Christian shops were opened. In our spare time we played lawn games i.e. lawn darts (later outlawed) croquet, badminton, volleyball, etc. I remember card parties and dances that my parents had or went to. We usually watched TV as a family. We also played a lot of board games, monopoly, scrabble etc. I remember my phone calls being limited to 10 minutes and in the late 60's our phone number had 2 letters in it (we5-3070) LOL Back then, in some places you were on a 'party' line and shared the phone with 3 other families, each family had their own ring. We rarely locked our back door. It was a different time, If a nuclear bomb was about to hit you were to hide under your desk!! People's lifestyle are based on individual choices, influenced by personal

characteristics, circumstances, interests and social interactions. In some ways how people spend their leisure time has changed significantly over the years. For example, rapid advances in technology have affected many aspects of people's lives, providing greater access to information and increased choice in leisure and entertainment. However, traditional leisure and entertainment activities, such as watching television, reading, listening to music, attending arts events, gambling and going on holiday remain popular. Many individuals also continue to participate in sports, spend time with family and friends, and help other people in their communities.
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Leisure and entertainment activities

With digital television services providing more channels and programmes than the analogue equivalent, as well as advanced interactive shows and games, and high definition channels, the television remains a popular medium of entertainment. Watching television was the most common leisure activity for more than eight in ten men and women (84 per cent and 85 per cent respectively) aged 16 and over in England in 2006/07 (Figure 13.1). For both men (75 per cent) and women (82 per cent) spending time with family and friends was the second most common leisure activity. However, there were also differences between the sexes in how they spend their leisure time. Men were more likely than women to participate in physical activities such as sport and exercise (58 per cent compared with 43 per cent) and DIY (46 per cent compared with 26 per cent). Women were more likely than men to spend their free time shopping, with three-quarters (75 per cent) doing so compared with around one-half of men (53 per cent). Similarly, women were more likely than men to take part in cultural activities such as reading (73 per cent compared with 56 per cent) and attending the theatre or music concerts (40 per cent compared with 34 per cent).

Figure 13.1.

Selected activities performed in free time:1 by sex, 2006/07 Full figure and legend (103K)

The economic downturn that began in 2008 meant that many people either had fewer resources or were worried about having fewer resources in the months ahead. In a survey by Populus, adults aged 18 and over in Great Britain were asked in September 2008 if they expected to do certain leisure or retail activities more or less in the coming 12 months than they had done in the past. More than one-half expected to do less shopping for luxury food and major purchases (59 per cent and 56 per cent respectively). Almost one-half (48 per cent) expected to be less likely to take a holiday abroad, while 7 per cent stated that they were more likely to take one. More

than one-quarter (27 per cent) expected to be less likely to take a holiday in the UK, while one-fifth (20 per cent) expected to be more likely to do this. More than four in ten (42 per cent) planned to spend more time staying at home relaxing and socialising in the 12 months after interview, while the same proportion (42 per cent) planned to cut down on going out to relax and socialise. In 2008 the process known as the 'digital switchover' began, whereby the UK's analogue television broadcast signal started being switched off and replaced with a digital signal, television region by television region. Any television set not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive television programmes. The process started in the Border television region and will end in London, parts of the Meridian area, Tyne Tees and Ulster Television regions in 2012. Nearly nine in ten homes (87 per cent) in the UK had a digital television service at the end of the first quarter in 2008 (Figure 13.2), a rise of 71 percentage points since 2000. Much of the recent growth in take-up of digital television services has been driven by the take-up of a digital terrestrial television service. In 2000, 3 per cent of households had this service connected to their main television set. This increased more than twelvefold to 38 per cent of households at the end of the first quarter in 2008, and digital terrestrial overtook digital satellite as the most common way of receiving a digital television service. More than one-third of homes (37 per cent) received a digital satellite service on their main set, while around 13 per cent of homes received a digital cable service.

36. What do you do when you have a holiday?

Hi there, my thing is traveling. I love to travel, for me getting to know different cultures and traditions is really awesome. Next week I am heading to Guadalajara, even though I have been there, I want to go to let my mind set free for a while after so many problems in my life. I picked this city in Mexico because it is really cheap, it is 3 hours from Sacramento, and because food is awesome including its people. I love Guadalajara, and I consider it to be the most advanced city after Mexico City. Guadalajara has mostly Japanese and Chinese technology, and you would not believe it but they have awesome cell phones way better than ours. When you are driving in the city at night, you see rancheros (you know guys with big hats and guitars), and they are in every corner waiting to get picked up by anybody to give you either a personal englightment of their ranchera music or for you to take him to anywhere where you want him to perform as long as you pay them. It is amazing, they are all males and when you drive, they will wave their hands at you in many corners in downtown Guadalajara. Puerto Vallarta is a dream, a beach 3 hours from Guadalajara downtown where a big part of its population are White Caucasians, amazing ah! For all these reasons, I am heading out there before the holidays I would say, and maybe Ensenada, Mexico for Christmas and New Year because I have no family here now with me, yep that is my plan. I love these Holidays! I enjoy spending time with my family during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's the most! Now that it's November, we start getting out all of the autumn decorations. We don't travel, so we all get together at either my house or my grandparent's to have dinner.

On Thanksgiving, I love waking up and helping my Mom start cooking the food, and we watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We also make Pazelles (I don't know if anyone else has had these, but they're like a thin, crisp cookie! They're sooo yummy!) Then we all sit down at the table and have the feast!! :)

On Christmas, our tradition between my mom, my grandma, and me is that we all go to Roger's Christmas House that is in town. There are about 5 houses on this property that is decorated in all Christmas decorations inside and out and you walk through them looking at all sorts of decorations to choose from. A good thing about it too is that it's open year-round! :) I also love putting up the Christmas lights outside, and putting up the tree! On Christmas Eve, we all open one small gift from someone of their choice and have hot cocoa!

The holidays this time of year have to be the best throughout the whole year! Each year they become more memorable.

Mixing business and pleasure doesnt have to be a bad thing. I often hear of scientists putting their vacation time to good use, learning about new areas of research or just getting out into the field. Journalists, too, have been known to sneak away from a vacation for a few days of reporting. Two news features in Nature this week remind me that summer is coming to a close, so we best use our vacations wisely. One speaks of researchers returning to a former brothel in Chile to catch and dissect squid in the service of neuroscience. In another, a reporter recounts his trip to Krakatau to see what kind of research can be done on a 3-kilometresquare patch of active volcano apparently, quite a lot. How do you best use your time off from the regular grind? Share your stories. Or write about your greatest wish for the perfect sabbatical. The more outlandish, the better. 1. Regain your fitness Experts believe that we can reclaim up to 30 percent of our fitness just by going on holidays. Vacations force us to exercise because we walk greater distances, swim, chase the kids around and play sports. Just standing upright instead of sitting down at a desk all day help you look and feel fitter. Regular movement during the day also boosts your circulation and gets your blood pumping which ups your heart rate and immune system. 2. Rebuild your body Without the stress of the nine to five grind our bodies have enough time and freedom to repair themselves. It's easier for our system to fight sickness when we're on holidays because it's not working so hard trying to fend off all the other environmental baddies. It's a widely accepted truth that chronic disorders, such as back pain, migraines and sore throats, also disappear when we're on a break. "I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and when I'm at work I suffer from the worst cramps," says Emily, 29. "But last year I took myself off to the Whitsundays for three weeks and it miraculously vanished. I could eat whatever I wanted to and the pain was gone!" 3. Breathe easier Ever camped in the mountains and thought, "Gee, the air feels clean here?" Well, you're right. City pollution means the air in urban areas is more congested and dirty. To give your lungs and bloodstream a chance to clear you need around 72 hours in pure, fresh air every few months. And where will you find this? In holiday spots that are less populated, towns that are high above sea level, the snow fields, and places that are near

rainforests. Your lungs are built to repair themselves so as long as you give them time to dispel any unwanted carbon monoxide you should be breathing better in no time. 4. Feel inspired If you've lost your gusto for work then it's time for an inspiration top up. Visiting places that move you and doing things that you're passionate about are an instant fast-track to idea heaven. Stagnant surroundings make for a bored and dull you, so get your juices flowing by pumping some good endorphins into your body. And how do you do that? Sunlight, laughter, healthy food, exercise, sex and fresh air are all guaranteed to have you bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm. 5. Reconnect with your partner Tiredness and stress are instant sexual zappers. Holiday sex on the other hand, is always hot. So the best way to reclaim that intimacy and passion is to move out of your boring, old bedroom and get it on somewhere foreign and fabulous like a secluded mountain cabin or a seaside bed and breakfast. Studies have also shown that female and male fertility rates are higher outside of polluted and congested cities. Bonus! 6. Heighten your senses Takeaway food, cigarette smoke, pollution and sickness all affect our sense of taste and smell. "I love nothing more than tucking into a beautiful steak over a nice glass of red wine, followed by a rich chocolate pudding," says Belinda, 28. "But I've found that lately I'm just not enjoying my food as much as I used to. I'm either too busy worrying about my never ending to-do list, or I'm fighting off a cold so I can't taste anything anyway." So if you truly want to enjoy a nice, wholesome meal you need to do it on holidays. 7. Sleep better Lower stress levels and the relative peace and quiet that comes with any good holiday are key in helping you catch up on lost sleep. There is a reason why traffic controllers are required to take break every 15 minutes, you know! Cities are noisy and traffic, boisterous colleagues, nasty neighbours and exuberant air-conditioning can all raise your cholesterol, blood pressure and the likelihood of headaches. So find somewhere peaceful to chill out and turn the volume down in your head. 8. Do your kids a favour According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics an increasing number of children are growing up in a family where both parents work full time with more than a quarter of Australians working more than 49 hours a week. Not only does this means that parents are missing out on quality time with their family, but children are being forced to hang out with their mum and dad when they're stressed, tired, moody and touchy. So why not do everyone a favour and take some time off together? 9. Be more productive Ever ventured into the countryside and thought, "Wow the hills are so green and the sky is so blue?" There's a good reason for that you know. We're so used to the drab greys and blacks of the city that our eyes forget how much we love colour. The same goes for our brain cells too. Seeing and doing the same thing every day reduces our mind's efficiency so we need new stimulants to ensure we're operating at our peak. This means taking a holiday will help you perform better at work when you get back. Is there a better excuse than that? 10. Become a nicer person Naomi, 32, is the manager of her own fashion company and says that when she comes back from holidays her staff always comment on how much nicer she is. "It's a confidence boost for me because it reminds me that I can be a pretty cool person when I want to be," she admits. "Seeing how people respond to me when I'm calmer and more relaxed is an incentive to try and act like that all the time. When you strip away the hustle and bustle of the working week, you get to the core of who you really are. So I have vowed to take

more leave in the hope that my "nice" months start to outnumber my bad ones." 37. Where do you like to spend your holidays? Why?

I would like to spend my holiday visiting Norway and Sweden. The contry of the thousen lakes should be wonderfull and I would see the aurora borealis, This must be one of the most spectacular thing to see all around the world.
I wonder what it would be like to spend the holidays at Walt Disney World. It would be a great family adventure and waking up to presents and fun sounds like a great idea. You can enjoy all of the excellent rides and attractions on a warm day. It provides a once in a lifetime memorable experience that can be talked about and re-lived for ages. 38. Do you think people should use public transport more? Why (not)?

While transit clearly benefits those who use it, even larger benefits accrue to all citizens in the form of economic development, reduced congestion, more livable communities and cleaner air.

STIMULATES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A transit coalition report, Dollars & Sense: The Economic Case for Public Transportation in America, found that every dollar taxpayers invest in public transportation generates $6 or more in economic returns. Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased sales. Every $10 million in operating investment yields $32 million in increased sales.

SAVES MONEY Its more cost efficient to use public transportation, particularly in business and urban areas. For every $10 million invested in public transportation, more than $15 million is saved in transportation costs to both highway and public transportation users. According to the American Automobile Association, the estimated cost of driving a single-occupant vehicle is between $4,826 (for a small car) and $9,685 (for a large car), depending upon mileage. By contrast, the annual average cost for public transportation for one adult ranges from $200 to $2,000, depending upon mileage, time of day, type of vehicle or service.

CREATES JOBS In addition to the 370,000 people directly employed by public transportation systems, thousands of others are employed in related support services (i.e., engineering, manufacturing, construction, retail, etc.). For every $10 million invested in capital projects for public transportation, more than 300 jobs and a $30 million gain in sales for business are realized.

GETS PEOPLE TO WORK Public transportation is key to moving former welfare recipients into the workforce as permanent wage earners. An estimated 94 percent of welfare recipients attempting to move into the workforce do not own cars and rely on public transportation. The current $75 million federal Access To Jobs initiative provides grants to transit service providers to help low income residents get to work by providing transportation choices. Another $500 million for these programs is guaranteed by law for a five-year period. Public transportation provides valuable options for suburban commuters who work in the city. In fact, the average annual income of rail commuters is more than $50,000 and most own two cars.

EASES TRAFFIC CONGESTION Nearly half of all Americans believe traffic is a serious problem where they live. Most (57 percent) do not feel their commute will improve over the next three years, and nearly a quarter expect to spend more time commuting. According to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), car drivers spent more than 40 hours last year stuck in traffic in one-third of the cities studied. Half the drivers spent the same amount of time stuck in traffic as they did on vacation, according to the same TTI study. These findings apply to small, medium and large cities.

Public transportation helps to alleviate our nations crowded network of roads by providing transportation choices. Without transportation choices, there would be 64,413 more cars on the road in New Orleans, 167,061 more cars on San Diego roads, and 2,610,280 more cars on New York City roads, according to the Sierra Club. In Portland, Oregon, a study by the Sierra Club showed that when more transportation options are offered, people use their cars less, thereby cutting traffic by 6 percent and traffic delays by 66 percent.

FOSTERS MORE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES Public transportation facilities and corridors are natural focal points for economic and social activities. These activities help create strong neighborhood centers that are more economically stable, safe and productive. Studies have shown that the ability to travel in an area conveniently, without a car, is an important component of a communitys livability. Public transportation provides opportunity, access, choice and freedom, all of which contribute to an improved quality of life. For example, Salt Lake Citys new TRAX system has achieved nearly 20,000 daily riders since 1999 (41 percent of whom are new to transit), thereby helping to revitalize the downtown area by attracting new businesses, a community center, ice-skating rink and amphitheater.

BOOSTS REAL ESTATE VALUES Public transportation fuels local development and in turn has a positive impact on local property values. Studies have shown greater increases in the value of properties located near public transportation systems than in similar properties not located near public transportation.

IMPROVES AIR QUALITY

Public transportation helps promote cleaner air by reducing automobile use, which can exacerbate smog and public health problems. Each year, public transportation use avoids the emission of more than 126 million pounds of hydrocarbons, a primary cause of smog, and 156 million pounds of nitrogen oxides, which can cause respiratory disease. For each mile traveled, fewer pollutants are emitted by transit vehicles than by a single-passenger automobile. (Buses emit 80 percent less carbon monoxide than a car; rail, almost none.) According to the Sierra Club, 7 of the 12 cities with the highest grades for low car and truck smog per person (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento and Washington, DC) are located in the states that spend the most on clean transportation choices, demonstrating the power of public transit as a tool to combat air pollution.

REDUCES ENERGY CONSUMPTION Public transportation can significantly reduce dependency on gasoline, reducing auto fuel consumption by 1.5 billion gallons annually. For example, a person who commutes 60 miles each way daily could save an estimated 1,888 gallons of gasoline every year by switching from using a car to using public transportation. Many U.S. transit systems are continuing to invest in compressed natural gas, low-sulfur burning buses or diesel-electric hybrid buses.

ENSURES SAFETY Public transportation continues to be one of the safest modes of travel in the United States. Riding a transit bus is 91 times safer than car travel. By train, passengers are 15 times safer. Every major public transportation system participates in annual safety audit programs that examine all areas of operation. Transit vehicle operators are highly trained to anticipate and avoid problems. Most

transit vehicles are larger, newer and more substantial than autos or vans.

ENHANCES MOBILITY DURING EMERGENCIES During many types of crises, both natural and man-made, people rely on public transportation. On September 11, 2001, the New York-New Jersey Port Authority transit systems moved people safely away from the Twin Towers disaster. Public transportation systems have operated around the clock to transport firefighters to the sites of wildfires; to evacuate nursing homes and hospitals; to move people to safety during storms; and to bring out-of-town police and rescue workers from the airport. In January 2003, the worst ice storm ever to hit the Carolinas left millions without power, leaving citizens to scramble to find whatever means of warmth they could. Temporary shelters opened across the city of Charlotte, and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) stepped in to transport a large amount of people to these warm locations. In the recent day, developed countries and developing areas have to meet a serious problem everyday is traffic jam. No body want to be in traffic jam waiting a long time in noise. There is an easier way to transport in a big city at rush hour. It's public transportation system. There are no deniable that using a private car to move that is easier and more conveneint, people can get car to move any time that have to wait on bus stop or get a ticket for a trip by highway or train, and they can drop by somewhere when moving by car that isnt able to do when moving by train. However, these is no use in traffic jam. The more people using public transportation the more fast and comfortable they get. Besides using public transportation will be interesting and useful because there is no need to focus on driving, and you can enjoy sitting on bus, chatting with other passengers or reading something. Japan, known as a country have the largest number of readers on the world, most of readers spend their time on train. In my opinion, using transportation public is one of the best way to relieving stress after working day . In brief, people should use public transportation to solve traffic jam , and that make you move faster and father.

39. Do you think it is better to live in the centre of town or outside in the country? Why?

Sometimes small-town life can get you down. Everyone's going to West Elm, or Anthropologie, or heck even Target, and you can only dream about being close enough to one of those stores to be able to casually drop by. Well, I'm here to remind you of ten reasons why living in a small town can really rock. 1. Trendy design is hard to find. Well, let me restate that you can find lots of trends from the 80's and 90's, but current hot items are few and far between. The bonus? You don't get stuck buying trendy stuff you'll be sick of in six months. 2. Antiques are everywhere. Okay, so I might not be able to find ombre paint-dipped chair legs, but I bet you I can find a dozen really beautiful old farm tables without breaking a sweat. Old farmhouse furniture (and lots of different styles of antiques, really) is ubiquitous, and such a thrill to peruse. 3. You get to work for your finds. I could drop into Target and spend $100 on home accessories without batting an eye. But give me $100 at a morning of yard sale-ing, and I pinch every dollar, every quarter as if it's my monthly grocery budget. My sister and I have seen each other barter over a matter of cents. I'm serious. 4. Back to trends if you do decide to go trendy, you stay trendy for a long time. I know that there are some trends that are hot right now on the blogosphere that haven't even hit my town yet. If I wanted to be the cool kid in class who is always the first to sport a new trend, I could. I don't, and I'm not, but I could. 5. You get forced to be creative. Usually, if I have something in mind that I want, I end up making it. Or painting it. Or building it. I've got lots of paintings and lots of furniture I've made just because it was the easiest way to complete the ideas that were in my head. 6. Purchases are thought out extensively. If I have to drive 100 miles to visit a Target, and if I have to drive even farther to visit any upscale shop, you better believe I have planned, budgeted, planned some more, and really thought about my purchases. When I make out a shopping list for Ikea (the closest one is about 3.5 hours away), I plan it down to the most minute items, including magazine file folders and glass votives. Since "dropping by" for a forgotten item isn't an option, planning is a must. 7. Shopping locally is not just a pleasure, it's the only option. Not having big-name stores can be a bummer, but the upside is the flourishing of all sorts of small, locallyowned shops. You never know what you're going to find, but chances are, it will be

something unexpected and unique, and probably not mass-produced. 8. Little artisans thrive. We have so many shops (I could probably count half a dozen just right downtown) that are simply collections of dozens of little crafters' wares. If you like to make or collect things and need a place to sell without a huge overhead and commitment, there are lots of little places that will give you a spot. It's like a reallife Etsy. 9. It's a great excuse to shop online. If there are things we really do want outside of our area code (or if I get the urge to do the next best thing to "window shopping" at a big popular store), I just go online. This is a fairly new option, obviously but now it's a luxury and for us, a must. I love curling up with my laptop and a cup of coffee for a morning of shopping in my pajamas. 10. Parking and traffic are not a big deal. I've lived in big cities before, and mall traffic is the worst. We don't have mall traffic because we don't have a mall. And I'm pretty much 100% guaranteed to find a parking spot, probably relatively close to the doors of the place I'm headed. And it's never more than a 15 minute drive anywhere. Now, I could probably turn right around and make a list of ten reasons why living in a big city rocks (and it definitely does!) but I'm a firm believer in being content where you are. When you grow up in a small town, you hear "I can't wait to get out of this place!" a lot and many do move away. But for me, I love living small. Do you live in a small town? Do you love it or hate it?

40. Do you enjoy reading? Why?

The public library is a phenomena that to this day I still cant get over. Free knowledge, for anyone. Literally, anyone. I cant think of an equivalent other than going to a clothing store, checking out an outfit, wearing the outfit and returning it in four weeks, free of charge. Except books are so much better than clothes. Recently Ive been on a huge reading kick, checking out anything I can get my hands on in the library. (Im writing a guest post on ZenHabits to detail some of the best stuff Ive found, so more on that later.) Ive found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of my life. Here are a few of my favorite ways that reading

has improved my quality of life, and will definitely improve yours.

1. Enhanced Smarts

Wow, this may be the most obvious statement of the post, right? Well, it turns out that reading helps in almost every area of smarts. Those that read have higher GPAs, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that dont. In Anne E. Cunninghams paper What Reading Does for the Mind (pdf version), she found that reading, in general, makes you smarter, and it keeps you sharp as you age. No matter what youre wanting to do or become, you cant do it without more knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to get where youre wanting to go.
2. Reading reduces stress

When Im reading a book, my mind shifts gears. Where I might have a had a stressful day, a book can easily distract me. Fiction is fantastic for this. Reading an awesome fiction book is perfect right before bed time. Though sometimes its hard to put the book down if its really good. Still, youll be relaxed ;)

Photo by MorBCN

3. Greater tranquility

Reading can soothe like no other. Given that Im a pretty high-energy person, reading forces me to sit and be still. This daily act of making myself be quiet and still has been nothing short of miraculous for my anxiety and my fidgety factor.
4. Improved analytical thinking

Thats right, ladies and germs. Cunninghams studies have found that analytical thinking is boosted by reading. Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly are able to spot patterns quicker. If you can spot patterns

quicker, your analytical skills receive a boost.

5. Increased vocabulary

Photo by thejbird

Its no secret that reading increases your vocabulary and improves your spelling, but did you know that reading increases your vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching? Reading forces us to look at words that we might not have seen or heard recently at the pub. In fact, language in childrens books are likely to be more sophisticated than your average conversation. Increased vocabulary is especially crucial for bloggers or writers. All successful writers will tell you that in order to write well, you need to read. Every day. Youll be surprised at the words you start incorporating into your writing. A beefier vocabulary isnt just for writers though. Knowing what other people are saying and using the perfect words to convey your feelings is a critical part of being a better human. Better listeners are more successful in life. (Side note: If youre concerned with your well-being at previously mentioned pub, you might lay off the more obnoxious terms youve picked up.)
6. Improved memory

I have an awful memory. Just ask my fiancee. I usually cant remember what Ive eaten for breakfast, let alone things like names and addresss. Yet Ive been finding that I can remember stuff much easier when Ive been reading

consistently. Do I have any scientific data to match this up? Not really. But Id say its a pretty safe bet that reading has somehow given me memory mojo.
7. Improved writing skills

This isnt much of a stretch, considering that reading improves vocabulary and critical thinking. I feel like a better writer, as Im constantly surrounding myself with works from people who are better than me. Thats why English classes in High School make you read the classics. Thats why art students learn to copy masterpieces, so they know what creating something incredible should feel like. The more you read, the better of a writer youll become.

Photo by prosperina*

8. Helps prioritize goals

Many times were certain we know what we really want in life. Yet Ive found that activities like reading show me things I didnt know about myself. My mind will drift to things that Id really like to do, and it isnt long that these little lapses in reading start to cycle. The same sort of goals keep popping into my head, allowing me to see what I really want to do. For example, Ive been playing music on a consistent basis, but Ive always wanted to produce and distribute my own music. As Ive been reading, Ive found that song ideas and other general thoughts on music keep popping into my head. Its my times reading that have really pushed me into giving music a serious go. When you remove yourself from your work environment, youll start to see things that you might really want to do, that youre not doing yet. Reading gives you a chance for your to wander.

No time? No money?
If you think that you dont have enough time to start reading, youre wrong. How do I know? Because we make time for the things that are important to us. How much TV do you watch? How much time do you spend trawling the web? You could easily replace reading with those activities. If youre worried about the cost of books, check em out at the local library. Most libraries take advantage of the interlibrary loan system, so you can check out nearly any book on the planet. I also use Worldcat to find libraries in the area that might have my book. Theres really no excuse to start reading on a regular basis. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and more knowledge never hurt anybody.

41. What are the advantages of reading instead of watching television or going to the cinema?

Of course! 1. Reading makes you a better writer. Every time I finish a book, I tend to pick up on that author's writing style, and tend to write with more progress than if I haven't read in awhile. In addition to this, my spelling, grammar, and vocabulary are nearly impeccable. 2. Books expand readers' imaginations, and make it possible for them to visualize things on their own account. Even with vivid descriptions, a certain reader might imagine a scene different than the next. Movies and TV don't have quite the same ability. The director creates a certain image, and everybody sees it the same. 3. Reading makes you, well, more literate and less ignorant. The more literary works you read, including classics, the better understanding you'll have of references to pieces in every day life. 4. Reading is much more time consuming than movies or TV are. If I'm bored and have an entire day spread out in front of me, I can easily tear it away by settling down with a good book. I love the feeling of being captivated by words, being able to ignore reality; this is a feeling that no movie or episode of a show can ever recreate. The day is also easily torn away when I become engulfed in a story. 5. Reading broadens perspectives, makes you think. Movies and TV can do this too, but I tend to enjoy being able to read, understand, and relate to a literary work that makes me reconsider my life and my mentality over watching something moving on TV. 6. There is no bad acting in books. This relates to being able to picture a scene in your head rather than actually seeing it. In books, despite descriptions, you can picture and imagine characters, the way they speak, walk, act, etc. There are no actual visuals to take away from your imagination. In movies and TV, bad actors,

bad accents, and bad haircuts can easily change an opinion of a character and the overall effect of the piece. There are many more advantages, but I think you get the point. I'm not dissing TV or movies, because I spend my fair share of time being engulfed in episodes of Law & Order myself, but I enjoy reading just as much. Reading=good. Go do it.
Americans particularly young Americans appear to be reading less for fun, and as that happens, their reading test scores are declining. At the same time, performance in other academic disciplines like math and science is dipping for students whose access to books is limited, and employers are rating workers deficient in basic writing skills. In an interview Mr. Gioia said that the statistics could not explain why reading had declined, but he pointed to several commonly accepted culprits, including the proliferation of digital diversions on the Internet and other gadgets, and the failure of schools and colleges to develop a culture of daily reading habits. In addition, Mr. Gioia said, we live in a society where the media does not recognize, celebrate or discuss reading, literature and authors. So, what Im wondering and this is partly based on past discussions is what people are really doing instead of reading for fun. Surfing the web? Watching TV? There is an widely-accepted (or at least often stated) assumption that reading is a smart activity and is better for you than, say, watching TV or web surfing. I suppose that all depends on what youre watching and where youre surfing. I was told time and again while growing up (by teachers, parents, and TV commercials probably sponsored by NEFTA) that reading makes you smarter. This recent NEFTA report seems like some sort of proof. (Im sure other proof exists out there I havent gone looking. I also suspect there might be contrary evidence as well. Feel free to Google) Is reading better for you than watching TV? Does it matter what you watch, or is all casual reading a better activity?

42. What sports are most popular in your country?

Trnta (a form of wrestling) is the national sport in Moldova. Football is the most popular sport in Moldova. Rugby union is popular as well. Registered players have doubled, and almost 10,000 spectators turn up at every European Nations Cup match. The most prestigious cycling race is the Moldova President's Cup, which was first run in 2004.
The Moldova Sports comprise of different kinds of game played by the people of Moldova. The popular Moldova sports include football, ruby, tennis and chess. Football is a very favorite game of the Moldova sportsmen. All the football matches are held under the governing body "The Football Association of Moldova (FMF)". Located in the capital city of Moldova, this association also organizes the Moldovan National Division matches and the Moldova national football team.

The football matches are usually held in the various stadiums of Moldova which include the Sheriff Stadium, Stadionul Calarasauca, Stadionul Dinamo (Chisinau), Stadionul Municipal and Stadionul Republican.There are several football clubs in the country including:

FC Nistru Otaci FC Olimpia Balti FC Politehnica Chisinau FC Rapid Ghidighici FC Sheriff Tiraspol CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol FC Tiraspol SC Tornado FC Zimbru Chisinau Apart from Football, chess is also an important Moldova sports. The well known players of this game include Mona May Karff, Almira Skripchenko, Gary Koshnitsky and Victor Bologan. The other sport of Moldova which has gained immense popularity over the years is tennis. The Moldova Davis Cup Team and the Moldova Fed cup Team are the two most significant tennis teams of the country. The former represents the country in the Davis Cup tennis tournament. Both the tennis teams are administered by the Moldova Republic tennis Federation. Another popular sort of Moldova is Rugby. The Moldova National Rugby Union Team represents the country, Moldova at Rugby Union matches. The governing body of this team is Federatia de Rugby de Moldovei. Though the rugby team of Moldova is performing well but they are yet to be selected for the World Cup. 43. Do people take as much exercise as in the past?

People of all ages should be encouraged to take more exercise according to a report by England's chief medical officer. Sir Liam Donaldson says that exercise is a key factor in reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Adults should take 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week, children and young people 60 minutes. Possible activities include walking to work or mowing the lawn. On Wednesday, the supermarket company Tesco said that it would introduce a prototype 'Trim Trolley' to one of its London stores next week. The benefits of exercise on a regular basis are numerous and far outweigh the negatives. By performing some form of exercise regularly for just a short time each day you will increase

your energy, improve your mood, and reduce stress. You will also improve your immune system function which will lead to less common illnesses, as well as, lowering your risk for more serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Regular exercise also helps to enhance your ability to focus making other aspects of your life seem easier and more manageable. Still, many people choose not to exercise frequently or even at all.
Why do people not exercise? Motivation

Many people are simply not motivated enough to begin an exercise workout plan. You may view exercise as something that is too much work, too boring, or something that is just not for you. Perhaps you have tried exercising in the past and met with failure or quit because you did not enjoy it. You are not alone. Many people start exercise plans over and over again only to quit them all. For some people they do not see changes in their body fast enough and become discouraged. For others, they just are not having fun. After repeated attempts that ended in failure people are less likely to be motivated to start up another new exercise routine. If you find yourself falling into this category here are some tips to help:

Set short-term, attainable goals for yourself so you will quickly see results and success. Find work outs that suit your interests and lifestyle. Perhaps a daily trip to the gym is not for you. You may enjoy walking, a running workout, or biking outdoors, abasketball themed workout plan, or trying out a group fitness class or an exercise video game. If you are easily bored, change your work out frequently and vary the exercises you do to help avoid redundancy which leads to boredom. Work with a personal trainer who can help design a program that best meets your needs and will give you results.

Why do people not exercise? Affordability

Many people think that in order to exercise regularly they must dish out a large chunk of change in order to join a gym or invest in expensive fitness equipment for their home. If you feel this way you may have tried exercising at a gym in the past and could not keep up with the monthly or annual payments. You may have thought about and looked into expensive sets of weights or pricey cardio equipment such as high-tech treadmills or elliptical machines only to decide they were not worth the price tag. This should not keep you from starting an exercise routine. After all, it can be surprisingly affordable. You do not need to join a gym or invest in expensive equipment for your home in order to get enough exercise each day to reap all of the benefits exercise provides. Walking, hiking, running, or riding a bicycle outside are free ways to exercise and can also be a lot of fun. Smaller, less expensive pieces of equipment such as an exercise ball and small dumbbells can be used for a variety of exercises to strengthen and tone many parts of the body. There are many free internet and television resources with workout plans and videos that will not cost you a dime. Finally, you can do a complete cardio and strength training noweights workout without as much as a single piece of equipment. You just need to learn the right exercises to do. Use the free A-Z exercise library to get started.

Why do people not exercise? Time

The most common reason people give for not exercising is that they simply do not have the time for it. Whether it is due to work, family, children, or a combination of these, you may say that exercise just does not fit into your busy schedule. You may see exercise as something that takes away from time with your spouse and children, or as something that cannot be done given the hours you work. While finding the time is a legitimate challenge for many people, doing so may actually help you with your other time consuming activities by increasing your energy and lowering your stress level. Saying you do not have the time is an easy excuse to make, however, changing your mindset and gradually finding a way to work exercise into your daily routine, will make you feel better in the long run. Here are some tips that may help:

If you do not have a solid 30 minutes to exercise in a day, you might find three ten minute segments in which you can exercise. Find ways to add a little extra time into your day and build exercise into that period. Perhaps you could get up 15 minutes earlier or take a walk during your lunch break at work. If you are someone who worries about what to do with your kids while you exercise or that exercising will take time away from your quality time with your family, find a way to exercise together. You could take a family walk, play a game of ball in the back yard, or all go for a bike ride. If you have young children, consider looking into a gym that provides daycare services included with the cost of your membership. Or swap child care with another parent who want time to workout too. Schedule a time each day for exercise. Write it in your planner in pen and stick to it. Set up a time with a personal trainer who can help develop a routine that fits into your schedule.

Despite the numerous benefits, there are several reasons why people do not exercise. The leading reasons include a lack of motivation, lack of funds, and lack of time. These issues do not have to prevent you from getting in shape, getting healthy, and realizing for yourself all the positive effects exercise can have on your life. Get past your own excuses for not exercises by finding a program that meets your goals. Try the using the workout plan finder, or the more personalized workout plan creator right now!

44. Why is exercise good for you?

The earlier we start to exercise, the better! In addition to fitness improvements in strength and endurance, ongoing research tells us that exercise may also:

Improve memory Speed up our reaction times Improve balance Increase our flexibility Increase bone strength and protect against fractures Improve our psychological health And improve quality of life overall

Quality of life can be improved in several ways. First of all, through exercise we take control of our health. Our thought processes can become more clear. Improvements in balance and coordination can help us to live independently in our homes longer and improved reaction times can mean that we are able to continue to drive safely.

Exercising in a social setting can help alleviate loneliness and give us a more positive outlook on life. Participating in dance or exercise classes at a senior or community center, the YMCA, or in your residential facility can help to re-energize us. Simply scheduling walks with friends can make exercise more fun and provide more healthy social interaction. Staying engaged in life via exercise, or other hobbies and volunteer activities, gives life meaning and provides structure. We feel more alive when we have someplace to go and people waiting for us to arrive! Exercise can help us with other health issues as well:

Joint lubrication and increased range of motion for those of us with arthritis Bone rebuilding for those of us with osteoporosis Strengthening of abdominal muscles for those of us with lower back pain Relief from constipation A boost for our immune system Improved sleep Blood pressure control Lowering of cholesterol and triglycerides can help prevent artery clogging and damage

Exercise will benefit just about everyone, but the specific exercise program that you begin should be designed for you and based on your current condition and capabilities. Consult your physician or other health professional to select the exercise program that is right for you.

Patricia Hawk MS, is an Exercise Physiologist and Certified Diabetes Educator. During the last 15 years as a CDE, Patricia has exhibited a special expertise and viewpoint that supports her belief that exercise is truly as important in the treatment of diabetes as any other single factor. She is fluent in Spanish and has proven herself to be a valuable link and resource to the Hispanic community. Pat conducts support groups for adults and youth with a special emphasis on behavior modification. Pat has worked extensively in the field of diabetes and pregnancy. She is a sought after speaker for patients and professionals alike. Patricia has presented diabetes and exercise related education to professionals at the American College of Sports Medicine. Practicing what she recommends, Pat participated in her first marathon which was ran last year in Hawaii on behalf of the American Diabetes Association. Pat has also led and participated in numerous fund raising efforts on behalf of both the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Diabetes Solutions was founded in February 2000 by three Certified Diabetes Educators with an accumulation of 48 years experience in educating and supporting patients with diabetes. After working 16 years for a large for profit national organization, it became clear that many community hospitals were unable to support the cost of such multi-level programs. The company provides cost-effective support to physicians and hospitals in caring for patients, without incurring the overhead inherent in large corporations. Diabetes Solutions collaborates with hospitals, payers and physicians who desire to provide education to patients, professionals and the public and teams with community resources in order to work with all populations regardless of a patients resources. The programs of Diabetes Solutions are broad based but also reach out to specialized needs, including diabetes and pregnancy, children with diabetes, insulin pump patients, support groups for adults, youth and parents and Spanish speaking individuals. Diabetes Solutions works closely with the American Diabetes Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country. You should say: where it is how to get there what there is to do when you are there and explain why you recommend this place.

Part 3 Attitudes to tourism

Why do you think people like to travel to different places in their free time? How do you see tourism changing in your country in the future?

Conserving the countryside

Why is it important to protect the countryside? In what ways is the countryside in danger in your country?

Historic buildings and monuments

Why are historic buildings and monuments important to a city? Is it better to keep old buildings, or build new modern ones? Family

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe the person in your family who you most admire. You should say: what their relationship is to you what they have done in their life what they do now and explain why you admire them so much.

Part 3 Attitudes to family

In what ways have families in your country changed in recent years? Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?

Family or friends

Which are more important to you: your family or your friends? What conflicts can arise between a person's family and a person's friends?

Family responsibilities

What responsibilities do parents have towards their children? What responsibilities do children have towards their parents? Shopping

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favorite shop. You should say: where it is what things it sells what sort of people are its customers and explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3 Things to buy

What typical things can visitors to your country buy? What things do young people like to buy in your country?

Money

Is it a good idea to save money? Why (not)? Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?

Shopping

What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers? Do you think that in the future people will do most of their shopping using the Internet? Why?/ Why not? Eating and food

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal. You should say: what the occasion was who was at the meal what you ate and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Part 3 Attitudes to food

What do you think a healthy diet consists of? Which do people in your country prefer: traditional food or fast food such as hamburgers or pizzas?

Learning about food

Do you think children should be taught about healthy diets and cooking at school? Why (not)? At what age do you think children should be taught to cook?

Food aid

What can be done to prevent poor people in the world going hungry? Should rich countries help poor countries with more than just food? Travelling

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a memorable journey you have made. You should say: where you were going how you were travelling why you were making the journey and explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3 Travelling and learning

What do people learn from travelling? Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?

Tourism and culture

How has tourism changed the way people in your country live? How should tourists behave when they visit your country?

Ways of travelling

What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about your country? What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by plane? School

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a school which you went to. You should say: when you went there how many people studied there

how long you spent there and explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3 Attitudes to education

How has education changed in your country in the last ten years? Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?

The focus of education

How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life? Do you think schools should teach subjects like art, music and dancing? Why (not)?

Education and technology

How important is it for schools to have computers for their students? Is the Internet a valuable educational tool? Adventure

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting experience in your life. You should say: when the experience took place where the experience took place what happened exactly and explain why the experience was so exciting.

Part 3

Safety and danger

In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more dangerous? Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?

Taking risks

What risks should people try to avoid? Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?

Adventure

How important is it to have adventure in our lives? What do people learn about themselves from having adventures? Newspapers

Part 2 Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject. Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples. You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy reading. You should say: what kind of newspaper or magazine it is, e.g. fashion how often you buy it what articles and information it contains and explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3 Attitudes to newspapers

In what ways are newspapers better for learning about the news than listening to the radio or watching television?

Do you think newspapers should be completely free to say whatever they want?

Tastes in reading

What do people enjoy reading in your country? Do you think it is important for people to read a lot? Why (not)?

Public and private lives

What sort of stories do newspapers and magazines publish about well-known or famous people in your country? Do you think the media should be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of public figures?