The best places for wild sleeping in England and Wales
Challacombe Meadows, Devon
Best for: privacy
Challacombe Meadows is close to miles of walking trails near Widecombe. Basic toilet facilities and running water are a short walk away, and there's a cosy pub and a farm shop also nearby, for when it's time to return to civilization. Tents from £ 45 per tent.
Bush Farm, Cornwall
Best for: freedom of choice
At Bush Farm, campers are offered the freedom of choice. Map in hand, you can put up your tent wherever you please. Days can be spent wild swimming, wandering through the countryside and, come the evening, there's star gazing beneath ink-black skies. Tents from £12 per person.
The Wildman Woods, Carmarthenshire
Best for: life on the riverbanks
At this little-known site, you can put your tent on the banks of the River Sawdde. The Wildman Woods are as simple as they sound, with leafy pitches scattered among the trees near the water. During the day, it's the perfect place for a paddle. Tents from £10 per person.
Penrhos Isaf Bothy, Gwyned
Best for: packing light
Bothies, simple huts traditionally used as mountain refuges that are open to all and free of charge. They're a great alternative to wild camping if the weather is looking unstable and you don't mind sharing with other travellers, who can arrive at any time.
The daughter of a romantic poet and occasional freedom fighter, Ada Lovelace had a famous but absent father. She never knew Lord Byron, as just weeks after her birth in 1815, he divorced her mother Isabella Milbanke Byron and left to fight in the Greek War of Independence. In an effort to prevent Ada from developing her father's unpredictable temper, Isabella decided that her daughter should devote her life to study.
Ada studied hard despite the fact that society did not encourage women pursuing interests in science. Her life changed when she met inventor Charles Babbage at a party. As he demonstrated a working section of his mechanical calculator, Ada was taken in by how it worked and wanted to know more. Impressed by the 17-year-old's obvious passion, Babbage became her tutor. Ada married in 1835 and became a mother, but she continued to take an active interest in study, socialising in intellectual circles with the likes of Charles Dickens and Michael Faraday.
Ada stayed in contact with Babbage, who in 1837 had proposed a new machine, the analytical engine. In 1843, Ada was asked to translate a French text written by engineer Luigi Menabrea about Babbage's new design. After completing the translation, Ada was encouraged by Babbage to write her own notes on his work.
After nine months of hard work, Ada presented Babbage with a detailed list of notes that was three times longer than the original article. In her calculations, Ada wrote what are considered the first ever computer algorithms to be used in a new type of machine. She essentially provided the first ideas for computer programming in what was a groundbreaking proposal on the potential of computers.
Ada died of cancer aged only 36 and her work was largely recognised until the 1950s when her notes were republished. In 1979 the US Department of Defence named a programming language ‘Ada' in her honour.
One of the most curious features of the modern world is the manner in which design has been widely transformed into something meaningless. But I want to argue design should be the crucial block on which the human environment is shaped and constructed for the betterment and delight of all.
Not surprisingly, in the absence of widespread agreement about its significance and value, much confusion surrounds design practice. In some subject areas, authors can assume common ground with readers. Other subject areas can be so difficult that how such mutual understanding exists.
Design sits uncomfortably between these two extremes. As a word it is common enough, but it is full of disharmony, has innumerable manifestations （表现）, and lacks boundaries that give clarity and definition. As a practice, design generates vast quantities of material, much of it ephemeral, only a small proportion of which has sustained quality.
So how can design be understood in a meaningful sense? Design is one of the basic characteristics of what it is to be human, and an essential determinant of the quality of human life. If things are a necessary part of our existence, why are they often done so badly? There is no simple answer. Cost factors are sometimes advanced, but the remove between doing something well or badly can be exceedingly small, and cost factors can in fact be reduced by appropriate design inputs.
This book is based on a belief that design matters profoundly to us all in innumerable ways and represents an area of huge, underutilized potential in life. It sets out to explore some reasons why this is so and to suggest some possibilities of change. The intention is to extend the range of what is understood by the term, and examine the depth of design practice as it affects everyday life in a diversity of cultures.
The sales pitches tempt: Blue-light-blocking glasses are supposed to protect eyes from the effects of short-wavelength light emitting from our smartphones, computer screens and LED lights. Given how much time we spend on our devices, this sounds like a smart investment, right? After all, eye strain is a real issue and can lead to poor sleep and even eye diseases. The glasses can cost $15 all the way up to several hundred dollars. But do they work?
Elizabeth Esparaz, an ophthalmologist （眼科专家） based in Cleveland, Ohio, says the science that manufacturers share as they promote these glasses can be confusing. For starters, blue light is not just about tech devices, and it's not always bad. "The sun emits a much higher intensity of blue light than human-made devices, of course, and it's actually beneficial, " says Dr. Esparaz. It helps our mood, alertness and sleep-wake cycle.
The problem is blue light at night: It contains the release of melatonin. "Melatonin helps regulate our circadian rhythms （生理节奏）and makes us sleepy, "says Dr. Esparaz.
So, in theory, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses should help people who watch movies in bed or read from a tablet at night avoid sleeplessness. A 2021 review study from the University of Oklahoma that looked at 24 previous studies found that people affected by sleep disorders, jet lag and shift work fell asleep faster after using these glasses.
As for eye strain, a 2021 Australian study showed that those wearing the glasses did not experience less eye strain than those using clear glasses. And a 2018 review study, also by Australian researchers, found insufficient evidence that they prevent certain eye diseases.
"These glasses aren't going to be harmful, " says Dr. Esparaz, But, she adds, a lack of standardization in the industry means there's no way to know if one pair is better than another. A more reliable solution: Turn on the blue-light-filtering function on your devices and limit screen time before bed. To help with eye strain, Dr. Esparaz suggests taking breaks and using lubricating eye drops.
Self-Improvement
Life can be a whirlwind of responsibilities and stress, but the right focus goes a long way towards ensuring you become a better person.Keep reading to learn how you can go about your self-improvement journey.
Everyone needs something to live for, so think about what you want in life. Not only can struggling for something make you a happier and better person, but it can also help you find your purpose. Use a pen and paper and write down the short and long-term goals you would like to achieve.
Forgiving yourself and others can help you improve relationships. To be a better person, it's important to have a go at forgiving any hatreds you're holding. Allow yourself time to forgive your past mistakes and recognize what they've taught you.You may not be able to forget what they've done, that's okay, but forgiveness can give you peace of mind.
Everyone has flaws, but you can concentrate on improving yours. Notice how your behavior and attitude affect others. Are people generally happy or sad around you?
Answering these questions and analyzing your interactions with them can help you discover and perfect your weaknesses.
Imagine what someone's been through can give you a new perspective. Empathy is one of the first steps to being a better person because it builds your compassion. Not only does cultivating empathy help you be more sensitive toward other people, but it also helps you form lasting relationships and feel less isolated.
A. Positive aspirations can give you something to thrive for.
B. Are people around you talented in improving themselves?
C. Then, forgive those who have hurt you in the past.
D. Learning from one's mistakes is a step to forgiving oneself.
E. Do friends come to you for help or advice?
F. Being empathic helps you gain a friend while challenging your perspective.
G. There's something you can do every day to better yourself in different ways.
By the time I was a junior at Yale, I'd already met everyone I cared to know. I also knew those I didn't want to know, including Maxey. He and I were like planets in different1 .
Everything changed dramatically when we had a field trip for a weekend. Although I was2 , I could get along well with others except Maxey who still made me3 . I couldn't think of anything to say to him. When he walked up to me and stuck out his hand, I just 4 it quickly. We stood awkwardly for a few minutes. When someone tried to get my attention, Maxey politely 5 . That last morning, when we discussed how to return home, he insisted I ride home on the back of his motorcycle. I said I thought it was a terrible6 and I wanted to refuse, but Maxey7 a helmet at me. " I wanted to give you a8 . You didn't seem to like me. I want you to like me." he said. Maxey started up the9 and we roared out of the driveway. The bike10 down the highway. I11 my arms around him and held on for dear12 . Maybe our friendship started from that day.
We were now both 60, but my 13 with him remained strong. I was sure if I was in14 , Maxey would be there for me. I was15 sure that if he wanted my help, I would give it without hesitation.
Hangzhou is recognized as the "City of Well-Being" in China. Hangzhou made its name （know） to the world in 2016 by hosting the G20 Summit. Blessed with pleasant climate and few wars, Hangzhou has gradually formed （it） own urban character. busy Shanghai, you will slow down and relax once you are here. It seems that Hangzhou people don't have many things to rush to in their （day） life. No wonder Hangzhou is expanding（annual） by 500, 000 to 600, 000 people.
The lifestyle, however, was laid down by two historical men of letters. One was Bai Juyi, rebuilt the West Lake and made a new bank（benefit） the locals. People love him. When it comes to him, it doesn't sound like one is talking about a person who（live） a thousand years ago. The other was Su Shi. His open-minded personalitydiligence for his people left many much-told tales. Seemingly,（mention） his name gives people joy even after a thousand years.
Surely, it will be even more brilliant in 2023 when it hosts the 19th Asian Games. Let's look forward to it.
注意：（1）写作词数应为80左右；（2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
The emergency doctor stood at the foot of my husband's hospital bed, holding the test results and a diagnosis — Acute Myeloid Leukemia（骨髓白血病）. He said to my husband, "Well move you to the leukemia floor. You'll be here at least a month. "
A month! My mind started spinning. My mom had fought breast cancer. My aunt had lung cancer. Both had died. But neither had been in hospital for a month! Exactly how bad was my husband's diagnosis? And how were we going to struggle for a month? It was March. The end of a school year was approaching. My days with my high school students were limited. How could I prepare four weeks of lesson plans and hand them over to a substitute teacher? A month! Could we afford being in the hospital that long? Our insurance was good, but we'd still have to pay our part of the medical expenses. My meals wouldn't be covered, and parking was so expensive! My head couldn't do the math. I drove home, filled with countless worries. Even though the parking pass would be a significant discount, I couldn't help but feel bothered by the cost throughout the drive.
The next morning, I packed the car with everything needed for our hospital stay and headed to school to see my students. Because we live in a small community, they would have heard about my husband's diagnosis. I would assure them that my husband would be fine, and that I would be fine, too. I'd encourage them to be their best selves for the substitute and for me while I was on family leave.
When I entered my classroom, the chatter stopped. I put on a smile and continued to my podium（讲台）. Sitting on top was a green envelope with "Mrs. Sargent" written on it. I looked over the frames of my glasses at twenty-eight faces, some smiling, some trying to resist. "What is this?" I asked. I picked up the envelope, and continued, "You guys…"
注意：（1）续写词数应为150 左右；（2）开头已给出。
Paragraph 1:
When I opened the envelope, coins and dollar bills fell out — fives, tens, twenties.
Paragraph 2:
As an adult in the room, I felt guilty and unwilling to accept these teenagers' hard-earned money, but I decided to accept it.
