（5-year-old Danny Nickerson, of Foxborough, Massachusetts, has a brain tumor(肿瘤), and doctors have told his family that he may not have many more months to live. His family is therefore determined to ensure that his upcoming birthday is as special as it possibly can be.

Earlier this month, his mom Carley said on Facebook that he loves receiving mail and asked if friends would be willing to send a card to him for his sixth birthday.

Not only are friends sending the boy cards and birthday gifts, but also strangers all around the world are doing their part to make Danny Nickerson’s special day brighter. Over the last few weeks, hundreds of cards and packages have poured in from all across the country. They have received more than 340 cards so far. “We are so shocked,” Carley wrote. “We are so lucky and blessed to have all of you on this journey with us! Thank you so much for all the love, support and prayers.”

On Sunday, The Sun Chronicle reported that local high schoolers made birthday cards and held a car wash fundraiser for Nickerson. People all across the globe have been joining forces as well to make Nickerson’s birthday wish come true. Many have promised to send cards, while others are planning on sending special gifts to the boy.

Despite their pain and worry, Nickerson’s mom says they’re focusing on the positive. “Every day is blessing to us,” she said.

If you’d like to send Danny a card, here‘s the address the family has provided: Danny Nickerson

PO Box 212

Foxborough, MA 02035

To find out more about Nickerson and how you can help, visit his family’s fundraising page on GoFundMe. 

B

   When thinking about quitting (停止) smoking...

   List all the reasons why you want to quit. Every night before going to bed, repeat one of the reasons 10 times.

   Decide positively that you want to quit. Try to avoid negative thoughts about how difficult it might be. Develop strong personal reasons as well as your health and responsibility to others. For example, think of all the time you waste taking cigarette breaks, rushing out to buy a pack, hunting a light, etc. Set a date for quitting--perhaps a special day like your birthday, a holiday. If you smoke heavily at work, quit during your vacation. Make the date holy seriously, and don't let anything change it. Begin to condition yourself physically; start a modest (适当的) exercise; drink more water; get plenty of rest.

   Immediately after quitting...

   The first few days after you quit, spend as much free time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited, e.g. libraries, museums, theatres, department stores, etc.

   Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice. Try to avoid wine, coffee, and other drinks which remind you of cigarette smoking. Strike up a conversation with someone instead of a match (火柴) for a cigarette.

   If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your hand, play with something else —— a pencil, a pen, a ruler. If you miss having something in your mouth, try a fake (仿制的) cigarette.

“Fast fashion” means clothes that are inexpensive but look like the latest designs. One reason for the success of fast fashion is social media. A report by the investment research firm Bernstein found that Millennials—people born in the 1980s and 90s—wanted to wear a variety of clothes in the photos they posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As a result, many businesses that offer trendy, low-cost clothes are growing.

    But the situation is changing now. Maxine Bédat, a woman who is in her early 30s, looks in her closet full of clothes, but she has nothing to wear. She says she hates always shopping for what is in style. Instead, she says, she wants to buy fewer clothes that she can wear over and over. Other people want the same thing, she says.

So Ms. Bédat and a business partner, Soraya Darabi, started a “slow fashion” clothing company called Zady. “Slow fashion” means clothes that last a long time. They are often classic colors and shapes, and are made from natural materials that are biodegradable over time.

The terms “fast fashion” and “slow fashion” are related to “fast food” and “slow food”: fast food is still popular in the U. S. , but many restaurants increasingly offer higher-quality, more expensive and relaxed meals.

    Like slow food, slow fashion also aims to use sources that are good for the environment and workers. Maxine Bédat says people in her generation want to know where their clothes come from and who is making them. To answer Millennials’ demand for information about the products they buy, Ms. Bédat’s company, Zady, includes details about the history of the brands. It also describes the process in which the clothes are made. Ms. Bédat says Zady aims to tell shoppers where their clothes come from, where they go, and how they impact the world.

The international business “H&M” is answering Millennials’ demands in another way. It has created a recycling program for clothes. Shoppers who bring clothes they no longer want to H&M stores can receive a discount on new things they buy. An H&M spokesperson says, “We have a clear vision to avoid and minimize waste that goes into landfills.”

A

Every month, Editorial Director Sara Nelson and the editors at Amazon.com look through hundreds of books to discover their favorite titles. Here’s what they chose for the best of the season.

Fiction

Nonfiction