Recently a study, led by Pedro Hallal of the Federal University, suggests that nearly a third of adults, 31%, are not getting enough exercise. That rates of exercise have declined is hardly a new discovery. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, technology and economic growth have helped to create a world in which taking exercise is more and more an option rather than a necessity. But only recently has enough good data been collected from enough places to carry out the sort of analysis Dr Hallal and his colleagues have engaged in.

There are common themes in different places. Unsurprisingly, people in rich countries are less active than those in poor ones, and old people are less active than young ones. Less obviously, women tend to exercise less than men—34% are inactive, compared with 28% of men. But there are exceptions. The women of Croatia, Finland, Iraq and Luxembourg, for example, move more than their male countrymen.

Malta wins the race for the most slothful country, with 72% of adults getting too little exercise, and Swaziland and Saudi Arabia are in close behind, with 69%. In Bangladesh, just 5% of adults fail to exercise enough. Surprisingly, six Americans in ten are active enough according to Dr Hallal’s study, compared with fewer than four in ten British men.

These high rates of inactivity are worrying. Human beings seem to have evolved(进化)to benefit from exercise while deliberately avoiding it whenever they can. In a state of nature it would be impossible to live a life that did not provide enough of it. But that is no longer the case. Actually lack of enough activity these days has nearly the same effect on lifespan(寿命)as smoking.

Though doing washing is relatively effortless, most people hate the work, which is probably why this new shirt produced by an American company, called Wool & Prince, is producing so much interest.

According to Mac Brown, the shirt’s creator, the seemingly ordinary shirt can be worn for 100 straight days without washing! Of course, any shirt can be worn for that long, if smell is not a problem. However, the Wool & Prince shirt is different because it remains as fresh smelling as it was—the first day it was put on. And it never needs ironing, because it never wrinkles.

While that may sound magical and even impossible, it is true. The secret to the success lies in the raw material used to make the shirt-wool instead of cotton.

Not only are wool fibers about four times stronger than cotton, but thanks to the natural crimp(皱褶), they also do not wrinkle as easily. But most importantly, the fiber is better at allowing moisture to escape. Sweat in itself is not smelly. It just gets that way when in contact with the human skin. Therefore, the fact that the fabric allows it to go off gives the shirt the“super power”to stay fresh after so many wears.

You can get this magical shirt for $98, which is the current selling price on fund-raising site Kickstarter. The company hopes to use the funds collected to begin producing the shirts. If things go well, Wool & Prince is planning to introduce other clothing, including similar dresses for women.

Well, you’ve got your favorite pair of jeans already. You might as well add your new favorite shirts you’ll never have to wash or hang up either. They are surely a perfect match!

Summer born kids

    The first year of school can be stressful-not for the kids, but for the parents! They want their little ones to do well at school and some pushy（争强好胜的）parents will already be thinking about how they can get their child to the top of the class. But some parents are concerned about the rules for when children should start school.

    The School Admissions Code for England say that children must join the reception class（幼儿园小班）the September after their fourth birthday. But here is the problem：A four year old who is born in August could be in the same class as someone who was born in October of the year before! Both of them will be four years old in September. The older child will probably do better in class tests. He or she is almost a year older! This can affect the confidence of the younger child.

    Now England's schools minister, Nick Gibbs says that the rules should be changed. In and open letter to councils, schools and parents he says, "Parents know their children best". And he said that some parents "feel forced to send their child to school before they are ready". He proposes that children that are born during the summer can join the class when they are four or wait until they are five.

    Dr. David Whitebread, an educationalist from Cambridge University says that the UK has a summer-born effect because children start school so young. "In countries with later starting ages, there is a very much reduced summer-born effect or none at all", he said.

The state of Nevada holds a number of famous attractions.
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is located in eastern Nevada, which features the Lehman Caves, an ideal destination for tourists interested in underground exploration. Activities include camping, biking, hiking, star gazing, skiing and snowboarding in winter. Entry to the Great Basin National Park is free; however, it is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
775-234-7331
nps.gov/grba
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon. It is one of the largest hydroelectric power(水力发电) plants in the world. The visitor center is open from 9 am to 6 pm daily, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Prices for the tour are $11 for adults and $9 for seniors, children and military personnel.
702-294-3517
usbr. gov/lc/hooverdam
National Automobile Museum
The National Automobile Museum is located in Reno, Nevada, which houses vehicles from the long history of automotive technology, most notably from the 19th century until the 1960s. Visitors are welcome from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. The facility is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prices are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for children aged 6 to 18. Those under 6 are free. Parking is free all year round.
775-333-9300
automuseum.org
Wolf Creek Golf Club
Experience the unique desert scenery of Nevada while you are playing golf. Wolf Creek Golf Club is located within a desert view that is unusual among golf courses. The surrounding bluffs (悬崖峭壁) and valleys are a striking contrast to the rich green colors of the fairway. The club is closed on Christmas. 
866-252-4653
golfwolfcreek.com

　　Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked and refined foods. When we cook foods, we destroy the natural enzymes (酶) that are part of the food in its raw form. These enzymes were intended by nature to help us digest the food. When we consume food without these natural enzymes, our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow too many nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. In both instances, the result is obesity（肥胖）. When too many nutrients are absorbed at once, the body grows fat. Improperly digested food moves slowly through the digestive tract(消化道), where it becomes increasingly acidic. To protect its vital organs from this acidic waste, the body changes the acid into fat and stores it safely away from the organs.

　　Processed foods contain chemical elements, which might confuse the appetite mechanism that tells us when we’ve had enough to eat; as a result, people often overeat. Processed foods also upset the digestive cycle. The body will either identify these foods as allergens（过敏原） and then store them safely away from the organs as fat, or the remains of undigested food will become acidic and enter the bloodstream as acid waste, which will stick to the blood vessel walls and block the passage of vital oxygen and nutrients heading for the body’s cells. The body’s metabolism (新陈代谢) becomes inactive, and the result is weight gain and obesity.

　　The accumulation of acid in the digestive tract makes digestion increasingly inefficient. When that happens, even healthy foods can become acidic and the food allergies will become more common.

　　To stop this vicious circle in its tracks, people need to consume food and supplements that will neutralize（中和） the acid already accumulated in body. Eating the right types of raw and whole foods can help. It’s also important to restore your enzyme balance. You need to identify and avoid the foods that cause acid accumulation and consume the foods that increase enzyme production. If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself, you need to take an active approach.

Because the brain controls just about everything, when something goes wrong with it, it's often serious and can affect many different parts of the body. Inherited diseases, brain disorders associated with mental illness, and head injuries can all affect the way the brain works and upset the daily activities of the rest of the body.

Problems that can affect the brain include:

Brain tumors: A tumor is a swelling caused by overgrown tissue. A tumor in the brain may grow slowly and produce few symptoms until it becomes large, or it can grow and spread rapidly, causing severe and quickly worsening symptoms. Brain tumors in children can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors usually grow in one place and may be curable through surgery if they're located in a place where they can be removed without damaging the normal tissue near the tumor. A malignant tumor is cancerous and more likely to grow rapidly and spread.

Headaches: Of the many different types of headaches, the most frequently occurring include tension headache (the most common type), caused by muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders; migraine, an intense, recurring headache with an unclear cause; and cluster headache, considered by some to be a form of migraine. Migraines occur with or without warning and may last for several hours or days. There seems to be an inherited predisposition to migraines as well as certain triggers that can lead to them. People with migraines may experience dizziness, numbness, sensitivity to light, and nausea, and may see flashing zigzag lines before their eyes.

Mental illness: Mental illnesses are psychological and behavioral in nature and involve a wide range of problems in thought and function. Certain mental illnesses are now known to be linked to structural abnormalities or chemical dysfunction of the brain. Some mental illnesses are inherited, but often the cause is unknown. Injuries to the brain and chronic drug or alcohol abuse also can trigger some mental illnesses. Signs of chronic mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may first show up in childhood. Mental illnesses that can be seen in younger people include depression, eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and phobias.

Head injuries: Head injuries fit into two categories: external (usually scalp) injuries and internal head injuries. Internal injuries may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain. Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only, which is usually more frightening than threatening. An internal head injury could have more serious implications because the skull serves as the protective helmet for the delicate brain.

Tuesday’s Amtrak derailment(脱轨）Philadelphia，which claimed eight lives and injured more than 200 others has turned the country’s attention to railroad safety. But for those commuters (每日往返上班者）questioning whether or not to board the next train, statistics may offer some reassurance(信心).

According to the scientific journal Bandolier the lifetime odds of dying on a passenger train in the US are about one in 1,871,241. So trains are still one of the safest modes of transport; in 2013, 891 U.S. fatalities were linked to rail travel, while 32,700 people were killed in highway accidents.

“Train accidents are rare," Dr. Zarembski, director of the railroad safety program, told The Huffmgton Post “Accident rate in 2014 was 2.2 accidents per million train miles, this number has been declining steadily.” But if you are still concerned about safety -----or if you’re just curious about which part of the train is the safest place to sit ----science has an answer for that too.

The front car of a train is the most dangerous place in the event of a head-on collision, while the last car is less safe if the train is rear-ended(追尾). In fact，trains are nine times more likely to derail train to hit another train or car head-on or to get hit from behind, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. The administration found that there were about 13,200 derailments from 2005 to 2014，compared with about 1,450 collisions.

Studies suggest that broken rails or welds are the leading cause of derailment, and these problems more often cause derailments near the front of the train. Therefore, choosing a car located in the middle, or one or two back from the middle of the train may be the safest bet, Ross Capon, president of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, told CBS New York.

If you can’t get a seat near the midpoint of a train, there's another potential safety factor you might want to consider — namely, which way your seat is facing. “I prefer rear facing so that in most cases you are pushed back into the seat in the event of an emergency braking application.” Zarembski said.

In general, aisle(过道）seats are safer than window seats, where a passenger is more likely to come in contact with broken glass or be thrown out of the train. Capon told CBS New York. Of course, in the very rare event of a catastrophic crash like Tuesday’s，there’s no guarantee that sitting in a certain place or facing a certain way means you’ll escape being injured.

Just when parents are paying off bills for new school clothes and supplies, teenagers may need more money for other necessities. All these expenses can stress the family’s budget, said a New Mexico State University consumer education specialist.
Many social activities like drama clubs that continue throughout the school year require money, said Susan Wright with NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service. It’s sometimes difficult for teenagers to understand why parents don’t have unlimited resources.
“Parents can help avoid problems by including children in family financial discussions and giving them opportunities to assume responsibility for some of their own expenses,” she said. “This will help them move towards financial independence.”
Wright offered parents these tips to help teenagers become good financial managers:
● Consider giving teens an allowance(零花钱). Decide what expenses the allowance should cover and let teens budget to meet those needs. Giving an allowance should not mean the family spends more. It simply shifts the responsibility to teens to manage money.
● Teach teens how to shop. Talk about comparative shopping, reading labels and interpreting advertisements. Explain the importance of planning ahead to cover necessary purchases.
● Explain the family’s financial situation---income and outgo. If teens are old enough to spend your money, they should understand where it comes from and how it needs to be used. Be sure they understand the importance of setting financial goals and planning for the family’s future needs.
● Teach teens how to use and manage a checking and savings account. Go over monthly bank statements together to show them how to justify checking accounts. Help teens understand the importance of keeping good records and knowing where money goes.
“It’s important that parents help their teenagers develop sound financial management practices,” Wright said. “The best way to do that is to set a good example.  Be open and supportive and resist the temptation to make financial decisions for them. After all, it won’t be long until they will be out in the real world making decisions on their own.”

China’s President Xi Jinping visited the UK from Oct 19 to Oct 23, 2015. This is a high-level state visit. The UK welcomed China’s President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan with magnificent ceremony. The UK has shown the sincere attitude and committed to build a “golden era”with China in the next years. The etiquette(礼节) and ceremony will be the symbol of the Nation’s culture and World’s status. The UK held grand the ceremony and announced the determination hospitality to the world, China’s President Xi and other Chinese guests.

  As the powerful country, the good reputation of the UK has already spread to the world. The Royal ceremony is the well known formal ceremony. China’s President Xi met with Queen Elizabeth II an her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate, British Prime Minister David Cameron and other officials. The Buckingham Palace, Mansion House, Chequers, Parliament, No. 10 Downing Street are the main places fo bilateral meetings and banquet.

  The UK aims at building a “golden era” and finding a new road to create extremely pleasing development. The UK joined the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank this year. It will help the UK to strengthen the connection with other memberships. As the reliable partner, the UK is willing to cooperate with China and explore possibilities. China’s “the Belt and Road” is the major initiative (初步行动) to build the economy booming along the new Silk Road. The countries that joined the organization will support each other and seek profits.

  The UK’s ceremony reflects the aspiration to push the “golden era” in UK-China relations. China and the UK should concentrate on establishing an innovative environment, advocating environmental protection and carrying out the policies. It should be the efficient measures for a win-win relationship.

Although most hitchhikers(搭便车的人)are people，passers—by tend to ignore them because they are cautious about giving rides to strangers．But what will they do if they come across a hitchhiking robot? Will they take it to its destination or will they just leave the helpless machine by the wayside?  

    That is the answer Canadian professors，David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller，who study  the relationship between humans and technology，are seeking for after they came up with the idea of building a hitchhiking robot．

    HitchBOT is built with cheap household items．Thanks to a PC tablet，GPS tracker and camera，hitchBOT not only can send its thoughts and pictures to the general public，but also can answer general questions and keep drivers entertained with small talks．The smart robot is even able to quote(引用)interesting facts about the areas it has passed through．

    Not surprisingly，many people are doubtful about hitchBOT’s ability．Most people think the cute robot will be damaged by someone．Actually，they are all wrong．The robot hitchhiked all the way from Halifax，Nova Scotia，to Victoria，British Columbia，a distance of 3，700 miles．It was first picked up on July 27th by an elderly couple．It not only reached its destination on August 21st，but also had some amazing adventures along the way．It visited national parks，went fishing，went camping，and even attended a wedding where it experienced its first dance and interrupted the bride’s speech．   

    In addition to helping it get to its destination，its Canadian fans have gone out to ensure its safety-from coveting the robot with a plastic cape(披肩)to help keep it dry to ensuring that it stays healthy with motor oil．