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　　As an experienced photojournalist in Nashville, Tennessee, I was hired by USA Today newspaper to photograph a spinal bifida(脊柱畸形)corrective surgical procedure．It was to be performed on a twenty-one week old fetus(胎儿)in uterus(子宫)at Vanderbilt University Medical Center．At that time, in 1999, twenty-one weeks in uterus was the earliest that the surgical team would consider for surgery．The worst possible outcome would be that the surgery would cause premature delivery, and no child born earlier than twenty-three weeks had survived．

　　The tension could be felt in the operating room as the surgery began．A typical C-section incision(切口)was made to access the uterus, which was then lifted out and laid at the junction of the mother's thighs．The entire procedure would take place within the uterus, and no part of the child was to breach the surgical opening．During the procedure, the position of the fetus was adjusted by gently manipulating the outside of the uterus．The entire surgical procedure on the child was completed in one hour and thirteen minutes．When it was over, the surgical team breathed a sigh of relief, as did I．

　　As a doctor asked me what speed of film I was using, out of the corner of my eye I saw the uterus shake, but no one's hands were near it．It was shaking from within．Suddenly, an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then pulled back until just a little hand was showing．The doctor reached over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor's finger．As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist．Samuel held firm．I took the picture! Wow! It happened so fast that the nurse standing next to me asked, "What happened?" "The child reached out," I said．"Oh．They do that all the time," she responded．

　　The surgical opening to the uterus was closed and the uterus was then put back into the mother and the C-section opening was closed．

　　It was ten days before I knew if the picture was even in focus．To ensure no digital manipulation of images before they see them, USA Today requires that film be submitted unprocessed．When the photo editor finally phoned me he said, "It's the most incredible picture I've ever seen．"

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　　“We cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of such an honor．He is a very special individual”, said one of his students．

　　In April 2009, Greg Perry accepted the first annual Heart of Green Local Hero Award, for his work to develop, with his high school students, the Green Dream and the Ultimated Green Classroom．At the time of the awards, he was unsteady, having just been through intense chemotherapy．His work as a teacher is an inspiration, as is his recovery, and his acceptance speech．We’re happy to say that Greg is back in the classroom－which is good th ing for him, for his students and for the wider community．Here’s his story．

　　At the age of 6 he was paralyzed from the neck down in an accident．He was told he would never walk, never play football and never feed himself．He proved the doctors wrong! He can do all these things and much more．His determination continues to thrive．

　　Greg Perry graduated from Ohio State University with a joint degree in marketing and education．To him, the education degree was just a bulwark against the recession, so there are probably few peiole as surprised as Perry that before the age of 40, he would have drawn national attention for his teaching, orchestrated the building of a model classroom and inspired his students to launch the largest green business expo ever staged in Ohio．

　　Perry teaches an innovative high school marketing class in Beachwood, Ohio, a city of about 12,000 in the Cleveland suburbs．Students from several area schools commute to Beachwood High School for a class unlike any other．He has led the class of 18 to create the “ULTIMATE GREEN CLASSROOM”．Under his direction the largest Eco–Friendly Showcase in Ohio was held and approximately $ 150,000 was raised in Green goods and services to build the unbelievable classroom．Elected executive officers help Perry run the class, and for much of the year, the focus is on lining of exhibitors for The Green Dream, the green business expo that is expected to draw more than 6,000 people this Spring．

　　“Sales people are making phone calls to line up exhibitors in the expo．Finance is handling the contracts and payments．Marketing and Communications and Publications and Websites are trying to promote the message．” Perry said．“it’s more like a day at work than a day at the classroom．By doing these large projects, they learn about branding, advertising, management styles and marketing techniques without every picking up the textbooks．”

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CLASSIFIED ADS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

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　　The publication of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" pleases booksellers across China．The British and American editions were No．1 and No．3 respectively on the sales chart of the Beijing Xidan Book Building last week．The book's poster is highlighted and news about the book can often be heard on the radio．

　　Why is the book so attractive to children? With curious mood, the author got a copy of "Harry Potter"．Originally, I wanted to glance over it and made some criticisms．But, out of expectation, the author has been deeply attracted by the magic world．On the other hand, one cannot help asking：where is our own "Harry Potter"?

　　The Chinese nation has a history of 5,000 years, which cannot be regarded as short and its culture as not profound．With a vast market of youngsters, China did publish many books popular among children．However, why are the present works not as good as those imported?

　　There come two major reasons：Firstly, quite a number of children's books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment．Children often have a feeling of being "educated"．No wonder they don't like them．Secondly, children's reading materials involving "idiom stories" and "Chinese talents' stories", though always in different covers, are usually much the same or plagiarized．One knows the ending as early as in the beginning．In final analysis, the authors of the books seldom take children's requirements into consideration．

　　As a matter of fact, each child has his own wonderful imagination．They long to understand the world and nature．Similarly they have their own choices．They dislike similar stories, even if the stories are excellent．First-class reading for children should be very interesting, which contains knowledge and the essence of national culture, which are presented in children's language．

　　Market is a touchstone for products．The theory also holds true for cultural products．It is hoped that the authors of children's books can learn something from the good market of "Harry Potter" and write out more and better books loved by children．

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　　Water skiing is a sport with many social, economic and health benefits to society．It is unique in that it is a sport where able and disabled persons, and people as young as 5 years and as old as 80 years of age can participate alongside each other．It is a sport that involves more than one person, and is a wonderful family activity that gathers members together for a day of fun at a favorite waterway．

　　Anyone who has put on water skis can attest to its health benefits–it is a sport that demands and develops strength, agility and endurance．The sport includes several disciplines(训练)including slalom, tricks, cable, jump, ski racing, kneeboard, wakeboard, and barefoot, with each of these practiced for either recreational or competitive enjoyment．

　　Safety Tips For Water-Skiers

　　Don’t take unnecessary risks while water-skiing．The following tips will help you safely enjoy this thrilling sport：

　　ALWAYS have an observer in the boat．This is a legal requirement in many states．The boat driver cannot watch the skier and operate the boat safely at the same time．

　　ALWAYS wear a Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device(PFD)designed for water skiing．Ski belts are NOT recommended．Your approved PFD will help keep you afloat．

　　Never ski in rough water．High waves or a choppy sea will prevent the tow boat from maintaining a steady course and speed．

　　NEVER ski after dark．It is dangerous AND illegal．Any boat traveling fast enough to tow a skier is traveling too fast to navigate safely at night．

　　NEVER water-ski while under the influence of alcohol or drugs．Such activity is extremely dangerous because of the impairment to your judgment and ability to respond．A recent study conducted with expert skiers who were purposely drunk indicated that even their ability to ski was dramatically reduced．

　　Use hand signals between the skier and observer．Agree before you start what each signal means so there is no confusion at a critical moment．

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　　China's successful launch of its second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6 has drawn worldwide applause．It has become the third nation in the world capable of putting men into space．

　　It is widely believed home abroad that the latest progress made by China will surely improve national cohesiveness(内聚性)and make the country's 1.3 billion people more confident in their future in terms of social and economic progress．

　　However, some people in and outside China describe China's manned space program as a prestige(声望)project which yields little economic benefit．

　　They argue that billions of US dollars spent on the decade-old space program may be better used for poverty relief and education as millions of Chinese still have a poor living and many children cannot afford basic schooling．However, mankind does need to make use of space resources for sustainable human development．

　　Space technology has become increasingly important for the exploration and peaceful use of space resources due to the shrinking reserve of natural resources on the Earth．

　　Lunar reserve of isotope(同位素)helium 3 is sufficient for human need for about 10,000 years, which is attractive to the mankind being troubled by high oil prices and limited oil reserve．

　　China has benefited from the dividend of its investment in space sector．Space technology has become an indispensable part of people's daily life, such as weather forecast, telecommunications, disaster reduction, and resources prospecting．

　　Striving hard to feed its 1.3 billion people and more in the future, China has been developing improved species of crops on the basis of space technology, mostly through recoverable satellites and spacecraft．

　　Information obtained from Shenzhou-3 and Shenzhou-4 in Earth observation has been used for maritime(海上的)pollution control and desertification(沙漠化)control projects, which is useful for China and other parts of the world．

　　China has listed space technology and information technology among the country's seven high-tech fields in its national high-tech research and development program initiated in 1986．

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　　After more than 100 years, one of the nation's greatest Presidents finally has a library and museum in his honor．It took 15 years, three governors, ＄145 million, and one Illinois state historian, to complete the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library．Ceremonies for the high-tech facility were held on Tuesday．

　　The museum opened to the general public on Saturday．A visit to this museum is both educational and entertaining．It takes the story of Abraham Lincoln and teaches it with special effects．

　　The museum, designed by BRC Imagination Arts, was created to teach visitors while keeping their interest．With five major permanent exhibits, the museum experience is designed to last two hours before "museum legs" set in．Museum legs occur when you become tired after walking slowly through museum exhibits．According to BRC president Bob Rogers, the Lincoln Museum is more exciting than tiring．

　　Rogers told the reporter that the best way to start the Lincoln experience is to first see the show Lincoln's Eyes, a 16-minute movie about Lincoln's life．The story is told by an artist studying to create a portrait of Lincoln．This show summarizes most of the museum, and keeps your interest by using 3-D special effects．

　　Other major exhibits include "The Journey, Parts I and II．" The first part takes you from Lincoln's childhood to his election as President．Part II is Lincoln's life from inauguration(就职), through the Civil War years, to his funeral．

　　One of the most inspiring exhibits is the "Ghosts of the Library．" It uses special effects to explain the purpose and mission of presidential libraries．

　　"The mission of this library is essential to our country, because to understand the life and the sacrifice of Abraham Lincoln is to understand the meaning and promise of America," President George W．Bush said at the ceremony．

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　　One of India's top engineering schools has restricted Internet access in its boarding houses, saying addiction to surfing, gaming and blogging was affecting students' performance, making them lonely and even suicidal．

　　Authorities at the best Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)in Mumbai said students had stopped socializing and many were late for morning classes or slept through them．"Now, a student doesn't even know who lives two doors away from him because he is so busy on the Internet," said Prakash Gopalan, dean of student affairs．"The old dormitory culture of companionship and socializing among students is gone．This is not healthy in our opinion．"

　　IIT-Mumbai, with about 5,000 students, is one of seven IITs across India which are considered to be among the finest engineering schools in the world．They are also a talent pool for global technology giants．But their hard courses, tough competition and lonely campus lifestyle have taken an effect on students．Depressive and dysfunctional(不正常的)lifestyles are known to be common among IIT students, and at least nine have committed suicide in the past five years．Students have unlimited free Internet access in their boarding houses to help them in their studies, but many also use it to surf, chat, download movies and music, blog and for gaming．

　　Starting Monday, Internet access will be banned between 11 p. m. and 12.30 p. m. at IIT-Mumbai's 13 boarding buildings to encourage students to sleep early and to try and force them out of their "shells," Gopalan said．But the move has not gone down well with students who say they hate their lives being regulated．"Now they will say we need to listen to a lullaby(摇篮曲)to go to sleep," said Rajiv, an electronics student．

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　　Have you ever thought, “I wish I could take a year off and just travel around the world”? Well, three lucky American teenagers were able to do just that．The teens－two males and one female--got an all-expenses paid, yearlong hike to five continents．

　　This trip didn’t include any five-star hotels or shopping funs．Eighteen-year-old Jamie Fiel from Keller, Texas, 17-year-old Arsen Ewing from Canyon, California, and 16-year-old Tyler Robinson from Lincoln, Massachusetts, didn’t expect fancy treatment．They signed up for the experience of a lifetime, which included hard work, often uncomfortable accommodations, and encounters with some of nature’s most dangerous animals and environments．

　　Jamie, Arsen, and Tyler were among hundreds of high school kids nominated by their science teachers to take this trip．Earthwatch Institute sponsored(赞助)this adventure．Each year, Earthwatch employs thousands of volunteers worldwide to help with scientific research projects．

　　The group went all around the world to get a close look at the most pressing environmental issues of our time．Their assignments were as varied as their locations, and included measuring and attending pink flamingos in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, and tracking giant sea turtles in Costa Rica．

　　As they worked with the Earthwatch scientists, Jamie, Arsen, and Tyler began to understand that we are at a critical moment in the life of our planet．Time for change is running out．As the teens went from country to country and witnessed different environmental dangers and challenges, they understood that solutions to important environmental issues start with the power of one person's actions．They realized that each of them can make a difference．

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　　On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, which honors Patron Saint(or main religious figure)of Ireland．Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion．

　　This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick's Day．In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade－the nation’s largest．It is one of the most watched parades in the world．Last year, almost 2 million spectators and more than 150,000 participants filled the streets．The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest．

　　Chicago also throws a big celebration．Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye, into the water．

　　Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more．It is the nation’s second-largest parade．The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F．Kennedy, by opening the exhibit "A Journey Home：John F．Kennedy and Ireland," at his official library．

　　Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire．He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion．He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland．After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday．