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　　Smoking is a harmful habit and makes one addicted once they start doing it．however, what are the reasons why people still continue to smoke? These people know the harmful and if long term, even life threatening effects of smoking but it seems nobody heeds the warning．

　　The number of teenagers smoking today has increased tremendously．Their parents do their best to stop them from starting the habit, however, most of them are unsuccessful．Teenagers experience a feeling of isolation．It is the time that they are confused which role to take in society．Most of them usually have identity crisis at this age and smoking makes them feel better．Once they start smoking, they soon love the feeling of contentment it brings them．Thus, they continue doing it．Peer pressure is also a great factor to this．A teenager would like to belong to a group．Being alone and no friends when you are a teenager is hard．Having some people to support you and accompany you in any social activity feels great．At this stage, teenagers feel their parents don’t understand them．Everything that their parents tell them and do is against their will．They still can’t understand all the things their parents are doing for them which are for their own good．Those who are non-smokers are often convinced by smokers to engage in this activity．Usually, they would smoke and drink overnight．Teenagers feel that if they won’t join the group, they would lose their friends and will be left alone in which they don’t want to happen．This is the reason why they continue smoking to be accepted by them．Later in life when they finally decide to stop, it becomes hard as they are already addicted to it．

　　There are also some people who smoke because of the nature of their jobs．Those who work in a very cold area or at sea, smoke to keep their bodies warm．At this time, smoking brings them good benefits．Call center agents and those who work at night love drinking their favorite cup of coffee and smoking at the same time while waiting for their shift at work．This is to keep them awake and attentive to answering their clients and finishing their assigned task．However, they don’t consider the long term ill effects of smoking．Smoking is addictive．

　　Smokers are also those who are experiencing feelings of depression．They find it hard to face the challenges life brings most especially if their problems are too hard to handle．They feel that what can make them feel better is by smoking and drinking．Yes, it is true that smoking could make them feel better but it is just a temporary feeling of relief．

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　　When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like：“If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right．” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself：“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”

　　Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life．Because almost everything－all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure－these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important．Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose．

　　About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer．It clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas．The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months．

　　I lived with that diagnosis all day．Later the doctor got a few cells from the tumor．I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery．I had the surgery and I'm fine now．

　　No one wants to die．Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there．And yet death is the destination we all share, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life．It clears out the old to make way for the new．Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away．Your is living with the results of other people’s thinking．Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice．And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition．They somehow already know what you truly want to become．Everything else is secondary．

　　When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation．On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kin d you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you wee so adventurous．Beneath it were the words：“Stay Hungry．Stay Foolish．” I have always wished that for myself．And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you．Stay Hungry．Stay Foolish．

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　　It is late at night and you are still awake．Should you take a sleeping pill? People who take pills often come to depend on the drugs．So you lie awake knowing that the new work day will soon arrive．If this happens to you for at least one month, you may have primary insomnia．There are millions of you…us…around the world．

　　A new study has found that you might fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer if you try “cerebral hypothermia”．No, cerebral hypothermia is not a complex medical process．It just means cooling down your brain．

　　Eric Nofzinger and Danniel Buysse of the University of Pittsburgh Medical School led the study．They examined twelve people who had insomnia．Twelve others had no sleep problems．Each of them wore a soft plastic cap on their heads at bedtime．

　　The caps had tubes inside filled with water．The researchers moved the water through the tubes and then changed the temperature of the water．Other studies showed that people who had trouble sleeping often had more chemical reactions in the front of their brains．The researchers thought lowering the temperature of the brain might help．

　　The first two nights of testing, the patients wore no water caps．During the next two nights, the caps were worn, but the water was not cooled．Then the researchers cooled the water a little for two nights．On the final two nights of the study, the temperature of the water was made much cooler．

　　The researchers found that the water caps did not help the insomnia patients until the temperature was about fourteen degrees Celsius．Most of the patients fell asleep faster and slept better when the coolest water was moving around their heads．

　　Dr．Nofzinger and Dr．Buysse noted that this is only the beginning of the brain temperature study．But they believe that they have discovered something important that needs more research．They presented their results in June at a meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis, Minnesota．

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　　Researchers may tell us that spending money on experiences produces more happiness than spending money on things．Going to a bar with friends is always a pleasurable experience．However, on the other hand, a table may also give lots of positive experiences in the future．

　　I just moved from New York City to suburban Pennsylvania．It’s been quite a change of pace, with some advantages and disadvantages．One of the best parts is that I’m spending more time outside．I quite enjoy staying outside, especially eating outside．I had a goal to eat outside as often as possible this summer, so one of my first purchases for the new house was a table and a set of chairs for the yard．

　　Is my yard table a thing or an experience? It’s clearly a thing and yet it enables the experience of eating outside．I love eating outside, and so my yard table is one of my favorite purchases ever．Therefore I find the dividing line between things and experiences is more blurred than at first glance．However, to be happy, the most important thing is what kind of purchases you have made．

　　Sometimes we may all have purchases that seem like a waste of money, like probably half the clothes in our closets, but how does this happen?

　　There are many reasons．The biggest is that we spend a lot of our time working to earn money to buy things．The problem is that we buy a lot of stuff that we don’t actually need．There is nothing worse than looking in your closet and realizing how many hours you spent laboring to buy things you never wear．But how about a table that lets you enjoy being outside in the summer? That’s worth every minute and penny and from it you will also get more happiness．

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　　Attention, teen writers!

　　Win cash, get published!

　　Entries will be accepted between August 8 and September 21, 2011．

　　Awards ceremony at Pacific Lutheran University, Lagerquist Hall on December 27, 2012．

　　Enter your poem or/and short story in Pierce County Library System’s Teen Poetry & Fiction Writing Contest．

　　You must be a teen resident and attend school in Pierce County．

　　Prizes will be awarded in three age groups：7^th and 8^th grade, 9^th and 10^th grade, and 11^th and 12^th grade; and in two categories：poetry and short story．

　　Pierce County Library Foundation will award prizes in each age group．

　　First Place ＄ 100

　　Second Place ＄ 75

　　Third Place ＄ 50

　　Winning poems and stories will be published as written．Contest winners will read their work at an awards ceremony at Pacific Lutheran University, Lagerquist Hall on December 27, 2012．

　　Your poems and stories will be judged on the basis of originality, style, general presentation, grammar and spelling．All entries will belong to the Pierce County Library System and will not be returned．Winners’ names may appear in newspapers and on the library’s website．

　　You may enter both the short story and/or poetry categories, but you can only offer one entry per category．

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　　Leadership actually has a few simple concepts．And, I witnessed it just the other day．I have three children, all under the age of nine．Before the bus arrives at eight in the morning, I always make breakfast and arrange their backpacks．

　　But last Monday, I couldn’t get out of bed because I was sick．I thought that my husband, Chris, would handle the children．But I immediately realized that he wasn’t at home．If I’d had the strength, I would have ordered my nine-year-old daughter to help me．I was too exhausted even for that．I’m embarrassed to say － I just fell back to sleep．

　　When I opened my eyes again, the children were in front of me．Dressed．All three of them．Even though I was sick, I was suspicious(猜疑的)．“What’s going on?” I asked．

　　My nine-year-old, Sally, spoke for the group, “We made you a cup of green tea．Don’t worry．I didn’t turn on the stove; I used the microwave．” I cautiously accepted the offer, wondering what they wanted．“I heard you throwing up in the bathroom so I got everyone ready．We still have 10 minutes to get to the bus．” Sally continued．

　　What had happened to the daughter I had to force to get ready every morning? And how did she manage to motivate an eight-year-old and a three-year-old?

　　The next day, I told Chris what I had witnessed．He just said, “Our daughter is a natural-born leader．” I didn’t think so．“For a leader she is a terrible follower．”

　　Then it occurred to me that：a good leader isn’t a great follower．In fact, leadership is all about not waiting for instructions．It’s about stepping up to the challenge and leading by example－exactly what Sally had done．I had this leadership thing all wrong．

　　Without being forced, without even being asked, she stepped up．I don’t think I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself．

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　　People in China are among the most fearful of getting old, a new global survey suggests．

　　According to Bupa, a British healthcare organization, which asked 12,262 people in 12 countries about their attitudes towards aging, 28 percent of the Chinese polled said they feel depressed when thinking about getting old．

　　And although 72 percent of all respondents aged 65 and over said they do not feel old, the survey conducted in June and July this year found more than half of those aged 45 to 54 in China already consider themselves to be elderly．About 30 percent of Chinese respondents worry about being looked after in later years, while 91 percent agreed the government should improve care for the elderly．

　　However, because people in China think about their future earlier, research suggests the country could be one of the best prepared for addressing the aging problem．About one third of Chinese respondents－more than double the global average－said they have put money aside for retirement, while 46 percent have taken out insurance, the poll showed．

　　Despite being one of the best prepared nations, three fifths of those surveyed in China expect their family to care for them when they can no longer do so themselves．Bupa, however, reported that the “informal care network”(the traditional pattern of families looking after the elderly)is disintegrating．

　　This is due to a number of factors, said the report, including structural changes to the population, the increase of women in employment, the increase of one-person households and the rise in divorce rates．

　　Li Yin ping, 55, a retired accountant, said she thinks only people in their 70s can be called old．She said her pension is enough to support her in later years and that her only hope is that her son can visit regularly．

　　“I don’t worry about my later years at all,” said Li．“ When I’m old, I can turn to a rest home．The local hospital can deliver the medicine I need with just a phone call．”

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　　2010 is a significant date in the world’s fight against global hunger; it marks 30 years since the first World Food Day and 65 years since the founding of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization．

　　Caroline Hurford is from the U．N．’s World Food Program．She says in the 30 years since the first World Food Day, real progress has been made．According to the Global Hunger Index 2010, the number of hungry people in the world has gone down by one quarter since 1990．

　　But Hurford says some stumbling blocks have been hit in recent years．“There has been a slight dropping off in the number of hungry people in the late 1990s but then it rose again of course during the financial crisis of 2007－2008,” she said．

　　Fighting hunger is the first of eight Millennium Development Goals that world nations set ten years ago．Now the 2015 deadline is fast approaching and many people say they fear the target will not be met．

　　Some countries and regions are making progress．South Asia has made the largest improvements and many African countries have also made advances, including Ghana, Ethiopia, and Angola．

　　But improvements are not the same globally．The worst situation has appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been influenced by conflict and political instability．

　　Hurford says environmental disasters, like drought, and conflict are two major barriers to fighting hunger．“Clearly conflict is a huge problem as far as the actual growing of produce and crops is concerned,” she said．

　　Edgardo Valenzuela is from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization．He says emergency aid for countries is important but investment in agriculture needs to be a top task．

　　“ This kind of short term relief is not enough because for these countries which are in endless crisis, or in long crisis, there is a need to be able to develop a system to help them to be able to plant and grow their food, because otherwise they will never have a sustainable way to remove hunger, ” said Valenzuela．

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　　The winter holidays are upon us again．Here is our guide to winter holiday fun in Peterborough!

　　The Age of the Dinosaurs’ is the museum’s main attraction this winter．Get close to prehistoric creatures via some great hands－on exhibits! Watch out for monsters lurking around every ember! The museum is open from 10∶00 am to 5∶00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12∶00 pm to 4∶00 pm on Sundays．

　　Call 01733 864663 for details．

　　School holiday fun：Young people aged 13－19 will be able to produce their own music, compete in spots activities, or try their hand at cooking at Saxon Youth Club, Saxon Community Centre, Norman Road．Peterborough every Monday and Wednesday from 3∶00 pm．PLUS an aero ball tournament will take place on Thursday 12^th between 3∶30 pm and 6∶30 pm．

　　Call 01353 720274 for details．

　　Alice through the Looking Class－a new production of the family favorite on Monday 30^th．Bring rugs or chairs to sit on and a picnic if you wish to eat during the play．Gates open 5∶30 pm, performance 6∶30 pm－8∶30 pm．Tea room will be open until end of the interval．Adult ￡10．Child ￡7．Family ￡20．

　　Booking advisable on 0845 4505157．

　　Farmland Games：From Wellie Wanging to Pretend Ploughing matches, come and join the Farmland Team．Collect your sporting stickers and create a colorful rosette that is fit for a winner !No need to book, just turn up between 12∶00 pm and 4∶00 pm on Thursday 19^th Suitable for children aged four and above, each child should be accompanied by an adult and all activities are included in the normal admission price Tickets Cost ￡7 per child．

　　For further information, call 01223 810080．

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　　American parents usually think that their child should not have more pocket money than the children with whom he regularly connects, even if they are wealthier．But neither are children expected to compare with the richer if a large family, heavy responsibilities, or other conditions make it necessary to give a child less spending money than is customary(惯例的)in the neighborhood．

　　Whatever the pocket money is, its entire use is not controlled by the parents, because a child learns to use money correctly only through dealing with it himself．If a seven-year-old child gets a quarter as a week pocket money and is made to put it all in his piggy bank to save it up, he gets no idea what the real use for the money is．He gets the shiny coins and they soon disappear．

　　The idea of a bank account is too early for so small a child, although he can be made to understand and enjoy saving his coins－not all of them, only a part of what he receives－to buy something he especially wants．By the time he is eight he is old enough to take part in the opening of his own savings account, parents may take him to the bank, open a saving account for him and encourage him to put a certain quantity or any checks he receives as gifts into the bank and watch his bank savings grow as entry is made．

　　He will be saving, earning, and spending suitable quantities all along in order to learn how to manage money and to keep him in a favorable position with his friend．The boy who can’t join his fellows in a sweet shop once in a while, because he has to save every cent he gets or earns for some big unknown project his parents have chosen for him, is a sorry child．