Better ways to use your phone

Remember how exciting it was to make your phone unique with cool ringtones (铃声) and wallpapers? Zedge, an easy-to-use app, is here to bring that fun back. Its main function is to offer millions of HD wallpapers, live photos, cool ringtones, alarm sounds and notification sounds — totally based on your personal taste.

While you might need to watch an ad to download some content, the convenience makes it worth the waiting time. Zedge can also help you bring out the best of your imagination. Want to see a blue dog riding a bicycle? Describe it to Zedge and its AI helper will create it for you! You can also check out the community gallery to see other people’s AI works.

In our fast-paced world of instant messaging over WeChat, do you ever imagine what it would be like to stay in touch with someone by mail? Give Slowly a try free of charge!

The app features combining the charm of traditional mail with the convenience of modern technology. Its aim is to help you form new friendships with people across the world in a meaningful way.

Using the app, you can either search for pen pals or let the app automatically match you with like-minded others. You can find your pen pal based on topics of interest, age range and gender. You can also choose different languages, making it a great way to find an English-speaking pen pal.

After four years at university, my 21-year-old son returned home and continued his online studies. During his time living independently, he developed a passion for cooking, focusing on meals rich in meat, fat, starches, garlic, and spices. While his brother enjoys these dinners, my husband and I quietly add roasted vegetables to balance our diet. Mostly, we’re grateful that someone else is cooking and that the food is delicious.

At his age, I had never lived on my own. My grandmother and mother controlled the kitchen, and my one attempt at cooking a family meal ended badly, leaving my grandmother sick for days. Determined to do things differently, I encouraged my children to use the kitchen independently, hoping they would grow up enjoying cooking rather than fearing it as I had.

It worked. My youngest son is now a passionate and careful cook, though the kitchen is always a mess after he’s done. To keep him company, I recently offered to be his sous-chef while he prepared another amazing meal. This also gave me a precious opportunity to spend time with him, as hanging out with parents is no longer his priority.

As we cooked together, he directed me with requests like, “Can you crack a couple of eggs into a bowl?” and “Please stir the sugar and rice vinegar.” After each task, I responded with, “Yes, Chef!” Over time, I realized that every “Yes, Chef!” was my way of saying, “I love you.” When the family sat down to eat, I praised his cooking, and he quietly replied, “Thank you, sous-chef.” That simple response was all the comfort I needed.

Whether you want to assess your hormone (荷尔蒙) levels or heart health, find out why you’re tired all the time or get a general wellness profile, increasing numbers of at-home self-testing tools are promising to help. Often, these are marketed as a flexible way of taking control of your personal health.

Self-diagnosis tests are flooding the market. “Many consumers are using them because they’re accessible, because it can take weeks to get a doctor’s appointment, and they might be denied the test they want,” says Patti Shih, a sociologist.

Although some self-tests might be useful, there are a range of problems associated with using them, such as lack of medical guidance. Doctors will look at a patient’s medical history and assess symptoms before deciding on the appropriate method of diagnosis. They will also follow up and interpret any results. But with self-testing, all of that may be missing.

Others might give accurate results but still won’t be particularly helpful. Even some of them aren’t backed by science. For example, some companies market saliva (唾液) tests as a way to detect hormonal issues. However, scientific evidence shows that saliva tests are not reliable, as they do not account for the complex interactions between hormones in the body.

Shih has been studying YouTube influencers who promote self-diagnosis. Her concerns include misleading information, the risk of over-testing, and that self-testing may lead to unnecessary use of non-evidence-based supplements and treatments that carry health risks. “Perhaps most concerning are the cancer self-tests being marketed and sold in the US. These claim to detect over 50 types of cancer before symptoms have occurred.” she added.

Largely thanks to advances in diagnostic technology and digital health, in the US alone, sales of direct-to-consumer tests increased from $15 million in 2010 to $1.15 billion in 2022. Self-testing isn’t likely to go away, so experts are calling for better regulation and for patients to have clearer information about when testing is recommended and when it is not.

In a smart piece of rebranding, what used to be known as “second-hand”, “used” or perhaps even “junk” has now become recycled. Ikea is the latest to jump on the bandwagon. The Swedish furniture giant said it was rolling out its second-hand marketplace for recycled furniture across Spain and Norway after successful trials in Madrid and Oslo, and if that works, it may soon be expanded globally. Other companies such as Zara and Lego are also offering second-hand marketplaces. More may join them.

The recycled economy is booming and it’s easy to understand why. Customers care much more about sustainability than they used to and recycling is a lot better for the environment than fast fashion. It’s typically a lot cheaper, enabling people to buy things they would not be able to afford. And for retailers, it makes sense to keep customers on their website for second-hand stuff.

However, there are two big problems. To start with, the recycled market is typically limited to very high-quality products. The other trouble is that the recycled market is not likely to prove as lucrative as companies and investors seem to think it will be. With shipping and returns to pay for it, it’s going to be hard to make significant profits. Plus, anything from Ikea or Zara was pretty cheap to begin with, so by the time you reduce the price for the second-hand version, it is selling for next to nothing.

Next people don’t want to pay as much for “recycled” furniture or clothes as they do for an item that is being loved for the very first time. Otherwise, you might as well just buy the new one. What we’re looking at here is a small market and nothing more. The recycled market may be getting a lot more love than it deserves if some effective measures are taken.

As an international student studying in the United States, internships (实习) should be a top priority. Internships provide you with invaluable real-world experience, help you build a professional network and can significantly boost your career prospects after graduation.

Internships give you the chance to apply your classroom knowledge in a professional setting. Many internships involve working with the latest industry tools and technologies, keeping you ahead of the curve. You’ll develop crucial skills like problem-solving, communication and time management. 【小题1】

Beyond just building hard skills, internships allow you to step outside your comfort zone. 【小题2】 Facing unfamiliar situations will force you to grow in new ways, helping you develop essential soft skills like teamwork, flexibility and independent thinking-qualities that are highly valued by employers.

【小题3】 Internships connect you with professionals in your field of interest who can provide instructions, references and even job opportunities down the line. Make the most of informational interviews, coffee chats and social events to grow your professional contacts.

Competition for jobs is fierce, especially for international graduates. Internships demonstrate to employers that you have relevant experience and a genuine interest in your field. 【小题5】 To make the most of your internship experience and work closely with your school’s career services team, you should tailor your application to highlight how your international background and skillset can benefit prospective employers. This application allows you to get your foot in the door and stand out.

The Pain and the Mission

Wayne Holdsworth lived a peaceful life with his lovely family. His son Mac, 17, was a _______ and active teenager who loved sports and had many friends. Everything seemed _______ until one evening, Mac came to him with tears in his eyes and said, “Dad, I had been _______ into online scam (诈骗).”

Wayne tried to _______ his son and took him to the police station. Through the _______ effort, the police found the scammer and punished him severely. But the embarrassment _______ Mac, knowing all his friends had known his being cheated. Despite his father’s support, Mac was overwhelmed with shame and began to _______ from their usual activities and friends. He was unable to _______ the stress. So his mental health became increasingly worse. _______, Mac took his own lives on a Sunday morning. Wayne couldn’t stop __________ himself for his ignoring the signs earlier.

After two months, Wayne decided to turn his __________ into helping others. He founded a charity called Smack Talk to educate people on how to prevent similar tragedies. He __________ to schools and communities, speaking publicly to raise awareness about the dangers of online scams.

Through his mission, Wayne found a sense of purpose and __________. He turned his personal tragedy into a driving force for __________ change, honoring his son’s memories by offering hope to others. His efforts have __________ the lives of many people, helping them find light in their darkest moments.