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Stanford University Speech. _ Steve Jobs.

Thank you. I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. Truth be told, I never graduated from college and this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories. 

The first story is about connecting the dots. I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We've got an unexpected boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother found out later that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would go to college. This was the start of my life. 

And 17 years later, I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked far more interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5 cents deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.

Let me give you one example: Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces of proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on that calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. 

But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later. Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path. And that will make all the difference. 

My second story is about love and loss. I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parent's garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a 2 billion dollars company with over 4,000 employees. We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew, we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then out visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. And so at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

[ Black+White Photography ]

On The Streets

Street photography is arguably today's most popular genre, with huge followings online. But what does it really mean and why is it so appealing? To discover some of the answers Elizabeth Roberts talks to veteran of the streets, Paul Burgess.

ER: When and why did you start street photography?

PB : I've been keen on photography since childhood, when I used to take portraits of my family and friends, and lots of arty holiday snaps. Then in my late 20s I spent time working in Egypt. For the first time I was exposed to a society and way of life completely different to my own and I experienced a dramatic and thrilling culture shock. In Cairo much of everyday life is lived out on the streets. I was inspired by the vibrancy, the chaos and the strangeness of it all and wanted to capture it with my camera. Later on, I travelled to India and Vietnam and photography became a big part of my travels. I found that with the camera I was more present, seeing and absorbing the world around me. Gradually I started looking at my own city, London, in a different way, with a more photographic eye, and realised there was also wonderful material here in my own backyard.

ER : You say on your website that you take pictures that appeal more to the heart than the head. Can you say more about this?

PB : It's all very well taking a picture-postcard image, with beautiful lighting and perfect composition, but it can leave you cold. I try to take photographs that work on an emotional level. I want the images to evoke a mood, a feeling, or a reaction. Maybe it's a melancholic sadness or a whimsical smile. Perhaps the photo is reminiscent of a scene from a film noir movie of it captures a quirky off-beat moment. I think if an image triggers the part of the brain that makes you feel something, it will most likely stay with you. I also like shots that have a mystery and a story to them - so the more you look, the more you see. 

ER : In your professional life you edit and direct documentaries - how does street photography fit in with this?

PB : One obvious similarity is that in filmmaking you see the world through a lens, so I'm accustomed to looking through the camera and trying to find an interesting and arresting frame. Also, with documentaries, you tend to observe and investigate human behaviour, and  that fascination with people is also a major part of my own photography. But they are very different and quite separate disciplines. Filmes tell stories over hundreds of shots and thousands of frames. They have structure, a narrative arc, with added sound and music. In street photography it's just the one frame that matters. On a practical level, being a freelancer has also meant that I've been able to use the time between jobs to work on my photography. That's the beauty of it, you can just pick up your camera and head out the door at a moment's notice - so for me, it's a great fit.

ER : Do you go out with the intention of shooting on the street or do you always carry a camera with you on the off chance?

PB : Mostly I go out to a specific area, with the intention of shooting. I like to be prepared and have the right gear with me. But every now and then I'll grab my camera, just in case...

The newest trends in solar energy generation.

Electricity, transportation, and buildings are three of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. Products like cement and steel rely on large amounts of continuous high-temperature heat, most of which requires high-carbon sources. 

Heliogen, a startup with investors like Bill Gates, has developed a brand-new, zero-carbon way of generating high-temperature heat based on concentrating solar power. Hundreds of mirrors placed in a field reflect sunlight onto a tower that contains a steam turbine. The sunlight then turns fluid into steam, which runs the turbine, which generates power. 

Heliogen developed a computer system that ensures maximum heat generation by precisely aligning the mirrors. The four super-powerful cameras they placed around the top of the tower measure it the halo of light coming off the mirror is equally intense in four quadrants. 

Then, their image-analysis software calculates the exact proper alignment of each mirror and sends signals to the mirrors constantly, making themselves perfectly focused on a single point with a diameter of about 50 cm.

When the sun is in the sky, the heads of sunflowers always squarely face the sun with their stems moving to support their movement.

Phototropism refers to "the orientation of a plant of other organism in response to light, either toward the source of light or away from it." This helps the plants soak up maximum amounts of sunlight.

Scientists failed at many attempts to copy this ability with synthetic materials, but researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have just developed a material with this sun-tracking ability, which is described as the first synthetic phototropic material. 

Called SunBOT, the artificial sunflower can move and bend like mini sunflower stems when shaped into rods. When the sun is shining on them at a 75-degree angle, this ability allows them to capture about 90 percent of the sun's available light energy. This remarkable invention can harvest up to 400 percent more solar energy than the conventional solar system. 

Their invention was published in Nature Nanotechnology on Nov. 4. 

The Persistence of Memory. Salvador Dali.

Far beyond simply being inspired by the unconscious mind, Salvador Dali, born in Figueres, Spain, often described it in his artworks throughout his lifetime. With so many of his artworks featuring scenes that cannot be found in real life, Dali is still considered a master of surrealism, an artistic movement that originated in the early 20th century which stood against a society dominated by rational thoughts and explored the unconscious mind. Among the countless artworks he created, an oil painting named The Persistence of Memory, painted in 1931, earned him great recognition in many countries around the world.

Just like how Dali often employed repetitive images in his artworks, The Persistence of Memory also depicts three clocks in an almost identical shape. He depicted these clocks in a bizarre shape as if they were some cheese melting away under the direct sunlight. With this depiction, he wanted to express the erratic passage of time people go through in the state of unconsciousness. A decaying clock covered with countless ants also lies at the bottom of the left side of the artwork, an image that Dali often used to symbolize death. 

As the artwork is set in the Costa Daurada, a strip of the Mediterranean coastline located near his hometown, many art experts analyzed that Dali painted it to show his own unconscious mind. This painting is currently located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, well-known for preserving a staggering collection of modern and contemporary artworks. 

Hong Kong Elections Show Most People Support the Protests

On Nov. 24, Hong Kong held its first elections since the massive protests began nearly six months ago, and the results suggest that most people in Hong Kong are sympathetic to the cause.

The protests in Hong Kong began when the government proposed a bill that would make it possible for people arrested in Hong Kong to stand trial in China. The bill was eventually withdrawn, but by that time, the demands of protesters had expanded to a call for democracy and after several violent confrontations with the police, more accountability by authorities.

The limited democracy of Hong Kong does not provide many opportunities to vote, so though this election was for district councils, one of the lowest political positions in Hong Kong, it was viewed as a referendum on the recent protests. Usually just over 40 percent of the population participates in these elections. In 2014, a similar series of protests called the Umbrella Movement drove turnout up to 47 percent. This year, more than 70 percent of all eligible voters in Hong Kong cast a ballot. Turnout among young people was especially high, a trend that seems to be growing worldwide.

Entering election night, China was reportedly confident that the elections would show that public opinion was against the protests and the frequent disruptions they had caused, but pro-democracy activists were cautiously optimistic. The results were better than they could have imagined. Entering the election with just 124 seats, pro-democracy candidates won 389 of the 452 open seats, and establishment candidates lost almost 250 of the 300 seats they previously held.

Though the politicians who were elected are not responsible for creating legislation, they may ultimately have a significant impact. The chief executive of Hong Kong, who acts as its leader, is selected by a committee, the majority of which is currently politically aligned with China. However, one-tenth of that committee is chosen by district council members, giving the newly elected officials significant power in the process.

Carrie Lam, the current chief executive, promised to listen to the election winners and reflect on the best way forward. Those opposed to the protests hoped that the election's success would satisfy the demonstrators, but the protests continued on week later.

China has thus far refrained from intervening, but the election's results may change that. While the referendum may pressure China to grant Hong Kong more independence, it may also prompt Beijing to forcibly end the protests altogether.

Scientists use cloning to save a dog breed from extinction

Researchers from Chungnam National University have used cloning to revive a dog breed on the edge of extinction.

Sapsaree, which are native to Korea, were once popular throughout the peninsula. Traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits, the dogs were favorites of Korean aristocrats and artists and may have even been used as military animals. 

However, during Japanese occupation, they were slaughtered in large numbers so that their fur could be used by Japanese soldiers stationed in Manchuria. By the 1910s, there were believed to be only eight Sapsaree remaining, and though the number has grown since then, only several hundred exist today. In 1992, the South Korean government even named the Sapsaree a national treasure. 

While Sapsaree are rare in general, short-haired and spotted, or badugi, Sapsaree are especially uncommon. These dogs in particular were the focus of the project at Chungnam National University.

The scientists had previously cloned a Sapsaree using the DNA from the first naturally born short-haired spotted dog since the Japanese colonial era. Last December, the cloned dog gave birth to a litter of seven spotted puppies, one of the offspring became pregnant, proving that the clones' children are fertile and capable of propagating the species. Thanks to these scientists, one of the rarest dog breeds in the world is now safe from extinction.

Rockefeller Center, Christmas Tree Lighting.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a grand Christmas tree that receives the spotlight annually at the iconic Rockefeller Center in New York City, United Staes, during the holidays. 

Each year, a new tree is chosen to become the next Rockefeller Christmas tree. This year's 23.5-m tree is more than 60 years old and was owned by a woman from the New York village of Florida.

The 12-ton tree was transported to the Rockefeller Center on Nov. 9. It received a festive makeover with 50,000 colorful LED lights and a glamorous Swarovski star on top.

The lighting ceremony was held on Dec. 4 and was aired live on the American broadcast channel NBC. The event was hosted by anchors Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb, and Savannah Guthrie. 

Before the lighting began, audience members were treated with splendid performances by numerous artists, including Idian Menzel, the voice of Elsa from Frozen. 

Known as the brightest event of the year, spectators awed as the Christmas tree began to illuminate its surroundings. The marvelous tree will be shining bright for the entire day of Christmas. And for those who missed the ceremony but would still like to view the tree, it will be up until Jan. 17.

Afterwards, the tree will go to good use by being donated to Habitat for Humanity as lumber for building homes.

The first ever Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to 1931, while the first lighting ceremony began in 1933. Afterwards, the event started to get televised in 1951. Since then, it has become a tradition for the entire nation to watch and enjoy the lighting. 

Gloria Steinem

" A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men."

Gloria Steinem, born in 1934, is an American journalist and social political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader and spokeswoman for the American feminist movement.

During her childhood, Steinem and her family traveled around the country in a trailer led by her father, who was buying and selling antiques simply to get to the next place. Growing up, she witnessed and anti-woman bias in society, especially seeing the way her mother, after divorcing, was being treated by doctors who disregarded her evident distress and mental illness. 

Steinem graduated from Smith College as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the U.S., which has promoted and advocated academic excellence. 

Her activism includes signing the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, pledging to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War, and she also protested against the South African apartheid system.

In her speech "Address to the Women of America." she stated that people discriminate based on race and sex because it is easy and "visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labor on which this system still depends."

In 2015, she joined an international group of 30 leading female peacemakers and became an honorary co-chairwoman of the 2015 Women's Walk for Peace in Korea, which called for Korea's demilitarization and reunification.

Steinem is currently an honorary co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America.

If

by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating.,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, 

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them:"Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

When I was an elementary school, our family had a plan about going to an overseas country. 

My father's company promised my father that you could move on Southeast Asian country with your family.

But they spent their capital where another business, not to the overseas country office.

Finally, he had to get off the company, we didn't have the opportunity.

So always I am thinking of that plan.

What if we had gone aboard.

What if we learned English at that time. 

It will be different my life and our life. Because English is very important to live in Korea.

But as a result, I could not learn English at that time.

So I'm hard to study in English now.

It has been 5 months now since studying in English started in earnest.

It just keeps going and going on for my future until the day when my English is very good.