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BATTLE FOR THE BEES

Its no secret that the number of bees around the world is decreasing. Bees are simply
leaving their hives and never coming back. This is called Colony Collapse Disorder, or
CCD. Scientists arent 100% sure why its happening, but it spells big trouble for
humans. Many of the foods humans eat depend on bees for pollination.
Meet New York City resident Andrew Cote: a man with a mission. Andrew doesnt let
the surrounding concrete jungle stop him from keeping bees. He keeps over 75 hives
throughout the city, mostly on rooftops. In fact, hes even made a business out of it,
servicing restaurants and hotels, like the Waldorf Astoria. At this famous hotel, Andrew
helps them keep 360,000 honeybees in six hives on their 20th-floor rooftop. The honey
is served to customers in their food, tea, and even a special honey-laced beer.
Andrew believes that the bee problem needs to be attacked on all fronts, so we
shouldnt let our urban environment prevent us from cultivating bees. Bees and humans
can co-exist peacefully in the big city. In an interview with CNN, Andrew says, Urban
Beekeeping is like crack. Its an obsession and theres no turning back.
Andrew doesnt stop with New York City. Hes also head of Bees without Borders. This
organization works to create or revive bee colonies all over the world, in places like
Africa, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. At least once a year, he
and his team travel to a remote location and share their beekeeping knowledge with the
local community. This helps bees make a comeback in areas where they are
disappearing.
Another person whos generating lots of buzz is Chris Burley. Hes attacking the bee
problem with a plan to grow what bees love the most: wildflowers. To do this, he started
a company called Seedles, which makes pellets that look like candies. However, these
bright little balls are actually made from compost, clay, and wildflower seeds.
All you need to do is walk around and throw the pellets on the ground wherever you
want. Thats it. When it rains, they dissolve into the soil and wildflowers will grow. Buy

a bunch of Seedles, take a stroll through the city, and you could be the next Johnny
Appleseed of the bee world, growing flowers that bees need to survive.
Complex problems need creative solutions. Without people like Andrew and Chris
working to save the bees, our dinner plates could look a whole lot less appetizing in the
years to come.

VOCABULARY
Spells big trouble = Signifies big trouble in the future
Concrete jungle = A big city that is difficult or challenging to live in
On all fronts = From all sides
Co-exist = Live together
Like crack = Addictive like a drug; something you cant stop
Remote = Distant; difficult to reach
Comeback = Return
Generating buzz = Getting people to talk about something; creating excitement about
something
A stroll = A short relaxing walk
Johnny appleseed = A legend about a man who traveled around the us planting apple
seeds wherever he went
Appetizing = Delicious

CUT IN HALF

For Jews and Christians, the parable of King Solomon and the baby is a famous one.
Two women came to the king fighting over the same baby. They both claimed to be the
babys mother and asked the king to be the judge. Solomon said the only fair thing to do
would be to cut the baby in half. One woman agreed to the plan, but the other refused.
She was horrified at the idea and said she would give the baby to the other woman in
order to save the infants life. The wise king Solomon heard this response and knew
that he had found the babys true mother.
The parable of Solomon and the baby is a cross-cultural story. In fact, there is
an almost identical Buddhist parable. Before the Buddha became the Buddha, he lived
many past lives. In one of these past lives, he was a wise sage. Two women came to the
sage arguing over who was the babys true mother. The sage said the only fair thing to
do was to play tug of war. He drew a line on the ground and told one woman to grab
the babys head and the other to grab the babys feet. The women were told to pull the
baby to their side of the line. The winner would get the baby. Of course, the baby
screamed out, and, of course, the true mother showed her true colors when she gave up
her claim on the baby in order to keep the baby from getting hurt.
Both of these parables teach the same lesson that true love means sacrifice. If we truly
love someone, we sometimes need to let that person be free. Unfortunately, real life
doesnt always work that way. In recent news, a German man decided that
sacrifice wasnt his thing. After breaking up with his wife, he cut all of their
possessions in half just to spite her. Four dining chairs, a sofa, a car, a computer and
even an iPhone were all cut in half. Thank you for 12 beautiful years, Laura! Youve
really earned half, he wrote in a message. In English, men sometimes refer to their
wives as their better half. In this situation, thats true in more ways than one!

VOCABULARY
Parable = A story that teaches a lesson
Claimed = Said that something is true
Horrified = Shocked
In order to = For the purpose of
Wise = Having good judgement
Cross-cultural = Relating to two or more cultures
Sage = A person who is wise
Arguing over = Arguing about
Tug of war = A game where people fight to pull a rope in opposite directions
Showed her true colors = Showed her true self
Sacrifice = Suffering loss by giving something up
Wasnt his thing = Wasnt something he was willing to do
To spite her = To harm her
Better half = A way of describing your husband or wife as the better half of your
marriage

DANCING MANIA
Alone, in the middle of a silent street Frau Troffea began to dance. It was July of 1518
in Strasbourg, France when for no reason, Troffea started to dance. Not long
after, bewildered neighbors came to watch. Even stranger, Troffeas silent dancing was
joined by first one neighbor, and then another. Their dancing was bizarre, and their
faces were expressionless.
By the end of the week, more than 30 people had joined Troffeas strange dance. They
danced night and day. This was just the tip of the iceberg. Within a month, more than
400 citizens of Strasbourg were swept away by the dancing mania. Still there was no
music and no explanation for what was happening. Yet they silently danced on.
Many of the dancers began to experience serious health problems from so much nonstop movement. The dancing was so extreme that some people literally danced
themselves to death. They died from heart attacks, strokes, and severe exhaustion.
At this point, doctors were called. They ruled out supernatural causes, common during
that time. Instead, they said the mania was natural and caused by hot blood. When they
failed to find a cure for the dancing, they decided to build a stage and invite musicians
to play for the dancers. They thought that the cure might be for the dancers to dance
until they got it out of their systems. No one knows why, but after a month of dancing,
it stopped as mysteriously as it began.
While this sounds like a tall tale, it has been well documented by historians. And,
its not the only case of its kind. Dancing Mania or St. Vitus Dance swept Europe
from the 14th to 17th century. The most well known cases happened in Germany in
1374 and France in 1518.
Some psychologists say that what happened in France was an example of
mass hysteria. Mass hysteria, sometimes happens in communities experiencing extreme
stress.

The

Strasbourg

of famine and malnutrition.

dancing

mania

happened

during

time

Other people believe that the dancing mania was caused by religious ecstasy. Saint
Vitus is also known as the patron saint of dancing and epilepsy. The 1500s were
a superstitious time. The local Christian church records say that people believed that
Saint Vitus could send down plagues of dancing.
We will never know if the people of Strasbourg were suffering from mental illness or
swept away by something that science cant explain. The hearts and minds of humans
are a mystery, and sometimes we lack the ability to explain why we do the things we do.
Have you ever felt swept away by an experience you could not explain?
VOCABULARY
Bewildered = confused
Bizarre = very strange
Tip of the iceberg = a small part of something much bigger
Swept away = to become completely overwhelmed by a situation
Mania = excessive enthusiasm
Literally = actually
Ruled out = stopped considering
Get it out of ones system = to get something out of ones body or mind
Tall tale = an unbelievable story; an exaggerated story
Swept = spread across an area quickly
Hysteria = uncontrollable emotion
Famine = extreme lack of food
Malnutrition = lack of enough nutrition
Ecstasy = extreme happiness

Superstition = a belief that lacks reason; an irrational belief

Plague = something that causes trouble or annoyance; an infectious disease

DONT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER

If

youre

lover

of

chocolate,

youve

heard

of

Godiva

chocolates.

These luxury chocolates are named after Lady Godiva of 11th century England. Lady

Godiva was a very rich woman, but according to legend, she was also a defender of the
poor. Godiva was married to the powerful Lord Leofric, who heavily taxed the poor.
Godiva protested the unfair taxes to Leofric, but her protests fell upon deaf ears.
Leofric joked that he would lower the taxes when Godiva rode through the streets
naked. Leofric never expected her to take the joke seriously, but thats exactly what she
did. She agreed to ride a horse with nothing but her long hair to cover her. Before doing
so, she told the townspeople to stay inside their homes and close their windows.
Everyone obeyed except for a tailor named Tom, who peeped out his window as she
rode by naked on a horse. And that is where we get the English expression peeping
Tom which describes someone who spies on people while they are naked. Historians
say that Lady Godiva and Leofric were, in fact, real people. Godiva probably never rode
through the streets naked, but the expression Peeping Tom is still in use today.
Many English idioms come from centuries ago. Dont throw the baby out with the
bathwater means to be careful not to throw away good things when you are throwing
away bad things. In the middle ages, people lived without the luxury of running water.
Back in those days, everyone shared the same bath water. The father of the house bathed
first and the mother bathed next. The children would bathe last. By this time, the water
was so dirty that you couldnt see through it, and might accidentally throw the baby out
with the bathwater. This expression was borrowed from German in the 1800s.
Another common idiom that comes from the 1800s is to turn a blind eye. The British
Admiral Nelson was once signaled by his superior to run from a fight. At that time, the
military communicated across distances using signal flags. The one eyed Nelson put his
telescope up to his blind eye, and said, I really do not see the signal. He continued his
attack and won the day. Today, the expression turn a blind eye, means to choose to
ignore some part of reality.

VOCABULARY
Luxury = something that brings extreme comfort; expensive things that are not
necessary
Protest (noun) = a statement of disapproval; an action of disapproval

Protest (verb) = expressing disapproval (I know these are different forms of protest
than the text)
Her protests fell upon deaf ears = her protests were ignored
Won the day = was successful; won in sports or war

IDIOM: BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is this idiom wrong?
In the African nation of Mauritania, big is beautiful. Some women even visit fat farms
where they gorge on large quantities of high calorie foods, hoping to return home a bit
rounder. Meanwhile, weight-loss camps are gaining popularity in many western nations.

From culture to culture, ideas of beauty vary. In rural Indonesia, for example, big
feet are celebrated. For indigenous Maori people in New Zealand, blue face
tattoos are desirable. And long earlobes are a sign of beauty to the Masai people of
Kenya.
They say beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, but it may also lie in a mathematical
calculation.
Did you know that a numerical ratio of 1 to 1.618 can actually predict beauty? Its
called the divine proportion or golden ratio. It shows up in all cultures and across
all time periods. And people considered beautiful have faces and bodies that often
display this golden ratio.
In beautiful people, the ratio is often present in the distance between the eyes compared
to the length of the lower face. It can also appear in the length of the arms relative to
body height. To determine whether an entire face reflects the divine ratio,
first, measure the length and the width of the face. Then, divide the length by the width.
The closer the answer is to 1.6, the more the face exhibits the divine ratio.
Even more interesting is that the golden ratio isnt exclusive to human beauty. It exists
frequently in nature as well. The golden ratio can be found in the spiral of a snails shell,
in the petals of certain flowers, and on the markings of a tigers head.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, constructed in 2484 BC, also displays the golden ratio. But
the golden ratio doesnt appear in recorded history until around 300 BC. During this
time, Greek mathematicians noticed the golden ratio consistently appearing in
geometric shapes. The ancient Greeks were obsessed with physical perfection, and
many of Greeces most famous sculptures display the golden ratio.
In modern times, some people even have plastic surgery to achieve this special ratio.
Humans continue to be captivated by beauty. Yet, pursuits of physical beauty arent
always fulfilling. More than half of plastic surgery patients regret the procedure.
Weve all heard the idiom, Beauty is only skin deep. And indeed, a recent study found
that the most attractive qualities in a partner had little to do with physical appearance.
Instead, participants chose playfulness, kindness, and humor to be most important.

So what is it that really makes a person beautiful? What do you think?

VOCABULARY
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder = People have different ideas about what is
beautiful
Indigenous = Native; originating in a particular place
Desirable = Wanted or wished for
Ratio = The relationship between two numbers
Divine = Excellent; delightful
Exclusive = Restricted or limited
Consistently = Done in the same way
Obsessed = Constantly thinking about something
Captivated = Attracted by
Regret = Feel sad over something that has happened

A WORLD WITHOUT BEES

When most people think of honeybees, they think of honey. And while honey is
delicious, honeybees actually serve a larger purpose: pollination. Pollination is the
process of transferring pollen, which is necessary for many plants to reproduce.
Unfortunately though, the days of the humble honeybee might be limited.
Bees do a lot for humans. Of the 100 foods most consumed by people, bees are
responsible for pollinating 70 of them. This includes delicious treats like almonds,
apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy greens, and blueberries. But the impact of
bee devastation on our lives is far greater than being berry-less.

Bees pollinate about 90 percent of the food we eat, and as their population suffers, so
will ours. For example, honeybees are responsible for pollinating alfalfa, which is fed
to cattle. Beef, milk, butter, and cheese would all get more expensive with less bees,
perhaps prohibitively so. Its not just food either. Cotton depends on bees, too. And if
you are a beer drinker, you might have to say goodbye to that in the future, too. Hops, a
critical ingredient in beer, is also pollinated by bees.
Thats an awful lot of pollination. But now, bees are under threat, and no one really
knows why.
Its called Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. Its when beehives are simply empty of
worker bees no one is home except for a queen. It would be like cities all over the
world suddenly turning into ghost towns.
The current crisis isnt the first time that bees have gone missing in their 4,500-year old
history with people, but this time looks worse.
Bees are not just going missing. Hives are also getting sick, reproducing less, and
suffering from a loss of habitat. Plus, bees do best when they are pollinating from
a diverse range of plants, not just one, such as corn or canola. Sadly, this is not the case
for most commercial bees these days.
These factors lead to bees feeling sick, not living as long, and not producing or
pollinating as much. In winter, hives naturally shrink, and production and reproduction
slow down. Farmers normally expect to lose about 15 percent of their hives. But in the
current bee climate, up to 40 percent of the hive is dying. Often, they simply cannot
recover the following spring. Remember that this is a $15 billion industry in the US, and
farmers everywhere are concerned their livelihoods depend on bees.
There might be a simple solution though: plant flowers around fields. The rings of
flowers provide more diverse pollen for healthier bees, which in turn will make them
more resilient

to

disease,

pests,

mites,

and

other

stressors

which

are

currently exacerbating CCD.

And it hopefully means we get to keep snacking on blueberries, drinking beer, and
wearing cotton clothes.

VOCABULARY
Pollen = Powdery spores from flowering plants that serve to fertilize other flowering
plants
Humble = Modest; lowly; insignificant; down to earth
Devastation = Ruin; waste; destruction
Alfalfa = A plant of the legume family, often used as food for horses, cattle, etc.
Prohibitively = Preventatively; in a hindering manner
Hops = A vine-like plant used to give beer a bitter flavor
Habitat = The natural environment of a plant or animal
Diverse = Of many different types, kinds, and forms
Canola = A plant from which oil is derived for human or animal consumption
Resilient = Impervious; resistant; able to bounce back quickly
Exacerbating = Making worse
ICEMAN
Wim Hofs nickname is the Iceman, because he can withstand extreme cold and heat.
The 57-year-old Dutchman has broken 26 world records. He has run a full marathon in
the desert without drinking water. He has run a half marathon in the snow in his bare
feet. He has even climbed Mount Everest wearing only shorts. He holds the record for
the longest swim under solid ice at 80 meters at the North Pole. He has also broken the
world record for sitting in an ice bath up to his neck for 1 hour and 52 minutes.
The amazing thing is that he is not only able to endure the pain, but that he can control
his body temperature. The average persons body temperature will drop quickly. Just a 2
degree drop will cause people to begin to shiver uncontrollably and feel very bad.
When a persons temperature drops 10 degrees, the body shuts down and dies. When
Wims temperature was measured as he sat submerged in ice, his body temperature
only dropped .4 degrees.

Our blood pressure, our heart rate, and our body temperature are all part of our
autonomic nervous system. The word autonomic means involuntary or unconscious,
but these things are not involuntary for Wim. He can control his body through the power
of his breath and mind.
Wim also can control his immune system. In 2011, Wim was injected with a toxin that
causes people to have fevers, chills and headaches. Wim was fine. The doctors testing
Wim thought he was perhaps genetically different than the average human. Wim proved
he was no freak of nature by training 12 normal people in Poland in his meditation and
breathing techniques. After training with Wim, they showed less inflammation after
being injected with the same toxin. All 12 of them were able to voluntarily raise their
adrenaline, which suppressed inflammation in the body.
Doctors are cautious about these results. Is this a long-term solution to inflammatory
diseases or just a short-term result? Is it healthy to practice Wims breathing techniques?
There are many questions unanswered, but more research is planned. Wim says, I dont
want to give false hope to any person in this world, but he does believe that he
is paving the way for a future in which we can heal ourselves.
VOCABULARY
Withstand = Resist; be undamaged by
Endure = Experience something difficult for a long time
Shiver = Shake
Submerge = Be under water
Involuntary = Not done by choice or free will
Unconscious = Not aware
Freak of nature = A person or animal with an unusual physical shape or special natural
ability
Inflammation = Physical swelling of the body

Suppressed = Stopped or prevented

Paving the way = Making future progress easier

LIFE WITHOUT WIRELESS

Invisible rays are all around us, and most of us never even notice. In todays
technology-saturated world, its hard to imagine living life without a wireless
connection. But in one American town, wireless is actually illegal. Green Bank, West
Virginia is a small town located in the United States National Radio Quiet Zone. The
Quiet Zone is a 13,000 square mile area that protects two telescopes from any radio or
wireless signal interference. That means no Wi-Fi, no cell phones, no Bluetooth, no
microwave ovens, no TV, and even no radio is allowed in this area.
While many of us would shudder at the thought of pulling the plug on our cell
phones, laptops, and televisions, the wireless ban has attracted people who suffer from
electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Many of these people have decided to live in the town
to get relief from their condition, which causes severe headaches, nausea, pain and heart
problems.

Diane Schou is one of these people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity. In 2003, after
a new cell-phone tower was installed near her home in Iowa, Diane began to experience
an onslaught of negative symptoms. First came heart palpitations, then fatigue, nausea
and migraines. After learning about electromagnetic hypersensitivity, Schou set off on a
journey across the United States, looking for a place where she could escape wireless
signals. When a park ranger told her about Green Bank, Schou went out on a limb and
moved to the town, and she hasnt looked back. In Green Bank, she says, she can
finally live a life free of pain.
Living in Green Bank is no easy feat, Schou says. Coming to the town is a culture
shock, and adjusting to a world with little technology beyond electric lights and heating
is hard for many. But for people suffering from electromagnetic sensitivity, it is one of
the only places where they can find relief. Today, the town has become a gathering place
for a few dozen electrosensitives from around the United States.
While most of us couldnt imagine life in Green Bank, for the electrosensitives who live
there, its hard to imagine life outside of it. How long could you survive without all of
the conveniences of modern technology?
VOCABULARY

Saturated = Completely filled, charged or imbued with

Shudder = To shake from fear
Shudder at the thought = To be afraid just by thinking of something
Pulling the plug = Disconnecting an electrical device
Went out on a limb = Took a chance or put oneself in a risky or vulnerable situation
Looked back = Thought about the past
Feat = Act or accomplishment
No easy feat = Not easy to do

MESSAGE TO THE FUTURE

In 1914, Richard Platz, a 20-year-old son of a baker was hiking when he threw a
message in a bottle into the Baltic Sea. Little did he know that it would take over a
century before anyone would read his message. Earlier this year, a fisherman named
Konrad Fischer pulled the beer bottle out of the ocean.
The message in the bottle was mostly unreadable, but there was an address, which led
researchers to Richard Platz. Handwriting samples were compared, and they confirmed
that Platz was the author. These researchers tracked down Platzs granddaughter, 62year-old Angela Erdmann. Richard Platz died in 1946 before Angela was born, so this
message in a bottle was an amazing chance for her to learn about the grandfather she
never met. That was a pretty moving moment. Tears rolled down my cheek, she said.
If Richard Platzs message had almost completely degraded over the past 101 years,
how can we possibly send messages further into the future? Scientists at a nuclear waste
storage facility in New Mexico are struggling with this question. When it is full and can
no longer hold any more poisonous waste, it will be closed. The problem is how to warn
future generations not to open it.

This storage facility is 600 meters underground, but what if the people of the future one
day decide to dig there? Imagine ten thousand years into the future after
some apocalypse, when the history of our civilization is lost. Today the international
language is English, but language is always changing. We can barely understand the
English of just 1,000 years ago. How could we possibly communicate with a culture
that far in the future?
Communicating through architecture has been one suggestion. Fields of giant spikes
have been considered to scare people away, but that might backfire and encourage
people to explore it. Symbols have also been considered, but everything has the
potential for misinterpretation. Even a skull and crossbones, the modern symbol for
death and poison, was once used as a symbol of rebirth. The current plan includes a
message warning people to stay away in 6 languages, and a simple drawing of a
screaming man similar to Munchs famous painting, The Scream. Lets hope that people
of the future wont think the messages are a trick to hide buried treasure.
VOCABULARY
Little did he know = He did not expect
Tracked down = Searched for and found
Moving moment = Emotional moment
Degraded = Broken down
Nuclear waste storage facility = A place designed to store nuclear waste
Generation = A group of people that are close in age; generations are sometimes
grouped together in 30 year segments
Apocalypse = An event that causes massive destruction or damage
Barely = Almost not
Backfire = To cause an unexpected result that is the opposite of what was intended

NAME FOR SALE

How important is your name? For a lot of people, our names are part of our identity. Its
one of the first things we learn as a child. We receive it from our parents and we give it
to our children. For some people, our name defines us, but not for a man with a last
name you probably have never heard before.
Meet Jason Surfrapp, previously known as Jason Sadler. Jason says he never identified
with the last name Sadler. In fact, Sadler wasnt even his original last name. Throughout
his childhood his last name changed a number of times as his mother got remarried.
Jason took the last names of his father and later father figures, but he never felt they
were part of his identity. One thing that does define Jason is creativity.
In 2010, Jason started a business called iwearyourshirt.com. It was a simple business
with a simple idea. He sold his body as a human billboard. Every day, he would wear a
different t-shirt promoting a different company. And every day he would take pictures
and videos of himself and post them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Jason did this
until 2013 and turned his humble T-shirt idea into a million dollar business.
Jason didnt stop at turning his body into a human billboard. He sold his name. In 2012,
he held an auction offering to change his name for one year. The winner was
headsets.com, which paid him $45,000. Jason was now Jason Headsetsdotcom.

Why would any company pay him to wear a t-shirt or change his name? They were all
simple business ideas that anyone could do, but Jasons ideas were so original and so
creative that he was on CNN and lots of other national news programs. Headsets.com
said that they made $250,000 in extra sales from the publicity they got from Jasons
name change. The next year, Jason did it again and sold his name to a company that
makes a surfing application. Jason Surfrapp was his new name.
Jason isnt the only one to change his name for money. In 2005, the city of Clark, Texas
changed its name to Dish, Texas after making a deal with the satellite TV company
Dish. In exchange for the name change, all 201 residents of this small town receive free
satellite TV.
How important are names to you? How would you feel if someone wanted to pay you to
change your name or the name of your town?
VOCABULARY

Father figure = An older man who acts like a father to a boy or girl
Billboard = A large outdoor board showing advertisements often put up next to busy
streets

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES

James Harrison has saved the lives of over 2,000,000 babies. His blood contains a very
rare antibody called Anti-D, which has been used to create a vaccine for Rhesus
Disease. This condition causes the antibodies in the mothers blood to attack the red
blood cells in the unborn babys cells. Rhesus Disease was fatal for thousands of babies
a year until the Anti-D vaccine was discovered using James blood.
James amazing life-saving story started in 1951. At the age of 14 he had a lung
removed. During that 11-hour operation, he lost 13 liters of blood.
The blood he received that day during the operation was from unknown donors. The
next day, after hearing what happened he promised to become a blood
donor. James kept his word. He literally and figuratively rolled up his sleeves and
got to work. He has given blood nearly every week since the age of 18. Today, he holds
the world record for the most blood donated by one person.
His nickname is the man with the golden arm. This is not only for the amount of blood
hes given over his life, but also because of the miracle like effects that his blood has.
When a mother with Rhesus Disease gets the vaccine made from James blood, lives are
saved. One of these mothers just so happened to be his daughter, who successfully
gave birth to his grandson Scott after receiving the vaccine.
The rare Anti-D antibodies in James blood are necessary for making the Anti-D
vaccine. There are only 50 other people in Australia who have this rare type of blood.

James is in his 80s now and according to Australian law, he will have to retire from
donating blood soon. When that happens, other miracle blood donors will have to step
up.
People call James a hero, but he doesnt think its a big deal. Ironically, James has a
fear of needles and blood. He has never watched the needle go into his arm and always
looks away. This hasnt stopped him from donating blood over a thousand times and
saving the lives of millions.

VOCABULARY
Vaccine = A medical treatment that causes the body to produce antibodies to fight
disease
Kept his word = Kept a promise
Literally = Actually
Figuratively = Metaphorically
Roll up your sleeves = Prepare to work
Just so happened = Surprisingly was
Step up = Accept a challenge
A big deal = An important thing
Ironically = The opposite of what you would expect

IMAGINE YOUR FUTURE A GUIDED VISUALIZATION

I want you to sit up straight in your chair. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, and
relax. Im going to speak to you, and I want you to just listen and imagine. Do not sleep.
Just relax and imagine.
Right now I want you to think about your life. Think about your family. See your
family. Think about your friends. In your mind, see your friends. And think about your
job. See yourself working. And when you see all these things in your mind about your
current life, how does it make you feel? Take a moment to imagine.
Now think about a goal you want to accomplish in the next year of your life. It could be
a relationship goal, an educational goal, a personal goal, or a work-related goal. Think
about why this goal is important to you. How will achieving this goal add value to your
life? Think about it and see your goal in your minds eye.
Now I want you to imagine yourself going forward into the future: one week, two
weeks, three weeks. Go forward into the future. It is now one month in the future. You
have started on the road to success. What decisions have you made? What actions have
you taken? And how does it feel to be on the road to success?
Now I want you to continue going forward. It is now 6 months in the future. You are
much closer to your goal. You are starting to feel the benefits of all of your efforts. How

does it feel to be closer to your goal? What emotions do you feel as you move closer
toward your goal. Imagine.
Now I want you to continue going forward. It is now one year in the future. You have
fully accomplished your goal. You have achieved success. See yourself. What do you
look like? What are you doing? Who are you with? What are people saying to you? And
what are you saying to them. How does success feel?
Now I want you to look back on your success. Look back on the process of achieving
success. Look back on all of your hard work and effort. How did you reach your goal,
step-by-step. What were the little things you did, day-by-day, to achieve success? What
did you do at work? What did you do in your relationships? And what did you do
inwardly to achieve success? Take a moment to think of all the steps you took to
accomplish your goal.
And when you are ready, take a deep breath. Relax. Smile. And open your eyes.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Most of us take our breathing for granted, but we arent all lucky enough to live in a
place with clean air.
In Beijing, pollution has gotten so bad that breathing the air has become dangerous.
There are days when the smog is thick enough to block out the sun. On these days,
schools close and construction stops. People walk around the city wearing masks to
avoid breathing in the dangerous smog, which contains harmful particles from coal
power plants.
Some people in Beijing have started purchasing bottled air from Canada to avoid
breathing their own dirty air. They pay about $28 for a single bottle of fresh mountain
air. One bottle produces about 80 inhalations of air. Consumers say that the fresh
bottled air helps them to stay alert and to do things like exercise, which is very difficult
to do if youre breathing polluted air every day.
A recent study of air quality in China showed that over 80 percent of Chinese people are
exposed to unsafe air. In fact, air pollution is responsible for 4,000 deaths each day in

China. According to researchers, breathing Beijings air is like smoking a cigarette and a
half per hour, all day long.
While it might seem odd to bottle air, its not the first time this has been done. Inventor
of the lightbulb, Thomas Edison, had an interest in the chemical make-up of a breath.
When he was on his deathbed, several open test tubes were left nearby to collect the air
of his final breaths. The bottles were later sealed by his son. One was given to Edisons
pal, and fellow inventor, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company. Ford kept
this bottle of Edisons dying breath as a memento of his old friend.
For human beings, breathing is a symbol of life. When we witness something beautiful
or awesome, or are emotionally moved, we feel alive. We call these moments
breathtaking.
We often use phrases about breathing to help us describe how were feeling about
something. A breath of fresh air is a phrase used to describe things that feel new
and appealing. When were feeling sad we sometimes say were feeling deflated like
weve somehow let all of our air or life force leak out.
Notice your own breath now. Is your breath fast or slow? Deep or shallow? Take a deep
breath. Feels good, doesnt it?
VOCABULARY
Take for granted = Dont appreciate
Pollution = A harmful substance that contaminates the land, air or water
Smog = A mixture of smoke and fog; dirty air
Consumers = People who purchase goods and services
Memento = Reminder of a person or event
Moved = Affected deeply and emotionally
Appealing = Desirable; attractive
Deflate = Let air out of something

Leak out = Accidentally lose contents (gas or liquid) through a crack or hole

LIFE RISKING JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE

19 year-old Doaa is a Syrian refugee who decided to take a dangerous trip across the
Mediterranean Sea hoping for a new life in Europe. Her familys business was blown up
by a bomb during the war, and once, a man on a motorcycle even tried to kidnap her.
She lived every day in fear, and couldnt take it anymore.
Eager for a new life, Doaa boarded a boat with her boyfriend Baseem and 500 other
refugees. She was terrified to stay, but also terrified to go. Doaa had a fear of the sea,
and she never learned to swim. It was August, and that same year 2,000 refugees had
already drowned trying to reach Europe.
They were crammed on the old fishing boat. Doaa and her boyfriend sat with their
knees against their chests, holding hands. The third day on the boat, Doaa had
a premonition. She told Baseem she thought the boat would sink.
Then, on their fourth day at sea, another smaller boat approached the refugees and told
them to leave their boat and board the smaller one. When they refused, the small boat
began to ram them. Soon, the refugees boat had a hole in it. The crew of the other boat
yelled, Let the fish eat your flesh!

The boat carrying the refugees sank. The 300 people below the deck were doomed.
Initially, one hundred people survived and prayed together for help as they tread water.
Baseem, who was a strong swimmer, found a life ring for Doaa to use to stay afloat as
he held her hand. But with time, most of the remaining survivors grew weak and
drowned. Two dying parents gave their children to Doaa to care for. Even Baseem
drowned right before Doaas eyes. His last words were, I have never loved anyone as
much as I love you.
Doaa floated for four days without any food or water, holding two children before
rescue boats finally arrived.
Of the original 500 refugees aboard the boat, only 11 survived. Doaa and one of the
children she cared for were two of the survivors.
While so many refugees horror stories go unheard, Doaas story wont soon be
forgotten. One of Greeces most prestigious institutions gave her an award for bravery.
The media love to tell her story of survival. But her struggle isnt over. Doaa, like
thousands of other refugees, still dreams of bringing the rest of her family a safe place
in Europe.
Can you imagine being forced to risk your own life to find a safe place to live?

VOCABULARY

Refugee = Someone who leaves their home country because it is no longer safe to live
in
Kidnap = To take someone by force, against their will
Couldnt take it = Unable to tolerate
Eager = Strongly wanting; desiring
Crammed = Crowded; packed

Premonition = A strong feeling that something is about to happen

Tread water = To stay afloat by moving arms and legs in the water

THE MOST HATED MAN IN AMERICA

One of the biggest medical price hikes in history and the most expensive hip-hop
album in the world have both recently been in the news. At the center of both stories is
Martin Shkreli, who some have called the most hated man in America.
Martin Shkreli is the CEO of Turing Pharmaceutical. Shkrelis company recently bought
the exclusive license to make and sell a drug called Daraprim. Daraprim is a treatment
for a rare parasite infection that can affect pregnant women and their unborn babies, as
well as people with AIDS. A few years ago the price of one pill was about $1. In recent
years, the price rose, but it was still affordable. Before Turing bought this drug in
August, one pill cost $13.50. After Turing bought it, the price was raised to $750 a pill.
This was an unheard of 5,500% price hike.
This story of off the charts greed naturally went viral on the internet. Medical
associations sent letters of protest. It even brought together politicians from all sides of
the US presidential race in their criticism of Shkrelis business practices. Hillary
Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and even Donald Trump criticized this over the top money
grab. After all the uproar, Shkreli initially agreed to drop the price, but
later reneged on the promise.

Shkreli was recently asked if he could do it over, would he do anything different. His
answer was I would have raised prices higher.
Shkreli plans to repeat the same business practice of buying exclusive licenses for rare
diseases and hiking up the price. Currently, a 2-month treatment for Chagas costs $50 to
$100 dollars. Shkreli is talking about raising the price to between $60,000 and
$100,000.
And what does the most hated man in America have to do with the Wu Tang Clan, one
of Americas most well-known hip hop groups? Well, apparently Shkreli is a fan. In
another bit of odd news, the Wu Tang Clan recently created an album that you cant buy
in record stores or online. In fact, they only made one copy and they promised to never
make another. They auctioned it off to the highest bidder this past November. The
winner? Martin Shkreli. And he paid 2 million dollars.
No one knows if this story of greed can possibly have a happy ending, but there is some
justice on the horizon. Shkreli was just arrested for financial fraud involving millions
of dollars that happened when he was the CEO of another company. While he may end
up doing some time for financial fraud, sadly, his 5,500% money grab is still 100%
legal.
VOCABULARY

Price hike = Price increase

Exclusive = Restricted to one person or company
Off the charts = Much higher than expected
Go viral = News that spreads quickly
Brought together = United
Over the top = Excessive
Uproar = Public protest

Reneged = Broke a promise

On the horizon = In the near future
Doing time = Going to prison

ARMY OF NUNS
There are places on this planet full of turmoil, where armies wage war against each
other. But what many people dont know is that another kind of army exists, and they
dont shoot guns.
An army of nuns rescues victims of human trafficking around the world. They do this
by disguising themselves as prostitutes and laborers. Human trafficking happens when
people are taken against their will. Often, they are sold into sexual slavery or forced
labor. Its estimated that one percent of the world population, more than 70 million
people have been victims of human trafficking.
This

army

of

nuns sheds their

traditional

religious

clothing,

and

wears

the typical clothing of prostitutes or laborers. This disguise allows them to access some
of the most dangerous brothels and working conditions in the world. Once theyre
inside, they can help trapped and abused people escape. They work for as little as 2
cents a day to uncover abuses and help people escape. They also raise money to buy the
freedom of children and women whove been sold into sexual slavery.

There are more than 1,000 of these religious sisters working in over 80 countries. In
these places, some of the worlds most desperate families sometimes sell their own
children into slavery.
The nuns call themselves Talitha Kum, which means, arise child in Aramaic, an
ancient Mideast language. The phrase Talitha Kum is taken from a story in the bible
about Jesus bringing a young girl back to life.
Most people would say that the Talitha Kum religious sisters are modern day heroes and
that we need more people like them, but not everyone agrees. Christina Arnold, of
Prevent Human Trafficking, says that the nuns might actually be interfering with the
fight against trafficking.
People have their hearts in the right place, she said. But when the nuns purchase
children to save them from human trafficking they are actually perpetuating the trade.
When the nuns buy children, they are putting money into the very thing they are
working against. They are giving people who sell children a reason to keep doing it.
It sounds like a good idea but its actually a ludicrous one, she said.
What do you think? Are the nuns heroic or are they just making things worse?
VOCABULARY
Turmoil = troubled disorder
Wage war = go to war
Against their will = Without consent
Shed = To remove
Typical = Normal; average
Disguise = A change of appearance that hides someones true identity
Brothel = A place where sex is sold
Raise money = To collect money for a cause

Interfering = Intruding, interrupting

Hearts in the right place = With the best intentions
Perpetuating = To support, helping something to continue
Ludicrous = Crazy, ridiculous

KING OF THE SEWERS

Imagine entering a world hidden from the naked eye. From where you stand,
everything looks normal. Cars roll by, people cross the street, but then suddenly you see
a face pop up from underground. Just as quickly as it appears, it vanishes.
The face you saw could have been Bruce Lees. With silver-painted hair, hundreds of
medals that jingle when he walks, and a pack of dogs at his heels, hes called The King
of the Sewers.
Below the ordinary hustle and bustle of the city of Bucharest, Romania, hundreds of
people like Lee live underground in the sewer tunnels beneath the city.
Conditions in the sewer are far from glamorous, yet access to the underground
community is exclusive. No one dares to enter without first consulting their leader,
Bruce Lee, whose biological family abandoned him when he was just three. Hes lived
underground for more than 24 years. They call him Bruce Lee because he likes to fight.
But some also call him Dad because hes the only person theyve ever trusted.
An entire generation of orphans has grown up underground since 1989 when Romanian
orphanages closed after the communist regime was overthrown. Thousands of kids

found themselves alone on the streets, and many of them took refuge where the
steaming pipes kept the cold away.
Its almost unbearably hot, and music blares from every corner. The citys garbage
furnishes the tunnels, which run for about two kilometers. Lees section even has a fan,
a microwave, and a Christmas tree.
Police have tried to seal the entrances to the tunnels several times, but it never works for
long. In the tunnels, people have what they need to survive. But thats not the only
reason they stay. Here they feel like theyre not alone. Theyve found family, and for
many of them, thats what matters most.
Studies show that loneliness affects the same part of the brain that physical pain does.
So in a very real way, loneliness can be painful. Scientists say that because humans are
social animals, being part of a group is important to our survival. When we feel left out,
or like we dont belong, our bodies may sense a threat to survival, sending pain signals,
encouraging us to change our situation by seeking connection.
Loneliness can make it harder for humans to sleep, can cause dementia, and can cause
inflamed tissues around the heart to tear literally leading to a broken heart.
Lee says that someday he wants to save enough money to build a place above ground
for them all to show everyone else that they are people too. But for now, at least they
have each other
VOCABULARY
Naked eye = Natural vision without the help of glasses or other devices
Vanishes = Disappears
Jingle = A metallic ringing sound
Sewers = Underground tunnels that carry waste water to treatment plants or rivers
Hustle and bustle = Lots of sounds and activity
Glamorous = Fancy; charming; attractive

Exclusive = Only specific people are allowed to enter

Abandoned = Left behind; deserted
Orphans = Kids that dont have parents
Regime = Government
Took refuge = Found a safe place
Unbearably = Extremely, too much
Left out = Excluded from the group
Dementia = A mental illness that includes loss of memory and impaired brain function
Literally = Actually; really

MONOGAMY
Helen and Maurice Kaye met in 1929 when they were just teenagers. Fast forward to
2015 and the pair is now celebrating their 80th anniversary. Theyve been married
longer than most people on Earth have been alive. Through thick and thin, their
marriage has endured. They lost two children and survived a war and the bombing of
their house. After their young son died, Helen even thought about suicide.
And yet, their commitment to each other never faltered. Helen says she doesnt know
what the secret to wedded bliss is, but she thinks patience and tolerance are important.
Stories like these, are what movies are made of. Many people dream of finding someone
to spend forever with.
Yet,

couples

like

Maurice

and

Helen

are

becoming

rarer.

Divorce

is

more prevalent than ever. In many countries more than half of married couples divorce.
Take Linda Wolfe for example, shes been married 23 times. Shes the most married
woman in the world. Her late husband was a man named Glynn Wolfe, a preacher
whod been married 29 times. Linda says she loves the feeling of being in love. And
when that feeling fades, she looks for someone new.
Divorce is becoming more common every day. One out of every 2.7 marriages suffers
from at least one bout of adultery.
This leaves some of us wondering, are humans meant to be monogamous?
When it comes down to it, scientists say that only 3 to 5 percent of mammals actually
form life-long, monogamous bonds. Some of the most note-worthy are wolves, beavers
and bats. That means that if humans are anything like other mammals, a faithful spouse
would be unusual.

I dont think we are a monogamous animal, says Pepper Schwartz, a professor of

sociology. A really monogamous animal is a goose which never mates again even if
its mate is killed. Instead, she believes that monogamy creates social order, but its not
our natural state.
Many people would disagree. They might argue that failed marriage isnt a sign that
humans arent monogamous. Its a sign that two people werent right for each other.
Some even believe in soul mates like Anna and Boriz Kozlov who married, were
separated by World War II, and then found each other 60 years later and remarried.
For those of us looking for a soul mate, heres some advice. According to a study that
followed 130 couples over six years, Kindness and generosity are the two
best predictors of marital success. Researchers found that the more someone receives
kindness, the kinder they are to themselves as well, which leads to happier individuals
and healthier marriages. Nice guys and gals do finish first when it comes to long-term
love.
What do you think? Are humans meant to be monogamous?
VOCABULARY
Fast forward = Rapidly advancing in time
Thick and thin = Good and bad
Endured = Persevered; kept going
Commitment = Willingness to stay together
Faltered = Showed instability; wavered
Prevalent = Common
Bout = Case
Adultery = Cheating on a married partner by having a sexual relationship with another
person

Monogamous = Having only one romantic partner, either for life or at a time
Mammals = Warm-blooded animals that have hair and that produce milk, including
humans
Bonds = Strong connections
Faithful = Not cheating on your partner
Soul mates = Two people who have a deep connection
Predictors = Clues to the future

THE HUMAN LIGHTNING ROD

Against all odds, the remarkable Roy Sullivan was hit by lightning seven times in his
life. Roy was a park ranger working in the Shenandoah National Park when he was
first hit by lightning. He was standing in a tower in the middle of a storm when he
realized he wasnt in the safest of places. He decided to make a run for it. I got just a
few feet away from the tower, and then, blam! he said.
Roy was lightning free for the next 27 years of his life until one day in 1969. He was
driving down a mountain road when a bolt of lightning struck him through the window
of his car. Roy passed out, and the truck crashed. The third time was just a year later
when Roy was shot into the air after being hit while working in his garden. Amazingly,
just a month later, his wife was also struck by lighting. Then in 1972, Roy was struck
for the fourth time while working in a campground. This time, his hair was set on fire.
After four strikes, Roy was starting to get national attention and appeared on several TV
shows. He was given the nickname the Human Lightning Rod. Just a year later, Roy
was hit, once again lighting his hair on fire and once again sending him flying through
the air. Roy claimed he had dreamt strike number four and number five before they
happened, and when there was no follow-up dream, he decided that God was going
to give him a break.
God spared me for some good purpose.Its between God and me, and nobody but us
will ever know, he mysteriously said.
Apparently, he was wrong. Roy was struck two more times in his life. The last time was
while fishing in 1977. Roy claims that to add insult to injury, he had to fend off a bear
trying to steal his fish after the lightning strike.
Lightning striking a person is pretty common and kills 24,000 people a year. But your
chance of being struck twice are pretty slim. In English, we say lightning never strikes
twice to describe the unlikely chance of a bad thing happening more than once. Your
chance of being struck by lightning twice are one in 9 million. What do you think your
chances of being struck by lightning seven times are? If you guessed a number too high
to count, youre in the right ballpark. Your chances are 1 in one hundred decillion.
Thats a one with 35 zeroes after it.

100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
So what do you think? Was Roy the luckiest or the unluckiest man in the world?
VOCABULARY
Against all odds = Despite low chances
Park ranger = A person whose job is to protect national parks
Make a run for it = To run away from some danger
Blam = Sound effect for getting hit
Passed out = Lost consciousness
Give him a break = Stop being so harsh with him
Add insult to injury = Make a bad situation worse
Pretty common = More common that you think
Slim chance = Very low chance
In the right ballpark = Close to the correct number

CHRISTMAS TRUCE

During WWI, many of the British, French and German soldiers lived, fought and died in
trenches that snaked thousands of miles through the countryside. These trenches
were grim, dark places. They averaged 7 feet deep and 6 feet wide. On the Allied side ,
they were often full of mud, rats, and disease. The men lived in these trenches,
struggling to keep dry, stay sane and not get shot. The trenches of the enemy were
sometimes just 30 meters away, and sticking your head above the trench could easily get
you killed.
After five months of horrific fighting, suddenly peace broke out between the trenches.
It was Christmas Eve, 1914. It was a beautiful moonlit night, frost on the ground, white
almost everywhere, said Pvt. Albert Moren. The Germans sang out from their trenches
the song, Silent Night. When they finished, their enemies in the neighboring trench
cheered. The Allied soldiers then replied with the English version.
No shots were fired that night and in the morning they wondered if the peace would last.
At one point along the trenches, a German soldier held up a sign saying, You no shoot,
we no shoot. Slowly heads popped up above the trenches, and Christmas greetings
were offered from both sides in English. Nervously the soldiers came out from their
protective trenches. Leaving their guns and safety behind, they approached each other.
With hearts likely filled with a mixture of fear and hope, they shook hands. Some
soldiers exchanged small gifts of tobacco or buttons. Others played soccer upon the
battlefield. A pig was roasted by the British and shared with the Germans at one place.
The Germans rolled over a barrel of beer to the British in exchange. In another place a
German juggler performed. And at yet another, a British soldier got his hair cut by a
German barber.
Not all of the soldiers were at peace that day, but 100,000 soldiers did take part in the
truce. At some points along the trenches, the truce lasted only part of the day, and in
others, it lasted until New Years Day. For one brief moment in a horrific war, the
soldiers resisted the insanity of war and came together in celebration and peace.
VOCABULARY
Snake = Curve, wind

Grim = Depressing
Allied side = In wwi the allied side included britain, france, russia, italy, united states
and japan
Sane = Of normal mind; balanced; not crazy
Broke out = Suddenly appeared
Take part = Participate
Insanity = Mental illness

LAWNCHAIR LARRY
Becoming a pilot for the US Air Force was a childhood dream of Larry Walters. While
he never achieved that goal due to poor eyesight, Larry never gave up his dream of

flying. When he was 13, some weather balloons he saw hanging in a military surplus
store gave him an idea: What if I could fly with balloons? 20 years later, he finally
decided to give it a go.
In July of 1982, Larry bought 45 eight-foot weather balloons and a handful of helium
tanks. In the backyard of his home in Los Angeles, he then tied the balloons to an
aluminum lawn chair fitted with water jugs for ballast. He filled the balloons with
helium, put on a parachute and strapped himself in. He also grabbed his pellet gun, a CB
radio, and a few sandwiches. His idea was to reach an altitude of 300 feet, fly east
toward the Rocky Mountains and then shoot the balloons with his pellet gun to control
his descent.
As soon as Larry cut loose his makeshift craft which he named Inspiration I
he ascended far more rapidly than he had anticipated. He shot up to an altitude of
15,000 feet and drifted into the main airspace for Long Beach Airport. He was afraid
that if he shot the balloons hed lose his balance and fall out of the chair. He used his
CB to make a mayday call to the authorities. Larry tried to remain calm, knowing that
hed either fall to his death, be hit and killed by a commercial jet, or be arrested upon
landing.
After about 45 minutes in the sky, he finally summoned up the courage to begin
shooting some of the balloons, until he accidentally dropped his gun overboard. He
descended slowly. Eventually, his balloons cords got caught in an electricity line,
causing a neighborhood blackout in the city of Long Beach. In the end, Larry was
arrested and fined $4,000. He said,
It was something I had to do. I had this dream for twenty years, and if I hadnt done it,
I think I would have ended up in the funny farm.
Larrys dangerous stunt made the national news, and it wasnt long before others began
to mimic him. It eventually gave rise to the extreme sport of cluster ballooning, from
which many have died or floated away, never to be seen again. Little did Larry know

that the realization of his childhood dream would inspire so many others with the
same lofty goals.
VOCABULARY
Give it a go = Try something; attempt something
Handful = Several; more than just two or three
Ballast = Something heavy used to balance or provide stability to a ship or craft
Descent = Movement downward toward the ground
Ascended = Went up towards the sky
Anticipated = Expected in advance; predicted
Mayday call = A call for help in an extreme emergency, usually a life or death situation,
usually involving a boat or aircraft
Summoned up = Gathered up; generated; called up
Blackout = Loss of electricity
Funny farm = Mental asylum or psychiatric hospital
Lofty = High; noble

THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT

Preppers are people who believe the end of the world is coming, and you better be
prepared. What exactly is a prepper preparing for? Well, the word prepper is a catchall term. The modern day prepper might be preparing for a biblical end of days or an
economic collapse that results in chaos. Natural disasters such as tsunamis and massive
earthquakes are also common prepper fears. And of course, a terrorist attack is also a
prepper favorite.
How does one prepare for the end of the world as we know it, or as preppers like to
say, TEOTWAWKI? Well, of course, that depends on your specific vision of the end of
days, but most preppers advocate storing large supplies of food and water. And lots of
guns to protect that food and water when the shit hits the fan. This phrase is so
popular among preppers, they give it the abbreviation: WTSHTF.
Prepper Rodney Dial has gone to extreme lengths to protect his family for the end of
the world earthquake hes expecting to hit his home in Alaska. Hes bought a tank to
protect his wife and kids and has even used scuba equipment and welding equipment
to secure his supplies. Rodney has sealed weapons and food in water tight containers
and buried them in the most secret of locations: under the ocean.
Rodney Dial and many other preppers are DIY middle-class survivalists. But how
are the rich preparing for the end of the world? Well, apparently theyre not preparing
much at all, but rather paying others to prepare for them. Vivos Indiana is a luxury
underground bomb shelter in Indiana that offers all the necessities for the end of the
world. Designed for 80 people, it boasts leather sofas, theaters, gardens, and gourmet
food. For $35,000 a year or $25,000 a child for one year, Vivos Indiana is on the low
end of luxury with shared bathrooms and bedrooms.
The elite of the elite in the prepper world will have their eyes on Vivos Europa, which
will offer luxury private apartments, swimming pools and even a zoo underground in
Germany. No prices are available on the Vivos website for this option, but you can bet it
wont be cheap.

What do you think? Should you be more prepared for the end of the world, or do you
think preppers are a bunch of paranoid loonies?
VOCABULARY
Catch-all term = A term that includes many different varieties
Advocate = Recommend; support
When the shit hits the fan = When disaster happens
Abbreviation = A shortened version of a word
Gone to extreme lengths = Made a very strong effort
Scuba equipment = Tools for breathing underwater using air in tanks
Welding equipment = Tools for working with metal using a strong, hot flame
DIY = Do It Yourself; not relying on companies or others to do it for you
Survivalists = People who train and prepare for surviving the disasters
Boasts = Brags; talks with pride about something
Have their eyes on = Are looking at
Paranoid = Worried about things that are not real
Loonies = Crazy people

IS THIS ART?
Pierre Brassau burst upon the art world at a Swedish art show in 1964. The critics were
nearly unanimous in their glowing reviews.

Newspaper art critic, Rolf Anderberg gushed over the paintings of the unknown French
artist. He wrote, Pierre Brassau paints with powerful strokes, but also with clear
determination. His brush strokes twist with furious fastidiousness. Pierre is an artist
who performs with the delicacy of a ballet dancer.
Amidst a sea of praise for Brassaus four paintings, there was only one dissenter who
unknowingly hit the nail on the head. Only an ape could have done this, said the art
critic.
Pierre Brassaus real identity was a West African chimpanzee named Peter who lived in
a Swedish zoo. Brassau was the creation of a tabloid journalist named ke Dacke
Axelsson.
Axelsson wanted to see if the art world could tell the difference between modern art and
the work of a chimp. He persuaded a local zookeeper to let Peter, the chimp play with
paints. Apparently Peter ate more paint than he actually painted with, but he did produce
a number of paintings that Axelsson sent to the art show.
With the exception of that one critic, the art world was thoroughly fooled. Brassaus
biggest fan, writer Rolf Anderberg wasnt deterred though. Sticking to his guns, he
said, it was still the best painting in the exhibition.
Peter isnt the only animal artist to make waves in the art world. In the 1950s another
chimp artist also made a name for himself in England. At the age of 2, Congo the
chimp took an interest in painting and produced over 400 works of art. While you might
think that the work of a chimp would be a random mess, Congo was said to have a sense
of composition, symmetry, balance and color.
Congo died in 1964 but not before obtaining some success. Pablo Picasso was said to be
a fan and had one of Congos paintings hanging in his studio. In 2005, three of Congos
paintings were put up for auction alongside the paintings of Warhol and Renoir. While
the Renoir and Warhol works went unsold, Congos paintings sold for $26,620.

What do you think? Can animals create art? Click the link to see if you can tell the
difference between art made by a human and art made by a chimp.
VOCABULARY
Burst upon = Suddenly appeared
Unanimous = In complete agreement
Glowing reviews = Extremely positive reviews
Gushed = Gave high praise
Fastidiousness = Careful attention to detail
A sea of praise = A large amount of praise
Dissenter = A person who disagrees with a group
Hit the nail on the head = Accurately described the situation
Tabloid = A newspaper filled with gossip and unreliable stories
Deterred = Discouraged
Sticking to his guns = Refusing to change his beliefs
Make waves = Do something that gets attention
Made a name for himself = Became famous

THE POWER OF BELIEF

Eighty five year old retired doctor, Roger Bannister sold his old leather shoes for
266,500 pounds earlier this month. This was no ordinary pair of shoes. They are a piece
of history and a symbol of the power of belief to break down barriers. Roger was

wearing these shoes when he did what people in the 1950s thought was impossible: he
ran a mile in under 4 minutes. 3 minutes 59.4 seconds to be exact.
For years, the worlds top runners could not break the 4-minute mile. Some even
thought it was physiologically impossible for a human to run faster than that. One of
Bannisters running rivals, Australian, John Landry spent two years seeking to break the
record. From 1952 to 1954, he ran the mile at 4:02.1, 4:02.6, 4:02.8, 4:02.5, 4:02.7 and
4:02.3. After this last attempt he said: Frankly, I think the four-minute mile is beyond
my capabilities. Two seconds may not sound much, but to me its like trying to break
through a brick wall. Someone may achieve the four-minute mile the world is wanting
so desperately, but I dont think I can.
Meanwhile, Bannister, a medical student in England was working to break the same
record. Just two years earlier Bannister was the favorite to win the mile in the Helsinki
Olympics. He came in 4th. He was disappointed and defeated, but he didnt give up.
1954 was Bannisters final year of medical school. Even though he had only 45 minutes
to train each day, he did have a couple of advantages. Through his medical studies, he
knew that the body used less oxygen by running at a steady pace. And perhaps just as
importantly, unlike Landry, he believed in himself. He regularly visualized his
success as part of his training.
On the day of the race, Bannister waited for the wind to die down. His shoes were
specially designed to be light and he had even shaved them down further himself.
Everything was ready, and according to his plan, he paced himself perfectly running
around the track. In the last lap he exploded with a mixture of emotions that he
described as fear and pride. He collapsed as he crossed the finish line and the crowd
erupted in cheers.
What was once impossible soon became taken for granted. Breaking the 4-minute mile
is to this day an extreme accomplishment, but hundreds have done it, including
a handful of high school students. Even stranger, Landry, the man who previously said
he could not do it, ended up breaking the 4-minute barrier just 46 days after Bannister.

All he needed was a little extra belief, which Bannisters feat provided. What barriers
could you break if you believed strongly enough?

VOCABULARY
Break down barriers = Overcome mental blocks
Break the 4-minute mile = Run faster than 4-minutes
Rival = A person competing with another
Frankly = Honestly
Pace = Speed
Waited for the wind to die down = Waited for the wind to stop
Paced himself = Controlled his pace; didnt tire himself out in the beginning
Collapse = Fall
Taken for granted = Didnt appreciate, underestimated the importance or value
Handful = A small number
Ended up = Eventually happen
Feat = Incredible accomplishment

VISUALIZING YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS

Last week we talked about visualization and English learning. We learned about
basketball players who imagine shooting better in their minds and then they do better in
real life. This is a common experience in the sports world. We also talked about how
you can imagine conversations in your head. You can think of different situations and

imagine how you would start or continue a conversation. This is a very useful kind of
visualization but today we want to talk about a different kind of visualization. You could
call this Future Self Visualization.
Imagining your future self is imagining who you will become. Your ideal self. Your
most successful future self. This is not dreaming. This is deciding who you want to
become and then regularly focusing your mind on it. All success begins in the mind
with our ideas. We need to choose carefully what we focus on because this will affect
the speed and the direction that we move.
So what is your ideal image as an English learner? Is it being able to speak
smoothly? Is it being able to easily understand native speakers? Decide who you want to
become and imagine it in as much detail as you can. This is your future self. Make your
image as positive and bright as you can. How does it feel? This is your future self but
you want to feel it now as strongly as you can.
Before you can imagine strongly, you need to look deeply at yourself. What negative
ideas do you have that can stop you from being successful? What are your biggest fears
as an English speaker? What are your problem areas? Is it listening, speaking,
pronunciation, conversation skill, motivation? How do you feel when you have
problems? Embarrassed, shy, stressed? Think about it carefully. Now, I want you to
write your answers down. Next we need to transform these negative images into
positive ones. What is the complete opposite of these fears? Thats the future self we
want to visualize.
Lets look at some of the comments from Deep English members. One member writes,
I feel embarrassed and stressed when I speak in English. Ok, thats normal. But lets
look at the opposite of feeling embarrassed and stressed. The opposite is feeling
relaxed, feeling comfortable around English speakers, feeling confident as you
communicate easily.
Another Deep English member writes, I feel embarrassed when I make mistakes. Ok,
thats also normal. Whats the opposite of feeling embarrassed about mistakes? The
opposite is not caring about mistakes. The opposite is understanding that

communication is important. Mistakes dont make successful English speakers feel bad.
Successful English speakers are too busy communicating to worry about mistakes.
Now lets think about why you want to be able to communicate better in
English. Are you looking to meet people from other cultures? Are you hoping for a new
job? Do you want to travel the world with the confidence that comes with speaking a
global language? There are many reasons to learn English. What are your reasons?
Imagine yourself doing these things. Imagine the feelings of connection or adventure or
new opportunities that come with those experiences. Imagine this future but see it and
feel it like its happening now. Make your image as positive and bright as you can.
Ok, lets go through the 3 main points one more time.
One: Visualization is not just imagining conversation. Another kind of visualization is
imagining your future self, your ideal self, the most successful self that you can be.
Two: Before you start visualizing this, identify your fears. Then transform them. Find
the opposite and visualize it. This is your future self but feel it now.
Three: Think about why you want your English to improve. How will being more
fluent in English change your life? Visualize these new experiences.
Now of course, visualization isnt magic. We dont just imagine fluent English and then
magically were fluent. Thats silly. But visualization does work. Visualization does lead
to success. Why? We believe that visualization helps you connect with your potential.
Of course we have many potential futures.
We have the potential to be great.
We also have the potential to be lazy.

We have the potential to be powerful.

We also have the potential to be fearful

We have the potential to be successful with all our goals but we need to connect with
this successful potential in the mind first. Visualization is a great tool for connecting us
and guiding us towards our potential for success. Napoleon Hill, an expert in the
psychology of success once said, Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the
mind can achieve. Say that together with me. Whatever the mind can conceive and
believe, the mind can achieve. To conceive is another way of saying imagine or
visualize. Visualize strongly so you really believe it. And finally achieve. One more
time, say it with me. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can
achieve.

THE EUREKA MOMENT

Sometimes our best ideas come when we least expect them. For Greek mathematician,
Archimedes, this happened during a trip to the local baths. The king of Syracuse had put
him in charge of finding out how to detect fraud in the manufacture of a golden crown.
The king suspected his goldsmith was leaving out some of the gold and substituting it
with silver. As Archimedes relaxed, he saw that the more his body sunk into the bath,
the more the level of the water rose. He suddenly realized that the volume and purity of
the crown could be measured using water displacement. Silver weighs less than gold,

so if the crown wasnt pure gold, but actually a mixture of silver and gold, it would
displace more water. At that moment, he jumped out of the bath and ran home naked,
crying Eureka! Eureka! meaning Ive found it! Ive found it! To this day, having a
sudden flash of insight into a difficult problem is called a eureka moment.
The history of science and invention is chock full of eureka moments. Sir Issac
Newton, while sitting under the shade of a tree, was suddenly struck in the head by a
falling apple. In that moment Newton came up with the theory of gravity. Albert
Einstein, after many months of trying to solve intense math problems, let his
imagination wander. He saw a moving train being struck by two bolts of lightning at
the same time, one at the front and one at the back. He then wondered if a person
standing beside the track and a person on the train would see the strikes
as simultaneous. In that instant, the theory of relativity was born.
While we may never have the kind of grand realizations that Newton and Einstein had,
eureka moments happen to us all the time. Do you remember the last time you
suddenly got the punchline of a joke, or remembered a persons name that was on the
tip of your tongue? Thats a eureka moment.
Studies by neuroscientists show that the kind of insight contained in a eureka moment is
actually the result of a much longer creative process. We first use our analytical minds
to turn a problem over and over in search of a solution with no success. But when we
finally relax, give up thinking, and turn our attention inward, the insight suddenly
arrives. So the next time you are struggling with a difficult problem, maybe it is best to
be patient, do something relaxing, and let the solution come to you. Either that, or go sit
under an apple tree. Coconut trees are not recommended.
VOCABULARY
Fraud = Dishonesty, an attempt to deceive
Goldsmith = A professional who deals in creating things made of gold
Displacement = The act of moving something from its place or from its position
Chock full = Very full; in great quantities
Let his imagination wander = Relaxed and allowed himself to imagine freely

Simultaneous = At exactly the same time

Instant = Moment, extremely short period of time
Get the punchline = To understand the funny part of a joke
On the tip of your tongue = Moments away from being remembered

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AROUND THE WORLD

At first glance, everything seems ordinary. Sisa leaves for work at 6 am, wearing
traditional mens pants, ready to spend the day shining shoes or laying bricks. But most
people in the neighborhood know that Sisa has a secret. Despite the mens clothing and
shaved head, she is actually a woman. Shes spent more than four decades posing as a
man so that she could work alongside them.
Sisa was six months pregnant when her husband, the familys sole breadwinner, fell ill
and passed away. At this time, it was taboo and basically unheard of for Egyptian
women to work. The few who did work often faced intense sexual harassment and
discrimination. Instead, they were expected to remarry.

Sisas brothers constantly brought her new suitors. But she said that shed rather eat
dirt than find a new husband. So forty days after her husbands death, she shaved her
head, found mens garments, and committed to living her life as a man. Shes lived this
way for 43 years, and continues to do so today, saying shell die in mens clothes.
Many of us might be thinking, how hard would it have been to live as a woman back
then? What about today?
A 24-year-old male Egyptian actor, Waleed Hammad, wanted to know the same thing.
What is it like to be a woman out in public in Cairo, Egypt? Is Egypt really facing an
epidemic of sexual harassment like many activists claim?
He underwent four hours of make-up, plucked his eyebrows, shaved his arms, wore a
wig and dressed as a woman before hitting the streets. He also wore a hidden camera to
document his experience. What he recorded was shocking.
Within minutes of stepping onto the sidewalk, Waleed said he felt like he was under a
microscope. Men stared at him, made sexual advances and offered him money for sex.
Things took a dangerous turn when one man followed Waleed for more than 45 minutes,
grabbing his arm, begging for his phone number, and insisting on taking him on a date.
Waleed admits that he was scared, and says he cant imagine living his life like that
every single day, like so many women around the world.
Sexual harassment isnt an issue unique to Egypt. In another video from New York City,
a woman recorded herself being harassed more than 100 times as she spent the day
walking around the city.
In the US and Egypt, this kind of sexual harassment happens all too often. What about
in your country?
VOCABULARY
At first glance = At first sight
Breadwinner = The person who earns the money in the family
Taboo = Something that society says is not acceptable

Harassment = Pressure or intimidation

Suitor = A man who wants to marry a woman
Garment = Clothes
Epidemic = A quickly spreading disease or problem
Activist = Someone who fights to change the world for the better
Under a microscope = Examined closely

MAN DIES AND ELEPHANTS TRAVEL TO HIS FUNERAL

Have you ever thought about what happens to zoo animals during times of war? Most of
us dont think about innocent animal casualties. But thankfully, one South African man
Lawrence Anthony did. When the US military invaded Baghdad in 2003, Anthony
did what most people would never be brave enough to do. He ran into a war
zone instead of out of it, all because of his love for animals.
When the war started, he couldnt stand the idea of the animals dying in their cages. So
just eight days later, he flew from South Africa and arrived at the border.
With relentless begging, he convinced border guards to let him enter Iraq. His next
challenge came when he saw that of 600 zoo animals, only 36 were alive.
He found himself in the middle of a horror story. Animal carcasses were swarming with
flies. The zoos deputy director was in tears. Monkeys and baboons ran wild, while

escaped birds circled overhead. A bear had even killed some looters. The animals that
survived were mostly big predators like tigers, lions and bears. Now they too were
starving and traumatized. There was no food or water.
There are few things more dangerous than working with huge starving predators.
At first, Anthony wanted to give up. But with the help of soldiers from both sides of the
war, American and Iraqi, he stuck it out. Soldiers began working together who just two
weeks before had been fighting against each other.
Within six months, the zoo was finally restored. The surviving animals were healthy,
their cages were clean, and they had plenty of food and water.
Even though many people have never heard of Anthony Lawrence, he was truly a hero.
In his native country of South Africa, he became known as the elephant
whisperer because of the amazing way he connected with elephants. With only words
and gestures, he persuaded herds of elephants to stay on reserves for their own good.
He warned them that those who left the reserve could be shot. And incredibly, after
months of previously escaping, the elephants finally decided to stay.
When Anthony passed away in 2012 of a heart attack, the elephants showed just how
special and heroic he was. Two herds walked half a day to his home in a funerallike procession to mourn his passing even though there was no apparent way they could
have known he died.
They stayed for two days.
One mans heart stops and hundreds of elephants hearts grieved. How could this be
possible?
And how different might the world be if more humans opened their hearts to animals
like Lawrence Anthony did?
VOCABULARY
Casualty = War time death

Couldnt stand = (something/someone): hate (someone/something)

Relentless = Constant effort; harsh
Carcass = Dead animal
Looters = People who rob stores often during an emergency or crisis
Predators = Animals that hunt and eat other animals
Give up = Stop trying; admit failure
Stuck it out = Continue through difficulty
Whisper = Speak softly
Animal whisperer = Someone who can communicate with animals
Herd = Group of animals that move together
Reserve = A protected area for plants and animals
For their/your own good = For their/your own benefit. Its often used to describe an
event or action that a person does not like, but will benefit from.
Passed away = Died
Procession = People moving together in a line usually as part of a ceremony or festival

DEATH OF AN ANCIENT TREE

The oldest tree in the world died one day in 1964. Its name was Prometheus, and
Donald Currey cut it down. It was not only the oldest tree, but the oldest living thing
ever recorded. Currey wasnt an un-caring logger or farmer making room for crops. He
was a 30-year-old graduate student doing research into climate change throughout
history.
Trees are windows into the past. By studying the spaces between the rings that form
each year, we can learn something about the experience of each tree during that period
of its life. Was it warmer or colder? Was it wetter or drier? In this way, trees
are repositories of earth history.
Currey wasnt planning on killing any trees. He had a special drill to remove samples
from trees without cutting them down. That was the plan, but his drill got stuck in the
first tree that he found. This was an irreplaceable drill from Sweden, and without it, his
research would have to stop. Currey didnt know what to do and went looking for

help. A local park ranger told him, dont worry, there are dozens of these trees in the
park. Well just cut it down and remove your drill. Neither Currey nor the park ranger
knew that Prometheus was a special tree when they killed the oldest life form known on
earth. At the time, they had no idea just how old it was.
After retrieving his drill, Currey took a look at the rings inside. Each ring corresponded
to a year of the trees life. By the end of the day, he had counted 1,000 years back in
history. By the middle of the 2nd day, he had counted to 2,000 and he wasnt even halfway finished. By the end, he counted a grand total of 4,844 rings. This tree had lived to
nearly 5,000 years.
Currey was horrified. He was responsible for killing the oldest living tree in the world.
There was an uproar around the country and people called him a murderer. Currey
was apparentlyso disturbed, he stopped studying trees or anything living for that
matter. He spent the rest of his career studying salt flats.
Currey probably never let go of the past or forgave himself for what he had done. More
than 20 years later, he was being interviewed by a TV reporter about his salt flat
research, when he was asked, Arent you the Currey who cut down the oldest tree in
the world? Mid-interview, Currey turned his back and ran.

VOCABULARY
Windows into = Providers of knowledge, understanding, or insight
Repository = A receptacle for long-term storage
Irreplaceable = Difficult or impossible to replace; extremely valuable or unique
To have no idea = To not know, to be ignorant of
Grand total = Final sum of all parts
Horrified = Extremely shocked or frightened
Uproar = A noisy disturbance or anger amongst the masses

Apparently = Seemingly; appears that; thought to be

Salt flats = Flat and dry areas of land with a high salt or mineral content

MINING ASTEROIDS FOR WATER

The Martians were giants with the strength of twenty men. When they attacked Earth, it
looked like all was lost. The Martians were just too strong. Fortunately, their immune
systems were not strong enough to fight off common earthly bacteria.
Edisons Conquest of Mars is a science fiction story written in 1898 by Garret Putman
Serviss. The story starts as the war for Earth ends, and humans chase the aliens back to
their home on Mars. At the time this story was written, the writer couldnt imagine
things that today we take for granted, like radio communication. In his story, the alien
ships communicate with one another using flags. As laughable as that is, Serviss did
imagine one thing that looks like it will become a reality in our lifetime. On the way to
Mars, the humans stop off on an asteroid that the aliens are mining for gold.
Fast forward to 2015. A very real company called Planetary Resources is also planning
to mine asteroids in the future. They arent after gold though. Theyre
after platinum and water. And they have some very serious backers. Google billionaires

and Planetary Resources investors Eric Schmidt and Larry Page are betting asteroid
mining will become a fruitful reality.
Asteroids are minor planets in our solar system and there are millions of them. The
largest known asteroid is called Ceres. It circles the sun between Mars and Jupiter. It
was discovered in 1801 and it has a diameter of 963 kilometers, with a surface area
about the size of India. In 2014, scientists using a telescope in space made a surprising
discovery. Ceres contains watervapor.
Water, of course, is essential to life as we know it. As humanity begins
the colonization of space, raw materials like water have to be sourced. Scientists are
now developing technologies that will allow water from asteroids to be bottled in
containers.
Water is needed to sustain human life, but it is also a source of energy. Scientists at
Purdue University are developing a new type of rocket fuel, which is made from water
and aluminum powder.
The cost of taking water and fuel from Earth into space to allow further space
exploration is enormous. So finding water in space is a real game-changer. Will
astronauts drink bottled water from asteroids in our lifetime? And will they use it to
power their space ships to other planets?

VOCABULARY
Immune system = The bodys defense system against sickness and disease
Take for granted = Fail to see the value of something due to over-familiarity
Asteroid = A large rock orbiting the sun
To mine = To extract metal or minerals from the earth
Platinum = A silvery-white precious metal
Fruitful = Producing good results

Vapor = A liquid in gas form

Colonization = The act of creating a new human settlement in a different place
Source = Find; locate
Sustain = Maintain; keep up or keep going
Game-changer = Something new that changes a situation in a significant or profound
way

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Throughout his life, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus wore many hats. He was a humble
farmer, an aristocrat, and a member of the patrician class. He was given absolute
power over the people of ancient Rome on two occasions and voluntarily gave it up
each time. What made Cincinnatus famous in his time and a legend in ours is the
fact that he was an honorable man.
He was also a man of great wealth. However, Cincinnatus thought of himself as a
humble farmer. His greatest joy in life came from cultivating his land. As an aristocrat,
he never sought or asked for the power to which he was entitled. He reluctantly
accepted leadership when asked by the Senate.
The Roman custom in times of strife was for the Senate to appoint a single man
as dictator. The dictator would have absolute authority over the people and army of
Rome. Cincinnatus was named dictator when the Romans were losing a war against two
of their neighbors. He was ploughing a field when his call to arms came after the city
fell into a panic.

Cincinnatus successfully led the Roman army to a swift victory. After the battle was
won Cincinnatus was given a parade called a triumph through the streets of Rome.
The people wanted Cincinnatus to remain dictator and some wanted to make him King.
Cincinnatus refused the offers and after only two weeks gave up his power and returned
to his farm. Cincinnatus was called upon to become dictator for a second time 19 years
later. Once again the great man gave up his power as soon as his task was complete.
Cincinnatus lived out the remainder of his life living modestly on his farm. His bravery
and honorable character became the standard by which Roman leaders would be
measured for centuries. His actions are still considered the gold standard for leadership
around the world.
George Washington is often compared to Cincinnatus. Like his predecessor, he was a
farmer and was reluctant to retain power for any longer than necessary. Washington was
also asked to be king and like Cincinnatus refused. Immediately after his service as
president he returned to his farm.
Nearly 2,500 years after his death the name Cincinnatus lives on in the form of place
names in Europe and the United States. The most famous of these is Cincinnati, Ohio.

VOCABULARY
Wear many hats = Have many tasks or roles to perform
Aristocrat = A person from the highest social class of a society
Patrician = A member of one of the noble families of ancient rome
Cultivate = Prepare and use land for growing food or a garden
Senate = The state council of the roman empire, responsible for making decisions and
laws
Dictator = A ruler of a nation with absolute power and authority; tyrant
Plough = Break up the soil in a field using a tool so that crops can be planted

Call to arms = Request to go to battle to defend a country

The gold standard = The ideal state of affairs by which future states of affairs are
judged
Predecessor = A person that comes before the current person in a similar role

SEE WITH YOUR EARS; HEAR WITH YOUR EYES

We see with our eyes and hear with our ears. At least thats the conventional way to do
things, but no one is calling Neil Harbisson conventional. Neil is colorblind. Unlike
many colorblind people, who are unable to see just a few specific colors, like red or
blue, Neil cant see any colors except for grey. He has spent his whole life experiencing
the world as only different shades of grey. That is until recently.
Neil now has the ability to see using his ears. He has implanted an antenna into his
skull. Its not attached to a headband or a hat. The antenna is attached directly to the
back of his skull at one end, bends over the top of his head, and has a light sensor on
the other end. This light sensor records the colors and sends this information to a
chip embedded in his skull. The chip translates these colors into a sound. This allows
Neil to experience each color as its own unique sound. The red of a traffic light
translates into one tone, while the green of a tree translates into a different tone. In this
way, he has created a sound vocabulary for all the colors we see with our eyes.
Neils translation of color into sound has become so deep that it also works in reverse.
When he hears sounds, they translate into colors for him. When a telephone rings or a
glass breaks, he experiences these sounds as color. As an artist, this blending of sight
and sound has allowed him to create unique works of art. Neil is a trained musician, and
he creates sound portraits by translating the colors in paintings and photos into sounds.

He also is a painter and has painted all kinds of sounds including human voices. He
once painted a speech by Martin Luther King and another by Hitler.
The definition of a cyborg is someone who is part human and part machine. Neil
embraces his cyborg identity fully. He says, I dont feel like Im using technology or
wearing technology. I feel like I am technology. I dont think of my antenna as
a device its a body part. Some people believe that humans have stopped evolving,
but perhaps people like Neil are on the cutting edge of a new type of evolution.

VOCABULARY
Conventional = Normal; ordinary; standard
Antenna = Something used to attract energy waves and convert them to electric signals
Sensor = Something used to detect and capture various forms of energy (light, heat,
sound, etc.)
Embedded = Attached deep inside something larger; firmly sunk into
Blending = Mixing together
Device = A machine or piece of technology that has a useful purpose
The cutting edge = The most advanced and newest area of an activity, like science, art,
music, etc.