Mandela daughter recalls final hours
曼德拉逝世了。在这篇文章里，我们看到一个伟人临终时的场景原来也可以这么安静而温馨，没有悲痛的喧嚣，只弥漫着亲情的温暖。
Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe has told the BBC about the "wonderful" final hours of the former president, who died aged 95 last Thursday.
Ms Mandela said his wife Graca, the children and grandchildren were all there to say goodbye.
South Africa is observing a series of commemorations over the next week, leading up to the funeral on Sunday.
More than 100 current or former heads of state or government will attend the funeral or Tuesday's national memorial.
Emmet's Lullaby
Go to sleep, go to sleep my baby,
My baby, my baby,
Go to sleep my baby,
My baby of mine.
Go to sleep, go to sleep my baby,
My baby, my baby,
Go to sleep my baby,
My baby of mine.
Lower Your 2013 Tax Bill
美国是一个多税的国家，税法繁杂且多有变化，常常弄得纳税者头昏眼花。2013报税年将至，研习报税法又成了百姓的热门话题。读一读这篇文章，应该对了解今年如何报税会有帮助。
You might think that tax planning would be easier this year. You could be wrong.
On New Year's Day, Congress finally agreed to settle many unresolved issues, raising taxes for most Americans. But only one change was simple: the end of a two-percentage-point cut in Social Security taxes, which is costing wage earners up to $2,274.
Most of 2013's other tax increases are less broad-based and more complicated.
This year's code includes two new taxes, a new top income-tax rate, a new top rate on long-term capital gains and dividends, a new inflation adjustment to the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, and two revived tax-benefit "phaseouts." (See table on page B10.)
If You Must Talk Politics at Thanksgiving, Here's How
今天读到这篇文章觉得很有趣。北美最重要的节日感恩节将至，这是给所有喜欢谈政治人士的忠告；其实，其中不少规则也适用于过分喜欢侃侃而谈的人士；故收在这里分享。
On Thanksgiving, it's usually best if you don't talk politics. The subject tends to aggravate people, and it's very unlikely that anyone's mind will be changed. So don't do it.
But if you must talk politics, how should it be done? A lefty writer I follow is giving the subject some thought. "Every year there's a spate of blog/magazine pieces about how to discuss the political hot potato du jour with your crazy right-wing relatives at Thanksgiving," he writes at Mother Jones. "And every year they're fake. Mostly they provide stock liberal responses to imaginary conservative talking points." (For conservatives, the worry is how to talk with left-wing relatives.)
Isn't there a better way?
Butterfield's Lullaby
嗅着浓浓的乡土味，呼吸清新的山野气息进入梦乡，梦也一定是美美的。
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
gleaming bright;
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lakes, from the hills,
from the sky;
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then good night, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn
shineth bright;
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.
