The bigger brain doesn't mean more intelligence

At Einstein’s autopsy in 1955, his brain was something of a disappointment: it turned out to be a tad smaller than the average Joe’s. Indeed, later studies have suggested a minimal link between brain size and intelligence. It seems brain quality rather than quantity is key.

　

One important factor seems to be how well our neurons can talk to each other. Martijn van den Heuvel, a neuroscientist at Utrecht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, found that smarter brains seem to have more efficient networks between neurons – in other words, it takes fewer steps to relay a message between different regions of the brain. That could explain about a third of the variation in a population’s IQ, he says.

　

Another key factor is the insulating fatty sheath encasing neuron fibers, which affects the speed of electrical signals. Paul Thompson at the University of California, Los Angeles, has found a correlation between IQ and the quality of the sheaths.

　　

We still don’t know exactly how much genes contribute to intelligence, with various studies coming up with estimates rangingfrom 40 to 80 per cent. This wide range of estimates might have arisen because genes contribute more to IQ as we get older, according to a study published last year. By comparing the intelligence of 11,000 pairs of twins, Robert Plomin of King’s College London found that at age 9, genes explain 40 per cent of the variation, but by 17 they account for roughly two-thirds.

How could that be? Perhaps the genes affect how our brain rewires itself as we mature. Alternatively, they may dictate whether someone is likely to seek out stimulating experiences to help their brain grow and develop. “If we are predisposed to have a talent, we may actively seek out an environment to suit it,” says Thompson.

DIY decor creates a palace

Yukiko Murayama has collected more than 100 Starbucks mugs from around the world. The doll and toys are collected by her mother.

Home, for Yukiko Murayama, a Chinese-Japanese freelance writer, is a place where past memories and her present life coalesce. Growing up in Japan, Murayama came to China when she was 20 years old to care for her late mother who ran a film and TV production company in Beijing. Since then, she has spent one-third of her time in the three-bedroom flat her mother bought and furbished near Workers' Stadium in Beijing.

Hundreds of small cotton flannel toys her mother collected are displayed around every corner of the apartment.

"I'm a very nostalgic person," Murayama said. Since she loved Hello Kitty in high school, Murayama has a whole range of Hello Kitty in all sizes displayed on a bookshelf.

"To me, each one is a unique memory. For example, I got this one from Mum at the Hong Kong airport," she said, pointing to a bulky kitty with extraordinarily big head.

"And that one over there, with a flower on her head, was a birthday gift from my first boyfriend."

Although she is unwilling to abandon most of her mother's furniture, Murayama did feel it necessary to redecorate her study.

"The furniture in my study was so old-fashioned that I felt suffocated. I longed for an atmosphere that matched my own character and encouraged efficient work," she said.

Her decoration theme was inspired by the architecture of Paris, a perfect mixture of elements both traditional and modern. Although buildings in Paris are known for their Beaux-Arts stylism on the outside, the interiors are invariably modern.

"What appeals to me most is the transition from the external to the interior is so natural that people have no abrupt feelings. That really inspired me when I was designing the study," she said.

A modern black- and white-striped sofa, against a black flower pattern wallpaper, successfully creates a room with a modern classical style.

"Everybody said I was crazy to put black paper onto the wall. But I just love it. It is just the effect I wanted. And I'm proud of my DIY with the old items," Murayama said.

"Never throw away old things because they've been part of your life and you can always discover new possibilities in them."

The bookshelves covering one wall are tailor-made from Boloni, but without backboard, which Murayama said minimizes her damage to the forests.

She sprayed the crystal chandelier white and asked an artisan from Suzhou to come and upholster the old brown swivel chair in black silky leather.

The dedicated follower of fashion changed a smaller bedroom into a walk-in wardrobe, which displays all her dresses and shoes. A closer look reveals that all the shoes are aligned according to their colors, which helps her choose the pair that best accompanies any chosen outfit.

But above all, her transformation of her mother's bed is perhaps what the DIY fan is most proud of.

She added an iron frame onto the existing tall pillars at the four corners of the bed and decorated it with white fine gauze based on a model she saw at a curtain shop in London.

"Now it looks like a princess's bed," she said.

A master of fabrics, Murayama chose elegant purple drapery for curtains in each room, hiding the plain window frames. She also hung a pair of curtains that reach to the floor at the entrance of the long corridor that leads to bathroom and bedrooms, adding a regal touch to the decor.

She was also excited to show off her beautiful pearl blind at the entrance of her bedroom, which has no door.

The fabulous blind of pearls is used to separate the space. "Why should a door be a must? I don't like being blocked in. Rules are to break, aren't they?" she asked.

Official proposal argues big dogs have big hearts

Beijing officials recently unleashed a proposal to lift the ban on big dogs in the city.

It's unscientific, they said, to assume that size has anything to do with how dangerous a dog might be. This idea raised howls of protest among people who fear big dogs, but experts in canine behavior say they're right.

By sniffing around the Internet, it's possible to dig up lots of useful information about dog bites and the victims of dog attacks. The most horrific example of a dog attack was the fatal mauling of a six-week-old infant in 2000 by the family pet - a Pomeranian. The average weight of Pomeranians is about four pounds.

Some of the gentlest, friendliest, most popular dogs among families with children weigh at least 50 pounds, and include Labrador retrievers and Golden retrievers.

There are also many examples of big dogs, including some belonging to feared breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers, who performed miraculous feats of heroism to save children or adults from danger. Here are a few:

A two-year-old Rottweiler named Reona heard screams after the first jolt of an earthquake in California in 1989. She bolted out of the house, jumped three fences and barged into the home of five-year-old Vivian Cooper, who was standing terrified in the kitchen. Reona shoved the girl against some kitchen cabinets and held her there, right before a big microwave oven came crashing down from the top of the refrigerator to the spot where Vivian had been standing.

Blue, an Australian Blue Heeler, sparred with an alligator attempting to reach his owner, 85-year-old Ruth Gay, after she fell down behind her home in Australia in 2001. The gator finally gave up and lumbered away, allowing Gay and Blue to escape unharmed.

Jarod, a black Chow Chow, fought off a bear in Canada in 2008 that first attacked a dog chained in the backyard and then turned on their owner, Donna Perrault, when she rushed from the house to drive the bear away. Biting the bear repeatedly, Jarod got the animal's attention and lured him away from the yard, then ran back home to safety. All survived the attack.

Each of these dogs, judged on size alone, might have looked dangerous to some. But identifying dangerous dogs proves to be as tricky as spotting dangerous humans. Convenient as it would be to just lock away people who are likely to be dangerous, it isn't possible to pick them out until after they've hurt someone. It's the same with dogs.

There have been cases where even friendly, gentle dogs such as Labrador retrievers and Golden retrievers have bitten someone.

A study of dog bites in the US and Canada showed that boys between the ages of five and nine were most likely to be the victims; that 61 percent of attacks happened at home or in a place familiar to the dog; and that 77 percent of the dogs bit someone who belonged to their own family, or a friend of the family.

Strangers have nothing to fear from a dog passing by in a park or on the sidewalk. Only those who provoke a dog or invade its home territory uninvited are at risk.

Anyone who has been to European countries has seen even huge dogs peaceably accompanying their owners almost everywhere, even to cafes and markets. Here in Beijing, the small dogs most people own already exhibit good manners in public, mostly ignoring strangers and approaching someone only if invited in a friendly way.

So fear not, Beijingers. Big dogs, kindly treated, are no threat to anyone. As long as the members of their human families know how to behave, nobody will get bitten.

Everybody goes kungfu bill fighting, until they get smart

As I stuffed that last remains of sweet and sour chicken into my mouth, I proudly turned to my Chinese friends to declare that I was full.

But no one was paying attention to me. Instead they were all suspiciously eyeing each other while their hands fumbled around in their respective bag or pockets.

One friend across from me slowly inched toward the edge of his seat; his legs tense and his hands on the table ready to spring from his seat at a moment's notice. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as my friend across the way made the first move.

Soon, everyone was jumping from their seat, money in hand, in a wild race to the payment counter. There was grabbing, pushing and shouting as they made their way to the counter but soon the initial crowd thinned to just my friend and another burly young man. They both reached the counter at the same time and thrust their handful of money at the calm waitress.

"I'm going to pay, so put your money away," the burly boy said in a heightened tone.

"No! Stop being polite and let me pay," my friend also forcefully said.

In the end, the burly boy paid as his longer arms enabled him to outreach my friend to the waiting hands of the waitress.

I was a little shocked until I realized that I had just witnessed a prime example of Chinese bill fighting, the epitome of Chinese hospitality. I was just lucky none of my friends had been drinking.

One time, I was enjoying dinner with some colleagues when we were interrupted by an extravaganza of drunken bill fighting. For those who have never seen drunken bill fighting, it is a sight to behold. On this occasion, at a nearby table, a group of friends were enjoying the moment that only countless bottles of Beijing's beloved Erguotou can provide. When it came time for them to pay the bill, three men got up in an effort to pay. One man quickly slumped back into his chair, obviously over-inebriated, but his two friends continued to stumble toward the counter. Finally, after a few steps, they became entangled in each other's arms. A slurred shouting match ensued for a few seconds until one of the men found his balance and threw the other to the ground.

"I will pay!" he shouted as he staggered off.

By no means is bill fighting a negative thing, but at times, like many other customs, it can get out of hand when alcohol gets involved.

I myself have tried my hand at bill fighting a number of times, but most of the time I fare rather badly. In part, this is because I am a teacher and as the custom goes, a student should always pay for their teacher. With my closer Chinese friends we usually take turns paying or go Dutch, but in a more formal setting, I often find myself getting held back if I try to pay the bill, even if I am the one that invited everyone to eat.

So I have had to devise my own tactic when it is appropriate for me to pay to avoid the awkward bill fighting described above.

The key is a well-timed bathroom break, and by well-timed, I mean in the middle of the meal. No one will suspect you are going to pay the bill and you will meet no resistance.

When you excuse yourself, calmly walk over to the waiter and ask where the bathroom is. When they point the way, ask them to follow you and quietly ask them to prepare the bill and instruct them only to give it to you.

After your visit to the bathroom the waiter should have the bill ready and you can discreetly slip him the money and then go back to your seat, confident that not only have you finally paid the bill after fifty failures, but that you can avoid the whole bill fighting scene.

Your guests will be quite impressed when you let out a sly smile as the waiter gives back the change and you tell them the bill is already paid.

Oh, and don't worry about the waiter. They are sure to understand immediately that you are just getting a jump on the race to pay the bill. In war, they would call it a pre-emptive attack. But if you want to successfully pay the bill you are going to have to engage in a little bit of...pre-emptive bill paying.

45 lines should know and Remember

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.、

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Always have something beautiful in you

Some peopledon't feel great about the way they look, so they just hide themselves and feel awful. Well, read on and become confident in your looks.

1. Remember that what people think of you doesn'tmatter a bit. The important is what you, and only you, think of yourself.

2. Be natural when made up

Although makeup can do wonders for a person, it can make you look fake or tacky if done the wrong way. Remember, less is more when it comes to makeup, and if you really know how to do it, it will make you moreglamorous on the outside.

3. Accept the way you are.

No matter ifyour hair is curly, straight, wavy or if you're skinny or fat.Whatever you are, you will always have something beautiful inyou.

4. Just because you are confident in yourselfdoesn't mean you must be cocky. Always be kind to people and makethem feel good around you, because that's what makes you trulyattractive.

5.Get a new wardrobe.

Stop, look atyour wardrobe and think is that the style I want? Do I like wearing these clothes? Depending on the answers, you could go outand buy new clothes that suit you and your style, clothes that makeyou feel comfortable and good-looking.

6. Know that skin and hair care are really important.

Make sure to always clean your skin. Wash your hairtwice a week and make sure it really smells good.

7. Pamper yourself.

Take a bubblebath, splurge on a new perfume or outfit, get a manicure. If youset aside some time out of your busy week to do these things, you will feel good, and when you feel good, you feel more confident.

8. Let yourself know how beautiful you are.

Stop in front of the mirrorand smile, see how good you look with your new clothes and niceskin and hair, tell you how pretty you look, how smart and good-looking you are. Look at photos of yourself. Often this willgive you a kinder perception of the person you reallyare.

9. Don't try to be someone you're not; be your ownbeauty.

10. Having "inner beauty" is just as important asbeing outwardly beautiful. Being beautiful on the inside will showyou are a very special girl not worth losing.

3 steps to make full use of your time

Step 1: Find a place to sit without distractions. Think about what is important to you then get your paper and pencil and make a list. This list should include things that you would like to accomplish. Keep it short.

Step 2: Make a realistic deadline. Put some time aside every day to work toward your goal. It doesn't have to be much--maybe only an hour. The important thing is that for that hour you focus solely on completing your task, nothing else should be on your mind. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish when you focus.

Step 3: Don't be too hard on yourself. If you focus only on your failures or tasks that you still need to accomplish, you'll get overwhelmed and/or depressed and you'll never accomplish anything.