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For example, several years ago, Bethlehem tried spacing out its stops, says Mannella. The parents were unhappy, expressed as much and, within three days, the routes were back to normal. "You can say' we are going to save $100,000 by not stopping at every house,' but parents don' t want their kids walking," Mannella says. As you'd expect, this is especially true in bad weather.

As a student in the 1980s, we walked to our stops. The neighborhood wait-spot was a good quarter mile away. Parents didn't make a fuss (大惊小怪), and no child was injured. In fact, the walking was good — it woke us up each morning. Not to mention, the sense of community that came with hanging out together each morning waiting for bus No. 23 to roll up and take us all to school.

Thing is, a lot has changed since the 1980s. Too many people are texting and driving, making them as dangerous on the roads as drunken drivers. And, with reduced work forces at many companies, parents often work longer hours, meaning they aren't around to guard their kids to and from stops like many parents did when we were growing up.

So I'll give them an understanding pass on not wanting their children to walk a mile each way to get to and from school. I can't agree with the complaints of having kids walk to a community neighborhood stop, though. If you worry they're going to be cold, get them a hat. If you fear they may miss the bus, send them bout the door five minutes earlier.

"It's unstoppable," said Mr. Ruprecht, a former dairy farmer. "We speak about the warmth of Mother Nature, but nature can also be vicious and wild and unforgiving."

Australia' s hellish (地狱的) fire season has come to an end, but its people are facing more than a single disaster. With floods destroying homes not far from where fires recently spread, they are facing a cycle of what scientists call "compound extremes": one climate disaster strengthening the next.

Warmer temperatures do more than just dry out the land. They also heat up the atmosphere, which means clouds hold more moisture (水汽) for longer periods of time. So droughts get worse, giving way to fires, then to heavy rains that the land is too dry to take in.

Many Australians in disaster areas complain that their government, after paying little attention to climate change for years, has not yet to draw up recovery plans that are clear and that take future risks into consideration.

At the same time, the economic costs of a changing climate are rising quickly. Philip Lowe, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, warned recently that Australia was already paying a price, and that it would only go up.

There were hundreds of Chinese waving flags to support Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would soon take gold by defeating Croatia's Donna Vedic in the women's singles tennis final.

As she lay down on the dirt, eyes skyward and fists extended into the Paris haze, the win's gravity seemed to register: This was China's first-ever Olympic gold medal in this sport. When talking about the Olympics, Zheng said, "I treated the Games differently —the emotion, the fight, the mentality. If you asked me to stay three more hours to fight, I could do it."

Born in 2002, Zheng started playing tennis at age seven. At age eight, she moved alone for better coaching. Since adolescence, she has deeply admired Chinese athletes, such as the tennis star Li Na, who joined in the 2008 Beijing Games, and the runner Liu Xiang, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.

"It was really tough," Zheng said, looking back at those early days. "My mom used to come visit on weekends. When she left, I would hold her leg and cry. After 13, she decided to stay with me full-time to let me have better growth and care. After that, it got easier. And we moved to Europe when I was 17."

In Paris, Zheng performed exceptionally well on her road to gold, including toppling world number one Iga Swiatek. "With Iga, I was clear," Zheng said. "I know why I lost to her before. I played rushed, made too many unforced errors, and wanted to hit faster than her. I wanted to prove my power. But in these Games, I didn't think like this."

Zheng is conscious, too, of the effects that her milestone achievement in Paris will have. As we wrapped up our chat, she said softly, "I was reading comments last night and some of them really make me feel proud. If you watch my tennis and it brings you some extra strength in your life, that will make me happy."

Snow-capped peaks and powdered steeps; sparkling lakes and rushing waterfalls; challenging hiking routes and inviting restaurants — Whistler's offerings suit every season.

Things to do

The entire town displays the ski-chic atmosphere, hosting dozens of ski and snow board competitions and festivals annually. In the warmer months, more outdoor enthusiasts come out to play. Visitors can try hiking or cycling up the mountains. While Whistler is an ideal vacation spot for the active types, other travelers can enjoy the local museums and art galleries filled within formative exhibits. Plus, there are family-friendly activities and attractions like summer concerts, along with plenty of shopping options.

When to visit

The best times to visit Whistler are from June through August and between December and March.

How to get around

The best ways to get around Whistler are on foot or by bike. Or, you can take the shuttlebuses from Whistler Village, which transport visitors to Lost Lake Park and the Marketplace. Meanwhile, having a car will allow you the freedom to explore top attractions like Whistler Train Wreck and Alexander Falls without having to spend a lot of cash on a cab.

What you need to know

●Whistler receives feet of snow each year. If you're driving in winter, slow down and make sure to rent or come with a reliable SUV.

●Snowslides are likely to occur on Backcountry routes, so only advanced skiers should take to this off-the-map area.

●Whistler's wilderness is home to many black and grizzly bears. Keep your distance and do not feed them.

注意：1.词数80左右；2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Wang Wei,

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Yours,

Li Hua