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If there was to be a praise to the frog, it would have to contain one new piece of information: its ability to predict earthquakes. A scientific study has suggested that they escape an area just before such disaster strikes. 

The evidence, published yesterday in the Journal of Zoology, centers on a population of breeding（繁殖） frogs in Italy. It seems that, a few years ago, these creatures had suddenly escaped from their home five days before an earthquake struck their breeding ground. 

The frogs' ability to sense the earthquake is not fully understood, but 96 percent of male frogs escaped and returned a day after the danger had passed. This discovery baffled Dr. Rachel Grant, who hadn't set out to learn about frogs' reactions to earthquakes, but to study the effect of the lunar cycle on them. She now believes that frogs may be able to sense some signs and use them as an early-warning system for earthquakes.

Frogs are not the only creatures born with an unusual power to predict natural disasters. In 2004, elephants in Thailand made loud noises before the tsunami hit, while bats in Sri Lanka flew around in anxiety before the disaster. 

While most of these animal warnings have been ignored, there are times when they have been noticed. In 1975, scientists in Haicheng, China, noticed unusual behavior in the city's dogs and cats. They demanded the evacuation of the city, expecting a major disaster. Their warning came five-and-a-half hours before an earthquake struck, resulting in 2, 000 deaths. Without the evacuation, another 150, 000 people could have been killed.

"There are things we can't see and sounds we can't hear. But many animals can. There is a sense called electro-perception that fish and sharks use to form a picture around them, while dolphins and bats use sonar to find their way around, " says Professor Daniel Mills, an expert in animal behavior at Lincoln University.

There are times in life when we don't have the energy to get through our problems or the strength to push ahead. That's when our friends carry us. They remind us that we are not alone — they stand with and comfort us. Even when some friends don't always know how best to help, they want to be there for us.

Author Parker J. Palmer in his book,Let Your Life Speak, shares about the time he was battling depression（抑郁）. He recalls that some people who visited him tried to cheer him up. "It's a beautiful day. Why don't you go out and soak up some sunshine and look at the flowers?" Although he understood their purpose, it made him more depressed. Others reminded him that he was a teacher and writer who had helped so many people. "Try to remember all the good you've done and surely you'll feel better. " That advice, too, left him depressed.

Then there were those who had the courage to stand with him in simple and healing ways. One was a guy named Bill who asked Parker's permission to visit him in the afternoons. Bill would sit Parker in the chair, kneel in front of him, remove his shoes and socks and for half an hour, massage（按摩） his feet. Bill had found the only place in Parker's body where he could still experience feelings and reconnect with the human race. Bill would simply do this and say very little. When he talked, he would not give advice but mirror Parker's feelings. This simple act of care was what carried Parker through his dark time.

We are thankful for the friends who sit with us in easy and healing ways. And we are thankful for the opportunity to be that friend, to offer our presence to those who are hurting, sick, battling depression, suffering great pain and more. May the pathways of love, patience and kindness lead us to friends who are suffering. And once there, even if we are unsure of what to do, we can simply be present. 

Street art is always something I look out for when I travel. At the very beginning, street art was a means to share social comments or political ideas, but now it's increasingly used in many places around the world to beautiful the environment, sometimes becoming popular tourist attractions. Here's my collection of street art around the world.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

My hometown has plenty of fantastic street art. You can find some cool pieces in the Jordaan neighborhood and in the North and West parts of the city. One place you absolutely have to visit in Amsterdam is the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam North. This museum houses huge murals created by artists from around the world in an old industrial warehouse, and is a rich addition to the Amsterdam street art scene. 

Bristol, United Kingdom

The birthplace of Banksy, one of the world's most famous street artists, Bristol is another of the world's great street art cities. You can find street art across the city on buildings, streets and bridges. The annual Upfest, in the Bedminster suburb, during which artists from around the world are invited to create street art on houses and buildings, is a popular attraction.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro also has a fantastic street art scene. For the 2016 Olympic Games, the city invited famous Brazilian street artist, Kobra, to create the world's biggest mural along the Olympic Boulevard. The result is simply amazing! Click here to see street art in Rio de Janeiro, or my photos of Rio de Janeiro.

内容包括：1.活动地点；2.活动概况(如写春联、包饺子)；3.活动意义。

注意：1.词数100词左右；2.标题自拟，不计入总词数。

春联Spring Festival couplets