Have you ever felt that there aren’t enough hours in the day? These days we have to do our jobs, look after our homes, save energy to help the environment, and do exercise to stay healthy! Like many of us, Alex Gadsden never had enough time. He ran a business and a home and needed to lose weight. So he decided to do something about it. He invented the cycle washer. The 29-year-old now starts each day with a 45-minute cycle ride. He not only feels healthier but he saves on his energy bills and does the washing too.
He said, “It gives the user a good workout. I’ve only used it for two weeks but I’ve already noticed a difference.” “I tend to get up at around six-thirty now and get straight on the cycle washer. I keep it in the garden, so it’s nice to get out in the fresh air. Afterwards, I feel full of energy. Then I generally have breakfast and a shower and I really feel ready to start the day.” The green washing machine uses 25 litres of water a wash, and takes enough clothes to fill a carrier bag. He normally cycles for 25 minutes to wash the clothes, and then for another 20 minutes to dry them. And it doesn’t use any electricity, of course. Mr Gadsden, the boss of a cleaning company, believes his machine could become very popular. With an invention which cleans your clothes, keeps you fit and reduces your electricity bill, he may well be right.

With the widespread availability of the internet and the development of social media, communication consumption has a decidedly personal character, (39) ______ the Spanish sociologist Manuel Castells calls mass self-communication. Apart from this, people have also studied computer-mediated communication since the technology first became available in the 1970s. Early studies focused on teleconferencing, and how interactions between large groups of strangers differ from interactions with known partners. (40) ______studies were concerned with whether communication methods lacking nonverbal cues could influence the meaning and quality of social interactions. Today, people have (41) _______ to both text-based and visual information, so those studies are no longer useful. Information is now (42) ______in many directions and methods, and audiences can vary from one person to many thousands. (43) ______, everyone with an internet connection can be a content creator and media source. As a result, social interaction has been becoming more individualized than ever before.

A school with no grades, no homework, no tests and no obligation to attend classes. That's the Brooklyn Free School, a learning institution that follows a 'free' education philosophy. Neither the school's head teacher nor the teaching staff, who are known as advisers, tell the students what to do. It's entirely up to them to choose what they learn and how they wish to learn it. This is based on the school's belief that learning only happens when it is self-directed and not imposed by others.
The school is only open to students from three to eighteen years of age. It encourages them to get involved in everything that concerns the school. In order to do so, students attend a Democratic Meeting where they have equal votes with the staff. This get-together is at the heart of the school's philosophy. Taking place every Wednesday, it gives staff and students an opportunity to be heard. Announcements are made, issues are raised and everyone cooperates for the well-being of the school. Attendance at the weekly meeting is one of the few school rules. Though some of the younger students don't pay much attention, preferring to read or draw instead, they must be present.
A typical school day is different for every student. They can paint, play video games or work on laptops. Some prepare for the school's annual play by rehearsing or building stage sets. In the kitchen, others might be baking a cake or sorting rubbish for recycling. Traditional classroom lessons are also available if students wish to attend. These are best for students who prefer a structured day along with a weekly timetable. By offering these choices, the school accommodates all needs. Being part of a group of classes on a regular basis fits some students best, while doing individual projects is what suits others.
Parents hope the school will make their children independent thinkers and problem solvers. However, the school's system has its share of opponents. Their main criticism is that it does not, in fact, adequately prepare students for real life. This is due to the enormous freedom students have, which can lead to laziness and lack of discipline. Furthermore, it's believed that the school's academic preparation is inadequate. This seems to be supported by the fact that there are parents who have had to hire private tutors to help to make sure their children learn the basics. Also, in its first academic year, a third of the original students left, as did the teachers. Since then, however, enrolments have increased and people are regaining confidence in the idea of self-regulated education and the school's mission.