English

1. Modern Lifestyle

2. Unusual journeys

Nerina Klein’s Blog:

During my 35 years as a travel writer. I've visited more countries than I can count. I’ve backpacked through Asia, cycled through Europe, driven across Africa, but I've never explored my own home. Australia. So the time has come to put this right. Over the next six weeks, I'm planning to cover as much of the outback as I possibly can in a secondhand four-wheel drive, and I'll be accompanied by my two grandchildren. They, unlike me, want to get to know their own country before they start exploring the rest of the world. What follows is a diary of our travels and adventures. I hope it inspires people to leave the coast and find out what the real Australia is all about.

We camped out last night near the best place to watch the sunrise After a few drinks and an hour or two of looking at the stars, we turned in and got some sleep before the climax of our six week trip: our first glimpse of Uluru (Ayer’s Rock)

In the last five and a half weeks we've seen and done some amazing things We’ve been blinded by the salt lakes of Curara Soak, we’ve relived history in the goldfields of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, we've been guests at the campfires of Aboriginal communities. But nothing compares to the spectacular sight of the famous Uluru, shining purple in the light of dawn. Over the years I've heard plenty of people talk about the wonderful changing colours of the Rock, but until you see it yourself, it's impossible to imagine. We were absolutely spellbound

We spent a good part of the day walking the 9.4 kilometres around the base of the Rock It's well worth it. The caves and rock art are fascinating. If you get a chance to join one of the tours given by the Anangu guides, do it. They explain everything about Uluru and all its sacred sites.

At sunset, we settled down to watch the Rock turn red against the darkening sky and planned the last leg of our trip - 450 kilometres across the desert to the modern town of Alice Springs.

We talked about all the incredible friends we've made during our trip and about the things we’re going to miss once we leave the bush behind.

3. Unusual homes

A house built on a rock on the river Drina is seen near the western Serbian town of Bajina Basta, about 99 miles from Belgrade, on May 22, 2013. The house was built in 1968 by a group of young men who decided that the rock on the river was an ideal place for a tiny shelter, according to the house's co-owner, who was among those involved in its construction.

An airplane house in the village of Miziara, Lebanon, on May 12, 2015. Miziara prides itself on building residential homes that resemble ancient Greek temples and Egyptian ruins, or this one, built in the shape of an Airbus A380.

Thierry Atta have house built in the shape of a crocodile in Ivory Coast's capital Abidjan, on September 11, 2008. Atta was an apprentice of the artist Moussa Kalo who designed and built the house but died two months previous.

4. Luck stories. Superstitions

Frane Selak (born June 14, 1929) is a Croatian music teacher who has allegedly escaped death seven times, and afterward won the lottery in 2003, prompting journalists to dub him "the world's luckiest man", and "world's luckiest unluckiest man".

In 1962 his train fell into a river. He was in a plane crash. His bus fell into a river. He had a car accident in the mountains. He was hit by a bus. He was burnt at a petrol station. And after that he won the lottery.

In Britain, there are many superstitions connected with cats Black cats are good-luck animals, and you should welcome them into your house. A black cat sitting outside your front door means that you will be rich, and you will be very lucky if you see a cat sneeze. However, if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck. The bad luck will go away if you walk backwards or spit on the ground in front of you.

5. Advertising. Hard sell

Hard sell- Advertising and sales practices denoted by aggressive or forceful language. A hard sell is designed to get a consumer to purchase a good or service in the short-term, rather than evaluate his or her options and potentially decide to wait on the purchase. It is considered a high-pressure technique.

Determining whether to use a hard sell technique versus a soft sell technique, in which a campaign is more subtle in the delivery of its message, may come down to the type of product being sold and the type of person it is being advertised to. A hard sell technique used to sell a car, for example, might focus on the limited availability of the particular model, how other people are waiting to purchase the vehicle and how prices might increase if the consumer walks off the lot.

6. Life changes

JK Rowling was born in Bristol on July 31s'. 1965. After graduating from Exeter University, she worked as a translator and researcher for Amnesty International in London. But she wanted to take a new direction and she moved to Portugal. There she embarked on a new career as an English teacher and fell in love with a Portuguese journalist. But their marriage ended in divorce and the couple went their separate ways. Rowling suddenly found herself at a crossroads. Should she stay in Portugal and continue teaching or return to the UK? She decided that it was time to move on. She went back to Edinburgh with her baby daughter, and that's where her life took an unexpected turn. For years, she had had an idea for a book, and she now completed Harry Hotter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The book took off immediately and when Hollywood bought the film rights to Harry Potter, there was no turning back.

7. Modern mass media

Mass media (that is, the press, the radio and television) play an important role in the life of society. They inform, educate and entertain people. They also influence the way people look at the world and make them change their views. Mass media mould public opinion. Millions of people in their spare time watch TV and read newspapers.

Everybody can find there something interesting for him. On the radio one can hear music, plays, news and various discussions or commentaries of current events. Multiple radio or TV games and films attract a large audience. Newspapers are used in different ways, but basically they are read.

There is a lot of advertisment on mass media. Some of the TV and radio stations and newspapers are owned by different corporations. The owners can advertise whatever they choose.

But it is hardly fair to say that mass media do not try to raise cultural level of the people or to develop their artistic taste. Mass media brings to millions of homes not only entertaiment and news but also cultural and educational programs.

8. Consumerism. The shopping basket. E-shopping

The nation s shopping basket not only contains items of food. It also Includes electronic and household goods. Here are some new items that have appeared recently: DVD players, digital cameras. CDs bought over the internet. Have you bought any of these items recently* I'm sure you have. And what about the products that are falling out of favour? When was the last time you bought an exercise bike or a typewriter? A quick look at anyone's birthday wish list shows their lack of popularity.

It is often faster and cheaper to buy online. For instance, finding and buying books on a website is easier and more convenient than walking around a large bookstore. Moreover, customers save not only their time but money as well: warehouses are normally cheaper than shops, so online companies offer lower prices even when delivery charges are included. Although shipping a small number of items from another country could be sometimes quite expensive.

It goes without saying that not all products can be purchased online as easy as books. People prefer to try on clothes, for example, to feel the quality and choose the right size. So they often go shopping first, choose the product in stores and then place an order for it online, having found some attractive discount.

Online shopping is also an ideal way of buying goods for extremely busy people or for the disabled. Online stores are usually available 24 hours a day. All you need is the Internet access and a valid method of payment: credit cards, electronic money or cash on delivery.

The main disadvantage of online shopping is insecurity. There is always a small risk that your financial and personal information might be exploited by hackers. Other frustrating disadvantages are additional costs for delivery and long waiting time, up to several weeks. Besides, online shopping is a bit risky because you can get goods of bad quality, broken or even wrong items.

9. Secret and mysteries