Dear Mr. Steve Carter, Congratulations on the 60th graduation ceremony of Yuoralis High School. As a former student, I am extremely proud that the school has become one of the best schools in the local community. I felt honored when I received your kind invitation to deliver a speech at the ceremony. However, I am deeply sorry to say that I will not be able to give a speech because I have a very important overseas business trip scheduled during that time. I would have loved to speak to the graduating students, but I must decline your invitation to this meaningful celebration. I wish you a memorable graduation ceremony. Sincerely, Jane Whittmore

Studies show that people who sit in the front row learn and retain more than others in the audience, partially because those in the front row are more eager to learn, and they show more attention to the speaker in order to avoid being called on. Those in the middle sections are the next most attentive and ask the most questions, as the middle section is considered a safe area, surrounded by others. The side areas and back are the least responsive and attentive. In one experiment we conducted, we placed name cards on participants' seats so they could not take their usual positions. We intentionally sat enthusiastic people to the sides and rear of the room, and well-known back-row hermits sat in the front. We found that this strategy not only increased the participation and recall of the normally negative participants who sat up front, it also decreased the participation and recall of the usually positive participants who had been sent to the back.

Tim adopted a dog a few months ago. When he met his dog for the first time, he named him after his favorite character, Mickey. Mickey was a healthy dog, but he soon seemed to lack energy. Tim thought that taking care of a dog was much harder than he had expected. So, he decided to sign up for a dog training course. At the training center, he met an instructor named Jack. He emphasized to Tim, "Be sure to walk your dog daily. Dogs need regular exercise to be happy and healthy." Being sure to follow Jack's advice, Tim took Mickey for a walk every day. However, this extra responsibility soon seemed like a burden, and Tim felt exhausted. One day, Tim got a call from Jack. "Hello, Tim. How's everything going with Mickey?" Tim replied, "Actually, it's pretty hard walking him every day. We've been taking the same route, and it has become a little boring." Jack offered him a new idea. "How about going to Happy Dog Park?" Tim said, "That's a great idea!" When Tim and Mickey arrived at the park Jack had recommended, dozens of dogs were already jumping and playing. Mickey looked nervous in the unfamiliar surroundings. Tim said, "Don't worry, Mickey. It'll be fun." Just then, Tim saw a boy about his age standing with a small dog. Gathering his courage, Tim walked over to him. "Hi, I'm Tim. Can I introduce my dog to yours?" The boy replied, "Sure. I'm Daniel. Oh, it looks like they like each other already!" Having something in common as dog owners, Tim and Daniel enjoyed talking to each other. They spent the next two hours pleasantly chatting and decided to walk their dogs together regularly. "See you soon," said Tim as he and Mickey left the park. Over the next few weeks, the boys and their dogs became great friends. After returning from a walk one day, Tim said to Mickey, "Walking you felt like a burden at first, but now I see doing things for you can be great for me, too!"

Not only are our sensory systems organized to detect change, but they are most tuned to stimuli that are unexpected and surprising. When you move your body and produce tactile sensations, these stimuli are less noticeable to you than are sensations produced by another individual. The sensations of your own legs touching one another when you cross your legs, for example, are generally less noticeable than a similar touch on your leg would be if someone sitting next to you brushed their leg against yours. Likewise, your reaction to your cat jumping onto your lap is likely to be much greater if you have your eyes closed when it happens. This differential response to surprising tactile stimuli appears to be a defense mechanism that has adaptive significance. It is probably also the reason why being tickled by someone else is more effective at producing an emotional reaction than trying to tickle yourself. Our enjoyment of being tickled generally diminishes as we age. This is likely due to the fact that adults are better at anticipating stimuli, and hence are more difficult to surprise, than are children.

Chuck Jones was an influential director and artist whose work shaped animated films and cartoon production. He was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1912, though he grew up in Los Angeles. As a child, Jones had many opportunities to draw. He used the leftover pencils and paper that his father brought him from work. Jones began his career in animation in 1930 and was quickly promoted. In the 1940s, he created famous characters such as Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. He directed the famous cartoon film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which is still enjoyed by many people today. Jones started his own company, Chuck Jones Enterprises, in 1970. For his contribution to the field of animation, he received an Honorary Academy Award in 1996. Late in his life, he established a non-profit organization supporting art education and other creative skills.