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<Topic 01> Top 'hallyu' star Park Yong-ha commits suicide   <img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cfile/cafe/1770C6114C2C493D40" class="tx-daum-image" style="CLEAR: none; FLOAT: none" actualwidth="200" hspace="1" width="200" vspace="1" border="0" id="A_1770C6114C2C493D4059C1"/>   Popular actor and singer Park Yong-ha, 33, was found dead at home in southern Seoul Wednesday morning after apparently killing himself, the latest in a series of suicides by top celebrities. Park, one of the top "hallyu" (Korean wave) stars, was found by his mother hanging from a camcorder charger cable in his room early Wednesday morning, police and family members said. His brother-in-law told reporters that he left no suicide note. "He was found dead at around 5:30 a.m. There was no suicide note. Please pray for him to rest in peace," he said in a press briefing at St. Mary's Hospital in southern Seoul where Park's body was taken. The previous night Park had repeatedly said "sorry" to his family while giving a massage to his father who is battling stomach cancer, according to police. His fellow actors said that he had been agonizing over his father's illness. Police suspected that Park hung himself on the spur of the moment at around 4 a.m. after drinking, though the reason for the suicide was unclear. "He seemed to be under stress because of his father's cancer and keeping pace with both business and entertainment work," an officer said during a press conference. "He did not have any financial or health problems such as depression." He added that Park's call history on his cell phone had been deleted but text messages remained, but declined to provide details. The officer said that as he obviously committed suicide, an autopsy - opposed by the family - would not be performed. Park made his debut in 1994 in MBC's Theme Theater and appeared in several dramas and movies. He rose to stardom in Korea and Japan after starring in the megahit "Winter Sonata" with Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo in 2002. He was also a popular singer in Japan where fans reacted with shock to his death. Tokyo Broadcasting System aired a one-hour special program on Park Wednesday. Park made his debut as a singer there in 2003 and released several hit albums including "Once in a Summer" in 2009 which ranked sixth on the Oricon daily chart and 14th on the weekly version. He won Japan Gold Disc Awards for "Best Asian Artist" in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Park established his own agency titled Yona Entertainment and made a successful comeback to Korea through the drama "On Air," playing the role of a television producer. He also starred in the movie "Scam" and the drama "The Slingshot" in 2009. Park had been cast as a main character in the new drama "Love Song" with Yoon Eun-hye, which would have started filming soon. He had also scheduled a concert tour of Japan from June 24 to September and had played one gig in Saitama last Saturday. A number of entertainers have killed themselves one after another in the late 2000s. On Feb. 22, 2005, actress Lee Eun-ju committed suicide over her family's financial problems. Actress Jeong Da-bin and singer Yuni took their own lives in 2007, as did actor Ahn Jae-hwan in 2008. Also in 2008, iconic actress Choi Jin-sil's suicide shocked the nation as she was famous for portraying a bright image. These suicides of entertainers prompted copycats in what is known as the "Werther Effect."   1. What's your response to his suicide? What do you know about him? 2. Even though it has been short time since jin-sil & choi jin-young brothers committed suicide, one of popular celebriies, Park Yong-ha, has left our side. Why do you think many celebrities commit suicide? 3. Have you ever though about suicide? Why? 4. Many people said that it is caused by depression. Do you have any solution to get it over?   <Topic 02> 5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp   Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit—and that can be the most frustrating thing in the world. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those “senior moments." Whether it's relaxation or adding certain foods to your diet, read on for some techniques worth trying.    1. Chill Out The brain remembers better when it’s relaxed, say researchers at the California Institute of Technology, so take a few minutes each day to breathe deeply or meditate. "The positive of meditation is you have focused concentration and relaxation taking place at the same time," says Elizabeth Edgerly, PhD, spokesperson for the Alzheimer's Association. "Researchers believe those things are good because they're developing new connections for your brain cells." 2. Focus on the Future People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent study. But don’t worry if your calendar isn’t overflowing with life-changing events.  Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend (and keeping it) will do. "Psychologically it keeps us motivated," Dr. Edgerly says. "There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long-or short-term goals appear to do better." In other words, keep your brain looking forward. 3. Go for a Walk Mildly elevated glucose levels (even if you don’t have diabetes) can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories, say Columbia University researchers. Experts agree that physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, the strongest evidence is regarding the effect of physical activity on the brain. Dr. Edgerly says, "When you exercise, you release chemicals that are good for your brain. It's like a mini fountain of youth in your brain, and the only way you can get it is exercise." In other words, when you take care of your heart, you take care of your brain. 4. Snack on Berries Blueberries have compounds called anthocyanins that help communication between brain cells and appear to improve memory, says Robert Krikorian, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati. In general, Dr. Edgerly says the darker the fruit or vegetable, the better. She adds, "It's a healthy, well-rounded diet, especially one that mimics a Mediterranean diet, and that's fish, lots of fruits and vegetables, and red wine, everyone likes the red wine part." 5. Learn Something New Take a Spanish class online, join a knitting club, or learn to play poker. A UC Irvine study found that mental stimulation limits the debilitating effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain, Dr. Edgerly insists, is when you combine learning something new with physical activity. "It should be something like dancing, or coaching a sport. Or go learn golf with your girlfriends. That sort of thing is even better for your brain than, say, a crossword puzzle.”   1. As growing old, do you think you have become forgetful? 2. Are there any special ways that you have an intention to do them among 5 ways above? 3. What do you do to keep your mind sharp? 4. Are you interested in learning new things? If you have a chance to learn something new, what would you be?