“Success begins with belief and ends with doubt.”—Larina Kase

    I remember reading through a book and the author was writing about being a reverse paranoid. In that particular section he mentions how he has a belief that the world he's living in is out to give him everything he absolutely wants and desires.

    There are times when I think to myself，“Wow，the world is out to get me and make me miserable.” Then I thought，why can't I believe that the world is out to make me a better conversationalist. Then I started adapting to the belief of the reverse paranoia.

    When I started talking to people，I truly believed that I was the most interesting person in the room. I believed that everything I said added value to the conversation. I believed that people stayed behind and chatted with me because they found me charismatic.

    As a matter of fact, for about five months I wrote down on my bathroom mirror the following affirmation：“People love me and respect me. It is a privilege to talk to me. People find me interesting and charming and always want to get to know me better！”

    I would say the affirmation after I brushed my teeth. And I would continue to say it until I felt completely great about myself. There were days that I just wouldn't feel like saying it，because it would feel like a lie to me. But that's the trouble，like the quote says，success ends when there's doubt. And that's why I continued until I had no doubt in my mind.

    Then strange things happened，I noticed that people did find me more interesting，and that I gained more confidence in talking with people. I was more assertive(坚定自信的) at work. I was able to control politics and gossip at work to minimal levels，and became a much better manager，and developed better customer relations to the point that sales were up by 20% compared to the year before，on my best month sales were up by 39%，and this was a year that a recession was happening.

    After twenty-third hour at night, the house was quiet. I didn't go to bed. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome thing they call “books”.

    I would have my important examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn't answer, in fact I dared not.

    As soon as the clock struck twelve, I suddenly heard and couldn't help crying “Oh, dear! Many more books to read before I can go to bed!” We students are the most wretched creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He didn't have to work so hard when he was a boy.

    When the clock struck one, I felt I was hopeless now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh, God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them a few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.

    On the morning of September 7th, 19- year- old Ryan Harris and 40-year-old Stonie Huffman, two Sitka, Alaska residents, took off on their 28-foot boat in search of fish. Two miles into the ocean, their boat began to have some problems. They managed to fix the problems, but decided to head back to shore anyway. However, before they could call for help or grab a life jacket, an eight-foot wave slammed hard against their boat and overturned it, throwing both men into the cold Alaskan waters.

    Stranded, they began to look around to see what they could grab onto and saw a couple of the empty fishing boxes from the boat, floating around. Ryan managed to climb inside one. Stonie, however, was not as lucky and managed to only grab onto the lid of the box. Soon, they both started drifting apart.

   While Ryan continued to bob up and down in the box, the waves started carrying Stonie away. But as luck would have it, he caught sight of one of the life suits from their boat floating in the ocean and managed to grab it. Though putting it on and hanging onto the lid at the same time was not an easy task, Stonie managed it and then began his long swim back to shore. He ended up on a deserted patch of land about 25 miles northwest of Sitka, where he had to wait until Saturday morning almost 24 hours after the fishing trip began, for rescuers to find him. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ryan continued to drift around the ocean trying to stay alive and hoping someone would find him. The brave teenager repeated himself over and over again, “I'm Ryan Hunter Harris and I'm not going to die here.” He was sure he would be rescued.

    Two hours after his friend was rescued and able to guide the Coast Guard and, 26 hours after the adventure began, Ryan was finally found and brought back to shore. What was amazing was that besides a few scratches, the youngster was in perfect health. Will he ever venture out on a fishing trip again? Only time will tell!

    Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Leonardo da Vinci ... the art world has never lacked talent. And now, a new painter is ready to join the list although this one isn't even human.

    Next month, auction house Christie's Prints and Multiples will make history by offering the first piece of art created by artificial intelligence (AI) for sale. The painting is a portrait of a man called Edmond De Bela- my, and is expected to be sold for up to $10,000.

    The work, which features a man with a mysterious look on his face, was created by software developed by the French art group Obvious. Laugero-Lasserre, an art collector, called the work "grotesque and amazing at the same time". This isn't the first example of Al-produced artwork, as AI has already been used to write poems and compose .songs. However, many people doubt whether it should be called art at all.

According to Russian writer Leo Tolstroy (1828 -1910), art is about creating emotion (情感). It's "a means of …joining people together in the same feelings' he once said.

So, if the emotion behind art is what makes it, the ability to create and use tools is what makes human Icings different from other species. And as a tool itself, the AI technology used to create the portrait is the result of a lot of effort made by several designers. Together, they "fed" the AI a huge collection of paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, until it was able to work out how to make similar paintings of its own.

    The introduction of AI art could be the beginning of a new artistic movement. However, not everyone is ready to welcome these high-tech artists just yet.

    "The human mind is what's behind the AI technology. And the human mind is not a cold, hard fact," said Oscar Schwartz, a professor of AI. "Rather, it in something that's created with our opinions and something that changes over

    The dream to travel the world has always been in the mind of many. The national geographic and Discovery Channel videos are just not enough. You can only feel the excitement of experiencing all those fascinating wildlife, countryside or adventure tourism documentaries by traveling the world. Here are the best destination countries based on safety, culture, ease of transportation, and accommodation for single travelers in 2018.

    Bali Island, Indonesia

    The cheapest of all countries to visit. Living in a comfortable room, having three meals a day and a few beers for only 25 dollars per day! Accommodation and goods are cheap everywhere, especially when you move further to the north.

    Italy

    Lined with olive trees, hilltop towns, and wonderful beaches, Italy is one of the most sought-after destinations; Not forgetting the wine and wine-cooked barbecues. All the cities of Italy are always full of tourists all year around.

    Vietnam

    Vietnam suburbs or the city of Hanoi is just where you need to be. Amazing landscapes, friendly locals, cheap food and affordable services, Cab services are a mere 10 dollars or less compared to cab services in the States which can get as high as 30 dollars for a couple of blocks away.

    France

    You don't talk of France without mentioning Eiffel tower. At night, it gives the most incredible view of France. Avoid the long lines to the tower and book your trip earlier For Catholics or historians, the Notre Dame and its surroundings will attract you with its ancient mummified (制成木乃伊的) cats, while Les Invalids military museum has all types of the world war weapons.

    If you have come to Britain, there are some beautiful places you can't miss. Below are four that you can enjoy during your trip to Britain.

    Cotswolds

    The Cotswolds are a range of hills measuring about 2,000 square kilometers, designated as an area of outstanding beauty and shared by countries of Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Sometimes known as "The Heart of England", the hills are small but perfectly formed and dotted with pleasant towns and well-preserved old villages inhabited mainly by well-preserved old English folk.

    Bath

    Bath is a historic Roman and Georgian spa city. It is a World Heritage (遗产) site, situated in 100 miles west of London and 15miles southeast of the nearest big city, Bristol. A unique city, Bath is famous for its hot springs, Roman period baths, medieval heritage and stately Georgain architecture. The famous English writer Jane Austen spent some time there, and her novel is a satire of the social life of the city at the time. Many of the sites she mentioned are still able to be visited in the city today.

    Much Wenlock

    The Shropshire town of Much Wenlock is a characteristically English town, off the beaten track, but well worth a visit. Not only is Much Wenlock a stunning beautiful medieval town, but it also played a part in the birth of the modern Olympic Games. Much Wenlock is the birthplace of William Penny Brookes, the inspiration for the modern Olympic Movement and founder of the Wenlock Olympian society. In recognition of its sporting heritage, the 2012 London Olympic Games named one of their mascots Wenlock.

    Castle Combe

    Nestled in a wooded Cotswold valley, with the ambling Bybrook River flowing through its heart, Castle Combe is a truly delightful example of the traditional English village. Architecturally, little has changed since the 15^th century. There are no street lights or TV aerials and you enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and you will understand why it has won the "Prettiest Village in England" award so many times. Castle Combe is also a favored location for Hollywood film and television companies.