It is probably the strangest sport anyone has ever invented. And at first sight, it looks like the easiest. Competitors have to do two things. The first is to stand still. The second is to place their hands anywhere on the body of a car, and keep it there.

    This is where things start getting difficult. Lots of people are doing the same thing. And the winner of the “handstand” contest is the person who can carry on doing it for the longest time. That person gets to own the car.

It still seems to be an easy thing to do. At the beginning it is. Anyone can stand still. But when the contest has been going for four or five days, standing still seems like the most difficult job in the world . And keeping the hand in place over this time becomes an act of serious attention. After a few days, the hand seems to belong to someone else—-someone who wants to go home and get some sleep.

    Competitors are allowed to take a five-minute break every hour to eat, drink or do whatever else is necessary. No one is allowed to lean on the car for support. Winners need to be able to show great powers of attention. They also need to be able to develop special skills.

    Maybe the popularity of the “handathon” is due to the fact that it is not necessary to be a trained athlete to enter. Competitors in the Longview handathon certainly don't seem to do much preparation. Most say they will prepare by “getting lots of sleep”. Others say they will “eat healthy food” or “pray for success”.  The whole event gives ordinary people the chance to do something interesting and win something in the end.

    Handathons are competitions, but there is little rivalry (竞争) between competitors. They help each other out and keep each other's spitits up. People who drop out early return with food, drink and encouragement.

What's On?

Trouble in Mind

    Alice Childress won an Off-Broadway award in 1956 for this story of a black actress rehearsing a play with a white director who increasingly finds it impossible for the show to go on. Tanya Moodie and Joseph Marcell star in the play directed by Laurence Boswell.

8.30p.m. —10.30p.m, Theatre Royal. Box office: 01225 448844.

Lazarus

    Inspired by the sci-fi (science fiction) novel and movie, The Man Who Fell to Earth, this musical deals with a hero, Thomas Newton. Likely to be the autumn's hottest ticket, the score includes new songs composed by Bowie.

7.00p.m. — 9.00p.m., King's Cross theatre. Box office: 0844 871 7604.

The Gaul

    On the night of 8 February 1974, a fisherman FV Gaul disappeared off the coast of Norway. For people on board, waiting for news was great suffering. Theories began to come up, including the possibility that the boat had fallen victim to cold war. Even when he was discovered, many still felt there were questions that remained unanswered. Mark Babych directs Janet Plater's play.

8.00p.m. —11.00 p.m., Royal Shakespeare theatre. Box office: 01482 323638.

The Suppliant Women

    It is a new version of Aeschylus's 2,500-year-old play about a group of women seeking shelter who make the long journey to escape forced marriage. It was written by David Greig and directed by Ramin Gray. An ancient piece asks a contemporary question: when we are in trouble, who will open their doors and give us a harbor?

8.30p.m. —10.00p.m, Hampstead theatre. Box office: 0131 248 4848.

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Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours

Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C

    Duration: 3 hours

    This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see the world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability - and the cherry blossoms - disappear!

Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour

    Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)

    Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique

facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.

Capital City Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.

    Duration: 3 hour

    Morning or Afternoon this bike tour is the perfect tour for D.C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C.in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledge guides will entertain you with the most interesting stories about Presidents. Congress, memories, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route（路线） make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.

Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour

    Duration: 3 hour (7 miles)

    Join a small group hike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All rides are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.

    When Warren Buffett was asked about the secret to his wealth and success, he said that he read every day—500 pages. Unfortunately, if you're already working 9-5, you might not have the time to read at all, let alone an entire book a day. But what if you could get the benefits of reading without sacrificing all of your free time? You can! With the Blinkist app, you get the key learning from the best notification books in minutes, not hours or days. Our experts transform these books into quick, memorable, easy-to-understand insights. Start with the 3 most-read titles on self-improvement and see if you don't feel a little more satisfied already.

    ⒈Thirteen Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin

    12min

    Read it on Blinklst

    You can't escape misfortune in life. But you can change how you respond it. Do you struggle to get over your failures? Or talk a lot about things out of your control? Getting over these obstacles can have a very great influence on your everyday life. Morin shares how her most successful therapy patients overcame these difficulties.

    ⒉How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

    19min

    Read it on Blinklst

    How would you feel it someone told you on Sunday evening that, come Monday morning, you would be thrown into a torture chamber（刑讯室）? Would you worry? Probably. But there would be a way to deal with those worries. Ever wondered why you can't stop worrying about something? No matter how hard you try, are you always thinking and talking on the same issue? By defining the source of your stress, you can get over it once and for all. Carnegie came up with a timeless formula that helps you handle any overthinking situation.

    ⒊How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon

    13min

    Read it on Blinklst

    What do you think would make you happier at work? Perhaps a little more pay might be nice, or maybe some more admiration from fellow colleagues. Are you making the right trade-offs in life? While career achievements can be satisfying, neglecting your family and friends can be harmful in the long-run – in ways you can't even imagine.

All Aboard for a Family Trip by Train

    If you're looking for a family vacation idea, look no further. Explore America with Amtrak. On the train, your family will have plenty of room to spread out and relax.

    Once on board, the family can take in the scenery from the Sightseer Lounge（观景车厢）. Plus, most of our overnight trains feature Dining cars that serve three meals a day, with full menus and table service. If you're looking for lighter fare, grab a bite to eat or a drink in the Café car. You can also reserve Sleeping car accommodations and let the gentle rhythms of the train sway you to sleep. It's the best way to arrive at your destination rested and ready to go.

    Learn More about the Onboard Experience on www.amtrak.com

    A Dining Experience like No Other

    From full sit-down meals to more informal food service, many trains have one or more option for onboard dining. If you're not hungry, you might start to hear your stomach rumbling（腹鸣） after looking at our menus. We provide you with more dining choices, onboard dining reservations and the different types of dining cars, like long distance dinning car, lounge car and café car.

    Sleeping Accommodations

    Sleeping accommodations are available on most long-distance routes. Amtrak trains traveling on long-distance routes typically use either two-level Superliner or one-level Viewliner train car equipment, each of which include bedrooms arranged in various configurations and private and public bathrooms and showers.

    Seating Accommodations

    On most Amtrak trains, you have three options for seating accommodations. The availability of these options varies depending on your route and the type of train equipment in use:

    Coach Class: Designed for You to Relax.

    Business Class: More Amenities. More Comfort.

    First Class: Exclusively on Acela Express.

    If you'd like to go travelling, the following World Heritage Sites may be your best choices.

    Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

    Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, reaches a height of more than 4, 500m, with a series of different forests ecosystems. It's especially famous for its narrow landforms and excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. Jiuzhaigou Valley was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.

    Khami Ruins National Monument

    The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a centre for trade over a long period of time. It joined the World Heritage List in 1986.

    Henderson Island

    Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls in the world whose ecology (生态) has been untouched by humans. It is famous for the 10 plants and 4 birds that can only be seen on the island. It was recorded in the World Heritage List in 1988.

    Old City of Jerusalem

    As a holy city for three different religions (宗教) in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance  It was given a World Heritage status in 1981 and placed on the "List of World Heritage in Danger" the following year.