“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.

    Nowadays there seems to be an app for everything. And mobile apps have been a part of our life. The following apps are part of the most popular apps.

    Which boy hasn't dreamed of being a cool secret agent? The wonderful fighting abilities and the world-saving adventures are much more colourful than most people's everyday lives. Well, Cody Banks is just like any other boy, except that he is not just dreaming. He has a big secret his friends never know about. He was trained to be a spy by a special CIA programme, which was made to look like a summer camp. He learned high-speed driving, hand-to-hand fighting and the use of high-tech tools.

    After proving he could become a young hero by saving a baby from a runaway car, Banks gets his first real task. He must make friends with a popular girl at school, Natalie Connors. Then, he must spy on her father, a scientist who has developed a dangerous technology. Banks must stop a group of bad people from forcing Natalie's father into using the technology to endanger the world.

    The CIA may have taught him first-class self-defence moves, but they didn't show him how to talk to girls. Banks has zero ability when it comes to dealing with girls. How can he get around his problem and get an invitation to the girl's upcoming birthday party? Will he finally become Natalie's boyfriend and find out whatever he can about her father's work?

    Agent Cody Banks has everything that young people are interested in: big explosions, breath-taking performances and funny girl-dating experiences. It was listed No.2 in the American box office last week.

    “This story is interesting and fun for the whole family to enjoy, and especially cool for young boys,” said Paul Perkins, a film reviewer in the US.

    In Chinese customs, red is the main color for weddings. It is used in different ways as it signifies love, joy and happiness. The bride's wedding gown（女礼服）is often red, the wedding invitations, gift boxes and envelopes are red and the bride and the groom's homes are decorated in red on the wedding day.

    Before the wedding, the married couples from the groom's family visit the bride's place with gifts in red baskets and boxes. One of those baskets has milk honey. Three days before the wedding, the women from the bride's family bring return-gifts to the groom's family.

    On the wedding day, the groom arrives at the bride's place on his way to the chapel（佛堂）. The groom has to give gifts in cash wrapped in red paper to the bride's friends for letting her go. The bride and the groom then leave for the chapel together.

    The wedding ceremony is attended only by the couple's immediate relatives. Just after the wedding ceremony, the bride serves tea to her parents in-laws as a tradition. The couples will then go to get wedding pictures. Then a reception（宴会）will follow.

    In the reception, a welcome speech is followed by a cake cutting ceremony. A Chinese wedding cake has many layers（层）, and each one represents a step to success for the newly married couples. So couples cut the cake from the bottom.

    Travour.com describes and provides information on the wedding traditions of the Chinese and around the world. Below are some wedding traditions performed in Italy.

    Little Women is the story of four sisters growing up during the Civil War. Each March (马奇) sister has a different personality. Meg, the oldest, is dignified (端庄) and proper. Jo, next in age, is energetic and wants to be a writer. Beth is shy and quiet and loves music. Amy, the youngest, is spoiled (被宠坏的), a little conceited (自负), and enjoys art. In the following passage, an excerpt(节选)from Chapter 14 Secrets, Jo has a secret surprise to tell her sisters. Laurie is the boy who lives next door, and Hannah is the March's servant. The Spread Eagle is a newspaper in the town.

    In a few minutes Jo bounced (蹦跳) in, laid herself on the sofa, and pretended to read.

    "Have you anything interesting there?" asked Meg, with condescension (屈尊).

    "Nothing but a story, won't amount to much, I guess," returned Jo, carefully keeping the name of the paper out of sight.

    "You'd better read it aloud. That will amuse us and keep you out of mischief (恶作剧)," said Amy in her most grown-up tone.

    "What's the name?" asked Beth, wondering why Jo kept her face behind the sheet.

    "The Rival Painters."

    "That sounds well. Read it," said Meg.

    With a loud "Hem!" and a long breath, Jo began to read very fast.

    The girls listened with interest, for the tale was romantic, and somewhat pathetic (哀婉动人), as most of the characters died in the end. "I like that about the splendid picture," was Amy's approving remark, as Jo paused.

    "I prefer the lovering part. Viola and Angelo are two of our favorite names, isn't that strange?" said Meg, wiping her eyes, for the lovering part was tragical (凄婉).

    "Who wrote it?" asked Beth, who had caught a glimpse(瞥) of Jo's face.

    The reader suddenly sat up, threw away the paper, displaying a red face, and with a funny mixture of solemnity and excitement replied in a loud voice, "Your sister."

    "You?" cried Meg, dropping her work.

    "It's very good," said Amy.

    "I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!" and Beth ran to hug her sister, wild with joy over this splendid success.

    Dear me, how excited they all were, to be sure! How Meg wouldn't believe it till she saw the words. "Miss Josephine March," actually printed in the paper. How politely Amy criticized (批评) the artistic parts of the story, and offered advice for a sequel (续集), which unfortunately couldn't be carried out, as the hero and heroine were dead. How Beth got excited, and skipped and sang with joy. How Hannah came in to shout in great astonishment at 'that Jo's doin's'. How proud Mrs March was when she knew it. How Jo laughed, with tears in her eyes, as she declared she might as well be a peacock(孔雀) and done with it, and how the 'Spread Eagle' might be said to fly his wings proudly over the House of March, as the paper passed from hand to hand.

    "Tell us about it." "When did it come?" "How much did you get for it?" "What will Father say?" "Won't Laurie laugh?" cried the family, all in one breath as they gathered around Jo, for these foolish, affectionate (痴情的) people had a celebration of every little joy of family.

    Some people find visiting ordinary museums to be a bit dull. Fortunately for them, there are unusual museums to check out, such as underwater museums!

    How can you visit and what can you see?

    Many underwater museums are supported by companies that offer guided tours. A trained guide leads groups around a stunning underwater display of statues in each museum. Depending on the depth of the museum, visitors may be able to view the sculptures from a glass bottomed boat or by swimming on the surface. Other underwater museums are deeper and are most accessible to scuba divers.

    Why are the museums underwater?

    Underwater museums have many functions. One of their aims is to create a man-made reef environment where sea creatures can live. That's why some of the museums are located in areas that were damaged by hurricanes or are considered underwater ''deserts''. The statues in the museum are designed in a way that encourages the growth of coal and plant life. Over time, the statues and plants attract a growing number of fish to the area.

    Florida, U.S.A.

    Florida is home to different types of underwater museums. The state's newest underwater museum, the Underwater Museum of Art, can be found off the coast of Grayton Beach. This part of the Gulf Mexico is an underwater desert, so creators hope that the exhibit will improve the marine ecosystem.

    Cancun, Mexico

    For years, Cancun has been a popular tourist destination. And one of the major draws is the water. The Museo Subacuatico de Arte is an ideal place for snorkelers and first-time divers. There they can enjoy more than 500 statues that help to make up a man-made reef. This museum was created to offer visitors a replacement for the areas natural reef, which has been damaged.

    Canary Island, Spain

    Museo Atlantico, off the coast of Lanzarote, has an impressive display of more than 300 statues. They were created by the same sculptor who made the Cancun statues. They focus on man's interaction with the marine world.