In 1996 John Jones made an unusual discovery. He had just enlarged (扩大) a piece of paper money for a friend—a Confederate bank note, money issued (发行) by banks in Southern States of America during the Civil War. When he was face to face with the picture, he couldn't believe his eyes: slaves (奴隶) happily picking cotton in their master's fields.

    Jones grew up in South Carolina. He had heard painful stories of slavery from his greatgrandmother. The picture on the money did not match (匹配) the history of African American slaves that he'd heard all his life. “I had never seen that type of picture on money before,” he said.

    Jones wondered why slaves looked so happy. He started doing research.

    Searching for and finding the answers to his questions changed his life. During two years' search, Jones found more than 120 different bills. He discovered that the bills had several things in common. They showed slaves working in jobs related to farming. Many of them showed healthy and smiling slaves at work. None of the bills showed the hardships of slavery.

    Jones wanted to share what he had learned. “I wanted other people to see what I had seen,” he said. He decided to make large paintings of the pictures on the money. After three years of work, Jones had painted more than 80 slavery scenes (场景).He paired each painting with the money on which the picture appeared. “The Color of Money”—an exhibit (展览) of his work—has toured the country.

    Jones' paintings tell an important story about the South 150 years ago. He likes to repeat the saying. “The story is on the money.” In this case, the saying happens to be true.

    The Golden Week holiday is extended to eight days this year, as China is ushering in two celebrations from Oct. 1-8: the National Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival. For anyone who is looking forward to a rich，refreshing break, here is a list of some of the best exhibitions, shows and things to do around town.

    Qin and Han dynasties relics

    The Civilizations of Qin and Han celebrates the glory of those two dynasties (221BC-AD2 20) in terms of politics，economics, arts and culture. More than 300 artifacts from 30 museums and institutions across the country are on show through Nov. 30.

    If you go: 9am-5pm till Nov. 30. Closed on Mondays. National Museum of China, 16 East Chang'an Avenue，Dongcheng District. 010-6611-6188.

    Ticket: Free

    Artist's solo show

    Chen jialing is a famous artist who seeks a connection between Chinese and Western art, and demonstrates and excellence for industrial design. He will show dozens of ink paintings. Also on display are his designs on decorative works for daily use, such as bowls, furniture pieces and silk scarves.

    If you go: 9am-5pm till Oct. 8. National Museum of China, Dongcheng District.

    Walk into a time machine at Beijing Design week

    This year's Beijing Design Week is allowing visitors to explore exhibitions and events in the city's Dashilar area with interactive experiences that apply advanced technology, such as virtual reality.

    By simply scanning a QR code, information about exhibitions and events linked to the Beijing Design Week being held in the Dashilar Design Community pop up. Push the button on your screen, and you can use the “time machine” to wander through the alleys of Dashilar area.

    If you go: till Oct. 5.3 Cha'er Hutong, Xicheng District.

    Ticket: Free

    German designer Weingart's works at Beijing Design Week

    Another highlight of this year's Beijing Design Week is an exhibition from German - born designer Wolfgang Weingart. His style has been influencing designers and his students in Europe and North America over the years.

    If you go: 9:30 -5:30 pm till Oct 8. Art Museum of Central Academy of Fine Arts, 8 Huajiadi South Street, Chaoyang District 010-6577-1018.

    Ticket: 120 yuan per person.

    A recent study surveyed 5,000 British families about their experiences with volunteering and their mental health. Participants completed the same survey every two years from 1996 to 2008.

    About 20 percent of the survey participants reported doing regular unpaid work Researchers found that these volunteers also scored highest on their mental health scores. The two were linked so directly that the more a person volunteered, the happier they were.

    One could argue a chicken-and-egg theory: happier people are more likely to have the time, money, energy and resources to give back to others. But even when researchers adjusted for education, social class and total health, the link was there, suggesting that the mental increase came from volunteering and not the other way around.

    According to Dr. Stephen G. Post, author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping, when you help others, your brain releases feel-good chemicals, which can help cells repair themselves and grow. And this translates to better health.

    So volunteering can help improve both your physical and mental health—on one condition. You have to mean it. People who volunteered for "self-oriental" reasons, either because they were forced to do so for work or school or because they were trying to get away from problems in their lives, had a mortality（死亡率）risk that was similar to those who didn't volunteer at all. It was only when people were volunteering out of a true sense of sympathy that they saw any health benefits.

    So whether it's arranging books at the library or walking dogs at the animal shelter, find a cause that's important to you and give it a try. Volunteering is a good way to develop a sense of connection that not only helps your community, but may also be good for you.

    There exist cruel wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, so it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us go through difficult times in our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling depressed, as the saying goes, makes me feel good and warms my heart.

    How would you feel if you could not joke around with wife, husband, child, co-worker, neighbor, close friend, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is a common manner to speak to others that are around you.

    I know of a few people that don't have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their faces. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am, laughing hard while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke?

    Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor, we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness and bring a little light into our lives. Therefore, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.

    North Cascades National Park Recruitment Notice

    Recruiting Youth Age 15-18

    For Summer Jobs

    With the Youth Conservation Corps

    At North Cascades National Park

    North Cascades National Park is recruiting(招聘) for four to six youth age 15-18 for this summer's Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) in Marblernount, Washington from June 15 through August 7, 2019. Selections will be made during the second week of May. The work schedule will be Monday-Friday from 8: 00 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. (8 hour shift). The rate of pay is $ 9. 47 per hour.

    MAJOR DUTIES

    The enrollees(入选者) will work with the park employees and will often be assisting them. The enrollees' work will include seed collecting, planting. transplanting, fertilizing, and weeding of native plants. Other work may include setting picnic tables for visitors, ground keeping path protection, painting, brush clearing, and digging. The use of hand tools for digging, cutting, sweeping, and carpentry may be required.

    SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

    Enrollees must be able to follow written and oral instructions and must be able to learn and follow safe work habits. Enrollees must come to work on time and would like to learn to use the various tools needed for the work.

    PHYSICAL EFFORT

    Enrollees may be lifting and carrying objects up to 50 pounds, such as packages, tools, and backpacks. They must be able to walk five or six miles per day, sometimes over difficult fields.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Enrollees must be prepared to work under conditions that include heat, cold, rain, wind and/or biting insects. Conditions might also include dirt, (lust and noise. Transportation will be provided from Marblemount to work sites in the park each day. Please direct questions or requests for assistance in completing the application form to Stacy McDonough, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, and 360-854-7276.

    Applications are available

    On line at http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm.

    At Local high schools in Skagit County.

    At North Cascades National Park Service Complex office at 810 State Route 20 SedroWoolley.

    By phone or email from Stacy McDonough at 360-854-7276, stacy_mcdonough@nps. gov.

    Completed applications must be received no later than 4:3(1 pm on Friday, May 1. 2019 at

    North West Servicing Human Resources Office (NW SHRO)

    Mount Rainier National Park

    ATfN-Danielle Gardner

    55210-238th

    Avenue East Ashford WA, 98304

    Eating out is such a pleasure ― the food, the wine, the joy of having it all brought to you by someone else—that it's a pity to ruin the experience by sharing it with other people.

    Well, I do like visiting restaurants with friends. But dining out alone has its own very special attractions. For a start you can give all your attention to the food. There's nothing worse than having to invent and deliver an opinion on school league tables or Sanchez's move to Manchester United, plus listen to everyone else's opinions, when all you really want to do is enjoy each mouthful along the way.

    A second great thing about eating out alone is the chance to combine food with one of life's other true pleasures: reading. You have to plan this carefully: Indian or Chinese restaurants are best ― you need food you can eat with just one hand, leaving the other free to hold your reading material.

    But perhaps the biggest attraction of a table for one is the chance it gives to people-watching. Restaurants and the different reasons for visiting them ― first date, business meeting, night out with friends ― produce human behaviour of surprising richness and variety. Will the man selling his business idea get any joy out of his possible investor (投资者)? Will the married couple think of anything to say to each other before their main courses arrive?

    This "human zoo" part of eating out alone is one of the reasons I'd hate to be famous: everyone would be watching you, so you wouldn't be able to watch them. The snooker player Steve Davis says this was one of the strangest consequences (后果) of becoming well-known: he got very worried about his eating in public, almost to the level of doubting whether he was "doing it right."

    So next time you're considering your eating out choices, remember the advice of the businessman Nubar Gulbenkian: "The best number for a dinner party is two ― myself and a super head waiter."