【推荐1】Virginia Guarddon can’t remember her life without some sort of art. She started playing piano when she was 6. At 10, she came across works by the Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, and she was hooked. She started writing poems that would be featured in a couple of books.

There’s something else that’s always been in her life: a type of skin lupus. “All of my life, I tried to find ways to make it better,” Guarddon said. “And that led to trying to help others feel better about their skin.” The attempt took her to the U.S. in 1945 where she studied science and piano. And then she began a career in skin care. “To me, skin is a form of art,” she said. “I love making women feel beautiful.”

“I wanted to create something of my own,” Guarddon said. “I wanted to realize my dream.” Her dream? Combining all of her passions into one.

The result is Poet’s Garden Apothecary, Guarddon’s own skin care line and the online business: Poet’s Garden Alchemist. Guarddon teamed up with a laboratory to create her line of products, which she calls “skin poetry.” The products, made for every skin type, include an oil face cleanser, day cream and night cream. With each purchase, customers receive a custom poem from one of the company’s contributors. And some earnings from the business go to the Poetry Foundation.

In the first few months of running business, Guarddon said, Poet’s Garden Alchemist is turning into an online poet’s movement. She often hosts live poetry readings on Instagram. “To me, skin care and poetry go together,” she says. “I’m trying to show that beauty is not just skin deep. It’s about our voice and how we express it.”

【推荐3】Phineas T. Barnum is the best-known circus business owner of the nineteenth century. He excelled as a showman, and throughout his career in the entertainment business, he promoted many different forms of attractions.

Barnum’s first job was as a newspaper owner. He also worked as a writer and publisher. His lasting fame, however, is as a showman. Barnum considered this to be his main talent and he never changed this view of his character.

Barnum’s entertainment interests covered museums, traveling dance troupes, and even the mid-century US tour by Jenny Lind, the Swedish singer. He was, by nature, a risk-taker, and usually gained success from the most unlikely businesses.

Barnum was willing to adopt any manoeuvre that publicized his businesses. His American Museum in New York included hoaxes and freaks (恶作剧和怪物), both human and animal. This was not unusual by the standards of the time, but even he felt the need to prove his hoaxes fair, as advertising tricks.

Barnum’s unbounded self-confidence meant he never doubted his ability to make a success of any business. He opened America’s first aquarium (水族馆) and opened a theater in New York that was the largest and most modern in the city. He aimed to change the public knowledge of theaters, and in this, he largely succeeded. He made theater-going respectable.

Determination and hard work featured majorly in the qualities that Barnum displayed, and he frequently spoke about the necessity of both. He believed success only came to those who worked for it and knew they had the self-determination necessary. He also stated the necessity of understanding the business that a person was running. Knowledge and experience counted much in Barnum’s life, and he certainly knew the entertainment business.

Success in life, according to Barnum, could only be achieved when a person is in good health. He advised that getting healthy and maintaining a healthy body and mind would lead to happiness as well as success.

【推荐1】Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson went camping in a mountainous area. They were lying in the open air under the stars. Sherlock Holmes looked up at the stars and whispered, “Watson, when you look at that beautiful sky, what do you think of?” Watson replied, “I think of how short life is and how long the universe has lasted.” “No, no, Watson!” Holmes said. “What do you think of?” Watson tried again. “I think of how small I am and how vast the sky is.” “Try again, Watson!” said Holmes. Watson tried a third time. “I think of how cold the universe is and how warm people can be in their beds.” Holmes said. “Watson, you fool! You should be thinking that someone has stolen our tent!”

【推荐2】Every day for a week, a strange, happy visitor would drop by to play with Vanessa Prior’s pet dog Bobby. Prior thought Bobby had made a new dog friend. It seemed very friendly and got well along with Bobby. They would run after each other, play on the pool cover, gently wrestle (摔跤) or nap side by side.

At first she thought it was a wild dog. But when she posted a photo of the two playing on her Facebook, a pet rescue centre called her. The group told her the Atlanta Wolf Project had been trying to catch the wolf for months, but they failed. Prior gave them new hope.

Because of the wolf’s friendship with her pet dog, it was likely to come back to her backyard. Researchers hoped Prior could help them. When they put some traps (陷阱) in the back of her yard, Prior got a very complicated feeling. She couldn’t describe what it was. The wolf would be in a safe place, but she would do something that harmed Bobby’s feelings.

Researchers told Prior that they would take the rare, black wolf to the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary where it would live with another wolf. They didn’t think it a satisfying situation for a wild animal like a wolf to have a connection with humans’ life. They need to keep a natural awareness to humans and pets and keep to themselves.

Wolf experts added they would look into the genetics of the animal to try to learn why it liked to get close to people and tried to play with their pets. Some experts believe it could have a history with well-meaning humans. Prior had not expected that she and Bobby should meet such a special and lovely wolf. They just hoped the dear friend all the best.