【推荐2】In my first year of teaching in Houston, I was asked to act as a batman at a birthday party.

One night,the headmaster handed me a costume and said, "Tomorrow you're going to be batman." I knew a batman with a moustache at the party was a huge red flag. I knew it was specially bad for my image,but I didn't want to change my physical appearance because that would mean I was funnier, so I chose not to shave.

The party was at a huge public park, and I had to park my car far enough away so that the children couldn't see me. Then I walked to it secretly, but unluckily,the children saw me coming from about 300 meters away.

I started to regret not to shave. When I got close enough for them to see my face clearly the entire party broke into laughter. I wanted to turn around and run back in embarrassment, but then the laughter changed into cheering and applause. I ran into the party and saw the "birthday"boy with his dad.The dad laughed,"I told you,son.A batman has a moustache."Then he showed me the huge birthday cake with a batman drawn on it,and the batman had a moustache. I just stared at it in disbelief. But it was a thick black line drawn underneath his nose, just like my moustache.

All the children said,"A batman doesn't have a moustache."Instead of admitting the cake was messed up, the parents tried to save face, saying,"No,a batman always has a moustache. He just shaves it for his movies."Naturally,the children were doubtful, but my moustache became the detail that confirmed what the parents had said. Those children of the perfect age still believed in wonders and superheroes and they were pleased to find something kept hidden from others.

That year,I struggled a lot with my identity.Was I a teacher or a clown（小丑）? But that day, I may not have been the hero they ordered,and crtainly I wasn't the hero they expected, but I was the hero they needed.

【推荐1】Labor Day (劳动节) all started in the 19th century. Overworked and exhausted laborers were fed up and demanded better treatment. In Canada, laborers marched to their Prime Minister’s doorstep and asked for their right to form unions. The march was victorious. They celebrated better working. conditions with an annual parade.

Peter J McGuire, an American labor leader, was invited and thought to bring that spirit to America and what a success it was! In New York City, protesters assembled to fight against poor labor conditions. The movement quickly spread across America. Workers gathered for picnics, concerts and speeches, rallying for 8-hour workdays and a Labor holiday.

Oregon was the first state to officially recognize the holiday. But it wasn’t until 12,000 government forces were sent to quell a strike and two railway workers were tragically killed that pressure mounted from the American workforce, and Labor Day was put on the federal calendar.

More than 80 countries worldwide celebrate Labor Day or International Workers’ Day on May 1st. But the first Monday of September made sense for Americans because it falls between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. This gives working families a much-needed break.

Fast-forward about 100 years and the Labor Day holiday has become a kind of farewell to summer. In the USA, kids go back to school, football season starts and fashionistas (时装设计师) hang up that little white dress.

But let’s not forget that Labor Day is a celebration of the labor movement, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers all over the world. It’s evolved into an appreciation of life and well-deserved break from work. So, make sure to enjoy your Labor Day with family and friends.

【推荐2】He had two armed guards protecting him until his death aged 55. He also had two massive tusks（象牙）and, just as important, he had a name. Ahmed the elephant received the special treatment until his death in 1974, under an order from Kenya’s then-president Jomo Kenyatta. The name helped give Ahmed and, by extension, the cause of elephant conservation greater recognition.

With Ahmed the elephant in mind, Kenya last week launched the Elephant Naming Festival in which people get the chance to adopt an elephant after contributing money toward their chosen animal’s conservation.

The initiative gives the adoptive parent priority when it comes to choosing the first name of the elephant. The second name will be a Maasai（马赛族）one based on the animal’s profile, history, role in the family and physical attributes like the state of its tusks.

Launching the program, Najib Balala, a top official at the Ministry for Tourism and Wildlife, said the elephant-naming initiative will bring greater awareness of the need for conservation and promote tourism. Balala said the event will be held each year on Aug 12, observed as World Elephant Day.

“We feel that this is a great opportunity for everyone to be part of the sustainability of tourism and wildlife in Kenya for future generation,” Balala said.

“Wildlife is a big part of Kenya’s heritage and ensuring that future generations enjoy this resource should always remain the most important. The launch of the Magical Kenya Elephant Naming Festival builds on the good work that the Kenya Wildlife Service and other partners have been doing over the years.”