According to news media Daily Hive posted on Dec 8, 2023

There are the best ways to cope with a hangover in Vancouver after a Christmas party.

Many people around the city likely have theirs around this time of year, along with other Christmas celebrations, what is the best way to cope with a hangover?

Here are some ideas to cure what ails you.

Firstly, Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

Nothing helps cope with a hangover like that sweet, sweet bean juice. There’s no shortage of incredible coffee shops.

Secondly, Soup, pho real

Another thing Vancouver has no shortage of is its excellent ramen and pho spots. Nothing soothes the soul or the hungover mind like a bowl of hot noodles.

Thirdly, Go on a Nature walk

For some, a blast of nature is just the thing to settle a hangover after a night of debauchery and spicy margaritas. Across Metro Vancouver, there are so many places to get that blast of nature, to feel the clean air, and to maybe have a sneaky puke in some bushes.

The other way, Hair of the dog

The term hair of the dog refers to the idea that alcohol can be consumed as a hangover remedy. According to the highly respected medical journal Cosmo, (not), it comes from the idea that you could cure rabies by drinking a potion made from the hair of the dog that bit you.

Lastly, Avoid the steam clock

We all love the steam clock, but we can’t imagine anything more intolerable for a hangover than walking by when the whistles start blowing off, and the mass of annoying tourists gathered around to take photos.

Please find the article in the description.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cope-hangover-vancouver-christmas-party

This is certainly the best article ever! I have never been exposed to such an intelligent brilliant remedy summary for a hangover ever. Since year-end is around the corner, for those who should get themselves ready for consecutive drinking plans, this could be the perfect instructions for the year-end drinking!

I am currently into drinking a latte after drinking alcohol because this contributes to preventing me from eating ramen after drinking which causes an unconscious significant weight gain. Eating ramen after drinking is the worst for those over 30, we somehow need to manage to avoid it. If you are not too vulnerable to caffeine, I recommend that since it is also good for cool-down after drinking, be careful this is extremely bad for our health, though.

One more thing I found interesting was the word "Hair of a dog". We call it "Mukae-sake" in Japanese with the same meaning. Possibly we may translate the word "welcome drink" into English, but I am not 100% sure. Surprisingly the words have been used since Edo-era, considering Hair of dog originated Mosaic Esmuna Code of Babylon in 2300 B.C, it seems like we Japanese didn't follow the other culture's expression, rather created our original term instead of hair of dog. Frankly speaking, I prefer Mukae-sake to Hair of Dog to describe this action because it sounds more classy and stylish considering how gross the true meaning of the word is.

One of my hangover experts is always saying the best way to recover from the day is to keep licking a few amounts of salt and drinking water. Based on my experience, a grain of salt and water would be the best way to recover.

On top of that, if you are in Japan, we have a super supplement called Hepalyse®which is a liver extract product. It is formulated to improve the health of your liver and support your body's normal metabolism after drinking. Usually, people who are forced to drink for consecutive days are prone to take this supplement before dinner. If I had Hepalyse in Vancouver, I would list it first as a remedy for hangovers during the holiday season. Anyways, enjoy your beautiful holiday season everyone, just be careful not to drink too much.

傘は100円で買いたいよなあ

According to news media Vancouver Is Awesome posted on Dec 10th 2023,

Vancouver Is Awesome polled 800 readers and asked the question: Do you use an umbrella when it's raining?

The simple yes-no question shows a significant divide in the city, with just over half saying they do. And while some like to say Vancouver isn't an umbrella-friendly city, it appears that a greater majority of locals use umbrellas when compared to non-locals, as there's a five percent gap between the two. That's greater than the margin of error.

Umbrellas around Vancouver are sometimes a sticking point. Between crowded streets and the wind, some find them annoying and useless.

Please find the article in the description.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/poll-do-vancouverites-use-an-umbrella-when-its-raining-7950987

Yes I have been aware that less Canadian uses umbrella than Japanese. The article says Canadian seems only 53% uses them.

Other than the cause of relatively windy climate in Vancouver,

my guess, ratio of owning the car might affect the result. 

83 percent of Canadians own or lease a vehicle, and 81 percent of car owners felt it would be "impossible not to have a car. In the case it should be low chance of daily use of umbrella.

Considering this ratio, I am aware that Japanese more use umbrella. Rather many people in Japan carry portable umbrella whenever outside. The other thing I've notice is that, plastic umbrella might be Japanese thing or asian thing. Worst for the environment.

According to a May 2022 survey by the meteorological company Weathernews, people in Japan own an average of 4.2 umbrellas each, rising to 4.9 for Tokyo residents. That means we are prone to have extra umbrellas for each because sometimes it is left somewhere or stolen since everyone knows it is not expensive.

Of course We don't want to get wet but this is actually nuisance considering how crazy busy crowded town Tokyo is. When everyone is trying to open their umbrellas, the situation is chaotic and more than annoying. But unfortunately considering we need to use crazy busy crowded train or bus, we still need to keep our body not wet to avoid more conflicts. That’s a headache. That's the way the cookie crumbles. Any thoughts on this matter? Let me know how you feel. or how much people use umbrella in your country?

まじで夢

According to Engoo posted on Dec 4 2023,

AI could enable Four-Day Week in US, UK.

Two studies suggest that the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) could allow approximately 28% of workers in the US and the UK to transition to a four-day workweek. The research, conducted by the group Autonomy, indicates that in the US, 35 million workers (28% of the workforce) could adopt a four-day week within the next decade with the help of AI. Additionally, 71% of US workers could potentially reduce their hours by at least 10% through the use of AI systems like ChatGPT. A similar study for the UK suggests that 28% of workers (8.8 million people) could shift from a five-day to a four-day workweek using AI. The research emphasizes the potential for AI to create more free time for employees, with the head of research at Autonomy advocating for a shorter working week as the ideal way to ensure that AI benefits both workers and companies. The World Economic Forum's global survey also indicates that approximately 75% of companies plan to incorporate AI. Elon Musk has expressed the belief that AI will eventually surpass human intelligence, stating that people can still have jobs, but AI will be capable of performing all tasks.

Should you dive into the article in the description?

https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/ai-could-enable-four-day-week-for-many-in-us-uk/RpNcMo4AEe6bwLMm0TTcyA

Working only 4 days per week is my dream! Sounds sweet that's what I have been willing to do.

Indeed I am the one who uses AI for my work, mainly for spell check or writing correction of emails. Sadly enough, it is unlikely to make 4 days of work happen in my workplace even if we improve productivity by using AI. However, it is perfectly amazing that 28% of companies in the US, and UK could allow workers to make a transition to a four-day workweek thanks to AI. 

For me, currently working 50 hours per week with 2 jobs, brings me one day off on Saturdays, which is surprisingly actually less than I used to work in Japan but I had 2 days off a week in Japan which was nice. Say the least, modern life needs 2 days off definitely. In my opinion, mostly it affects the quality of life, you probably feel mental fatigue rather than physical fatigue. For me, "repetition" is the most toxic, as I need some improvement or progress in the way I want.

My main concern is regarding to statement from Elon Musk.

People can still have jobs, but AI will be capable of performing all tasks. It sounds like people are likely to lose their jobs due to AI. From my perspective, optimistically, I still believe people can handle AI even if AI surpasses human intelligence. Ultimately, I don't think we need to compete with AI as a creature. I am not going to talk about a possible war between humans and AI like sci-fi movies but I think I need to look into the thoughts Elon Musk has on this statement to get a better understanding of AI. 

Do you think AI is likely to usher in a new era of four-day workweeks? Do you feel any threads towards AI? 

電動飛行タクシーで和訳あってるのか？

According to Engoo posted on Nov. 26, 2023.

Electric Air Taxi Makes Quiet Debut in New York City.

An electric air taxi, developed by Joby, successfully completed its inaugural flight in New York City, marking a milestone in low-noise, zero-emissions transportation. The aircraft, powered by six electric motors, is significantly quieter than traditional helicopters and can carry four passengers. With a top speed of 320 km/h, a quick five-minute recharge time, and a range of 160 km per charge, it aims to revolutionize urban travel. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to electrify the heliport, envisioning the city as a global leader in clean and quiet flight. Joby plans to offer affordable, emissions-free flights as a daily transportation option for New Yorkers, with commercial trips targeted for 2025, pending Federal Aviation Administration approval.

Please find the article in the description.

https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/electric-air-taxi-makes-quiet-debut-in-new-york-city/JXz5vIh_Ee6Ci6sC-hhKtQ

Look at the photo in the article! It looks so stylish and classy, doesn't it?  

What's most surprising is the cost.

The article says while the cost of a trip is still unconfirmed, the company has previously said using the electric aircraft will only set you back as much as a ride-share in a car, according to Reuters.

That's amazing. Once the safety concerns will be cleared, I will definately give riding a shot. It must become a common sight in the future especially in Canada, because it is less-populated contry, it could be easier to establish new heliports wherever.

To me, ideally, having these electric aircrafts operated automatically, I mean, if it is self-driving, would be more attractive for some people like me since it seems hard to believe the human skill in some cases because I found sometimes the uber driver careless even on the ground. 

By the way, have you ever taken a ride in a helicopter?

Since I actually never take a ride in a helicopter, I cannot imagine how uncomfortable or noisy it would be. But I cannot wait to see how quiet it is since the article says it is 100 times quieter than regular helicopter, which Joby says is quieter than an average conversation. It sounds a little bit skeptical and should be exaggerated but how amazing if so.

What are your thoughts on this news?

Do you think electric air taxis will become a common sight in the future?

Let me know how it sounds to you.

NEW VOCAB: 

“inaugural”means 開会の、始めの　inaugural issue; 雑誌の創刊号

“Set back” means to cost a particular amount of money

日本の国旗の簡単さを思い知るよね

According to Dailyhive posted on Nov 20 2023,

there is the real reason for placing a single red maple leaf on the Canadian flag

The maple leaf on the Canadian flag is a symbol of Canadian identity and pride. It was popular before being incorporated into the flag and was seen on coins, books, badges, banners, and other items. During the First World War, the maple leaf started to grace the caps worn by those in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and that’s when it became a mainstream symbol of Canada and its people’s pride, courage, and loyalty. Maple leaves appeared on trial designs for years before the final flag was chosen. In 1964, a parliamentary committee was set up and dedicated to picking a flag for a centurial ceremony. They went through thousands of design entries and shortlisted the flags. A design has a single red maple leaf in the middle reated by Calgary-born historian George Stanley won the committee’s hearts and votes. The National Film Board of Canada recorded the moment the flag debuted on February 15, 1965, at Parliament Hill in an official inauguration ceremony.

While maple syrup is delicious, and we love how the leaves turn red in the fall, Canadian soldiers and their sacrifices in the two world wars inspired the flag design.

You can dive into the article in the description.

https://dailyhive.com/canada/canadian-flag-maple-leaf

Today I will talk about the Canadian national flag. The article shows the maple-leaf motif is rooted in the First World War, it started to grace the caps worn by those in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Since I was expecting the reason why Canada uses Maple leaves on their flag is its abundance of maple syrup which occupies 85 percent of the world's total production. However, surprisingly, not only because of this, they also used it to designate a rallying point for troops in battle. That's why this maple leaf is a symbol of honour and pride for all Canadians. That makes sense it turned into something they should be treated with respect. Such a deep background behind it.

By the way, for me as Dauber, it looks really difficult to draw a maple nicely but looks fun! Therefore, I looked up instructions for kids to draw it up and let me tell you how.

First of all, remember that the leaf has a total of 11 points and three sections, with two points falling outside of the three main sections. Since the leaf is symmetrical, firstly fold your paper in half. 

Draw half of the maple leaf. Using your pencil, sketch half of the maple leaf. This will include one half-section (1.5 points), one full section (3 points), one point, and half of the stem. 

Secondly, flip your folded paper over, then, draw the rest of the leaf. What made me curious is that the website I found recommends using windows as a light source to trace this with your pencil. https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-the-Canadian-Flag

Finally, colour your leaf based on the light outline and fill the maple leaf with red. Now it is done! 

I actually gave it a shot but still looks like I need some extra practice to look nice enough.

Does it sound easy to you? Let me know how it works!

親たちはバリキレてるんだろうなあ