作ってたスパイスカレーを温め、ごはんもチンして、
あとは切り刻んだアボガドを添えただけ。
あとは切り刻んだアボガドを添えただけ。
いつもの盛り付けに戻った。魚2品。イワシの味噌煮の缶詰とアジの焼き魚。
あまりお皿に隙間があるごはんは作っていないなって、思った。
要は品数が少ないということ。
要は品数が少ないということ。
最近やっている乾燥パスタのお水戻し。
丸一日つけてたら、柔らかくなりすぎて
茹で時間2分でもぺっちゃんこ。
いつもとは違うショートパスタでカルボナーラ。
丸一日つけてたら、柔らかくなりすぎて
茹で時間2分でもぺっちゃんこ。
いつもとは違うショートパスタでカルボナーラ。
色んな野菜とエビ、豚肉、キノコを入れてちゃんぽん。
長崎かどうかはわからん。
長崎かどうかはわからん。
晩飯と朝飯の間の深夜3:40分のご飯。しらす焼き飯。
Online learning and lessons to continue in 2021 (2nd January, 2021)
The year 2020 has been a tumultuous one for educators. Hundreds of thousands of teachers across the globe had to get to grips with online platforms to deliver their lessons. Millions of students were stuck at home doing their lessons via websites like Zoom. This has created an unprecedented transformation in education as technology has taken centre stage. The quality of education differed around the world according to the quality of Internet connections, the level of preparedness of teachers and their competence in engaging with the technology. It also depended on what kind of devices students had at home. Many students were deprived of lessons because they had no computer, tablet or smartphone.
The Education Ministry in Malaysia has rolled out a new initiative to help underprivileged children. Around 150,000 eligible pupils from 500 schools will receive a device to enable them to participate in online lessons. The Education Minister hopes to build on the success of this initial rollout to expand the programme. He said: "Apart from assisting pupils and schools in need, this pilot project is to find the best implementation method before it is proposed for expansion." The plans include enhancing educational television programming for students with no Internet access, and employing sign language interpreters to help the hard of hearing. A teacher said she was happy her government was prioritizing students' needs.
2021 to be huge for space exploration (4th January, 2021)
Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are predicting that 2021 will be a great year for space exploration. An increasing number of countries and commercial companies are investing in technology to venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Elon Musk and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their sights on space tourism and sending astronauts to Mars. What once seemed like science fiction is quickly becoming space fact. Such are the advances in technology, we might no longer be surprised at news of asteroids being mined, Mars being colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such as getaway weekend breaks to the Moon.
The year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists better understand the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE probe on January the 15th. This will study the collision of small particles in space to provide an insight into how planets originally formed. A month later, NASA's Perseverance rover will land on Mars. This mission will test for signs of possible past microbial life. NASA said: "Returning samples of Mars to Earth has been a goal of planetary scientists since the early days of the space age." In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Telescope, will launch into space. Its mission is to observe the first galaxies that formed in the early universe.
Man crosses rough sea on jet ski for love (6th January, 2021)
A British man who broke lockdown rules to be with his girlfriend has spoken to newspapers. Dale McLaughlan, 28, really wanted to see his new love Jessica Radcliffe. However, he was in lockdown in Scotland and she was 43 kilometres away on the Isle of Man - a small island in the Irish Sea. Dale was love-struck and decided he had to see his love. He bought a jet ski for $10,800 and rode it across the sea. He didn't realize how dangerous the journey would be. The sea was very rough and a huge wave washed away his GPS. He thought it would take 45 minutes to get to the Isle of Man but it took over four hours. For most of that time, he thought he was lost and had no idea where he was.
Dale was arrested by police and was sentenced to four weeks in prison for breaking lockdown rules. He said his adventure was worth it. He risked his life to see Jessica. It was the first time he had ever used a jet ski. He described his experience. He said: "The first time I stood on a jet ski was in that harbour. As soon as I hit open water, I thought, 'Oh my God'. It was terrible. It wasn't fun. I followed the GPS, but after half an hour a massive wave wiped it away. I didn't have a clue where I was going. I thought I was lost at sea. I was so scared." He added: "I broke the law, but I did it for love. I should never have done it. It could be called a crime of passion." Jessica says she loves Dale and wants to marry him.
Taxi driver offers free rides for singing karaoke (8th January, 2021)
A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select the song you want to sing. He says people have more bravery to sing at night.
Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day rushing to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as rewards for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a discount or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been viewed over two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a passenger.
Identical twins are not so identical (10th January, 2021)
A new study shows that while identical twins can look perfectly alike, it is not a perfect similarity. They are not clones of each other. Scientists at the University of Iceland analyzed the DNA from 387 pairs of identical twins - babies born from a single fertilized egg. The scientists compared the DNA with that of the twins' parents and children. The geneticists looked for mutations in the early stages of development. A mutation is a tiny change in the sequence of the DNA that can occur when a cell divides. This change causes a slight difference in the DNA replication process. A single, tiny change can create differences in height, intelligence, eye colour and even in susceptibility to disease.
The study shows that identical twins do not share totally identical DNA. In about 15 per cent of identical twin pairs, one twin carried a "substantial" number of mutations that the other did not share. The scientists say this difference is important as it sheds light on the "nature versus nurture" debate. This is whether human behaviour is determined by the environment, socialization and upbringing, or by a person's genes. The research shows that this tiny difference, and not environmental factors, could be the reason why one twin develops different behavioural characteristics or medical conditions. Professor Kari Stefansson said a genetic mutation may be the source of a given disease or trait.
Harry and Meghan to quit social media (12th January, 2021)
Reporters are saying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have abandoned social media. The Duke (formerly Prince Harry) and his wife Meghan have reportedly said goodbye to their social media accounts. They want to focus on their new life together in the USA. The "Sunday Times" newspaper in the UK wrote that the couple have no plans to use social media for their non-profit organisation or for their personal lives. The newspaper said the couple have become sad and tired of all the "hate" they see online. They both decided to step down as active members of the British royal family last year. Since then, many people have attacked and criticised them on their Instagram account.
Harry and Meghans' main social media account was @sussexroyal on Instagram. They have 10.4 million followers on this account but have not posted any new content since March 2020. A source told the "Sunday Times" that the couple were "very unlikely" to use social media again. Meghan has spoken out about the harm social media can do. She was the subject of many attacks after she married into Britain's royal family. She said she experienced "almost unsurvivable" online abuse and cyberbullying. She added that she was the most trolled person in the world in 2019. This news comes as social media companies are in the spotlight for suspending the accounts of US President Donald Trump.
Free dumplings for motorists stranded in snow (14th January, 2021)
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Record levels of snowfall made the going tough for hundreds of motorists in Japan earlier this week. Blizzards, snowdrifts and frozen roads left 200 cars stranded on a highway in Fukui Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan. This spurred the manager of a branch of a local Chinese restaurant, Gyoza Ohsho, to get going. Keiichi Iwatani, 39, decided to feed those faced with spending the night in sub-zero temperatures. He delivered hundreds of gyoza dumplings, fried rice and crab omelettes to weary, anxious and snowbound drivers. Seven employees helped him to deliver the provisions on foot throughout the night to 300 hungry and relieved people.
Mr Iwatani talked about his relief efforts to the Mainichi newspaper. He said he saw the snow accumulating and knew there would be problems. He said similar adverse weather hit in 2018 and the snow stopped him from getting to work. He said: "I regretted not being able to help out three years ago. I'm happy that many people appreciated our efforts last night." He added: "I wanted to keep drivers warm, even for just a bit." Many drivers were appreciative of his efforts. Yuki Yamashita, 23, feared the worst when she got stuck in the snow. She said when Ishitani appeared, he restored her faith in humanity. A fellow driver shared some Habutae mochi - a traditional Fukui rice confection - with her to reinforce that faith.
Paris' Champs-Elysees to be 'extraordinary garden' (16th January, 2021)
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has said there are ambitious plans to transform Paris' famous street the Champs-Elysees. She said she wants to turn the 1.9km avenue into an "extraordinary garden". The Champs-Elysees is in the heart of the French capital. It joins the Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe. It is often called "the most beautiful avenue in the world". However, many Parisians believe it looks old. They want it to look more modern. Ms Hidalgo said she wants to reduce the amount of traffic on the avenue. She wants to cut the number of car lanes to make more room for pedestrians. She also wants to plant more trees to make it greener and more attractive.
The Champs-Elysees once showed how sophisticated and elegant Paris was. There were many car showrooms full of luxury cars, and chic designer fashion stores. It was a magnet for rich people who wanted to buy the latest brands. Today, it looks like many other streets in the world. It is full of international chain stores, fast food restaurants and coffee shops. It will take a decade to beautify the Champs Elysees. Work will start on it after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ms Hidalgo said: "We will redo the Place de la Concorde before the Olympic Games, then the full length of the avenue afterwards. It will be an extraordinary garden." The budget for the project is around $305 million.
Tennis stars enter Australia ahead of stranded citizens (18th January, 2021)
Australian citizens are angered at the sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are jetting in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chartering flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must have tested negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially designated COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so could not come.
The special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular consternation because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're halving the caps for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their entourage...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer claim it's just about the science".
Wristband lets others know your mood (20th January, 2021)
A new wearable device can let other people know your mood. The device is a wristband. It is called a Moodbeam and is made by a UK company with the same name. The wristband was designed by the company and a healthcare provider. The company wanted to make a self-reporting device to help doctors and medical staff. The healthcare provider wanted its workers to be able to monitor their mood. Wearers of the device can check their mood by logging in to their Moodbeam account. Information on their mood will be stored in the cloud. Employers and managers can also see the data stored in the cloud on a dashboard. This can let them know how workers and teams are feeling and coping at work.
The original idea for the Moodbeam wristband came from a worried mother. She wanted to know how her daughter was feeling when she wasn't with her. The company website says: "Moodbeam is built on the unfortunate truth that whilst how we feel is so important to our wellbeing, it's hard to capture, tough to talk about and often invisible....Moodbeam was created with the ambition to transform the way the world sees mood, by making it easier to understand and talk about how we feel." It added the device: "Allows for better understanding of how we feel, creates more meaningful conversations with those we care about and helps us lead happier lives."
Biden vows to repair global alliances (22nd January, 2021)
Joe Biden has promised to re-establish global alliances in his first speech as U.S. President. Mr Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President on Wednesday amid tight security in Washington. In unprecedented scenes, around 25,000 National Guard troops were positioned to make sure the inauguration took place without incident. In the first days of his presidency, Mr Biden will make several executive orders to change the direction of America's foreign policy. He will rejoin the Paris climate accord. Biden spoke about restoring America's reputation overseas. He said: "America has been tested. And we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again."
Outgoing President Donald Trump left office vowing to "be back". His parting words to the American public were: "Have a good life, we will see you soon." Mr Trump broke with tradition by not attending his successor's inauguration. In his farewell speech, Mr Trump said: "This has been an incredible four years. We've accomplished so much together. What we've done has been amazing by any standard." He added: "It's been a great honour and privilege to be your president. I will always fight for you....I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they will have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular."
Electric-car battery charges in five minutes (24th January, 2021)
Car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.
The new batteries could totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.
Job offers $30 an hour for eating and testing candy (26th January, 2021)
The sweetest way to earn some extra cash is on offer for those with a sweet tooth. A candy company in Canada is searching for people to taste and review its original creations for the sweet sum of $30 an hour. The company is called Candy Funhouse and it requires "candyologists" to test and provide feedback on its candy and chocolate products. The company currently has a huge range of 3,000 products but is always creating new sweets. The candyologists will be responsible for deciding on 10 new candies that will be part of a new line of Candy Funhouse-branded sweets. Candy Funhouse hopes to establish a global reputation as a quality confectioner.
The successful applicants will need a number of basic requirements and qualifications. The company states on its website: "Candidates should have enthusiasm and eagerness to try confectionery products. We are looking for honest and objective opinions on the products that will be taste tested." They will have to write a brief, two-sentence description for each product tested. Budding candyologists must be "passionate about confectionery," not have any food allergies, be fluent in English and have basic writing skills. They must also be U.S. or Canadian citizens and be willing to work in Ontario. The candyologists will "taste samples objectively" and "consider aspects of taste, texture and quality".
Fans get inside space bubbles for rock concert (28th January, 2021)
A band has played what is being called the 'World's First Space Bubble Concert'. The psychedelic-rock group the Flaming Lips played to an audience who were all in giant, inflatable plastic bubbles. The bubbles are called Zorb balls. The band played two concerts in their native city of Oklahoma. All band members were also inside their own Zorb bubble. There were 100 bubbles at the shows. Some of the bubbles contained three people. The bubbles may be one way for concerts to go ahead during the pandemic. Each bubble has a special speaker, a water bottle, a battery-operated fan, a towel and an "I gotta go pee/hot in here" sign. Workers refill the bubble with cool air if it gets too hot.
The idea for the bubble concerts came from the band's lead singer Wayne Coyne. He often uses a Zorb ball to roll over the crowd during his concerts. He decided that concerts would be COVID-safe if everyone was in a Zorb. He said attending a space bubble concert is "safer than going to the grocery store". He told the Rolling Stone magazine: "It's a very restricted, weird event, but the weirdness is so we can enjoy a concert before putting our families and everybody at risk." He added: "You see people excited, people being happy, and people really having fun....I think it's a bit of a 'new normal'. You might go to a show, you might not, but I think we're going to be able to work it out."
Organizers say Tokyo Olympics will go ahead (30th January, 2021)
Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."
The Games are due to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."
The year 2020 has been a tumultuous one for educators. Hundreds of thousands of teachers across the globe had to get to grips with online platforms to deliver their lessons. Millions of students were stuck at home doing their lessons via websites like Zoom. This has created an unprecedented transformation in education as technology has taken centre stage. The quality of education differed around the world according to the quality of Internet connections, the level of preparedness of teachers and their competence in engaging with the technology. It also depended on what kind of devices students had at home. Many students were deprived of lessons because they had no computer, tablet or smartphone.
The Education Ministry in Malaysia has rolled out a new initiative to help underprivileged children. Around 150,000 eligible pupils from 500 schools will receive a device to enable them to participate in online lessons. The Education Minister hopes to build on the success of this initial rollout to expand the programme. He said: "Apart from assisting pupils and schools in need, this pilot project is to find the best implementation method before it is proposed for expansion." The plans include enhancing educational television programming for students with no Internet access, and employing sign language interpreters to help the hard of hearing. A teacher said she was happy her government was prioritizing students' needs.
2021 to be huge for space exploration (4th January, 2021)
Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are predicting that 2021 will be a great year for space exploration. An increasing number of countries and commercial companies are investing in technology to venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Elon Musk and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their sights on space tourism and sending astronauts to Mars. What once seemed like science fiction is quickly becoming space fact. Such are the advances in technology, we might no longer be surprised at news of asteroids being mined, Mars being colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such as getaway weekend breaks to the Moon.
The year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists better understand the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE probe on January the 15th. This will study the collision of small particles in space to provide an insight into how planets originally formed. A month later, NASA's Perseverance rover will land on Mars. This mission will test for signs of possible past microbial life. NASA said: "Returning samples of Mars to Earth has been a goal of planetary scientists since the early days of the space age." In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Telescope, will launch into space. Its mission is to observe the first galaxies that formed in the early universe.
Man crosses rough sea on jet ski for love (6th January, 2021)
A British man who broke lockdown rules to be with his girlfriend has spoken to newspapers. Dale McLaughlan, 28, really wanted to see his new love Jessica Radcliffe. However, he was in lockdown in Scotland and she was 43 kilometres away on the Isle of Man - a small island in the Irish Sea. Dale was love-struck and decided he had to see his love. He bought a jet ski for $10,800 and rode it across the sea. He didn't realize how dangerous the journey would be. The sea was very rough and a huge wave washed away his GPS. He thought it would take 45 minutes to get to the Isle of Man but it took over four hours. For most of that time, he thought he was lost and had no idea where he was.
Dale was arrested by police and was sentenced to four weeks in prison for breaking lockdown rules. He said his adventure was worth it. He risked his life to see Jessica. It was the first time he had ever used a jet ski. He described his experience. He said: "The first time I stood on a jet ski was in that harbour. As soon as I hit open water, I thought, 'Oh my God'. It was terrible. It wasn't fun. I followed the GPS, but after half an hour a massive wave wiped it away. I didn't have a clue where I was going. I thought I was lost at sea. I was so scared." He added: "I broke the law, but I did it for love. I should never have done it. It could be called a crime of passion." Jessica says she loves Dale and wants to marry him.
Taxi driver offers free rides for singing karaoke (8th January, 2021)
A taxi driver in Taiwan is offering free rides in exchange for singing a karaoke song. Mr Tu Ching Liang, 57, is a big fan of driving, karaoke and of listening to people sing. Mr Tu has become famous for the disco lights in his taxi and his offer of free rides. It is easy to spot his yellow taxi. It has a pink neon star on the dashboard and colourful flashing lights inside. People can select a "karaoke" option if they use a taxi-locating app in the capital city of Taiwan. Mr Tu will appear on your smartphone screen. When Mr Tu's taxi arrives, he will give you a microphone and an iPad on which you can go to YouTube and select the song you want to sing. He says people have more bravery to sing at night.
Mr Tu loves his job. He joked: "No one is as lucky as me, walking out the door every day rushing to go to work and not make any money." He added: "I've been driving a taxi for 27 years, giving money as rewards for singing karaoke for eight years, and filming videos for six years. I've filmed over 10,000 videos." He told a reporter from the UK's "Guardian" newspaper that if people do not sing, they do not get a discount or a free ride. Mr Tu uploads his videos on YouTube. Some have been viewed over two million times. He has become a celebrity, saying: "I was on TV shows from 10 different countries. I'm an international influencer." His dream is to have singer Ed Sheeran as a passenger.
Identical twins are not so identical (10th January, 2021)
A new study shows that while identical twins can look perfectly alike, it is not a perfect similarity. They are not clones of each other. Scientists at the University of Iceland analyzed the DNA from 387 pairs of identical twins - babies born from a single fertilized egg. The scientists compared the DNA with that of the twins' parents and children. The geneticists looked for mutations in the early stages of development. A mutation is a tiny change in the sequence of the DNA that can occur when a cell divides. This change causes a slight difference in the DNA replication process. A single, tiny change can create differences in height, intelligence, eye colour and even in susceptibility to disease.
The study shows that identical twins do not share totally identical DNA. In about 15 per cent of identical twin pairs, one twin carried a "substantial" number of mutations that the other did not share. The scientists say this difference is important as it sheds light on the "nature versus nurture" debate. This is whether human behaviour is determined by the environment, socialization and upbringing, or by a person's genes. The research shows that this tiny difference, and not environmental factors, could be the reason why one twin develops different behavioural characteristics or medical conditions. Professor Kari Stefansson said a genetic mutation may be the source of a given disease or trait.
Harry and Meghan to quit social media (12th January, 2021)
Reporters are saying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have abandoned social media. The Duke (formerly Prince Harry) and his wife Meghan have reportedly said goodbye to their social media accounts. They want to focus on their new life together in the USA. The "Sunday Times" newspaper in the UK wrote that the couple have no plans to use social media for their non-profit organisation or for their personal lives. The newspaper said the couple have become sad and tired of all the "hate" they see online. They both decided to step down as active members of the British royal family last year. Since then, many people have attacked and criticised them on their Instagram account.
Harry and Meghans' main social media account was @sussexroyal on Instagram. They have 10.4 million followers on this account but have not posted any new content since March 2020. A source told the "Sunday Times" that the couple were "very unlikely" to use social media again. Meghan has spoken out about the harm social media can do. She was the subject of many attacks after she married into Britain's royal family. She said she experienced "almost unsurvivable" online abuse and cyberbullying. She added that she was the most trolled person in the world in 2019. This news comes as social media companies are in the spotlight for suspending the accounts of US President Donald Trump.
Free dumplings for motorists stranded in snow (14th January, 2021)
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Record levels of snowfall made the going tough for hundreds of motorists in Japan earlier this week. Blizzards, snowdrifts and frozen roads left 200 cars stranded on a highway in Fukui Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan. This spurred the manager of a branch of a local Chinese restaurant, Gyoza Ohsho, to get going. Keiichi Iwatani, 39, decided to feed those faced with spending the night in sub-zero temperatures. He delivered hundreds of gyoza dumplings, fried rice and crab omelettes to weary, anxious and snowbound drivers. Seven employees helped him to deliver the provisions on foot throughout the night to 300 hungry and relieved people.
Mr Iwatani talked about his relief efforts to the Mainichi newspaper. He said he saw the snow accumulating and knew there would be problems. He said similar adverse weather hit in 2018 and the snow stopped him from getting to work. He said: "I regretted not being able to help out three years ago. I'm happy that many people appreciated our efforts last night." He added: "I wanted to keep drivers warm, even for just a bit." Many drivers were appreciative of his efforts. Yuki Yamashita, 23, feared the worst when she got stuck in the snow. She said when Ishitani appeared, he restored her faith in humanity. A fellow driver shared some Habutae mochi - a traditional Fukui rice confection - with her to reinforce that faith.
Paris' Champs-Elysees to be 'extraordinary garden' (16th January, 2021)
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has said there are ambitious plans to transform Paris' famous street the Champs-Elysees. She said she wants to turn the 1.9km avenue into an "extraordinary garden". The Champs-Elysees is in the heart of the French capital. It joins the Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe. It is often called "the most beautiful avenue in the world". However, many Parisians believe it looks old. They want it to look more modern. Ms Hidalgo said she wants to reduce the amount of traffic on the avenue. She wants to cut the number of car lanes to make more room for pedestrians. She also wants to plant more trees to make it greener and more attractive.
The Champs-Elysees once showed how sophisticated and elegant Paris was. There were many car showrooms full of luxury cars, and chic designer fashion stores. It was a magnet for rich people who wanted to buy the latest brands. Today, it looks like many other streets in the world. It is full of international chain stores, fast food restaurants and coffee shops. It will take a decade to beautify the Champs Elysees. Work will start on it after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ms Hidalgo said: "We will redo the Place de la Concorde before the Olympic Games, then the full length of the avenue afterwards. It will be an extraordinary garden." The budget for the project is around $305 million.
Tennis stars enter Australia ahead of stranded citizens (18th January, 2021)
Australian citizens are angered at the sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are jetting in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chartering flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must have tested negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially designated COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so could not come.
The special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular consternation because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're halving the caps for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their entourage...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer claim it's just about the science".
Wristband lets others know your mood (20th January, 2021)
A new wearable device can let other people know your mood. The device is a wristband. It is called a Moodbeam and is made by a UK company with the same name. The wristband was designed by the company and a healthcare provider. The company wanted to make a self-reporting device to help doctors and medical staff. The healthcare provider wanted its workers to be able to monitor their mood. Wearers of the device can check their mood by logging in to their Moodbeam account. Information on their mood will be stored in the cloud. Employers and managers can also see the data stored in the cloud on a dashboard. This can let them know how workers and teams are feeling and coping at work.
The original idea for the Moodbeam wristband came from a worried mother. She wanted to know how her daughter was feeling when she wasn't with her. The company website says: "Moodbeam is built on the unfortunate truth that whilst how we feel is so important to our wellbeing, it's hard to capture, tough to talk about and often invisible....Moodbeam was created with the ambition to transform the way the world sees mood, by making it easier to understand and talk about how we feel." It added the device: "Allows for better understanding of how we feel, creates more meaningful conversations with those we care about and helps us lead happier lives."
Biden vows to repair global alliances (22nd January, 2021)
Joe Biden has promised to re-establish global alliances in his first speech as U.S. President. Mr Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President on Wednesday amid tight security in Washington. In unprecedented scenes, around 25,000 National Guard troops were positioned to make sure the inauguration took place without incident. In the first days of his presidency, Mr Biden will make several executive orders to change the direction of America's foreign policy. He will rejoin the Paris climate accord. Biden spoke about restoring America's reputation overseas. He said: "America has been tested. And we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again."
Outgoing President Donald Trump left office vowing to "be back". His parting words to the American public were: "Have a good life, we will see you soon." Mr Trump broke with tradition by not attending his successor's inauguration. In his farewell speech, Mr Trump said: "This has been an incredible four years. We've accomplished so much together. What we've done has been amazing by any standard." He added: "It's been a great honour and privilege to be your president. I will always fight for you....I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they will have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular."
Electric-car battery charges in five minutes (24th January, 2021)
Car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.
The new batteries could totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.
Job offers $30 an hour for eating and testing candy (26th January, 2021)
The sweetest way to earn some extra cash is on offer for those with a sweet tooth. A candy company in Canada is searching for people to taste and review its original creations for the sweet sum of $30 an hour. The company is called Candy Funhouse and it requires "candyologists" to test and provide feedback on its candy and chocolate products. The company currently has a huge range of 3,000 products but is always creating new sweets. The candyologists will be responsible for deciding on 10 new candies that will be part of a new line of Candy Funhouse-branded sweets. Candy Funhouse hopes to establish a global reputation as a quality confectioner.
The successful applicants will need a number of basic requirements and qualifications. The company states on its website: "Candidates should have enthusiasm and eagerness to try confectionery products. We are looking for honest and objective opinions on the products that will be taste tested." They will have to write a brief, two-sentence description for each product tested. Budding candyologists must be "passionate about confectionery," not have any food allergies, be fluent in English and have basic writing skills. They must also be U.S. or Canadian citizens and be willing to work in Ontario. The candyologists will "taste samples objectively" and "consider aspects of taste, texture and quality".
Fans get inside space bubbles for rock concert (28th January, 2021)
A band has played what is being called the 'World's First Space Bubble Concert'. The psychedelic-rock group the Flaming Lips played to an audience who were all in giant, inflatable plastic bubbles. The bubbles are called Zorb balls. The band played two concerts in their native city of Oklahoma. All band members were also inside their own Zorb bubble. There were 100 bubbles at the shows. Some of the bubbles contained three people. The bubbles may be one way for concerts to go ahead during the pandemic. Each bubble has a special speaker, a water bottle, a battery-operated fan, a towel and an "I gotta go pee/hot in here" sign. Workers refill the bubble with cool air if it gets too hot.
The idea for the bubble concerts came from the band's lead singer Wayne Coyne. He often uses a Zorb ball to roll over the crowd during his concerts. He decided that concerts would be COVID-safe if everyone was in a Zorb. He said attending a space bubble concert is "safer than going to the grocery store". He told the Rolling Stone magazine: "It's a very restricted, weird event, but the weirdness is so we can enjoy a concert before putting our families and everybody at risk." He added: "You see people excited, people being happy, and people really having fun....I think it's a bit of a 'new normal'. You might go to a show, you might not, but I think we're going to be able to work it out."
Organizers say Tokyo Olympics will go ahead (30th January, 2021)
Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently about whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place in July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it off." He added: "There are no certainties in life and what might happen with the virus."
The Games are due to open on the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare for authorities, who have to secure the safety of 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency amid a third wave of infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group in Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed with hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear during this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."
競馬を見ながらアテを作って昼飲み。3R買って、2R当たった。良かった。
今日も嫌がらせ弁当
今日も嫌がらせ弁当
今日の餃子店で目の前でみた餡の包みはバイトの子やったけど上手かった。
包み方の手際がいいのはもちろんやけど、餡がねっとりしていることに気づく。
さっそく、餃子の材料を買いに行って、ねっとり感を出すために水は使わず。
キャベツを生ではなく細かく切ってレンチンし、ホームベーカリーで練ってみる。
空回りしたので何度かふたを開けてヘラで刃のところに押し込む。
さて、明日焼こうっと。どうなるやら。
それにしても餃子を食べた日に餃子作るってほんま好きやなあ。
包み方の手際がいいのはもちろんやけど、餡がねっとりしていることに気づく。
さっそく、餃子の材料を買いに行って、ねっとり感を出すために水は使わず。
キャベツを生ではなく細かく切ってレンチンし、ホームベーカリーで練ってみる。
空回りしたので何度かふたを開けてヘラで刃のところに押し込む。
さて、明日焼こうっと。どうなるやら。
それにしても餃子を食べた日に餃子作るってほんま好きやなあ。
帰りに本店に立ち寄ってあずきと金時いもを1個づつ買う。
12時半出発、17時40分帰宅の食べログ大阪餃子No.1と
大阪ラーメンNo.2を巡る自転車B級グルメ旅でした。
疲れたので切れている入浴剤でも買いに行こうっと。
12時半出発、17時40分帰宅の食べログ大阪餃子No.1と
大阪ラーメンNo.2を巡る自転車B級グルメ旅でした。
疲れたので切れている入浴剤でも買いに行こうっと。
ようやくありつけた。小ぶりの薄皮餃子でした。
ラーメンを食べ終えて今度はず〜っと行きたかった餃子屋に向かう。
16:00オープンなので少し公園のベンチに座りハトを見学。
16:00オープンなので少し公園のベンチに座りハトを見学。
ギリギリ14:00に到着して有名店のラーメンを
それほど待たずに頂く。
それほど待たずに頂く。
4時に目が覚めて進撃の巨人エピソード3の続きを見て朝には見終わった。
少しうたた寝をしてそれから肉を入れるのを忘れた麻婆豆腐で朝食。お腹いっぱい。
少しうたた寝をしてそれから肉を入れるのを忘れた麻婆豆腐で朝食。お腹いっぱい。
天王寺まで行って来た。
一応こちらは街乗りクロスバイクなんだけど、おばちゃりに抜かされていくのはいつものこと。
密を気にせず運動気分で、ゴールのQ'sモールの中の成城石井でいくつか食品をゲット。
進撃の巨人エピソード３ １－２２
一応こちらは街乗りクロスバイクなんだけど、おばちゃりに抜かされていくのはいつものこと。
密を気にせず運動気分で、ゴールのQ'sモールの中の成城石井でいくつか食品をゲット。
進撃の巨人エピソード３ １－２２
