Topic Reading-Vol.2306-8/4/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A crammed commute where men aren’t allowed　

Life is a struggle, especially for women in Mumbai, India. It is the second most populous metropolitan area in India with a population of over 21 million.

Mumbai Suburban Railway provides train services for over 7.5 million commuters daily, connecting suburban areas and the metro region. It is the most crowded commuter rail system in the world.

You can imagine how struggling it is for female commuters there. Just getting on and off those overpacked trains is beyond imagination. Even if one successfully gets on it, she needs to struggle just to survive in the crowd to the destination. There could be groping, pickpocketing, or robbery to female passengers. Can they protect themselves?

Here is a solution. Dedicated compartments for women and children under 13. There, women can safely settle themselves and travel without fear of being intimidated or attacked. But there is more to it than that. Since most of those commuters take the same train on their workdays, they come to know each other and become friends. They can chat, sing, or even celebrate other’s birthday on the train. Then, the train becomes a social place for commuters.

Enjoy watching the video and learn about commuters in Mumbai.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20180724-a-crammed-commute-where-men-arent-allowed

Topic Reading-Vol.2305-8/3/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nashville in the MLS: How do you build a team from scratch?

MLS? Major League Soccer is a man’s professional soccer league in the USA and Canada. It was founded in 1993 and the first season took place in 1996 with ten teams. Now, there are 20 US teams and three Canadian teams in the league. It’s going to add another franchise in Nashville, Tennessee in 2020. As of now, there are no coaches, no players, no permanent stadium, no training ground, no offices or even its name but the investor who initiated this bold move and a chief executive, Ian Ayres, recruited from England. He was a former CEO of Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League and was appointed to build and lead a brand new “soccer” team from scratch. That sounds like a big challenge even for a seasoned executive in the field. Another challenge for this English guy is to adapt himself to a new culture, such as fish and chips to catfish and fries or a lift to an elevator, not to mention football to soccer.

Enjoy reading an article about this bold challenge of a US billionaire and an English football executive.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44945728

Topic Reading-Vol.2304-8/2/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Dogs rush to help when owners cry, study suggests

How much and how well do dogs understand their owners or caregivers’ emotional state? In other words, how empathetic are dogs to humans? A new study found that dogs responded much more quickly when their owners said “help” in a distressed tone than in a normal tone. Among the dogs in the study, nearly half of them were therapy dogs but the rest were ordinary pet dogs. Since the word “help” is not particularly an enticing word for dogs like “meal” or “walk”, those dogs that responded swiftly most likely had sensed something unusual was happening to their masters.

Is this surprising to you? In fact, dogs are very attentive and sensitive to their owners and their family members. They recognize their family members by their voice and footsteps. Also, they seem to sense whether the person whom the owner is talking to is hostile or friendly by their owner’s tone and manner.

Why not? Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and they live very closely with their owners.

Enjoy reading and learn how dogs reacted to their owners.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/24/health/dogs-human-crying-empathy-study/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2303-8/1/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A philosopher asks: Is a longer life a happier one?

How long is too long to live? There are several aspects need be viewed to answer this question. What seems to matter first and most is physical health and ability. If you become physically incapable of doing things you want or need to do, you’ll have to depend on others’ support. That’ll make your life less enjoyable or fruitful. Also, if your cognitive ability declines, you could be mentally distressed for not recognizing people you loved or things you enjoyed doing.

Socially and financially, as the average human lifespan in developed countries extends, the social welfare becomes more burdensome. In fact, there used to be three or four people of working age, 16-64, for every person over age 65, there are two or even less to one soon in aging countries like the UK or Japan. Higher taxes to the young and less benefits and services to the seniors.

In any case, healthy aging is worth a fortune or maybe anything else.

Enjoy reading and think how old you want to live.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/23/health/living-longer-philosophy-partner/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2302-7/31/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A New Zealand company tried a four-day work week. It was a 'resounding success'

Why do most people work five days a week? Is that because a one-day weekend is too short, or a three-day weekend is too long? Is a five-day work week the most effective or convenient for workers and management teams? Do you produce more, or at least the same, when you have a three-day weekend?

These are difficult questions to answer. So, one company in New Zealand tested four-day work weeks for two months to find out if shorter work days is better for its employees and for the company. They were paid the same salary even for shorter work hours but were expected to produce the same outputs. The results were astonishing. The employees reported higher productivity, better work-life balance, and lower stress levels during the test period. Did they work longer on working days, or did they become more productive?

Enjoy reading and learn how people could manage their jobs in reduced work days.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/19/news/economy/new-zealand-four-day-work-week-perpetual-guardian/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2301-7/30/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is sparkling water as hydrating as regular water?

As shown in Vol.2291 on July 20^th, over two-thirds of your body is water. And nearly every part of your body depends on water to function. Water is needed to flush out toxins from the liver, bring vital nutrients to the cells, and keep the ears, nose, and throat humming along smoothly.

Indeed, water is essential for humans. Though it’s pretty much depending on your weight and age, activities, and conditions, at least two litter of water is needed to avoid dehydration. That sounds like a lot of water to drink. The good news is that water can be taken from fruits and vegetables, such as cucumber, spinach, watermelon, and strawberry. All these contain 90% or more water by weight. So, if you eat a vegetable or fruit salad, you also had a good water intake for your body. And if drinking just plain water is tiring, you can substitute it with plain or flavored carbonated water.

It is in the middle of summer in the northern hemisphere. Water is vital for survival.

Enjoy reading and learn a few options to take enough water.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/19/health/sparkling-water-hydration-drayer/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2300-7/29/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

World Bodypainting Festival: Models transformed into amazing artworks

This body painting festival is held annually in Klagenfurt, Austria. The 20-year-old festival offers opportunities the art of body painting for growth and networking through interaction with local art initiatives and the cultural institutions of the region. There are awards in 12 different categories, such as airbrushing, special effects and face painting.

What is unique and distinct about this art festival is that it’s not just artists’ painting human models, but the painted and decorated models are also part of the artwork. In that sense, it may be more like a fashion show rather than a conventional art festival.

Enjoy seeing the stunning photos and think if you want to see the festival next year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-44847904