Topic Reading-Vol.1937-7/31/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Where the elderly take care of each other -- because no one else will

There seems to be another way to develop new careers in this fast-aging society, Japan.  Care-giving for elderly people, but not by young people but by seniors who are looking for another career or chance-to-contribute after their own retirement.

“Seniors take care of other seniors” may sound a little odd, but if you look at the Japan’s population and demography now and the future, there is no other way around to cope with this situation, unless they accept more foreign workers to fill the roles.

Gig economy (Vol.1937, yesterday) is a work style to do various jobs at a time, but this “Seniors-help-other-seniors” seems more like a life style for the second life. Either case, it’s not just for money but also for the value of life.

Enjoy reading and thinking what you would be interested in doing when you retire for the first time. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/22/asia/japan-nursing-home-old-workers/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1936-7/30/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The gig economy of the 18^th century

“gig economy?” It’s a working style doing temporary or separate jobs when available and getting paid separately, instead of working for one employer. Some people do an additional job to just to make a living and that’s normal. But thanks to the sharing economy and networking platforms, there are more people out there who choose not to commit themselves to just one job but to be engaged in various jobs. Why?

Some people feel more comfortable doing the things they like. Others enjoy building different relationships, reputations or satisfactions by other types of jobs. It seems that social and cultural value and aspiration drive people to do more than one thing. And this is not a new style of working. Even some people in the 18^th century took more than one job for living and fun.

Gig economy surely keeps people busy with the tasks that others need help. It sounds complementary and may create new opportunities to those who want to do other things.

Enjoy reading and thinking if you’re interested in doing multiple jobs.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170721-the-gig-economy-of-the-18th-century

Topic Reading-Vol.1935-7/29/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Shenzhen's never-ending skyscraper boom

China’s economy is somewhat slowing down but it is still growing. But which city in China do you think is the richest? Shanghai or Beijing, or Hong Kong if included?

It’s Shenzhen. This economically huge but geographically small city is located immediately north of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Thanks to high-tech industry, this booming city has the highest per capita GDP in China.

In fact, Shenzhen was ranked number one in the mainland’s most expensive property market in 2016. Because of the soaring land prices, Shenzhen has been building more sky scrapers than any other city or even country for the last few years, maybe more than what businesses need.

Enjoy reading and thinking if google map helps you preview the place you are looking for in this 3-D city.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/23/architecture/shenzhen-skyscraper/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1934-7/28/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why Switzerland never takes sides?

Modern Switzerland was formed in 1848, though its history dates back to the 13th century. This small country in the Alps is known for a few distinctive characteristics.

Geographically, it is a landlocked country, so they have army and air force that mainly consist of conscripts or volunteers but no navy. This military is solely for defense as the country is strictly neutral. Politically, it adopts direct democracy. Diplomatically, it is extremely independent. Though it has the United Nations offices in Geneva, the nation became a member of the UN in 2002. It isn’t an EU member state and maintains its own currency, Swiss franc. Though German is the language spoken the most, there are three other official languages in the country, French, Italian and Romansh for only eight million plus population.

How has this small country remained neutral and been free from wars for centuries?

Enjoy reading and learning what it’s like to stay neutral.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170717-the-country-that-cant-choose-a-side

Topic Reading-Vol.1933-7/27/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Watch your waste: The problem with airline food and packaging

Do you always finish everything served on your flight? With just a few exceptions, such as fancy wine in the first class, coffee or tea in any cabin, almost everything served on a flight is individually packaged. This means anything unfinished becomes garbage. As there are thousands of flights in the sky today and that number is increasing almost every day, how much food waste is being, and will be produced in the air daily?

Because of customer satisfaction, competition, low cabin air-pressure and food safety regulations, meals served on the flight are quite different from the ones you find on the ground. And plenty of food is stocked to make sure all the passengers are fed, even though there are always quite a few passengers who decline to eat. Though new technologies are going to help reduce such waste by more accurately predicting what and how much should be served on each flight, there still is quite a lot of food waste discarded from each flight.

What about preorder meals or in-flight convenience store?

Enjoy reading and thinking why such dish meals, mostly salty and greasy, not just sandwiches, are served on the flight in the first place.

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airlines-cabin-waste/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1932-7/26/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Disney reveals plans for 'Star Wars' immersive hotel

There are games, toys and costumes beyond screens. That’s quite norm for any big hit movie and Star Wars is no exception. And ever since the movie franchise was acquired by Disney, the universe of the movie is further expanding at a speed of light. New episodes are being produced not only to entice hardcore Star Wars fans but also to create new fans in younger generations. Also, the Star Wars-themed lands are expected to open in 2019. And now an immersive "Star Wars"-themed hotel in Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

It looks like Hollywood is the place to invest, or bet, money on producing movies and Orlando is the place to reap the fruits. And Disney does it well and entertain more people.

What’s wrong with Disneyization?

Enjoy reading and thinking which character’s costume you’d be wearing if you stay in the hotel.

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/star-wars-hotel-disney-world/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1931-7/25/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Earth is becoming 'Planet Plastic'

Convenient and inexpensive. Over eight billion tons of plastic products have been produced in the last 65 years. Plastic is so easy to be produced, used and thrown away but so hard to be recycled, incinerated, or biodegraded. Once the plastic product is made, most of them are used in a very short time, like plastic shopping bags or packages. Then they are thrown away or collected with quite a lot of effort. But less than 10% of such discarded plastic is recycled, and most of them are used only once. The rest goes to landfills or floats in the oceans and seas.

While Elon Musk’s Space X is trying to reuse rocket multiple times, plastic bags are reused only once in the best case. Is rocket science needed to reduce or reuse plastic products?

Enjoy reading and thinking what the Planet Plastic is going to be like.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40654915