The Consideration of Water Buffalo
(I took a test and misunderstood the content because of many unknown vocabularies. So, I summarize the article here.)
Summary
Water buffalo have many stereotypes. First, they are considered as buffalo. But their shape is similar to cattle and color is gray-black. They have the greatest unexplored potential for increased meat production or milk yield, but this features are not know well. In Western nations, they are considered a vicious breed or an averse animal to humans, but in fact, they are the gentlest farm animals in the world. They are sociable, genial, and fond of humans. They are believed they thrive only water circumstance, but they can be alive in several weather situations, as long as adequate shade is available. As an experiment of them, they were carried in Florida because its weather seems to resemble water buffalo's original native environment. And, scientists acknowledged their commercial potential in the U.S.. Even though there were poor conditions feed, they took advantage of thriving and increasing their number better than cattle. Scientists also found water buffalo's meat has considerable market potential. Indeed, many subjects in a blind taste test preferred water buffalo meat to a corresponding cut of beef.
Vocabularies
1)averse
adjective
not be friendly
opposed
His averse opinion irritated me.
2)genial
adjective
be friendly
kindly, sincere
Dogs are one of the most genial animals to humans.
3)thrive
verb
to grow up
prosper, flourish
The company thrived year by year.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Week 7 the second reading journal
Name That Tune: Identifying Whale Songs For Science
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/04/143064682/name-that-tune-identifying-whale-songs-for-science
Summary
A Pixar's movie, Finding Nemo, shows an interesting scene. Dory tries to talk with a whale to ask where Nemo is, but the dialogue cannot make it even though Dory drawls to the whale. She says, "Maybe a different Dialect." A marine biologist, Peter Tyack says this scene is true. He is also a coordinator of "Whale FM", and he tries to recruit citizen scientists to identify the whale sounds. Today, scientists acknowledge whales has sounds, but scientists do not understand what the sounds means. The sounds is divided approximately 15,000, and Tyack hopes a lot of listeners who are interested in whale sounds, especially killer whales' and pilot whales' sounds take part in the study. The first step is that he and citizen scientists try to identify how these whales communicate and know how to categorize these whales' calls. He expects crowdsourcing the new experiment might lead some answers. He says the more people who participate the study, the better sense how reliable their judgments are.
My opinion
Not only this study, but also any other specific studies should rely on people who are not real scientists but knows something in detail. Tyack's trial is good for researching unknown things. Some of the opinions which non-scientist gave might not match with scientists' intention, but there might be couple of keen ideas scientists cannot imagine. This is a good opportunity that people can be a scientist and join a relevant study.
Vocabularies
1)drawl
:verb
:to speak slowly, especially vowel parts in English
:speak slowly
:He tried to drawl out a reply because I did not understand English well.
2)dialect
:noun
:a variety of a language
:local speech
:I could not understand a rural dialect in Japan.(To tell the truth, I AM a rural person.)
3)crowdsourcing
:adjective(?)
:being a state which large number of people assemble to exchange their ideas
:non-synonym
:I drew out an answer from the crowdsourcing investigation.
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/04/143064682/name-that-tune-identifying-whale-songs-for-science
Summary
A Pixar's movie, Finding Nemo, shows an interesting scene. Dory tries to talk with a whale to ask where Nemo is, but the dialogue cannot make it even though Dory drawls to the whale. She says, "Maybe a different Dialect." A marine biologist, Peter Tyack says this scene is true. He is also a coordinator of "Whale FM", and he tries to recruit citizen scientists to identify the whale sounds. Today, scientists acknowledge whales has sounds, but scientists do not understand what the sounds means. The sounds is divided approximately 15,000, and Tyack hopes a lot of listeners who are interested in whale sounds, especially killer whales' and pilot whales' sounds take part in the study. The first step is that he and citizen scientists try to identify how these whales communicate and know how to categorize these whales' calls. He expects crowdsourcing the new experiment might lead some answers. He says the more people who participate the study, the better sense how reliable their judgments are.
My opinion
Not only this study, but also any other specific studies should rely on people who are not real scientists but knows something in detail. Tyack's trial is good for researching unknown things. Some of the opinions which non-scientist gave might not match with scientists' intention, but there might be couple of keen ideas scientists cannot imagine. This is a good opportunity that people can be a scientist and join a relevant study.
Vocabularies
1)drawl
:verb
:to speak slowly, especially vowel parts in English
:speak slowly
:He tried to drawl out a reply because I did not understand English well.
2)dialect
:noun
:a variety of a language
:local speech
:I could not understand a rural dialect in Japan.(To tell the truth, I AM a rural person.)
3)crowdsourcing
:adjective(?)
:being a state which large number of people assemble to exchange their ideas
:non-synonym
:I drew out an answer from the crowdsourcing investigation.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Week 7 the first reading journal
Diner's Guide Rates Working Conditions Inside Restaurants
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/03/143015230/diners-guide-rates-working-conditions-inside-restaurants
Summary
A new restaurants guide book for consumers was published by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. This guide book is not for the plates. It is based on what the happening is inside the kitchen door. The 150 highest-grossing restaurants are in the book, not including world-famous chains such as McDonald's and Starbucks. The rate is decided by 5 categories: availability of paid sick days, opportunities for promoting within the company, whether or not the restaurant followed the ROC's sustainable practices, wages for tipped workers, and waged for non-tipped workers. In the terms of wages, the ROC United praises companies which pay at least $5 an hour to tipped employees and $9 per hour to non-tipped employees which the ROC considers the minimums as a liable income. A restaurant owner who received high scores says this is a good opportunities for consumers to know about the circumstance of restaurants. Because of gourmet guide books, consumers became to focus on only where the restaurant is, not who the cooks or dishwashers are. Generally, hosts and hostesses can be given a tip from consumers, but insiders, like cooks and dishwashers can rarely get a tip. Even paid sick leave are not paid for insiders well even though service persons are forced to be paid it. The number of restaurants in Washington D.C. whose workers should get the pay sick leave is increasing now, however, the owner says this law is not a complete one because it has a lot of loopholes.
My opinion
I had worked at couple of restaurants after my graduation. In Japan, the gourmet guide books are familiar to people to find good restaurants. And, I agreed with the new guide book because I also felt consumers who consider only foods increased during working. On the other hand, I could get enough salary, so I thought I was blessed with good circumstances. Interestingly, in Japan, cooks can get better salary than service persons because of their skillful jobs. Cooks in the U.S. faces severe circumstance, I thought.
Vocabularies
1)paid sick days
:noun
:a guarantee that employee can receive salary even if they have to be absent because of sick
:with pay
:I could get paid sick days while I was hospitalized.
2)loophole
:noun
:a means or opportunity of evading a rule or law
:escape
:Good lawyers know some loopholes in the laws.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/03/143015230/diners-guide-rates-working-conditions-inside-restaurants
Summary
A new restaurants guide book for consumers was published by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. This guide book is not for the plates. It is based on what the happening is inside the kitchen door. The 150 highest-grossing restaurants are in the book, not including world-famous chains such as McDonald's and Starbucks. The rate is decided by 5 categories: availability of paid sick days, opportunities for promoting within the company, whether or not the restaurant followed the ROC's sustainable practices, wages for tipped workers, and waged for non-tipped workers. In the terms of wages, the ROC United praises companies which pay at least $5 an hour to tipped employees and $9 per hour to non-tipped employees which the ROC considers the minimums as a liable income. A restaurant owner who received high scores says this is a good opportunities for consumers to know about the circumstance of restaurants. Because of gourmet guide books, consumers became to focus on only where the restaurant is, not who the cooks or dishwashers are. Generally, hosts and hostesses can be given a tip from consumers, but insiders, like cooks and dishwashers can rarely get a tip. Even paid sick leave are not paid for insiders well even though service persons are forced to be paid it. The number of restaurants in Washington D.C. whose workers should get the pay sick leave is increasing now, however, the owner says this law is not a complete one because it has a lot of loopholes.
My opinion
I had worked at couple of restaurants after my graduation. In Japan, the gourmet guide books are familiar to people to find good restaurants. And, I agreed with the new guide book because I also felt consumers who consider only foods increased during working. On the other hand, I could get enough salary, so I thought I was blessed with good circumstances. Interestingly, in Japan, cooks can get better salary than service persons because of their skillful jobs. Cooks in the U.S. faces severe circumstance, I thought.
Vocabularies
1)paid sick days
:noun
:a guarantee that employee can receive salary even if they have to be absent because of sick
:with pay
:I could get paid sick days while I was hospitalized.
2)loophole
:noun
:a means or opportunity of evading a rule or law
:escape
:Good lawyers know some loopholes in the laws.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Week 6 the third reading journal
Google Earth Shows How Dams Could Worsen Climate Change
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111128-google-earth-dams/
Summary
Google Earth gives us to show how danger the current big dams are. Recent climate change causes increasing water amount in some big dams. The constructors and the officials of these dams say they calculate the amount of water by using the past weather histories, but, some scientists warn the data are not so useful because the history is based on the history decades years ago. Scientists had checked any lands' circumstances by using satellite so far. But now, they can check by using Google Earth very cheaply. Google Earth is supposed to contribute several study fields from now.
My opinion
Google Earth was concerned the possibility of breaking privacy first. But, now it is used to check our planet not only by scientists, but also by us. Improving technology is really stunning.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111128-google-earth-dams/
Summary
Google Earth gives us to show how danger the current big dams are. Recent climate change causes increasing water amount in some big dams. The constructors and the officials of these dams say they calculate the amount of water by using the past weather histories, but, some scientists warn the data are not so useful because the history is based on the history decades years ago. Scientists had checked any lands' circumstances by using satellite so far. But now, they can check by using Google Earth very cheaply. Google Earth is supposed to contribute several study fields from now.
My opinion
Google Earth was concerned the possibility of breaking privacy first. But, now it is used to check our planet not only by scientists, but also by us. Improving technology is really stunning.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Week 6 the second reading journal
Sexual Violence Marks latest Egyptian Protests
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/27/142821477/sexual-violence-on-the-rise-in-egypt
Summary
After overthrew the Mubarak regime, Egyptian were supposed to have better life. But, because of the anarchy, Egyptian women face their sexual violence from riot police and protesters. On November 28th, 2011, the parliamentary elections are going to be executed. Protesters clustered around the center of Cairo, Tahrir Square on Sunday, and called for demonstration in advance of the elections. In just 9 days, at least 40 people were killed, a protester said. Protesters' and police's frustration became larger and larger, and then the bearing the brunt of changing dynamics were turned toward women. During the revolution, called 18 days, sexual violence to women were nearly 0%. Now most of women say they experience sexual harassment from male protesters and riot police. Especially that of riot police is cruel. They seem to continue the harassment until somebody warns to stop it. A woman, who was assaulted police, says the revolution occurred in Egypt, but it is only political one, not cultural and social one. Egypt is still in turmoil.
My opinion
I did not write about the sexual harassment in detail, but it was really cruel. The article said police beat a woman, grasped her breast and legs, touched her genital tract, called her a whore, and dragged her by her hairs. I met a Tunisian when I worked at a restaurant, and he said he felt happy because of the revolution in Tunisia. So, I expected that Egyptian also welcomed the overthrew the Mubarak regime. But I remembered I met a woman from Egypt in my dorm. And she said she is terrified the current Egypt circumstances. I think the economical qualitative difference is essential in the world, but I cannot accept this sexual harassment in Egypt.
Vocabularies
1)regime
:noun
:leadership of an organization
:dynasty
:I do not accept the current regime in Japan.
2)parliamentary
:adjective
:lawmaking
:congressional
:This parliamentary law is really serious for people.
3)bear the brunt of
:idiom(verb)
:to be exposed
:be exposed
:She bore the brunt of the incident, and then everyone blamed for her and called for a solution to her.
4)turmoil
:noun
:a state of great confusion, or disturbance
:chaos, agitation
:Japanese economy is still in turmoil.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/27/142821477/sexual-violence-on-the-rise-in-egypt
Summary
After overthrew the Mubarak regime, Egyptian were supposed to have better life. But, because of the anarchy, Egyptian women face their sexual violence from riot police and protesters. On November 28th, 2011, the parliamentary elections are going to be executed. Protesters clustered around the center of Cairo, Tahrir Square on Sunday, and called for demonstration in advance of the elections. In just 9 days, at least 40 people were killed, a protester said. Protesters' and police's frustration became larger and larger, and then the bearing the brunt of changing dynamics were turned toward women. During the revolution, called 18 days, sexual violence to women were nearly 0%. Now most of women say they experience sexual harassment from male protesters and riot police. Especially that of riot police is cruel. They seem to continue the harassment until somebody warns to stop it. A woman, who was assaulted police, says the revolution occurred in Egypt, but it is only political one, not cultural and social one. Egypt is still in turmoil.
My opinion
I did not write about the sexual harassment in detail, but it was really cruel. The article said police beat a woman, grasped her breast and legs, touched her genital tract, called her a whore, and dragged her by her hairs. I met a Tunisian when I worked at a restaurant, and he said he felt happy because of the revolution in Tunisia. So, I expected that Egyptian also welcomed the overthrew the Mubarak regime. But I remembered I met a woman from Egypt in my dorm. And she said she is terrified the current Egypt circumstances. I think the economical qualitative difference is essential in the world, but I cannot accept this sexual harassment in Egypt.
Vocabularies
1)regime
:noun
:leadership of an organization
:dynasty
:I do not accept the current regime in Japan.
2)parliamentary
:adjective
:lawmaking
:congressional
:This parliamentary law is really serious for people.
3)bear the brunt of
:idiom(verb)
:to be exposed
:be exposed
:She bore the brunt of the incident, and then everyone blamed for her and called for a solution to her.
4)turmoil
:noun
:a state of great confusion, or disturbance
:chaos, agitation
:Japanese economy is still in turmoil.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Week 6 the first reading journal
Scientists Bag Small Game In Bathroom Germ Safari
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/23/142720314/scientists-bag-small-game-in-bathroom-germ-safari
Summary
Researchers identified 19 different types of germs in public toilets on the University of Colorado. They realized most of them are from human skin. The detail unveiled by the new study. Researchers used to gather several bacteria from their own circumstance. Most of samples had been microscopic and unclear existences, but the new study was carried on by using a specific gene, and because of the gene, such tiny bacteria showed themselves very clearly. Then, researchers investigated how such bacteria spread all over the place. They acknowledged most of the bacteria were existed at the entrance door knobs of toilets, toilet seats, flush handles, faucets, soap dispensers, and the floor around the sink. The reason of dispersal bacteria seems to be human feces. As some considerable situation, the hand is unclean, or when people flushed toilet water including feces or urine splashes and a is aerosolized. Some of bacteria prefer to women's toilet because they like female genital tracts. The researchers say when people consider about cleanness very seriously, people must wash their hand very much after using a bathroom.
My opinion
I previously wrote about flies. This time, I knew the scientists who are interested in bacteria in toilet. I am really interested in scientists mind. And, I realized the most doubtful clue which contaminate various bacteria is humans' hand. I do not care washing hand well, but I try to do that right now.
Vocabularies
1)unveil
:verb
:to become clear
:reveal
:The new merchandise unveiled last week.
2)microscopic
:adjective
:very tiny
:invisible
His hobby is that he gathers several microscopic samples and see them at his room.
3)faucet
:noun
:devices for controlling the flow of liquids, generally water, from a pipe
:nozzle
:The faucets in the shower room was being broken.
4)feces
:noun
:waste matter discharged through the anus
:excrement
:I found somebody's feces at the ground in school.
5)aerosolize
:verb
:to become mist
:no synonym
:Some Japanese cooks use aersolized water to blow upon the dishes as a decoration.
6)genital
:adjective
:of or pertaining to the sexual organs
:of private parts
:Generally, genital tracts should be lurked by an underwear.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/23/142720314/scientists-bag-small-game-in-bathroom-germ-safari
Summary
Researchers identified 19 different types of germs in public toilets on the University of Colorado. They realized most of them are from human skin. The detail unveiled by the new study. Researchers used to gather several bacteria from their own circumstance. Most of samples had been microscopic and unclear existences, but the new study was carried on by using a specific gene, and because of the gene, such tiny bacteria showed themselves very clearly. Then, researchers investigated how such bacteria spread all over the place. They acknowledged most of the bacteria were existed at the entrance door knobs of toilets, toilet seats, flush handles, faucets, soap dispensers, and the floor around the sink. The reason of dispersal bacteria seems to be human feces. As some considerable situation, the hand is unclean, or when people flushed toilet water including feces or urine splashes and a is aerosolized. Some of bacteria prefer to women's toilet because they like female genital tracts. The researchers say when people consider about cleanness very seriously, people must wash their hand very much after using a bathroom.
My opinion
I previously wrote about flies. This time, I knew the scientists who are interested in bacteria in toilet. I am really interested in scientists mind. And, I realized the most doubtful clue which contaminate various bacteria is humans' hand. I do not care washing hand well, but I try to do that right now.
Vocabularies
1)unveil
:verb
:to become clear
:reveal
:The new merchandise unveiled last week.
2)microscopic
:adjective
:very tiny
:invisible
His hobby is that he gathers several microscopic samples and see them at his room.
3)faucet
:noun
:devices for controlling the flow of liquids, generally water, from a pipe
:nozzle
:The faucets in the shower room was being broken.
4)feces
:noun
:waste matter discharged through the anus
:excrement
:I found somebody's feces at the ground in school.
5)aerosolize
:verb
:to become mist
:no synonym
:Some Japanese cooks use aersolized water to blow upon the dishes as a decoration.
6)genital
:adjective
:of or pertaining to the sexual organs
:of private parts
:Generally, genital tracts should be lurked by an underwear.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Week 5 the 4th reading journal
Beer Or Sugar Water? For Flies, The Choice Is Pale Ale
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/25/142708527/beer-or-water-for-flies-that-s-an-easy-choice
Summary
Scientists in California analysed the flies' interests because they wondered why flies like beer. The content of the experiment was that they prepared sugar water and beer and they forced flies to choose one liquid. Generally, flies were told they like sugar. However, one of scientists, Anupama Dahanukar doubted this definition. She chose a pale ale beer in a grocery because basically it contains less sugar. She and other scientists were tried to identify any other chemicals which are liked by flies, not sugar. The result of the assay was that flies took a sip of pale ale. They probed that flies like a specific chemical, glycerol which tastes sweat but is not sugar. During the examination, scientists found a specific gene of flies. They created new flies which do not have the gene and tried the same assay-chose the two liquids. Those flies took a sip of sugar water.
In the case of beer, glycerol is made by yeast during fermentation. Dahanukar is interested in any other flies genes which stimulates flies smell and taste senses now. Meanwhile, other scientists begin creating more powerful repellents with the test's result which have never been on the market.
My opinion
This article was interesting. I understood the specific chemical which flies love. And I remembered the past experience after I read the article.When I worked at a small restaurant, I considered the small flies during summer time. Because they appeared mysteriously, and assembled around a beer server. I checked them by using an Internet website(wikipedia) and tried to exterminate them. The site said, "The flies like vinegar." After that, I created special liquid(including vinegar, water, and a little oil) to tempt the flies. The liquid worked very well(The process is that when flies assemble the liquid and sip it, they never fry out because of oil). I did not understand why flies like vinegar, but the article taught me the reason.
Vocabularies
1)grocery
:noun
:a (local) shop surrounding a small area
:shop, supermarket
:I always buy a box of cigarettes in the grocery near my house.
2)assay
:noun/verb
:examination/to examine
:trial, analysis/try, analyse
:I concluded the assay.
3)sip
:noun/verb
:a small amount/to drink something little by little
:drink, lick
:I took a sip of wine because this wine was very expensive.
4)repellent
:noun
:a stuff to repel animals or insects which are generally considered causing pest
:pesticide
:The repellent which I bought first time worked to mosquitoes very much.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/25/142708527/beer-or-water-for-flies-that-s-an-easy-choice
Summary
Scientists in California analysed the flies' interests because they wondered why flies like beer. The content of the experiment was that they prepared sugar water and beer and they forced flies to choose one liquid. Generally, flies were told they like sugar. However, one of scientists, Anupama Dahanukar doubted this definition. She chose a pale ale beer in a grocery because basically it contains less sugar. She and other scientists were tried to identify any other chemicals which are liked by flies, not sugar. The result of the assay was that flies took a sip of pale ale. They probed that flies like a specific chemical, glycerol which tastes sweat but is not sugar. During the examination, scientists found a specific gene of flies. They created new flies which do not have the gene and tried the same assay-chose the two liquids. Those flies took a sip of sugar water.
In the case of beer, glycerol is made by yeast during fermentation. Dahanukar is interested in any other flies genes which stimulates flies smell and taste senses now. Meanwhile, other scientists begin creating more powerful repellents with the test's result which have never been on the market.
My opinion
This article was interesting. I understood the specific chemical which flies love. And I remembered the past experience after I read the article.When I worked at a small restaurant, I considered the small flies during summer time. Because they appeared mysteriously, and assembled around a beer server. I checked them by using an Internet website(wikipedia) and tried to exterminate them. The site said, "The flies like vinegar." After that, I created special liquid(including vinegar, water, and a little oil) to tempt the flies. The liquid worked very well(The process is that when flies assemble the liquid and sip it, they never fry out because of oil). I did not understand why flies like vinegar, but the article taught me the reason.
Vocabularies
1)grocery
:noun
:a (local) shop surrounding a small area
:shop, supermarket
:I always buy a box of cigarettes in the grocery near my house.
2)assay
:noun/verb
:examination/to examine
:trial, analysis/try, analyse
:I concluded the assay.
3)sip
:noun/verb
:a small amount/to drink something little by little
:drink, lick
:I took a sip of wine because this wine was very expensive.
4)repellent
:noun
:a stuff to repel animals or insects which are generally considered causing pest
:pesticide
:The repellent which I bought first time worked to mosquitoes very much.
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