It's Fun To Know About World Flags, I Study English With It!

TED
Mari: It's Fun To Know About World Flags, I Study English With It!
( I talked about flags with my teacher. This is my TEDtalk. If I had a chance, I will talk about this. In this story,there are many (flag:○○), If you can use those in the Skype chat window, you can show flags visible emoticons. Please try it!! )

I am a saleswoman. My Job is to sale pretty accessories and key holders. We have many products and accessories attached with affordable rhinestones that many girls will love. However, I love flag charms the most, among the many products, somehow. It is because many people became happy seeing their favorite country flags. I noticed that there's no doubt they love their countries' flag, and I thought that I wanted to know more about it. l am a little bit crazy about learning it but I find it very interesting. 

Nowadays, I use a mug and a paperweight prented with the Japanese flag. However, in Japan, this is not a paperweight, it's called a chopstick rest. I sometimes see something to flags. For example, this is a famous Japanese convenience store is called Family mart. It looks the same with its sign to the flag of Sierra Leone (flag:SL). This is very popular pencil eraser, MoNo which all students would use at least one time. It looks the similar with the flag of Estonia (flag:EE).
My English teachers live in the Philippines. It's flag (flag:PH) is very similar to Czech Republic (flag:CZ). They were suprised because Many of them didn't know.
This is my contry's flag Japan (flag:JP) that is similar to the flag of Bangladesh (flag:BD) and Palau (flag:PW).  Those may look simple yet so lovely.
I think that you are wanting to know more.I just wanna say that this feeling is fun for me.  Probably, many people have flags they don't know. The 193 countries are members of the United Nations. The number of countries that Japan approved is 196.  They have their own flag. Other islands, many states, cities and committees also have a flag. Therefor, there are more flags than 196 in the world. Everything has important meanings. It represents using a design and colors.

Anyway, let's look at some flags.

This is the oldest tricolor in the world  flag of Netherlands (flag:NL). It is surprisingly a horizontal tricolor, it has big influences to other flags. 
Many flags have three stripes.
If all colors of Netherlands (flag:NL) turns lighter shade, it is the flag of Luxembourg (flag:LU).  If the white is on top, it is the flag of Russian Federation (flag:RU). If the blue replaces the green, it is the flag of Bulgaria (flag:BG).  Next is Hungary (flag:HU), the following are Gabon (flag:GA), Sierra Leone (flag:SL), it looks like Family mart for me, Yemen (flag:YE), Armenia (flag:AM), Lithuania (flag:LT), Germany (flag:DE), Estonia (flag:EE), the MoNo eraser, and  Austria (flag:AT).
There are many flags that the base color is horizontal tricolor and the national emblem or other symbls  are added in the center. 
Argentina (flag:AR), El Salvador (flag:SV), Nicaragua (flag:NI), and Honduras (flag:HN). Those are the same horizontal tricolor using blue, white and blue.  It's amazing!
Next is Paraguay (flag:PY), Croatia (flag:HR),India (flag:IN),Niger (flag:NE), Bolivia (flag:BO) where there is beautiful Salar de Uyuni, and Ghana (flag:GH). In fact, there are  many more horizontal tricolor and the national emblem or other symbls  are added in the center.
On one hand,speaking of tricolor, the most popular flag is France (flag:FR).
Those are three vertical stripes. It's Italy (flag:IT). The red turns the orange,  Ireland (flag:IE). If its turns inside out Cote D’Ivoire (flag:CI). Next is Belgium (flag:BE), where tasty beer are found. When the flag of Chad (flag:TD) turns lighter shade, it becomes Romania (flag:RO).
This is the flag of Nigeria (flag:NG).  If the flag of Mali (flag:ML) turns inside out, it becomes Guinea (flag:GN).
There are also many flags that the base color is vertical stripes and the national emblem or other symbls  are added in the center.
The flag which used the largest number colors is the flag of South Africa (flag:ZA).

On the other hand,Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had only one color which was green, however, they changed it in 2011. (flag:LY)
Flags designed with eagle or bird represent freedom and hope.
Those are Egypt (flag:EG), Albania (flag:AL), Montenegro (flag:ME), Papua New Guinea (flag:PG), Dominica (flag:DM), Zambia (flag:ZM),  Zimbabwe (flag:ZW), Uganda (flag:UG) and Kazakhstan (flag:KZ).
This is famous story. The flag of the United Kingdom (flag:GB) represents the flags of three countries. These countries are England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Today, I showed 31 countries flags. It'still less than half though.
But, I am happy to talk with you about flags. Truth is I was not able to speak English textbooks well around two years ago. My teacher sent me poems to practice reading. Those were originally for children but I was glad when the moment I understood them. I think that it is wondful for them also to study English.
Many people are learning it. I want to do with them.
Today's last stand, I will share something with you.
Tracy looked at the flag. The flag is red, white, and blue. It has 50 white stars. The white stars are on a blue square. The flag has six white stripes. It has seven red stripes. All the stripes are horizontal. They are not vertical. The stripes do not go up and down. They go from left to right. Tracy loves her flag. It is the flag of her country. It is a pretty flag. No other flag has 50 stars. No other flag has 13 stripes.
This is a flag of the United States of America (flag:US)
Someday, it will be good for us to be able to meet there.
To my teacher.  I'm studying English while having fun. Thank you always.

The game that can give you 10 extra years of life

TED
Jane McGonigal: The game that can give you 10 extra years of life
Summary
The game that can give you 10 extra years of life.
The speaker is a game dadesigner. She shows us scientifically validated it in this TED talks.
It relates post-traumatic growth behavior.
Some people get stronger and happier after a traumatic event. This is what was happening to you after playing games.
You must also have an experience. After you play games, especially a role-playing game, you can feel more creative, more determined, more optimistic, and you're more likely to reach out to others for help than your usual real-life.
Therefore, in your real-life, you go through it that you have an experience a traumatic event in these games.
There are four kinds of strength, or resilience power which is physical, mental, emotional and social.
The ways are to not sit still more than usual, have more mental focus and willpower, do a little bit tough like snapping your fingers exactly 50 times, etc, control your emotion, for example seeing something that makes you feel better, be gratitufull or touch.
Charnging these tiny goals makes your life span longer to seven and a half minutes.
It is because your resilience power is trained.
Then tackling these every day is to boost your willpower, you will live 10 years longer.
It is important to set goals and change it every day. This is the way you will not regret of your dying, and your life should be happy and fun like playing games.
Words in this story
determination,optomism - noun
determined, optimistic - adjective

Chieko Asakawa : How new technology helps blind people explore the world

Chieko Asakawa·TED@IBM
How new technology helps blind people explore the world
Summary
Nowadays, some technology that we commonly use are created for disabilities.
For example, the telephone was invented while developing a communication tool for hearing impaired people. Some keyboards were also invented to help people with disabilities.
The digital books that we are now using in our tablets or smartphones were developed almost 30 years ago for visually impaired people. A woman whose strong desire that she wanted to read books with herself created it, because she lost her sight. It helps many people who are especially visually impaired students.
She lost her sight when she was 14 years old because of an accident in a swimming pool.
She is always thinking that she wants to be freed from relying on someone and if she will be able to enjoy window shopping or find her friends before they notice her on the street.
Its thoughts led her challenge to crate new app.
The app is called cognitive assistance. It understands a person who is blind surrounding world and whispers to a person in the voice or sends a vibration to a person's fingers.
She hopes to tackle the work with you to succeed it. 
Being able to explore the new era with blind people and you will be great.
◆Viewpoints&Discussion
1. Are there other inventions that you know that are designed for disabled people?
Yes, there are. In Japan, in the stations and shopping malls, handicapped toilets are designed for disabled people. Nowadays it's called anyone toilet.(daredemo toilet) It means the multipurpose toilet which is used not only for disabled people but also for pregnant women, mother with children and elderly person as well. There is enough space to set like a wheelchair or a baby carriage and some assisting handrails which old people can hold on.
2. Can you think of new ways that can be done to improve the life of persons with disabilities?
Yes, I can. However, the way I think is not unique or oppsite. I think that disabled people  specially should not be treated differently.  It will just create a gap between the disabled and the able persons. It is better to help each other naturally. All people have something to not do.
3. In this new era, where the impossible can become possible, what do you think you can contribute to the innovation of technologies that are beneficial to people with disabilities?
I don't know a lot about new technologies. I want to contribute something as mush as I can, however I don't know how. I have a feeling that I want to study about new technologies. I think that a person cannot live alone and do all. Not all can do something of course, including the disabled people but as much as we can, I think one should contribute something to what they can do to others.
Words in this story
scuba /sku ba/ simplified /sim pli fayd/ navigates /na vi geyts/ augment /owg ment/

Copper Metal Kills Viruses on Contact

VOA
Copper Metal Kills Viruses on Contact
Summary
In ancient times, copper was used to sterilize drinking water or for medical treatments among Greeks Egyptians. It was recorded that copper alloys such as brass were often used in building materials. However, it seemed to understand the science behind it.
Nowadays, the studies are finding that copper kills many germs which are called pathogens or viruses on contact. Copper ions are able to punch holes in the cell’s membrane, enter the cell and destroy their nucleic acid, and then it doesn't mutate.
However, it is recently stopped using because of its costs.
It is more important for people not to get sick. It will lead to saving hospitals' money reducing fighting infection and treating with drugs.
Discussion
1.What is the most important use of copper in this article?
Although using copper for building materials kills many germs on contact, it has been stopped using because of its costs. However, it is more important for people not to get sick. It will lead to saving hospitals' money, reducing fighting infection and treating with drugs.
2.What are the most common viruses that is found in your area?
I think that influenza viruses are the most common viruses that is found in my area especially in winter. Sometimes, schools are closed to prevent infection.
3.How do you stay away from any infection?
I wash my hands and rinse out my mouth when I come back from outside. Sleeping well for me not to have fatigue building up, not going to a crowded place and wearing a mask will prevent me from any infection.
Words in this story
nucleic acid /  a ​type of ​acid, for ​example, ​DNA and ​RNA, that is ​found in all ​living ​cells and ​contains the ​genetic ​information ​passed from ​parents to ​children.

Saudi Arabian Women’s Sports Break Stereotypes

VOA
Saudi Arabian Women’s Sports Break Stereotypes
Summary
Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the Middle East. There is developing transportation and other infrastructure as modern as other developed countries. However, women haven't still gotten their right as same as men. In Saudi Arabia, women playing sports were legally and religiously forbidden. Recently, it started to accept, but people's thoughts haven't completely changed yet. Women don't have much opportunity to do. They can't keep being healthy. In Saudi Arabia, players seek to understand playing sports from its point also.
Discussion
1.Are women encouraged to play sports in your country? What kind of sports do they usually play?
Yes, in my country Japan, many sports are popular among women. They tend to like sports which are  popular among men, those are for example soccer, baseball, ice skating, golf, tennis and  etc.  In Japan, a new female football team was formed to compete in the Olympic games.
2.What does it mean when they say “break stereotypes”?
Stopping to think old ideas and accepting new.
3.Which is easier to become a woman or a man in your country? Why?
I think that becoming a man is easier in my country. Being a man will be on top in business and private scenes somehow. I think that men seek a freedom, it looked too easy for them to have it. Women basically have maternal instincts that control them.
Words in this story
stereotype /  a fixed idea or image that many people have of a particular type of person or thing, but which is often not true in reality

Earthquake Survivors Found in Building in Taiwan

VOA
Earthquake Survivors Found in Building in Taiwan
Summary
The powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck early Saturday in Taiwan.
In Tainan, 17-story apartment building has fallen because of it. More than 300 people have been rescued from there though it has considered that many people are still in .
At least 36 people have died. If they must be found within 72 hours after being trapped, a victim will increase.
Some rescue teams are helping search for surviors though there have been several smaller quakes since Saturday and people are forced to leave there.
It is thought that the damage was big in Tainan where there has been some old buildings is the historic city.
Discussion
1.What should you do the second an earthquake hits?
I think that it is important to leave the area where there is old buildings and near the sea. It is because old buildings might fall and Tunami might come.
2.How do you feel when you see and hear news reports of earthquakes?
I hope that a number of victims doesn't increase and Tunamu doesn't come. I pray for the victims.
3.Do you think an earthquake is the world’s scariest natural disaster?
Yes, I do. However, recently a typhoon is getting strong and often occuer because of global warming. In Japan, there is a tradition that expresses the scariest natural disaster. People fear earthquakes, thunder, fires, and fathers.

Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume

TED
Regina Hartley: Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume
Summary
This is what happen to all people who are employees and employers.
Employees can think that it will be on top to have a perfect resume. For example, it has a graduate of a big‐name college, parents are health and having some qualifications or teachers' recommendations.
Employers can pick  such person without seeing other resume.
However, is this correct? the speaker says.
Can they, who are successful their whole life so far fight in tough times from now?
Can you judge it when you just see their resume?
Nowadays, some studies found that even if people had experienced early hardships, they can result in growth and transformation. In the past, it seemed to become trauma and lead to distress though many of them are successful.
They think that hardships and severe experiences are required to become successful. They know they are who they are because of adversity and they thank relationships to help them. They believe their own power. They never give up on themselves. They have a sense of purpose how they can do differently to create a better result and can fight with passion anytime and anywhere.
However, those stories might not be written on the resume directly. 
What you can see on it will be that they couldn't finish college. They were job-hopping quite a bit and did  strange jobs you don't understand.
The answer is that a person who has such resume deserves an interview.
You likely lose to hire a person who can fight more.