Baby Boomers Plan Their Retirement Careers

Retirement for the baby boomers is likely to be far different from what their parents experienced. Work will probably be an integral part of everyday life, both to meet financial requirements and to keep busy during an increasing lifespan. Workers approaching retirement should plan now for their pending retirement career. Most baby boomers (72 percent) say they plan to keep working in some capacity after retirement, according to a 2010 Del Webb survey. The top reason for working in retirement is to ward off boredom and keep busy, while financial necessity came in second. Other reasons for delaying retirement include self-satisfaction and enjoying the job. Some employees are planning to continue working well into the traditional retirement years. A recent Wells Fargo survey found that 25 percent of middle class Americans say they will need to work until at least 80 to live comfortably in retirement. If seniors will need to work during their retirement years, the nature of the job becomes increasingly important. During our first career we discovered what we are good at, what we like to do, and what we dread doing every day. This knowledge can help us prepare for our second act.     Source: http://news.yahoo.com/baby-boomers-plan-retirement-careers-181357539.html

VOCABULARY

1.      baby boomers (noun) - someone born during a period when a lot of babies were born, especially between 1946 and 1964

Example:  a television program that is popular among baby boomers

2.      pending (adj.) - not yet decided or settled: happening or likely to happen soon 

Example: the pending election

3.      capacity(noun) - someone's ability to do something; 

Example: a child's capacity for learning

4.      ward off (verb) - to avoid being hit by (something); to do something to try to protect yourself from something bad, such as illness, danger, or attack

Example: I tried different remedies to ward off a cold.

5.      Dread (verb) - to feel anxious or worried about something that is going to happen or may happen

Example: She dreaded making speeches in front of large audiences.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      At what age do people usually retire in your country?

2.      What do you think you will do after you retire?

3.      How much money do you think you need to retire with your lifestyle?

4.      Talk about retirement in your country.

Can Divorce Make You Sick?

Beyond the gossip of Demi Moore's hospitalization, just two months after announcing her split from husband Ashton Kutcher, is the glaring reminder: divorce can make you sick. "Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health," said Moore's rep in a statement earlier this week.  Flurries of unconfirmed reports suggest her "exhaustion" is code for substance abuse and malnourishment. Eating disorders, a late-night 911 calls, a seizure, a nitrous oxide binge, are the whispers around the web.  One 2006 study found that middle-aged women, in particular, are at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease than married women of the same age. Cancer and mobility issues have also been linked to the after-effects of a long-term romantic separation. But in the initial days and months after a divorce, the mental health risks are most threatening.  A painful split is also grounds for a relapse of bad habits. Eating disorders, long-under control, may resurface in times of stress. Most notable, substance abuse is found in higher rates for women during a divorce than men, according to a WHO World Mental Health study.  Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/demi-moore-hospitalized-divorce-sick-191400893.html

VOCABULARY

1.      Split (verb) -  end relationship  , they end a marriage or relationship with each other

Example:  The band split two years ago.

2.      Glaring (adj.) - very bad and very noticeable [= obvious]

Example:  a glaring example of political corruption

3.      Exhaustion (noun) – extreme tiredness

Example: He collapsed with exhaustion.

4.      Flurries (noun) - a brief period of excitement or activity

Example: The incident could create a flurry of interest in safety issues.

5.      Seizure (noun) - a sudden condition in which someone cannot control the movements of their body, which continues for a short time 

Example: He had an epileptic seizure

6.      Threatening (adj.) ­- to be something that is likely to cause harm to (someone or something)

Example: a threatening comment

7.      Relapse (noun) - when someone becomes ill again after having seemed to improve:

Example: She had a relapse and died soon after.

8.      Notable(adj.) - important, interesting, excellent, or unusual enough to be noticed or mentioned

Example: A notable feature of the church is its unusual bell tower.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      What makes a happy marriage?

2.      What are some reasons why people get divorced?

3.      What do you think about the people to get divorced?

4.      What are some dating and marriage customs in your country?

5.      Talk about divorced in your country.

The Ryokan Experience

Ryokans are Japanese-styled inns from centuries ago and are more than just a place to stay. They offer the visitor a chance to experience traditional Japanese lifestyle; from tatami (rice mats) covered floors and futon beds to Japanese styled baths and local cuisine presented in an authentic manner. They are a window into life in Japan in the old days. Ryokans originated sometime in the 17th century, and their primary purpose was to serve those travelling along Japanese highways such as the famed Tokaido road between Tokyo and Kyoto. They are typically stationed in a quiet, idyllic setting, often next to natural hot springs. While there are quite a few city ryokans in urban areas, seek out the ones next to the hot springs, known as onsen ryokan, for a tranquil Japanese holiday. The key to having a great time at a ryokan is to understand Japanese traditions beforehand. A quintessential ryokan experience would start when hosts greet their visitors at the street door. After the customary bowing, your shoes are replaced with slippers. According to Japanese tradition, it is considered impolite to ask for your shoes before the stay is over. Tea is served in a large entrance hall, where people can sit and talk, after which guests are shown to their rooms. A typical ryokan room is usually covered in tatamis and has a sleeping area, at times a step higher. With little furniture, apart from a comfortable floor seating made up of cushions, the rooms are aesthetic and minimal. The sliding doors open to a veranda with spectacular views of a manicured garden. Often, at the centre of the room, there is a firepit called irori. Most modern ryokan rooms are now equipped with television, a mini-bar and a safe for valuables. A blue and white-patterned yukata (cotton robe) is provided to guests, and during winters, a tanzen gown can be worn over it. Source: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/94387.php

VOCABULARY

1.      Authentic (adj.) - done or made in the traditional or original way [= genuine]:

Example: authentic Japanese food

2.      Idyllic (adj.) -  very peaceful, happy, and enjoyable

Example: an idyllic summer day

3.      Tranquil (adj.) - pleasantly calm, quiet, and peaceful:

Example: a small tranquil village

4.    Quintessential (adj.) - being a perfect example of a particular type of person or thing [= typical]:

Example:  He was the quintessential Japanese.

5.      Aesthetic (adj.)  - connected with beauty and the study of beauty:

Example:  the statue's aesthetic [=artistic] 

6.      Manicured (verb)  - to make (something, such as a lawn or a garden) look neat, smooth, and attractive 

Example: She spends her weekends working in her garden and manicuring her lawn.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      Tell us about your Ryokan experience.

2.      Discuss some of your country’s culture.

3.      Share your experience about other country’s culture.

Facebook Readies IPO Filing

Facebook Inc. could file papers for its initial public offering as early as next week, people familiar with the matter said, as anticipation mounts for what is likely to be one of the biggest debuts for a U.S. company. The deal, seen as defining moment for the latest Web investing boom, could raise as much as $10 billion and value the social network between $75 billion to $100 billion, said people familiar with the matter. A valuation of $75 billion would be below earlier expectations. Facebook's final valuation will be determined by a variety of factors, people familiar with the matter said, such as investor demand for social media, the IPO market and the health of the European economy. The website, which in less than eight years has attracted more than 800 million members, has changed the way people across the globe communicate, from organizing political protests to sharing baby pictures. Facebook's revenue is driven by its advertising business, as big brands rush to the site to interact with consumers through display ads and fan pages. Facebook has been able to increase its world-wide advertising revenue from $738 million in 2009 to $3.8 billion in 2011, according to estimates from research firm eMarketer. It isn't known if Facebook is profitable. Mr. Zuckerberg had been reluctant to push forward with an IPO. People familiar with his thinking said he has been fearful of the damage an IPO could do to the company's culture. He wants employees focused on making great products, not the stock price, they said. But outside forces are partly pushing his hand. Facebook executives began to realize in 2010 that Facebook would have more than 500 shareholders by the end of 2011, which would trigger a regulatory requirement that Facebook start publicly reporting financial information. Mr. Zuckerberg decided it made more sense for Facebook to go public and reap some financial benefit from an IPO, rather than stay private but have to release its financial information, said people familiar with his thinking. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204573704577187062821038498.html

VOCABULARY

1.     Anticipation (noun) - a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen 

Example: He looked forward to the party with anticipation

2.      Valuation (noun) - the estimated value of something 

Example: The property has a valuation of ¥ 10 billion.

3.    Revenue (noun) - money that a business or organization receives over a period of time, especially from selling goods or services [↪ income]:

Example: The factory lost revenue because of the strike by the workers.

4.     Estimates (noun) - a guess that you make based on the information you have about the size, amount, etc., of something 

Example: At a (very) rough estimate, the job will take three months.

5.     Reluctant (adj.) - feeling or showing doubt about doing something : not willing or eager to do something 

Example: We were reluctant to get involved in the project.

6.      Trigger (verb) -  to cause (something) to start or happen 

Example: The timer was set to trigger the bomb in exactly one hour.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      What do you think is the value of Facebook at present?

2.      Tell us about popular social networking site in your country

3.      Would you like to buy shares of Facebook stock should it go public?

100 days visit to 47 prefectures to woo back tourists

KANAZAWA, Ishikawa Pref. — while tourism in Japan has been sluggish since the March 11 calamity, a British couple recently completed a 100-day tour of all 47 prefectures to help bring foreign travellers back to the country. Jamie Lafferty, a 28-year-old writer, and Katy Morrison, a 29-year-old photographer, made the journey as part of the Travel Volunteer Project initiated by a travel agency in central Japan. Lafferty and Morrison were selected as "travel volunteers" from among 1,897 applicants from 85 countries. Magellan Resorts & Trust Inc. in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, launched the initiative to show the world through foreigners' eyes that Japan remains a safe and attractive destination. The agency had to do something: All of its reservations from overseas were cancelled following the March catastrophes. Fukushima Prefecture, home to the crippled nuclear plant, was part of their itinerary. The couple also visited Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in November, and dined on Sanuki "udon" noodles, a local specialty.  "If anyone is planning a second trip to Japan, or perhaps doesn't fancy the crowds that fill Tokyo, Kyoto et al., then we recommend simply coming here . . . there's some of its most visited shrines and temples, and the excellent noodles, of course," the couple wrote on their blog. "Basically it's all of Japan, in miniature."Their journey blogs have been accessed more than 50,000 times in the last four months. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120126f3.html

VOCABULARY

1.   Woo (verb) - to try to persuade someone to do something such as buy something from you, vote for you, or work for you.

Example: The company must find creative ways to woo new employees.

2.      Sluggish (adj.) -  moving or reacting slowly or lazily than normal

Example: Troy woke late feeling tired and sluggish.

3.      Initiate (verb) - to start or begin (something) 

Example: Doctors have initiated a series of tests to determine the cause of the problem.

4.      Initiative (noun) - a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem 

Example:  The mayor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in our schools. 

5.      Catastrophes (noun) - a terrible disaster 

Example: The earthquake in Japan last March was a catastrophe.

6.   Crippled (verb) - to make (something) unable to work normally : to cause great damage to (something) 

Example: Higher taxes could cripple small businesses.

7.      Itinerary (noun) - a plan or list of the places you will visit on a journey

Example: Our itinerary included stops at several famous temples and shrines.

8.      Fancy (verb) - to like or want something, or want to do something

Example: Sorry, but I don't fancy going out tonight.

9.      Miniature (noun) - exactly like something or someone but much smaller

Example: She's her mother in miniature.

10.  Access(verb) -  to open or load

Example: The file can be accessed by many users at the same time.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      Discuss the effect of the earthquake on Japan’s tourism.

2.      How is tourism in Japan before and after the earthquake?

3.      What can you say about the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant?

24-hour nursing 'patrol' for Elderly launched

The government said Wednesday it will launch a 24-hour "patrol" service to help the elderly become more self-reliant by facilitating in-home nursing care. The service, to get under way with the April 1 start of the new fiscal year, will be covered by public nursing care insurance. Such brief help for the elderly, for example lasting five to 10 minutes at a time, until now has not been covered by the insurance program. The government also aims to curb the ballooning costs of nursing care by allocating extra funds to welfare facilities that discharge residents to receive services at home and to caregivers who offer rehab services to prevent ailments from getting worse. Services at nursing homes are more costly than those provided at home. With the launch of the service, elderly people will be able to receive unlimited medical and nursing services at any time, even late at night, as well as help with cooking meals and going to the toilet, at a monthly cost of up to ¥30,000. The government also decided to raise the total fee for nursing care services by 1.2 percent to increase wages for caregivers, the first such amendment since fiscal 2009. The fees paid by the government to nursing care providers under the public insurance system are revised every three years. Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120126a6.html

VOCABULARY:

1.      Self-reliant (adj.) - confident in your own abilities and able to do things for yourself: not needing help from other people.

Example: Our aim is to teach our son to become an independent, self-reliant adult.

2.      Curb (verb) - to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect:

Example: The Government should act to curb tax evasion.

3.      Ballooning (verb) - to suddenly become larger in amount [= explode]:

Example: The company's debt has ballooned in the past year.

4.      Launch (verb) - to start something, usually something big or important:

Example: The organization has launched a campaign to raise $150,000.

5.      Amendment (noun) - a small change, improvement, or addition that is made to a law or document, or the process of doing this.

Example: I've made a few last-minute amendments to the article.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1.      How should proper care be given to elderly?

2.      Share something about elderly people in your country.