2023年12月11日(月
アルトマン氏 オープンＡＩのＣＥＯに復帰
OPENAI TO REINSTATE ALTMAN AS CEO
2023年11月22日のニュース
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What did other board members focus on？
- Media reports speculate on a conflict between Altman's drive to quickly expand AI services and a focus on safety by other board members.
Were almost all of openAI's employees for or against the board's dicision?
-Against the board's dicision.
Almost all of OpenAI's about 770 employees signed a letter threatening to quit and demanding that the board reinstate Altman and resign themselves.
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reinstate 復帰させる
chatbot
ｰｰｰ
U.S. tech firm OpenAI says it has agreed to reinstate Sam Altman as CEO less than a week after the board fired him. The company is behind the widely popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.
OpenAI made the announcement on social media on Tuesday. It refers to a new “initial board” of three directors who are working out the details.
Media reports speculate on a conflict between Altman's drive to quickly expand AI services and a focus on safety by other board members.
Altman was dismissed Friday, and by Sunday, OpenAI's biggest shareholder Microsoft said it was ready to hire him.
Almost all of OpenAI's about 770 employees signed a letter threatening to quit and demanding that the board reinstate Altman and resign themselves.
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★英語のリズム
announcement
[əˈnaʊnsmənt]
Cats /run /fast.
A cat /runs/ fast.
Cats are /running /fast.
A cat is /running /fast.
Cats have been /running /fast.
A cat has been /running /fast.
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2023年12月12日(火)
配送効率向上へ 商品の小型化広がる
GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES
2023年11月21日のニュース
Delivery businesses across Japan are grappling with a severe driver shortage. They will have another problem to contend with next year when limits on driver overtime take effect. Companies that rely on delivery trucks to get their goods out are responding by focusing on efficiency. They're making their products more compact so they can load more of them onto a truck.
Daily goods maker Unicharm says it used special technology to reduce the packaging size for its diapers for elderly people by 10 percent. Officials say this will likely slash the number of 10-ton trucks needed for deliveries each year by about 1,000.
Another daily goods firm, Kao, has taken a simpler approach. The company made the packaging for its cleaning wipes smaller by taking out some of the air.
Food and daily products maker CGC Japan trimmed the height of its cooking oil bottles by four centimeters without reducing volume.
2023年12月13日(水)
フィンランド ロシア国境の検問所を閉鎖
FINLAND SHUTS BORDER POINTS WITH RUSSIA
2023年11月25日のニュース
Finland has closed most of its border points with Russia due to an influx of asylum seekers, blaming Moscow for intentionally sending them. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the migrants have been transferred to the border by Moscow.
(Petteri Orpo / Finnish Prime Minister)
“These measures were considered necessary to protect Finland and our national security. We want to send a clear message to Russia. This must stop.”
Finland on Friday shut all but one border crossing with Russia. The Nordic nation cited a surge in Middle Eastern and African migrants at the border since August.
Helsinki criticized Russia, saying it is attempting to bring confusion to Finland. Russia has denied any involvement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regrets that the good relations between the two countries have been replaced by a “Russophobic position.”
2023年12月14日(木)
東芝 上場廃止を決定
TOSHIBA SET TO DELIST FROM STOCK EXCHANGES
2023年11月22日のニュース
Japanese industrial giant Toshiba will be delisted from the stock exchanges in Tokyo and Nagoya next month, following the approval of shareholders. The aim is for the company to rebuild its finances and turn its business around.
Toshiba held an ad hoc shareholders meeting on Wednesday to address the issue. An investment fund, Japan Industrial Partners, bought more than 78 percent of Toshiba shares in a takeover in September. Shareholders have approved the purchase of the remaining portion to squeeze out overseas activists. Toshiba is now set to go private on December 20.
Toshiba has been mired with problems since accounting irregularities came to light in 2015. The company faces the challenge of restructuring its finances and pursuing growth. It has to do this while shouldering costs of around 2 trillion yen, or more than 13 billion dollars, related to the buyout.
2023年12月15日(金)
巨大エネルギーの“宇宙線” 発見
SCIENTISTS DETECT 2ND-MOST POWERFUL COSMIC RAY
2023年11月24日のニュース
Astronomers say they've discovered a cosmic ray so powerful that only one gram of the particle would contain enough energy to destroy the Earth in theory.
A group of researchers from Japan, the United States, and six other countries made the announcement at a news conference. The researchers said a detector picked up something super energetic in May of 2021.
It was so strong that at first it was thought to be a mistake. But it turned out to be the second-most powerful cosmic ray ever detected, with an estimated energy of 244 exa-electron volts. The team dubbed the particle “Amaterasu,” after the sun goddess in Japanese mythology.
Cosmic rays are high-energy subatomic particles that rain down on Earth from outer space. The source of the Amaterasu particle remains a mystery. The scientists say it could have been generated by the explosion of a massive star. But there's nothing like that in the area of space the particle appears to have come from.
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2023年12月8日(金)
神社の絵馬もプライバシー保護
PRIVACY WORRIES OVER 'EMA' WISHES AND PRAYERS
2023年11月9日のニュース
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lately「近頃は～」
-> 過去形、一度きりの動作にlatelyは使えない
I haven't gone to the movies lately.
I went to the movies recently.
I went to the movies recently.
is in the spotlight
sticker シール
is preserving privacy－＞preserve = protect
pouch 「小袋、ポーチ」「（レトルト食品などの）パウチ」
people are increasingly worried that..
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The issue of privacy is in the spotlight at Shinto shrines in Japan, where visitors write wishes and prayers on small wooden tablets called ema.
Recently, some people have started covering their ema with stickers to hide their names and messages.
Some of the roughly 300 ema tablets at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture are covered with stickers. The shrine doesn't sell stickers, so the people who wrote on the tablets must have brought them.
Another shrine is preserving privacy in a different way. It's using small pouches instead of stickers. The shrine started offering the pouches four years ago. In the age of social media, people are increasingly worried that their secret wishes will be leaked.
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The issue of privacy is in the spotlight at Shinto shrines in Japan, where visitors write wishes and prayers on small wooden tablets called ema.
The issue of privacy is in the spotlight
at Shinto shrines in Japan, where visitors write wishes and prayers
on small wooden tablets called ema.
---
★recentlyとlately 「最近」
lately「「近頃は」<-過去形と一緒には使えない
I went to the movies lately.
Right, in this case you would say,
I went to the movies recently.
lately:
「近頃は～」一定の長さがある期間の中で、ある動作が繰り返される
「映画を観に行った」過去形、一度きりの動作にlatelyは使えない
lately > 現在完了形で使います。
I haven't gone to the movies lately.
recently ->
（一度きりの）過去形でも現在完了形どちらでも使えます。
- I haven't gone to the movies recently.
（という状態が継続している） - I went to the movies recently.
最近（一度）映画を観に行きました。
We don't really write these types of things out. I think most people want to keep them inside. Kind of private things.
I have.. It was a long time ago but I went to a shrine in Japan and I wrote out like, please let me get into the graduate school of my first choice.
Yes, fortunately, I did make it into graduate school and I was very happy about that. Somebody must have been listening.
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2023年12月4日(月)
米中首脳会談
BIDEN: TALKS WITH XI 'CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE'
2023年11月16日のニュース
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constructive
productive
on the sidelines of
in the Taiwan Strait
forum
[ˈfɔrəm]
bilateral
[baɪˈlætərəl]
---
The Biden and Xi meeigng happened on the sidelines of something. What was it?
-It happened on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Wednesday.
How did Xi Jinping describe the relationship between China and the US?
-“As the most important bilateral relationship in the world, China and the U.S. should develop in a way that benefits our two peoples and fulfills our responsibility for human progress.”
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U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have spoken face-to-face for the first time in a year. It happened on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Wednesday. They say they've made progress on bilateral ties. That includes resuming high-level dialogue between their countries' militaries and the leaders themselves.
(Joe Biden / U.S. President)
“To keep the lines of communication open, including between President Xi and me, he and I agreed that either one of us could pick up the phone, call directly, and we'd be heard immediately.”
Biden also said he stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He added that the U.S. remains committed to the One China policy.
Before the meeting, Xi said it was in both countries' best interests to improve their relationship.
(Xi Jinping / Chinese President)
“As the most important bilateral relationship in the world, China and the U.S. should develop in a way that benefits our two peoples and fulfills our responsibility for human progress.”
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★バイデン大統領の英語
“To keep the lines of communication open, including between President Xi and me, he and I agreed that either one of us could pick up the phone, call directly, and we'd be heard immediately.”
and we'd be heard immediately
★日本語の定訳では伝わらないニュアンス
Xi said it was in both countries' best interests to improve their relationship.
improve one's relationship
improve「改善する」? ではない
improveは「改善する」のニュアンスとは少し隔たりがある
「悪いところを改めて良くすること」
Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief. 「友情があることで更に幸福が増える」
abates
弱める, 排除する
[əˈbeɪts]
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2023年12月5日(火)
ナポレオンの帽子 ３億円超で落札
NAPOLEON HAT FETCHES OVER $2.1 MIL. AT PARIS AUCTION
2023年11月20日のニュース
What was the hat made of?
-Media outlets reported that the hat was made of black beaver felt in the traditional bicorne shape associated with Napoleon.
How many similar hats are said to have been owned by Napoleon?
- Napoleon is said to have owned about 120 similar hats.
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572 million
millionの前が３桁 > 単位が「万から億に変わる」
-> ５億７２００万
ｰｰｰ
was auctioned for a record 1.9 million euros, or more than 2.1 million dollars.
auction 競売, せり売り
memorabilia 記念となる品、思い出の品、形見の品
bicorne 二角帽子 ＜＞ unicorn 一角獣, イッカク
associated with を思い起こさせる
in 1815 when he returned from exile on the island of Elba.
* exile 国外追放, 亡命,
A hat believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned for a record 1.9 million euros, or more than 2.1 million dollars.
Bidding for the former French emperor's memorabilia took place at an auction house in Paris on Sunday. Media outlets reported that the hat was made of black beaver felt in the traditional bicorne shape associated with Napoleon. The auction house said the price topped the 1.88 million euros paid for another Napoleon hat in 2014.
The latest hat features a badge that Napoleon himself is said to have attached in 1815 when he returned from exile on the island of Elba. Napoleon is said to have owned about 120 similar hats. Twenty are thought to remain today.
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★大きな数字
A hat believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned for a record 1.9 million euros, or more than 2.1 million dollars.
1.9×million「１００万」>１９０万ユーロ
2.1×million「１００万」>２１０万ドル
572 million
millionの前が３桁 > 単位が「万から億に変わる」
-> ５億７２００万
572 million -> 572m =>5/72m
350 million yen （３億５０００万円）
278 million dollars （２億７８００万ドル）
350m 3/50m
278m 2/78m
★ナポレオン ★Napoleon
ナポレオンの肖像画が描かれた昔の金貨や大砲の名前、ブーツの名前、トランプのゲームの名前
Napoleon pie
I'm getting hungry...
Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in. じっくり考えなさい...
2023年12月6日(水)
大阪・関西万博 準備の遅れに懸念
ORGANIZERS MEET WITH PARTICIPANTS AMID CONSTRUCTION DELAYS
2023年11月14日のニュース
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How many countries and international organizations are planing to participate in the Expo?
-Around 150 countries and eight international organizations are planning to participate in the expo.
What is one of the reasons for the delay?
-Preparations for the world expo are behind schedule amid a surge in the price of construction materials.
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ORGANIZERS
[ˈɔrɡəˌnaɪzərz]
They're outlining the state of preparations, with a number of countries behind schedule in building their pavilions.
hinge on 次第である・にかかっている
hinge 要
Exposition 博覧会, 展示
exhibit
interior
[ɪnˈtɪriər]
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Organizers of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, western Japan, are meeting with international participants this week. They're outlining the state of preparations, with a number of countries behind schedule in building their pavilions.
Around 150 countries and eight international organizations are planning to participate in the expo. The representatives are meeting in Osaka on Tuesday and Wednesday.
(Dimitri Kerkentzes / Bureau International des Expositions Secretary General)
“The success of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai also hinges on the proactive and sustained engagement that you are already demonstrating.”
Preparations for the world expo are behind schedule amid a surge in the price of construction materials. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition hopes to accelerate construction by explaining Japan's support measures.
It plans to offer information to countries that have not yet been able to sign a contract with a construction company, as well as information on firms that handle interior decoration and exhibits.
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★長い文
It plans to offer information to countries that have not yet been able to sign a contract with a construction company, as well as information on firms that handle interior decoration and exhibits.
---
It plans to offer information to countries
that have not yet been able to sign a contract
with a construction company,
as well as information on firms
that handle interior decoration and exhibits.
---
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2023年12月7日(木)
大谷翔平 ２回目の“満票”ＭＶＰ受賞
OHTANI WINS SECOND AL MVP AWARD
2023年11月17日のニュース
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appointment viewing
the practice of setting time aside to watch particular television programmes
sensation 大評判の人
league
claim the title twice by unanimous vote
unanimous
clinch ... title
10 or more wins
in back-to-back seasons
due to an injury in his right elbow and a strained right oblique muscle.
* right oblique muscle 右腹斜筋
But his overwhelming performances in both pitching and hitting assured he would make MLB history.
ｰｰｰ
Major League Baseball sensation Ohtani Shohei has won this year's Most Valuable Player Award in the American League.
He's now the first player in MLB history to claim the title twice by unanimous vote.
MVP winners are chosen in each league through voting by the 30 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. MLB made the announcement Thursday.
In his sixth MLB season, the Japanese two-way star hit 44 home runs and became the first Asian player to clinch the American League's home run title. He also earned 10 wins as a pitcher. He became the first player in MLB history to hit double-digit home runs as a batter and record 10 or more wins as a pitcher in back-to-back seasons.
Ohtani missed games for nearly a month toward the end of the season due to an injury in his right elbow and a strained right oblique muscle. But his overwhelming performances in both pitching and hitting assured he would make MLB history.
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Major League Baseball sensation Ohtani Shohei has won this year's Most Valuable Player Award in the American League.
Major League Baseball sensation Ohtani Shohei
has won this year's Most Valuable Player Award
in the American League.
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★大谷選手にまつわる表現
Major League Baseball sensation Ohtani Shohei has won this year's Most Valuable Player Award in the American League.
・sensation
「感じ取った感覚」「興奮（を引き起こす人や物事）」
sensationとsenseの概念
sense「何かを感じること」抽象的な「感覚」という概念
sensationはsense「感覚（器官）」によって「感じ取った感覚」
sense of touch「触覚」
->それを通して感じ取った感覚 itching sensation「すごくかゆい感じ」
・Most Valuable Player
「ＭＶＰ」「最優秀選手」
value「（主観的な）価値」
worth 客観的で金銭的「価値、真価」
Well, I've seen otani T-shirts with the words the gratest show on Earth for example. He is appointment viewing, a player that people set aside time to watch whenever they get the chance. Some people even call hem a unicorn.
appointment viewing
the practice of setting time aside to watch particular television programmes