Presentation and Purchasing

People often choose products not because of what they are, but because of where they are.

Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior.

Customers will occasionally buy products not because they want them but because of how they are presented to them.

Many of the actions we take each day are shaped not by purposeful drive and choice but by the most obvious option.

Habits can be easier to change in a new environment because you are not fighting against old cues.

Clear, J. (2019). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Habit stacking

Habit stacking is a strategy you can use to pair a new habit with a current habit.

Habit stacking works best when the cue is highly specific and immediately actionable. Many people select cues that are too vague.

Clear, J. (2019). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

緡

一蚊並非源於一文錢

女性的坎坷

三寸金蓮

芭蕾舞鞋

Risks of colonoscopy

Although colonoscopy is a safe procedure in general speaking, risks exist. Risks include perforation, bleeding, complications of sedation, post-polypectomy coagulation syndrome, and rarely splenic rupture. In fact, complications of colonoscopy, particularly perforation or hemorrhage, occur most commonly in patients who undergo polypectomy. Hemorrhage after removal of a polyp is called post-polypectomy bleeding. Bleeding can occur immediately following polypectomy or be delayed up to thirty days. The risk is related to the type and size of polyp, the technique of polypectomy, and the coagulation status of the patient. In most of cases, postpolypectomy bleeding can be controlled endoscopically.

Fisher, D. A., Parra-Blanco, A., Tolliver, K. A., Feagins, L. A., Witt, D. M., Shioji, K., Liaquat, H., Hui, A. J., Shiffman, M. L., Anderson, M. A., Ferrari, E., Darvish-Kazem, S., Acosta, R. D., Ootani, A., Gibbs, D. H., Waye, J. D., Sawhney, M. S., Kim, H. S., Giorgio, P. D., … Yousfi, M. (2018, November 1). Colonoscopy, polypectomy, and the risk of bleeding. Medical Clinics of North America. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025712518300944?via%3Dihub

Hong, S. P. (2012, September). How do I manage post-polypectomy bleeding?. Clinical endoscopy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3429752/

Quantum computing and AI

Quantum computing and artificial intelligence are both transformational technologies that can enhance each other’s capabilities and applications. Quantum computing is the area of study focused on developing computer technology based on the principles of quantum theory, which can perform tasks much faster and more accurately than classical computers. Artificial intelligence is the field of computer science that aims to create machines and systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and decision making. Quantum computing can provide a computation boost to artificial intelligence, enabling it to tackle more complex problems in many fields in business and science. Artificial intelligence can also help quantum computing by providing error correction and optimization algorithms. Some of the potential applications of quantum artificial intelligence are:

Quantum machine learning: This is the use of quantum algorithms to enhance the performance and efficiency of machine learning tasks, such as classification, regression, clustering, and reinforcement learning. Quantum machine learning can leverage the advantages of quantum computing, such as superposition, entanglement, and interference, to process large and complex data sets, speed up training and inference, and improve accuracy and generalization.

Quantum optimization: This is the use of quantum algorithms to solve optimization problems, such as finding the minimum or maximum of a function, or the best configuration of a system. Optimization problems are ubiquitous in many domains, such as logistics, scheduling, finance, and engineering. Quantum optimization can exploit the features of quantum computing, such as quantum annealing, quantum walks, and quantum adiabatic algorithms, to find optimal solutions faster and more reliably than classical methods.

Quantum cryptography: This is the use of quantum physics to secure the communication and transmission of information. Quantum cryptography can use quantum phenomena, such as quantum key distribution, quantum random number generation, and quantum digital signatures, to create unbreakable encryption schemes, detect eavesdropping, and verify authenticity.

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algorithm: a procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation

regression: a functional relationship between two or more correlated variables that is often empirically determined from data and is used especially to predict values of one variable when given values of the others

clustering: the task of dividing the unlabeled data or data points into different clusters such that similar data points fall in the same cluster than those which differ from the others.

entanglement: something that entangles, confuses, or ensnares

inference: the act of passing from statistical sample data to generalizations usually with calculated degrees of certainty

ubiquitous: existing or being everywhere at the same time

quantum annealing: an optimization process for finding the global minimum of a given objective function over a given set of candidate solutions, by a process using quantum fluctuations.

eavesdropping: the act of secretly listening to something private

www.merriam-webster.com

www.analyticsvidhya.com

wikipedia.org

日語漢字

町（まち），在和語中可指市區、街區、都市內的一小部分區域，亦可指小規模的都市或市鎮。

wikipedia.org

酒精與體溫過低

酒精會導致體溫過低，這是一種危險的情況。體溫降至攝氏 35 度以下便可界定為體溫過低。 酒精會擴張血管並導致出汗，從而影響身體調節溫度的能力。 這會讓你失去熱量的速度快於產生熱量的速度，尤其是在寒冷的環境中。 酒精也會損害您的判斷力和意識，使您無法注意到體溫過低的跡像或採取適當的行動來讓自己和暖起來。 體溫過低會導致嚴重的併發症，例如心臟病發作、昏迷和死亡。 因此，適量飲酒並避免過量飲酒非常重要，尤其是在寒冷的天氣。 如果您懷疑有人體溫過低，請撥打當地的緊急電話號碼，並嘗試將他們轉移到溫暖的地方並脫掉濕衣服。

Help with Google Translate

Alcohol can cause hypothermia, which is a dangerous condition where your body temperature drops below 35 degree of Celsius. Alcohol affects your body’s ability to regulate its temperature by dilating your blood vessels and making you sweat. This can make you lose heat faster than you can produce it, especially in cold environments. Alcohol also impairs your judgment and awareness, which can prevent you from noticing the signs of hypothermia or taking appropriate actions to warm yourself up. Hypothermia can lead to serious complications, such as heart attack, coma, and death. Therefore, it is important to drink responsibly and avoid excessive alcohol consumption, especially in cold weather. If you suspect someone has hypothermia, call your local emergency number and try to move them to a warm place and remove their wet clothes.

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冷的時候喝些酒精飲料會讓你覺得自己正逐漸變暖。看起來也像是這樣，酒精令皮膚表層充血，讓你臉紅，你碰碰自己的臉，也會感到它變熱。但問題在於，血液已經離開你身體的主要部位，所以實際上你的核心溫度下降了。

如果你在室內，少量的酒並不會對核心體溫影響太大，不適感會逐漸減少。真正的問題是，在戶外，酒精促使血液流向表皮，所產生的熱感不能長久維持。在大量攝入酒精後進入寒冷環境，可能發生危險：酒精會減少身體自發的寒顫效應，減少對寒冷的感知和防範。

酒精讓你體表溫度上升，因此你覺得暖和，但你的核心體溫可能下降。過量酒精會增加你體溫過低的風險。

bbc.com

Fire and seeds

Some seeds need fire to germinate, which means to start growing into new plants. These seeds are called pyrophytic or fire-loving seeds, and they belong to plants that have adapted to survive and thrive in fire-prone habitats. Fire can help these seeds by breaking their hard coating, releasing nutrients from the ash, clearing the competition, and creating favorable conditions for growth. Some examples of plants that have fire-activated seeds are the lodgepole pine, the eucalyptus, the banksia, the royal poinciana, and the callistemon.

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Illustrated Depth of Field

Changing the aperture of a lens changes depth of field (DOF). The dotted black lines show how well the lens can focus the image. As an object moves away from the best focus position (where the dotted lines cross), object details move into a wider area of the cone (three dimensional imagination). The wider the spread of the cone, the more the image blurs into the surroundings.

Modified and simplified from edmundoptics.com

Izanagi's Spear and Japanese Mythology

從前，男女神 Izanagi 和 Izanami 從高天原來到水世界創造陸地。 Izanagi的「槍」中的水滴凝固在現在稱為日本的土地上，Izanami 和 Izanagi 隨後在這片土地上安置了神。

Once upon a time, the male and female deities Izanagi and Izanami came down to a watery world from Takamagahara to create land. Droplets from Izanagi's 'spear' solidified into the land now known as Japan, and Izanami and Izanagi then populated it with kami.

Morgan, K., & Milner, R. (2018). Kyoto. Lonely Planet Global.

My Dark Age

Algae

Film

Dim Lighting

CCTV

盧老師〈星星的話〉

「朋友呀！謝謝你的愛護，更高與見到你，不過，你真的改變了不少。別以為是什麼污濁環境困擾你，而使你改變，而是你自己的思想改變，只要有堅強的意志，甚麼濁氣也不能沾染你、俘虜你。現在的你，已給自卑、懦弱及矛盾所籠罩。朋友，醒來吧，不要再怨恨環境，小心尋回你自己。我願伴著你去找，但願我那絲銀光，使你看得清楚些。」

小思

一九五七年

辦公室政治，一點也不懂，也不屑去學。不去學，可能會帶來禍害，可能會被人陷害，但真我誠可貴。工作已經夠忙碌，只能默默耕耘。沉默是金，不慎言弊病多。要多思考別人說話背後的用意，才能在職場生存。

Flash Exposure

Flash, compulsory

Reduction of flash output

The object is too dark.

Origin

According to a Greek myth, the Milky Way was created when Hera, the wife of Zeus, pushed away his son Heracles, who was suckling on her breast, and some drops of milk spilled into the sky. The word “galaxy” itself comes from the Greek word for "milk".

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Incomplete sleep cycle and napping

An incomplete sleep cycle can make you feel sleepy during the day. A sleep cycle is a period of about 90 minutes that consists of four stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and one stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Each stage has different characteristics and functions for your brain and body. 

However, if your sleep cycle is interrupted by factors such as noise, light, stress, or medical conditions, you may not be able to progress through all the stages of sleep or get enough sleep cycles. This can result in sleep deprivation, which can cause daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, mood changes, and increased risk of accidents and health problems.

To avoid incomplete sleep cycles and improve your sleep quality, you can try the following tips:

I) Stick to a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends and holidays.

II) Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and heavy meals close to bedtime, as they can interfere with your sleep quality and duration.

III) Create a comfortable and relaxing sleep environment, with minimal noise, light, and temperature.

IV) Follow a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading, listening to soothing music, or meditating, to help you unwind and prepare for sleep.

V) Avoid using electronic devices, such as phones, computers, and TVs, at least an hour before bed, as they can emit blue light that can suppress your melatonin production and disrupt your circadian rhythm.

A nap is a short period of sleep that usually occurs during the day. Napping can have various benefits, such as improving alertness, mood, memory, and reducing stress. However, napping can also have some drawbacks, such as interfering with your nighttime sleep, causing grogginess, or affecting your health.

The relationship between napping and sleep cycles is complex and depends on several factors, such as the timing, duration, and quality of your naps and your nocturnal sleep. Generally speaking, the best time to take a nap is in the early to mid-afternoon, when most people experience a natural decline in energy and alertness. The best duration for a nap is between 10 and 30 minutes, which allows you to get some light and REM sleep without entering deep NREM sleep. This can help you wake up feeling refreshed and alert without experiencing sleep inertia (the feeling of grogginess and disorientation after waking up from a deep sleep).

Longer naps can have the opposite effect, as they can cause more sleep inertia and reduce your sleep drive at night. Shorter naps may not be enough to provide any significant benefits.

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日本古代的漢字應用

日本古代使用了中國漢字，但也有自己的發展和變化。根據歷史記載，日本最早接觸到中國漢字是在公元前1世紀，當時日本的倭國和中國的漢朝有過貿易和外交往來，並通過朝貢和使節的方式獲得了漢字的書籍和文物 。

日本的漢字使用在奈良時代達到了高峰，當時日本的政治、文化、宗教等方面都受到了中國唐朝的強烈影響，並大量採用了漢字作為官方的書寫語言。日本的第一部歷史書《古事記》和第一部法典《大寶律令》都是用漢字書寫的 。然而，漢字並不能完全表達日本語的語法和發音，因此日本人開始創造了一些新的文字系統，如平假名和片假名，來表示日本語的音節和詞尾。平假名和片假名都是從漢字的部分筆畫或簡化字演變而來的，並與漢字混合使用，形成了日本獨特的文字風格 。

日本的漢字使用在平安時代開始衰落，當時日本的政治和文化逐漸脫離了中國的影響，並發展出了自己的風格和特色。日本的文人開始用平假名書寫日本語的文學作品，如《源氏物語》，而不再依賴漢字。漢字的使用範圍也逐漸縮小，主要限於官方的文書和學術的著作 。

日本的漢字使用在江戶時代又有了復興，當時日本的社會和經濟發生了巨大的變化，導致了文化和教育的普及和發展。日本的文人開始重視漢字的學習和研究，並創造了一些新的漢字，如「島」、「雪」、「鳥」等，來表示日本特有的事物和概念。日本的平民也開始學習和使用漢字，並發展出了一種簡化的漢字，稱為「草書」，來書寫日常的信件和帳簿 。

日本的漢字使用在明治時代遇到了挑戰，當時日本的政治和社會發生了近代化的變革，並與西方國家有了廣泛的交流和合作。日本的政府和學者開始推行一些文字改革，以適應新的時代和環境。他們試圖減少漢字的使用，並引進了一些外來的文字，如羅馬字和片仮名，來表示外來語和科學術語。他們還制定了一些規範和標準，以統一漢字的寫法和讀法 。

日本的漢字使用在現代仍然保持了一定的地位和功能，但也面臨著一些新的問題和挑戰。日本的漢字數量和難度都很高，對於學習和使用者來說都是一種負擔和壓力。日本的漢字和中國的漢字也有一些差異和不一致，對於跨文化的交流和理解也有一定的障礙。日本的漢字和電子媒體和網絡技術也有一些不適應和不兼容，對於信息的傳遞和處理也有一些限制和困難 。

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Can hot food damage our teeth?

Hot food can damage the tooth if the tooth enamel is weakened or eroded by other factors, such as acidic or sugary foods and beverages, or dental decay. When the tooth enamel is compromised, the underlying layer of dentine, which is more sensitive and less resistant to heat, is exposed. This can cause pain and discomfort when eating or drinking hot food.

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由被照顧變為照料者

看著父母的年紀一天比一天增長，還每天都在照顧自己的起居飲食，心裡有一種羞愧。當他們不能自己照顧自己的時候，真的要安排讓他們住在安老院、護理安老院或護養院？院社由登記到成功入住要等多久？公營和私營有何分別？價格又是如何？太多事情都沒有了解過。

雖然自己有基本的護理知識，但真的可放棄工作，在沒有薪金的支持下做一個全職的照顧者？我現在的工作不能讓我滾存足夠的資金籌劃未來，支持現時自己的生活還勉勉強強，將來做一個全職的照顧者恐怕不行。孝順，談何容易？！

眼見政府對照顧者的支援嚴重不足，很多時出現長者照顧長者。政府在愛國工程、未知成果的基建上亂花金錢，對真正有需要人士漠不關心。照顧者經濟上、心理上的壓力爆表。基層市民尚有少許非牟利機構支持，爸爸算是夾心階層，只有自求多福。

Identity and Habits

The more pride you have in a particular aspect of your identity, the more motivated you will be to maintain the habits associated with it.

For example:

The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.

Clear, J. (2019). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House.