Hello there, I hope you are doing well.

Another important breakthrough has happened in the past few days!

 

https://japantoday.com/category/national/suga-vows-to-secure-vaccines-as-hopes-rise-for-breakthrough

Regarding the advancement of a COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has released information that it is nearing (近づいてきている) its finality (終局). Now, it’s on phase III and would be available for public in the future. What has been some concerns (懸念) for some people is that whether it would go under clinical tests first before it is released to the public, since it is a Western (西洋) medicine, as well as whether it would be covered by the national health insurance or not. What’s your opinion regarding this matter?

 

ー初めにー

Today’s Fill-In-The-Blanks Quiz:

Here’s last week’s song:

 

(Fast forward to 1:50)

Marry me, girl , be my fairy to the world , be my very own constellation

A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on information

And buy me a star on the boulevard, it’s Californication

 

Here’s this week’s song:

(Fast forward to 1:20)

Bring a _____, ____ the crowd ; Whoever wanna come _____

Word up, ____ the ____ ; Just move ____ we off the wall

Day or night the ___’s alight ; So we dance to the _____ of ____

______ and gentlemen, I got the medicine ; So you should keep your ____ on the ball

 

ー続いてー

 

Today’s Idiom:

“raining on and off”

 

Usually, people would say “raining cats and dogs” to describe heavy rain. However, not a lot of people use it. Something more practical would be “raining on and off”, to describe days when it rains, then stops, then rains again, then stops again, all on the same day. Here’s a sample conversation:

 

A: I forgot to bring an umbrella! I’m soaking wet (びしょびしょ)!

B: Oh, yeah, the weather forecast said we’ll have light rains today, that’s why it’s raining on and off. I have two umbrellas here in the office. Do you want to borrow one of them?

A:  It’s fine, I don’t think it’ll continue to rain later.

 

For additional help, here’s a video explaining several other idioms!

I hope this helps!

 

ー最後にー

Today’s Column:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54902038

Following the election that happened a week ago, social media giant (巨大企業) TikTok has asked Trump whether it would continue to be banned in the US. This is following Trump’s initial decision of only agreeing if it were bought by an American company. Talks (会商) of several American companies buying parts of it are now under negotiation and something to be updated in the near future.

 

Remember to take care of yourself and stay safe.

Ryo