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BLUE MONDAY?
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Talk about yourself for 3 minutes
This is the formula:

WEATHER + DEBT
Is ‘Blue Monday’ Actually Each Year’s Most Depressing Day?

Is the idea of "Blue Monday" really accurate? Back in 2005, a UK travel company called Sky Travel started calling the
third Monday of January "Blue Monday," claiming it to be the day when people feel the least happy. So, as tomorrow
is January 15 and the third Monday of 2024, should you expect a tough day? Or is this "Blue Monday" thing not quite
true?

Well, get ready to add another entry to your list of questionable claims. According to Samar McCutcheon, MD, an
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, this whole thing is just a "marketing gimmick (=FARSA)." The travel company
wanted more business by saying they found the most depressing day, hoping it would encourage people to travel
more during this time. The gimmick did grab attention, but Sky Travel is no longer in business.

So, why did they pick the third Monday of January and not some other day, like January 22 ("Answer Your Cat’s
Questions Day") or May 9 ("Lost Sock Memorial Day")? McCutcheon says they worked with a psychologist, Cliff
Arnall, who came up with a "depression formula." The formula includes factors like weather, debt, time since
Christmas, and more. The problem is, this formula isn't backed by scientific evidence, and it's hard to believe one
formula fits everyone worldwide.
Despite what the formula suggests, not everyone feels the same on the third Monday of January. It could be a
great day for some people, with significant life events or achievements. No single day is universally great or
terrible for everyone, not even election day. McCutcheon warns that labeling a day as the most depressing can
minimize people's experiences with depression during the rest of the year.

Believing in "Blue Monday" might make you feel down just because you think you're supposed to be. The power
of suggestion is strong. January, in general, can be tough due to shorter days and longer nights, less sunlight,
and challenging weather. Many people also struggle with abandoned New Year's resolutions, Holiday aftermath,
and the weight of expectations.

Instead of focusing on a single day, it's better to be aware of how people may feel during this month. January is
a prime time for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affecting about five percent of adults in the U.S. Self-care is
crucial – maintaining a set sleep schedule, going for walks, exercising, eating well, and avoiding substance
misuse.
Don’t face the Winter blues alone. Maintain positive social relationships,
whether through Zoom or in-person. If you continue to struggle with
symptoms like sadness, loss of interest, changes in appetite or sleep, or
difficulty concentrating, seek help from a health professional.
In the end, moods are more complex than a simple formula can capture.
Mental health approaches are not one-size-fits-all. Before assuming
tomorrow is a "Blue Monday," consider what is and isn't true about this
Monday and the blues.
How can we “fight” Blue
Monday?
(in countries where it is Winter)
● Have you ever felt sad on Blue Monday or at a specific time of the year? What do you think makes you feel this way?
●

● How does the media talk about Blue Monday in your opinion? Should the media avoid making it sound worse than it
is?
●

● What do you do to feel better when you're sad, especially on tough days like Blue Monday?
●

● Does the changing weather affect how you feel? Do you notice a difference in your mood during certain times of the
year?
●

● Can you share any habits or traditions that people in your country use to feel happier during hard times? Do you
think these habits work?
●

● Do different cultures have days or seasons that make people feel sad or tired? How do these cultural ideas differ?
●

● Blue Monday is often connected to selling things. What do you think about using emotions and mental health for
business?
●

● How much do you trust ideas like Blue Monday scientifically? Should research affect how people see their
well-being?
Rapid changes are happening quickly in technology and computer systems. There are exciting advances in
artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (tiny interconnected devices), and wireless connectivity.

However, these improvements bring potential dangers as well as benefits. To ensure a safe future, we need to
anticipate possible issues in computing and address them early. So, what do experts think will happen, and
what can we do to prevent major problems?

To answer that question, our research team from universities in Lancaster and Manchester turned to the
science of looking into the future, known as "forecasting." While no one can predict the future, we can put
together forecasts based on current trends.

Long-term forecasts of technology trends can be quite accurate. An excellent way to get forecasts is to combine
the ideas of many different experts to find where they agree. We consulted 12 expert "futurists" for a new
research paper, people who forecast changes in computer technology by the year 2040.
Using a technique called a Delphi study, we combined the futurists' forecasts into a set of risks, along with their
recommendations for addressing those risks.

Concerns about Software: The experts foresaw rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and connected
systems, leading to a much more computer-driven world. Surprisingly, they expected little impact from two
much-hyped innovations: Blockchain and Quantum computing.

AI Competition Leading to Trouble: Our experts suggested that many countries' focus on gaining a competitive
edge in AI could encourage software developers to take risks, leading to potential disasters. For example,
shortcuts in testing AI-controlled car systems could result in errors, causing widespread issues.

Generative AI: Generative AI may make it impossible to determine the truth, as it can produce convincing fake
media. This could pose challenges in distinguishing between genuine and fake content on social media.
Invisible Cyber Attacks: The complexity of interconnected systems may make it difficult to identify the root
causes of problems. Cyber attacks could become invisible, causing major disruptions without clear attribution.

Software Jujitsu: Experts recommended using software to guard against itself, making computer programs
perform safety audits. This involves creating extra code that validates the programs' output.

Strategic Solutions: Technical solutions alone are not enough. Solutions lie in the interactions between humans
and technology. Building skills to address human-technology problems, providing interdisciplinary education,
and establishing safety principles and legislation for AI are crucial.

In conclusion, these forecasts provide tools to address potential future problems. Adopting these tools can help
us realize the exciting promise of our technological future.
 1. How do you feel about the fast changes happening in technology and computer systems mentioned in the text? Are you more
excited or concerned about these changes?
2. The text discusses the potential dangers and benefits of technological advancements. Can you give specific examples of
both dangers and benefits in today's technology that come to mind?
3. "Forecasting" is talked about as a way to predict future developments in technology. How reliable do you think long-term
forecasts are, and can you think of any examples where forecasting has been successful or unsuccessful?
4. The experts in the text highlighted three major risks associated with developments in computer software. Which one of these
risks do you find most worrying, and why?
5. The text mentions using a Delphi study and consulting "futurists" to gather insights. Do you think it's a good idea to combine
the ideas of many different experts to make predictions about the future?
6. The experts mentioned that Blockchain and Quantum computing might not have as much impact as expected. What are your
thoughts on the role of these technologies in our current and future problems?
7. The text discusses the risks associated with AI competition and the complexity of AI systems. Can you think of any real-world
examples where AI has caused unexpected issues or challenges?
8. Generative AI is mentioned as a technology that could make it difficult to determine the truth in media. How do you think this
might impact our ability to trust information we see online?
9. The concept of "invisible cyber attacks" is discussed. Can you think of any potential scenarios where these invisible cyber
attacks could pose significant problems in our daily lives?
10. The text suggests using "software jujitsu" and smart solutions to address potential future problems. What are your thoughts
on these proposed solutions, and can you think of any other approaches to ensure the safe development and deployment of
new technologies?
People are going to the beach as a winter heatwave affects much of Spain.

By CIARÁN GILES Updated 12:42 PM ART, January 26, 2024 MADRID (AP) —

Spain's weather agency says higher temperatures than usual for this season will continue in many parts of the
country over the weekend. The warm weather makes many coastal areas feel almost like summer, leading
people to visit the beaches for sunbathing or to have a winter swim. The country's AEMET (Agencia Estatal de
Meteorología) weather agency explained that the unusually warm temperatures in southern Europe are due to a
weather pattern carrying hot air from the south. They also mentioned that the lack of clouds is contributing to
the higher temperatures. Just last week, Spain and other parts of Europe experienced very cold weather and
rainstorms. This followed freezing temperatures and snowfall in many parts of Spain. In the past week, many
cities have had the highest temperatures for this time of the year in over 20 years, according to AEMET
spokesman Marcelino Nuñez. On Thursday, the town of Chelva in the eastern interior recorded a temperature
of 29.6 degrees Celsius (85 Fahrenheit), he said. The agency states that both minimum and maximum
temperatures are 5-10 degrees Celsius (9-18 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal. The good weather has
led to crowded beaches from southwestern Cádiz to northeastern Barcelona, scenes usually seen in the
summer months. Nuñez mentioned that it's not possible to attribute the current high temperatures to the climate
crisis without conducting studies, but they follow a trend of more frequent periods of unusually high
temperatures, which experts associate with climate change. "What is clear is that long-term climate predictions
from the past 20 years have been saying that these phenomena will happen more and more, and we are
observing this gradually," he said.
 1. Do people's actions significantly contribute to the increase in heatwaves around the world?
2. Should countries change their policies to deal with the serious impacts of heatwaves that cannot be reversed?
3. How can cities be designed better to help people during hot weather, and should buildings be made in a more
environmentally friendly way?
4. Do farmers need to change how they grow food to deal with the changing climate and more heatwaves?
5. Are the current efforts to reduce the effects of heatwaves enough, or do we need to do more to protect our
environment?
6. Do we all need to use less energy, especially during very hot times, to help the environment?
7. What can regular people do to help during heatwaves, and how important is it for everyone to take care of the
environment?
8. Is it the government's responsibility to pay for and make changes to protect us from heatwaves, even if it costs a lot of
money?
9. Do people know enough about climate change, or do we need to learn more to make a difference?
10. Can new technology alone solve the problems caused by heatwaves, or do we all need to change how we live to really
make a difference?