Tsikbal: from my perspective

After Dr. Seuss announced that they won't reprint 6 Dr. Seuss' books due racist images they contain; the New York Times ran an opinion piece by Charles M. Blow rising a point against Pepé Le Pew, who normalized rape culture; Speedy Gonzales, whose friends helped popularize the corrosive stereotype of the drunk and lethargic Mexicans; and Mammy Two Shoes, a heavyset Black maid who spoke in a heavy accent. To be honest, I do agree with him about the issues he raised. Yet, the backlash about the possibility of Pepé Le Pew being cancelled got me worried. It really shows that violence against women is so normalized in our society that even the possibility of a cartoon where it is portrayed offends people more than the violence itself. It mind blowing that people haven't have problem against the kind of behavior Pepé Le Pew displays just because it is shown in a funny way. Some even go as far as justifying it, saying that it is just a cartoon or it shows perseverance by Pepé ...

How much telecommunication technologies have helped many people to keep their jobs, by allowing them to work from home is what one of the things that have impressed me the most of what has changed because of the pandemic. If it wasn't because of people being able to do home office, the level of unemployment might have been a lot higher. Also a lot more businesses could have faced bankruptcy if they have given their employees that option. On the other hand, it shows that the capability to make use of home office has been there for quite a while. Seems that many businesses have been reticent to make use of this option because they were afraid that employees would not perform as they they do on site. Yet, the results may give more businesses the data they need to make home office something more of their employees use more often. To be honest, it would be something that I'd like to make use at least once a week, and several of my coworkers would have the option to use with some reg...

One of the mayor lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic, is that no country can truly and effectively, face such big challenges by itself. Multilateralism has become the best way to face not only problems like COVID-19, but to tackle other challenges like global warming and to bring more people out of extreme poverty. Isolationism is not a long term solution. In many ways, it would only compound the problems each country has by not being able to access solutions other countries have, or make it viable to get outside help without being at a weak negotiating position since there isn't much to bargain with that other countries can't get else where. Most importantly, multilateralism doesn't mean that a country has to give their identity away. It means that there is willingness to engage the rest of the world in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved, with a set of rules that have to be followed by all of those who want to participate in any given activity. It doesn'...

The beginning of 2021 has been a lot rougher than expected, specially with the riots that led to storming to the US Capitol . It feels like all what happened on 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic is carrying over, specially since there is still no clear end in sight. People are angry, and stressed, that the economy is still highly restricted. For many, it means that their source of income has been lost with little chance of recovering it. For others, it means a reduced income and for others a certain uncertainty about being able to keep their job for the foreseeable future. For others, it has meant losing family or friends. Even seeing some loved ones battling the virus without certainty they make it. The feeling of uncertainty we live in, is something that for many is proving to be to much to handle. People are scared, or exhausted, about not being able to at least be sure about the short term. In addition, for many is hard to come by with credible information almost about everything the...

With time, we have come to rely on more gadgets to manage more of our daily lives. From smart TVs , to our smartphones , we use them ever more often for work and play. One would think that once we buy them, we would be able to do with them as we want. Specially to be able to get them fix if they fail, and be able to extend their live a for some more time. Being able to repair expensive electronic devices, like TVs and smartphones, is specially important for people who can't afford to buy one every time something happens to them. Some other people, for example, simply don't want to through the hassle of buying a new smartphone if they can just replace the screen or the battery. Yet, many OEMs seem to want to take that choice from the user. They cite anything from safety concerns, to possible intellectual property theft. as reasons why people shouldn't be able to repair they devices. Specially when third party services give that choice to the end user. At the end of the day,...

Before I began using wireless headphones on regular basis, I must admit that I was not really sure about how they would work for me. But since I got a set of Otium headphones a couple of years ago as a gift, I must admit that I found that I prefer them over wired headphones when I'm commuting to, and from, work. Or just when I go for a walk. While I still prefer my wired over the ear headphones Perfect Choice set when I'm at home, or writing at a coffee shop, my Otium pair is one of the things I always carry with me when I go out. I've found wireless headphones to be more practical way to enjoy my music, or podcasts, when out and about. Specially when I take the any of public transportation systems I use to move around the city, since there is no cable to tangle at the worst possible moment. To be honest, while the sound quality might not be as good on my headphones as it is on my wired headphones, it is still more than good enough for the what I expect from them. What I ...

One of the things that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the most in my life, is that traditional banks have been pushing to make use of their mobile apps. As such, they have been making a lot of improvements on the user interface, and making it a lot easier to manage your money using their app. Not only that, making payments and transferring money using the app has become a lot easier. So much so, that so far I've just needed to use the web page on my laptop for edits which I wasn't able to do on the app itself. This has meant that I can administer my financial life where ever I am when the need arises, without needing to have a computer at hand. My smartphone has become a powerful tool to enable me to effectively manage my bank accounts without much hassle, and with all the information I need at a moments notice. It has also meant, that my need for cash has been declining over the last year. Since it most places I frequent on regular basis, I can pay either by credit, debit, or a...

Since a couple of years ago, there has been easier to carry less cash in Mexico with several ways both businesses and people can pay for services electronically or with credit or debit card. Banks have been making transfers to other people, and paying for services and taxes, via their apps a lot easier. I use the apps of Santander, and Banorte, and both have been making such transactions easier with each app update. Specially since March, when the lock downs started because of the pandemic. Also companies that allow to take payments using a tablet, or an smartphone, have been making a lot of inroads. The biggest one has been Clip , followed closely by PayPal's iZettle . Also PayPal , and Mercado Pago , have entered the Mexican market heavily. For the time being, most people use their bank's app, or website, to manage their payments. Specially since in Mexico almost everyone with a formal job receives their payroll on a bank account that their employer set up for them, or which ...

Up to last week, I didn't have to do home office. As such, I haven't had to access the computer on work remotely. But when I had to work remotely last week, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do so since I use Linux Mint on my personal laptop and Windows at work. As such, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to access my desktop remotely in order to be able to work from home. This was compounded by the fact that the IT department of my workplaces had problems doing so in the past, so much so that they trashed the idea to move to Linux. So, I had some hours to find a way to connect remotely in a way that wouldn't interfere with my ability to work from home. After a couple of hour I narrowed my search to Remmina , which had a lot of good reviews to work at a remote Windows desktop from Ubuntu or Linux Mint. And so far, it has worked as a charm. I've no problems related to Remmina, just a problem at the server side. As such, this opens the door for me to con...

After a couple of months of using a couple of fintech products, I've to say that they have been working rather well for me. Although there are ways that would make them better for me, overall both have high marks from me. The first product is a credit card issued by Stori (link is in Spanish). Since its backed by Mastercard ,I haven't had a problem with it. All the places on which I usually pay with a credit, or debit, card take it without an issue. Not only that, with the app update released a couple of week ago made it a lot more usable and got a redesign for the better. Of the things I would like to see improve, is that your balance get updated at the moment you make a purchase and when a payment is made. This way it would make it a lot more practical and user friendly. Not only that, it would make less likely not to go over your credit limit by mistake. The second product I'm using, is a business account that comes with debit card called Oyster (link also in Spanish). W...

One of the things I've picked up in the last year or so, is listening to podcasts. I found that, in my case, is the best way to learn or get a glimpse into the minds of people that have common interests with. Some of my favorite are The Adam Savage Project , Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast , AvTalk Aviation Podcast , and Basketball Time Machine Podcast . All of this podcast allow me either to learn about subjects I'm interested in, or simply get to know people that make possible things I enjoy consuming. Another podcast that gives me an insight what motivates people to do something to make the world a better place is Este Podcast Salvara al Mundo in Mexico. It features people with project that are starting, or aren't all that well known, that are striving to have a meaningful impact in peoples lives, or in society at large. This podcast is in Spanish, but if you can is would really make you reflect about how you could do something good happen. On the entertainmen...