A case for multilateralism.

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't have to be a zero-sum game. For multilateralism can work in a way where all can gain what they are looking for, without having to make everyone else lose.

Multilateralism means being willing to work together in way that benefits those involved. The idea is making it a win-win situation by negotiating within a set of rules agreed by those involved, accepting that something will have to be given in order to get what is wanted from the situation.

With countries, as with people, the way forward is working together.

Living through trying times.

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 they care for. Misinformation, or plain lies, seem to be everywhere making it hard to know who or what to trust.

2021 is still, so there is hope things will change for the better.

Right to repair is non negotiable.

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, if the right rules are set, there is no valid reason why third party repair services should give quality repairs to users who want them. It should be the user right to freely choose where, and who, repairs whatever device they need to get fixed.

That's why right to repair movements are vital. Users need to be able to repair the devices we own, after all we paid for them. Specially because losing it, would be in detriment of those who can't afford replacing they devices every time they brake.

Not only that, our environment can sustain us trowing away those devices when they brake. Is for the best to be able to repair our devices as much as possible, so we can make use of them for as long as possible.

Wireless headphones have grown on me.

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 value the most about the wireless headphones, is not the sound quality, but not having to deal with a wire on my commutes. The give me a sense of freedom that I don't get from the wired headphones, and as such I'm willing to sacrifice of the audio quality since what I get is more that good enough for me.

When it comes the time to replace my wireless headphones, now I'm looking for some that offer a better sound. I'm still looking for in ear headphones, since that is the form factor that works for me since I'm going to use them on my commutes. Its the most practical form factor for me.

Traditional banks smartphone apps.

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 app, cash has become less essential. I just have with me enough to pay for some food, or some bus fares.

Even then, most of the bus fares to the places I go the most can be paid electronically via a card that Jalisco's state government implemented last year. And with it I can also pay the light train fare in case I need to take it.

All of this, makes my life a lot easier. I feel a lot more in control of it.

Mexican personal finance management.

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 ever account they asked to be used for that purpose.

Even freelancers can asked to be payed via electronic transfer to the bank account of their choice, making it a lot easier for everyone.

The services offered by the likes of Clip, and iZettle, make it a lot easier small businesses, to take cards. Which for many of them, means an increase in their sales in substantial numbers. In some ways, in areas where the use of credit and debit cards is prevalent, those small businesses that haven't made the jump to accepting card payments is becoming an odd thing to find.

Even in lower income areas, businesses using either Clip or iZettle are starting to become common. Even some entrepreneurial cab drivers are starting to offer it as a way to attract more costumers to compete against Uber and DiDi.

In several cities of Jalisco, one can pay public transportation without the use of cash using a card called Mi Movilidad or another called Innova Card. And the fact that you can now add balance them at some of OXXO convenience stores make them a lot more practical to use.

Taking all of this together, makes the need of carrying large amounts of cash is becoming a thing of the past.

Remmina made home office viable for me.

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 continue use Linux Mint while the being able to do my work effectively since I can access all what I need with an Internet connection.

To be honest, this gives me another reason to stay with Linux Mint since I can access my Windows desktop at work with ease. And to be honest, with every update since I rejoined Linux Mint with the 18 release, I found the Linux Mint making it a better OS for the average user.