My Return (and not as a Jedi)!

Ok, after a long time of not writing anything, there was an article I just read that made me just start doing something with my brain...

One of my biggest personal complaints is that I don't feel creative, ok, I am a teacher, which implies that I have to be very creative most of the days, but what I really mean is that I'm not artistically creative, I don't produce music (which turns out to be my biggest frustration in life), I don't paint (which is weird because most of my family paints, with exhibitions and all that), I stop photographing (I miss the films days, digital photography just doesn't cut it for me), so the only thing left was writing...

I'm not like an expert writing, I won one or two contests back in the day, but I haven't felt like writing for a long time, I have two blogs, this, that I use for teaching purposes as well as some English related topics, and other blog that is more personal, it is written entirely in Spanish, and works as a nice trip through my moods for many years (feel free to get into it, you'll find interesting that from time to time I show some feelings)... I included some writing I did back in emo days, you know, when I had more feelings than now.

I abandoned them because I felt like I didn't have anything to say, not a single thing to share, but lately, a great deal of thing have happened to me, they reignited my desire for writing the things, I have to thank one of my high school students that also made a simple comment about this blog and made me realize that it existed and that it required attention, so, Fernanda Compean, Sir, thank you for the little push I needed to continue writing, and I promise you that my next text I'll say my opinion about the Spider-Man 2 Movie... Because, oh boy, I do have many opinion about it!!

I'm going to need some patience, because my writing is kind of rusty, but I hope it's like riding a bike, they say you never forget it!

This is my fist step, and I,ll keep it for as long as I can...

I´ve always had a fasination with animation, I think it is a genuine form of art! some of my favorite are Coraline (very common in my clases)and now ParaNorman, fun and very inocent, here you have the plot: In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock is a boy who can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil, believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's estranged eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from an curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago. Eventually, Norman decides to cooperate, but things don't go according to plan. Now, a magic storm of the witch threatens Blithe Hollow as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman struggles to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse. With that insight, Norman must resolve the crisis for good as only he can. Link for the Activity:

English Day 2012

As you may (or may not) know, UANE Torreon celebrated its 2012 English day, for those who don’t know what that is, let me give you a brief explanation: Every now and then we show our abilities to express ideas in English through a topic; this year’s topic was English Around the World; with this in mind, we need to organize our students for a nice presentation, we can use whatever our mind can give us, so the limit is the space and our imagination. So, I want to congratulate ALL my groups, Levels B, E and TOEFL for the great participation they had, especially for the 1st place obtained with England, you guys rocked the house! That was a great performance, you struggle with many problems and adversities, but YOU did it! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Why do mosquitoes bite some people and not others?

I always wondered why mosquitoes didn't like me, until I found this article which explains many of my doubts I hope you enjoy it and learn something new! Some people get ravaged by mosquitoes if they so much as take a walk at dusk. Others can walk through clouds of the insects and not get a single bite. What's the difference? A lot. Scientists have figured out many reasons why mosquitoes can't seem to resist some people, but are repulsed by others. Mosquitoes are sources of severe infection in many parts of the world, there has been a lot of research done about why some people are mosquitoes' favorite snack. It starts with the types of people who attract mosquitoes in the first place. Although mosquitoes can smell blood for miles, they mostly locate their prey by tracking the carbon dioxide that animals exhale. People who exhale more carbon dioxide - large people and pregnant women - are more obvious targets. There is also evidence that mosquitoes prefer women because their skin is thinner, allowing for an easier bite. Mosquitoes also uphold the old joke about vampires looking for people who are their "type." Different blood types either attract or discourage mosquitoes. If you have found yourself the sole person among a camping group bitten up, you're probably an O blood type. A group of scientists in Japan exposed people to groups of mosquitoes which had had their biting and sucking parts removed. The mosquitoes landed again and again on the O blood types, ignoring the A and B blood types. Mosquitoes also have a sweet proboscis. They prefer people whose body chemistry secretes saccharides, which people who remember saccharin know taste sweet, on their skin. Then again, the saccharides might only be involved because they feed other animals that encourage mosquitoes. Bacteria live on the skin, and help give sweat its disgusting smell. Dutch scientists found that a high abundance of only a few types of bacteria encourage mosquitoes. A large variety of bacteria living on the skin, though, tend to discourage mosquitoes, as does a low overall number of bacteria. Basically, you want your skin to be an island ecosystem. There aren't a lot of overall animals, but there is a diverse range of unique species. Some scientists and companies are attempting to analyze and combine the scents of these elements to manufacture a bug spray that will effectively deter mosquitoes. (I wouldn't mind wiping myself down with harmless skin bacteria if it would keep mosquitoes off me.) However, going is slow, and mosquitoes are canny. Hopefully, those with O blood types who have noticed that their skin tastes relatively sweet will simply decide never to venture into nature again.

Great Expectation

I had forgotten this movie for a long time, until a couple of days ago, that talking about our English day (topic that I will write about in some days) somebody mentioned Charles Dickens and my memory went to that Mexican movie, and I say Mexican movie because it has the style of Afonso Cuaron written all over the story, and of course the photography of the also Mexican, Emmanuel Lubezk.

Based on Charles Dickens' timeless tale, this is a story of the love of a man for an unreachable woman. Updated to modern day New York City, the story concerns a man of modest background who falls in love with a rich girl. But when a mysterious benefactor greenlights the man to make his dreams come true, everything done has the ultimate goal of making Estella fall in love with him.

An American update of the Dickens novel set on Florida's Gulf Coast and in the 1980's SoHo art world. Character's names have been changed from the source novel.

Activity:

If Your Job Sucks, It Might Be Your Fault; Let’s Fix That

So, we've had some difficult days here in UANE, we are under a lot of stress and we're thinking how everything is affecting our performance in class, so, I remember an article I read in Lifehacker.com, and here it is, just in case you feel your job sucks!!

It's inevitable. After enough time at any job, you have a day that really sucks. Then, eventually, maybe another. And another. Suddenly the job you loved starts to feel like, well, work. And bad work at that. It doesn't have to be that way.

The Problem

We've all dealt with bad bosses or smaller paycheck than we'd like, but that doesn't mean the cure for your ills involves quitting your job and finding another. Every job is still a job, and every job comes with downsides. They call it "work" for a reason, and even if you're lucky and do what you love, you'll have bad days, and it can still suck sometimes. You'll still have to deal with bossy managers, know-it-all coworkers, and, on occasion, frustrating busywork. Even so, many of us jump between jobs with only a matter of time after our first day until we inevitably conclude "this job sucks!" and start looking for the next one.

So how do you beat back that creeping feeling that your job is going to eventually wind up sucking? Sure, many circumstances warrant quitting your job. If it really is time to walk, you should do that. This post is for the rest of us. Here, we'll walk you through some tips to stay focused, upbeat, and happy with your work—especially if it's the work that attracted you to a job in the first place.

Step One: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

The first and most powerful thing you can do right away is to change your mindset. There are plenty of ways to go about this, but it starts with understanding that you have the final say over how you feel. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," and the premise applies here: You may not be able to stop inevitable workplace annoyances from happening, but you can stop them from ruining your day. Here's how.

• Avoid gossip and water cooler talk.  If everyone in your department thinks everything sucks, you're likely to feel the same way, even if you have nothing to gripe about. Try to stay objective when talking to coworkers about workplace issues and office politics, and don't let the gossip get to you. Focus on your work, and doing the best work you can.
• Resist negativity. Avoiding gossip is a good first step, but you can also choose to be part of the solution. Look for the positive and talk it up to coworkers. Make a list of those positive aspects of your job and keep it front and center every day. Perhaps you get to work on something you love, or your job offers you free training, or all the coffee you can drink. Whatever makes you smile about your job, make sure you see and take advantage of it every single day.
• Look for more perks. How many of your job's perks do you make active use of? look hard for them, and take advantage of them as often as possible. Whether it's flexible hours or a casual work environment, turn your job from a place you go every day to an active part of your life that contributes to your wellness beyond your paycheck.
• Learn to cope. Stress will always find you—I've never heard of a job without it. The important thing is to learn how stress affects you and what you can do about it. Take up a hobby, meditate, mentor someone at work—whatever it takes. As you develop those coping mechanisms, you'll be less inclined to pass judgment on your job as a whole. Aggressively seek them out, too: when something bothers you, immediately think about how you can address the stress, even if you can't address the issue.

Step Two: Get Some Perspective: Some Things Suck, but are Those Things Your Job?

When your job gets you down, it helps to put things in perspective. Sure, there are things about your job that make you miserable, but every job will have some elements that aren't ideal. The important thing to do is separate those things out from the things that make you happy. Every job you go to will have some busywork you'd rather not do, coworkers who send snarky emails, and people microwaving fish in the breakroom.

The important thing to ask yourself: Are these irritating things my actual job, related to my actual job, or just surrounding my job?

If they're part of your actual job, let your boss know what's bothering you. If you're stuck working on an aging platform that makes you miserable because it goes down every week, your boss may agree that it's time to replace it—especially since it's your job to support that system. If those irritants are surrounding factors, you should search for solutions to those things too, but keep in mind that they're not representative of the job itself. If you enjoy what you do, don't let the small stuff bother you. Focus on the work and deal with the small stuff on the side.

Step Three: Work to Live, Don't Live to Work

Many of us are driven to hate jobs we once loved because we never actually put our work down. It can be difficult, but remember: You work to live, you don't live to work. Defend and enjoy your personal time, vacations, time with family and friends, even your sick leave. Here are some things to keep in mind:

•  Take your vacations. We've warned you against leaving vacation leave on the table, but most of us do it anyway. Taking vacations is one of the best ways to recharge, and besides, you worked for those hours. You deserve them.
• When you're sick, focus on getting better. In a world where we can work from home and stay connected by smartphone, it's important to resist the urge to "work from home" when you're actually ill. When you're sick, your new job is to get better, not do half-assed, bleary-eyed, fever-induced work.
• When you work, be productive. This one is important, because too often we overwork ourselves because we feel like we're not as productive as we should be. Find a productivity method that works for you and stick to it.Take time to review your work so you're never surprised and always in touch with what you're doing and why. Be proactive, don't just let your job be this thing that happens to you five days a week.
• Recognize when you need a break. If that creeping feeling starts to catch up with you, you may be suffering from burnout or otherwise overworked. Identify it, acknowledge it, and take a break before you crash and burn.
• Make small changes. Small changes in your office environment can make a big difference, sometimes more than large ones. A fast new computer, a few plants, a lunch buddy to chat with every day, as better cubicle—go get those things if you can. They may not address your annoyances, but they go a long way towards boosting your mood, and that can help you relax, de-stress, and focus on the positive.
•  Bring the things you love to your work. A great way to recharge your passion for your work is to find a way to work a hobby or passion you have into your work. Our own Adam Dachis found a way (see #3) at his old job to bring his love for video production to his job doing customer support.
• Go the f**k home. Make a habit of going home every day at the same time. Even if you have to schedule something after work to force yourself to leave, do it. You need to keep a bright line between your work and the other things you do, if only for your sanity.

(Optional) Step Four: Give Up and Strike It Out on Your Own

If there's no fixing the problems you face—no mind hack or vacation time that can offer relief—it may be time to try something drastically different. Consider freelancing full-time or starting your own business. It takes nerve, financial fortitude, skill, and a lot of luck to strike it out on your own, but if every job you ever get sucks, you may never be happy until you're working for yourself, on something that you're truly passionate about.

Step Five: Take Care Of Yourself

Don't underestimate the importance of taking care of yourself. It's easy to feel like every job sucks if the problem is actually with you. For example, if you're clinically depressed and even the things that normally bring you joy fall flat, seek professional help, not necessarily a new job. If you're not getting enough sleep, or your diet needs some help, your attitude and approach to your entire day—at work or at home—will suffer. Exercise, sleep, time with friends and family, and caring for your mental and physical well being in general all go along way towards making any job more bearable.

To that point, make sure that if your job really does suck that you address the issues head on. Part of taking care of yourself is standing up for yourself when your job starts to walk on you. If it turns out that your actual work is the thing getting you down, or you don't get to work on something every day you feel you're good at, or all of the annoyances just outweigh the positives of your job, then it might be time to walk away—just take your lessons (and our tips) with you instead of starting the cycle all over again in a new place.

Top 10 Myths About Introverts

Ok, this is an interesting article about introvert people, it's even more interesting because I can relate to all the things it says.

I guess I'm not shy, just introvert!!

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Reposted from anthime via deepshit