The Eye Beach, Village + Urban Living in Oaxaca April, 2017 Issue 67 FREE
Men have become the tools of their tools. Henry David Thoreau
RESTAURANT-GRILL “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Einstein I am a technology resister- without a doubt more Wilma Flintstone than Judy Jetson. I read books not tablets - I love the smell and feel of paper over the subtle hum of electronics. My daily planner is one of those cumbersome paper ones and it never leaves my office. While some might view this as an inconvenient method to run a business, as I need to be physically in my office to schedule anything - for me it is a luxury. I was very resistant to getting an iPhone. Did I really need email alerts at the grocery store or to check Facebook when I was out with real people? Eventually I gave in. When the screen got smashed up I continued to use it for months. It still worked - as a phone. Upon seeing my damaged phone, one woman remarked that I deserved a new one and that I should ‘treat’ myself. I responded that the treat was to not be so attached to my phone. Don’t get me wrong - I think technology is cool, science is cool, talking to a friend on the other side of the planet with the touch of a button on a cordless device is super cool! But most us have become slaves to technology. We are desperately creating electronic scrapbooks of moments that are gone. Filling fake clouds with stuff we don't even know why we're saving, or what for. We are living with sound bites rather than substance. Our everyday lives have become a virtual existence rather than one based in reality - most of our communication is via devices and shared moments happen through screens, which capture the aesthetics of a moment but not the emotion - technology has not managed to capture the subtlety of human experience. There is no emoji to capture ... all the best moments. The flicker of a feeling you get when you walk on a crisp fall day and for a second you know everything is going to be ok ... a flicker of inner peace. So has technology exceeded our humanity? Has it dumbed us down to communicate our feelings via emojis? Sanskrit has 96 words for love. We have Did Albert Einstein even really say that? I wish he had - it would fit perfectly with my beliefs - add some heft to the idea that what we are experiencing is a momentous and scary collective experience. But ironically there is no proof that he even said it. It is a perfect example of the soundbite machine roller coaster we are all on, where it seems if something gets repeated enough it could be true ... alternative quotes.
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The Eye is a monthly all-English magazine that is distributed throughout the state of Oaxaca. It can be found for FREE at hotels, restaurants and community hot spots. Should you wish to receive copies, advertise or submit some writing or photography please send us an email. This magazine is made possible by the advertisers so please thank them when you use their services.
Editor: Jane Bauer Copy Editor: Deborah Van Hoewyk Web Goddess: Erin Vig Writers: Jane Bauer, Jan Chaiken, Marcia Chaiken, Julie Etra, Brooke Gazer, Frances Lopez, Leigh Morrow, Carole Reedy, Alvin Starkman, Kary Vannice Cover Photo: Jakub Gojda Photography/Art: Various Distribution: Renee Biernacki Advertising Assistant: Casilda Mendoza Lopez Layout: Jane Bauer Opinions and words are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Eye. We welcome submissions and input. To get involved send us an email. TheEyeHuatulco@gmail.com
See you next month,
Jane
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In This Issue A Brilliant Discovery by an Obscure Mexican Scientist By Brooke Gazer Page 6 Electronic Devices: Positive or Negative Social Effects? By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken Page 8 San Miguel De Allende: Why We Return By Carole Reedy Page 10 Technology – A Little Goes a Long Way By Leigh Morrow Page 11 Top 5 By Jane Bauer Page 11 Top Ten Technological Advancements This Past Decade in Oaxaca By Alvin Starkman Page 12 Cell Phones By Julie Etra Page 14 Travel Apps By Kary Vannice Page 15 Books You Might Have Missed By Carole Reedy Page 16 Top 2 Social Media Platforms For Teens By Frances Lopez Page 17
EDITORIAL PAGE 3 EVENTS CALENDAR PAGE 18 In Oaxaca City, The Eye is now available at Amate Books. www.TheEyeHuatulco.com
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A Brilliant Discovery by an Obscure Mexican Scientist By Brooke Gazer
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t the tender age of 26, a young c h e m i c a l engineering student from Nayarit made an astonishing discovery while working on his doctoral thesis. This discovery placed the name of Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas into the American Inventors Hall of Fame, alongside Louis Pasteur, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, and Alexander Graham Bell. A group of Nobel laureates named his breakthrough discovery as one of the most important inventions of the last 2,000 years. However, unlike other important inventors who have become household names, his has drifted into obscurity. In 1951 Miramontes was working on his doctoral dissertation at Syntex, a small Mexican owned company. He was under the supervision of Carl Djerassi, a renowned American scientist who had been brought to Syntex because of a wild yam that was unique to Mexico. This plant could be synthesized into cortisone, a newly discovered steroid drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The extremely complicated process resulted in an exorbitant cost of production and at $80 USD per gram, it was prohibitive for most patients. (With inflation in today's currency this would have been over $800 USD per gram.) Djerassi had been charged with the task of finding a simpler, cheaper way of synthesizing it. Eventually one was found and cortisone has become a commonly used treatment, but not before Djerassi´s student made his own staggering discovery. While Luis was assigned to the cortisone project, he discovered another compound which became known as “norethindrone”. Although not the formula Syntex was seeking, the discovery was huge! It is the active ingredient used in oral contraceptives. Unfortunately, Djerassi made reference to this earthshaking breakthrough while attending a scientific conference in the USA … and the race to develop the first birth control pill began. Developing a compound is only a small part of what pharmaceutical laboratories are tasked with. Equally extensive work involves passing the rigorous testing that must precede going to market. Miramontes developed the original compound for Syntex in October of 1951, but in May of 1960, Searle was first out of the gate with a license to market what has commonly become known simply as “The Pill”. Although the Mexican grad student Luis Miramontes developed the compound, it was his American supervisor, Carl Djerassi, who garnered most of the credit. For his revolutionary achievement, Luis Miramontes received a meager bonus of $10 USD!
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Luis dedicated his life to science and with a few of his colleagues he founded UNAM's Institute of Chemistry. He was not only content to live in relative obscurity - he may have preferred it! The conservative Mexican society in which his family lived did not view his discovery with the same excitement as the scientific community. Some sentiments were so strong that the priest in the small town where his family resided threatened to excommunicate Luis's wife, upon discovering the identity of her husband. Years after “The Pill” had been launched, Miramontes received a letter from a prominent American law firm. It advised him that many people were becoming millionaires as a result of his work and offered to intercede on his behalf. Luis showed the letter to his family before tearing it up. Living a quiet life, enjoying simple pleasures, he desired neither fame nor fortune. Luis Miramontes died the way he lived. Upon his death in 2004, his son contacted a Mexican national newspaper to advise them that a great scientist had passed away. Uninterested in reporting the death of an unknown person, the paper redirected the call to their obituary department and quoted the price per column inch. While the family could afford the expense, they declined the offer to purchase space in the publication. His death went unnoticed, as he likely would have preferred. Brooke Gazer operates Agua Azul la Villa, an oceanview bed and breakfast in Huatulco (www.bbaguaazul.com).
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Electronic Devices: Positive or Negative Social Effects? By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
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hen is the last time you were in a public place in Mexico or, for that matter, almost any place in the world, when you did not see a person staring at a mobile device screen? At restaurants babies propped up in highchairs are transfixed by brightly colored images dancing across little screens while their parents and older siblings tap away at apps on other hand-held devices. Often loud laughs are accompanied by exchanges of smartphones to share the source of merriment. How pervasive is this phenomenon? And does it have a positive or negative effect on individuals and their relationships? After reviewing the evidence, we'd say the answer is, “primarily negative.� Mexico is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of numbers of users of the internet; over 58,000,000 people were internet users in 2016. (The top three countries were China, India and the U.S.). In part, the relatively high number of actual users is driven by the number of people in the population. Looking at the proportion of people in countries who can access the web, only 45% of Mexicans were internet users, compared to almost 100% in Norway and Iceland and 88.5% in both the U.S. and Canada. But still, the sheer number of people in Mexico who are logged on means users are highly visible. In Mexico, mobile phones are the primary method for accessing the World Wide Web. Since they can connect to widely available Wi-Fi services or via mobile telephone data services, people can be seen using them just about anywhere. Mexico leads the world in the proportion of internet users who access You Tube and ranks second in the world among Facebook fans. Although Twitter has become notorious in its U.S. home base because of the platform's use and abuse by Donald Trump, the percent of Mexican internet users who tweet or at least read tweets far exceeds percentages in the U.S. or Canada. And Mexican mobile phone users have helped lead the way in using WhatsApp for instant messaging; the app has become so popular in Mexico that it is virtually the only reliable way we can communicate at a distance with many friends who live in coastal Oaxaca. Its popularity may be due to Mexico's historically high cost of text messages and cost per minute of voice telephone calls. So Mexico has joined the modern global dependence on electronic devices, especially mobile phones, with obvious relish. But what effects can be expected from these new forms of communicating with family, friends, and the world in general? The picture, based on research carried out in many countries, tends to be age-based and for many age categories not as favorable as one would hope.
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Babies and toddlers whose parents distract them with cartoons or other images on mobile screens, or for that matter on TV screens, are extremely vulnerable to negative long-term outcomes. Delayed language development, attention deficit disorders, and sleep problems have all been found to result from early childhood screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children under the age of two not be exposed to any screen media, including mobile devices and TV. That does not mean that mobile devices are okay after age 2. Three-year-old children exposed to screen media are significantly more likely than unexposed children to experience long-term health consequences, including obesity and behavioral and academic problems. Researchers have debunked the claimed educational value of games and other screen media programs touted as raising a child's IQ. Every minute spent staring at a screen reduces the time young children are engaged in learning life skills. An international survey of 2200 mothers of preschool age children found that vastly more children knew how to use new technology than could tie their shoe laces, ride a bike, or swim. School-age children can derive some educational benefit from limited amounts of use of new technology specifically designed for teaching academic skills to their age group. But even so, discussing lessons learned with teachers and parents greatly enhances these positive effects. And use of these beneficial media are far outweighed by the use of nonproductive video games or watching videos that are at best are neutral, and often have been found to be associated with lower academic achievement and health problems. It is noteworthy that, although Facebook attempts to limit its services to people over the age of 13, an estimated 7.5 million younger children also have Facebook accounts and access to information that they developmentally are not prepared to handle. Often parents are complicit in evading the age restrictions for their children. Misuse of new technology also affects children indirectly. Their parents' and caretakers' use of mobile electronic devices results in inattention to the needs of children. We've all noticed children misbehaving while their nearby parent is engrossed in texting, posting or attending to messages or information on a mobile device. Studies have demonstrated that generally misbehavior escalates as a bid for attention the longer the parent (or caretaker) stays on the phone. Other negative effects of parental or caretaker use of mobile devices seem to be associated with children's poor dietary habits, since they are not encouraged to eat nutritious food and unwholesome sedentary behavior since they are not encouraged to actively play.
The mobile-device users who appear to be most entranced with new technology are teenagers; world-wide, they appear to have a cell phones glued to their hands, and thumbs that can tap faster than Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Actually, teens are slightly less likely to be online than young adults who are past their teen years. Still, a Pew Research Center study in 2015 found that in the US 92% of teens reported going online daily and 24% reported being online constantly. This includes having the phone in bed or nearby while sleeping, a practice that interferes with sleep because of the light emitted from the screen and hypervigilance for incoming messages. While teens in Mexico are less likely than those in the US to have access to new technology, there are no data to suggest that Mexican teens with a mobile devices behave differently from their US counterpart. A “typical teen” reported receiving 30 text messages a day. Teen boys are more likely than girls to play video games on their mobile device, although they too send many texts or instant messages. Facebook was the preferred teen platform two years ago, although 71% of teens use more than one app and among teen girls Instagram and Snapchat were also favorites. What effect does all this connectivity have on teen behavior? Some outcomes, such as from playing video games, can be anticipated based on research on the effects of older technology such as TV. TV video games involving violence have long been known to increase teen aggressive behavior. And recent Dartmouth research has shown that such games, now virtually available on mobile devices wherever teens happen to be, also lead to reckless driving, police stops, and an increase in driving after drinking. On the surface, mobile phones appear to allow more parental supervision. After one of our teen grandchildren, supposedly at a friend's home, was involved in a noisy party in a parking lot that the police visited at 2am, she was subsequently required to have an app on her cell phone that allowed her parents to determine her location at all times. But studies have shown that the ability for parents to reach teens after their curfew led to more teen negotiation and later returns home. Mobile devices have facilitated the phenomenon of “helicopter parenting,” which is parents' involvement in nearly every activity and decision of their children, even on trivial matters. The teen years are critical for forming self-identity, and the ubiquitous use of social media is complicating the process. Teens form their identity by trying out different personae while interacting with others. To a certain extent social media provides a safe way for a teen to present different aspects of whom they think they would like to be. However, unlike faceto-face interactions, teens cannot judge what reactions they are actually receiving and who is providing the reactions. On the one hand, they can derive support and boosts to their selfconfidence via social media. On the other hand, they can be encouraged to carry out socially unacceptable behavior or be criticized by classmates or by “friends” they have never actually met. In general, research has found that online interactions can exacerbate both the positive features and genuine perils of teen relationships. Interestingly, teens downplay the effect of social media on their own behavior and emotions. For example, most teens in relationships indicate that social media helps them stay connected with their significant other but that social media plays a relatively minor role. Teen boys are more likely than teen girls to think that social media improves their relationship. But although many teens, over 25%, report that social media is a source of jealousy or feeling unsure of their relationship, they say it is not an important source. While teens largely dismiss negative effects of being constantly wired to the internet, psychologists have pointed to a host of problems including addiction to being online, increased cyber-bullying, increased strains in parent-adolescent relationships, sleep disturbances, and interference with academic achievement.
We adults can come up with scores of reasons for the social benefits of new technology: staying connected to family and friends, online support systems for specific problems, costsaving communications via the internet, ability to immediately access important information, and on and on. A growing body of research suggests that many adult users of social media are addicted to the new technology and are compelled to frequently check the platforms they use for updates. The more time they spend communicating on social media, the less they are able to function well in face-to-face conversations. Some scholars are concerned about the long-term impact on human mental function and intellect. Frank Rose, in his book The Art of Immersion, argues that we are living in a hyperlink economy where information is worth less than the ability to retrieve it. Our dependence on technology threatens human reliance on logic, critical thinking, and common sense. Dependence on social media primarily reinforces existing modes of thinking and rarely promotes a change of opinion. A study posted on the Social Science Research Network, “Echo Chambers” showed that users tend to form polarized or isolated groups, promote their own narratives, and resist information that doesn't conform to their beliefs. When false information that confirms the group's existing narratives is introduced, it is rapidly shared and integrated, which gives rise to the name “echo chamber.” When truthful information is introduced to debunk the false information, it is ignored or somehow tends to reinforce the users' false beliefs. Another impact comes from the idealized versions of themselves that people present on social media sites. Adult users, as well as teens, tend to feel anxious and depressed that their lives are not in such perfect order. On the positive side, though, researchers at USCD Medical School have suggested that social media can be used to spread happiness; “happy status updates encourage other users to post happy status updates themselves.” And presenting oneself as happy can actually positively change one's mindset. So folks, keep your little ones off new technology, monitor your teens, seek out reliable online information you've never thought about before, and go online and encourage people to be happy.
Perfect your Spanish! Word of the Month: Echar By Julie Etra
Echar is complicated! It is very idiomatic but fun and versatile. There are lots of ways to use this verb. Common meanings: Throw, launch, toss, drop, throw out 1. Echar de menos. To miss someone/ Te echo de menos. I miss you 2. Echarse a perder. To rot/go bad. La leche se echa a perder. The milk is going bad 3. Echar ganas. Echale ganas! To be motivated, move it, let's go! 4. Echar un vistazo. To glance. Le echo un vistazo a Carla 5. Echar chispas por los ojos. Glare 6. Echar aguas. Watch out 7. Echarle porras (a alguien). To encourage someone 8. Echar hojas: sprout leaves 9. Echar el ojo: choose
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San Miguel De Allende: Why We Return By Carole Reedy
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t's easy enough to understand the draw of San Miguel de Allende for firsttime visitors. The sheer number of articles in newspapers and magazines, its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the awards it's received from Travel + Leisure just in 2016: Number 1 City in Mexico, Central, and South America; Number 3 in the World's Best Cities; and Fourth Friendliest City in the World continue to attract tourists from all over the world. But there's another dimension to the popularity of this small colonial city: the repeat visitors. These people naturally come in different varieties. There are the partygoers from Mexico City who invade each weekend to frequent the bars and fine restaurants. And then there are the weddings. In March the city hosted 18 of them. Wedding couples and their guests come from all over Mexico and the world to be married here. It's such fun to observe not just the wedding party but also the guests, who are always dressed to the nines. Then there are the US and Canadian repeaters who make the pilgrimage to SMA each winter for anywhere from two to five months, November to April. In the summer months, you can observe the ladies from Texas, dressed and jeweled to the hilt. Why do they return? These factors differ for everyone, of course, but they boil down to five definable categories, that explain why the world returns to this proud city. The Ambiance: Ask any visitor for his or her first impression of San Miguel and undoubtedly you'll hear “the sky, the sun, and the air.” These three elements encompass the smells, colors, feel, and vision of the town. Years ago, artists started coming to the region for the quality of the light, which enhanced their work. Slowly, other foreigners discovered this magical place. The Colors: “San Miguel de Allende offers a color palette on the streets that hearkens back to another time.” This from repeat visitor Martha Larson, who in the past year has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the US and worked in South America, but continues to return to San Miguel de Allende every year. She goes on to say that the light and heat provide the distinct pigments of the city. Many think of San Miguel in terms of color, usually pink or a combination of the red rocks of Sedona. Of course, Mexico is a country of bright colors, and here you find bold yellows and magnetic blues dominating the landscape. The People: As in all of Mexico, you'll be welcomed with open arms. Taxi drivers will want to know where you're from and why you continue to visit. Shopkeepers will be gracious, and anyone on the street will help you find your way down the cobblestone roads. All service people speak English, but are delighted to help you with your broken Spanish if you choose.
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The Food: As in most popular tourist areas, restaurants come and go, but some of the old standbys remain. For me, a visit isn't complete without a stop at Hecho en Mexico (Calle Ancha de San Antonio 8) for a Reuben sandwich, which, trust me, is hard to find anywhere in Mexico. All the food at this locale is tasty and there's a grand variety of salads and main courses at reasonable prices. The menu boasts both Mexican and gringo favorites. This visit, a friend took us to a new restaurant called Agua Miel (Calle Pipila 3A), a small eatery with an equally small menu of taste treats. We went for brunch, and even the bean enchiladas were tantalizing. In addition, don't miss their delicate version of eggs Benedict. If you are in the mood for something sweet, the waffles are just the thing. There is also a dinner menu, served after 3 PM. The finest coffee in town is found in the tiny Zenteno Café (Calle del Dr. Ignacio Hernández Macías 136, at the sharpangled corner of Calle Tenerías). You can stop for a coffee and pastry and then take home a kilo of the finest organic beans from Veracruz. Culture and Education: Residents and full- or part-time visitors thrive on the variety and quantity of cultural and educational activities here. It's apparently never-ending, each month offering diverse festivals, artists from the world over, classes, and seminars. Several venues offer Spanish classes at all levels. Highly recommended is Liceo de la Lengua (Callejón de Pueblito 5, in the centro). Here a pleasant courtyard with adjoining “classrooms” welcomes students who come for an hour daily for as many weeks as needed at their level. The Instituto Allende ( Calle Ancha de San Antonio 20) also offers a variety of classes, and private tutors can be found by reading the Atención San Miguel, the weekly newspaper with everything you need to know about the week's activities as a tourist or resident, it comes out on Friday. Play readings, concerts at St Paul's Church, chamber music, jazz festivals, and writers conferences are annual events that draw sold-out audiences. There are painting and sculpture classes, and always the presence of the Urban Sketchers, whom you'll see in various locations, seated on their stools, intent on drawing the beauty of the city. Active tourists can swim in local hot springs and spas, or participate in water aerobics at a number of hotel pools. Shoppers will enjoy the Tuesday Market, referred to by the locals as La Placita (east of downtown right off Route 111). Here you will find everything from soup to nuts, literally. Bargain hunters should dash to Fantasia- a consignment store in which one finds the most marvelous designer clothes at reasonable prices. Owner Gayle McClure personally chooses the items she sells for the clientele she has harvested over the years. It is located in a small shopping center called La Pueblita (28 Sterling Dickenson Road). I have yet to find the bargains, quality and diversity of clothing here in Mexico City that I find in San Miguel de Allende. Of course, the traditional fine artisan items of the highest quality abound in the stores throughout the city.
Technology – A Little Goes a Long Way By Leigh Morrow
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e wake to our digital alarm and a high-tech world that tells us what we are missing in our fridge or how to avoid traffic, re-routing if not driving, us to work. We program the front door to open, the furnace to start, the lights to dim, all through technology. We text our friends and family minute by minute, look for a date, send reminders on our virtual calendar to our mate, pay our bills, book a plane ticket, watch the latest Trump antics, even vote, all through the marvels of the Internet. As a result of this massive virtual power, we have become inseparable from our phones. It's seductive, all this distraction, in a device so small it fits in the palm of your hand. This week I experienced a decidedly different digital viewpoint. Cuba has only recently stepped into the technological world, offering sporadic and slow service, only available at infrequent hot spots. Everyone lines up, often for a considerable time, and buys in cash a phone card with prepaid minutes. Locals and tourists then sit on the ground or stand on the curb at these wifi hotspots getting on the Internet. At first you wonder why dozens of people are crammed in such a small outdoor space, often in rainy weather, then you see the tower and understand it is all to get online. This expensive (and it is expensive, especially for the average Cuban), controlled and highly inconvenient approach to the Internet has its merits. The Internet is not cheap, so you use it sparingly for starters. No aimless surfing or sending Pinterest ideas here. 2nd, the internet stays put- it's in only a few spots and you go to it, which is not always convenient. Cuba has no internet on the go. Google has not crept into the privacy of their homes. Families have meals, talking. Friends meet in cafes to spend time together. At work, you work. In church, you pray. Couples walk down the seawall, smiling and making eye contact. No one here is fighting for their family’s attention with a cell phone as we do at home. Cubans dance without texting or sending selfies and teenagers hold hands, not their phones. Texting and driving is nonexistent. Drivers of those classic old American Chevys plying us tourists from one coast to another are content listening to music but watching the road, thank God, as it's dangerous enough. This is an island that lives without a constant alldemanding distraction that we have been conned into. Cubans have a freedom reminiscent of my childhood, which was decidedly no-tech. After constant connection in North America, it is a huge refreshing change, and personally a wake-up call on my own digital diet. It makes you realize, once you disengage for a few days, how much we have traded for our constant Internet connection. Our lives have been made easier but also more isolated and ironically more challenged, constantly pressured to interact with that noise or vibration that has trained us like Pavlov's dog. This was a special vacation for my girlfriends’ 60th birthday. A time away from work and kids and husbands, a time to kick up our heels, but what really set us free was our silent phones. Leigh Morrow is a Vancouver writer and owns Casa Mihale in San Agustinillo which you can rent for your next holiday at www.gosanagustinillo.com
Top 5 Things you can watch on a screen that explore the human relationship to technology
By Jane Bauer 1. Black Mirror (2011-now) A television anthology series much like The Twilight Zone that shows the dark side of life and technology. Every episode is mind blowing, using just enough real technology and logical human behavior to make the viewer sit up and be self-reflective. Each episode stands alone as a mini-film with top actors such as Bryce Dallas Howard, Jon Hamm and Oona Chaplin to name a few. Available on Netflix. 2. Her (2013) What do we get from relationships in this modern age? Spike Jonze’s classic film follows Theodore, a writer, who develops a relationship with his OS (think Siri), Sam. Sweet and sad, it is an honest portrayal of technology’s shortcomings when it comes to the human heart and the isolating effect of being so connected. Joaquin Phoenix’ performance is stellar and Jonze picked up an Oscar for the Original Screenplay. 3.Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) What if we could erase our memories and banish the pain of heartbreak from our consciousness? I love this film because it doesn’t feel futuristic and yet it explores some very interesting questions about whether technology can help our emotional lives and whether it should. The original screenplay by Charlie Kaufman also got an Oscar. Great movies start with great writing! 4. You’ve Got Mail (1998) You are mistaken if you think Nora Ephron’s remake of The Shop Around the Corner is just a sappy romantic comedy. Don’t be fooled by how aesthetically delicious it is; NYC in the fall, manual typewriters, paperback books. This film does a brilliant job of contrasting old-fashioned values with modern conveniences and raises questions about the integrity of technology and big business. It shows technology as an accessory to modern life but in the end acknowledges that nothing replaces real human connection. 5. While We're Young (2014) Struggling documentary filmmaker Josh and his wife befriend a younger couple. Together they attempt to make a documentary film about connecting in real life with people from Facebook. Hilarious and smart, this film questions the validity of identity and truth in our modern world.
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Top Ten Technological Advancements This Past Decade in Oaxaca By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D.
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nfrastructure together with socio-economic and political matters continue to be problematic in Oaxaca, but there have been gains which impact all of us. So here are the top ten technological advancements that I've noticed over the past decade or so, the only caveat being that to me they are technological, but to others they may be minor improvements and little more. 1. Bank branches have been expanding their complement of ATMs at a furious pace, recognizing that the clients of financial institutions are finally becoming a little more technologically sophisticated and not as afraid as previously to trust machines when it comes to doing banking operations such as withdrawing funds, paying bills, printing out transaction histories, etc. 2. Not only those same financial institutions, but also much more modest retail outlets, are installing computerized “take a number” systems, a change from the past, which has been characterized by long lineups and arguing who got there first. 3. Vehicular traffic flow, at least in and around the state capital of Oaxaca, appears to be improved as a result of a better functioning computer traffic light system; you can actually drive from a north suburb to the heart of downtown on all greens, of course depending on the time of day. 4. IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), the Mexican national healthcare insurance plan, has become extremely streamlined, both in the system for renewing annual membership and making appointments to see family doctors as well as specialists. The coordination, facilitated by an online system, cuts down on waiting times. No longer does one have to plan a complete day around making an appointment or going for laboratory workups. 5. Many craft workshops in the villages which were previously “cash only” in part due to spotty Internet, now use a tiny little apparatus not much larger than a business card, sometimes known as a Clip Reader, to have easy and reliable access to credit card authorization.
6. If you sign a contract and have a good credit rating, the cost of making unlimited cellular phone calls using the Telcel network, to anywhere in the US, Canada and Mexico, is now only 215 pesos per month or less than $11 USD; and it even applies while visiting the two countries to the north. And, Telcel throws in a complimentary smart phone to boot. 7. Regarding cellular phones more generally, over the past decade their usage in cities, towns and villages has exploded. Until the “revolution,” many residents did not have access to telephones at all because of 1) the cost of securing a stationary line for your house, and 2)the lack of coverage, lines, trunks, etc, in parts of cities, meaning it often took years for people to have their own line … if they could afford its installation in the first place. But now, almost everyone has at least 20 - 30 pesos, all that is needed to buy a minimal amount of time. 8. Government programs have begun to subsidize 100% of the cost of solar panels in rural areas where households and businesses, including artisanal mezcal factories, either have had no traditional electricity available or have relied on generators. In fact over the past decade, 42,000 solar modules have been installed nationally, with the ability to sell back unused solar produced energy to the federal electricity commission (CFE). 9. CFE now upon request issues householders a smart card, enabling users to select their own payment date, pay much more rapidly and efficiently than previously, determine if their meter is not working properly or if you are at risk of being disconnected for non-payment, even cut off power temporarily (i.e. if on vacation, out of the country, etc.) by simply holding the card up to the hydro meter, and more:
http://www.info7.mx/seccion/como-utilizar-la-tarjetainteligente-de-la-cfe/707196
Mezcal Educational Excursions of Oaxaca TM/MR While in the state capital, learn about this century's most coveted spirit by spending a day with recognized authority Alvin Starkman. Visit rural artisanal distilleries (palenques) using both ancestral clay pot and traditional copper stills. For novices and aficionados alike. Sample throughout your excursion with no obligation to buy.
www.mezcaleducationaltours.com mezcaleducationaltours@hotmail.com
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10. And of course, there are advancements on social media platforms, particularly important in the state of Oaxaca, such as the Facebook group Bloqueos y Accidentes Oaxaca and other similar online sites each of which enables visitors and residents alike to learn of street, highway and intersection blockades, marches and accidents as they occur and as they are cleared, helping us all to plan our days more efficiently. Alvin Starkman operates Mezcal Educational Excursions of Oaxaca (www.mezcaleducationaltours.com), teaching both spirits aficionados and novices alike about Mexico's iconic spirit, agave, and the fascinating culture of Oaxaca's artisanal distillers, all through visiting quaint rural villages peppering the state's central valleys.
Cell Phones By Julie Etra
I
f you come to Huatulco on vacation there is no need to buy a Mexican cell phone. If you live here, or stay for an extended period of time and need a Mexican cell phone, here are some tips. First, talk to someone who lives here, especially someone who speaks English, assuming your Spanish is rudimentary. Super cheap phones of 'off' brands are available at the cell phone repair stores (as low as 250 pesos), but these have limited use, such as just sending and receiving calls, and from my perspective they are hard to figure out. Even retrieving messages or sending text messages can be a chore as they don't have interactive screens. You can buy an Android such as Samsung Galaxy for around $120 US (given that the peso was 20:1 when I bought mine). Of course the language is Spanish; I presume it can be changed to English although I have not tried to change my phone, which came with a number of pre-programmed apps. Be aware that only a few stores, like Coppel, take credit cards. If you want to buy a package there is a variety available, or you can buy minutes that expire after 28 days, so use or lose. Check the limitations of data, calls (US and Canada), and texting. You may have used up your data but still have minutes left for calling and texting. Buying minutes is perhaps more economical, especially if your stay is limited. They are called 'recargas' and can be obtained almost anywhere, from OXXO stores to the super markets. But first determine if your nonMexican cell has a plan that allows affordable calls to Mexico. When using a non-Mexican phone here, I am assuming you have explored the various options with your provider before you left town, based on your use of data, duration of time in Mexico, etc. My plan costs an additional $25 for 1 G of data. I have not yet exceeded this, and I find my Google maps, which use a lot of data, essential for navigating in this country. Maps have helped us around Guadalajara, Mexico City, and most recently in Tuxla Gutierrez, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Palenque. Here are some tips about iPhones, since that is what I have. My iPhone is a US iPhone. Wherever you buy your iPhone is where you will need to go for help or support. If you damage your phone here and they cannot repair it (they are really really good at cell phone repairs here), you will have to send it back to the county of origin and have someone take it to Apple, and then ship or hand carry a new phone to you here. You cannot directly ship to Apple, nor will they ship to Mexico, unless you buy the phone here. Then it is a Mexican iPhone.
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Replacing your phone is not easy! I dropped my phone in our pool, and the $175 US waterproof case failed. So I sent my dead phone via two-day guaranteed FEDEX delivery, with $600 US insurance (cost of a new phone) to a friend in the US, who would then schedule an appointment at Genius Bar, obtain a new phone, and ship back. Only it never arrived in the US. I immediately filed a claim with FEDEX US, after two weeks of processing they said I needed to file in Mexico, which I then did, which then took an additional two weeks for them to respond that they had received the claim. I estimate three full days for this process and numerous phone calls. After two months I received an email from FEDEX Mexico that the claim had been processed and that I will be able to collect, in pesos, at one particular bank on March 31. So what did I do in the meantime and how did I replace my phone? Not easy! OK, so a friend was planning to come down shortly after I destroyed my phone and I figured what the heck, I insured the phone, I will get the cash back eventually, I'll just have her pick me up a new phone. But she had to be authorized and added to my account. Four calls and six hours later, trying unsuccessfully to use the web site, I finally got a three-party call with my friend, the service provider, and the sales clerk, and voilĂ she was able to purchase the phone and hand-carry it to Mexico. Moral to the story? Don't trust in waterproof cases, don't drown your iPhone, and don't use FEDEX to ship anything of value. The trail went cold after the phone left Huatulco.
Travel Apps By Kary Vannice
I
travel…a lot. So much so that when I approach the Interjet counter at my local airport, they greet me by name, even before I hand them my passport! Over the last five years, I'd like to think I've mastered the art of traveling alone, but there are still times when I would like a helping hand, preferably, in the palm of my hand. Enter the travel app! There are hundreds of travel apps out there on the market. No matter where or how you plan to travel, there's an app to help you with almost every aspect of planning and execution. Some save you money, some help you see the sights, others direct you to the perfect meal, and a few may even help you find the perfect travel companion. Most journeys start with a plan. Gone are the days of a travel agent who diligently helps you plan your trip and works tirelessly to find you the best deals on flights and hotels. Now, there's an app for that! Hopper is an app that will actually predict the best time to fly and when airline prices will drop, sending you alerts so you get the best rates on, what can sometimes be the most expensive element of your trip, getting there. The Jetsetter app is for those of us who love to fantasize about trips as much as we love to take them. Combining top destinations with daily deals, you can visually “live” the experience before booking a trip by scrolling through incredible photos of hotels, things to do, major attractions, and area dining. Once your trip is booked, you'll need to get packing. PackPoint will help you with that. Put in your destination city and it will gather average weather data for the location and time of year so you can choose the right type of clothing. Choose the type of activities you plan to do on your trip, like hit the gym, go to the beach, attend a fancy dinner, and your list is generated for you! Modify it in any way you want, adding or hiding items you don't need to take.
Enter all your travel plans into the Tripit app and you'll not only have all your reservation codes, departure times and important travel information at your fingertips, you'll also receive alerts when something changes, like a gate change or flight delay. Getting from the train terminal or airport to your hotel or Airbnb in a taxi can be expensive and unpredictable. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft are popping up around the world. I've used Uber on three different continents and in six different countries. Because your credit card is automatically charged, it's ideal for when you first arrive in a country and don't yet have local currency. If you're heading someplace new, but would rather 'live like a local' than 'travel like a tourist', CultureTrip is the app for you! Better than a guide book, this app shares the inside scoop from local tastemakers, artists, and trendsetters who are constantly seeking the best of their cities, allowing you to authentically experience the local sights, sounds and flavors of any country. If it's edible delights you seek, Foodspotting can lead you to the best foodie finds in the world! From a legit lobster roll sandwich in New York to the lightest macarons in Paris, you'll read reviews and see travelers' photos from their succulent meals around the globe. Solo travelers (like me) know it's just not as fun to see a breathtaking Monet or devour mouthwatering gourmet all by yourself. Luckily, there are dozens of apps out there to help singles find other travelers to journey with. Tourbar and Skout are two apps that help people meet virtually. Users can reach out across oceans to find a friend, or set locations to find people in specific areas. If you find yourself alone in an unknown country, these handy apps could have you swapping stories with a fellow wanderer in a matter of minutes, or meeting for a night on the town with a native. And, if it's love you're looking for, well, of course, apps abound! Both Miss Travel and AirDates claim to be the Tinder of travel! Miss Travel lets members pre-load their trips to find companions before they fly or connect with fellow travelers once on the road. And, if you don't like flying alone, AirDates (Tinder in the sky) lets you “swipe right” to hook-up with people at airports or in the air, if you're not a great flyer. Their tagline – “Joining the mile-high club just got easier”. Nothing like sex with a stranger to distract you from the fact that you're in a metal tube with three hundred other people, five miles above the earth experiencing a bit of turbulence! Of course, if that's not your thing, there are at least six apps that promise to help you conquer your fear of flying, which is good, since you need to start planning your next trip so you can try out all these new apps!
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Books You Might Have Missed By Carole Reedy
E
ven we dedicated readers, with our lists, book clubs, and notebooks, have trouble keeping up with the plethora of new authors and their work. We want to read everything by our favorite writers, and then there are the best-sellers. Add to that books recommended by friends and then all of the articles from The New York Times, The Guardian, and the multitude of literary publications. Recently, I've set aside these approaches to discover some books I've missed. These were never on my to-read list, although certainly somewhere along the line they were recommended by one of the previous methods. Consider adding these to your list or just keep them in the back of your mind. Someday they may be offered on sale or, as happened to me, you may just decide “now is the time to read this.” THE MAN WHO LOVED DOGS by Cuban author Leonardo Padura (2009), English translation by Anna Kushner (2014). In this grand novel of more than 700 pages, the two main characters are Trotsky and his murderer, but the book is chock full of history about Stalin, Siberia, and Russia, as well as the Spanish Civil War. The story shifts from Trotsky's exile to Siberia before moving to Turkey and Norway and eventually to Mexico. The storyline concerning Trotsky's assassin is equally detailed and mysterious, including all the intricacies and politics of the Spanish Civil War and communism, ending, as you well know, in Mexico with all the twists and turns neatly tied up. This novel, rich in detail and fact, is overwhelmingly fascinating. THE ESSAYS OF DAVID FOSTER WALLACE. I recommend Consider the Lobster and Other Essays (2006) and A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments (1998), both compilations of his essays originally published in magazines such as Rolling Stone. David Foster Wallace's talent was cut short by his suicide in 2008 at age 46 after 20 years of depression. It was a tremendous loss to the literary community. DFW was, along with his friend Jonathan Franzen, one of the finest authors of essay and fiction of the 20th century. With Wallace's amazing command of English language grammar and vocabulary, innovative style, and acidic view of modern capitalist society, he captivated readers. DFW had the ability to see a situation, analyze it, and communicate it in the clearest, cleverest manner. He could make anything interesting and amusing, including the campaign trail of John McCain, the Maine Lobster Festival, a week-long Caribbean cruise, and yes, believe it or not, a review of Garner's Book of American Grammar Usage. I would describe his writing as painfully perfect and I would describe him as a genius. His last book, the novel Infinite Jest, explains infinity from mathematical and philosophical points of view. TIME Magazine named it one of the best 100 novels in the English language from 1923 to 2006.
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Any selection from the ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH SERIES. Need a pickme-up? Anyone who has read even one of these delightful, poignant novels knows what it means to feel content after finishing the final paragraph. When I turn the final page, I think to myself “This is how the world should be.” If you haven't read any McCall Smith, start with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (1998). If you're already a loyal fan of the series, check his recent list as there may be several you've missed. In addition to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, 44 Scotland Street and the Sunday Philosophy Club are the other most popular of his grand selection of work. You will fall in love with the characters and want to follow all their adventures. A FINE BALANCE by Rohinton Mistry (1995). Like War and Peace (Tolstoy) and A Remembrance of Things Past (Proust), this novel, about the India of Indira Gandhi, is an all-inclusive history that shifts into one of the grandest statements about the human condition. Spoiler alert: this is not a “happy” book, but it will be one you will never forget. The biggest mystery is why Mistry hasn't written another novel of this grand caliber. THE FLÂNEUR: A STROLL THROUGH THE PARADOXES OF PARIS by Edmund White (2001). I've recently noticed in the press many references to “flaneuring.” A new book by Lauren Elkin, Flâneuse: Women Walk the City, recounts her reflections while “flaneuring” in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Venice, and London, as well as that of other women walkers, including George Sand and Virginia Woolf. It may have all started with White's gloriously written account of his days in Paris, where he strolls, observes, and drops interesting literary facts and gossipy tidbits about the residents of the areas he visits or the architecture. It takes a special talent to make one man's strolling a compelling read…but he accomplishes it handily. In the coming years we'll surely miss more books, but take heart: they might be found another day…ojalá.
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Groucho Marx
TOP 2 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR TEENS By Frances Lopez
O
ver the past few years the use of Facebook in teenagers has gone down and teens have moved on to new social media platforms such as snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. While it may seem more complicated to post photos on Instagram, share moments on Snapchat, text on WhatsApp, or check Twitter, teens seem to like the variety of using these different forms of communicating. Facebook just isn't enough anymore. The top two apps in 2017 used by teens are without a doubt Snapchat and Instagram. Snapchat would definitely have to be the most popular app among teens. Snapchat is an app that allows you to communicate with friends or other social media influencers in real time. It has changed how people interact compared to other forms of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Snapchat is strictly a mobile app, users can “chat� with their friends directly or in groups by sending them photos and short videos up to 10 seconds long or just a normal text message. You can also send voice notes and have video/voice calls. Another important feature is posting stories. A story is a photo (which can be posted for up to 10 seconds) or a video that is posted on your account, a story can be viewed by any of your snapchat contacts for a period of 24 hours. This is the big attraction, unlike other social networks, snapchat doesn't save what you post forever.
More than 400 million Snaps are sent every day and 8,796 photos are shared on Snapchat every second. The platform has also become a cornerstone of social media marketing towards teens and Millennials. With a 72% adoption rate, Snapchat is the most-used social media platform among 12 to 24-years-olds. Instagram is a social networking app designed for sharing photos and videos. Like Facebook and Twitter, every person with an Instagram account has a news feed and a profile where your own photos are shown. A recently added feature are Instagram stories, exactly like Snapchat's with a few difference in their features. On Instagram, like Facebook, you can like and comment on any one's post. Finally, Instagram also has a direct messaging feature which allows you to chat with your followers. It is like a simplified, more straight-forward version of Facebook with an emphasis on photo sharing. Instagram was bought by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion. I Instagram has more than 400 million monthly active users and more than 80 million photos are uploaded per day and 17% of teens say Instagram is the most important social media site (up from 12% in 2012). Overall I think that social media is something that allows us to connect with others, whether it be friends, family, or celebrities. Although sometimes the use of it by teens is seen as a negative thing, it is something much bigger than what you realize.
Calendar April 9th Palm Sunday
Full Moon April 11th
April 11th Passover Begins
On the Coast Recurring Events: AA Meetings: English AA 6pm, Puerto Escondido Cafecito Rinconada, Every Thursday English Al-Anon 4:30pm, Puerto Escondido Cafecito Rinconada, Every Saturday Weekly Markets Pochutla Market- Every Monday
April Saturday, April 1st Huatulco’s Organic Market Santa Cruz 8am-2pm Tuesday April 4,2017 at 2 PM Attention Citizens of the USA in Huatulco The Consular Agent of Oaxaca, Samantha Watkins would like your presence at an informational no host lunch on, location to be announced a little later. She wants to hear about your life in Huatulco and wants to introduce herself and her staff. Please contact us here and we will keep you posted on the location. Hope to meet some of you there! I have met and worked with Samantha and really like her she has been so helpful at times. Saturday, April 15th Huatulco’s Organic Market Santa Cruz 8am-2pm Sunday, April 30th Encuentro de Cocineros - Local cooks gather with sample dishes to raise money for local charities. 2pm Santa Cruz 100 pesos
The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art. John Lasseter
April 14th Good Friday
April 16th Easter Sunday
Oaxaca City Recurring Events: AA Meetings (English) Daily - Monday and Thursday - 7 pm Also Saturday at 1 pm - All 12 step groups welcome. 518 Colon Religious Services Holy Trinity Anglican Episcopal Church Sundays 11 am Crespo 211 (between Morelos and Matamoros) Liturgy followed by coffee hour. Information 951-514-3799 Religious Society of Quaker Friends Meeting, Saturdays 10 am Free All are welcome. For more information and location, contact janynelyons@hotmail.com Weekly Markets Etla Market, Every Wednesday Tlacolula Market, Every Sunday Biking Oaxaca is More Beautiful on a Bicycle, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday - 9 to 10:30 pm Free, Meet in front of Santo Domingo Church Rental bicycles available at Mundo Ceiba, Quintana Roo 2011 You must bring a passport or Oaxacan credentials. They have tandems, too! Ethnobotanical Garden Tours in English Weekly - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 11 am $100 pesos Entrance Reforma and Constitutión. Bridge Tuesday Bridge Game at Oaxaca Lending Library, Pino Suarez 519, $20 pesos, no partner necessary, starting at 1:00PM Garden Club Monthly - 1st Wednesday Free The Oaxaca Garden Club is dedicated to: learning, sharing and education about gardening, agriculture and nature, primarily in Oaxaca. To receive the monthly notices of activities, send an email to oaxaca.garden.club@gmail.com Hiking Weekly - Tuesday & Friday 9 am - November thru March Minimal cost for transportation. Hoofing It In Oaxaca (http://www.hoofingitinoaxaca.com/) is a program of weekly hikes for adventurous gringos who hanker to explore this part of Mexico on foot. Reservations required. Tour to Teotitlán del Valle Weekly - Thursday and Saturday - 9 to 5 pm $750 pesos Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, Av. Benito Juárez 909 Travel, Learn, Fight Poverty. Fundación En Via (www.envia.org/)
zaachila boats Bay Excursion and Sports Fishing
Enjoy the Pacific Coast with friends and family! Full and Half day excursions! Cel (228) 110 5605 marejadadefondo@outlook.com
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April 30th Children’s Day
Chiles&Chocolate Cooking Classes Huatulco, Oaxaca
The best way to learn about a culture is through its food. CLASS DESCRIPTIONS TUESDAY- By the Sea -Ceviche -Oven Roasted Shrimp Seasoned -Baja-style Fish Tacos -Shrimp Mousse -Michelada with Clamato WEDNESDAY- Mama’s Kitchen -Black Mole- This is the most exquisite and complicated Mexican salsa. -Yellow Mole -served with Rice and Chicken -Mezcal Margarita THURSDAY-Fiesta- Perfect recipes for your next party! -Poblano and Nopales Emapanadas - Jicama Salad -Beef Tamales in Corn Husk -Rum Horchata
Chiles&Chocolate Cooking Classes offer a delicious culinary and cultural experience that explore a variety of Southern Mexican cuisine. Our hands-on classes ensure you will leave prepared to recreate the dishes when you get home. · · · · · · · ·
Small Groups Hands-on Instruction in English Recipe Manual Free Gift Bag Lunch and Drinks Included All classes start at 9:30am Transportation Included
Cost: $85 USD per person Cooking Classes are 3-4 hours Zimatan, Huatulco
Tel. 958 105 1671
Cel. 958 100 7339
chiles.chocolate@yahoo.com www.huatulco-catering.com
FRIDAY- Street Food- A great intro to Mexican Food. -Salsas -Handmade Tortillas -2 types of soft tacos fillings -Sopes -Tlayudas -Jamaica Margaritas