Murder most foul

Mexico is second only to Iraq when it comes to the number of journalists murdered, and with high profile musicians being added to the body count you’d think Mexico is a dangerous place to be. It is. If you’re involved in drugs. This is one of the most violent front lines in the world’s war on drugs, and not something you’d want to stick your nose into. I’m sure it makes the news now and then back in the UK, but the image for most is off sun kissed talcum powder beaches facing the turquoise Caribbean. What normal people see and think within Mexico, each and every day of the year, is something a little different.

I’ve scanned a copy of Prensa, one of Mexico’s papers to give you a taste of what I walk past on news stands every morning. I’ve pixellated the nasty bit - Iraq isn’t the only place people get beheaded, and it’s not something everyone would want to see. If you want to see the unadulterated image, you can click on the link below.

I’m not attempting to spread a negative vibe about Mexico, but as I live here and blog about here, I have both good and bad stuff to share. Just as anyone else, in any other country, would have to share. This is one of the bad sides of the country. There is a virtual war going on here, with no end in sight.

Click here to see original image.

Murder most foul

Mexico is second only to Iraq when it comes to the number of journalists murdered, and with high profile musicians being added to the body count you’d think Mexico is a dangerous place to be. It is. If you’re involved in drugs. This is one of the most violent front lines in the world’s war on drugs, and not something you’d want to stick your nose into. I’m sure it makes the news now and then back in the UK, but the image for most is off sun kissed talcum powder beaches facing the turquoise Caribbean. What normal people see and think within Mexico, each and every day of the year, is something a little different.

I’ve scanned a copy of Prensa, one of Mexico’s papers to give you a taste of what I walk past on news stands every morning. I’ve pixellated the nasty bit - Iraq isn’t the only place people get beheaded, and it’s not something everyone would want to see. If you want to see the unadulterated image, you can click on the link below.

I’m not attempting to spread a negative vibe about Mexico, but as I live here and blog about here, I have both good and bad stuff to share. Just as anyone else, in any other country, would have to share. This is one of the bad sides of the country. There is a virtual war going on here, with no end in sight.

Click here to see original image.

One more class…

The year is nearly at an end. I have just one more class tomorrow and then I have two blissful weeks of peace, quiet and staying in bed till midday! My students have all been very nice so far! One big box of Ferrero Rocher and a nice card from two of my Lilly lot, and a Christmas breakfast at El Porton this morning courtesy of my students in the north of the city at FAR. Of course I took a photo. Two, actually…

One more class…

The year is nearly at an end. I have just one more class tomorrow and then I have two blissful weeks of peace, quiet and staying in bed till midday! My students have all been very nice so far! One big box of Ferrero Rocher and a nice card from two of my Lilly lot, and a Christmas breakfast at El Porton this morning courtesy of my students in the north of the city at FAR. Of course I took a photo. Two, actually…

Words, words and more words

What do Facebook, Green-Collar, Pimp, Poke and Subprime all have in common? They are all new entries into the Collins English dictionary for 2008. Yes, it’s that exciting time of year when the literary authorities give us permission to officially use words that have been used quite a lot anyway over the last 12 months! See the Telegraph if you’re unsure what they mean!  I’m rather disappointed. I had hoped Brown-nosing would be redefined as an act involving a person sticking his hooter in others wallets to see if there’s anything he can take; a McClaren - where you are given a nice easy job and screw it up in the most spectacularly stupid way possible. I also liked the word ‘Applected’ which was used on a forum to describe the Russian electoral system.

Words, words and more words

What do Facebook, Green-Collar, Pimp, Poke and Subprime all have in common? They are all new entries into the Collins English dictionary for 2008. Yes, it’s that exciting time of year when the literary authorities give us permission to officially use words that have been used quite a lot anyway over the last 12 months! See the Telegraph if you’re unsure what they mean!  I’m rather disappointed. I had hoped Brown-nosing would be redefined as an act involving a person sticking his hooter in others wallets to see if there’s anything he can take; a McClaren - where you are given a nice easy job and screw it up in the most spectacularly stupid way possible. I also liked the word ‘Applected’ which was used on a forum to describe the Russian electoral system.

Our Very Old Queen…

Queen Elizabeth II has just set a new record for UK/British/English monarchs - she is the oldest sovereign ever, passing the legendary Queen Victoria. At the grand old age of 81, she’s set to take a few more records in the coming years. Is there a need for a monarchy in this day and age? Frankly I don’t know how people can get terribly excited about either side of the debate. If we get rid of her, we’ll get a president, who’ll cost the taxpayer just as much. She doesn’t deserve her cash? Her and 99% of the people on the country’s rich list - what you gonna do, start a communist revolution? If nothing else she keeps history alive, and I like history. As a figurehead, she is undoubtedly a more prestigious, stable and continuous presence than any president would ever be. If you really hate her, and want to needle monarchists, console yourself with this thought - history will record her as the Queen who lost an empire.

• At 81 she is the oldest monarch the UK/Britain/England has had.
• However, she must must make it to 2012 to surpass Richard Cromwell as the longest lived person to ever rule England.
• Having reigned for 55 years, only Henry III and Victoria have been on the throne longer.
• She will overtake Henry III in 2008.
• She will become the longest reigning monarch in 2015.
• She is the 43rd= longest reigning monarch in world history.
• She will need to live to 120 to overtake Egypt’s Pepi II Neferkare as the longest reigning monarch in world history.
• If she lives to 100 she will take 5th place from Louis XIV, France’s and Europe’s longest reigning monarch.
• She is currently queen of 16 independent states and territories, and 129,000,000 people.
• She was queen of 32 states at one stage.
• She was proclaimed Queen on Canada a day before she her British proclamation.
• She is the only female royal to have ever actually served in the military.
• She is not the Queen of England. There has been no such title for more than four hundred years.
• Her official title in the UK is : Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Our Very Old Queen…

Queen Elizabeth II has just set a new record for UK/British/English monarchs - she is the oldest sovereign ever, passing the legendary Queen Victoria. At the grand old age of 81, she’s set to take a few more records in the coming years. Is there a need for a monarchy in this day and age? Frankly I don’t know how people can get terribly excited about either side of the debate. If we get rid of her, we’ll get a president, who’ll cost the taxpayer just as much. She doesn’t deserve her cash? Her and 99% of the people on the country’s rich list - what you gonna do, start a communist revolution? If nothing else she keeps history alive, and I like history. As a figurehead, she is undoubtedly a more prestigious, stable and continuous presence than any president would ever be. If you really hate her, and want to needle monarchists, console yourself with this thought - history will record her as the Queen who lost an empire.

• At 81 she is the oldest monarch the UK/Britain/England has had.
• However, she must must make it to 2012 to surpass Richard Cromwell as the longest lived person to ever rule England.
• Having reigned for 55 years, only Henry III and Victoria have been on the throne longer.
• She will overtake Henry III in 2008.
• She will become the longest reigning monarch in 2015.
• She is the 43rd= longest reigning monarch in world history.
• She will need to live to 120 to overtake Egypt’s Pepi II Neferkare as the longest reigning monarch in world history.
• If she lives to 100 she will take 5th place from Louis XIV, France’s and Europe’s longest reigning monarch.
• She is currently queen of 16 independent states and territories, and 129,000,000 people.
• She was queen of 32 states at one stage.
• She was proclaimed Queen on Canada a day before she her British proclamation.
• She is the only female royal to have ever actually served in the military.
• She is not the Queen of England. There has been no such title for more than four hundred years.
• Her official title in the UK is : Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

TEFL Tips - Discipline

I can’t say this is a really serious tip, but I came across this story, and just had to pass it on. Needless to say, it’s an example of what not to do! If you come across troublesome students, what should be the course of action you take? I’m not sure I can help you - fortunately I’ve never had a troublesome student!

A secondary school teacher in India has been arrested for disciplining unruly pupils with electric shocks. The physics teacher is alleged to have given mild shocks to 22 of his teenage students at a school in the western state of Maharashtra. He used an exposed wire connected to batteries from the science laboratory to administer the shocks.

BBC

TEFL Tips - Discipline

I can’t say this is a really serious tip, but I came across this story, and just had to pass it on. Needless to say, it’s an example of what not to do! If you come across troublesome students, what should be the course of action you take? I’m not sure I can help you - fortunately I’ve never had a troublesome student!

A secondary school teacher in India has been arrested for disciplining unruly pupils with electric shocks. The physics teacher is alleged to have given mild shocks to 22 of his teenage students at a school in the western state of Maharashtra. He used an exposed wire connected to batteries from the science laboratory to administer the shocks.

BBC