Jorge's blog

Bok argued that honesty is the “social glue” of trust.   (📷:irpp) S issela Bok’s starting point is simple but powerful: truth-telling is a vital social practice. She invites us to imagine a world where honesty is not the norm.  In such a world, “you could never trust anything you were told or anything you read” . You would have to verify every  fact yourself – an impossibly time-consuming task. Bok observes that even basic education assumes a degree of trust: if schoolbooks and teachers were known liars, learning would collapse . In her words, without trust, “you could never acquire the education you need… since such an education depends upon taking the word of what you read in your lesson books.” . This thought experiment makes it crystal clear  that we benefit enormously from living in a largely truthful world. 'Should You Always Tell The Truth? ' ▶️2m24s Bok formalises this as the Principle of Veracity : a strong moral presumption against lying, because most ...

Capturing attention with a single image is both an art and a science.   (📷:henspark) E ffective composition is the backbone of a compelling image. The arrangement of lines, shapes, and subjects can literally lead the viewer’s gaze through the photo.  For instance, placing your main subject along the “rule of thirds” gridlines or at their intersections creates a dynamic balance that naturally draws attention . Similarly, using leading lines (like roads, fences, or tree branches) can actively guide the eye toward the focal point of the image . In fact, eye-tracking research confirms that images with strong leading lines hold viewers’ attention longer and score higher in visual appeal . '9 photo composition tips (feat. Steve McCurry)' ▶️3m09s Framing  is another classic technique: shoot through an archway, window, or natural opening so that your subject sits within a “frame” inside the photo . This not only adds depth but also pulls focus to the subject. Likewise, balan...

Understanding how people get news has never been more crucial.   (📷:foto.wuestenigel) T he Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025 shows a sharp shift away from traditional media toward social networks and video platforms for news . Across most countries, fewer people report regularly using TV, print, or news websites, while many more now rely on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and the like. For example, about one-third of respondents globally use Facebook (36%) or YouTube (30%) each week to get news.  Other social apps also play a major role: roughly 19% turn to Instagram and 19% to WhatsApp for news, and TikTok (16%) is already ahead of X/Twitter (12%). These many “mini-newspapers” on our phones and feeds mean news consumption is more fragmented than ever. In fact, the study notes that six different online platforms now reach at least 10% of people weekly with news – up from just two platforms a decade ago . (📷:reuters) The United States illustrates this change most starkly....

Acknowledging global English varieties can empower students and reflect their identities.   (📷:empowervmedia) E nglish has become a truly global language, but that also brings a big teaching question: which English should we teach?  English is spoken all around the world and has official or special status in over 80 countries . Naturally, there are many regional varieties (British English, American English, Australian English, Indian English, and more). As Cambridge linguist Eline Laperre puts it, “there is not just one Standard English: there are several” . In other words, even the idea of a single “Standard English” is misleading. The choice of which variety to focus on also shapes learners’ sense of identity: language ties closely to community and culture . Instructors today must decide whether to teach a traditional native-speaker norm (like “Standard British” or “General American”) or to acknowledge the full spectrum of World Englishes  (or how to combine both appro...