DONDEQUIERA

We Want a Free Internet - SOPA & PIPA

2012-01-26T07:10:00.003-04:30

MicroJuris.com to livestream tonight's event -

Tonight's presentation by Lcdo. Fernando Cervoni will be livestreamed courtesy of MicroJuris.com. Please visit the Microjuris.com event detail page for more information.

Internet Freedom in Puerto Rico & The World

2012-01-24T10:40:00.008-04:30

Free event about SOPA & PIPA -

Last week, due to the overwhelming support of major websites, the intellectual copyright protection bills SOPA and PIPA were defeated. That is, at least for now. So, please my friends, let's remain vigilant, because I can assure you that the interests which help breathe life into these bills will not rest.

Further, if the last 40 years is any indication, we are likely to see some sort of intellectual protection bill make it to the floor of the US Congress and end up in some president's hands for signature. Mark my word, this issue is not dead. More like the living dead, a zombie issue, if you like. It will just keep on coming and coming until it overhwlems everyone or we can deliver a kill shot to Hollywood's head. Many companies are trying to do just that. These companies believe that the only way to kill the intellectual property rights legisilation is to out innovate Hoolywood and deliver solutions that make their demands obsolete. I wish them the best of luck.

In the meantime, we've got to be ready. The first task is to arm oursleves with information. This Thursday night, we've got an excellent opportunity to get started. Lcdo. Fernando Cervoni will be giving a speech about SOPA and PIPA in the theater of the Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Interamericana Campus at 6:30pm. The speech "Queremos un Internet Libre - SOPA & PIPA" will be hosted by the Internet Society of Puerto Rico. I believe the event is free and open to the public, so on behalf of Lcdo. Cervoni, I cordially you invite you to attend. There is more information available on the ISOC-PR Facebook Page.

RIP Karla: New Testament Analysis

2012-01-19T17:05:00.012-04:30

"Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" -

Last Saturday, El Nuevo Dia ran an editorial ("Una Muerte En El Piel Del Pais") that essentially blamed the people that may have been complicit in the senseless murder of Karla Negrón. The latest victim of a "bala perdida" (stray bullet) on New Year's Eve, Karla's passing has become a symbol for Puerto Rico's raging crime.

As the editorial claims "En cada lugar y en cada comunidad desde la cuales, [...], individuos desalmados hicieron disparos al aire, es seguro que hubo otras personas que fueron testigos directos o indirectos de esa reprochable y disocidora actividad." Bluntly put, the editorial insists that everywhere someone discahrged a weapon into the air, there had to be witnesses.

The editorial continues to suggest that there are ways to report such activity. Yeah right, would you stick out your neck and report someone you know to be in possession of and willing to use firearms? The editorial continues by suggesting that by reporting these crimes, the informants would help reduce crime and restore peace to our communities.

Analysis

This editorial reminded of a New Testament story that I think applies perfectly. As Mary Magdelene is being threatened with stoning for accusations of prostitution, Jesus steps in and tells the crowd: "Let he among you, that is without sin, cast the first stone." Reluctantly, the crowd examines their conscience and quietly disperses.

This is a powerful story and very instructive in this situation. First, while regrettable, Karla's death is, in my opinion, just another example of broken windows theory. Simply put, broken windows theory suggests that when citizens see laws being broken, then they feel empowered to also break the law.

From top to bottom, and east to west, Puerto Rico is drowning in lawlessness. From illegal businesses, to contraband trafficking, to corruption (kickbacks, bribes, etc.), to organized crime (gangs), and, unfortunately, to murder. We talk of "balas perdidas," but rarely does anyone complain about illegal fireworks. While some fireworks are legal in Puerto Rico, all fireworks that explode or shoot a projectile into the air are illegal for use in Puerto Rico. They are illegally brought into Puerto Rico through our ports and plainly sold in our streets. In this instance, there really isn't any difference between illegal drugs and illegal fireworks; both are contraband.

So I ask, how many of you out there reported your friends and family members for the use of illegal fireworks? If you ever want to visibly witness just how prevalent crime is accepted in Puerto Rico, all you have to do is wait for New Year's Eve. Every firework you see explode in the midnight sky, is all the evidence you need.

It is pure hypocrisy for anyone to accuse Karla's murderer of breaking by the law by anyone who knowingly and willingly bought and discharged illegal fireworks. In the eyes of the law they are BOTH crimes. It is at this point in our analysis that we enter the very slippery slope.

Most people will respond, but one crime is for our enjoyment, and doesn't really hurt anyone. Most will continue on to say, but murder is another thing altogether. I am not justifying either, both are part of the same environment. While "decent" citizens turn a blind eye and maybe even rejoice at the beautiful display of illegal fireworks, the witnesses of a murder do the moral equivalent. They turn a blind eye.

The second lesson we should take from Karla's repugnant murder is that there can not be two standards. There is no grounds to justify discharging illegal fireworks or discharging guns into the air. Everyone wants to draw a line between the criminals responsible for Karla's death and "decent" citizens. We want to justify our crimes by saying, "I'm a good person," and THEY are criminals. You also hear the same argument when politicians get caught for corruption. We want to be able to say THEY are corrupt, but we are not.

Let's take another example: illegal businesses and corporate corruption. Most "decent" citizens who partake of these crimes justify their actions by rationalizing that they were only providing for their families. It is not a coincidence that many gang members make the same claim.

Again, where things get slippery is by one set of the population justifying one set of crimes, while simultaneously condemning the other. The difference to many is in how they perceive themselves. If they fall into the "normal" group who are criminals out of convenience, then they say to themselves that breaking the law is understandable. They may confess their crimes, but they are fundamentally "good" people.

These "good" people look down at the "bad" people who are conducting murder. They want to be able to lump the "bad" criminals together, and not include themselves. They even go so far as to say, that "bad" people that get murdered deserve it because they should have known better then to get involved in gangs or trafficking in contraband.

I think very few people want to be criminals. In many situations the environment that they live in, creates situations that are morally grey. Drive by any informal flea market and take a poll, do the merchants there believe they are criminals? Ask most gang member the same question, and I think you might be surprised by their answers.

Conclusion

We can not have one set of society that commits crimes, but are accepted; and another that commits crimes, but are condemned. As a citizen of Puerto Rico, I say, this is our problem. Drugs and gangs are not the problem, our indifference to crime is. The same environment that permits doctors to commit Medicaid fraud or merchants to sell their products in flea markets, is the same environment that permits rampant gang participation. We can not draw a line between the two environments, because they are the same; we are one society.

Skrillex in Puerto Rico Video

2012-01-17T09:26:00.001-04:30

Cool video highlights awesome performance.

What's weird is that I don't remember it being anything like this. LOL

Skrillex in Puerto Rico: Ultimate Rave

2012-01-10T09:37:00.006-04:30

From the first booming bass notes that Skrillex dropped, it was clear that Puerto Rico was about to experience the best electronic dance rave, ever to happen on the isle of enchantment. It's hard to describe something that you never even thought was possible, but I'll try.

Sure, this was Skrillex, but I had never imagined a show could have that much energy, that much intesity, and be so enjoyable. Performing to a massive crowd, Skrillex is clearly leading the pack of techno/dubstep/drum and bass music.

The Show

Estimates by Skrillex on his Twitter feed put the audience inside Escobar Sixto stadium between 10 to 13 thousand people, and it felt like it. From the moment I got through security, I headed straight towards the front. I was determined to be close when Skrillex hit the stage.

The mass of humanity I had to struggle through was enormous. Once I got as close as I could Alvin Risk had finished most of his set and Zedd came on. It was pure insanity! Everyone down front was battling a crush of human flesh pressing down on us. Security staff were pushing back against of temporary steel walls. At times, I felt as if I was in a human compacting machine.

In my 30 years of concerts, I don't think I've ever felt so smashed. I've been smashed in many, many other ways. But this was something completely different.After Skrillex came on, I was literally struggling to stay on my feet. The air around us began to become heavy with evaporated sweat. To get a fresh breath of air, you had to tilt your head back and gasp for oxygen.

Some made, while others battled on. At one point, I had to help this one chick. She was shorter than most. And I could see, that she was struggling to survive, and she was about to lose. I helped her to the front to be rescued by the security staff.

After 4 of 5 songs, I decided that I had had about enough too. It was so hard to breath, and the constant shoving was getting bad. I had to get out! Thinking back, I should have just turned around and walked straight back, but I angled to one side. Big mistake!

I kept running into these temporary metal barriers. It must have taken me 30 minutes to finally reach the back of the crowd. It had been a struggle to get out, but I was clear. I was soaked from head to toe in sweat and massively dehydrated. I chugged a couple of $3 bottles of water, and chilled in the back of the stadium for a while

I kept thinking the show would end with me in the back, but Skrillex kept hammering out strong beats. After a while the energy caught up to me again, and I begin to creep to the front. While I kept hearing Skrillex say this was the last song, he kept playing and playing.

With each song, my energy rebuilt. I had caught my second wind and was heading in for more. A couple of pretties were making a break for the front too. I decided to tag on for the ride. Their good loooks caused guys to quickly part and we all slid to the front.

Skrillex finished the show with some new songs off his new EP "Bangarang" and of course he dropped "The First of The Year" Coincidentally, our Puerto Rico show was Skrillex's first show of the 2012, so that was pretty cool.

Analysis

Skrillex in concert is different than just listening to his songs. His live show reflects a more fluid mixture of a lot of his music with what were probably improvisational transtions. One thing was clear, while I was close enough to see Skrillex, he was clearly having a blast. The audience was pumping him up and driving him on. He frantically swithed between his Machintosh, his mixing units while ocassionally lighting up a cigarette.

Again from Skrillex's Twitter posts, he could feel how much Puerto Rico appreciated the show. We poured our hearts into his perfomance and I know he could feel the love. He said so, as well, on Twitter.

Believe it or not, I think that Skrillex could have filled el Choliseo, but then it wouldn't have been rave, would it? With Electric Daisyland Carnival on tap later this year, we may need to find a rave location that can hold 25K or more crazy ravers.

I've been to a lot of shows, but I'd have to say that Skrillex's performance here in Puerto Rico has to be in my top ten. The music, the emotion, the BASS, the bowel shaking BASS, was an experience everyone should have.

I bet we'll see Skrillex back in puerto Rico soon. While he was here he did some skydiving and zipling in El Yunque, so I think it was a blast for him. If he does come back, I'll surely be there again. Will I chill out in the back or will I risk the gauntlet of thousands of crazed ravers? Time will tell and, as always, it always depends on just how smashed I'm willing to be. You know what I mean? Peace.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Having only one door in and one door to get out, really sucked. This was my first time inside Estadio Sixto Escobar and I'd say it was a shitty place to go to a rave.

[Editors Note] Ever since the show, I've been mostly on my back, sick. I wish I could have shared this earlier. But now that I've the strength, it's the first thing I'm writing. Believe me, it's been on my mind this whole time.

2012-01-02T00:27:00.001-04:30

Excessive Gun Fire Rings In New Year

Analysis

As difficult as this video is to watch, it merely punctuates an extremely violent end to a historically bloody 2011. With four injuries from stray bullets, one confirmed death, and another victim in critical condition, thousands of hours promoting no "balas perdidas" on New Year's Eve. All for nothing!

It's been decades since I felt comfortably on New Year's Eve. While the illegal fireworks make it sound like a war zone, we now have a personal account of the horror of living with gangs controlling our streets. While she hides it well, you can see the terror in her eyes. Worse, her brother knows the sounds of different gun reports; he can identify the type of weapons being fired.

Hope

Where does hope exist in this situation. If this happened to just one brave family, how many others passed the last night of 2011 hiding on the floor of their houses? No amount of money can fix this problem. It's been building slowing for decades, and is quickly reaching a boiling point. How much longer will the citizens of Puerto Rico stand by and accept bribes, participate in corruption, and remain oblivious of the collapse of our society?

Warning

While it hasn't reached your house, or mine, it will. I did hear and found a spent blank shell in the street, so I know someone was walking around shooting blanks from a pistol. How much longer until he buys real bullets? Take your precautions! Take them now. Don't wait to become the next victim.

Sears' Bad News is Bad News for Puerto Rico

2011-12-27T21:34:00.002-04:30

Image via Wikipedia

Sears to close 100 to 120 stores.

Sears Holdings announced that it would close 100 to 120 of its Sears and Kmart stores in a bid to shore up finances. New sales data show that Sears Holdings stumbled during the all-important holiday shopping period. Comparable-store sales were down 4.4% for Kmart and 6% for Sears for the eight-week period ended on Christmas Day, the company said.

Analysis

This is bad all the way through. While Puerto Rico's stores usually out-perform most state-side stores in square foot comparisons, it's hard to imagine that we'll slide through without losing a few stores throughout the island.

Retail is a major jobs provider on the island and any reduction in stores means more unemployment and it's sad to say, but probably more people giving up on legitimate income sources.

Another sector that might be hit by this news are shopping mall management companies. Kmart and Sears are usually anchor stores for many malls. If some of those stores close, they'll create huge vacancies. Who might we be able to attract to fill them?

San Juan Mayor's Christmas Card

2011-12-24T07:56:00.002-04:30

Cafre with a capital C

There's nothing that says Merry Christmas like showing the violent death of prey by a wild predator. Am I right? Illuminate your dreams? Of what? Being savagely killed by a large cat or of killing fresh meat?

I think it's safe to say that this is a low point for Puerto Rico politics and culture. Why so? When we were hustling to make DondeEs.com take off, we met with an experienced consultant. At one point when we were discussing strategy and marketing, he shared that "Puerto Ricans, like whatever is most cafre." After seeing examples like this photograph, it is really hard to argue with his observation. What was Jorge Santini. Mayor of San Juan, and his wife thinking?

Can you imagine the conversation they must have had with their little eight year old daughter. "Papí, what do these animals have to do with the baby Jesus or Santa?"

"Well you see, my dear Amanda, we're trying to remind everyone that Christ the King was born on this day."

"And"

"And that's why we we're reminding everyone that if they don't vote for the New Progressive Party, they'll be just like this poor little gazelle.

"You scare me Papí!"

"That's good Amanda! That's just the effect I was looking for. You see, I'm jealous, just like God. So I want everyone to know that I will smite them just like this leopard did to this gazelle."

"Papí?"

"Yes"

"You're really wierd!"

Skrillex in Puerto Rico Shopping Guide

2011-12-23T20:23:00.005-04:30

Top choices for raver gear

I really thought Skrillex would be sold out by now. With limited space, many people who went to the Electric Daisy Carnival should be pumped for this opportunity. Skrillex is at the top of his game, and for sure, he's gonna throw down an amazing show.

Luckily there's still plety of time to get your tickets and order only the very best raver apparel. I'm going to order a set for me, right after I finish this.

Raver Blacked Out Gloves

By far, this was the coolest thing I saw at EDC. They just really look like a lot of fun to play with. So, first on the shopping list is a pair of LED tipped raver gloves. It's hard to choose, but I'm an RGB kind of guy. There are a variety of choices. But I'll be sporting the Raver Blacked Out Gloves RGB LED 7 Colors Light Show Gloves. If you look for them, there's a bunch of great videos on YouTube, like this one that show you a little taste. Just imagine:

Light up LED Shutter Shades Multicolor Rockstar Sunglasses

For the next step in mood altering effects, if you're going to be rocking a light show for eveyone to see, then you might as well as be your very own light show. Imagine looking this these babies as a you are completely immersed in a light show! These LED glasses will really get to bouncing when the dubstep gets you jumping. So step two in my raver ensemble is a pair of Light up LED Shutter Shades Multicolor Rockstar Sunglasses.

Red LED Shoelaces Light up Shoe Laces

No ensemble is complete without some lights for your kicks. These Red LED Shoelaces are gonna make my feet look they are on fire when I get to dancing. Uhm, I mean bouncing. As you can see, you've got a variety of colors to choose from. Live a little, can you picture yourself in pink?

Only for serious ravers

Now the dynamic duo I saw at EDC used, what I would call, only for the seriously cool. So if you're seriously cool, then you'll also want to buy an Ultimate Candy Raver LED Pacifier.

For me, there's something about dancing around with a flashing pacifier in my mouth that doesn't seem like the manliest thing to be be doing. Because, the gloves, glasses, and shoelaces are really gonna come of as pretty, maybe too pretty. But, hey, it's in the name of partying as hard as I can at the show, so why not?

The dilemma of free

2011-12-23T10:17:00.004-04:30

Why Free Changes Everything

I've been blogging, and networking, and using every means possible to generate revenue online. I've also participated deeply within the open source community. I started browsing the Internet in 1994, so I've been using the Internet for 18 years. Through all of these experiences, there's one thing that is consistent. People love free stuff and the Internet is an infinite supply of free stuff.

The combination of computers and the Internet drive the price of every product they touch to $0 (free). This observation is at the heart of the problems with the music, newspaper, magazine, and publishing industries. Before computers and highly capable software were so easily obtainable, each of these industries competed in a scarce economy. Not everyone could publish a book, make a CD, or produce news. Now everything online exists in an abundant economy. It's a very challenging problem to have, but that's not the dilemma I'm most concerned with.

When consumers get a taste for "free" a few things happen:

The first thing that happens is that quality is no longer a threshold. We will accept any free version over one we have to pay for. Ever watched a recently released movie recorded with a camcoder?
Logging onto the Internet or turning on a computer is a trigger which immediately makes us assume everything should be free.
Free becomes a habit. Once you can download Open Office or GIMP, then we get into the habit of expecting everything else to be free too.

The Paradox of Free

The dilemma of free is that when no one wants to pay for anything, then the only alternative left is advertising. And boy do we love advertising, am I right? So from open source advocates to independent authors or movie makers, we're all struggling to produce a good product. Since we're not Seth Godin or Mozilla, then we start pricing everything for free. When we try to move up the value chain and charge for our products we get little or no support. I've been sharing Amazon Associate links for 8 years. I've gotten only 16 click throughs, and no sales. I've got Google Adsense running on half a dozen websites, and I'm lucky if I meet the minimum once a quarter.

We easyily drop money on the stupidest of things offline, on vacation, at the fair, or at a Disney on Ice show. However, when we fire up the Internet, we close our wallets and expect everything for free. Going out drinking with your peeps on Friday after a long week of work, we will spend $20, $50, or maybe even a $100. When we conduct these transactions, we rarely thing twice. What is so different about online commerce?

Every company, every project, every artist(author) needs money to survive. Yet, we commonly entertain ourselves with their products for free. How are they supposed to find the money they so desparately need to continue producing entertaining or useful products, if no one wants to buy their products? Don't want to buy, then what about donations? Nope, we rarely do that either. When was the last time you made a donation to an open source project while using their products all the time?

Crying in my Coffee

As we are in the holiday spirit, I'd like to make one wish. If you find something on the Internet for free, and it entertains you, or makes you more productive, then find a way to compensate the producers of said product. Here are a few suggestions:

If they have products for sales and you've enjoyed their work, please make a purchase. If you already got it for free, then buy it and give it as a gift to a friend.
If they accept donations, then make a donation. Come on, if you're using software from an open source project, cough up a little money to show your appreciation.
If they only have advertising on their sites, then by all means click on their ads. I suggest this a lot and most people will say that's cheating.

How Advertising Works

Here is another example of the paradox between offline and online behaviour. When you buy a magazine or newspaper, there are a lot of advertisements. Sometimes there are products in those advertisements, that you may never buy, ever. Yet the publisher collects their payment for putting that ad in front of you. Do you feel guilty or like your cheating those advertisers for not looking at their ads? Of course you don't.

Yet, when you see ads on a website that is providing something valuable, you don't click on them. If that is the ONLY way for the website owner to get paid, why don't we want to show our appreciation for the effort of making something valuable available for "free?"

Still leave a bad taste in your mouth?

The only option

We vote with our money. When we pay for something we say,"I want things like this." If we never vote for the products we enjoy by buying them, then we are subconciously saying I want to see more advertising. We are still in the infancy of the Internet, so it's hard to predict if a different model will emerge. Unfortunately the only option other than advertising is opening our pocketbooks and exchanging money for value. Let's make the Internet the global marketplace it has the potential to become.

2011-12-22T12:05:00.001-04:30

Why is Puerto Rico a Narco State?

Probably one of the biggest stories in Puerto Rico this year has been the suggestion that we are a narco state. In this article from El Nuevo Dia, we see many signs that we are. It is estimated that $5 billion is the value of the drug trafficking in Puerto Rico. That's only more than 5% of our GDP!

When we look at this from a broken windows perspective, this hides an even greater problem. The story also reports that the informal economy in Puerto Rico is at least $15 billion, over 17% of our total GDP.

Source: http://www.elnuevodia.com/economiaminadaporladroga-1142407.html

Narco State, Puerto Rico, Informal Economy

Update: Doral Financial and Bancl Popular Investors

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-04:30

Just in case any of you might be a customer of Doral Financial or Banco Popular, I've been assured by a leading analyst that we have nothing to fear. All of our accounts are covered. In the worst case scenario the FDIC would step in and assume control of the accounts. Even if it's the end of the world for either of them, even our mortgages are safe (assuming that they still own them).

While that is a huge relief, the analyst also had a warning. If you're a shareholder of DRL or BPOP, you should sell them while you can.

These are dark times indeed, but thanks to TEDx San Juan, we know that there are shining points of light right here in our island of enchantment. Let's use them as inspiration to become our own shining stars; enough to fill the darkness that surrounds us.

2011-12-22T08:59:00.001-04:30

Sometimes the news we get is incomplete. We may get all the separate facts, but we don't know how or why they are related. For example, here's two recent news stories. 1) Puerto Rico has hit 1,100 murders: http://ping.fm/npYA6 2) Authorities indicate Puerto Rico’s drug profits head to Dominican Republic: http://ping.fm/uMrrc

Puerto Rico's Banking System On The Brink & The Fake Rich

2011-12-20T08:54:00.010-04:30

Banco Popular's Shares Got Crushed: What You Need to Know

What: Shares of Banco Popular of Puerto Rico (BPOP) fell as much as 11.4% on above-average trading volume. [Banco Popular's stock hit $1.02, but closed at $1.11, down 8.61%]

So what: Fellow Puerto Rican bank Doral Financial got a NYSE delisting notice on Friday, and Popular is likely to get one from the Nasdaq pretty soon unless share prices bounce back. Moreover, analysts at Barclays highlighted these two as severely undercapitalized and in need of a white-knight buyout.

Now what: The stock is exploring all-time lows, just below the levels set by the 2008-2009 banking crisis, and hasn't paid a dividend since 2009. You'd have to be a very brave soul with a dramatic turnaround plan in mind before buying Puerto Rico's big banks today. The smartest investors prefer American banks right now.

From AOL Money & Finance

Analysis

Contrary to any economists or politicians, Puerto Rico's economy is NOT growing. It's still contracting. It's tough to see it. Between the media and the politicians, we are shown shiny distractions which seem positive. They're right, it is great that are bonds are doing better, but we're not being shown the crumbling foundation of our economy.

If Doral Financial or Banco Popular are delisted, to quote Ross Perot, "There will be a huge sucking sound," as billions or dollars of value disappear. If you are a stock holder in Doral Bank (DRL), and they are delisted, your investment is now worth $0. That is, unless you own preferred stock. ;-)

If any of these financial tragedies were to occur, it might even go by quite un-noticed, locally. There is still a lot of money in the Puerto Rican marketplace, many analysts attribute that to Puerto Rico becoming a narco-state. According to El Nuevo Dia:

Hace unos tres años, Estudios Técnicos, la firma que preside Villamil, estimó que la economía informal en la Isla oscilaba entre $12,000 millones y $14,000 millones al año. De esa cifra, unos $5,000 millones podrían estar vinculados al narcotráfico.

¡Ojala, que no! But if DRL or BPOP disappears, we would be cash rich, but significantly poorer. As the wealth created from 1950 - 2001 disappears, we have become the "fake rich."

This tragedy would hit hardest mutial-fund owners of the stock and the local 1%. Of course, if DRL does gets gobbled up, there would be a trickle down effect; as it would lead to bank closings and layoffs. That's the last thing we need, more "fake rich" looking for easy money. Goodbye, formal revenue! Hello, informal economy!

One final thought. If you listen to the 4th estate or government [same?], for any plans to mitigate the collapse of our banking system, all you will hear is "¡Coqui!"

Saving Puerto Rico will require us to eliminate the 1% and our government [same?] as providers of solutions. We're on our own! No one can help us, if we can't help ourselves.

What is Culebra's Geography?

2011-12-15T07:08:00.001-04:30

80% Volcanic Rock

Culebra is characterized by an irregular topography resulting in a long intricate shoreline. The island is approximately 7 by 5 miles (11 by 8 km). The coast is marked by cliffs, sandy coral beaches and mangrove forests. Inland, the tallest point on the island is Mount Resaca, with an elevation of 650 feet (198 m), followed by Balcón Hill, with an elevation of 541 feet (164.9 m).

Ensenada Honda is the largest harbor on the island and is considered to be the most hurricane secure harbor in the Caribbean. There are also several lagoons on the island, like Corcho, Flamenco, and Zoní. Culebrita Island also has a lagoon called Molino.

Almost 80% of the island's area is volcanic rock from the Cretaceous period. It is mostly used for livestock pasture, as well as some minor agriculture.

What did the United States do with Culebra?

2011-12-14T07:06:00.000-04:30

In 1902, Culebra was integrated as a part of Vieques.

One year later, on June 26, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Culebra Naval Reservation. A bird refuge was established on February 27, 1909.

In 1939, the U.S. Navy began to use the Culebra Archipelago as a gunnery and bombing practice site.

This was done in preparation for the United States' involvement in World War II. In 1971 the people of Culebra began protests, known as the Navy-Culebra protests, for the removal of the U.S. Navy from Culebra. Four years later, in 1975, the use of Culebra as a gunnery range ceased and all operations were moved to Vieques.

The area west of Flamenco Beach and the adjacent Flamenco Point were used for joint-United States Navy/Marine Corps military exercises until 1975. Many military relics, including tanks, remain in the area. Culebra and Vieques offered the U.S. military an experience of great value to the battles in the Pacific as a feasible training area for the Fleet Marine Force in amphibious exercises for beach landings and naval gunfire support testing. Culebra and Vieques were the two components of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range Inner Range. In recent years, only the shortened term "Inner Range" was used.

What Do You Know About Culebra Puerto Rico?

2011-12-13T07:02:00.000-04:30

Best beaches in Puerto Rico!

Isla Culebra ("Snake Island") is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) east of the Puerto Rican mainland, 12 miles (19 km) west of St. Thomas and 9 miles (14 km) north of Vieques. The island is also known as Isla Chiquita ("Little Island") and Última Virgen ("Last Virgin", reflecting its position at the end of the Virgin islands archipelago). Residents of the island are known as Culebrenses.

Some sources claim that Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive at the island during his second voyage in 1493. It is believed that the island was populated by Carib Indians during the colonization, After the Agüeybaná and Agüeybaná II#Taíno rebellion of 1511, Taíno Indians from the main island sought refuge on Culebra and allied with Caribs to launch random attacks at the island estates. After that, the island was left abandoned for centuries. During the era of Spanish commerce through the Americas, it was used as a refuge for pirates, as well as local fishermen and sailors.

From Wikipedia.

New Flights From Puerto Rico to USVI

2011-12-13T04:25:00.001-04:30

JetBlue Airways Celebrates First Flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands

Now offering service from San Juan to 11 nonstop destinations, including two daily flights to St. Thomas and one daily flight to St. Croix. Flights are on sale today through Dec. 31, 2011 at www.jetblue.com/new for as low as $39 for travel Jan. 5 to Feb. 15, 2012
JetBlue Airways, Puerto Rico's largest carrier, today celebrates inaugural service to the U.S. Virgin Islands with twice-daily flights between San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) and St. Thomas International Airport (STT) and once-daily flights between San Juan and St. Croix International Airport (STX). The carrier's network now boasts 70 destinations across the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, including 11 destinations served nonstop from San Juan.

Skrillex Nominated for five Grammys

2011-12-11T10:11:00.004-04:30

DJ coming to #PuertoRico

MTV coverage of Skrillex Grammy nomination

His latest video from Scary Monsters and Scary Sprites: First of The Year

TEDx San Juan Wows World

2011-12-10T09:46:00.000-04:30

Expectations were high before the first TEDx event in Puerto Rico. Many people shared their anticipation when I talked to them before the event. Most simply stated that they were there because it was a TED affiliated conference.

There was a limited audience invited for the conference. Only 100 candidates were selected, of the over one thousand requests. This is a limitation that TED Conferences imposes on all new TEDx events. This barrier caused many local social media users to express their disgust with the process and the exclusion it caused.

Failure to Scale = Success

I'd like to make one thing clear to everyone. Pissing people off because they couldn't register for an event is a great problem to have. Let's reframe this. 900+ people in Puerto Rico wanted to attend the TEDx San Juan Conference! People are hungry for ideas. What a optimistic signal!

Yes we are hungry for ideas. We're also looking for leaders. We need daring and passionate enthusiasts who pick out a cause, or the cause picks them and they willing accept all of the sacrifices and consequences in making the impossible happen.

Failure to Share = Epic Fail

A conference about ideas is about freedom. As more than one of the speeches reminded us, our education requires great sacrifice, but it demands freedom. Conferences like TED, are about freedom to ideas. We want to be told stories that inspire us. We want to organize around those ideas.

Unfortunately, many people, I think, may have jumped to the wrong conclusion. I would excuse them if they did reach the wrong conclusion. It is our nature to fill in our information gaps with the worst possible thing imaginable. It could be a tiger!

We need to tell the story of TEDx San Juan. Why are the organizers investing all of their volunteer time to make this event happen? However, part of being able to tell that story, we must tell them what the rules are. According to Jono Bacon in "The Art of Community", one of the basic foundations of communities is trust. We have to be as open as we can to give them the whole story.

Analysis

I talked to one of the organizers and we agreed that, if nothing else we celebrate TEDx San Juan for having told us this one story: I am not alone. You are not alone. They are others. And they're here and in many different places around the world. Many speakers talked of transformation, to becoming fueled by passion. Recently, George Lucas shared this about Steve Jobs

"He believed in something that no one could see, and he followed that path wherever it led him, against all odds and against all doubters."

People like Steve are in all of Puerto Rico's municipalities, reaching for their star, to quote Justo Méndez, who kicked everything off yesterday. He set the tone for day of wonderful stories, passionately told. Well done.

Skrillex in Puerto Rico

2011-12-10T08:17:00.001-04:30

Video: Doesn't this look like fun?

TEDx San Juan speaker list

2011-12-09T07:06:00.002-04:30

Puerto Rico gets 1st major conference

Andrea Pérez

is the Founder and Executive Director of Silent Grace. Registered as a non-profit organization, Silent Grace is committed to social justice and the implementation of economically and ecologically sustainable projects in developing countries.

Under Andrea's leadership, this organization has undertaken projects that range from educational programs on social justice and sustainability, to humanitarian relief of disaster victims and comprehensive community development programs in Puerto Rico and abroad, particularly in Haiti. As of the fall of 2011, she is pursuing her master's degree in Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus while she continues to advance Silent Grace's vision and mission.

Daniel Colón Ramos

was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He studied Biology at Harvard University and obtained his PhD from Duke University in molecular biology and genetics. He completed his postdoctoral training in the lab of Dr. Kang Shen at Stanford University in developmental neurobiology. He is currently an assistant professor at Yale University, where he directs a lab to study the development of the nervous system. The work from the Colón-Ramos lab has been recognized by a number of awards, including the Sloan Fellowship for “outstanding promise”, an award given to recognize the best researchers of the United States and Canada. Daniel is also the co-founder of Ciencia Puerto Rico, a non-profit organization that promotes scientific research and education in the Puerto Rican archipelago.

Fernando Lloveras

is a lawyer and executive director of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. He joined the land trust in 2002 and, under his leadership, the trust has acquired over 2,000 additional acres of land, including three conservation easements.

In addition, Fernando was responsible for implementing a native tree species production, distribution and reforestation policy in all of the Trust's tree nurseries in 2004. He is also responsible for moving forward a collaborative initiative between multiple government and educational entities focused on biodiversity conservation in Puerto Rico. Fernando serves on the Southern Board of Advisors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and has served as an advisor on federal affairs to the Governor of Puerto Rico. He has served on the Alliance's National Council for two years.

Giovanni Rodríguez

As a self-proclaimed “Neo-Rican,” he toiled as a ghostwriter, marketing strategist, and theater producer before embarking on a successful career as a social-technology consultant. In that role he has counseled everyone from peanut-butter barons to government chieftains, dispensing advice grounded on the simple premise that “beauty is truth, truth is beauty, but comedy is the shortest in supply.” Today he is chief marketing & strategy officer at Deloitte Postdigital Enterprise, where he's helping to design a range of new services that enable business, non-profit, and government leaders to engage people with the respect they deserve (really). A blogger for Forbes.com, he's the author of an upcoming book on how the online/offline social Web is helping us reimagine the role of citizens and government.

Jorge Gaskins

has lived in Puerto Rico for nearly forty years. He has worked to improve the lives of the rural communities both in the Island, as well as in other countries such as Brazil, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Nigeria. Gaskins has been a farmer organizer and has lead start-up businesses in tropical fruit production and processing and in aquaculture. He is an expert in certified organic production systems.

Jorge Rigau

The architect graduated from Cornell and holds a Masters' Degree in History from the University of Puerto Rico. A noted researcher of architecture in the Hispanic Caribbean, Rigau has authored several books: Puerto Rico 1900; Havana/La Habana and, more recently, Puerto Rico Now and Then.

Rigau, a fellow of American Institute of Architects, has practiced his profession for over 30 years. In 1995, Rigau founded the Architecture School at Polytechnic University, where he now teaches after having been its dean for over a decade. He also cofounded a graduate program in Landscape Architecture, the first ever on the Island. The Panamerican Federation of Architects' Associations granted him the Distinguished Educators' Award of Latin America.

Justo Méndez

is currently completing a Master's degree in the management of Non-Profit Organizations at the Sacred Heart University in San Juan. He has a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus, where he also studied Social Planning at a Masters level.

He is the founder and executive director of Nuestra Escuela, a non-profit organization that provides academic options for young academic dropouts. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Alternative Education, EducAcción, and the Education Committee Consensus. He also participates in the Executive Committee of the Selection Board of the Miranda Foundation Solidarity Award. His interest in Education has earned him the Medal “Sor Isolina Ferré” for excellence in the service to others.

Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes

is Associate Professor of American Culture and Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he also directs the Latina/o Studies Program.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he received his A.B. from Harvard College and M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is the author of a book of essays on migration and sexuality called Queer Ricans: Cultures and Sexualities in the Diaspora and of a book of short stories called Uñas pintadas de azul/Blue Fingernails. He was one of the co-editors of a special issue of CENTRO: Journal of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies on Puerto Rican Queer Sexualities (19, no. 1 [Spring 2007]).

Mayra Santos-Febres

is a Puerto Rican author, poet, novelist, professor of literature, and literary critic who has garnered fame at home and abroad. One of her most famous books is Sirena Selena vestida de pena (published in English as Sirena Selena), in which she describes the life of a teenaged homosexual male drag queen who works in the streets and has a talent for singing boleros. Santos-Febres holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her work has been translated into French, English, German, and Italian, and is taught in many universities in the United States. Santos-Febres currently teaches at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Her more recent publications include a collection of essays called Sobre piel y papel and also a novel about Isabel la Negra titled Nuestra Señora de la Noche (Our Lady of the Night).

Noel Quiñones

Noel Quiñones, Founder of Operación Éxito and Casa Grande Films studied cinematography at UCLA. In 2002, at the invitation of the Department of Education, he returned to his native Puerto Rico to screen a recent film, “Flight of Fancy” and give motivational talks at island schools. Witnessing the need for skills development in the public schools, his life changed forever when he decided to develop an engaging Internet-based educational technology to improve the basic cognitive skills of the Island's public school students. This program, www.operaciónexito. com, was launched during the 2005-2006 school year in Puerto Rico. Currently, he is preparing a new full-length feature film and his educational program is in its seventh year, continuing to impact teachers and students in more than ten countries around the world.

Tara Rodríguez

was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1983. She studied Architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and was co-founder of Gestarc Gallery, an interdisciplinary architecture gallery in Red Hook, NYC. In 2008 she returned to Puerto Rico and opened El Local en Santurce, an alternative art/music/bar venue dedicated to local talent and host of many creative events. She currently works as head designer for El Molino Studio and began El Departamento de la Comida with partner designer Olga Casellas in 2010. El Departamento de la Comida distributes, sells, promotes, as well as educates about local organic produce and artisanal food products.

TEDx San Juan

2011-12-08T10:21:00.006-04:30

Tomorrow is a big day for Puerto Rico. It is a big day for the many people who've persevered, to bring TED conferences to Puerto Rico. I know it was "una cuesta arriba," so congratulations to everyone involved in pulling together TEDx San Juan.

Curiously, they've chosen not to reveal the agenda for the event. Instead, they're going to announce the event details the same day as the conference. I'm sure that will keep everyone jumping trying to catch up.

MC Don Dees finagled his way onto the invitation only list, so I'll have more for you tomorrow. In addition, I'll be working with Mis Tribus and Puerto Rico eNews to bring you more throughout the weekend.

Analysis

2011 has really been a breakthrough year for the Internet in Puerto Rico. TEDx San Juan, Wordcamp, Social Media Club, and Startup Weekend were all great steps forward. Everyday, I see more signs that the Internet is gaining broader and deeper acceptance locally. I have two predictions:

We're still on training wheels here in Puerto Rico, but the rollercoaster ride that is the Internet, is just about ready to take off. Look for a more ubiqitious Internet presence in 2012.
The Internet marketing embargo that the local advertising agencies controls, is starting to leak. When the dam breaks, it will break a tidal wave of opportunity.

Happy computing and look for me at TEDx San Juan tomorrow!

Power Plants in Puerto Rico Ranked Among Worst For Key Toxics.

2011-12-08T04:59:00.003-04:30

The dirtiest power plants in the nation continue to generate a disproportionate amount of toxic pollutants – including arsenic, chromium, hydrochloric acid, lead, mercury, nickel, and selenium – tracked in a new analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) released today by EIP, Earthjustice, and the Sierra Club.

According to the new EIP report, Puerto Rico is the 6th dirtiest power plant in the U.S. in terms of sheer pounds of emissions of four highly toxic heavy metals – arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury. The power plant responsible is AES Puerto Rico LP, PR.

Skrillex in Puerto Rico

2011-12-05T08:39:00.004-04:30

What's a rave?

Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows.^[1]^[2] At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers. The genres of electronic dance music played include house, trance, psytrance, techno, electro house, drum and bass, breakbeat, dubstep, hardstyle and many others with the accompaniment of laser light shows, projected images and smoke machines. [From Wikipedia]

This latest video from Skillrex:

Who is Skrillex?

“I’ve been deep into electronic music my entire life. The first records I ever owned were ‘Fat of Land’ by the Prodigy and ‘Come To Daddy’ by Aphex Twin,” raves Sonny Moore, better known as emerging electronic visionary SKRILLEX. “Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails were also early influences. I’ve been dabbling in making electronic tracks on programs like Fruity Loops since I was 14 years old.”

Describing his current sound as “a mix of dubstep, electro and glitch all thrown together,” new SKRILLEX release “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES” reflects all of the above and beyond. The uplifting post-trance synth melodies of “ALL I ASK OF YOU” (featuring the soaring vocals of Penny) stands in stark contrast to the face-melting electro bass blasts of the massive electro-dubstep hybrid “ROCK N’ ROLL (WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN).”

“I’ve listened to so much music for so long, it’s more about instinct than influence,” Moore explains about his sonic inspirations. “Coming up, I was into a lot of artists on the Warp record label like Autechre, Squarepusher, and Aphex Twin, so SKRILLEX tracks are inclined to have more changes than most dance tracks normally have. I can draw influences from almost anything. I just like to mess around and create cool new sounds and noises. I just go where the music takes me.”

After just one hugely successful independent release, “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES” is the first SKRILLEX release on Big Beat Records, in conjunction with fellow electronic revolutionary Deadmau5’s freshly minted Mau5trap record label.

“For years, the artists needed the record labels. I don’t feel that way at all,” Moore stresses. “SKRILLEX has been 100% independent until now. I think it’s so important to be self-sufficient as an artist. Working with Atlantic / Big Beat, and cooperating with Mau5trap, allows us all to work as a team and expand on what’s already been built.”

Following its release on Beatport, the 9-song EP dominated the charts on the site, with the title track claiming the site's #1 slot (the first time a dubstep track has ever done so), 8 songs breaking into the top 10, and multiple tracks claiming the #1 slots on several of the site’s subgenre charts, including Dubstep, Electro House, Progressive House.

Aside from the immediate success of “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES,” SKRILLEX has also made a name for himself as a highly sought-after remixer. He’s already produced officially commissioned remixes for such A-list artists as the Black Eyed Peas (“Rock That Body”), Lady Gaga (“Bad Romance” and “Alejandro”), and La Roux (“In For The Kill”).

SKRILLEX stands not only at the vanguard of electronic dance music, but the perpetually evolving new music industry as a whole.

“For me, it’s important to believe in and love the music you’re making. I gave away my first EP on my manager’s website, just so people could hear the music,” he enthuses. “It was downloaded by the thousands in just a couple of months, and it hasn’t let up since. That’s all the inspiration I need to keep making music.

“SKRILLEX can be anything I want it to be,” he continues hopefully. “There are so many different avenues for music now. Video games, movie scores — the possibilities are endless, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”