Security cameras stolen. No, really.

In a resounding display of sentiment for anti-security, residents of the Las Dalias residential community are making a statement:

"We like the level of crime we currently have, thank you very much. I mean seriously, who asked you to butt your noses into our neighborhood, Vivienda Publicas? I mean who do you think you are Big Brother?"

In defiant support of a more lawless environment, neighbors of the Las Dalias community are celebrating the disappearance of security cameras that had been previously installed in the community.

Police are confirming that, in fact, eight security cameras were stolen from the Las Dalias residential community during last week. Police also added, that they believe they will be able to apprehend the criminals. Snickering to themselves, the Police said:

"Maybe the criminals didn't know, but we have security cameras for our security cameras. Yes, we have two sets of cameras. One set watches the community, and the other set watches the first set. So we should have captured the identities of the criminals who stole the first set of cameras. That is unless they stole the second set of cameras that were watching the first set. Well then, we got bupkiss. Doy, foiled again by the sheer cunning of criminal mind."

Police later added off-record:

"Hey Chief! Make sure you add a third set of cameras to the other $20 million worth of systems that are planned to be installed in another 50 communities. We'll need another set of cameras to watch the second set of cameras."

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: CBS_Fan und das Rätsel der verschwundenen Kekse

Pop Art Exhibition in Plaza

The Museo de Arte de Ponce extension in Plaza Las Americas (MAP@PLAZA) will open a new exhibition this Saturday, May 3rd. The new exhibition will feature 70 pieces of art that reflect the pop art movement which emerged in the 1950's and was popularized by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Eduardo Arroyo.

The collection that will be available is provided by the Institut Valencia d'Art Modern (IVAM) and features works by 27 artists. The works include paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs created as early as 1949, and as late as 2000.

In addition, the exhibit will also feature 12 special works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, including such famous works as the "Campbell Soup" series and "Woman: Sun Light, Moonlight", respectively.

The IVAM exhibition will remain in MAP@PLAZA until August 10th, and the Warhol and Lichtenstein exhibition will be available until August 31st. For more information call (787) 200-7900. Tickets will cost $5.00 for adults, $2.50 for children 12 and younger.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Pixel Addict

2do Regreso a Sagrado

Sacred Heart University is celebrating this Sunday, May 4th, their second Regreso A Sagrado. With the hope of reuniting ex-alumini and people within the community, and maybe stimulating some alumni donations, uh-hum, the event will take place on the Softball Park on the grounds of the university. The reunion will start with mass in the Capilla Mayor at 12:00 p.m. and conclude with a performance of Limi-T21, which kicks off at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free of cost.

In addition, the promoters of the event are hoping to create a message of hope for Puerto Ricans with the creation of a giant heart. The want to use 2,000 people to form the largest heart in Puerto Rico. There will also entertainment for children with the performance of Mago Emanuel, Grupo La Red, the Grupo de Teatro "Casa Abrieta", Reggeatón with Jorge Valette, Tuna de Segreles, and finally comedy with "Yeyito", el Alcalde de Santolaya. Alexandria Malagón will serve as godmother for the event.

For more information call (787) 728-1515, extension 1231 or visit the Sacred Heart alumni web site.

One Puerto Rican's Journey to Sainthood

In three weeks the first Puerto Rican to ever become beatified by the Roman Catholic Church will face the next challenge on his path to become the first Puerto Rican Saint. This is the story of Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago, or Carlos Manual (Charlie) as most call him, or the Puerto Ricanized "Chali".

Charlie started this journey back in 1981, when a 42 year-old mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. She and her husband had been friends of Rodríguez during his college years and knew of his death from cancer. She prayed to Rodríguez for intercession on her behalf. After fully recovering, she publicly attributed her recovery to the miracle of intercession.

In 1991, a priest from Spain, Rev. Mauro Meza, came to Puerto Rico to conduct a seminar. After learning about Rodríguez, he was authorized by the local bishop to take the story to the Vatican. In Rome, Meza initiated the process of inquiry that could lead to canonization. As a result of the findings from this investigation, it was decided that the process to canonize Rodríguez could be started.

On July 7, 1997, Pope John Paul II decreed Charlie's heroic sanctity and service in his life. The process took a major step on April 29, 2001, when Rodríguez was beatified by Pope John Paul II.

The next challenge

In 2001, a diabetic in Mayaguez was prepped and ready to undergo surgery to amputate his leg. A diabetic, his leg had become infected and the infection had turned into gangrene. The night before the operation the man had a vision of the Blessed Carlos Manuel. When doctors evaluated him prior to the operation they discovered that the flow of blood through the leg had been restored and the amputation would not be necessary.

Now, in three weeks the medical documentation, plus eyewitness reports of the miracle will make their way to Rome, where they will be examined by the Vatican. If the miracle is validated, then according to canonization procedure defined by Catholic Church's canon law, Charlie will become Puerto Rico's first Saint.

Did you know?

Rodríguez is the first Caribbean-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified. In the entire Western Hemisphere, Rodríguez is only the second layperson to be beatified.

Now it gets really weird...

I have to make a confession! I'm particularly interested in the outcome of this process. For you see, I have a strange connection to Charlie. In short, he's very special to me. Why you ask? Well come may say these are mere coincidences, sometimes you just have to admit that there are some things which go beyond coincidence.

While Carlos Manuel died of Cancer, what many people don't know is that his cancer was the result of having suffered with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (an IBD) for most of his life. This year, it will mark my 20thy year after having being diagnoes with Crohn's Diesease, an IBD.

All of my life, I've always bet on the number 13. While most people consider the number "bad luck", I've always embraced it. You see I was born on the 13th, July 13th, 1963. Charlie before he died confessed to his friends that "The 13^th is a good day.” Several days later he died, the date? It was July 13th, 1963.

For a small city boy from Indiana, to live in a city, on a rock in the middle of the ocean, in a culture that is as foreign to me as any a white American can imagine, where a man died on the same day I was born, from complications from the exact same disease that rules my life...well I just know that we are connected. I feel the connection, you would too.

It's a miracle that we have this connection. It was a miracle that made him Blessed Carlos Manual. And hopefully now, it will be a miracle that will make him a Saint. Miracles happen, we just need to be open to them; surrender to them. Let us all surrender to hope. Hope for Carlos Manuel, and hope too, for Puerto Rico. God knows we need it!

The Islanders are in the house!

After Friday nights unsuccessful opener, the Puerto Rico Islanders continue their 2008 debut for the 2008 season tonight at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón. They will once again be playing the Miami FC Blues and tonight they will take the field at 6:00 p.m. Hopefully, the rain will stay away while they are playing.

In celebration of their inaugural weekend, there will be a pre-game party hosted by Medalla. In concert will be the band Toca de To'. There will also be a DJ. In addition, are you ready for this, there will be many surprises. Tickets for the game tonight are on sale at TicketPop and are $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children twelve and under. The IVU is already included.

The Puerto Rico Islanders Home Schedule for 2008 (also available in DóndeEs.com):

Date Time Opponent
========== ==== ==================
Sun Apr 27 6PM Miami FC
Fri May 2 8PM Montreal Impact
Fri May 16 8PM Portland Timbers
Fri May 30 8PM Seattle Sounders
Thu Jun 12 8PM Carolina RailHawks
Fri Jun 27 8PM Minnesota Thunder
Sun Jun 29 6PM Minnesota Thunder
Thu Aug 1 8PM Seattle Sounders
Sat Aug 3 6PM Carolina RailHawks
Fri Aug 8 8PM Rochester Raging Rhinos
Sun Aug 22 8PM Charleston Battery
Sun Aug 31 6PM Vancouver Whitecaps
Wed Sep 3 8PM Vancouver Whitecaps
Fri Sep 19 8PM Atlanta Silverbacks

Los 50 Más Bellos 2008

People Magazine, en Español, has released it's list of the 50 most beautiful people issue. And of course, there is a nice list of Puertorriqueños. To start, reggaeton superstar Ivy Queen and Miss Universe Dayanara grace the cover of the magazine with other Latin celebrities Angélica Rivera, Marlene Favela, Myrka Dellanos, Christina Aguilera, Sofía Vergara, and Danna García.

This year, the magazine selected Noelia for the first time to join the list of the most beautiful. Noelia, who was born as Noelia Lorenzo Monge on August 31, 1977, is a pop singer and actress who rose to fame in 1999. She is the first daughter of Puerto Rican singer Yolandita Monge and Alfredo Lorenzo.

Other Puertorriqueños that made the list this year are: Giselle Blondett, the husband and wife pair of Luis Fonsi and Adamari López, and Daddy Yankee. In total the list has 29 women and 21 men.

Dia de la Prenvención del Maltrato a Menores

This coming Wednesday, April 30th, is the Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Did you know the number of children abused in Puerto Rico….

• is five times the capacity of Roberto Clemente Coliseum,
• 13 times the population of Old San Juan,
• 4 times the population of Vieques
• would fill the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, twice?

That's a lot of children. Too many children! And we are not talking about the abuse they suffer in our public school system. That's another heinous crime altogether. Fortunately ESCAPE, El Centro de Fortalecimiento Familiar has dedicated itself to the intervention, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and domestic violence.

ESCAPE, is a non-profit organization that has been accepted this challenge since 1983. The programs of ESCAPE include services such as visits and counseling at home through professionals and volunteers, crisis intervention, counseling and guidance telephone, Program Early Head Start, parenting classes, lectures, conferences, educational development and promotion of informational materials. In addition, they also sponsor research on the problem of child abuse and family violence.

In order to raise awareness of the problem of child abuse, ESCAPE is sponsoring a ribbon wearing campaign. With the purchase of an ESCAPE ribbon, you will not only contribute to improving the quality of life thousands of children and families on the island, but you'll also demonstrate that you really care about this problem.

To purchase your ribbon, visit any of the participating Wendy's: Plaza Las Américas, Plaza Carolina, San Patricio Plaza, Plaza del Caribe, Montehiedra Town Center, Plaza del Sol, and Mayagüez Mall. The ribbons cost only $1.00. If you'd like to purchase a large quantity of ribbons, please contact (787) 287-6161.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Vogυe

Herbal Solutions to Puerto Rico's Economy

Ever since the Federal Reserve Board produced a report that detailed the economic woes of Puerto Rico, I've been getting a pretty steady steam of news stories sharing that information. Like, from here, here, and here, to share just a few. Of course, for those of us that actually live here, we didn't need the Federal Reserve Board to tell us things are bad here. With another raise in the price of milk, the recent rise in the price of rice (a staple for most Puerto Rican families), and the root of evil, the rising price of gasoline; believe me, we know things are bad all too well.

So it was with curiosity and a self-centered hope that someone had a vision to help, that this week I read an editorial from Rogelio Figueroa, the President of the newly formed Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico. In the editorial, entitled "The Best Economic Tool", he shared his answer to our economic problems. For those of you that might not be aware of this, Figueroa is a candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico in the upcoming November elections.

What I learned from the article, which came as a surprise to me, was that Figueroa seems to be part of the Rastafari movement. Yes, often times the religious inclinations of a political candidates can enter into the public eye, through very unintended actions or statements. Such is this case with Figueroa. Why do I think that he might be a Rastafari?

Well after the reading the editorial, he must be smoking something to believe that creating separate and exclusive lanes for a new fleet of buses to use on our highways will make a significant impact on our economy. Yeah, he has a vision all right, but I'm afraid it is a psychoactive filled set of hallucinations. I mean don't get me, wrong, it's not that his ideas are bad ones, like the drug that inspires the Rastafari, they are just a little too flowery and difficult to accept for the majority of people. Sure I'd like to see a significantly improved and accepted public transportation system. Sure I want the Autoridad de Energia Electrica to produce magnitudes more electricity from renewable sources, and sure I'd love to be able to deduct my mortgage payment completely from my planilla. But call me a pessimist, but those solutions seem unworkable in the Puerto Rico I've come to understand in these last 14 years.

He did propose one thing that got me thinking: tourism. Now stay with me here, I'm thinking outside of the box. Now if we accept that Figueroa might be a Rastafarian, there may be a way to explode the tourism industry here in Puerto Rico. And as is customary here amongst the economic development community, I'm going to use another country to illustrate how this idea can work. In this case, I'm thinking of Amsterdam, Holland, which is known to attract a lot of tourists to its "red light district." This idea will also prop up the local agricultural community at the same time.

So what if we decriminalize marijuana and make it legal to sell and consume in Puerto Rico. We get local farmers to use the perfect habitat that we have in Puerto Rico to grow the finest herb in the world, and then sell it in "coffee" shops. This will have the secondary effect of significantly reducing the drug trafficking of marijuana and cause crime and plummet.

I'd like to thank Figueroa for connecting the dots for me. If it wasn't for his hallucinatory rantings I would have never had the inspiration for this controversial economic development proposal. And inspiration, after all, is what we want most of our leaders, so kudos Mr. Figueroa. Kudos, indeed! Now, I wonder if he'd also turn me on to his connection, because he's definitely got it hooked up on some stink weed.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributors Today: Eric Caballero and Simon Davison

Festival Internacional de Artesanía

Starting tomorrow, and running through next Sunday, Old San Juan is hosting an international festival of arts and crafts. With participation from 24 countries, including Puerto Rico, the plazas of old San Juan will be filled with color and unfamiliar smells, and I'm not just talking about the homeless who inhabit them. No, with the participation of exotic locales such as Africa, Brazil, France, and Peru, to name a few, visitors will be able to see a slightly different set of arts and crafts than what we've become accustomed to, you know like 55 different varieties of Don Quixote.

The fair will run from Saturday, the 26th of April through May 4th, and be open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. In addition to kiosks of artesians, there will also be daily musical entertainment. The music starts at 4:00 p.m. The majority of the fair will take place in Plaza Cristobal Colón and the Plaza Arturo Somohano, but there will also be activities in the Sala Capitular of the Casa Alcaldía, Plaza Salvador Brau, and the Plaza Eugenio Maria De Hostos.

A daily schedule follows:

Saturday, April 26th:

• 3:30 p.m. Actos de apertura
• 4:00 p.m. Al Son del Niño Musical
• 6:00 p.m. Joseph Fonseca
• 8:00 p.m. Los Duques del Vallenato

Sunday, April 27th:

• 2:00 p.m. Taller - "Tejidos", Natalia Pongis, Uruguay
• 3:00 p.m. Taller - "Artesanías in Bambu", Marcelo Fedullo, Uruguay
• 4:00 p.m. Grupo Andante
• 6:00 p.m. Fernando Allende y Mariachis
• 8:00 p.m. Jesse Calderón y Son de Toa

Monday, April 28th

• 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Seminar - "Propriedad intelectual en la artesanía", Lcdo Marco Marzano, Expert de la OMPI, Ginebra, Suiza
• 2:00 p.m. Taller - "Soplado en vidrio"
• 3:00 p.m. Taller - "El cuatro de concierto"
  
• 4:00 p.m. Banda Sinfónica Juvenil de Villa Palmeras
• 7:00 p.m. San Juan Habana
  

Tuesday, April 29th

• 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Seminar (Continuation)- "Propriedad intelectual en la artesanía", Lcdo Marco Marzano, Expert de la OMPI, Ginebra, Suiza
• 4:00 p.m. Grupo Ilke
  
• 7:00 p.m. Aníbal de Garcia Batukealo
  

Wednesday, April 30th

• 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Conference - "Sello de excelencia para las artesanías", Denise Bax, UNESCO, Paris, France
  
• 1100 a.m. Ceremonia de dedicatoria, Plaza Colón
• 1:30 p.m. Taller - "Talla de Santos", Luis R. (Pichilio) Nieves, Puerto Rico
  
• 3:00 p.m. Taller - "Insrumentales Musicales", Nicasio Quispe, Bolivia
  
• 4:00 p.m. Zacandela
• 7:00 p.m. Caribe Gitano
  

Thursday, May 1st

• 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Conference - "Estableciento de costos en la producto artsenal", Dra. Cecilia Duque, Colombia
  
• 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Conference - "Deseño artesanal y competitividad", PJ Arañador, Filipinas
  
• 1:00 p.m. Taller - "Ocarines en barro:, Edwin Gerena, Puerto Rico
• 2:00 p.m. Taller - "Retablos de Ayacucho", Donato Ramos, Perú
  
• 4:00 p.m. Erika
• 7:00 p.m. Son de Madre

Friday, May 2nd

• 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Conference - "Programa de comecialización de la artesania Uruguaya", Alberto De Betolaza, Uruguay
  
• 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Conference - "Modelo empresarial artesanal", Oscar Rafael Cortés, El Salvador
  
• 1:00 p.m. Taller - "Tejidos de materias primas variadas", Andreas Moeller, Alemania
  
• 2:00 p.m. Taller - "Decoraciones de barcos", Jorge Andrés Escobar, Chile
• 4:00 p.m. Con Sabor Latino
  
• 7:00 p.m. Victoria Sanabria
  

Saturday, May 3rd

• 1:00 p.m. Taller - "Alfareria", Rafael Vázquez, Puerto Rico
  
• 2:00 p.m. Taller - "Técnica de esmaltado sobre madera", Francisco Coronel Varro, Mejico
  
• 4:00 p.m. Grupo Illari
  
• 7:00 p.m. Grupo Riko
• 9:00 p.m. Pleneros con Chce
  

Sunday, May 4th

• 3:00 p.m. El Guajiro y Su Son
• 4:00 p.m. Palo Nuevo
  
• 6:00 p.m. Billy Van
• 8:00 p.m. Sonora Ponceña

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: tarotastic

Clean-up for Fort San Cristóbal Beach

This Saturday morning, the National Park Service (NPS) is sponsoring a clean up of the beach below Fort San Cristóbal. The clean-up will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. For more information call (787) 729-6777.

If you plan on helping out, park at the lower parking lot, just off of Avenida Muñoz Rivera, and meet up at the upper parking lot, just at the top of Lomita Tres Reyes, on Calle Norzagaray. The NPS will provide all of the materials necessary and lead you down the trail to the beach to be cleaned, which is below "The Devil's Guerite". You know the ghost story about the "The Devil's Guerite", right?

Did You Know?
Fort San Cristobal is the biggest fortification, it covers 27 acres, built by the Spanish in America. It's construction began in 1634 and took approximately 150 years.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: WTL photos

Agrópolis 2008 has mooooved to Caguas

Agrópolis, which is billed as "La Feria del Pais" or perhaps "The Country Fair," if you will, has moved! While the fair has been previously held at different locations in San Juan, this year it really is in the country. The country of Caguas, to be exact. From April 25th through May 4th, the agricultural fair will be held on the grounds of the Jardín Botánico y Cultural Center.

Agrópolis provides an opportunity to learn about and buy agricultural products produced on our beautiful little island. It will open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 8:30 am a 9:00 pm, and Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 am a 5:00 pm. The fair will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission to Agrópolis is the same as admission to the Jardín Botánico. Hey, it's like two for one, pay to get into the fair and you also get to see the Jardín Botánico. General admission is $6 (+ IVU), children over 3 years old and senior citizens are $3 (+IVU). Groups of more than 20 people or schools will be $5 (+ IVU). Tickets will be available at the entrance to the Jardín Botánico. For more information, call (787) 641-2164.

The activities planned for the Agrópolis include:

• la Plaza del Mercado;
• kioscos de plantas y árboles;
• artesanías;
• productos orgánicos,
• exhibiciones de la finca;
• restaurantes de comida típica;
• machinas
• y la tienda "Del País".

In addition, throughout the fair, as is typical, there will be a variety of musical attractions. Among the stars that will perform during this year's fair are: Fiel a la Vega, la PVC, la Sonora Ponceña, Andrés Jiménez y la Sexta Copa Agrópolis de Trovadores. At this time, there is no schedule of when these artists will perform. I would guess during the evenings on weekend.

Agriculture Sub-secretary Osvaldo Rivera, indicated that: "in Agrópolis we are going to celebrate a variety of activities, like Earth Week, including Tree Day, Youth Day, Farmer Day, Conservationists Day, and the Night of the Agroempresario."

WebWare 100 Announced

WebWare.com has announced the third annual, 2008 winners of the best Web 2.0 web applications. Before you check to see if your favorites made the list, I bet your wondering did DóndeEs.com make the list? Well, not this year, but thanks for thinking of us! ;-)

No, I bet you were wondering how they picked the winners. Well they (WebWare editors) first started by whittling down a list of 5000 qualifying nomininees to a more manageable size of 300 finalists. They then opened the list of finalists for voting from the WebWare.com website. Over 1.9 million votes were cast for the 300 finalists this year. So ultimately, the Internet community, or at least the Webware community picked the winners.

The winners were chosen amongst ten different categories. And each category awarded ten top vote getters. I won't repeat all of the categories and winners, but I will share some of the top overall vote getters. If you're curious, they have a nice page with all 100 winners listed. It makes for a quick browse.

Just slightly more than half of all the votes cast in the Webware 100 went to the top 10 vote-getters. Six of these top 10 are no surprise at all: Facebook, Firefox, Google, iTunes, MySpace, and YouTube. But the other four may not be as familiar: DeviantArt, Friendster, Gaia Online, and Maxthon.

I did a little inventory of the applications. Of the 100, I recognized 60 easily. And of those 60, I can claim to use on a regular basis 28. How about you? Of the 40 I didn't recognize or had never heard of, there were only two that I can honestly say pose any interest to me at all: blogtalkradio.com and voicethread.com. These two hold interest for us because we'd like to add more audio/visual content to DóndeEs.com, especially in the area of helping everyone get the most out of our web application.

In case you've never heard of WebWare.com, it is a blog (site) where computer users can learn about new and useful Web applications. Webware.com was coded, and is hosted by, CNET.

Start! walking...

No this isn't the beginning to a cheesey western movie. This is a call to action. Did you know that...???

• Cardiovascular disease is our nation’s number 1 killer, numero uno.
  
• Physical in-activity significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  
• Seventy percent of Americans don’t get enough exercise, blaming lack of time and lack of motivation. Ignoring fitness and health increases chances for disease.
  

So, to combat this health risk, the American Heart Association recommends an increase in physical activity. Thus, "The Start!"

To get you started on a new program of physical exercise, the AHA sponsors an annual walk-a-thon. This year the fund raising event will take place at Parque Central in Old San Juan on May 4th. Their goal is to raise, locally, $570,000. To assist everyone, they have setup a nice website with a powerful set of tools to help you, not only commit, but to also raise more money.

By signing up at their web page you'll be able to:

• Sign-up with your company, or with friends and family (form a team!)
• Create and personalize your own Web page.
• Achieve your fund raising goal by sending personalized e-mails to your friends and family asking for their support.
• Check for matching gifts to boost your donations!
• Access health tools - Online The Start! Tracking Tool offers physical activity, nutrition and other health information integrated within a single online resource.

As if you needed any reasons to make your start, but in case you're not convinced, here are three reasons to make a commitment to the walk-a-thon, today:

• It's free!
• You're Making a Difference. Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 910,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $474 million in fiscal year 2004-05 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.
• Prizes: Walkers are eligible for a Start! Heart Walk t-shirt once they have raised a minimum of $100. Other prizes available include:
  
• Noise Cancellation Headphones for iPod,
  
• Jabra® Bluetooth Headset with 33 Interchangeable Covers,
  
• Ferrari F430 Convertible Radio Controlled Car,
  
• Canon® PowerShot 5MP Digital Camera, Fuji® 21-Speed Front Suspension Mountain Bike, Garmin® GPS Map.

Of course for some of these fabulous prizes you have to raise a lot of money, like over $10,000. But at least it's nice to know that if you do make that goal, there's a little something, which is nice!.

For more information please contact Beba Franco via phone at (787) 283-0330 or via email at beba.franco@heart.org

Happy Earth Day!

I found this interesting article over at the Associated Content website about the origins of Earth Day:

"While Earth Day is the most celebrated "Environmental" Holiday, most people do not know its origins. Many people think it is just about recycling or planting trees, but there is more to Earth Day, as it was established as a way to bring social awareness about the status of the Earth's environment to all people, and allow participants to band together to bring change and shed light on environmentally-destructive practices. Here is a guide designed to provide insight about this little-known celebration and find out how it has become one of the most celebrated holidays united over a billion people all on the same day. [To read more...]"

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: pingnews.com

Empleos Expo 2008

With the continued recession in Puerto Rico, bankruptcies are at an all time high. And with bankruptcies, can often come unemployment. So for those of you that might be in the market for a new job, or someone you know, then maybe the Empleos Expo 2008 might just be your rescue.

The job fair is brought to you by El Nuevo Dia and their struggling classified advertising section. With over 50 different companies participating, there's a good chance that you might be able to link up with the potential employer. The job fair will take place in the Puerto Rico Convention Center on the 2nd and 3rd of May. Entrance to the job fair is free, and will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

If you're looking for an edge at the job fair, then the website Associated Content might be of assistance. The article "Seven Ways to Impress Job Fair Recruiters", might be able to help with these tips:

1. Create a One-Line Pitch
2. Dress for Success
3. Show Some Personality
4. Learn the Companies
5. Know Your Audience
6. Come Prepared
7. Follow Up

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Delwin

Casting Call for "¿Qué Nos Pasa, Puerto Rico?"

I'm sure you've seen them. Maybe it was in an elevator, or maybe it was in the newspaper, maybe in the bathroom, or maybe you even saw a commercial on television, but I'm sure you've saw one. And maybe you're also like me, that when you saw it, you said to yourself. Boy what a waste of time, no one is going to pay any attention to these advertisements. Or maybe you've thought, like me, it's a great idea, and I really wish it was going to make a difference. But you know what? You've got to admire their determination. You've got to appreciate the effort they are spending to try and make a difference. For it's not really their fault that we've given up hope. That we have become so jaded, and over-commercialized that nothing gets through to us unless it has something to do with sex or money. Yes, I commend the people behind the "¿Qué Nos Pasa, Puerto Rico?" public service advertising campaign. If we could all find it in our hearts and minds to try and DO something, anything. Then I believe we'd start moving Puerto Rico back towards the paradise it should be.

So if you would like to join the brave people behind the "¿Qué Nos Pasa" effort, now is your chance. This Saturday and Sunday at the Communications Building on the campus of Sacred Heart University, they will be conducting a casting call for men, women, and children (5 years or older) to appear in three television commercials. They are looking for people of any race and any socio-economic status. The commercials will form phase three of their campaign to recover the values of Puerto Rico.

The casting call will take place in the television studios 1 and 2 from 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (787) 728-1515, extension 2386.

Participation is purely voluntary, and if selected there will not be any compensation, well other than the good feeling you'll get from trying make Puerto Rico become a better place.

La Gran Feria

If you can't make the Feria Porta Caribe next weekend, then how about something a littel closer to the metropolitan area? Well, you're in luck because Claro is sponsoring "la gran feria" at Estadio Hiram Bithorn on May 3rd. The event will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Again, you can expect the typical fair sort of arrangement. First, the fair features a a stellar line-up of musical artists, Gilbertito Santa Rosa, Black Guayaba, Plenéalo, Limi-T21, and La Nostra. Second, there will be kiosks of food and an area of games for children. And the best of all, admission is free.

Why is Claro being so generous? Well to tell you the truth, it's not real clear. Get it? But in the announcements for the fair, they indicate that you can go home with a new cellular telephone. So I'm guessing this is a really nice sales promotion. Wow, some one must be pretty desperate! He says in a high falsetto.

Feria Porta Caribe

Next weekend, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Municipality of Ponce invite you to celebrate in the Feria Porta Caribe. The feria, which will be held on April 26th and April 27th at La Guancha in Ponce, will feature top name musical artists and the typical tourist attractions for your enjoyment.

There will be two days of popular salsa, plena, merengue, and more as some of the most popular musical groups provide a musical backdrop to typical fair activities. There will be arts and crafts, kiosks with a variety of typical food, and for those wishing to make it a weekend affair, there will be special offers available for local hotels. All of this for the low, low price of free. Yes, indeed, admission is free, so expect a full house.

A complete schedule of the musical entertainment is available here:

Saturday, April 26th

• 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Exhibitions in the Pavillions
• 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Artists from local municipalities
• 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Plenéalo
• 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Andrés Jiménez - El Jibaro
• 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Andy Montañez y Orquesta
• 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Joseph Fonseca

Sunday, April 27th

• 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Exhibitions in the Pavillions
• 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Artists from local municipalities
• 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Orquesta La Clásica
• 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Julio César Sanabria y Grupo Caobaná
• 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Plena Libre
• 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Raphy Levitt y La Selecta

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Oquendo

2nd International Festival of Tuna

When I first heard that Puerto Rico would be hosting the 2nd International Festival of Tuna. I thought to myself, wow, I never knew tuna fish were so popular! I mean to actually have enough support, and international support at that, to build a conference around me and my family's favorite food during Lent, well there must be more to this fish than meets the mouth. Though, I wonder why they don't use the more grammatically correct Atun, when they talk about it ...

I'm sorry what? It's not about tuna fish? No, it's about what? Singing? No, really? Oops, sorry about that. So for any of you out there who may have gotten confused, like me, the 2nd International Festival of Tuna, which runs from April 24th through the 27th of April, is NOT about one of the most tasty fish swimming in the ocean, but about some funny dressed people singing together. I repeat, funny dressed singing groups not a fish commonly served with mayonnaise or as sushi.

The festival kicked off last night actually, for all you Tuna enthusiasts out there, with the opening of an exposition "TunAmérica: 15 años de Historia" at Sala #5 in the Museo de las Américas in the Cuartel de Ballajá. The exposition, which is sponsored by the local Tuna group, TunAmérica Universitaria de Puerto Rico, features 15 hears of history by Puerto Rican artist Edgardo Moisés. In the exposition, he presents a select collection of prizes, recognition, photographic images, and video documenting the history of TunAmérica. The exposition will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., until the 27th of April.

FIT Caribe 2008

The festival, which is made partly possible by a $25,000 contribution by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and the Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, will feature the participation of 19 tunas, including some from Colombia, México, Portugal, España, and Islas Canarias. In addition, it will feature 13 tunas from Puerto Rico. Which of course that means only one thing. The majority of the audience will be made up of family members who are completely oblivious of the fact that they are blocking the view for the rest of the audience as they push and shove to get pictures of their loved ones while they are performing.

It has been fourteen years since the first festival was held in the Convento de Los Dominicos in Old San Juan. In that first festival, the tunas performed on the steps of the Capital. This time, the public will have ample opportunity to experience this unique performing art as all of the performances are free of cost. If you would like to catch some of their performances, you have three chances:

Thursday, April 24th (10:00 p.m.)
Noche de Serenatas (Concurso Gánate una Serenata)
Calle Recinto Sur, Old San Juan(in front of the Federal Court)

Friday and Saturday,.April 25th and 26th (8:00 p.m.)
Noches de Competencias
Cuartel de Ballajá, Old San Juan

Saturday, April 26th (3:00 p.m.)
Pasacalle (Parada de tunas)
De la Plaza Colón a la Plaza de Armas, Viejo San Juan

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: maesejose

Unexploded Bombs Detonated in Puerto Rico

Yesterday it probably sounded and felt more like Iraq in Vieques, than the island paradise it really is. That's because the contractor, Pika International, in charge of removing munitions from the island was detonating some of the live ordinance left after the U.S. Navy ceded the Vieques Naval Training Range back to Puerto Rico back in 2003.

The United States has pledged $200 million for the abandoned bombing range, which according to a news report and an interesting collection of photographic images from Fox News, about 775 acres have been cleared since the cleanup began in 2005.

Puerto Rico Small Business Week

The Puerto Rico Small Business & Technology Development Center, part of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will sponsor two conferences in celebration of Puerto Rico Small Business Week. The two conferences will be help on Tuesday April 29th at the Condado Plaza Hotel and Thursday May 1st at the Mayagüez Resort.

If you register before April 25th, the conferences are $50 each, per person and include breakfast and a finger buffet. Payment can be made with credit cards or ATH. For more information and to register, call (787) 763-5108 for Condado Plaza and (787) 892-6760 for Mayagüez Resort.

The conferences are being offered on the subject of the "Economic Panorama for Small Businesses." As such, they've established an impressive group of speakers to paint that panorama:

April 29th, Condado Plaza

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Registration
• 9:00 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. - Welcome
• 9:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Economic Panorama for Small Businesses
• Joaquin Villamil, President Estudios Tecnicos
• Boris Jaskville, Executive Director, Fomento Industrial
• Hon. Bartolomé Gamundí, Seceretary Department of Economic Development
• José Julían Alvarez, President of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
• 11:00 a.m. - Break and Networking
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Entrepreneur Testimonies
• 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Questions, Networking, Consultations

May 1st, Mayagüez Resort

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Registration
• 9:00 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. - Welcome
• 9:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Economic Panorama for Small Businesses
• José Alameda, Economist
  
• Representative of Mayagüez Committee 2010
  
• Nelson Perea, Executive Director PRTEC
  
• Nelson Albino, President, Chamber of Commerce of the West
  
• 11:00 a.m. - Break and Networking
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Entrepreneur Testimonies
• 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Questions, Networking, Consultations

Workers Admit to Making Up Fake Excuses for Arriving Late to Work

Ahh, the good old days. Yes, uhh my car broke down. I had a flat tire. My daughter is sick from school and I had to buy her some medicine. The power went out last night in my house. Ringing any bells here? And of course, who hasn't called in, changed their voice and said, I'm not feeling well, but I'll be in soon. Ayy Bendito, he's sick and he is still going to come in to work. What a dedicated employee!!!!

According to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, 15 percent of workers say they arrive late to work at least once a week, while nearly one-in-four of all workers (24 percent) admit to making up fake excuses to explain their tardiness. The CareerBuilder.com survey, "Late to Work," was conducted from February 11 through March 13, 2008 among 2,757 employers and 6,987 workers.

When asked to identify the primary cause for coming in late, more than 32 percent of workers claimed traffic was the culprit. Falling back asleep was the reason cited by 17 percent, while 7 percent pointed to a long commute as the main cause. Other popular reasons included getting kids ready for school and daycare, forgetting something at home and feeling sick.

The top ten examples of the most unusual excuses employees offered for arriving late to work:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
2. Someone stole all my daffodils.
3. I had to go audition for American Idol.
4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.
5. My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
6. I wasn't thinking and accidentally went to my old job.
7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
8. The line was too long at Starbucks.
9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawn shops were closed.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Sunfox

Can you survive for 24 hours without your computer?

Uh, duhh! ¡Claro que no! But why would I want to? Well, the idea of Shutdown Day project is simple - just shutdown your computer for one whole day of the year and involve yourself in some other activities: outdoors, nature, sports, fun stuff with friends and family - whatever, just to remind yourself that there still exists a world outside your monitor screen. Really? Is this for real? I mean, the world I meet when I actually go outside makes me want to run back behind my monitor. But if you say so, I'll bite, when is it?

On May 3rd, which is a Saturday, keep your computer turned off and go outside. Oh, for those of you who don't venture out much, don't forget to put on some sunblock, the sun in Puerto Rico can be a killer. See, simple.

So why should I do this again? Shutdown Day is a Global Internet Experiment whose purpose is to get people to think about how their lives have changed with the increasing use of the home computer, and whether or not any good things are being lost because of this. Oh, that. What about if I just promise to think about it blog about it. Is that enough?

Want to do more than just turn off your computer on Shutdown Day? Then head over to the Shutdown Day website and learn how you can participate directly in making Shutdown a great success. Here's a little promotional video for the event:



Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shutdown Day an anarchist idea?

Shutdown Day is not against the use of computers. We certainly believe that hospitals, schools, banks, stock markets, offices, and other computer-dependant entities should keep running on Shutdown Day. We only want the home-consumers to shutdown their computers. We are just saying that it would be nice to take time off for one day, to reflect and remember the other things in life that maybe we sometimes forget because we have come accustomed to a life dominated by our computer. Hmm, sounds pretty revolutionary to me...

Can I have it turned on, but not actually directly use it, you like it can be on and downloading some files off of BitTorrent?

Well I think the point too, is to maybe save some energy as well. You know the whole kill two birds thing.

How did this all get started?

Shutdown Day started off in early 2007, when Denis Bystrov, a computer programmer living in Montreal, Canada, realized that he spent too much time with his computer and wanted one day to spend entirely with his family.

Denis then teamed up with his friends Michael Taylor, a former trade floor occupant in stock markets in London, England and David Bridle, a part time film maker from Cardiff, Wales, to throw up a challenge on the Internet, through the website, called shutdownday.org The idea was simple:

"Do you think you can stay away from your computers for at least 24 hours a day, and if yes, can you pledge to do so?"

What began as an innocent question, fire-balled into a mammoth Internet chain reaction, drawing millions of viewers from across the world. Here is a summary of the results from the Shutdown Day 2007 campaign:

* The Shutdown Day website received more than 1.6 million visitors in the one month of the campaign.
* More than 65,000 people participated in the campaign by actually shutting down their computers for 24 hours on the 24th of March, 2007.
* Shutdown Day promotional clip was broadcast on YouTube and received more than 1.1 million hits.
* 450,000 visitors signed up for country locator on Shutdown Day website.
* The idea of Shutdown Day featured on more than 200,000 online forums discussions, and also in television interviews, and popular media, including Globe and Mail, CNN, Fox News and TV5.

Shutdown Day was founded with the sole purpose of spreading awareness about the pitfalls and dangers that lie in the excessive use of television, computers, and computing equipment like game boxes, cell phones, music players, online social websites, etc. that impinge on social space and interaction amongst our communities.

Oh and by the way, in case you're keeping score at home, this is our 500th post. Two thumbs way up for Dondequiera!

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: tunguska

Bowling for better education

If you're looking for a an excuse to go bowling this weekend, then look no further. Sapientis and GlaxoSmithKline are sponsoring a fund raising bowling event at the Galaxy Lanes in the Terraza of Plaza Las Americas. For $50, four people will receive one hour of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and soft drinks. Oh yeah, plus IVU, of course. Additional people can join in the fun for $7. Can't round up 4 people, then you can pay individually for $15 per person.

The event benefits Sapientis, who is a non-profit organization that uses its leadership programs to develop a network of people dedicated to bringing change to Puerto Rico's public schools. The organization was founded in 2003 by Kristin Ehrgood and Vadim Nikitine. Since then Sapientis has provided training to more than 450 people working in public education, including outstanding college graduates, teachers, school directors, and parents. Sapientis members have taught more than 3,000 students in 56 public schools in Puerto Rico.

If you can't make it bowling, then consider either donating cash directly to support their work, volunteer your time or participate in our listening campaign, Sapientis te Escucha. Or you can nominate yourself or your school to join one of their programs. Click here for more information, email us at involucrate@sapientis.org, or call 787-977-3230.

For their part GlaxoSmithKline will provide information on how to keep children and families healthy. The hours of the bowlathon are from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Payment can be made with checks, credit card, ATH, or in cash. To obtain tickets ahead of time, please call (787) 977-3230, ext. 222.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: .res

Woohoo!!! We're in the money!

Ah yes my friends, Uncle Sam is whipping out a treat. So get in line it's for some suckling. Yesterday, the U.S Treasury approved A $1.282 BILLION economic stimulus payment to Puerto Rico. How sweet is that?

Well while the glorious rush of blood is still fresh in my head, I'm going to throw out some ideas, and I hope that since each of you will also be delirious from a similar rush, we can all go crazy in a wild adrenaline crazed orgy of green, green backs that is. So before the buzz starts to wane here goes:

• I recommend printing on the back of all those U.S. Treasury checks the following statement:

  "I understand, that by signing below I recognize that I am the grateful benefactor of the generous citizens and government of the United States of America. As such, I pledge my allegiance to the country for which it stands and testify that Puerto Rico is forever indebted to the United States for its contribution."

• Let's put that $1.3 billion to good collective use! I recommend creating a venture capital fund with the money and then funding 13,000 new ventures with $100,000. This would create a million new jobs, and grow the island by 25%. No really, literally, the island would actually grow to be 125 miles by 37.5 miles. So in anticipation of everyone agreeing with me and donating their windfall, instead of rushing to Macy's and buying some underwear, I've created a bank account in Doral. To transfer your donation, please use account number: M0NK3Y5FLY0UTMYA55.
  
  
• Well, if you're not down with that last one, and really who wouldn't be, but just in case. Why not take 20% of the total amount you receive and give it to a local not-for-profit that is dedicated to make a difference in Puerto Rico? Then take the remaining 80% and deposit in your savings account. If you've never heard of this type of account ask your local bank. They actually have an account where you can SAVE money. I know, weird!

Well, like all good buzzes. This ones starting to fade, and so I think my window of opportunity is gone. I hope that my subconscious suggestions have hit their mark. I'll be watching my account and look forward to funding the next economic boom in Puerto Rico.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: onecle

E-Waste Recycling with the ADS

The Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos (ADS) is celebrating "Recycling Month" by sponsoring a technology recycling collection this Saturday, April 19th. This is the second time the ADS has sponsored a computer recycling collection.

There will be six collection centers around the island. In the San Juan metropolitan are, the collections will take place in the Sagrado Corazón Train Station. The remaining collection locations around the island are at:

• Caguas - Consolidated Mall, Ave. Gautier Benítez
• Humacao - Recinto Universitario, UPRH
• Ponce - Complejo La Guancha
• Isabela - Plaza de Festivales
• Mayagüez - Coliseo Recinto, RUM

The collection centers will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During those hours, they will be accepting:

• Computers and peripherals
• Printers
• Fax Machines
• DVD Players
• Video Cassette Players
• Video Consoles (Playstation, Atari, Gameboy, PSP, etc.)
• Cellular telephones and chargers
• Ink cartridges.

For additional information , call (787) 765-7575 or (866) 732-4252.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor Today: Southernpixel

What a Rush!