Monday, July 14, 2014

Prepa plant blast kills 1, injures 3

Video del compañero Sergio "Beto" Hernandez - YouTube

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Published on Jul 13, 2014
Este video fue tomado por el compañero para el grupo de "Con la boca es un mamey" en la que nos muestra la peligrosidad de su trabajo. Fue tomado el Viernes, 11 de julio de el 2014. El Domingo 13 de julio de el 2014 falleció haciendo su labor!

Prepa plant blast kills 1, injures 3

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Prepa plant blast kills 1, injures 3
Issued: July 13, 2014
A Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority worker was killed and several others ...
A high-ranking Republican congressman has waded into the legal wrangling between the Puerto Rico government and Doral Financial Corp. over $ ...

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Mexico hosts summit of the Pacific Alliance - Blouin News Blogs (blog)

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Blouin News Blogs (blog)

Mexico hosts summit of the Pacific Alliance
Blouin News Blogs (blog)
If I was writing this commentary 10 years ago, I would be discussing the leftist bloc ALBA, the brainchild of the late Hugo Chavez, as the new exciting Latin American trade bloc that was taking the hemisphere by storm. If we go further back in time to ...

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Bolivian leader urges dissolution of UN Security Council ...

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He noted that if Russia decides to accept the invitation, the name of the bloc could be changed to G77 plus China and Russia. The Group of 77 was established on June 15, 1964, by developing countries in order to promote ...

Latin American unity forces cracks in the 50 year economic ...

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Venezuela and Cuba created the left-bloc ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for Our Americas) as a counter to the FTAA. In 2005, at a summit in Argentina, Chavez held a shovel to demonstrate that he had come to 'bury' the FTAA; ...

Primera jueza abiertamente lesbiana confirmada al Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico 

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Maite Oronoz durante el proceso de confirmación en el Senado de Puerto Rico. Imagen tomada de video.
Maite Oronoz durante el proceso de confirmación en el Senado de Puerto Rico. Imagen tomada de video.
El lunes, 23 de junio de 2014, el Senado de Puerto Rico confirmó a la abogada Maite Oronoz Rodríguez como jueza del Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico. El histórico nombramiento representa la primera vez que una persona abiertamente homosexual es designada al más alto foro judicial del país. Oronoz Rodríguez, ahora la quinta mujer en pertenecer al Tribunal Supremo, expresó su agradecimiento y orgullo en declaraciones escritas:
Me complace que se haya cumplido con el proceso democrático de debate al considerar mi nominación. Estoy orgullosa de poder continuar sirviéndole al país, esta vez desde el Tribunal Supremo. Mi compromiso con el país y la Constitución de Puerto Rico es inquebrantable. En mí, el pueblo de Puerto Rico tendrá una jueza honesta, justa y leal a la letra de la Constitución. Le agradezco al gobernador y al Senado de Puerto Rico la oportunidad de reiterar ese compromiso.
El Senado confirmó a Oronoz Rodríguez en una votación partidista, con 16 votos a favor y 10 en contra. Entre los votos en contra se encontró el voto de la única senadora del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, María de Lourdes Santiago, quien explicó su decisión basándose en que Oronoz Rodríguez fue Directora de la División Legal del Municipio de San Juan durante el controvertible caso de cateo que el municipio pretendió implantar en las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián de este año y que se declaró inconstitucional.
El proceso de confirmación no estuvo libre de tropiezos. Luego de la votación que confirmó a Oronoz Rodríguez como jueza del Tribunal Supremo, algunos senadores solicitaron una reconsideración del voto. La abogada y activista por los derechos LGBTT, Amárilis Pagán (@AmarilisPagan), expresó su frustración con el proceso en su cuenta de Twitter:
El activista por los derechos LGBTT, Pedro Julio Serrano, elogió la actuación de Oronoz Rodríguez durante todo el proceso de confirmación:
Maite se presentó sin miedo – con todas sus identidades a flor de piel y ante la vista del País. Su nombramiento merecía esa misma valentía. Lo tuvo, a final de cuentas, pero de manera atropellada. Hay que ir de frente, sin miedo, de cara al sol, con respeto y dignidad. Como merecemos las personas LGBTT, como merecemos tod@s l@s seres human@s.
En Twitter, la nueva jueza recibió felicitaciones de los congresistas puertorriqueños Luis Gutiérrez y Nydia Velázquez:
Es un gran día para la igualdad LGBT y el avance de los derechos civiles en PR. Aplaudo al Gobernador por nominar a Maite Oronoz Rodríguez.
Maite Oronoz no solo será una magnífica jueza, sino que su confirmación al Tribunal Supremo es un paso importante hacia adelante por los derechos civiles.
En ocasión de la nominación de Oronoz Rodríguez a principios del mes de junio, el activista queerYoryie Irizarry (@CyborgYoryie) observó muy acertadamente en una columna para la revista digital 80 grados que si Puerto Rico está viviendo esta coyuntura histórica, se debe a que es fruto de la larga lucha de la comunidad LGBTT por alcanzar la igualdad:
A diferencia de lo que piensan nuestras aliadas y aliados, yo he decidido pensar que ese momento histórico no nos viene cortesía del gobernador Alejandro García Padilla. Este momento histórico nos lo hemos ganado en las calles, en las legislaturas, en nuestras comunidades y empleos, educando, haciéndonos visibles, deponiendo, escribiendo, firmando cartas, debatiendo y trabajando.
La discusión pública generada por el nombramiento de Oronoz Rodríguez pone de relieve la fijación que aún tiene la sociedad en cuanto a la orientación sexual de figuras públicas, al punto que los asuntos medulares, como su desempeño y su conocimiento, pasan a un segundo plano. Jaime Pieras Castañer, en un artículo para la revista digital El Post Antillano, lo expresó de la siguiente forma:
Cuando se discutía el nombramiento en los medios se enfatizaba demasiado en la orientación social de la nominada. Aparentemente, hubiese estado bien si no fuese sincera sobre su orientación sexual, pero lo dijo. Thomas Rivera Schatz, ex presidente del Senado, expresó en un apasionado discurso [...] en el Senado que ella era la que había traído a la atención que era lesbiana. Bah, como si eso tuviese que ver con sus clasificaciones o con las consideraciones que deben de ser parte de cualquier deliberación sobre los dotes o el talento de Oronoz.
Érika Fontánez Torres, editora de la revista digital Derecho al Derecho, ofrece una interesante opinión al respecto en el podcast de la revista (alrededor del minuto 11:20):
Hay alguna gente que a raíz de toda esta discusión ha dicho “no, es que no es importante, no es relevante que ella sea lesbiana o no” y, bueno, lo primero que tendríamos que decir, “sí, que sí que lo es”, […] sí que las subjetividades son importantes en el Tribunal, sí que añaden a la mesa, sí que la diversidad es importante a la hora de la deliberación de los jueces […], y si esa persona tiene, como en el caso de Maite Oronoz, una experiencia de vida desde esa ubicación, eso me parece extraordinario.
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¿Qué se invisibilizó con el nombramiento de la primera jueza abiertamente lesbiana al Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico?

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Sheila I. Vélez Martínez, en un artículo para la revista digital 80 grados, reflexiona sobre lo que significa el reciente nombramiento de Maite Oronoz Rodríguez como primera jueza abiertamente lesbiana al Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico. Luego de unas observaciones muy perspicaces sobrelo que el nombramiento visibiliza e invisibiliza, hace el siguiente recordatorio:
El debate sobre el nombramiento de Maite Oronoz ha también invisibilizado el progresivo desmantelamiento que sufre el sistema judicial. Mientras se discutió el nombramiento de la nueva jueza, pasaba casi desapercibido el cierre de los centros judiciales de Cataño, Moca y Naranjito. Se trata, según la Jueza Administradora, de los primeros pasos de un plan más abarcador que podría incluir en el futuro el cierre de los tribunales municipales de Maunabo, Dorado, Las Piedras, Naguabo, Aguas Buenas, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto y Toa Baja. El cierre de estas salas municipales representa un grave problema de acceso a la justicia. Afecta la capacidad de los sectores sociales más vulnerables de tener acceso efectivo al sistema de justicia. En particular, pone en riesgo la vida de cientos de mujeres que carecerán de acceso oportuno a un tribunal para atender situaciones de violencia doméstica. Los tribunales municipales son además el foro principal de solución de conflictos en muchas comunidades. Necesitamos una jueza asociada que entienda que el trabajo que realizan estos jueces y juezas es mucho más importante que el suyo propio.

New book 'War Against All Puerto Ricans' tells unknown tale ...

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Author Nelson Denis inked a deal with Nation Books to tell the story of the 1950 incident when two island towns were bombed by the U.S. Army, The New York Daily News reports. Add non-fiction author to Nelson Denis' ...

Obama Prepares Pardons for Terrorists - Right Side News

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Obama Prepares Pardons for Terrorists
Right Side News
She had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating the law against supporting terrorism. ... One of Ayers' associates released during the Clinton years, Weather Underground terrorist Linda Evans, recently spoke at a function hosted by the Cuban ...

Fitch: Puerto Rico bonds decline following Recovery Act

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TransCita increases fleet to 130 vehicles
July 14, 2014
What started as an entrepreneurial idea seven years ago to transport patients to medical appointments and treatments emp ...

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Russia and Latin America: Partners for years to come - RT

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RT

Russia and Latin America: Partners for years to come
RT
Our agenda includes the establishment of a dialogue mechanism between Russia and integration projects in the region, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). A memorandum of cooperation between the Eurasian ...

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Saturday, July 12, 2014

"Because Doral Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Issa wrote that the Puerto Rican Treasury's "actions place federal dollars ... at risk."

Questions raised on Puerto Rico tax deal

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By Chris Frates, CNN
July 11, 2014 -- Updated 2029 GMT (0429 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa asks Puerto Rico's governor to respond
  • Bank says Puerto Rico nullified an agreement that would have meant a big tax refund
  • Issa concerned that decision could put taxpayer funds at risk
(CNN) -- As Puerto Rico struggles with a massive debt crisis, a top congressional investigator has questions about the island government's decision to nullify an agreement that would have returned about $230 million in overpaid taxes to a major bank.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa sent a letter last month to Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla asking for a briefing on his administration's decision to unilaterally nullify the agreement between the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, known as Hacienda, and Doral Financial Corporation, the second largest mortgage provider on the island.
Doral has said the Padilla administration's decision to pull out of the agreement could hurt its financial condition.
Because Doral Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Issa wrote that the Puerto Rican Treasury's "actions place federal dollars ... at risk."
"To enable the committee to better understand the nature of this risk, and the consequences of Hacienda's actions, I respectfully request that appropriate Puerto Rico administration officials provide a briefing to committee staff," Issa wrote.
Issa's letter comes as Doral battles Puerto Rico for a $230 million tax refund it says it's owed. After Puerto Rico decided not to refund the money, the FDIC essentially told the bank it could no longer count the $230 million toward its capital requirements.
Deadline imposed
The regulator gave the bank 120 days to find other ways to meet its capital requirements or face possible sale, merger or liquidation.
An Oversight Committee aide said that one of the questions the California Republican wants answered is whether the FDIC would have to expend federal taxpayer money in the event the bank liquidates and isn't able to make all its depositors whole. The FDIC declined to comment.
For its part, the Democratic governor's office argues that the agreement, signed under a previous administration, is null because Doral's supporting paperwork did not prove that the bank had overpaid its taxes.
Just last week, debt rater Moody's downgraded the U.S. territory's credit rating further into junk status -- a theme Doral hit in a statement to CNN.
"The government's decision to nullify its agreement with Doral was unexpected," the bank said, and "comes at the very time that the island teeters on financial insolvency. Nevertheless, the government's financial situation should have no bearing on its willingness to fulfill its obligation to honor a legally binding agreement with Doral or any other business."
In the statement, Doral spokeswoman Miriam Warren said while bank officials had not seen Issa's letter, "We believe that an inquiry from the chairman and his committee represents a significant step in making the government of Puerto Rico accountable for its troubling behavior in this case."
Barbara Morgan, a spokeswoman for the governor's administration, said in a statement that the Treasury Department determined there had been no overpayment and Doral's allegations "are without merit."

The marriage of social media and mobile phones, a feature of the digital era, is unbeatable and has further fuelled content creation and content distribution opportunities

Designing for Mobile Digital Content in the Caribbean

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July 12, 2014 | 5:01 am | Print
Forbes: Designing for Mobile Digital Content in the Caribbean
By Marcia Forbes, PhD
CJ Contributor
Marriage of Social & Mobile
My desktop is only for traditional work, no Facebooking, Tweeting or Instagraming. Note, though, that I do use these social networks for what I call virtual work. I know, I know, there’s no such thing! Work is work!
I promote my company by posting pictures and sharing information which will help to position the company in a positive light. All of this is done via my mobile phone. Without my mobile, for me there would be little or no social sharing.
This marriage of social and mobile, a feature of the digital era, is unbeatable and has further fuelled content creation and content distribution opportunities. The mobile web is very social but there are noteworthy points to pay attention to.
Formatting for Devices
Content are displayed differently across different platforms and audiences respond differently to content via different platforms. Content creators must be knowledgeable of the various distribution platforms and learn how to configure their content so as to facilitate the best display across them. Content creators must therefore format for display.
Content that works well on a desktop may not look as good or even be available via a cell phone or tablet. Images not properly configured for mobile may fail to show up on these devices; instead you may get a little box with a question sign.
Take-Up of Mobile Devices
Mobile is growing at a rapid rate. ABI Research reported that 1.25 Billion Smartphones are expected to be shipped in 2014, with a 12% compounded annual growth over 2014 to 2019. The take-up of Smartphone and Tablets since 2010 has significantly outpaced TVs and PCs.
Content creators must take heed. The mobile, social lifestyle has taken root and there’s no turning back. It will only become more deeply embedded over time. A recent BBC Study showed that audiences love news via their iPad and watched more news when consumed via this device. Displays and devices matter!
Mobile Internet/Mobile Phones/Mobile Apps
Mobile Internet and Mobile Smartphones top the list of disruptive innovations. They have flung the door wide open for content creators. Given their symbiotic relationships, they are the new frontiers for content dissemination.
Mobile apps are a fast-growing rich area for content creators. Before writing this, I didn’t even think of apps as ‘content’. Then I remembered the huge market for mobile Games, GPS navigation and numerous other things. Of course apps are content!
The Medium is the Message
The lines between the medium and the message have become increasingly blurred. Hotly contested conversations can be engaged in as to whether the Internet or the Smartphone is medium or message. That’s for another time and place, though.
In the 2014 ‘Internet Trends’ report, Mary Meeker estimated that $30 Billion per year will be earned from mobile advertising. Here again is opportunity for content creators and media houses. Mobile advertising should not be ignored.
Growth of the ‘Virtual World’
The ‘virtual world’ offers real opportunities for content creators. Consider that the Internet just turned 25 but has evolved to the point of being seen by many as a basic human right. Facebook turned 10 earlier this year and has over 1.2 BILLION active accounts. Twitter, only 8 years old, has about 250 Million monthly active users. The Internet is the new frontier for real business, not virtual business.
Within the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba, of an estimated population of about 42 Million, Internet penetration stands at about thirty three percent (33%). Facebook penetration is approximately sixteen percent (16%) overall but much, much higher in some countries.
In Barbados and the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Facebook penetration is well over forty percent (40%). In Jamaica, while boasting a much larger number of Facebook accounts in view of the large population of this island, penetration level is only about twenty five percent (25%).
Content Creators Must Embrace Digital & Mobile
Content creators who bury their heads and look back longingly to the ‘good old days’ before the world went digital will perish. I’ve seen them – editors who stuck to non-linear formats and refused to learn digital editing, cameramen who refused to learn how to operate digital cameras and media houses that have refused to read the trends and embrace the opportunities of new media and the Internet.
Content creators can now do a whole lot more for a whole lot less as barriers to entry are being eroded and prices continue to tumble. Furthermore, there are so many free design tools online. Designing for digital and designing for mobile are prerequisites for today’s content creators. Let’s get to it!
Dr Marcia Forbes, a Caribbean Journal contributor, is a media specialist, the co-owner of multimedia production company Phase 3 Productions Ltd and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Caribbean Institute of Media & Communication, University of the West Indies, Mona. She is the author of Music, Media & Adolescent Sexuality in Jamaica and the recently-released Streaming: Social Media, Mobile Lifestyles.
Follow Dr Marcia Forbes on Twitter: @marciaforbes