Inscribirte para Votar es un Guame

¿Quién puede votar?  Si tienes 18 años o más en o antes del 6 de noviembre de 2012, eres ciudadano americano (de Estados Unidos de América) y resides en Puerto Rico, tienes el derecho de votar.  Pero para poder ejercer ese derecho, te tienes que inscribir (tener tu tarjeta electoral) y estar activo en el registro electoral.  ¿Suena complicado? Para nada, es lo más sencillo que hay.  Pero no lo dejes para luego, tienes hasta el 17 de septiembre de 2012, para inscribirte o reactivarte.

¿Por qué votar?  Si estás insatisfecho con lo que estamos viviendo en Puerto Rico y estás convencido que necesitamos un cambio, llegó el momento.  Convéncete y motívate a cambiar.  En éstas elecciones tendrás nuevas alternativas excitantes.  Si tu estas dispuesto a un cambio, une tu voto al de otros cientos de miles de puertorriqueños insatisfechos con la situación actual, y deja atrás las costumbres que nos tienen en crisis.  El primer paso es inscribirte, si no los has hecho ya, o verificar tu estatus electoral, si ya estás inscrito.

¿Es Posible Que Gane Otro Partido?

Dada la actual atmósfera de insatisfacción generalizada con los tres partidos políticos tradicionales, es posible que otro partido gane la contienda electoral.  Si es cierto que los individuos no están dispuestos a modificar las costumbres habituales por mucho años, también es cierto que solo se requiere insatisfacción con el estado presente de las cosas y el convencimiento de que hace falta un cambio.  El pueblo de Puerto Rico ya llegó a ésta intercesión.  Ahora, sólo con una buena alternativa, con propuestas afines a nuestras necesidades, podemos motivarnos y estar dispuestos a cambiar las costumbres eligiendo a otro partido.

En éste artículo exploramos el trasfondo de la situación actual que arropa a Puerto Rico y hacemos un análisis numérico de las diferentes posibilidades para que gane otro partido.  Examinamos el impacto de cada grupo electoral, los electores afiliados, los electores no afiliados y los electores inactivos, en los resultados de la contienda electoral venidera.  Finalmente, proponemos metas alcanzables de incursión en cada grupo electoral, que pudieran formar parte del marco estratégico para las aspiraciones de cualquier partido político nuevo.

Degrees of Bilingualism

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines bilingualism as the ability to speak two languages.  Now, that is a really specific definition.  For that matter, how well do you need to speak both languages?  How many words you need to have in your vocabulary?  How often do you need to speak each language?  If you can read both, are you bilingual? What about if you understand the spoken words but don’t speak it?  What if you can write both? Where is the fine line when you stop being a monolingual and start being a bilingual?

I believe that your are bilingual, to a degree, when you can function and can fulfill your needs requiring the two languages.  I don’t think there is a fine line that you cross and become bilingual.  I propose there is a zone in which you start to be bilingual to a degree.  Once you progress further enough inside the zone, the you become fully bilingual.  The definition presented is then really defining full bilingualism.

No Choice But to Keep Going

George looked at his watch. He raised his sight and looked out through the window. Was it too late to drive home? After all it was raining and one of the wiper of the car was missing.  He looked at his watch again and he made a decision. There was really no choice.  The exam was next morning and it was only the most important test ever that would validate all his college years.

It was going to be dark soon so he hurried up, packed all his stuff for the weekend and rechecked everything he needed.  He saw the calculator on top of his bedside table, right next to the broken sunglasses. What was he thinking?  He couldn’t forget the most important tool for the test.  He picked up the calculator, the car keys and his bag.  He opened the door.  It was raining hard now.  His car was not far away from the door.  He ran under the rain and nervously took more time to open the door than he normally would.  It was not going to be easy.  He looked at his watch for the third time.  It was 6:00 PM.  He thought he should be home by 9 o’clock.

The Super Moon and the Lycanthrope’s Friends

The alarm went off.  George opened his eyes, stood up still sleepy, walked to the  TV stand, hit the snooze button, turned around, walked to the bed and went back to sleep.  He would probably go through the same routine two more times before waking up fully.  If the cell phone alarm was next to the bed, George wouldn’t wake up for an hour.  It was early in the morning of a Saturday.  George regretted working six days a week because there was no way to enjoy the weekend.  At least he had something to look forward to, it was poker night tonight.

—

Lincey had waited all day for a phone call. 

“Hello”, she said.

“Hi, how was your day?”, replied George noticing the tone, “It’s great to hear your voice.  Love you.”

“My day was OK, thanks.  Love you too.  At what time will you pick me up for the poker night.”, she was into poker too.  It was the best way to gamble without risking money.  Their friends played for fun, and if they bet anything, it would be a couple of bucks. 

—

George arrived at Lincey’s home at the agreed time.  She looked beautiful.  He had always loved her red curly hair and her gorgeous green eyes.   After a sweet kiss, they continued to Frank’s house.  They parked their car just behind Samantha’s car.  The night was cold and somewhat overcast.  He looked up to find the moon but it was hiding behind the clouds.  He had read there was going to be a ”super moon” that night.   It was a shame it was overcast.  “Maybe later.”, he thought.

Beatrice, Alice and the King

She woke up in the middle of the night, opened her eyes to the darkness.  She couldn’t sleep.  She couldn’t get “the thought” out of her mind.  It was driving  her crazy!  Would she ever be able to sleep again?  It had been a year since her father death and it had not been easy.  The Royal Ceremonial funeral and mourning had been a very emotional time.  The outpouring of the people had been beyond her expectation, and yet, it did little to comfort her.  Beatrice slept in the biggest of beds, as would be expected for a princess, surrounded by dozens of pillows and under the softest of sheets.  The bed sat in the middle of the most beautiful room.  Her room would’ve been able to house a couple of families, but for her, it was a small prison.  To the left lay a door to the balcony.

Beatrice got out of bed and walked to the balcony’s door pausing for a moment.  She opened the door and stepped outside.  Her balcony faced south and she could see the moon dancing above her in the sky.    The breeze was cold but smooth, caressing her skin softly.  She could see some lights in the village below; it was earlier in the morning and even though it was still dark and sunrise would be in a couple of hours, villagers got up early to work on the fields.  To the West was the Lake of Hope, named a quarter of a century ago, after the victory on the battle at the lake.   The King’s army defeated the Tonglusians, giving hope the war would be won.  That was many years ago and the Tonglusians had since been defeated.  To the East lay the Kossance mountain range, with colossal peaks dressed in white with snow.  Of course, at that hour, Beatrice could only see their silhouette, against the dark blue sky giving the first hints of morning.  The air smelled fresh and she could hear some dogs barking in the distance, as well as, the rooster’s morning songs.  Beatrice stood for hours contemplating HER kingdom.

Away

My eyes opened to darkness.

It will not fade; the morning light fails.

My surroundings enveloped by gloominess.

I freely walk anywhere inside this jail.

Straight I move aimlessly.

Alone, the multitude confines me.

So many people walking closely,

Who’s the ghost in this scheme?

I yearn to feel the others’ heat.

The faceless bodies chill my bones.

I see them laugh and enjoy, upbeat,

They speak a strange language to my soul.

My sense of humor has served me well.

In the desert for the familiar I turn.

The evaporation has dried up the well.

Need a downpour of laughter when I return.

Journey Blasts Panamá!

When I first heard that Journey planned a concert in Panamá City, Panamá, I was unsure if I wanted to buy tickets for the show.  On one hand, I love Journey’s music and I grew up hearing the music.  Many songs from the group bring vivid memories of those days.  However, I worried they were just an over-the-hill band on a tour to cash on their past days of fame.  My wife and I decided to go to the concert when a friend told us he was attending the show with a group;  we all bought tickets together.  That was the best decision we could’ve made!

Journey did not disappoint.  On Saturday, April 9, 2011 Journey entered on stage of a packed Figali Convention Center and proceeded with a non-stop energetic concert that kept the audience standing most of the time.  Journey blasted their music causing an euphoria that could be felt all around.  They played all their hits from the 80′s.

Panamá Canal’s Gatún Locks: Beyond the Visitor Center

Picture 4

The Panama Canal consists of three set of locks, two at the Pacific Ocean side and one at the Atlantic side.  The two locks at the Pacific side are the Miraflores Locks and the Pedro Miguel Locks.  At the Atlantic side is the Gatún Locks.  Navigating from the Pacific Ocean a ship will first find the Miraflores Locks (Picture 2) after passing under the Bridge of the Americas (Picture 1).  These locks have two stages, meaning the vessel will rise twice before leaving the locks.  Next is the Pedro Miguel Locks (Picture 3) which have one stage, thus raising a vessel once.   These two set of locks place the vessel in the Gatún Lake; the vessel then navigates the lake, passing under the Centennial Bridge (Picture 4).  After crossing the lake, the vessel reaches the Gatún Locks which have three stages.  Here the locks lowers the vessel three times into Bahía Limón and the Atlantic Ocean.

Hard Rock Cafe, Panamá

HRC Panamá

Last Wednesday, April 27, 2011, we visited Hard Rock Café (HRC), located at MultiCentro Mall, to dine after my wife shopping spree.  As always, you can’t “just” eat at HRC; it is much more than a restaurant.  HRC always present a vibrant atmosphere, and gets involved with the community.

We were surprised to find the place packed full on a Wednesday.  We always see HRC crammed with people on Fridays and Saturday, with the live rock band playing or the karaoke night.  (Yes we’re regulars and biased!)  Well, we stumbled with the launch of the Ringo Starr Signature Series-28 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Panamá.  You can follow the link provided to find out about Nicolás’ wish, granted by HRC.  The Panamanian singer Makano carried out functions as ambassador of the foundation.   We made our contribution to the activity, trying the Wish Drink specially prepared for the occasion.

HRC Ringo Starr Signature Series 28

If you are an expat in Panama, you will feel at home in HRC.  There is no other place in Panamá that shouts Rock & Roll so loudly.  The international and local crowds equally enjoy the experience provided by HRC.

Website.  Hard Rock Cafe – Panamá

Location.  MultiCentro Mall houses Hard Rock Café – Panamá on the second floor, looking over the  Balboa Avenue, in Punta Paitilla area of the very dynamic Panamá City.  You can get access to HRC through the mall’s main entrance on Balboa Ave. and take the stairs or elevator to the second floor.  Nowadays, technology aids us with locations, so I include a map for you.  Centered in the map is MultiCentro Mall and HRC.