Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Video Review - 2.12.13

Video Review - 2.12.13          Mike Nova's starred items
 

via Videos matching: puerto rico by 3rdID8487 on 2/3/13
Operation Task Force Secure Front kicked off in the middle of January when Puerto Rico's Governor ordered the National Guard to state active duty. Guardsmen are shown during this mobilization and continuing efforts to help stop drugs and weapons trafficking to the island. It is estimated that nine billion dollars in drugs and weapons are trafficked through the island to Europe and the US annually. Story by Eliezer Melendez. Like us on Facebook at "US Military" Follow us on Twitter at @3rdID8487 Subscribe for frequent new videos.
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via Videos matching: puerto rico news by PrinciplesinAction on 1/29/13
Video supporting statehood for Puerto Rico played before a January 29th LPCP conference
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by BoricuaPhotos on 11/27/12
Take a first look of what happen behind the scenes inside and outside or the ring ,in this trailer for the upcoming documentary Puerto Rico: Island of Champions Directed and edit by David "Boricua" Infante. Voice:Larry Merchant Music: Dont stand in our way. Twitter @787Films Instagram at 787Films (©)BoricuaPhotos.com - 787Films
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via Uploads by PBSNewsHour by PBSNewsHour on 2/5/13
With Congress unlikely to pass a comprehensive budget before March 1, President Barack Obama plans to call on Congress to pass a stopgap measure that would delay across-the-board spending cuts, scheduled to take effect at the month.
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by gonzalezfirearms on 2/1/13
My uncle was a Retired Police Officer This is a video that I edited of my uncle's passing. My uncle Cpt. Luis H Negron, left us on January 23rd. He fought cancer for 18 years. One of so many fine Police Officers. All I can say is, WOW!! My uncle was one of the best. He always had God and Family in his life. He was a great man, boy was I a lucky one to have such a great uncle. My uncle left in peace and that's what he wanted. No more suffering, mentally and physically. Thanks for watching and God Bless you all....
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via Uploads by primerahoravideos by primerahoravideos on 2/5/13
Primera Hora en la Calle: flashmob en las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián | Puerto Rico
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via Videos by Ian Meizoso on 1/6/13
Rio Blanco, Naguabo. Track: Take a Walk by Passion Pit.
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via Videos by IH8MACS on 2/7/13
Just some quick random clips from hang gliding in Puerto Rico.
From:IH8MACS
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via Videos matching: puerto rico news by fyinewsyoumissed on 1/3/13
pls subscribe for updates and breaking news.-this video shocked me! Puerto Rico has 3.7 million residents, a storied capital, more than 300 miles of stunning coastline, an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit -- and, in 2011, a homicide rate more than five times that of the mainland US and higher than that of Mexico. It badly needs federal help to curb this drug-fueled violence. But so far, the US government is treating Puerto Ricans as if they were second-class citizens. Geography is partly to blame for Puerto Rico's plight. If Mexico had the misfortune to be, in the late Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz's words, "so far from God, so close to the United States," Puerto Rico's bad luck is to be so close to South America and to the southern US It is an ideal transshipment point for illegal narcotics in the Americas. And with open ocean between it and Africa and Europe, it's a good point of departure for illicit shipments to those two continents. As the US and Mexico have cracked down on the drug trade, traffic has shifted to the Caribbean. The National Drug Intelligence Center reports that cocaine seizures along sea routes between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands more than tripled between 2009 and 2010. Plenty of the stuff is still getting through: The price of cocaine in the area dropped by roughly one-third between 2008 and 2010, suggesting there is no lack of supply. Upward of 80 percent of what arrives by plane or boat goes on to the eastern United States <b>...</b>
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via Videos matching: ricky martin by xtraonline on 12/17/12
Ricky Martin was among the speakers at the United Nations' Leadership in the Fight against Homophobia panel. This clip, courtesy of the UN, is from December 17, 2012.
Views:857
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via Videos matching: ricky martin by RickyMartin AFRM on 2/5/13
Ricky Martin was surprised with a special guest as he filmed for an interview with Channel Arena's All Access Special! This was Ricky's' first ever encounter with a "koala" during his visit to Sydney on July 2003! ***An AFRM Exclusive*** Video courtesy of Arena Channel
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via Uploads by PBSNewsHour by PBSNewsHour on 2/7/13
John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to head the CIA, faced tough questioning during his first confirmation hearing, defending his positions on intelligence policy and drone warfare. Congressional correspondent Kwame Holman recaps the hearing and explores why Brennan withdrew his nomination for the same post in 2008.
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via Uploads by PBSNewsHour by PBSNewsHour on 2/7/13
In other news Thursday, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta defended the military's response to the attack on the US Embassy in Beghanzi. Also, a Bangladeshi man pled guilty to plotting to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City.
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via Uploads by PBSNewsHour by PBSNewsHour on 2/7/13
Police are conducting statewide manhunts in California, Arizona and Nevada in search of former police officer Christopher Dorner. Dorner, who has been on a deadly shooting rampage targeting cops, was fired from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2009. Ray Suarez reports.
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via Uploads by El Vocero de PR by El Vocero de PR on 2/7/13
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via Videos by Karenliana on 2/6/13
Insider's Guide to Puerto Rico is a travel documentary currently in post-production. The documentary will be released to DVD in the Summer of 2013. IGPR covers the areas of Puerto Rico less frequented by tourists and often times, locals. The full companion website will be released in conjunction with the DVD, where you will find information on all the destinations presented in the DVD, as well as service providers who will make your trip to Puerto Rico an unforgettable experience! Visit InsidersGuidePR.com to sign up for our newsletter and receive updates on production.
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by 19939908 on 2/5/13
10+ years windsurfing this spot, regretfully had not returned in 15 years. Kiteboarding waves, a new venue and with Shacks Beach though beautiful, challenging. Puerto Rico with many sites worth visiting. Glad the family shared the experience !
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via Videos matching: ricky martin by gizabal on 2/5/13


via Videos matching: ricky martin by ALPHA BETA on 2/3/13

via Videos matching: ricky martin by Nicholas King on 2/7/13
Sleep Tight - by Ricky Martin
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by 1nterceptor on 2/5/13
Travel to Puerto Rico.
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via Videos by Geoffrey Hamilton on 2/7/13
January in Puerto Rico, what a great way to start 2013!!! There is some flying, some riding, a trip to the rainforest, San Juan, and a little bit of snorkeling. If you want to see more of the snorkeling, please see my earlier videos for the full edit of that trip. It was a great trip, and we all had fun.
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via Videos by 1nterceptor on 2/5/13
Travel to Puerto Rico.
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via Videos matching: puerto rico music by LimeyInSD on 8/21/11
From:LimeyInSD
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via Videos by TheEdgeRawRadio on 2/8/13
In this episode Bob discusses the love he has for the Puerto Rican People and Culture and also shares some personal frustrations he has with the culture as well. The good stuff is discussed plus the ugly realities. This is a touchy one for Hispanics so fasten your seatbelts. Besides the...
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by TravelChicTV on 1/31/13
Join TravelChic as shes tours the best dining locations in Old San Juan Puerto Rico. TravelChic's list of the best places for fine dining as well as local hidden gems. Visit her blog for more details about these great dininig experiences in Puerto Rico - travelchicmedia.wordpress.com Thanks for waching!
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via Videos matching: puerto rico by Alun Hill on 11/6/12
Help us caption and translate this video on Amara.org: www.amara.org Citizens of Puerto Rico choose their mayor, congressmen and governors. If it were possible they would choose their president. But at least for now, voters cannot, as their leader is the US president. Some in the US island territory accept it, while some do not. Puerto Rico does not get a vote in the American presidential election, but it is now voting on whether to change its ties with the US. In Tuesday's referendum, voters are asked if they want to change the relationship with the United States. A second question gives them three options: become the 51st US state, independence, or "sovereign free association", which would give more autonomy than they have at present. Residents took to the streets to express their opinions ahead of the poll. "We want to be a part of the USA, so that we have equal rights", a supporter of the New Progressive Party told RT. "It's not that we want to acquire independence, we need it. We have been dependent on the USA for too long", a member of the Puerto Rican Independence Party said. This debate has been going on for 100 years, and finally they can have their say at the ballot box. Though Carlos Gallisá Bisbal, a lawyer and politician, does not believe the vote will solve anything. "This referendum is a pre-election game of the pro-government party against the weak rule of the parliament, which was supposed to make people come to the elections." In other words, citizens of <b>...</b>
From:Alun Hill
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Mike Nova's starred items

via Videos matching: puerto rico by FaceplantBoardriders on 2/8/13
faceplantboardriders.com http This video is footage from our trip to Puerto Rico in January 2013 that was based around the Guajataka Downhill. We had some tasty waves to surf and handboard, and there were lots of fun hills to longboard throughout the week. We had an awesome time boardriding thorughout the entire week, and on this trip the all around boardriding in Puerto Rico overshadowed the event we went to compete in. Featured riders and gear are Brian Fitch (riding the 'FB Pow Pow' with WheelRZ Diablos 80a), Ricky Wheeler (riding the 'FB Shradical Surfer' with WheelRZ Diablos 80a and the FB 'Torpedo' Handboard), Kardon Allard (riding the 'FB Gun' with Abec 11 Freerides and the 'FB Pow Surfer' with WheelRZ Diablos 85a), Jesse Wipf (riding the 'FB Bowler' and the FB 'Bullet' Handboard), and Rob Wheeler (riding the 'FB Gremlin' with WheelRZ 85a Diablos and the FB 'Sharktooth' and 'Spearhead' handboards). Music in the following order: Cultura Profetica - "Con Truenos Hay Que Hablar" The Black Keys - "She's Long Gone" Mike Pinto - "Reincarnation"
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via Videos by Ripcurl on 2/9/13
seepuertorico.com took the team on an adventure tour... Zip-Line thru the tree tops in Central Puertorican Jungle and plunging into natural water holes
From:Ripcurl
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via Videos by CaptainWhatever4 on 2/10/13
Heading South.........
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via Videos by MrWhatsup247 on 2/7/13
this video is to help you save money on your trip
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via Videos matching: puerto rico news today by NewzOfDaWorld on 1/6/13
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com
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Anti-gay hate crimes are rampant on the island, which has a population of 3.5 million, about the size of Connecticut. Nearly two dozen members of the LGBT community were murdered in Puerto Rico between 2009 and 2011 alone: Pedro Julio Serrano: "Unteaching" an Island - abcnews.go.com

Anti-gay hate crimes are rampant on the island, which has a population of 3.5 million, about the size of Connecticut. Nearly two doz...
Feb 11, 2013

Pedro Julio Serrano: "Unteaching" an Island - ABC News

from crime rates puerto rico - Google News

ABC News
Pedro Julio Serrano: "Unteaching" an Island
ABC News
Anti-gay hate crimes are rampant on the island, which has a population of 3.5 million, about the size of Connecticut. Nearly two dozen members of the LGBT community were murdered in Puerto Rico between 2009 and 2011 alone. Pedro Julio, who has led ...
 
 

Pedro Julio Serrano: "Unteaching" an Island

 
By CRISTINA COSTANTINI
Feb. 11, 2013—
abcnews.go.com

ABC News

An LGBT Activist Who Fights Hate in His Homeland From Abroad
 
The words "CUÍDATE, PATO" were scrawled across a piece of paper that had been tucked under Pedro Julio Serrano's windshield wiper.
"'Take care of yourself, faggot,' it means in English'," Pedro Julio said.
It was 1998 and the then-24-year-old Pedro Julio was running as the first openly gay candidate of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives. He spent a few seconds inspecting his blue Oldsmobile after reading the hateful words of warning, and noticing his car hood wasn't pushed down fully, he called a good friend to take another look at the vehicle. His brake chords had been cut -- an attempt to intimidate, injure, or kill the young candidate.
Anti-gay hate crimes are rampant on the island, which has a population of 3.5 million, about the size of Connecticut. Nearly two dozen members of the LGBT community were murdered in Puerto Rico between 2009 and 2011 alone.
Pedro Julio, who has led the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Puerto Rico over the past decade, still doesn't go a day without some form of hate or bullying from the many who despise him. Now 38 years old, he is one of the most recognizable, and most controversial, public figures in Puerto Rico. For some on the island, he is a living historical icon, a Gandhi with a Twitter account, and for others, he embodies the erosion of a traditional Puerto Rico and its moral code.
From his dimly-lit office in Manhattan's Financial District, Pedro Julio, a thin man with a school-boy's part, influences many of tomorrow's headlines in Puerto Rico's top newspapers. With posts on Facebook and Twitter every hour which go out to his more than 30,000 followers, Serrano drives the news cycle.
Currently, he's advocating that the gruesome murder of a member of the gay community be investigated as a hate crime and pushing for the passage of a gay marriage bill on the island.
"I hope to be married in Puerto Rico in June," he said last month, in an interview on local TV. But, on the day I joined him in his office last month, he'd only slept a couple of hours in the previous two days, something not out of the ordinary for him. The night before, a key Puerto Rican political adviser on the government's payroll called him a gross, promiscuous scoundrel over Twitter and Pedro Julio decided that he would bring the case to court. His phone buzzed every few seconds with messages of love and support, but also messages of derision, and bigotry from Puerto Ricans living on the island and from those who have migrated to the mainland as part of a larger boricua diaspora.
"My job is physically and emotionally exhausting," he told me.
As I spoke with him, Pedro Julio's face underwent extraordinary emotional shifts at a rapid pace. He smiled with large white teeth as he told me a story about how his future husband Steven Toledo fell in love with him. Seconds later, his face turned sharp, his jowls clenched, and his tone became authoritative, as he prepared for one of his four phone interviews with Puerto Rican media that morning.
Dethroning the Queen of Puerto Rico's Airways
Last month, Pedro Julio won perhaps the biggest victory of his life, when he helped bring down the most popular television show on the island, called SuperXclusivo. In 2006, La Comay, a sassy life-sized she-puppet who sat atop a red and silver throne tore Pedro Julio apart on television for his activism on the island. As part of his/her vicious attack (the puppet is voiced by a man named Antulio 'Kobbo' Santarrosa'), La Comay called him a "pato" -- a word which literally means 'duck,' but is widely considered a derogatory term for gay men on the island.

At the time, Pedro Julio demanded an apology from the lady-puppet and his co-host Hector Travieso. But instead, La Comay responded:
"Look, Pedro Julio Serrano, we, the Puerto Rican people, are not at fault for the fact that you have these repressed desires, for the fact that you are a 'pato,'" La Comay said on the show in Spanish, which aired on WAPA TV.
Following the broadcast, Pedro Julio told the Spanish news outlet EFE, "[Santarrosa's] greatest punishment, as a homophobic man, will be that an open and proud gay man will be the one to oust him from television."
But few believed it possible to dethrone the queen of Puerto Rico's airwaves. The same show has also faced criticism for using the word "monos" or monkeys to describe black people, for attempting to "out" individuals they believed were gay, and for poking fun at women for their weight. But in December of 2012, Santarrosa would make his fatal move by presenting the possibility that the victim of a brutal murder on the island had brought it on himself by soliciting prostitution.
"Was this man, José Enrique, asking for this?" La Comay asked.
It was the last straw. The statement triggered Puerto Rican activist and I.T. specialist Carlos Rivera to start a Facebook group called "Boicot La Comay," which in a few days ballooned to 70,000 people. Pedro Julio would be the driving force and spokesperson in the boycott which successfully pressured Coco-Cola, Ford, Chevrolet, WalMart, AT&T, and Sprint, and more than 40 other companies to pull their ad dollars from the program.
Pedro Julio says social media has provided the perfect tool to lead his movement.
"It's an instrument which levels the field. No one has to go through intermediaries anymore," Pedro Julio said. "Social media is like a public plaza, which allows us to denounce or support what we want, and people don't even have to go to the street anymore to do it."
Critics said the movement was censorship from a small minority, but Pedro Julio says that the mass outcry pressured companies, concerned for their image, to make good business decisions.
"Freedom of expression is not an absolute right. It reaches a limit when you abuse the dignity of another person," said Pedro Julio. "And that's what La Comay did constantly. She was a bully."
Just over a month after the boycott started, Santarrosa resigned, and the show was canceled. A 12 year reign at the top was over.
Growing Up and Coming Out
Born in the Southern city of Ponce in 1974, and raised in Isla Verde, in the San Juan metropolitan area, Pedro Julio's biological father left shortly after he was born. The second of four brothers, he was raised by his mother Alicia Burgos and her husband of 30 years, Hector Mujica, who Pedro Julio now calls his father. Burgos and Mujica say their son has been defending people, asking questions, and fighting for justice from a very young age.
PHOTO: At age 13, Pedro Julio organized his first rally after a schoolmate was killed in drug-related gang violence.
The grandson of journalist who fought injustice through his reportage, Pedro Julio initially pursued a degree in media at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. But at the age of 19, after having unprotected sex with his first sexual partner, Pedro Julio tested positive for HIV.
"He knew, but he didn't tell me," Pedro Julio said. "But you know, I take responsibility for it, I have to."
On the same day that Pedro Julio came out as gay to his parents, he also told them that he had HIV.
"The gay thing, I didn't care about. I only cared about the health of my child. It's impossible for a mother to think that her son will die before [she will, and it was very hard. It was hard because of the HIV, not because of the gay thing," Burgos said. "It was a shock, I won't deny it."
And so Pedro Julio dropped out of school, unable to balance his school work and his recent discovery. From there, he entered the world of activism and politics, working to promote awareness and fair treatment of the LGBT community on a not-so-receptive island.
The incident with Pedro Julio's blue Oldsmobile wouldn't be the first, or the last threat on his life. A couple of months after the unsolved crime (most crimes in Puerto Rico go unsolved), Pedro Julio was followed by a pickup truck, and narrowly escape the four men with shotguns that pursued him.
"Their intent was to scare me, and it worked," Pedro Julio said. "I was terrified."
On a third occasion, Pedro Julio was followed through winding streets and back alleys by yet another car in San Juan while with his mother was in the car. To this day, Burgos believes that her son is risking his life with his work. As a mother, she has tried to convince him that sticking his neck out isn't worth it.
"A lot of times I say to him, 'Please, go slow,' but you know I talk to him about it, and he always turns me around," she said. "I leave understanding what he's doing, and that's his life, and that's what he wants to do and I'll respect him for that and I'll back him all the way."
Burgos says she feels relieved that her son moved to New York City ten years ago, where he works as a spokesperson for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, because he's less subject to be a target of the widespread anti-gay violence on the island.
But that doesn't mean Pedro Julio doesn't return periodically to stir up controversy.
Kissing the Hate Away
When I visited Pedro Julio in his office, a yellowed newspaper cover hung on the wall behind him.
The image of Pedro Julio kissing Steven Toledo, his then-boyfriend, spread across the front page and the caption read, "Amor gay sacude al Capitolio" or "Gay love shakes the Capitol." Pedro Julio, wearing a white suit, eyes-closed, and Steven, head-angled to the side, were caught in a momentary kiss, which occurred while Pedro Julio was attending a hearing on civil unions on the island. The two men say they were aware that the act of kissing would cause controversy, but felt that it was being true to who they are to kiss in public.

"There was a tacit understanding that we're in the public eye," Toledo told me. "But we wanted to be who we are consistently, as part of maintaining our integrity, and so we kissed normally."
The front page cover, which scandalized a conservative Puerto Rico at the time and upset some even with the pro-gay movement for being "too extreme," might seem distinctly conventional for anyone who has lived in an LGBT-friendly city in recent years.
"People told me we were moving too fast, that we were doing the movement a big disservice," he said."But it was just a kiss."
Pedro Julio's controversial tactics have brought him dear friends, as well as outspoken enemies.
He receives dozens of messages of love and solidarity from his many ardent supporters, including celebrities like singer Ricky Martin and Rene Perez Joglar of Calle 13. A text from his 19-year old brother Antonio that said he'd stand by his brother through anything, moved Pedro Julio to tears as he read it aloud to me at his desk.
Pedro Julio must also face those who despise him, and cope with a constant barrage of bullying through the very same means which has empowered his movement.
"Muerete, marica," read one tweet directed towards Pedro Julio and myself last month after I tweeted an article about the La Comay controversy. Translation: "Go kill yourself, fag."
But not all of Pedro Julio's opponents are anonymous homophobes on Twitter. One Puerto Rican blogger Emmanuel Serrano Hernández, who blogs under the moniker Gazoo Starr, is an outspoken critic of the activist.
He wrote a blog earlier this month called "Un peligro para todos" (Translation: A danger for everyone), which is a play on the name of Pedro Julio's organization which advocates human rights on the island called "Un Puerto Rico para todos." The post received more than 2,000 likes on Facebook, and prompted the creation of a Facebook and Twitter accounts called Boycott Pedro Julio, which each have over one thousand followers.
In his post, Hernandez sticks with some of the most popular critiques of Pedro Julio. Hernandez says that Pedro Julio actually censors free speech, that he purports to speak for an entire Puerto Rico, even though he speaks for a small minority, that he craves media-attention, that he doesn't even live on the island that he seeks to influence, and that he's an indiscriminate complainer.
"What happened here was victory of the censorship by a few, lead by the hysterical Pedro Julio Serrano," Starr wrote. "Pedro Julio, you don't represent me nor do you represent Puerto Rico, and you especially don't represent us residing in New York and coming here to complain and brag."
Pedro Julio's closest friends say he is misunderstood by some Puerto Ricans who only see Pedro Julio amidst controversy. He appears on radio shows, talk shows, and is quoted almost daily in the island's biggest newspapers, fighting against the powers that be.
But for those who know him well, Pedro Julio's private persona is much less serious. He's a laugher, a prankster, and a charmer, his close friends say. He especially loves scaring his mother, most recently by pretending he was a ghost.
One of his best friends, Karlo Karlo, a makeup artist and gay rights activist in New York City, says that Pedro Julio can get anyone on his side, if he's given the chance.
When Pedro Julio was seated next to two conservative women in their late sixties from "el campo," or rural Puerto Rico, last year at a dinner at a close friends' house in San Juan, Karlo Karlo says that at first tensions were high.
"These two ladies were very very religious. They were evangelical, and they only knew Pedro Julio from seeing him on television," Karlo Karlo said. "But by the end of the night, were all laughing so hard. I mean, we were all truly having fun, and these two ladies loved Pedro Julio. They just couldn't get enough of him."
By the end of the night, the women were converts.
"'Pedro Julio, sabes que en realidad tu eres un muchacho muy bueno. Es que siempre te veo peleando en la television," one woman told him, according to Karlo Karlo. (Translation: Pedro Julio, you know what you're actually a very good man. It's just that I always see you fighting on the television.)
Since the dinner, the two women have continued to ask for Pedro Julio to visit, and when they returned to el campo they shared with their fellow lady-friends what they believed was Pedro Julio's biggest secret of all -- he's a closeted nice guy.
Pedro Julio's life hasn't been easy. He had a heart condition as a child which would cause him to faint, he survived cancer at the age of 36, he was hospitalized after collapsing from exhaustion at 38, and for the last two decades he's had to deal with the realities of living with HIV.
Still, Serrano is perfectionist, a micro-manager, and a "work-horse," as he terms it. Despite a compromised immune system, Pedro Julio routinely goes 24, 36, and even 40 hours without sleeping. To his frustration, his body often gives out before he does.
"I've had to learn that I'm human," Pedro Julio said. Pedro Julio's struggles have lead him to realize how short life is, and has made him impatient to finish his work and spread his message.
"I'm very impatient. I feel desperate to finish already. I always want to accelerate the pace of things," he said. "I just want to convince everyone. I feel like if I just talk to someone, I can convince them."
His boyfriend, and his mother, have tried to step in, but Pedro Julio doesn't like hearing it.
"He has HIV, you know, and he's always been delicate with his health, so I'm always concerned," his mother said. "He gets exhausted physically and emotionally, and I told him he needs to slow down, but he won't. Nobody can stop him."
Pedro Julio's work habits have taken a toll on other people in his life including his future husband Steven. The couple broke up for nearly two years because Toledo felt that Pedro Julio wasn't able to balance the activism with the relationship. But they both say they're happier than ever, and that they're working hard to make it work.
Although the two work in LGBT advocacy, there's are a number of ways they don't see eye-to-eye. Steven, a Bronx-native, loves wilderness and hiking. Pedro Julio doesn't. But part of working on their relationship means that Pedro Julio has agreed to take more camping expeditions.

"I just need access to a bathroom, a shower, and a place to charge my phone, and to be connected with what's going on in the world," Pedro Julio said. They also have vastly different dietary habits. Pedro Julio describes Toledo as "almost vegan" and Toledo says Pedro Julio "runs away from anything green." The couple is getting married in New York in the next year and planning to have a child through a surrogate. If it's a boy, he'd be named Gianmarco, but the girl's name remains subject for debate.
I met up with Pedro Julio in his neighborhood in Jackson Heights, where the couple lives with their mean little dog Coqui, named after Puerto Rico's national frog, and their kind golden retriever puppy named Ralph. Pedro Julio took me to a Uruguayan restaurant where, true to form, we ate nearly a dozen varieties of grilled meat. He interrupted the meal only to respond to tweets from a handful of Puerto Rican politicians and conduct a quick radio interview.
After finishing our parillada, he told me he is planning to move back to Puerto Rico with his new family next year, and "won't rule out" a 2016 run for political office of some sort. "Actually, I'm considering it," Pedro Julio said, with a flash of his white smile. He declined to go into further detail.
A Politician, An Activist, A Teacher
Above all, Pedro Julio is a teacher, his closest friend, Karlo Karlo said. Nearly every Facebook post, blog, and tweet that Pedro Julio shares has a moral to it. His favorite phrases repeat messages of peace and harmony: "Human dignity is inalienable," "Equality is inevitable," "With solidarity and respect for all."
"He teaches us all so much," Karlo Karlo said. When he told Pedro Julio's father that his son was a teacher, Karlo Karlo says he'll never forget how he was corrected.
"Pedro Julio is not teaching people," Mujica told him. "He's unteaching them and that is much harder."

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The FBI is actively investigating public corruption in Puerto Rico


Casos de corrupción a todos los niveles
 
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Cases, nuevo director del Negociado Federal de Investigaciones en la Isla, se expresó a favor de la activación de la Guardia Nacional para ayudar a atajar la incidencia de crímenes.

via Caribbean Business on 2/11/13

FBI probing corruption cases in PR

The FBI is actively investigating public corruption in Puerto Rico and will cont ...

 
 FBI probing corruption cases in PR
By CB Online Staff
cbnews@caribbeanbusinesspr.com; cbprdigital@gmail.com


The FBI is actively investigating public corruption in Puerto Rico and will continue to make such cases a priority, the federal agency’s new chief in the U.S. Caribbean territories said Monday.
“I can’t go into specific details about the investigations or who is under investigation,” Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases said. “What I can say is that we are investigating public corruption at all levels.”
Cases’ comments came during a press conference at FBI headquarters in San Juan where he outlined his agenda as head of the agency in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“I have established public corruption and violent crimes as the investigative priorities of our office,” he said.
Cases, a 21-year FBI veteran, was named last week to oversee FBI operations in both U.S. territories, becoming the third Puerto Rican to hold the post after Héctor Pesquera (the current Puerto Rico police chief) and Luis Fraticelli.
“I am concerned by all types of corruption,” he said. “As public officials, the people put their trust in us. If public servants don’t do things the right way, how can we expect the public to do so?”
Cases, born and raised in Puerto Rico, previously was director for Latin America and the southwest border for the FBI’s criminal investigations division in Washington, D.C.
He also has worked at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and at the federal agency’s office in San Juan, where he was honored for his participation in one of the bureau’s largest public corruption cases that targeted local law enforcement officials.
Cases began his career as a special agent with the FBI in May 1992. He first reported to the El Paso Division, where he investigated violent crime, organized crime, and drug matters. In 1994, he transferred to the San Juan Division and continued to work organized crime and drug cases.
In 2001, Cases was promoted to supervisory special agent in the drug section of the Criminal Investigative Division and detailed to DEA Headquarters. He then transferred to the San Juan Division in 2002 as the supervisory special agent of a Criminal Enterprise squad. While there, he served as a coordinator for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Crisis Negotiation, and SWAT. He was then promoted to program manager in 2005 and assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to coordinate drug and gang investigations.
In 2007, Cases returned to the San Juan Division as the supervisory special agent of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and, in 2009, was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Criminal Branch. While there, he received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement for his role in Operation Guard Shack, one of the largest public corruption cases in FBI history.


Puerto Rico Law Enforcement and Police News


via puerto rico fbi - Google Blog Search by unknown on 2/11/13
SAN JUAN – The FBI's new Special Agent in Charge for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands said Monday that his office is investigating cases of public corruption on this Caribbean island. Carlos Cases, whose appointment was announced ...

via puerto rico fbi - Google Blog Search by Agencia EFE on 2/11/13
San Juan – El nuevo jefe de la Oficina Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés) para Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes, Carlos Cases, informó hoy que la agencia estadounidense investiga casos de corrupción ...

via puerto rico fbi - Google Blog Search by unknown on 2/11/13
El nuevo jefe en Puerto Rico del Negociado Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés), Carlos Cases, confirmó hoy que la agencia conduce varias investigaciones de corrupción pública “a todos los niveles”.


via puerto rico law enforcement - Google News on 2/11/13

Latin American Herald Tribune

FBI Investigating Public Corruption in Puerto Rico
Latin American Herald Tribune
Cases was decorated for his role in 2010 in Operation Guard Shack, which led to the arrest of 89 Puerto Rico police officers and prison guards. A veteran of 21 years with the FBI, Cases is the third native Puerto Rican to head the San Juan office. EFE ...

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JOBOS, Isabella, Puerto Rico (Monday, February 11, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star 2013 Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico presented by seepuertorico.com

via puerto rico - Google News on 2/11/13

Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico: Day 3 Highlights
Transworld Surf
JOBOS, Isabella, Puerto Rico (Monday, February 11, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star 2013 Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico presented by seepuertorico.com saw the event's top seeds take to the water in stormy eight foot (2 meter) ...
RIP CURL PRO PUERTO RICO: HALFTIME REPORTSurfline.com Surf News
Rob Kelly and Dean Randazzo advance in Puerto Rico surfing contestPress of Atlantic City

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Monday, February 11, 2013

A Puerto Rican LGBT advocate continues to urge local authorities to investigate the murder of a gay hairstylist as a possible hate crime

Last Update: 2.12.13
 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.: Velez Facing Hate Crime Charges ...

from crime in puerto rico 2011 - Google Blog Search by H. Nelson Goodson
Vélez will become the first homicide suspect to be charged with a hate crime in Puerto Rico for killing Morales, a well known gay hairstylist in Puerto Rico. By H. Nelson Goodson. February 11, 2013. Moca, Puerto Rico ...
 
 
_____________________________
 

*Puerto Rico* police urged to investigate *gay man's* death as possible *... *

via gay men puerto rico - Google Blog Search by Pedro Julio Serrano on 2/7/13
Puerto Rico police urged to investigate gay man's death as possible hate crime… ... A Puerto Rican LGBT advocate continues to urge local authorities to investigate the murder of a gay hairstylist as a possible hate crime.

Puerto Rico police urged to investigate gay man’s death as possible hate crime…



07/02/2013 at 11:12 AMDeja un comentario
milton-medina0.jpg_thumbnail0By Michael Lavers | Washington Blade
A Puerto Rican LGBT advocate continues to urge local authorities to investigate the murder of a gay hairstylist as a possible hate crime.
El Nuevo Día reported on Thursday that Richard Soto Vélez, 20, confessed to killing Milton Medina Morales on Feb. 3 after he said they went fishing in three local rivers near Mayagüez on the island’s west coast. Soto reportedly told investigators he became enraged after the two men were unable to catch anything and attacked Medina with a machete.
The newspaper said authorities found Medina’s partially burned body with its fingers cut outside Mayagüez on Monday.
“We ask the authorities to investigate the hate angle in this case,” Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force told the Washington Blade. “We are not satisfied with the alleged confession that the killer provided. You don’t kill someone with such viciousness because of a disagreement or because you couldn’t fish anything.”
Medina’s death comes less than two months after the Puerto Rico Police Department agreed to strengthen its response to hate crimes as part of a broad settlement with the Justice Department.
Gay teenager Jorge Steven López Mercado’s brutal 2009 murder highlighted the rampant anti-LGBT violence in the American commonwealth.
Serrano and other LGBT rights advocates routinely criticized local officials for not seeking prosecutions under the island’s hate crimes law that includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is among those who blasted former Gov. Luís Fortuño for what they contend was his administration’s unwillingness to speak out against rampant anti-LGBT violence on the island.
Capt. Janice Rodríguez of the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIC) in Mayagüez told Primera Hora that Soto’s version of the events “are not clear.” She added authorities continue to investigate whether Medina’s sexual orientation prompted the suspect to allegedly kill him.
“There’s a hate that is probably deeply motivated and the authorities need to get to the bottom of it,” Serrano said. “The local law forces authorities to investigate the possible bias in this type of crime and we ask them to enforce it.”
Soto faces first degree, robbery and weapons charges in connection with Medina’s death.

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Sunday, February 10, 2013

NYT: 36 Hours in San Juan, Puerto Rico

36 Hours in San Juan, Puerto Rico

 
 


Laura Magruder for The New York Times


By

Published: February 7, 2013
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The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles held a press conference last week to educate people about why statehood is a conservative issue

Conservatives Press for Puerto Rican Statehood

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Some people have claimed that Puerto Rico’s desire for statehood will be ignored by Republicans in Congress because they believe that statehood is a liberal cause or that new Puerto Rican voters will be too liberal for Republicans. Current thinking in the Latino conservative network, however, is to the contrary.
The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles held a press conference last week to educate people about why statehood is a conservative issue. The roster of Latino and conservative leaders was impressive:
  • Former Governor Luis Fortuno (R-PR)
  • Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
  • Dr. Richard Land, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
  • Niger Innis, National Spokesman, Congress of Racial Equality
  • Dr. Hernan Padilla, Former Mayor of San Juan, PR
  • Alfonso Aguilar, Executive Director, Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles
A primary reason why conservatives support statehood is that it is more in keeping with the U.S. Constitution than the current colonial relationship. Ignoring Puerto Rico’s expressed unwillingness to continue as a territory of the United States places the U.S. in the position of governing without the consent of the governed. “Not only is it not democratic,” said Aguilar,”it goes against the very soul and ideas of the Founding Fathers. We were created as a republic, not an empire.”
Another point that appeals to conservatives is the need for equality. “Being for Puerto Rican statehood is like being against Plessy v. Ferguson,” the Baptist Press quoted Dr. Land as saying in remarks after the conference. “The same court that gave us Jim Crow gave us a new judicially created territorial status for Puerto Rico that was different… only because they were Hispanic.”
“It’s well past time for us to correct the racist, segregationist creation of a long-forgotten Supreme Court,” Land continued, “and to live up to the promises of our founding documents and redeem those promises for the people of Puerto Rico.”
Dr. Padilla expressed the same sentiments, saying, “The unprecedented category of “unincorporated territory” was created by a segregationist Court to prevent a territory inhabited by people of Hispanic origin from becoming a part of the United States.” He went on to say that “in 1922 a U.S. Supreme Court that upheld racial segregation determined that Puerto Rico was still an unincorporated territory because its Justices could not conceive of a faraway island inhabited by Hispanics, rather than Anglo-Saxons, to be a part of this Nation.”
Calling on conservatives to support the Constitution while rejecting the racist errors of a century ago, the LPCPP emphasized the need to respect the vote taken in Puerto Rico in November of 2012 in which 54% of voters rejected the current territorial status of the island and 61% chose statehood as their preferred relationship with the United States. Ignoring this vote, the speakers said, is not acceptable behavior for a nation based on the principles of democracy.

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Right now is high time for you to avoid the impending freezes of next month and book your flight to San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

No Passport? No Problem: Puerto Rico - FENUXE Magazine - Saturday, February 02, 2013 - Tom Dempsey

Berlin Sylvestre, Staff Writer

Right now is high time for you to avoid the impending freezes of next month and book your flight to San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Why? Three reasons: One, to flee the cold (Puerto Rico’s average high in February is in the high 80s); two, you don’t need a passport (it’s a U.S. commonwealth) or changing money (they use our dollar); and three, not only is it beautiful, but the food is savory and authentic, and the historic sites will transport you back to the days of Ponce de León and his battle with the British. OK, there’s a fourth: The happening gay scene, with its super-sexy and “down to party” Latin men, is more than enough to keep you constantly dipping into all the island has to offer.
With Spirit Airlines offering a roundtrip ticket (as in there and back, pal) at $385 for flights booked mid-February, it’s a no-brainer: Get your gorgeous selves to Puerto Rico.
The first thing you’ll notice stepping out of airport is that PR is balmy. Incredibly balmy. The blanket of humidity and defrosting properties of tropical heat sap the Georgia winter clean out of your bones. Then, it’s the smell. Salt and sea are carried on aqueous breezes as you wait for a rental car to pull around. Opting out of a rental car? Don’t — you’ll be doing yourself an impractical disservice, as they’re phenomenally cheap. Trust me: You’re not going to want to stay in San Juan the entire time.
Once you take the wheel, head toward the vibrant district known as Old San Juan (which is similar to New Orleans’ French Quarter, actually). It’s historic, full of architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries, and located on a small island full of fortresses in the semblance of Spanish castles. The food, music, boutiques, and updated (wildly affordable) hotels that are older than America itself will blow your mind.
For $80 a night, Da House Hotel is an art gallery/hotel that provides incredibly tasteful rooms with shiny hardwood floors, a four-poster bed, and French doors that open to your own giant balcony offering clear views of the Castillo de San Cristóbal. Want lodging with a deeper, darker past? Try El Convento, a hotel that started out as a convent in the 1650s, was transformed into a dance hall, then served as a flophouse rumored to be a brothel, and converted to a hotel in the 1960s when it settled into its current luxury lodging purpose — a sinful and sexy legacy.
Like history? Tour the two fortresses — Castillo de San Cristóbal and Castillo de San Felipe del Morro — and discover not only why the foundations are slanted (think horse “leavings”) but also how dark, despondent, and medieval the internal prisons were. Ghosts are rumored to roam the forts night and day and with a quick tour within their cold and gloomy interiors, you’re bound to feel the chill of their haunted pasts.
But don’t dawdle too long in Old San Juan. Fight the compulsion and hop back in the car, mi amigo.
There’s a literal rush to driving through the often-hectic traffic of Puerto Rico. Thankfully, the country drives on the same side of the road as we do, but the style of maneuvering the streets and narrow byways requires a bit of aggression.
Not into breakneck driving? That’s quite all right.
It’s easy to get away from the city and into the Great Wide Open of Puerto Rico, where smoother, quieter roads lead you toward the slower pace of non-tourist coastal roaming. Even if you don’t speak (or read) a lick of Spanish, road signs are pretty obvious (highway numbers are the same in Spanish) and most rental companies provide an English-compatible GPS that’ll guide you.
Head toward Fajardo, another oceanside city an hour to the west that, along the way, gives you fringe views of El Yunque, PR’s most famous, lush jungle territory. Fajardo is where, for $2.50, a ferry takes you on a gorgeous two-hour ride to Culebra, a crescent-shaped island consistently ranked as having one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world. There, you’ll be able to walk on the relatively deserted beaches and set up camp (literally, as tents rent for $8 a night) and get down to the most soothing and serene of island basics. After some world-class snorkeling that gives you VIP access to Culebra’s submerged marine metropolis, you can enjoy dinner at the small island’s only town, Dewey, whose “mami y papi” restaurants provide fresh seafood and native dishes you’ll never find in the U.S. Rent one of the abundant and affordable Jeeps or golf carts Dewey offers and wind around the mountains for sublime views of Culebra’s paradisiacal landscape.
Sleeping in a tent in the tropical weather of Culebra is only “camping” in a literal sense. Outdoor freshwater showers are provided (and it’s damn near deserted, but if you’re shy, just shower in your undies), and you don’t wake swatting gnats and mosquitoes from your face. Waking means that rain-like clicking of palm fronds overhead and distant calls of exotic birdsong has lulled you into an almost unreal consciousness. Softly crashing waves, an ocean breeze, silky white sand, and gentle sun beg you to come out and play.
Catching a ride back to the ferry in one of the copious Dewey taxis that frequent the island won’t run you more than $8 and another blissful boat ride back to Fajardo lets you finish off that sun-kissed look you can’t wait to show your friends back home.
Because of the “move move move!” nature of San Juan, expediting the return of your rental car is something at which the locals are adept. Toss your keys on the counter, watch the hasty inspection of the vehicle, jump into an airport-bound taxi and in no time, you’re boarding the plane.
With (most likely) a travel budget surplus still in your wallet, you’ve seen more history offshore as a U.S. citizen than you could have whilst traveling on the mainland.
Felicidades!
Gay Hotspots:
Batucada: Calle Carlos Chardon #15 San Juan, P.R. 00918 (4 out of 5 stars)
facebook.com/batucadasportbargrill
A gay bar with occasional karaoke, the dance floor stays hopping until the lights come on. Local hits are intertwined with worldwide favorites, proving ample entertainment for townies and visitors alike. The bar is notorious for its cheap drinks and rowdy Sunday night scene. Compare it to Mary’s.
Tia Maria Jose de Diego: 326 Av. José de Diego San Juan, P.R. 00920 (4 out of 5 stars)
The oversized drinks are fantastically underpriced. If you’re looking to escape the tourist traps for a safe and gay-friendly setting, Tia’s is a local favorite. According to locals, get there early — it gets packed after 10 p.m., but it’s well worth it! Compare it to Blake’s on the Park.
Scandalo The Club: 613 Calle Condado San Juan, P.R. 00907 (3.5 out of 5 stars)
Down for a good drag show? If it’s Thursday, pop into Scandalo. (Nina Flowers, who is from Puerto Rico, has caved in the roof on many an occasion.) In the mood for hot naked strippers of the Latin persuasion? Sunday is your night. DJs pride themselves on house music and Latin rhythms which, in short, means you can shake that ass. Compare it to Burkhart’s Pub, featuring naked Ricky Martin clones.
SX: 1204 Ponce de León San Juan, P.R. 00907 (3 out of 5 stars)
Boasting the hottest male strippers in San Juan, this scintillating gay bar offers two floors of dance-centric hotness, a video bar, and VIP lounge. The modelesque dancers are known to be incredibly laid back and down to please their clients. Compare it to Swinging Richards.
Places to Avoid: La Perla, a slum known for its high rate of illegal activities has seen a boom of criminal activity that has attracted international drug traders, arms dealers, and narcotics distributors. It is highly advised that tourists avoid the seaside shantytown little more than a mile east of Old San Juan, as it is a haven for criminals who prey on tourists and locals alike.
PR in the News: Because of its terrible education system, crime rates, and struggling economy, Puerto Rico’s legislature sent a formal request to Obama and the U.S. Congress in December 2012 to end the current form of “territorial status” and to begin the process of admitting Puerto Rico to the Union as the 51st state.
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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Boxer Orlando Cruz finally finds happiness after telling the world that he's gay - New York Daily News


via Gay Puerto Rico's Facebook Wall by Gay Puerto Rico on 2/9/13
Boxer Orlando Cruz finally finds happiness after telling the world that he's gay - New York Daily News

New York Daily News


Boxer Orlando Cruz finally finds happiness after telling the world that he's gay
New York Daily News
You are a 5-5, …


Boxer Orlando Cruz finally finds happiness after telling the world that he's gay - New York Daily News


Saturday, Feb 09 2013

 



Puerto Rican Orlando Cruz reveals the moment he realized he was a ... - Daily Mail

Puerto Rican Orlando Cruz reveals the moment he realized he was a homosexual as he faced the choice of coming out in the macho world of boxing

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED:02:00 EST, 13 January 2013| UPDATED:02:00 EST, 13 January 2013
Featherweight boxer Orlando Cruz has revealed the moment he realized he was a homosexual man as a 19-year-old after he competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
The Puerto Rican native, the first openly gay man in the sport's history, reveals a painful, decade long journey after he discovered the truth about himself and the internal battle he fought as he feared the consequences of revealing his sexuality in the testosterone dominated field.
Cruz says that he kept his identity a secret but decided to open up to his family and close friends in 2010. He came out to the public in October 2012.
Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz has become boxing's first and so far only openly gay man
Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz has become boxing's first and so far only openly gay man
The 31-year-old told the New York Daily News that though he had a girlfriend in 2000, he experienced his first sexual encounter with a man at the age of 19 - after he had competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The boxer debuted as a professional following the games.
The experience was disorienting for the athlete, who struggled to come to terms with how to face the truth.

More...


'I was wondering, "What is wrong with me? Am I crazy? What is going on?"' Cruz told the News.
He did reveal the truth to his mother, Dominga Torres, and faced the fury of his girlfriend when she discovered the truth.
He didn't think coming out in the field of boxing was even a viable option for him because when rumors began to spread that he was gay, he feared even entering the ring for fear of harassment by fans.
a
Boxer Orlando Cruz (right), battles Alejandro Delgado during a fight at the Palm Bay Community Center in Palm Bay, Fla. Describing
'He was afraid to fight, afraid of the reaction people would have,' Juan De Leon, Cruz’s longtime trainer, said.

'He kept on giving me excuses why he couldn't fight, and (even when he did fight), I could see it in his face that he wasn’t all there. He would be in the ring, but his mind was completely outside the ring.'
He finally revealed his identity to the public and fans in October 2012.
Cruz said he met with psychologists and others before making the announcement, adding he has the full support of his family, trainer and manager.
Few active professional athletes have come out. There has yet to be an openly gay player in Major League Baseball, the NBA or NFL.

Cornelius Lock (left) of the US knocks down Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico during his NABO Featherweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 19, 2009 in Las Vegas
Cornelius Lock (left) of the US knocks down Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico during his NABO Featherweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 19, 2009 in Las Vegas
Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesman for the US-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, praised Cruz for his decision and said it breaks stereotypes that gay people are not involved in sports like boxing.
'It also gives a lot of hope to young gays who can see in him the integrity and bravery to be who you are and face a society that is often intolerant, especially in this type of sport,' he said.
Reaction to Cruz's announcement was largely positive across social media, with many praising him for taking what they called a brave step given the sport's violent history.
Among those who sent messages of support was Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who announced he was gay in 2010.

Cruz, began boxing at the age of seven, holds the WBO NABO featherweight title.
'I am free. I feel so free,' Orlando Cruz now says about his state of mind in the aftermath of his decision to be open about his identity.
Boxer Orlando Cruz poses for pictures after a training session at a public gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday after coming out as the first openly gay man in boxing
Boxer Orlando Cruz poses for pictures after a training session at a public gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday after coming out as the first openly gay man in boxing
Boxer Orlando Cruz poses for pictures after a training session at a public gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico in Oct. after coming out as the first openly gay man in boxing




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261609/Puerto-Rican-Orlando-Cruz-reveals-moment-realized-homosexual-faced-choice-coming-macho-world-boxing.html#ixzz2KRjrCyx4
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