Gus In The Real Life

Walmart Vs The World!

glequericac — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:03:56 +0000

Dang it Walmart you want to be worse than Microsoft and Megan Fox together and still even if people accepts you they don’t want to go to any of your stores, beside of the rudeness of the employees and the impossibility of finding the products in the store now Walmart launch another war against Amazon and Target in pre-order DVDs that made the two competitors to scramble their prices to even match with Walmart.

What a shame Walmart, whose next the world? Za Warudo! One of the fights came with the new Star Trek movie where Walmart reduced the price so much that technically is free to get it, hey I will be going tomorrow or maybe later to buy it!.

Is This a Way to Promote a City?

glequericac — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:45:08 +0000

Is this a way to promote one of the cities that is Patrimony of the humankind? No is not and when tourist go to Cartagena one of the most beautiful cities in the world no wonder why sometimes they feel deception. The photo was taken in La Cordialidad.

Invertir en la cultura es una alternativa ante la crisis económica

glequericac — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:29:43 +0000

El mundo tiene que apostar de manera privada y estatal a la inversión cultural porque allí se encuentra una de las salidas a la actual crisis económica.Así se reafirmó en Cartagena el poder político que tiene la cultura para encarar las crisis económicas.
Voceros de las Naciones Unidas, del Banco Mundial, académicos y líderes del sector cultural a nivel nacional e internacional, señalaron que una de las soluciones más eficaces ante la crisis actual de la economía mundial se encuentra en la consolidación de las industrias creativas.
Se habló de economía creativa por parte de Edna Dos Santos-Duisenberg, directora del Programa de Economía Creativa de Naciones Unidas. Según ella, “es un concepto en desarrollo, que une la economía con aspectos culturales y sociales, en interacción con la tecnología y el turismo, genera ingresos, crea empleo, se puede exportar, promueve la inclusión social, la diversidad cultural y el desarrollo humano”.
La visión universal y puntual del pensador francés Edgar Morin, al clausurar el Seminario Internacional “El sector cultural hoy: oportunidades, desafíos y respuestas”, fue ratificar el poder político de la cultura ante las encrucijadas del mundo contemporáneo.
“En el siglo XXI la cultura será lo que fue el carbón para Europa y Norteamérica en el siglo XX”, dijo Antonio Nicolau, director del área de cultura de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo- AECID.
“La cultura es la fuerza creativa y competitiva del desarrollo económico y a la vez un poderoso factor de cohesión social y de consolidación de identidad para nuestros pueblos”, dijo la ministra de Cultura Paula Marcela Moreno.
Edna Dos Santos-Duisenberg dijo que esta nueva realidad está modificando la manera en que los gobiernos organizan sus presupuestos y ha permitido incrementar en el mundo la apuesta estatal y privada hacia la inversión cultural.
La ministra Moreno afirmó que “a pesar de que siempre ha existido una tensión natural en la discusión sobre cultura y desarrollo económico, debido a un límite muy sutil entre las lógicas de mercado y las expresiones ancestrales, que cuando se franquean indebidamente producen incomprensiones y conflictos, es importante entender que sólo algo tan poderoso como la cultura, que canaliza maneras de ser y de pensar, que refleja elementos de la identidad cultural de una comunidad y que transmite sensibilidades y forma criterios religiosos, políticos y corrientes de pensamiento, debe hacer parte de las estrategias sociopolíticas y económicas de un Estado”.

La cultura es rentable

En Colombia, según un estudio realizado por la Organización Mundial para la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI), en 2005 las industrias culturales generaron más de 1 millón de empleos directos, facturaron exportaciones por 2.000 millones de dólares e importaciones por 4.000 millones de dólares.
En 2003, según el Banco Mundial, las industrias culturales registraron una participación del 7% en el PIB del planeta y se predice que crecerán, en promedio, un 10% anual.
De acuerdo con datos de la Unesco, el crecimiento de este sector en dólares fue del 300%, entre 1980 y 1998.
En Estados Unidos, las industrias culturales son el segundo sector exportador; en Inglaterra, representan el 6% del empleo.
Según Sandra Gibson, directora de la Asociación de Promotores de las Artes Escénicas de Estados Unidos, “a pesar de haberse sentido con fuerza la crisis económica, los estadounidenses invierten ahora más en industrias creativas que en tiempos de tranquilidad. El gasto en cine, compra de libros y regalos de discos se ha incrementado y esta situación ha estimulado a la gente a sobrellevar los momentos de dificultad. La gente necesita un escape y la respuesta está en las industrias culturales, que gracias a este fenómeno han aumentado su demanda en los últimos meses”.
Para el alemán Michael Hutter, director cultural de la Unidad de Investigación en Fuentes Culturales Novedosas de Alemania, el gran desafío está en la innovación.

Gobierno venezolano cierra otras 29 emisoras de radio

glequericac — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:08:46 +0000

Un total de 29 radios venezolanas saldrán del aire próximamente por “irregularidades” en el uso de su concesión, informaron responsables del gobierno de Hugo Chávez, un mes después del cierre de 32 emisoras, hecho que generó un gran rechazo dentro y fuera del país.El anuncio, realizado por el responsable de la Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (Conatel), Diosdado Cabello, provocó el rechazo inmediato de representantes del gremio periodístico.
“No es ninguna sorpresa. Pero no se debería subestimar la capacidad de la gente para indignarse. Creemos que la presión popular, pacífica y constitucional, y la presión internacional pueden hacer que el gobierno recapacite”, declaró a la AFP Alonso Moleiro, vicepresidente del Colegio Nacional de Periodistas (CNP). En julio, Conatel realizó un censo de las emisoras de radio y según el ente público, un total de 240 radios y 45 televisoras no cumplieron los requisitos necesarios. Un mes después, 32 emisoras y dos televisiones regionales fueron sacadas del aire.
El cierre anunciado de otras 29 emisoras significa que “el proceso sigue adelante”.
“Hay 29 emisoras, ya están revisados los expedientes y están en la misma situación de las anteriores. En los próximos días serán notificadas”, recalcó Cabello este lunes.
“No nos van a intimidar. Estamos decididos a cumplir con nuestro trabajo y aplicar la ley. íCómo les duele que las leyes sean iguales para todos! Pero nadie es intocable”, agregó.

Parents are Angry With Obama

glequericac — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:31:01 +0000

Check this note from Yahoo:

On September 8, in what the Department of Education is touting as a “historic” speech, President Obama will be talking directly to students across the U.S., live on the White House website. But some parents and conservatives are blasting the president, calling the speech an excuse to brainwash American children.

Last month, in an interview with 11-year-old student reporter Damon Weaver, the president announced his big back-to-school plan:

“I’m going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in.”

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to the nation’s principals, inviting schools to watch the speech and included suggested classroom activities. But Jim Greer, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, came out swinging against the planned speech. An excerpt from his statement:

“The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President’s agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President’s initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.”

NBC spoke with Katie Gordon, a spokeswoman for the Florida Republican Party, who said the party’s “beef” is with the accompanying lesson plans. The guide for pre-K through grade 6 suggests questions students think about during the speech, such as “What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do?”

The plan for grades 7-12 includes a “guided discussion,” with suggested topics: “What resonated with you from President Obama’s speech? What is President Obama inspiring you to do?”

The Cato Institute, a public-policy research foundation, issued a press release entitled “Hey Obama, Leave Those Kids Alone,” criticizing the “troubling buzzwords” in the lesson plans:

“It’s one thing for a president to encourage all kids to work hard and stay in school – that’s a reasonable use of the bully pulpit. It’s another thing entirely, however, to have the U.S. Department of Education send detailed instructions to public schools nationwide on how to glorify the president and the presidency, and push them to drive social change.”

Across the blogosphere, comments covered the spectrum, from critical to supportive, and from one student, a little anger:

“I sent my children to school to be educated NOT indoctrinated.” — justamom

“The fact that people want to keep their kids from hearing the President of the United States encourage them to do well in school shows a true level of ignorance.” — Firefey

“As an [sic] 9th grade student, I’d like to say that 1. I’m not sure why everyone is so scared that we’ll all be brainwashed by the President … 2. My school is one that is not allowing us to watch the speech, and quite frankly, I’m pissed.” — Willbw

Both Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan both gave speeches aimed specifically at students that were nationally televised. In 1989, Bush delivered a televised anti-drug speech, and Reagan’s 1986 commencement speech and Q&A session was “beamed over public television into 171 school districts,” according to the L.A. Times.

It’s worth noting that schools are, encouraged, not required, to air the speech. The Houston Chronicle reports that one Dallas school district is leaving the decision to individual teachers. Susan Dacus, spokeswoman for the Wylie school district, says parents who don’t want their children to see it can opt out.

In an ironic twist, one Missouri school won’t be airing the speech because of a lack of funding. Michelle Baumstark, spokeswoman for Columbia public schools, told the Columbia Daily Tribune, “We don’t have the funding or the equipment to support that type of broadcasting.”

The Exodus From Florida

glequericac — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:14:39 +0000

So it was true what I heard, people are moving from Florida because it has been difficult to be a middle class man and live with the high costs of living of the Sunshine State people are moving and many houses are being auctioned by the banks because people can’t pay the mortgage. It’s strange to think that leaders from the State (Charlie Christ you are one) don’t give more incentives to their citizens and companies to improve the life conditions because if you are living in a so called “paradise” or the second California you should have more monetary incentives to have a better living.

The region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach are one of the places that have experience a major exodus but why? At least in Miami-Dade everything is freaking expensive even the gas and the groceries (my brother says that is one of the most overrated cities just like New York) I can’t imagine why people like to stay there.

During 2008 and 2009 so far 27.000 residents from 18 million had left the State arguing the same “monetary reasons and high taxes during a difficult time”.

Viviendo la Vida, Aprendiendo a Valorar el Trabajo de los que son Anónimos

glequericac — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:42:42 +0000

En las últimas semanas he aprendido a valorar más diferentes aspectos de la vida, independencia y apreciar el trabajo duro de mis semejantes que en muchas ocasiones pasan ignorados por el tipo de trabajo que realizan. No me puedo poner a pensar en las diferencias sociales y en que uno puede llegar a puestos altos por el apellido y conociendo todo porque si uno va a llegar a ser Gerente uno tiene que haber primero barrido el piso para conocer las necesidades de la gente e ir conocido las necesidades de la compañía de manera gradual. Es imposible ser un hombre de gente teniendo una mentalidad cerrada pensando que cuando salgamos de la universidad nos ofrecerán los más altos puestos porque tenemos un apellido o estudiamos en una universidad de prestigio como Los Andes; hay que pensar de manera simple y sincera, porque hay que vivir primero para poder triunfar en el proceso, ya que sin haber vivido careceremos de la experiencia necesaria para poder triunfar.
A mis 25 años de existencia he aprendido algo importante o mejor dicho he reafirmado algo en que siempre he creído “hay que dejar el egocentrismo y no desprestigiar a nadie por su trabajo y por donde vive” de pronto en parte ese es un problema de nuestra mentalidad porque no apreciamos a nuestros semejantes y los estratos son solo una excusa mas para justificar positivamente las diferencias económicas y no ver que todos somos iguales.
Hay que aprender a valorar lo que tenemos; no por placeres vánales como el dinero, status social o nombre de familia hay que aprender a estimar lo que le podemos dar al mundo y las verdaderas cualidades que tenemos porque así estaremos más contentos con nosotros mismos y las buenas acciones que demos tarde o temprano se devuelven, solo se requiere un poco esfuerzo y ser educado para lograr el cambio.

wikiMENdia

glequericac — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:34:02 +0000

According to a survey taken from the users of Wikipedia it was shown that only the 13% of contributors are woman and 87% are men making the question if Wikipedia is an user friendly site for woman? Because it’s mostly a portal dominated by male users. Maybe the site is not friendly for female users because males acting in a sociological manner most of them will try to become dominant of their territory while a new user makes contributions even to point if they don’t care if they make mistakes.

Most of the contributors are in their 20’s so what possible valid and relevant knowledge they could have regarding scientific data and actuality? I don’t know because not many people from age can discuss politics really well before going into fanaticism or speaking about medical discoveries with property or being objective to the focus of the information; so do you make any contribution to Wikipedia?

Reflections from a 25 Year Old Soul (A Soliloquy With Emptiness)

glequericac — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:12:17 +0000

Reflections from a 25 Year Old Soul (A Soliloquy With Emptiness)

Quarter of a century, 25 years, two and a half decades, not bad isn’t? It’s been a path of trial and mistakes a path were learning has been a mode and independence came as a bomb because you can’t choose the moment you will become independent the moment will came to you. It’s amazing to think that a few years ago my biggest worry was… I don’t know what was my biggest worry a few years back but a few things I learned were to became more assertive and independent as the reason I realized was that only you will take care of yourself and no one more; other thing I learned was that I would never going to live through the expectations of anyone or live to the norms of a society that dictates what you need to wear because it is in or it is out; I like to dress the way I like and I like to be myself I don’t like to pretend and I’m happy just being me maybe that’s a little bit of my originality I am happy the way I am.

Looking in retrospective even if I hated so much the year 2008 due personal reason it was a year and a necessary step that I had to take to become more accretive on what I want to my future it was the year of my coming of age and it was the year that I felt it made me close to the fact that I’m an adult and not a child or teenager anymore (that doesn’t mean I’m going to act serious 24-7 I still have my goofy sense of humor) and I’m responsible for myself from now but also it was the year that made me realize of how many things that I was so accustomed to see were so wrong you can be someone in this life by your own merits, you can become someone not because of your family name or the money you have; you can become someone with hard work and determination… those who believe the opposite are so wrong a family name don’t open doors you do.

Respect is one key issue not only on a personal level but also in professional level as well, learning to respect your fellow men and woman is the key to become a better individual and to respect their jobs as well as the reason is there is no job less than other, everyone is important but it seems to be that many people don’t get this and they can act as disrespectful individuals toward others; from my experience and with my part time I have learned to value more the work of my fellow individuals more specially the ones that usually go ignored because I have lived in flesh and blood the difficulties and triumphs as well.

I could continue but I will be going to bed, I hope everyone have a great Tuesday. I know I been busy… and maybe someday hey I will be the next Pulitzer.

Colombian President With Swine Flu

glequericac — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:49:10 +0000

The second President in contemporary history and the second one this year to be infected with the A1H1 flu is not other than Alvaro Uribe Velez, the first one being Oscar Arias from Costa who was away from the power from 7 days before being put in remission after the doctors were convinced he was ok. Now the Colombian President is using videoconference technologies as well his blackberry to control the most important issues as well conversations in the Palacio De Nariño (It’s the equivalent to the White House).

According to the reports the President got infected during his visit to Argentina during the last week and in a press conference of El Palacio De Nariño, the Press Secretary Cesar Mauricio Velasquez gave the news to the country that the President was the newest victim of the highly contagious flu but that he was in good health and was following the doctor orders like any other patient. Get better Alvaro.