Listing Details
| ID: | 2066 |
| Title: | Gil The Jenius |
| URL: | http://gilthejenius.blogspot.com/ |
| Category: | Regional: West Indies |
| Description: | Written by a man who despises politicians and loathes seeing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico fail because of them. |
| We're #27...That's Great! - 2012-05-04 08:12:00 |
| You've probably never heard ofThe Founder Institute. Some of you may have, but I bet most of you haven't. Don't feel bad: I only learned about them last year. But since that day, I've been a fan. In a nutshell,The Founder Institute helps create "meaningful and enduring technology companies." It does so using a four-month "idea to execution" process that even allows entrepreneurs the capacity to launch their new venture while working a job. Their process is not for the wishy-washy toe-dipper: it requires a healthy dose of commitment and sweat. But the results are often fantastic. Given the paucity of entrepreneurial resources on My Island--a situation akin to finding monkeys in the Arctic--it is a true pleasure to learn thatThe Founder Institute is now launching its 27th chapter in Puerto Rico.For what can be considered the first time, We will have a world-class entrepreneurial resource helping Our high-energy start-up folks truly reach their potential. It's like the arrival of Major League Baseball to a sandlot park that looks more like a cattle yard. Okay, maybe Our entrepreneurial environment is not that bad, but it certainly ain'tanywherenear being average. Say a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. But as Jenius Friend Ramphis Castro--he of TedX San Juan fame--said, this is a game-changer. Now for those of you who want to participate in The Founder Institute development process,you have until May 13th to complete your submission.Yes, Mothers Day; deal. If you really believe you can create a new company that will change the world, or help others change it substantially, then I urge you to believe in yourself 100% andmake your way to the Founder websiteand toss your name into the ring. The Founder Institute's goal is to create 1,000 new tech companies a year in 30 cities worldwide. Only those of us who have slogged and slugged and struggled with what passes for an entrepreneurial "process" here can appreciate what this means: a chance to finally stand on the global stage as equal partners. We always had the talent to do so: now We have the toolkit to make it happen. Let's make it happen, over and over and over again. The Jenius Has Spoken.   |
| Yocasta Brugal: Still MenDacious, Still Screwing The SJBSOM - 2012-04-27 08:12:00 |
| Imagine you haven't been paid for a month, despite working in a chaotic, hectic, almost demeaning situation. Part of the scenario is that the "primary company" sold another part--at a loss--and part of the transaction entailed having ALL 300+ employees fired by the new owners. Many of the now-fired employees were owed back-pay dating back severalmonths. Now you're in the "primary company"--which is under investigation--and you're gettingveryfamiliar signals. Your pay? No, it isn't happening. Instead of a check, you get a memo. And the latest one says...well, Let's be more specific, shall We? Yocasta Brugal is the demonstrably-incompetent and proven liar """leading""" the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSOM).Here's a rundown of topics The Jenius has highlighted that place Brugal MenDacious and her lying liars squarely in the category of "Serial Useless Bullshitters": --This Is My Business Now...wherein the whole Brugal MenDacious and lying liar horde are thrust into The Jenius's sights, where theynevershould have been in the first place. --Yocasta Brugal: SJBullshitter?...wherein I suggest--clearly--that Brugal is an MD as in MenDacious. --Yocasta Brugal: Incompetence Recognized...wherein the MenDacious Moocher is defined as a useless lackwit and her "hidden" flaws are becoming apparent to The Jenius. --If True, Then Kick Yocasta Brugal& The Board Out NOW...wherein the cracks in Brugal's leprous leadership leatherface are defined--correctly--as oozing the pus of corruption. --Yocasta Brugal Should be Fired...wherein Bullshitter Brugal is revealed to be running (into the ground) the SJBSOM with a revenuethat is17.5 times less capablethan the averageprivate medical school. --22,848,733 Reasons To Fire Yocasta Brugal& The SJBullshitters...wherein the SJBSOM'svery suspiciouslack of federal research funds andvery suspiciousprofits are revealed as more aspects of the absolute incompetence and bullshitting that have become the hallmark of Brugal MenDacious and her lying liars. --Bitch-Slapping Yocasta Brugal, The SJBullshitters And The LCME...wherein The Jenius pinpoints--no,nails--the horrendous performance of Brugal MenDacious and her whole hyena horde to the wall and accurately spreads some of the blame to the Liaison Commission on Medical Education (LCME), who were hypocriticalat bestin striking down the SJBSOM's accreditation. --Memo to Yocasta Brugal: I Was Right...wherein I rub, smack, stomp, scrape and crush Brugal and the SJBullshitters with the fact thatI wasRIGHTabout them, their shady actions and negligence. --Yocasta Brugal: Fire Her Now...wherein even after the LCME was forced to reverse its decision and re-instate the SJBSOM's accreditation, I point out--with 100% accuracy--thatnothingwould improve until Brugal MenDacious and her lying liars were fired with prejudice...and by "fired" I didn't rule out actual flames. --Stiff Yocasta Brugal& Her Lying Liars...wherein I suggest the students avoid registering because the Hospital sale seemed...odd. Quite odd. --Yocasta Brugal Has Screwed 570 People...And Counting...wherein the Brugal Bullshit Bus of Thieves sells the Hospital the SJBSOM needs to provide what few clinical resources they have, not only screwing the 300 Hospital employees (fired),proving Me rightagain, but also the 270 students, many who lost interviews and positions in residence programs. Now back to the latest memo that "pretends"--in an openly dishonest and lying way--to "explain" why the employees of the SJBSOM are not getting paid. Again. According to a comment left in the Comments section of Yocasta Brugal Should be Fired, the reason employees didn't get paid this time was...the global economic situation. NOTBrugal's undoubted and irrefutable incompetence,NOTthe useless passivity and irrefutable cowardice of the SJBSOM Board of Directors (Long may they hang from the highest yardarm!),NOTthe total and irrefutable negligence of the SJBullshitters,NO, none of that: it'sthe world'sfault SJBSOM employees have to go home-again--unpaid. When the evidence is added up, it is beyondanyshadow of a doubt--any whatsoever--that Yocasta Brugal in her role as SJBSOM """leader"" is incompetent, negligent and a liar. Period. The phrase is well-worn by now, but it is unbelievably more relevant now than it was in October 2011:Fire Yocasta Brugal MenDacious. Fire her. The Jenius Has Spoken.   |
| Money Matters: Idea 001 - 2012-04-19 08:12:00 |
| I've read several ideas about changing society's relationship with money, from giving people lump sums (from gift to zero-interest loan, $10,000 to $10 million) to canceling debts (student loans, mortgages) to invading a big country with enormous resources (that one was aimed at you, Canada.) But Let's take the basic concept of fundamentally raising a society's economic average with barely one stroke and apply it to My Island. To frame the possible solution, We have to take into account that by global standards, My Brethren live in relative wealth, but by "Our standards," We are the poorest bananas in the bunch. The reason I write "Our standards" is that We seldom compare Ourselves to Ourselves (how much progress We make or don't make versus Our past performance); We compare Ourselves to the 50 States of the richest, most powerful nation in history (even if it is in decline, it was all that.) So "Our standards" are skewed from "Our Island" to "Their Global-Motor Economy," a comparison akin to saying "Our electric fan versus that hurricane." The fact is, We are not the U.S. of part of A., they treat Us like property, pillage profits from Us at a rate that would absolutely warm a pimp's heart and We are so wrapped up in Our desperate need to be taken care of that We fail to understand and thus act in Our own best interests. But I digress. What's My plan to insert money into Our economy and make that "one wave of the magic wand" change? Every adult in Puerto Rico is to receive $50,000 a year, non-taxable, for 10 years. Before the why, here's the how: At age 18, a person leaves fingerprints, retinal scans and a DNA sample and can begin receiving $50,000 a year at that time or any other time they choose. Shades of Big Brother, but it cuts down on fraud when you have that much ID evidence. The money is given in one annual sum, the month of your birthday. Once you start receiving it, you have to continue receiving it, for any stoppage (death or request) ends the sequence. You are free to use the money in any way you choose. At the same time this $50,000-a-year program begins, welfare--all welfare--is phased out over a 3-year period. No PAN, WIC, federal subsidies or any other social support, except unemployment, which is reduced every year by 10% until it is 40% of what it is now and then rises according to cost-of-living and capped at a maximum of 24 weeks. Health reform programs would continue and be expanded. No one--no one--is allowed to receive more than 10 years, nor is it allowed to change the length of the 10-year sequence nor the amount of money given yearly. This is ade facto$500,000-over-10-years and it will not change until the first decade is complete. Then the amount given increases by the lesser of 10% or the inflation rate as evidenced by "Cost of basic goods" prices (food, gasoline, clothing, basic health care, rent, etc.) If a person runs for elected office at any level, s/he cannot receive the $50,000 and renounces receiving it if still within their 10-year period. If still receiving the $50,000, any government employee, appointee or contractual hiring has his/her salary/fee capped at $50,000. Prisoners cannot apply for their money while they are in prison. Once out, they can receive their money, but if they return to prison, they lose their future monies. And only residents of Puerto Rico with at least 5 years of proven residence are eligible, or can become eligible, to receive the money. Now the whys: 1) Why $50,000? Because according to federal studies, a family of 3--notice the number--needs at least $44,700 to begin "climbing the economic ladder," rising from "lower class" to middle and upper. With $50,000, a local family could make that ascent, given that Our cost of basic goods is about 11% higher than Stateside. 2) Why 10 years? Because it focuses the person on doing something now with the money, or establishing it as a savings account to improve their future. Risk-takers could take their chances and the less risky can play it safe, but the money would be an incentive either way. If you want to start a business, great: you have a basic cashbox. Want to invest in mutual funds and use compound interest to become a millionaire? Great. Want to take your money and travel the world? Fine. Want to blow it all on drugs, gambling and drinking? Perfect. Hopefully you'll die before the decade is up. 3) Why non-taxable? Because it frees up use of the money for active investment or savings and forces the government to come up with ways to enhance the use of money in order to tax the increased revenue. Governments need taxes to function, but the incentive now is "tax whatever and spend whatever." With so much untaxable money, the incentive becomes "How to attract and support growth" rather than "How can We slice this pie to death?" 4) Why 5 years of residence prior to getting the money? Do you, Brethren, want to see an influx of millions of people just coming here to cash in on Our cash investment? Thought not. If you don't spend 5 years here, you can't say you have enough experience or concern for this Island to accept Our money and be trusted to use it wisely. Not that there;s any way to ensure it's used wisely, but why give it to Juanitos-come-lately who'll take it someplace else? 5) Why "No more if you say 'Stop'? The purpose of this money is to transform the economy now, not serve as some stop-gap measure when you get in trouble. That's called welfare and it doesn't work as a long-term economic solution. For another, becoming successful enough to not need the money becomes a badge of honor and a major pre-requisite for elected office, so We cut down on the "do-nothings" that use politics to line their pockets. And lastly, even a benefit should not be unilaterally imposed on anyone. Where is the money coming from? To give every adult in Puerto Rico $50,000 a year amounts to roughly over $116 billion a year. Round it up to $120 billion what with all the support systems. Heck, crank it up to $135 billion to cover future expenses. Who has that kind of money? Banks. With an interest rate of 2%, banks would be receiving $22-28 billion a year, and the principal can be repaid from...wait for it...taxes and fees collected in Puerto Rico. Not new taxes, but some new fees. The tax base stays the same (not very likely, but play along), but the revenue rises as there is more money spent, invested and created in and through the Island. And what new fees would We add? Let's add by subtraction, eliminating current incentives, which give away practically-free power and water to major companies. When the business world hears that a major--and I mean, MAJOR--consumerist society like Us is getting $50,000 per adult to spend as s/he wants, Our doors will be battered by frantic knocking. Will We generate enough tax revenue to cover roughly $130 billion a year?Why not?Think of what will happen with an injection of roughly $115 billion into Our economy in one year. That alone roughly triples Our Gross National Product (GNP), which means a major change in the Island's socioeconomic profile.Can you imagine the buying spree unleashed as most of Us turn this money into empty wish fulfillment? I daresay every major retailer in Puerto Rico would quickly adopt a 24-hour schedule and roughly double its employment base. Not to mention Disney World would see profits rise 20-25%. Note I mentioned a buying spree. Corporations here are woefully under-taxed now and get free rides on other expenses to boot, so under the new system, with a greater number of purchases, more tax money would come into government coffers. Not to mention that personal income, even without counting the $50,000, would rise as the average income increases from the lack of welfare "stay-at-home" incentives and business expansion. And the current federal transfers could be eliminated in exchange for a more liberal trade policy, allowing Puerto Rico a better chance to expand its market reach and economic potential, instead of crawling along its belly as it does now. WiIl this plan work? Why not? And if you disagree, what's yours? The Jenius Has Spoken. [Update: 26 April 2012: Happy Birthday, Zoila!From the good people at LearnVest comes this little tidbit:the new "price" of happiness is a $50,000 salary. I claim no psychic powers.]   |