Author: Edward Ortiz

Afro-Puerto Ricans

This month is Black History Month, so I've decided to write a post briefly describing the history of African-Americans in Puerto Rico, or Afro-Puerto Ricans—a term I'll be using from this point forward. I'm also going to mention some of the most notable Afro-Puerto Ricans. The first free African man to arrive in Puerto Rico … Continue reading Afro-Puerto Ricans →

Gender-Based Violence – A Terrible Disease (Updated)

On November 29, I wrote a post about Gender-Based Violence, drawing inspiration from Fiona Hill's book, "There is Nothing for You Here”. Today, I provide an update as I closely monitor developments in Puerto Rico. As I emphasized last year, Gender-based Violence remains a significant problem in Puerto Rico and across the globe. Violence against … Continue reading Gender-Based Violence – A Terrible Disease (Updated) →

To Jelly

On January 26th, I shared the first poem from a book gifted to me by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda, titled "Poema del Amor Joven". Today, I'm delighted to present the second poem, titled “A Jelly”. Pedro composed this poem in 1946, dedicating it to his eternal love, Ángela (Jelly) Vidal González. All the poems … Continue reading To Jelly →

Rockin’ Thursday III

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in 1979 that is still active. The band has many awesome songs, such as "Carrie" and "Rock the Night," but my favorite is "The Final Countdown," released in 1986. I hope you enjoy the song and watch the excellent guitar solo towards the end. Have a great Rockin’ … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday III →

Love is a Verb

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day to pause and reflect on your loved ones. Make it a point to foster optimistic thoughts and uplifting feelings throughout the day. Stephen Covey said the following about love in his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, "When we make deposits of unconditional love, when we live … Continue reading Love is a Verb →

Embracing Diversity in Today’s World

Diversity in the United States is a controversial topic for reasons beyond comprehension and, I would say, too complicated to fully address in a single post. It gets tangled up in political divisions and current debates about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, fueling discussions in government and higher education institutions in the United States. … Continue reading Embracing Diversity in Today’s World →

Gratefulness Tolerance

Every morning, I sit in the same spot to savor my cup of coffee. I like this spot because it offers a nice view of nearby farms, allowing me to appreciate the rolling hills and the beautiful sunrise while enjoying my hot cup of black Puerto Rican coffee. The tranquility of my quiet neighborhood is … Continue reading Gratefulness Tolerance →

Rockin’ Thursday II

Well, I think I’m going to continue what I started last week, and I’m going to try to post a music video every Thursday to mix things up. Today’s post is dedicated to my wife; she loves Pat Benatar. Enjoy and Happy Rockin’ Thursday. https://youtu.be/vppgaVcnfS0?si=UdMVJSRHZx6WoEKM Pat Benatar, “Heartbreaker"

Are You Listening?

In this fast-paced world, where everyone is constantly on the move, we have become accustomed to functioning in a 24/7 environment. The demand for speed is pervasive—we desire everything instantly. Meaningful conversations have become a rarity as many now prefer communicating through text messages. Face-to-face interactions, when unavoidable, are often dominated by small talk. I … Continue reading Are You Listening? →

Rockin’ Thursday

Sheila Murrey from the "Integrating the Spirals" blog got me all pumped up with her post today, "February 1st – What’s bubbling up today" and her "My super-duper all-time favorite songs playlist! So, I want to share one of my favorite songs. Heart - “Barracuda” (1977) https://youtu.be/PeMvMNpvB5M?feature=shared Happy Thursday!