Comments

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  Lynn Rosen February 13, 2011 at 8:57pm

  Truly awesome images, Mr. Fletcher. I'm sure the real thing is much more intense.
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  Allan Lynch February 13, 2011 at 7:06pm

  This morning as I dusted (it has to be done sometime, and can be sorta Zen), I wondered if the sale of the Huffington Post won't have a negative effect on all the cyber start-ups who want writers to contribute for free (well, we'll get exposure and a chance to link our websites to theirs and maybe in a year or two or 10 they'll be able to pay...)?

   

  Perhaps now maybe some writers will rethink the value of working for free and helping someone build their website for a future sale. One can but hope.
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  Thomas R. Fletcher February 13, 2011 at 12:46pm

  Actually, that shot was on Vieques.  Here's a shot from Piñones, which features miles of beach, mostly deserted on weekdays.
  
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  Ed Wetschler February 13, 2011 at 4:11am

  Tom, on which part of the island did you take that photograph?
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  World Footprints Radio February 12, 2011 at 11:36pm

  I ditto the positive comments about P.R.  The island has so much to offer and is truly worth visiting over and over again.  I spent some time with a family member there and even considered applying for a position in the D.A.'s office following law school (and before founding World Footprints media).

   

  To each his own, but I don't understand why some are discouraging travel to this lovely island.

  World Footprints
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  Thomas R. Fletcher February 12, 2011 at 11:22pm

  Puerto Rico has some awesome beaches; world class beaches.  I lived there a total of seven years and love the island.
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  Allan Lynch February 12, 2011 at 11:18pm

  Max - Isn't 95% of the web advertorial? It sure as hell isn't journalism.

   

  I never considered eTurbo as a source of journalism. Most if it seems merely to be stuff lifted from other sources, like so many other sites. The clever aspect is building an audience to draw in advertisers and eventually find a buyer. Evenhandedness or 'fairness' is not something found in the bulk of blogs/websites. I look at eTurbo every day and wonder about the amount of coverage some destinations get, then move on. If they're not focused on a place you champion then that should leave a bigger marketing opportunity for those who do like the destination.

   

  As one of my wealthy friends always tells me he hates to see a stock he owns mentioned in the press. It's rarely good. When a company is written about it's a target for someone or about to be a target or is past being a target. He likes quite companies that make money and grow their balance sheets. If a destination isn't getting the coverage it should then there's an opportunity for a PR firm, the local destination people, freelancers and others.
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  Max Pesling February 12, 2011 at 11:09pm

  Good for you, Hal, I plan to go myself on my own dime. I love driving the interior of the island, it's perfectly beautiful. And no matter what they tell you, there are AWESOME beaches.
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  Max Pesling February 12, 2011 at 11:06pm

  NE News, I would go further, eTN is more than "not evenhanded journalism," it's not journalism AT ALL. I think most people don't realize that everything they write about has been paid for. It's not journalism, it's advertorial content masquerading as journalism. And it's full of the most egregious typos and bad English. All of which leads to the question: who's paying for their trashing Puerto Rico?? OK, maybe not the Seychelles, I was being facetious, but who? Or is it, as you suggest, a vendetta because PR Tourism didn't buy an ad?

   

  Whatever it is, I hope people will keep going to Puerto Rico. It's one of the most fascinating destinations in the Caribbean.
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  Hal Peat February 12, 2011 at 9:55pm

  @NE News & @Max - Re: Puerto Rico and the PRTC - after passing through San Juan many times over the past 8 years as a hub on my way to other island destinations in the region, I finally made a point of going there to visit last October.  My only regret?  That I hadn't done so years sooner - it is a fabulous place and a marvelous people.  Great visit, tons to write about from it.  Will be back again later this year.  PRTC and Edelman PR both excellent.  I'm also as much mystified by the writer's big issue with other journos going back who've already been.  I guess he never heard of either follow-up reporting, covering an event (San Sebastian Festival) or the simple fact that someone else found much more to explore in the same destination.  Anyway, I'll guess I'll be committing his Cardinal Sin of visiting twice and going back myself later this year:)