April 28, 2005
Cuba Nostalgia Update III
Well folks, the Cuba Nostalgia convention is getting ever so close now with only about 21 days until it officially begins. I thought Id give you guys an update on what's been happening.
First and foremost, I managed to get enough in donations to purchase two laptops, received one donated laptop and have borrowed another two. I had been offered the loan of another 4 laptops but that seems to have fallen through. I originally wanted at least 8 computers but at this stage in the game it looks like Ill have to make do with 5. The reason for wanting to use only laptops is simple: Im not sure about the security of the place and putting together a bunch of standard pc's every moring and then taking them apart every night at 11 pm after having been convention blogging is just too much work.
The DSL line is in already, having had Bellsouth connect to their distribution panel and tag the line yesterday. Now all I need is the convention center's electrical and communications contractor has to run the line to my exhibit space.
Speaking of the exhibit space, I just learned on Tuesday exactly where Ill be located. I have been given a 30'x30' space, right by the entrance to the second building in a corner which for me is perfect as I was concerned of having traffic coming in and out from all sides. Here's a quick sketch of the plan for the exhibit space as well as a typical elevation of the frame my father is making out of, of course, steel. It's a basic frame, no frills, made out of 1" tube steel. Each L-shaped column will have four canvas banners with a Babalu Blog post graphically depicted almost exactly as you see them on your browser.
I have a local audio/visual company donating a large projection screen where I will be running a couple of Powerpoint presentations and showing numerous Cuba related videos.
T-shirts are in the works including one with the Babalu header which I hope to have set up to be able to sell here next week to help offset the costs of the convention. I'm also hoping to have a couple of anti-commie t-shirts including the "Che? Still dead!" tshirt that Plains Feeder designed a few months back. We are working on some bumper stickers and some tote bags and will hopefully be able to get some of those printed up if the economics permit.
Jim of Smoke on the Water contacted his friend and owner of Cuban Crafters Cigars (Gracias Jim!!) and not only will they be offering up a cash donation, but will provide us with some excellent cigars to enjoy and hand out during the event.
We have also purchased a couple of webcams so that we'll be able to bring you the event live, through cyber blogdom.
This still a bunch of stuff to coordinate, including the purchase of a new router and modem and procuring the 5' diameter table I want to have as the central blogging area as well as chairs and other necessities.
It's been alot of work and I could not have done it without the support and donations from those of you that have sent in what you could. You guys really rock. A big thanks goes out to George of the Universal Spectator for all of his leg work, Robert of 26th Parallel for his help and support, reader CB for his tireLESS efforts with the artwork for the banners, Agustin Blasquez for his documentaries, the Real Cuba for help with photos, graphics and more; reader KillCastro and Mar for their help with that unprecented and highly secret project, and a special thanks to you guys that come here everyday and see me butcher the English language.
Posted by Val Prieto at April 28, 2005 08:08 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.babalublog.com/cgi-bin/mt/hut.cgi/1607
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Cuba Nostalgia Update III:
» Beer, Chicken, Stogies, Hypocrisy from HOG ON ICE
This Blog Has it ALL I just wrote up my doro wat/injera recipe. And I realized that I have 24... [Read More]
Tracked on April 28, 2005 02:27 PM
» Convention Reminder from HOG ON ICE
Go Look Don't forget to go over to Babalublog and read about the Cuba Nostalgia Convention. We will check to... [Read More]
Tracked on April 29, 2005 10:13 AM
Comments
Thanks to you Val for giving us this outlet, for your incredible efforts and for sharing with us your place in the history of media.... and for the most important thing, the daily slap that we deliver straight down onto cagastro's face!
Posted by: CB at April 28, 2005 09:15 AM
What CB said!
Next Wednesday night is my last day of class, so after that, I'm at your beck and call.
Posted by: Amanda at April 28, 2005 09:21 AM
I so wish I could be there! What neat work you've done, Val! And so exciting! I have to be godmother for my adorable little niece that weekend in Illinois but me and my little sister (with the adorable niece) will be checking in via computer from there. And we'll get the tee shirts!
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at April 28, 2005 11:30 AM
Ditto what CB said. It's going to be great.
Posted by: Kathleen at April 28, 2005 11:46 AM
Oye, Ya tu sabes! I'll be there on the first day to support Babalu Blog. Can't wait to see all of you guys in person. Vaya, this is gonna be great! I hope this CN convention will go down in history as the one right before Cagastro's fall. I predict it to be this year, either late december or early next year in January.
Posted by: Felix Ricardo at April 28, 2005 02:12 PM
WILL BE THERE!! NEVER BEEN TO CN...VAL,SO GLAD I FOUND YOU AND YOUR BLOG~ THANKS VAL FOR YOUR HELP WHEN I NEEDED "REAL CUBAN SUPPORT" WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS...YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!
CARMEN
Posted by: CARMEN at April 29, 2005 12:01 AM
CHE LIVES!
...even after they shot him, chopped off his hands and buried him. Dear me, the bedraggled proletarian murderer has probably been frantically thumping the coffin lid with his bloody stumps for the past four decades, living on a diet of worms and mud. Well you know what they say, you can't keep a good man down!
Enough of this. Buy a T-Shirt.
Posted by: lmbrjk at April 29, 2005 07:10 AM
I am trying to see if i can "move my moving day" (try to say that 5 times fast)so I can go to Miami for this event. I will keep you posted. We can celebrate my quarter-of-a-century birthday while we blog.
Posted by: Maura at April 29, 2005 08:43 PM
