Today's lunch specials at ManCamp™

Lunch Specials:

- Smoked Sea Scallops wrapped in bacon
- Smoked Jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon
- Argentinian Angus Churrasco steaks on the grille
- Argentinian saugage on the grille

Served with rice and beans and plantains

Home made stout beer ala Little Tiny Lies

Home made secret recipe brownies flan.

Lunch served til 4pm, rain or shine.

America Rife with OTS™

A family member sent this link to me stating "Vote." I thought it was for the election coming up but was surprised to find that it's a survey at MSNBC.

It asks if we want the Cuba Travel Restrictions lifted. You all know how I feel about this, but do go ahead and vote your conscience.

Zomby's gettin' old

One of my favorite bloggers turns one year old today. If you have never been to ResurrectionSong before, you have missed a hell of alot. Drop by and say felicidades.

zomby, Geritol care package is on the way!

Baylor offers curriculum on OTS™

Baylor University is proud to offer degrees in Omnipotent Tourist Syndrome with a fact filled curriculum called Studies in Contemporary Cuba. It's a six credit course where students will "Learn why visiting Cuba is legal through this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore one of the few remaining Communist countries in the world."

For 2 weeks you will tour the largest island in the Caribbean and gain insights from experts as they speak about many of the contemporary challenges Cuba faces.

Insights from "experts." Indeed.

It's a real bargain at $1959 per student for a two week stay where you will travel to a variety of Cuban cities and towns, and will visit museums, historic monuments, cigar factories, Indian caves, beautiful beaches, social institutions, and much more.

Sounds like a great deal of fun, let's do it. Fuck the Cuban people.

Raul Rivero

Imprisoned Cuban journalist and poet Raul Rivero is awarded the World Press Freedom Prize of 2004.

“The Prize is a tribute to Raúl Rivero’s brave and longstanding commitment to independent reporting, the hallmark of professional journalism,” Mr Matsuura said upon endorsing the recommendation to award the prize to Mr Rivero. “Over the years, Mr Rivero has paid dearly for that commitment and the Prize celebrates the continuing struggle of media professionals for freedom of expression, an indispensable component of democracy,”

Of course, Mr. Rivero was unable to claim his prize from his cell in the Prisión de Canaleta in Cuba.

Meanwhile, world media is in a frenzy over Rosie O'donnell getting hitched, Stern getting the boot and the repercussions over Janet's boob.

Churchill's Grave Hums

What better way to commemorate the life of fighting fascism and communism of one of the 20th century's staunchest anti-communist leader than to smoke a Cuban stoagie at a gala dinner in Havana.

Jenny Churchill, great-granddaughter of the late British prime minister, smoked a cigar herself Wednesday night during a dinner in his honor.

Poor Winston, his life's work pissed on by his own great-granddaughter.

Gone fishin'

The Bush administration took another step in tightening restrictions agaisnt travelling to the island yesterday. The President granted the federal government powers to stop any sea going vessel going to Cuba.

Scores, perhaps even hundreds, of yachts sail to Cuba from the United States without permission each year, most of them docking at the Marina Hemingway in western Havana. Most days, a few American-based yachts can be seen docked at the marina, though not a single vessel flying a U.S. flag was spotted late Thursday afternoon.

From now on these seafarers will face reprisals for travelling to the island.

The marina "is basically designed for U.S. pleasure craft. Most of them go for sexual tourism and a little bit of fishing on the side," Garcia (of the Cuban American National Foundation) said, adding that he welcomed Bush's decision.

While sceptics say this move is intended to harness the strong Cuban-American vote in Florida, the less US dollars that make it to Cuba the better.

February 26, 1993

With all the debate going on about other less vital issues, it is easy to forget that today marked the beginning of our country's insecurities with terrorists. Michele remembers and has the names of the first six victims of this war we are now fighting.

We must never forget this day, or any other day American lives were lost to terrorism.

Excellent links and content

I just found a blog from Italy while checking my referer logs that has the absolute best collection of links to just about every an anything havingto do with human rights issues. Pay FreeThoughts a visit and when you get through reading the excellent blog entries, scroll down the side bar links. You'll find more than bloggers there, including human rights organizations for numerous countries and links to websites for prisoners of conscience throughout the world.

FYI - Che Guevara was a MURDERER

Jim from Smoke on the Water emailed me this link to an article on El Che, the left's poster boy. It's been said time and time again here in this blog, those that adore the Bolivian revolutionary simply choose to be blind as to the true nature of the man. He was a murderer and coward, sending several thousand to el Paredon (the wall) to be executed for la revolucion.

While Che's writings may seem utopian to some in their ideal, the truth is the man was nothing more than a murderous false prophet with a pretty face.

Mea culpa, mea culpa

The Watcher of Weasels comments on the UN's Human Rights Commision's envoy to Cuba, Christine Chanet. Ms. Chanet makes it a point to blame the round-up and encarceration of dissidents last year by stating:

U.S. laws and the financial support given to 'the building of democracy in Cuba' make political opponents on the island look like sympathizers with foreigners,"

Obviously, it's all the U.S.'s fault. Then she goes on to say that the US trade embargo has had "disastrous" economic, social and political consequences.

Doesnt it stand to reason then, guided by these two statements, that if the US lifted it's embargo, then it would give Castro free rein to encarcerate everyone that dealt with the US under the pretext of being "sympathizers?"

Of course not, because lifting the embargo would only allow the foreign companies to deal with the Castro Regime. The Cuban people would still be screwed.

WINNEBAGOS

Get your hands on this weeks Carnival of the Vanities hosted by our very own Joanie. Its the Diamond Edition this week and Joanie has quite an ..um..interesting theme. So get over there and grab 'em, squeeze 'em, stuff your face in them and fondle the hell outta them. You wont be disappointed.

I've been Blogopolized!

Aaron came up with a great Blogopoly piece for Babalu Blog. Im in some excellent company too. Now, if only that image were real....

Thanks Aaron!

Hispanic, Latino..Whatever

James Joyner has an essay by Sam Huntington on the hispanic immigration "challenge" over at Outside the Beltway. It's quite lengthy, but worth a read.

Another Cuban Blog

I occasionally Google "Cuba Blog" to see if there are any other Cuban bloggers out there in blogdom. Today I found this gem written by Teresa Bevin, a Cuban-American Novelist and Educator. It's a fairly new blog, but if the coming entries are anything like the Camaguey article linked above, we are in for some fine reading.

Gracias Teresa.

Kika

Tomorrow my family will bury another elder member. One of my great aunts passed away yesterday. She was one of my grandfather’s sisters, the last one left of the 16 siblings. Some of my great aunts and uncles passed away before I was born, in Cuba. The rest have lived full lives here in the States. From California to New York to Florida. They went wherever their immediate families took root.

Tia Kika was a quirky one. If she ever got you on the phone you would be there for quite a while chatting with her. She, like my grandfather and most of his siblings, was a strong willed, opinionated woman. Old school Cubana. Sometimes she would make her stand in a conversation contrary to what every one else thought just to be different, to get under your skin.

I’m told my aunt Kika was delusional during the last days of her life. She had been having non-stop conversations with long gone family members. In her mind she was with my grandfather and other brothers and sisters, with my mom and her sisters in their youth. She talked about pets she had when she was a child, old boyfriends, her family’s home in Oriente, and Mamacita y Papacito, her parents. She had long talks with my tia Amanda, who’s eyes you see at the top of this blog, about how beautiful she was and how she was going to be successful.

I think what gets to me the most is that it’s not only the fact that she was, in her mind, with her deceased family members in the waning hours and days of her life. No. She was in her Cuba. She was wearing home made dresses and strolling through El Parque Central in Bayamo. She rode in horse drawn carriages and knew every neighbor. She was in the land that defined her. Living in a culture that she not only loved, but that she had had to leave behind. This country, as proud of it and as thankful of it as she was for it’s hospitality, was always a temporary home for her. Her real home was Cuba, and while her remains will be forever here in exile, she is now home. Back to her island after a long, arduous journey of what is and what could have been.

Descansa en paz, Tia Kika.

There's a knock at the door...

..you put down your "I just got home from work" cocktail and get up to aswer it.

You open the front door of your home and find Hillary Clinton standing there with a wide smile and a handful or reporters trailing her. She asks for the lady of the house as she's here to make sure that all women vote in the upcoming election. It could happen you know, believe me.

Of course, the lady of my house would give her a good verbal ass kicking and I would just sit back and enjoy it. Actually, I wish Hillary really would come to our door. Seriously. Hillary wouldn't stand a chance.

I know there's a fellow Miami blogger that would love it too. Man, I would pay big bucks to see that exchange too.

UPDATE: If she shows up here, I’ll kick her in the nuts.

The old man.

My dad turned 73 last week and he just had to make sure that everyone knew he was still strong as an ox. Literally.

Fidel, dig your trench now.

"If the war on terror is going to be won, it must be won in this hemisphere first, and if it is going to be won in this hemisphere, then Castro must go. As long as George W. Bush is in the White House and I am the Majority Leader in the House, the United States will never lift the embargo while Castro remains in power."

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas)

Some will say these are only words, rhetoric for the upcoming election. And that may be so. But they've been spoken, put out there quite succinctly. Even though it may be a fishing for votes, you have to believe the bearded bastard has heard them, and somewhere, deep down in that dellusional mind of his, they gnaw and sting, even if only a little.

"Humanity has known it by many names -- Nazism, fascism, Communism, terrorism. But it is one and the same evil, inhuman ideology -- no matter what language it speaks, or what uniform it wears,"

Read the article here.

I love firsts.

Brandon came over for a visit yesterday and, being the spoiling uncle that I am, I gave him his very first popsicle. He absolutely loved it!

Of course, I will have to bust out the Bissell deep cleaner as there are pretty much popsicle droppings everywhere.

My favorite piture is this one. All he needs there to be like his cool uncle is the remote.

Da Chief is BACK!

Chief Wiggles just returend from serving, in more ways than one, in Iraq. Drop on by and welcome him back to the place he helped keep free.

De los buenos quedamos pocos.

It's hard to translate the title. It means something like "there's very few of us good ones left." It's a common saying in Cuban culture, and I was reminded of it by this article from Channel 19 News in Alabama about the passing of a Cuban-American that came to the US 30 years ago with a nickel in his pocket.

His story is not unique, there are countless Cuban-Americans who have lived the same life.

WaPo on Cuban Dissidents

"I would like to make an appeal to the world's conscience. It seems like there is a lot of indifference about the reality of human rights in Cuba."

Oswaldo Paya, former political prisoner and Nobel prize nominee on the 75 reporters and librarians encarcerated on the island.

Read the article.

Visas and White Jumpsuits

Here's an excellent article on a Consular Officer with the U.S. State Department stationed in Cuba. Although the U.S. does not have an embassy in Cuba, representatives from the government must be stationed there for two purposes: to issue visas for Cubans to travel to the U.S. and to repatriate those Cubans caught at sea while fleeing the island.

"It's all so sad. Part of you wants to cheer these guys on for having the courage to risk their life to leave this place, but at the same time, as a consular officer, my job is to make sure that our borders are protected and that people don't sneak into the country illegally.

"There was one guy who has been returned three times now, and I know he's just going to keep on trying time and time again until one day he actually makes it, or he dies trying ... so sad."

Read the whole thing.

The wordlessness of the chase....

One of my best friend's Irish Wolfhound having fun up in Canada.

Backcountry Round-up

Jeff's got a great round-up of news and editorials over at his neck of the woods. Drop on by and check out what's going on around the world.

The Color Purple Stupid

Alice Walker. Writer, poet, myopic hypocrite.

Remember

Because sometimes our memories fade.

Thanks to Rothy at Brazos De Dios Cantina for the link.

And if you think the attacks of September 11th are a thing of the past, think again.

Let's take them all out back...

...and beat the tar out of them. The whole lot of them. Every single one.

I'm refering to an entry by David over at Sketches of Strain where he takes conservatives to task because he says some are either above the law or corrupt.

Well, he's right, some are above the law and corrupt. But, for every conservative he points to, I can point to a liberal thats the same.

So my point is, whats your point David?

UPDATE: See what I mean?

Sen. John F. Kerry sent 28 letters in behalf of a San Diego defense contractor who pleaded guilty last week to illegally funneling campaign contributions to the Massachusetts senator and four other congressmen.

Asked what he did to repay the money, Kerry's campaign said Wednesday he had donated $13,000 to charity on Feb. 9 — which was two days before Majumder's guilty plea.

Dollars and Cuba

In this story from the Miami Herald we learn of the frustration and desperation from Cubans here in the States worried that the Bush Administration will make good on it's promise to clamp down on remittances sent to the island. As I have stated before, Cubans send cash to the island to the tune of $1 billion a year. It is second only to tourism in Cuba.

I feel for those Cubans living here who have family back on the island. Our culture instills in us a great love and respect for our families. For us, family is always first.

However, the longer we allow for money to be sent to the island, the longer Castro and his henchmen maintain control. Dollars are used to buy staples mostly, beans, rice, soap, etc.. but the problem isnt in what is bought, but where it's bought. There are no supermarket chains in Cuba vying for customers with sales and advertising. All dollar stores in Cuba are owned and/or operated by the government. Thus, every single dollar sent to Cuba to help families not starve goes to the Regime.

Castro has enough supplies to stock the dollar stores, yet there is never enough of anything in the places where Cubans without dollars can "shop." Cubans that send money every month choose not to see this or ignore it. As long as their family can eat.

Most of these recently arrived Cubans think we older exiles, those of us who arrived at the beginning of Castro's revolution, are out of touch with whats going on in the island. We are called hard liners and mafiosos. Are constantly hearing statements like this:

"The older Cubans, they don't feel the pain we do."

If we dont show the pain it's because we have grown a thick skin. It's because while some were basking in the glory of the revolution on the island, others left everything they had, homes, families, lives to come here and live in freedom. The "older Cubans" have fought tooth and nail for everything, not just for prosperity, but to help bring those left behind. They opened the doors and fought to keep them open.

So, call us mafiosos if you will. Follow the dogma of Castro's rhetoric. We know pain, we know loss, we know hardship. And we aren't going to fund it anymore.

Uno if By Land, Dos if by Sea

After one of Castro's 5 hour long speeches, where he iterated that he would "die with a gun in hand" Cuba seems to be on full alert.

The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution are preparing for war just in case the US imperialists decide to invade the island.

HAVANA, February 17 (Anna Rosa Veitia, UPECI / www.cubanet.org) - After Cuban leader Fidel Castro called a U. S. invasion of the island a "sure thing" in his last speech, the neighborhood watch Committees for the Defense of the Revolution together with Civil Defense authorities have been preparing a plan they are calling "update in time of war" which they expect to deliver to provincial authorities Saturday February 21.

The measures taken in preparation for an attack include a reserve of food: rice, beans, sugar, salt, milk, and baby food, which must be rotated every six months.

I wonder how many Cubans are "preparing" for war by getting those extra rooms ready to rent them out to the invasion force.

To the Gallows

I almost missed my Daily Prescott fix with all of my blog troubles the past couple of days, but Patrick sure found a classic example of sheer and complete head up the ass.

How do people like Galloway make it to certain high level positions with shit for brains? I mean, seriously, is there one, ONE, human being alive that can truly and unabashedly say Fidel Castro is not a dictator?

The Blogfather

My site went down night before last. I panicked. I checked and rechecked and rerechecked the MT templates and indexes but, to be honset, had no friggin idea what the hell I was looking at. After hours of nearly pulling hairs I realized that I had to put out a desperation call to my BlogFather. So, I emailed Dean and explained what had happened. Archives are gone, posts dont show up...blog is broken Dean! Broken! What did I do???

Dean emails me backed saying that my disk space was probably maxed out and thats why Babalu Blog was FUBAR.

FUBAR??? Shit Dean, what am I going to do now?

So I contacted my host and upgraded my plan. Next thing I know, I get an email from Dean saying he's working on it. Ten minutes later he calls and says "Your're back up man."

Music to my ears!!!!!!

Dean, thanks sooo much for your help and selflesness man. You truly are an excellent friend.

Oh, and BTW, you should be Park Place and Boardwalk, with a couple hotels to boot.

Gone to the dogs

Omnipotent Tourists are shown sitting at la Plaza de La Catedral in Havana without a care in the world while vacationing. The dogs you see in the photo are the only Cubans allowed to mingle with the foreigners at this tourist area.

Screwy MT

Am I the only one who's MT has taken up a life of it's own? Everytime someone posts a comment or I post an entry, something in my MT changes. I hve just lost the recent comments box. Any ideas anyone?

Any girls need a date for Valentine's?

I got just the guy for you.

Valentine on Valentine's

OK, so I know there's quite a few folks around that absolutely don't like Valentine's Day. It's a commercially contrived holiday to sell cards! It was invented by the chocolate and flowers industries! It's soooo sappy! BLEGHH!

Well, I for one have always loved Valentine's Day because, as may be quite obviuos, my name is Valentine. Heh. Talk about your ice-breakers with all the love lorn ladies on this special day.

But, Valentine's Day, the way I see it, isn't a day to smooch and cuddle and get all sucky faced with your significant other. Valentine's Day is more of a day of repentance. A day to perchance get out of your lover's purgatory.

Valentine's Day should be called something like "Clean Slate Day" or "Doghouse Deliverance Day" or "Here's Some Flowers So I can Still Leave the Toilet Seat Up Day."

We men scurry about the few days before Valentine's Day seeking some sacrificial token for our significant other so that we may be forgiven our sins of the year since the last February 14th. Sure, we may love our wives or girlfriends and all, but seriously, why the hell else would we go out of our way to look for a card or spend money on flowers or buy sweets if we didnt want to be redeemed?

All we really want to say to our women by buying them all those sappy gifts is "I'm sorry Honey. For being the self-centered, egocentric, selfish, thoughtless, grumpy, mess of a human being that I am."

With this in mind, I offer this Valentine's Day gift to my wife:

Babe, I'm sorry for being such a damn grouch in the mornings. Im sorry for being in such a hurry at the time that I forget the fact that you wake up a 6 AM to make my coffee and pack my lunch even though you dont work until 11 AM.

Honey, I'm sorry that I always leave a mess in the bathroom and that the damn toilet seat always seems to be in the upright position when you go to use the restroom.

Deary, I'm sorry that I leave my shoes strewn about the house all the time. And my clothes, Im sorry for always forgetting to put them in the hamper. I'm sorry too, for not know what a clothes hanger is for.

Sugarplum, please forgive the way I leave the kitchen when Im "cooking" and especially for your dish pan hands. I assure you, I dont do it on purpose.

Snookums, I really do feel bad about all the times I track mud and dirt into the house you've spent all weekend cleaning. It's just that I forget what the mats at the doors are there for.

Sweetie, you know all those times when you're speaking to me and I'm always nodding in agreement? Well, I'm not. It's not that I dont agree with you, it's that Im watching TV and Im not listening. I really do want to know what you're saying, it's just that the TV show's are usually sooo good.

My flower, please forgive my adolescent behavior during football season when my friends come over to watch the games. I dont really know how we always end up making such a mess and why there are so many beer bottles left all over the place afterwards. Also, please forgive my adolescent behaior during baseball, basketball, hockey, NASCAR, fishing, golf, tennis and curling seasons too.

Babycakes, please forgive me for not treating you to nights out on the town more often. I know you love going out to dinner and meeting friends for drinks, but, it's just that I dont like you to be so tired the next day when you wake up to make me breakfast and coffee.

Finally, Hun, please forgive me for forgetting your birthday, our anniversary, your mom and dads birthday, their anniversary, the day we met, the day I proposed and every other date that's meaningful. It is just so difficult to remember them all when Im planning fishing trips with my friends.

I promise, Babe, Honey, Deary, Sugarplum, Snookums, Sweetie, Babycakes, I promise that from this Valentine's day on, I will absolutely to my absolute best to ensure that I absolutely dont act like the absolute thoughtless human being that I absolutely am.

I WUV U.

Your Valentine

P.S. What time is dinner tonight?

12 Volt Healthcare

Do you know why Cubans hate to get sick at night?

Because it's hard to get diagnosed properly in the dark.

HAVANA, February 11 (Cubanet) - In the town of Candelaria, Pinar del
Río province, the polyclinic and the Panamericana dollar store stand less than a hundred feet from each other. By day.

Next door, La Panamericana hummed.

Ahh, the wonders of free, socialized healthcare.

Got a couple Million lying around?

I've got just the place for you to spend it. This weekend is Miami International Boat Show weekend, the world's largest exhibition of watercraft. They have everything there from aluminum jonboats to $20 million yachts. Over 1,500 companies parading their nautical wares and latest innovations in boating.

For the boating enthusiast - that's you Jim - it's nautical heaven.

Also happening down here this weekend is the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, one of the nation's premiere arts festivals with hundreds of art exhibits, crafts, food, music and beautiful South Florida weather.

What a weekend huh?

Or, if the couple Million is still burning a hole in your pocket, you can go here.

To Bass, or not to Bass

At the suggestion of homebru, commenting on my Brain Freeze post, I am gonna do a little fishing this afternoon when I get home. I need a break from reality. I can fish after work because a) I live in Miami, and b) I have a great fishing spot in my own backyard. It's called ManCamp™.

I have blogged about ManCamp™ before and Steve of Little Tiny Lies has been there and mentioned it a few times. The following is a list of ManCamps™ many ammenities:

- a wide, fish strewn canal
- a gas grille
- a large charcoal grille/smoker
- an upright smaller smoker
- a small Weber charcoal grille
- a Hibachi grill
- a deep fryer
- a television with satelite TV
- a small refrigerator
- a dartboard
- a 50 gallon fish tank
- a set of table and chairs
- 2 teak lounge chairs with cushions
- 4 light tackle fishing rods
- 4 tackle boxes full of tackle
- an outdoor fireplace
- and excellent neighbor with a boat and 2 jet-skis and his own boat ramp
- and a newly added still under design tarp in case it rains

To look at the photos, it doesn't looke like all that much, but it is one hell of a place to sit back and relax. The true beauty of ManCamp™ is that everything in it has been absolutely free. The "entertainment" center with the TV and fridge was made from leftover 2x4s, roofing felts and old fence planks. The wood counters are made from throw-away wood used for loading pallets. The barbeques have all been rescued by me and spruced up with a little imagination and TLC.

The fishing at ManCamp™ is pretty darn good. This is a 7+lb Largemouth Bass I caught back when ManCamp™ was in it's infancy. That particular fish was caught with a live bait we call shiners. Theyre like little freshwater minnows we get here at the tackle store for about $3 a dozen.

I've also caught quite a few Peacock Bass at ManCamp™. They are the preferred fish as they strike strong, pull stronger and put up a pretty good fight for a freshwater fish. The largest one caught at ManCamp™ was 22 inches by my buddy Tommy. That fish jumped out of the water at least 5 times while he was reeling her in. I've also caught a small snook, a few carps and a nasty catfish. Of course, all fish caught ManCamp™ are released.

ManCamp™ has had quite a few visitors, among them, a couple of gators, a family of big iguanas, a momma manatee and her calf and so many different species of birds they are hard to count.

So this afternoon, if your are dreading going outside because there snow and sleet and it's generally freaken cold out, think of me, at ManCamp™, with a rod and reel in one hand, and an ice cold brewskie in the other.

Hell, I might even drop the old 14ft Gamefisher jonboat and take a little afternoon trip.

UPDATE: Steve's posted his take on ManCamp™. Finally. And no Steve, the Mazoombas dont have your URL.

On Janet's Boob

Enough...um...said.

Brain Freeze

I cant keep a coherent thought this morning. I sit here with my MT edit page open to new entry and I think, OK, I'll post something about...*poof*....idea gone. It must be some kind of information overload. Obviously blogging will be light as otherwise it would be just a collection of random, nonsensical rantings.

Evidence of a cluttered mind. I need a brain flush.

Cuba and Abortion

Six out of ten preganacies in Cuba are aborted. As confirmed by the Cuban Government's own numbers. Not only that, but abortions are paid for by the state, encouraged even.

Now, take this quote from the Multiple Sclerosis organization:

Cuba is another secular nation that supports stem cell research and human therapeutic cloning. "Religious views do not shape anything they do," Caplan said.

Pragmatism also plays a role in Cuba's attitude, he added. "Cuba thinks they can make a contribution because it is so new that no one else has a big lead."

And let me give you a hypothetical situation:

Juana is a 14 year old girl living in Cuba. She is very poor, and while she does recieve an education and has free health care courtesy of the Cuban government, she, as well as the rest of her family, dont have enough to survive on. So, like many other girls her age, she becomes a jinetera (prostitute) so that she may get the coveted dollars by selling herself to foreigners.

She doesnt really worry about becoming pregnant, after all, she does have free healthcare and abortions are commonplace in Cuba. She takes her chances as she needs to help put food on the table.

One day, Juana realizes that she is pregnant, and dutifully, goes to her local clinic, where the healthcare is free, for an abortion. The doctors run tests on her and confirm her pregnancy and give her an appointment for her abortion. The date is over 6 months away but she does not worry because she has free healthcare.

So she carries her unborn child until that date and when she appears for her procedure, she is given a sum of money - American money - for, as her doctors state "Her sacrifice for the revolution." She takes her money, has the procedure, and forgets all about it.

Meanwhile, her unborn child, bought and paid for by the Cuban Government, is used, unbeknownst to Juana, for stem cell research.

Everybody wins, right?

Human Rights - A Definition

"A European fruit, born of the Bourgeois revolution." Thats Cuba's definition according to this article.

Glad we got that all squared away.

(Thanks to Scott of Burton Terrace for the link.)

Potato Heads

Two more US Congressmen met with Fidel Castro to assure him the travel restrictions (scroll down) would be lifted next year. Castro, in exchange, signed baseballs and 8x10's for them and handed them cigars and flowers. How nice.

The two congresmen from Idaho were in Cuba signing a trade and cultural agreement with the communist regime. Cuba agreed to purchase $10 million worth of Idaho Agricultural products.

Of course these US "representatives," Republicans the both of them, want the travel bans lifted, how the hell else would Fidel get the money to pay for their products?

What bothers me the most about these agreements is the fact the Americans overlook the repression of the Cuban people. They are more concerned with their constituents being able to sell their products. Which is fine and all, but this country is supposed to be the example of liberty. The litmus of human rights. Mind you, Cuba is the same country that takes every opportunity to bash the United States of America. Capotalismo no, socialismo si! Abajo los yanquis imperialistas!

Tourists will be savoring delicious Idaho potatos while the average Cuban stands in line for a handful of beans.

If you read anything today...

...you must read Michele's take on parenting and children, then and now.

Sometimes I feel sorry for today's kids, they grow up way too fast.

Sheila weighs in on this too and has a valuable lesson.

Bonfire

The Bonfire of the Vanities is up at Josh Cohen's d-42.com. I submitted a really crappy entry this week and it made the cut.

Lets just all bend over right now then.

No KY, no oil, no vaseline. Just get it over with.

Benadryl

Some little bastard insect bit me yesterday while I was in ManCamp and I seem to have had an allergic reaction. I have major, major hives all over my back and the itching has been incredible. I took a Benadryl and it subsided but unfortunately, all I want now is a damn bed.

I am totally sleepy....slee....peeee....zzzzzzzz

Call your travel agent, beg for refund...

2904977 Canada Inc. of Montreal; Corporation Cimex S.A. of Havana; Havanatur S.A. of Havana; Havanatur S.A. of Buenos Aires; Havanatur Bahamas Ltd.; Havanatur Chile S.A. of Santiago; La Compania Tiendas Universo S.A. of Cuba; Cubanacan Group of Havana; Cubanacan International B.V. of the Netherlands and Cubanacan U.K. Ltd. of London.

A list of companies, owned or controlled by Cuba, noted by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow as violating the US trade and travel embargo by providing Americans illegal travel to Cuba.

"We're cracking down. We mean business," Snow said. "We are cutting off American dollars headed to Fidel Castro."

I hope this isnt just electioneering to gain favor with the strong political Cuban exile base in Florida. And, I also hope these few companies are the first of many many more.

Hat Tip Scott.

WTF?

Man o man. This is the kind of shit that I really hate about politics. Mr. Al Recount Gore made the following statement - referring to President Bush - as fact, without, of course, offering any proof or anything to back up the remark:

"He took America on an ill-conceived foreign adventure, dangerous to our troops, that was preordained and planned before 9-11,"

This takes the term sour grapes to whole new irresponsible levels.

The Beauty of this Country

I already tracked back to this entry at my nephew's blog, but I just wanted to look a little beyond the surface.

This country has alot of problems, and there are things that need to be addressed. However, no society is utopian. There is no such thing as a perfect country with a perfect government and a perfect population.

Now, look at the photos in this post. What you see there isn't just a boy's first birthday party. What you see in those photos is family and friends, primarily immigrants or children of immigrants, living the American Dream.

Every one of those people attending that party at that park has been afforded the opportunity to grow and prosper. We all enjoy the magnanimity of the United States of America, where we are free not just to opine, worship and speak. We are free to advance and improve ourselves and our lives. The only thing that prevents anyone from prospering in the US is their own lack of determination.

Putting it into perspective, regardless of whatever it is about America that bothers us, we all have alot to be thankful for.

Gracias America y que Dios te bendiga.

Starting 'Em Young

Brandon's blogging like mad, for a one year old. He's got pics of his birthday up, including one of yours truly at the old folks table. Oh, and my parents are there too.

To Revolution or not to Revolution

Fellow Cubiche and friend Will of Mire blog has some interesting thoughts and valid points about the Castro/Chavez connection and it's effects on US policy in the Americas.

Although I don't agree with everything he says, his arguments make complete sense.

Oh, and here is a quote from the bearded Caballo himself:

"These gentlemen are saying I'll die soon because 'if the dog dies, so does the rabies,' " said Castro, referring to President Bush and other U.S. officials. "But now Venezuela has turned into a (new) dog."

Chili Results

Our own Sgt Hook has just posted the results to his First Annual International Charity Chili Cook-Off Blogstyle. The blue ribbon went to...well...see for yourself.

Is there anything better than a nice hot bowl of chili, a little corn bread and a few beers?

Due process?

They have Carlie's abductor in custody. She is still nowhere to be found. The abductor is refusing to cooperate and the fucking press is all over it like fairy Godmothers. Look, I understand what due process is but...all the evidence points to this guy, someone needs to BEAT THE LIVING HELL OUT OF HIM.

Beat him. Beat him over the head, the ribs, a couple of swacks across the midsection , knees, legs. Shove the damn nightstick up his ass. WHATEVER. Just do whatever it takes to find the girl.

My God, how can the cops just stand around and circle jerk on this?

UPDATE: They found her. She's dead and the abductor has been charged for murder. Now, he'll stand trial, be found guilty and live possibly for the rest of his life in jail. Were I the father of this girl, I would want nothing but to see this guy dead, affording him the same rights her afforded Carlie.

Chief Wiggles

I have mentioned Chief Wiggles and Operation Give here before, and the small part I play in Operation Give. This charity, begun by the Chief and implemented by bloggers and others with a desire to help has sent thousands of toys and collected thousands of dollars to buy toys and other necessities for the children of Iraq.

I have corresponded with hundreds of people seeking information on how and what to send, how could they volunteer, etc... It has been a heartening experience to be a part, albeit a small one, of such a great endeavor.

Today, in his National Prayer Breakfast, President George W. Bush mentioned the efforts put forth by Chief Wiggles and other American servicemen stationed on the other side of the world.

Our people in uniform understand the high calling they have answered because they see the nation and the lives they are changing. A guardsman from Utah named Paul Holton has described seeing an Iraqi girl crying and decided then and there to help that child and others like her. By enlisting aid through the Internet, Chief Warrant Officer Holton had arranged the shipment of more than 1,600 aid packages from overseas. Here's how this man defines his own mission: "It is part of our heritage that the benefits of being free, enjoyed by all Americans, were set up by God, intended for all people. Bondage is not of God, and it is not right that any man should be in bondage at any time, in any way." Everyone one in this room can say amen to that.

I am proud to be a part of Operation Give and ask each person that reads this humble blog to please try to do their part in bringing a little laughter to these children of war torn nations. It is a great feeling that will remain with you forever.

Gracias Chief Wiggles.

UPDATE: Wizbang! has a post on Chief Wiggles as do I over at Suburban Blight. Rosemary Esmay says Amen!!!

Housesitting

Kelley gave me the keys to her house while she attends to some personal business today and asked me to help keep an eye on the place.

Little does she know that I'm gonna totally raid her refrigerator and check in her medicine cabinet. I'm gonna play with Spidey's toys, and then I'm gonna plop myself down on her sofa and watch hours and hours of TV while munching out. And no, I will not worry about crumbs falling in the sofa cracks. I hope they left me some beer cause housesitting without alcoholic consumption sucks.

You can come on by Kelley's and hang out with me iffin ya'll want. Bring beer.

That Biased Media

There's alot of back and forth on the US and World media being biased. Each side on every issue complains the media is biased towards the other side.

Fidel Castro and his Mullah friends found a way to correct that problem. Cuba and Iran are now joined at the mass media hip:

"The head of Prensa Latina News Agency announced his country's readiness to implement the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) signed between Iran and Cuba within the framework of Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool (NANAP),"

In Cuba, there is no such thing as "mass media." There is only Granma International, Fidel's party rag. I suspect the situation in Iran is much the same. People of these two countries will only hear what their "governments" want them to hear. Let's hope Venezuelans don't allow Chavez to get in on this "Memorandum of Understanding."

Perhaps the NANAP - Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool - should be called the NWAWAAN - News With A Wink And A Nod.

Cubans love their Buicks

Remember last years converted Ford truck that sailed from Cuba to almost reach the US? Well, looks like they upgraded cars. Eleven Cubans in a converted Buick were pulled over by the US Coast Guard and repatriated. The Buick met the same fate as the Ford truck, it was sunk.

I love the ingenuity of the Cuban people, they will do anything, come up with whatever crazy scheme to leave Castro's island prison.

Abuelos

My grandparents passed away over 15 years ago. I lost them, the ones I knew, each a year apart. I remember being distraught, crying daily, feeling as if my world would not be the same. Any little thing would set off an emotional outburst. Driving by their old apartment, shopping at a supermarket I used to shop with them at. Not stepping on sidewalk cracks as my grandfather taught me, for luck.

I hardly remember their faces, can't recall the sounds of their voices. And on occassion I get a whiff of Old Spice or Colonia and remember some moment shared. It's hard to not get teary eyed.

But, I think despite the fact that memory seems to fade, I honor them every day. I live my life soundly and carry with me things they taught me. I live with the respect for life they instilled in me. I strive to be the person they wanted me to be, the person they helped to mold, and that keeps them with me. Always.

(Kelley, no te preocupes, my Abuelos are there for your Gramps, and he's in good hands.)

The Solution Ain't the Problem

Ressurectionsong's zombyboy has an interesting entry on America and Its relationship with the Middle East. I think he is right when he states:

When you're (Clark, Dean, or Kerry) so focused on America as the problem, you forget to account for the possibility of America being an important part of the solution.

Short, concise, and to the point, and he is absolutely correct.

The Review Is In

My Award Winning Chili Recipe, entered in Sgt Hook's Charity Chili Cook-Off Blogstyle has been cooked up by Bogieblog and the review is in. Drop on by