Saturday, March 26, 2016

Song of the Day: Kelela - All the Way Down

Another song that I heard on a recent flight.  You never know where you're going to find great music.  Love the vibe of this song.

Kelela - All the Way Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzXGbtC_f5w



Lyrics, from SongLyrics.com:
http://www.songlyrics.com/kelela/all-the-way-down-lyrics/

Kelela - All the Way Down Lyrics
Artist: Kelela
Album: Hallucinogen EP

When you’re riding
Down at night
But you say

[Verse 1]
The only way to sum it up
Is falling roller-coaster rush
I’m doing things that I don’t do
So comfortable when I’m with you
Kinda took me by surprise
I love it and I don’t know why
You shot it and you got it
And I don’t wanna fight it
So hold me while were taking this ride

[Pre-Chorus]
You, when it's good I'm questioning
You, then I stop to take it in

[Chorus]
Is my head in the way?
Cause my heart can't explain
Where we going now?
Build it up, we tear down
Cared before but baby
Now I don’t give a fuck

All the way down
On a one way to you
I'm on my way down
No matter what your going through

[Verse 2]
I’m staying over at yours tonight
I'm calling late let’s exercise
There’s something buried in your eyes
Draws me in and I can’t hide
I’m clocking in today I'm on one
I came in hard I hope you don’t run
I tell him all about it but even I would doubt it
They never seen the things that you do

[Pre-Chorus]
You, when it's good I'm questioning
You, then I stop to take it in

[Chorus]
Is my head in the way?
Cause my heart can't explain
Where we going now?
Build it up, we tear down
Cared before but baby
Now I don’t give a fuck

All the way down
On a one way to you
All the way down
No matter what your going through

[Bridge]
Take it in, Take it in
All I wanna do is
Stay with it, stay with it
And I know that you won’t
Play with it, play with it
Are you ready? Hold on
Take it in, Take it in
All I wanna do it
Stay with it, stay with it
And I know that you won't
Play with it, hold on

When it’s good I’m questioning
You, then I start to take it in
Is my head in the way?
Cause my heart can't explain
Where we going now?
Build it up, we tear down
Cared before but baby
Now I don’t give a fuck

All the way down [X4]

Baby what you wanna do?

Friday, March 25, 2016

Finally some rational comments about Cuba

Kudos to Dan Le Batard for injecting some needed perspective on Obama's disgraceful visit to Cuba, and the disgraceful baseball game taking place.

I'll let these links speak for themselves.

From ESPN:
"'Historic' game in Cuba ignores the pain so many people endured"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15032737/historic-game-cuba-ignores-pain-many-people-endured
Le Batard's article, and an interview he gave

From the NY Daily News:
"ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard wants to know how bringing baseball to Cuba will help its people"
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/watch-espn-le-batard-skeptical-mlb-visit-cuba-article-1.2573285

From ESPN:
"U.S. visit to Cuba 'already a loss'"  (Le Batard paraphrasing/reading the above article)
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15040419&ex_cid=espnapi_internal

Let's see how ESPN responds to Le Batard's comments.  Will he be fired?  Speculation from Awful Announcing:
http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/dan-lebatard-blasts-espns-coverage-of-cuba-game-in-miami-herald-column.html


Just to show you how weak our president is, remember this.  Raul Castro made Obama an offer, and Obama was not enough of a man to take him up on it.  From the Free Beacon:
http://freebeacon.com/blog/raul-castro-wants-a-list-of-political-prisoners-in-cuba-here-it-is/
Just mention the list. What political prisoners. Give me a name or names or when after this meeting is over, you can give me a list of political prisoners, and if we have those political prisoners they will be released before tonight ends.
So what did Obama do?  Nothing, of course.  As always.  From ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-handed-dissidents-list-castro/story?id=37822698
Obama said, with a straight face somehow, that "...what we can do and will continue to do is to stand up for the rights we consider to be universal."  Not sure how he plans to do that if he won't even respond to Raul Castro's statement with a simple list.

For the record, here is the list.  From the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba:
http://www.fhrcuba.org/2015/07/release-list-of-political-prisoners-still-serving-unjust-time-in-cuban-jails-whose-families-receive-monthly-humanitarian-support-from-canf-fhrc/
UPDATED (February 19th, 2016): See updated list below.
UPDATED (January 6th, 2016): #54 Vladimir Morera Bacallao Morera is no longer on hunger Strike. #7 Yuselín Ferrera sentence completed. #48 Eliover Quevedo sentence completed. #53 Rafael Felipe sentence completed. In addition, the Foundation has updated the list below to include the following additional political prisoners currently serving unjust time in Cuban prisons:  #20 Alexeis Serrano Avila, #21 Fernando Isael Peña Tamayo, #22 Silverio Portal Contrera, #23 Carlos Manuel Figueroa Alvarez, #34 Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva, #35 Orlando Contrera Aguilar, #36 Ricardo González Sendiña, #37 Ariel González Sendiña, #38 Hugo Damián Prieto Blanco, #39 Wilberto Parada Milán, #40 Nora Lisset Hernández Bulís, #43 Miguel Borroto Vázquez, #44 José David González Fumero, #45 Mario Morera Jardines, #46 Osmani Mendoza Ferriol.
UPDATED (October 20, 2015) #36 Danilo Maldonado Machado Valle Grande, Habana DESACATO PENDING DEC 24, 2014 – RELEASED October 20, 2015
UPDATED (September 15, 2015 10:12 am): The Foundation has updated the list below to include the following additional political prisoners currently serving unjust time in Cuban prisons: #15 Emilio Serrano Rodríguez, #16 Santiago Cisneros Castellanos, #17 Enrique Bartolomé Cámbara, #18 Edilberto Arzuaga Alcalá, #19 Ernesto Ortega Sarduy, #20 Isaín López Luna, #21 Jordys Manuel Dosil Fong, #22 Alexander Alan Rodríguez, #23 Carlos Amaury Calderín Roca, #24 Reinier Rodríguez Mendoza.
UPDATED (September 12, 2015 10:42 am): The Foundation has received confirmation that political prisoner #2 on our list, Andri Frometa Cuenca, was released from prison earlier this morning from the Combinado de Guantanamo. He has been imprisoned since 1991 and faced 47 years of incarceration.
UPDATED (September 11, 2015, 1:46 pm): All political prisoners listed below continue to serve unjust sentences in Cuba.
UPDATED (July 30, 2015): Three political prisoners have been added (#28, #29, #30) to the list below, bringing total number of political prisoners to 29 + Yessel Boni Rivero (#24) released on “conditional parole” in July of 2015.
UPDATED (July 8, 2015, 11:00 am ET) : The Foundation has received confirmation that political prisoner #24 on our list, Yessel Boni Rivero, son of Yaquelin Boni (Ladies in White member), was released from prison late last night under “extra penal license,” a type of conditional parole.  Yaquelin Boni stated to FHRC that this was “an achievement of our Lady in White sisters and the support of all people of goodwill inside and outside of Cuba.”
Miami, FL – The recent controversy regarding the number of long term (more than 6 months) political prisoners in Cuban jails have prompted The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) and The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) to release the names of 27 Cuban political prisoners whose families receive monthly humanitarian support from the FHRC and CANF. The respective staffs of these NGOs maintain constant communication with the families of those political prisoners, and therefore, can attest to the existence and dire conditions of imprisonment of each of them. This list is not exhaustive, since there are other long-term Cuban political prisoners being assisted by other NGOs.
1
Liusban John Utra
PRISION PROVINCIAL LAS TUNAS
ROBO CON FUERZA
7
MARZO 6/2013
2
Ricardo Pelier Frómeta
COMBINADO DE GUANTANAMO
DESORDEN PUBLICO
3
MAYO 15/14
3
Aracelio Riveaux Noa
AGUADORES, SANTIAGO
ATENTADO
2
MAY 28/2015
4
Eglis Heredia Rodríguez
MAR VERDE, SANTIAGO
ATENTADO
5
MAYO 13/14
5
Daniel Ernesto Dufó Preval
COMBINADO DE GUANTANAMO
DESORDEN PUBLICO
2
 
6
Yoelkis Rosabal Flores
COMBINADO DE GUANTANAMO
DESORDEN PUBLICO
4
 
7
Amado Verdecia Díaz
AGUADORES, SANTIAGO
ATENTADO
5
OCT 20/14
8
Mario Ronaide Figueroa Dieguez
AGUADORES, SANTIAGO
Desorden Público
3
DIC 2/14
9
María del Carmen Cala Aguilera
CARCEL DE MUJERES, HOLGUIN
Atentado
PENDIENTE
 
10
Yosvani Arostegui Armenteros
CERAMICA ROJA, CAMAGÜEY
ATENTADO
PENDIENTE
ENERO 8/2015
11
Santiago Cisneros Castellanos
AGUADORES, SANTIAGO
ATENTADO
PENDIENTE
 
12
Enrique Bartolomé Cámbara
KILO 8, CAMAGÜEY
HURTO Y SACRIFICIO
8
JUL 21/2014
13
Edilberto Arzuaga Alcalá
CERÁMICA ROJA, CAMAGÜEY
MULTA NO PAGADA
1
SEP 27/2011
14
David Fernández Cardoso
    
15
Maikel Mediaceja Ramos
    
16
Laudelino Rodríguez Mendoza
    
17
Yosvani Isaguirre
    
18
Alexeis Serrano Avila
AGUADORES, SANTIAGO
ATENTADO
4
 
19
Niorbis Rivera Guerra
   
SEPT 25/ 2015
20
Fernando Isael Peña Tamayo
PRISION PROVINCIAL LAS TUNAS
ROBO CON FUERZA
PENDIENTE
AGO 15/2015
21
Leonardo Coba
    
22
Silverio Portal Contrera
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO, INTENTO DE HURTO
1
 
23
Osvaldo Rodriguez Acosta
MAYABEQUE
ATENTADO
9
ABRIL 2/2013
24
Osvaldo Rodriguez Castillo
MAYABEQUE
ATENTADO
7
ABRIL 2/2013
25
Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva
VALLE GRANDE
ATENTADO
Pendiente
JUN 16/2015
26
Orlando Contrera Aguilar
QUIVICÁN, MAYABEQUE
Hurto 
6
JUN 16/2015
27
Osmani Mendoza Ferriol
LAS MANGAS, BAYAMO
ATENTADO Y DESACATO
4 AÑOS
SEPT 27/2013
28
Augusto Guerra Márquez
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO
2
DIC 12 /2015
29
Ricardo González Sendiña
COMBINADO DEL ESTE, HABANA
Hurto y sacrificio (sin pruebas)
Pendiente
 
30
Ariel González Sendiña
COMBINADO DEL ESTE, HABANA
Hurto y sacrificio (sin pruebas)
Pendiente
 
31
Leudis Reyes Cuza
COMBINADO DEL ESTE, HABANA
ATENTADO
5
SEP 24 / 2015
32
Reinier Rodríguez Mendoza
SAN JOSE, LA HABANA
PELIGROSIDAD
2
OCT 19/2015
33
Ernesto Ortega Sarduy
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO 
PENDIENTE
SEPT 30/2015
34
Isaín López Luna
1580
DESACATO 
PENDIENTE
5
35
Warley Pérez Cruz
TACO TACO
AMENAZA
6 MESES
OCT 13 / 2015
36
Nora Lisset Hernández Bulís
MANTO NEGRO
   
37
Jordys Manuel Dosil Fong
1580
PELIGROSIDAD
3
 
38
Alexander Alan Rodríguez
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO
PENDIENTE
 
39
Emilio Serrano Rodríguez
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO Y ATENTADO
PENDIENTE
OCT 22/2015
40
Carlos Amaury Calderín Roca
VALLE GRANDE
DESACATO
3
 
41
Misael Delgado Romeu
KM 5 Y MEDIO, P DEL RIO
Hurto y sacrificio (sin pruebas)
6
 
42
Yoanny Thomas González
COMBINADO DEL ESTE, HABANA
TERRORISMO, lanchaBaraguá
Cadena perpetua
 
43
Elieski Roque Chongo
ARIZA, CIENFUEGOS
INTENTO LASCIVO
5
0CT 17/2014
44
Alfredo Limonte Rodríguez
ARIZA, CIENFUEGOS
AMENAZA Y ATENTADO
4                                        2
6 MESES
45
Joel Mariano Bencomo Martínez
GUAMAJAL, VILLA CLARA
FILMAR ACTOS DE LA OPOSICION
3
 
46
Vladimir Morera Bacallao
hospital nacional
en huelga de hambre
 
OCT 1/2015
47
Yaxiel Espino Aceval
ARIZA, CIENFUEGOS
Desacato, daños
4
MAR 29/2014
48
José David González Fumero
NIEVES MOREJON
DESACATO Y DAÑOS
PENDIENTE
 
49
Mario Morera Jardines
EL CHIVO, VILLA CLARA
PELIGROSIDAD
3
 
50
Miguel Borroto Vázquez
VALLE GRANDE
ATENTADO
PENDIENTE
JUL 31/2015
51
Osvaldo Arcís Hernández
PROVARI (Campamento)
PELIGROSIDAD
2
DIC 9 /2015
*The last column may refer to either years served or date of entry to prison.
**The list of “charges” has been left written in Spanish without translation since, in most cases, there are no comparable legal terms and most charges are completely arbitrary.
The FHRC calls for the immediate release of all remaining political prisoners in Cuba, permanently and without conditions, including forced exile, parole, house arrest, and or any type of further harassment, detainment, or repression for political motives.
The FHRC is aware that there are additional political prisoners, outside of the list provided above, who are currently serving unjust sentences in Cuba. The FHRC requests that these individuals also receive full consideration for their immediate, unconditional release.
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (“FHRC”) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1992 to promote a nonviolent transition to a free and democratic Cuba by empowering independent Civil Society within Cuba. FHRC maintains regular contact with human rights defenders and civic activists who are working for change in Cuba through nonviolent means.
The Cuban American National Foundation’s mission is to advocate for a non-violent transition to a free and democratic Cuba, a nation that fosters economic prosperity with individual equality and social justice for all; upholds the rule of law and protects the social, economic and political rights of its entire people. To that end, CANF seeks to engage, support and empower Cubans on the island to become the architects of their own destiny by uniting, organizing and reclaiming their inalienable rights. In the continuation of the struggle for those ideals, the Cuban American National Foundation reaffirms its sacred commitment to Cuba and all Cubans.
###

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Song of the Day: Run River North - Run Or Hide

Interesting song that I heard on a recent flight, of all places, just browsing through the music available on the plane's entertainment system.

"Run River North - Run Or Hide [Official Video]"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxDn9z9yEkQ


Song lyrics from MusixMatch.com:
https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Run-River-North/Run-or-Hide

Run or Hide
Run River North

Lying in the dark
With your shadow, shadow hanging over me
Shaking the ground, your footsteps footsteps calling out my name
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh

After the races
But all of these faces keep rolling by me now
I don't understand these lines in my hand all look the same all look the same

I think I changed my mind about a million times
Oh to run or hide
Oh to run or hide
I'm gonna call this out
I'm coming back somehow
I will run or hide
I will run or hide

Lions tearing apart
I see them breaking breaking
But I can't let them start
So I let them in
I feel them feel them tearing up my skin

I think I changed my mind about a million times
Oh to run or hide
Oh to run or hide
I'm gonna call this out
I'm coming back somehow
I will run or hide
I will run or hide

The lions touch you here
You only give what you get
You're tying to keep this in
Spit it out
Spit it out

The lions touch you here
You only give what you get
You're tying to keep this in
Spit it out
Spit it out

I think I changed my mind about a million times
To run or hide
To run or hide
I'm gonna call this out
I'm coming back somehow
I won't run or hide
I won't run or hide

I think I changed my mind about a million times
Oh to run or hide
Oh to run or hide
I'm gonna crawl this out
I'm coming back somehow
I will run or hide
I will run or hide

Run or hide
Run or hide

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Song of the Day: Julien Baker - Everybody Does

I think this song speaks to the insecurities (almost) all of us have.

"Everybody Does"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKd2j8O8oM


Lyrics from LyricsMania.com:
http://www.lyricsmania.com/everybody_does_lyrics_julien_baker.html

Lyrics to Everybody Does

Let me pick through the empty dirt
And the rotten wood
The shop you work, cause I'm interested
In a carpenter, so elegant at placing splinters
Right beneath my nails
Where I cannot dig them out
The same briars from your wrists
Are the tinder in my father's house

And I know, I know
I know, I know oh
I know myself better than anybody else

You're gonna run, you're gonna run
When you find out who I am
I know I'm a pile of filthy wreckage
You will wish you'd never touch
You're gonna run
When you find out who I am
You're gonna run

You're gonna run
It's alright, everybody does
You're gonna run
It's alright, everybody does
You're gonna run
It's alright, everybody does