Today, April 21, Robert Smith is 51 years old. Not many can pull off the teased-hair, lipstick and raccoon eyes look!
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Happy birthday, Robert Smith of The Cure!
Today, April 21, Robert Smith is 51 years old. Not many can pull off the teased-hair, lipstick and raccoon eyes look!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Gregg Allman and Friends at Destination Daytona
Last Saturday night March 1, 2009, as part of Bike Week events, rock and blues musician Gregg Allman performed at Destination Daytona. Although not my kind of music, I went to check it out anyway, since he was originally from Daytona Beach and I wanted to see him play for a hometown crowd. Plus, the newspaper gave me a free ticket.
He and his band Gregg Allman and Friends performed a solid, one-and-a-half hour set, plus two encores, including hits such as Whipping Post, Sweet Melissa, I'm No Angel and closed the show with Goin’ Back to Daytona.
For a 61-year-old guy who's survived alcoholism, cocaine and heroin addiction, hepatitis C and a marriage to Cher, he looked surprisingly fit.
Check out the concert pics here on my facebook page, and check out 30-second cellphone videos here and here and here and here.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Leaving Cuba
I wrote this op-ed piece for Florida Today newspaper in 1994, when another major exodus from Cuba was taking place. Rafts used by balseros, who had been rescued offshore by U.S. Coast Guard, were washing up as far north as Brevard County beaches. I figured this would be a good time to post it on my blog, on the 50th anniversary of the revolution.
CHILDREN WERE BEING TAKEN INTO INDOCTRINATION CAMPS
“Pack up some of your clothes, we’re leaving the country tomorrow morning.”
That's all the warning I had when my parents decided to leave Cuba in July 1961, when I was 10 years old. This was two years after Fidel Castro took control of the government from the previous dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
There was some discontent with the revolution among the middle class after Castro came to power, but no one really talked about these things because everyone was afraid. You didn't know who you could trust. People with anti-Castro sentiments were being reported and arrested.
My first experience with this fear happened when a classmate’s mother asked me how my parents felt about the revolution. I said that my parents were not as happy as when Castro first took power on Jan. 1, 1959. The next time this woman saw my mother, she said, "I hear you’re becoming anti-Castro and that you're not happy with the revolution.” Quickly, my mother changed the subject, and as soon as we were alone she said to me sternly, “If anyone asks you about the government, you should always respond 'I don't know.' ”
Frustration had been growing among the population. People were arrested at random for suspicion of anti-government activity. The socialist government confiscated private businesses, sugar mills and cattle ranches. Many Cubans who opposed Castro were leaving the country, and in 1961, travel restrictions were imposed.
Children were being taken into indoctrination camps, where they were given uniforms and taught to run through the neighborhoods shouting slogans praising the communist government and demanding the death of the imperialistic Yankees. Six- to 10-year-olds demanding death!
I attended Colegio de Belen, a Catholic school in Havana run by Jesuit priests. This was the same school Castro attended as a young man and I remember seeing his picture among the graduating class photos of earlier years.
I could sense there was discontent among the teachers and priests in regard to the government. One day, I arrived at school to find the chapel had been closed and the school was occupied by the militia, who had set up machine gun nests throughout.
It was April 1961, and I later learned that Castro was expecting the Bay of Pigs invasion.
One day during this occupation of the school, I saw from my classroom window (1) a confrontation taking place between an elderly priest and a soldier at the small bridge (2) leading to the entrance of the school. I could not hear what was going on, but I could see there was a heated exchange and the soldier cocked his rifle and pointed it at the priest's chest. A younger priest jumped between the soldier and the priest and I thought we were going to witness a death. Fortunately, the situation was calmed and no one was hurt, but when I got home and told my parents, they took me out of school the very next day under the pretense that the teachers had gone on strike.
Although we were just a middle-class family and had no real property or business that the government could confiscate, for fear that I might be sent to an indoctrination camp, my parents had begun their plan to leave the country. At the time, one could still leave for short trips, such as vacations, but it had to appear as if you were coming back.
My father was employed by the Cuban airline and he often traveled to Mexico and Miami to buy parts for the airplanes. But because of the nature of his travels and because my family was known by most people who worked at the airport, it was not safe for us to leave as a family from the airport. My parents feared they would be arrested.
An uncle who worked for a shipping agency arranged for my mother, my younger brother and I to book a trip on a cargo ship, which had been set up with bunk beds to accommodate people leaving the island. We were lucky enough to embark on the last ship that was allowed to legally leave the island. However, all we were allowed to take was one suitcase each.
So, in the early morning hours of July 28, 1961, we walked out of our house and left everything behind. My father drove us to the port, said goodbye and told us we soon would see each other again. Then he drove himself to the airport, parked the car, left the keys in the ignition for whoever happened to come upon it, and got on a flight for a business trip to Mexico. After he went through a month of immigration hassles, our family was reunited in Miami.
{In 1983, when my father passed away, I was going through his photos and personal papers and found his letter of resignation from his job in Cuba: "Dear Sir, I regret to inform you that I will not be returning to my job, as I have left the country and will not be coming back."}
Thinking back on our flight, it was relatively easy on me, harder on my parents. But it's nothing compared to the present-day emigrants who set sail on rickety crafts, with few supplies, over dangerous seas, leaving families behind for a chance to escape an oppressive government that denies its people the basic human necessities of freedom and opportunity.
Because I have lived most of my life in the United States, I hold no attachment or feelings of nostalgia for Cuba, mostly a sense of curiosity.
I find it interesting that Castro's dream of a utopian, socialist society may just crumble, not from some outside invasion, but from a rotting within.
WARNING:
I found this video of the first days of the Cuban revolution on youtube.
Video contains graphic images.
CHILDREN WERE BEING TAKEN INTO INDOCTRINATION CAMPS
“Pack up some of your clothes, we’re leaving the country tomorrow morning.”
That's all the warning I had when my parents decided to leave Cuba in July 1961, when I was 10 years old. This was two years after Fidel Castro took control of the government from the previous dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
There was some discontent with the revolution among the middle class after Castro came to power, but no one really talked about these things because everyone was afraid. You didn't know who you could trust. People with anti-Castro sentiments were being reported and arrested.
My first experience with this fear happened when a classmate’s mother asked me how my parents felt about the revolution. I said that my parents were not as happy as when Castro first took power on Jan. 1, 1959. The next time this woman saw my mother, she said, "I hear you’re becoming anti-Castro and that you're not happy with the revolution.” Quickly, my mother changed the subject, and as soon as we were alone she said to me sternly, “If anyone asks you about the government, you should always respond 'I don't know.' ”
Frustration had been growing among the population. People were arrested at random for suspicion of anti-government activity. The socialist government confiscated private businesses, sugar mills and cattle ranches. Many Cubans who opposed Castro were leaving the country, and in 1961, travel restrictions were imposed.
Children were being taken into indoctrination camps, where they were given uniforms and taught to run through the neighborhoods shouting slogans praising the communist government and demanding the death of the imperialistic Yankees. Six- to 10-year-olds demanding death!
I attended Colegio de Belen, a Catholic school in Havana run by Jesuit priests. This was the same school Castro attended as a young man and I remember seeing his picture among the graduating class photos of earlier years.
I could sense there was discontent among the teachers and priests in regard to the government. One day, I arrived at school to find the chapel had been closed and the school was occupied by the militia, who had set up machine gun nests throughout.
It was April 1961, and I later learned that Castro was expecting the Bay of Pigs invasion.
One day during this occupation of the school, I saw from my classroom window (1) a confrontation taking place between an elderly priest and a soldier at the small bridge (2) leading to the entrance of the school. I could not hear what was going on, but I could see there was a heated exchange and the soldier cocked his rifle and pointed it at the priest's chest. A younger priest jumped between the soldier and the priest and I thought we were going to witness a death. Fortunately, the situation was calmed and no one was hurt, but when I got home and told my parents, they took me out of school the very next day under the pretense that the teachers had gone on strike.
Although we were just a middle-class family and had no real property or business that the government could confiscate, for fear that I might be sent to an indoctrination camp, my parents had begun their plan to leave the country. At the time, one could still leave for short trips, such as vacations, but it had to appear as if you were coming back.
My father was employed by the Cuban airline and he often traveled to Mexico and Miami to buy parts for the airplanes. But because of the nature of his travels and because my family was known by most people who worked at the airport, it was not safe for us to leave as a family from the airport. My parents feared they would be arrested.
An uncle who worked for a shipping agency arranged for my mother, my younger brother and I to book a trip on a cargo ship, which had been set up with bunk beds to accommodate people leaving the island. We were lucky enough to embark on the last ship that was allowed to legally leave the island. However, all we were allowed to take was one suitcase each.
So, in the early morning hours of July 28, 1961, we walked out of our house and left everything behind. My father drove us to the port, said goodbye and told us we soon would see each other again. Then he drove himself to the airport, parked the car, left the keys in the ignition for whoever happened to come upon it, and got on a flight for a business trip to Mexico. After he went through a month of immigration hassles, our family was reunited in Miami.
{In 1983, when my father passed away, I was going through his photos and personal papers and found his letter of resignation from his job in Cuba: "Dear Sir, I regret to inform you that I will not be returning to my job, as I have left the country and will not be coming back."}
Thinking back on our flight, it was relatively easy on me, harder on my parents. But it's nothing compared to the present-day emigrants who set sail on rickety crafts, with few supplies, over dangerous seas, leaving families behind for a chance to escape an oppressive government that denies its people the basic human necessities of freedom and opportunity.
Because I have lived most of my life in the United States, I hold no attachment or feelings of nostalgia for Cuba, mostly a sense of curiosity.
I find it interesting that Castro's dream of a utopian, socialist society may just crumble, not from some outside invasion, but from a rotting within.
WARNING:
I found this video of the first days of the Cuban revolution on youtube.
Video contains graphic images.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Miami High Class of 1969
I made this Miami High Class of 1969 yearbook video for
the upcoming 40-year reunion.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Lights In The Sky Over North America
Fantastic show by Nine Inch Nails Tuesday (10/28/2008) at the UCF Arena in Orlando!
Check out this video to see how the special f/x were created.
This is the fifth time I've seen NIN.
Counting backwards:
2005, Orlando, FL., With Teeth tour
2000 Lakeland, FL., Fragility tour
1995 Atlanta, Ga., The Downward Spiral tour
and
1990, Melbourne Fl. Trent Reznor onstage with Revolting Cocks. Crazy show!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Insanity The Ride
I had a chance to ride Insanity while in Las Vegas this September. A massive mechanical arm extends out 64 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere Tower at a height of over 900 feet It spins you in the open air at speeds of up to three Gs. You’re propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees, which tilts your body into one position — facing straight down! It's a lot cooler at night with all the lights!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I saw Bite @ The Stratosphere
While in Vegas, I wanted to see one of the cheesy nudie shows, and Bite at the Stratosphere met all the requirements: classic rock, vampires, and topless women for an hour and 10 minutes.
The house lights dim, the house speakers start playing Guns ’N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle”, the curtain goes up and smoke fills the stage. A few moments later, eight scantily-clad “vampire women” fill the stage and start dancing to the music.
And this is pretty much what happens for the next hour.
There is no dialog in this show, and there is no goofy lipsyncing in this show. Which is actually a pretty good thing.
After about 15 minutes of cavorting, the “Lord Vampire” comes out, and as the story goes, he is looking for the next member for his coven.
The vampire girls go out into the audience at this point, and pick about five people "at random”. I was almost really convinced that these people really were chosen at random, because they did a good acting job of pretending like they didn’t want to go on stage, and acted embarrassed once they got up there.
But then, as the show progressed, and these “audience members” were bitten and procured superpowers, I realized that we had been had. The folks in the audience were actually cast members, disguised as well, regular people.
A couple of these folks were turned into acrobats which did some pretty cool stunts, one guy was turned into a singer, and actually sang very well, and the pretty lady that he brought up would be turned into the new “Queen of the Night”. There were actually audible gasps from the audience when the Lord Vampire went up to this “volunteer” and ripped her clothes off. It took some people longer than others to get that they were planted. Judging from the expression of boredom on the audience members I’m not totally convinced that everyone in the audience eventually came to this conclusion at all.
In between this conversion of regular people into vampires, the coven of vampire girls would change costumes, and cavort around in very little clothing. This was, of course, very cool.
Anyway, the Lord Vampire did a couple of magic tricks where he changed a skeleton into a woman and made women pop out of a piano. These were cool tricks. Not Lance Burton shit, but cool nonetheless. And correct me if I am wrong, but Lance doesn’t make women appear without tops.
There was also some cool girl-on-girl vibes, as the women were very grabby and touchy with each other.
80% of the show is simply topless women dancing to classic rock, with the remaining 20% being acrobatics and magic tricks.
There was a plot, and they actually pulled it off quite well considering that nobody in the cast spoke. The Lord Vampire wanted a new coven woman, he picked a seemingly timid woman out of the audience, and throughout the course of this show the volunteer finally became the main ho in the coven.
Of course it was silly, but it worked for me.
This show is under $50, and for that price, I highly recommend it. You know what you are getting. Topless girls with fangs. And they are very pretty topless girls with fangs. Only one of them was obviously silicone enhanced, and the rest looked natural. Perfect apple-shaped butts were possessed by all of the women, and they were not shy about thrusting them out toward the audience.
Entertaining, good value, standard Las Vegas T&A show with better music.
Unfortunately, cameras and camcorders are not allowed. They threaten to confiscate them if you do bring one inside.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Love tore them apart
New Order, one of my favorite bands of the 80s and 90s, announced their breakup, May 9, 2007. Saw them twice in Miami, first time in 1985 and then with 5-month-pregnant wife in 1989. Hooky's bass lines really kept the fetus active that night. A few months later, newborn daughter responded when I played the Substance CD. Here's New Order in their prime, with "The Perfect Kiss."
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