Friday, January 09th, 2015

CUBA Four locals share in the high hopes of an island nation

By Michael Sullivan 01/08/2015 On Dec. 13, four Ventura locals — Patti Channer, community patroness and architect; William Hendricks, professor of photography at Ventura College; Ron Picciotti, retired engineer; and Susan Pollack, commercial interior designer, plus a few Brooks Institute students — flew into Cuba. Hendricks, who had visited the country 55 times before, and his fellow travelers were about… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, January 06th, 2015

Lacking Internet, Cubans Rely On 'The Package' For Entertainment

Young Cubans prepare their sticks to charge the latest internet "package" with films, television series, software and other similar stuff from foreign origin downloaded from the web. AFP/Getty Images   Cuba has promised its citizens better Internet access in this New Year. The few Cubans who now manage to get online find it expensive and slow. Warming ties with the… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, December 23th, 2014

As Obama makes history over Cuba, will the Castros be the real winners?

After 50 years of fractious hostility, America has thrown a dramatic lifeline to the island’s bankrupt economy   To the astonishment of even the most seasoned and wired-in of Cuba hands, the half century-long cold (and hot) war between the US and Cuba is over. In what will rank alongside Nixon’s opening to China and Reagan’s embrace of Gorbachev, Obama… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

U.S. co-opted Cuba's hip-hop scene in failed attempt to spark unrest in communist nation

An Associated Press investigation revealed a secret operation to infiltrate Cuba’s underground hip-hop scene was ill-conceived and put innocent Cubans at risk. RAMON ESPINOSA/AP Cuban fans sing during a hip-hop concert in Havana on Nov. 30. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that a U.S. agency infiltrated Cuba's hip-hop scene and recruited unwitting rappers to spark a youth movement… [Read Full Article]

Monday, December 15th, 2014

NYT: Time for U.S. to engage with Cuba

Ernesto Londoño from the New York Times tells Amanpour why the newspaper thinks the U.S. should end its Cuba embargo   Click to view video.   [Read Full Article]