Status Update: Reading

I'm currently reading And We Sold The Rain: Contemporary Fiction from Central America edited by Rosario Santos. This collection of short stories written by 20 different authors will open your eyes to the culture, history, and courage of the Central American people.

Book Review

Many years ago Patrick Henry spoke his infamous words “Give me liberty or give me death”. Naomi Wolf recently wrote a book based on his principle called Give me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries. It discusses the history of democracy in this country, how our government was created, and ways Americans can fight for their rights.

Wolf argues that Americans have become complacent with regard to the state of today’s democracy. She explains that some forms of free speech now requires a special permit process. Strict ordinances discourage free speech with high insurance fees and noise restrictions. And, the use of tasers make speaking out physically dangerous.

Her recommendations include putting more of an emphasis on civics education in school, making voting mandatory and creating a guide to running for local, state and national office. Government should be more accessible to all people. It should be more transparent and comprehensible to all citizens.

This is a handbook for Americans that want to learn how to help those in need, to protest or hold a boycott, to run a town meeting, to get their message heard by those in power, and how to run for office.

But it’s much more than that. It explains how the government became what it is today. It explains who the framers were and what they intended by writing the constitution. And, how the events that followed resulted in commercial imperialism. In just over one hundred years we’ve been responsible for overthrowing fourteen governments for various ideological, political, and economic reasons, such as Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Iran, Guatemala, the Philippines, etc.

This handbook also cites several current key activists working to make a difference. They’ve started non-profits, political web sites, and campaigned for presidential candidates. Her portraits show how ordinary Americans have been motivated to make a difference. The last section of the book clearly explains the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and amendments.

Wolf challenges us to be more conscious of our government, to continue our commitment to freedom, and to be better Americans.

NYC update

During the last couple of weeks I've seen so many subway readers reading Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. This is clearly the most popular book being read right now. Personally, I enjoyed reading The Audacity of Hope a bit more but perhaps it was because I was much more interested in his current philosophy of politics and world issues as opposed to his thoughts during childhood.

Both books are very good reads and it's super cool that Barack Obama narrates both audio versions. You can download these books on audible.com. Currently Audible is offering a trial membership. Learn about it at audible.com/subway.


During my walk from the subway, I noticed a sign that said "Coup de Coeur". From my travels I knew that Coeur meant heart in French. Coup literally means blow - but in this reference it means something special that strikes your heart. If you have a passion for shopping you may consider a tour with Amanda and Lucia. And if you want to learn more about their tips, check out the Coup de Coeur blog.


I recently learned that some of my friends from California have started a weekly podcast with their dj house mixes. Check it out at the HAWTCAST and download them all. ...some like it HAWT...

Reading on the train

I've been officially book-less this week. A few weeks ago Eric bought me The Silmarillion. An awesome book I've read before and was really interested in reading again. It was a lovely gift he bought me from THE STRAND the best bookstore in all of NY.

Anyway, I started the book and I just had to put it down. As they say, life is too short - why finish reading something you don't want to read. Every time I'd read a few pages on the train I would somehow get distracted - and would literally force myself to pick it up again. It was quite annoying, so I gave up.

This weekend I'm going to purchase a book written by one of my co-workers called The Cure For Anything Is Salt Water. The title of the book comes from the beautiful quote from Isak Dinesen, aka Karen Blixen (Think, Out of Africa) who says, "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea".

I have read enough about the book that I'm confident I'll be able to read it on the subway...or maybe I'll even finish it this weekend.

On my subway ride home I noticed a women with a beautiful red handbag reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Now, while this is a great book - you don't usually see too many people reading it on the subway. I mean really - it was published in '98 (didn't everyone read that 10 years ago!). But it got me thinking, what I would give to have been on the subway the morning of July 21, 07. The day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was finally in bookstores - and started disappearing from the shelves. I bet everyone had that book in their hands!

Next on the agenda is a movie at The Pavilion Theater and jazz at Blue Note. Cheers!

In the News

While I was celebrating the holidays in California, I heard a news report about Benazir Bhutto's assassination. I consider myself an expert on the dissemination of news. Therefore, I know to avoid FOX, watch CNN but trust BBC International. It's really not as simple as that, of course. Perhaps when you are curious about the weather. Not when you are examining the history of a country as complex and chaotic as Pakistan.

I came home to Orlando and immediately visited the Winter Park library to check out Benazir Bhutto's autobiography: Daughter of Destiny. I was confident that this book would give me a descriptive account of her experiences in Pakistan during the Zia dictatorship up into the time that she came into power.

I was not surprised by her accusatory tone towards the US and the Regan administration. Last year I read The Guerrilla Wars of Central America: Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. Definitely a year by year account of United States sponsored massacres and destruction via political, military and financial intervention. (related wiki article here).

Sorry, back from the tangent. I was inspired to write this blog after reading this recent Creative Loafing article. Which lead me to read this article on Slate. Both focus more on her bravery and determination to put the country back in the hands of the people rather than her families' alleged financial corruption. As it should be.

Daughter of Destiny painfully describes the period after Zia's coup during the unjust trial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He is imprisoned for 2 years then hung. For eleven years Benazir suffers imprisonment and exile between intermittent public campaigning while Pakistan is subject to martial law. Nevertheless, the grim details of the Zia dictatorship, the endless human rights violations, and the memory of the father she lost rouse Bhutto to restore democracy.

It is important to address that Pakistan is currently in a state of martial law. Amid the debates surrounding nuclear arms, ties with Afghanistan, the Bhutto investigations, the focus must be redirected to Pakistan's people.

"Militancy and greed cannot become the defining images of a new century that began with much hope. We must refocus our energy on promoting the values of democracy, accountability, broad-based government, and institutions that can respond to people's very real and very urgent needs." - Benazir Bhutto

Cheers to a fabulous 2008

Happy New Year. This month is flying by faster than a speeding train (a European train not the turtle US trains over here).

So what happened to my penguin reference you ask? Don't worry, I still love my little penguins. Check out these awesome pictures. Thought I should give me fun blog a new vibe in honor of the new year. New start, new look, new year.

Recently Eric Hayden (from The Sugar Oaks) played a solo show at Backbooth in Orlando. Here's a short video from one of his songs. It's beautiful.
Thanks to Jason Dunn who taped the clip.

Eric's been playing solo shows more frequently this year. He played The Globe last night and has another solo show at Backbooth on 2/15. Be sure to go to the show!

In other music news, I just listened to Pharoahe Monch's latest CD Desire. It's super. I saw him in 2005 opening for Mos Def and Talib Kweli with Clea at HOB in Anaheim at The Breed Love Odyssey Tour. That show had too many hightlights to list. You'll just have to believe me when I say it was life-changing. Anyway, check out the new CD. Which song to hear first? When The Gun Draws (track 7) Would the new method of murda be arson or fire bombs / If the cost of a single bullet was more than a firearm.

Currently reading:
The Ideas That Conquered the World by: Michael Mandelbaum

I love vanilla shakes

It's been a crazy hectic week. Luckily, I had a wonderful, relaxing, love-filled weekend.

Today I got some movie screening tickets from Park Ave CDs (The one on Virginia, of course) It's for Rescue Dawn with Steve Zahn and Christian Bale. Check out the trailer, it's intense. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully we'll get to the theater in time to get in. I haven't been to a screening in so long so I really have my fingers crossed.



Today I received an email from Ted with the following link: Potter. I promptly replied, "I can't read that!!!!" after skimming the first couple paragraphs. Last part I read said-"Look away." I did! I just couldn't read it! The final Harry Potter book will be out in a few days and I don't want to see any spoilers-whether or not they are true. (Supposedly, this article has actual 100% accurate spoilers).

On Saturday we saw Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucia). It was super interesting, imaginative, sexy, and sweet/disturbing. The line that probably struck me the most was when Lorenzo says "What was the point of being a father if she didn't know?" He was talking about his daughter Luna after he's informed of her birth. He basically visits her and gets to know her while keeping his identity a secret. I suppose there is no reason to call yourself a father if you don't act like one to your child. I think Lorenzo deep down wants Luna to know that he's her father. The truth is though, it's much easier to live your life without acknowledging a child than to grow up without a parent. It's not two sides of the same coin. It's not like seeing lightning but not hearing the thunder. It's like living in darkness on the sun.