Given the magnitude and importance that the comments in this Blog have taken, it is time to regulate their publication so that they do not result in insults, verbal violence and personal attacks. In the interest of productive dialogue and frank and respectful debate it is necessary to augment the moderation of Generation Y.… Continue reading A little bit of order… but without censorship

  Two weeks ago Marta’s tiny pension was increased by thirty-five Cuban pesos.  Waiting in the line at the bank where she cashes her check she ran into a friend who warned, “Watch out, now comes the corresponding rise in prices!”  But, in light of the pessimists and naysayers our street seems to be full… Continue reading New rise in prices

They put a few cans of meat in their backpacks, some candles and an old Zenit camera.  The couple went to Santiago de Cuba by train and entered the mountains early one Saturday morning.  They wanted to walk to Baracoa, camping out at night in the depths of the mountain, making love in cabins with… Continue reading Happy Peasants

  They warn me that on the table in some office rests “my case.”  A file full of evidence of infractions committed, a bulky dossier of illegalities I have accumulated on these years.  The neighbors hint to me to disguise myself with sunglasses and disconnect the phone when I would like to talk about something… Continue reading Denunciation – Plea – Confession

(Text written on Sunday, May 11 and waiting for an Internet connection that finally worked today.) My son is becoming a man and already requires his own space. At the moment his territory is small: one room, the chaos of which is not so much the boring order of things, as the anarchic slogan, “I… Continue reading Mother’s Day, or “One Mother To Day”

  I have twenty minutes to get to Parque Central, to a small gallery near Plaza Vieja, where a friend is going to talk about his paintings. If I try to get there on foot I will miss the beginning of the talk and the aspiring painter will not forgive me. I grab a bicycle… Continue reading The capital of ALL Cubans?

As if that were not enough, yesterday they have given me a new award. The award I have received leads to a film titled on Saturday, “The Captive Blogger,” and involves not letting me travel to Madrid for the award ceremony for the Ortega y Gasset prize.  Those who have not given me what I… Continue reading The second prize

  For the eternal skeptics, those who believe that things do not change, here are some comparative photos of my bread ration from last July with the one I received today.  The fundamental difference between the “specimens,” top and bottom, is not only in appearance. Between the two there are several managers of the bakery… Continue reading A small comparative study

I want to call on friends and commentators of the Blog to collaborate with the English translation of the latest posts. The texts in English can be put into the area for comments from this call for volunteer work.  There will be no diplomas or appliances for those who translate more entries; only the thanks… Continue reading Voluntary work

  In this awkward civic childhood I need to ask permission for almost everything, I cannot just become an adult. Before, it was my parents who watched to make sure I didn’t swallow a screw, or put my fingers in the electrical outlet, now the supervision comes from the state. Under the “protection” of this… Continue reading Nursing babies with pacifiers