Sumeet and I checked out Raul Malo at Richards on Richards this past Saturday. It was an incredible accoustic performance by Raul and I hope he makes it back again.

Country music fans will probably know him from his 15yrs with “The Mavericks” as the lead singer. He’s been on his own for a while and released his solo album which I picked up a while ago and just happened to notice he was touring through-out North America.

They call him the Spanish Roy Orbison. He probably has the most amazing voice I have ever heard! He sang songs from his 1st solo album and his upcoming album that will be released in January, plus a bunch of hits from Roy Orbison, Elvis, and a bunch of other classics.

–

I rented a great flick – Life and Debt. Its about the effects of globalization on Jamaica. Basically how the IMF and World Bank along with the WTO have completely screwed the Jamaican enconomy for the long term. They lend a country money with extremely heavy restrictions and regulations on what the country can spend the money on, not to mention ridiculous interest rates. Also, for example, Jamaica cannot export Banana’s (their main export) to anyone except the British, they can only export to the British because they hold a colonial agreement with Jamaica. Chiquita and Dole (American owned, South American grown) are the only suppliers to North America and most of the world. Which of course leaves the 3rd or 4th generation Jamaican farmers in the poor-house. Good flick, 4 stars.

Comments by: speedo,

In case you haven’t heard of them or their struggle for justice, here’s a description of the current events taking place right now regarding them.

The Cuban 5 are -Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino and René González.

They were in Miami monitoring terrorist activities of Miami ultra right-wing groups who have commited terrorist acts against Cuba in the past. In a hot anti-socialism climate in Miami, they were rail-roaded into jail and were labelled as spies.
(more…)

Comments by: bert,

I was at the Canucks intra-squad game last Sunday. Here a few things I noticed about some of the players…

Richard Park – fast and he was everywhere. (he kicks ass on the PK unit in NHL06 btw)

Mike Brown – looked like shit, weird skating stride and seemed to lack finishing skills (kinda like Brad May, lol, sorry that was too easy)

Ed Jovonovski – I think he must have been injured, didn’t notice 55 out there.

James Demone – He was the one of the finalists on CBC’s “Making the cut” where he won a try with a NHL club. He didn’t look out of place at all, him and Bertuzzi had something going on. It looked like Bert was trying to punish him a bit but Demone looked good.

Markus Naslund – Looked like Markus Naslund. Had some good moments, I don’t think he was giving it a full 100%, but I don’t think many veterans were.

Sedin Twins – Both looked good, particularly Henrik. They definitely are masters at puck-position/cycling.

Adam Keefe – He was a pitbull out there, scored a goal, looked decent but I can’t see him on the team.

Luc Boudron – Looked decent, I was expecting him to be taller for some reason.

Fedor Federov – Was pretty quiet even though he had some assists on a line with Linden. He scored a nice goal towards the end, but I was expecting more given this is probably his last chance to make the Canucks or the NHL for that matter.

Jarko Ruutu – The usual high-intensity from Ruutu, had some chances, completely blew a breakaway in dying seconds of the game, was funny though.

Anson Carter – What a crazy skating stride he has, it doesn’t look to be effective but he’s scored goals before so it obviously works for him.

Canucks pre-season starts tonight. I hope the nucks smash Pronger.