Last Chance to Visit Cuba

Many question whether, amidst the thicket of tweets, there is a Trump doctrine.  Erratic as he is, Trump has one abiding principle--If Obama did it, I will undo it.

As early as June, Trump will decide whether to walk back the steps towards normalization of relations with Cuba.  Severe restrictions on travel to Cuba may be reimposed.  Expensive tours may survive, but independent travel is in peril.

Classic cars, sizzling salsa,  swirling cigar smoke and refined rum, await.   Set a date.   Make it soon.

Larry Stein, Author of, '4 Americans in Cuba: A Traveler on a Rope Guidebook'

Amazon sales page: https://www.amazon.com/Americans-Cuba-Traveler-Rope-Guidebook-ebook/dp/B072L4WG3K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495552372&sr=8-1&keywords=4+americans+in+cuba

Google Play sales page: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Larry_Stein_4_Americans_in_Cuba?id=JR7EDgAAQBAJ

Kobo sales page:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/4-americans-in-cuba

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Kicking ISIS in the Balls

In most Muslim countries, the morning after pill is a stone, actually a lot of stones.  Premarital sex is all but nonexistent.  Not surprisingly, men long to marry.  Cultural rules require that a groom meet a large financial threshold.  Most men cannot marry until their 30s, if at all.

In America we use sex to market everything from beer to cars.  We should not be surprised that ISIS uses sex to sell Jihad.  An ISIS fighter is guaranteed one or more wives.  While Sunni women are covered in burkas, all other women may be bought and sold.

Sex may not be the only motivator, but we are in the wrong lane if we ignore the sex drive.   Eliminating the "bride price," is not a short term option.  But for far less than the cost of mercenaries or deployment, America could fund the marriage threshold in return for military service fighting ISIS in the armies or militias of our allies.   Public policy wonks may fashion even better solutions.

Republicans harp on the proper name for radical extremists.  Sticks and stones are breaking bones, but names will never harm ISIS.  We are failing not for want of a thesaurus, but for lack of cultural awareness.

The Best Restaurant in Havana

The food makes the dinner, but ambience makes it a dining experience. Hector, the owner of Le Chansonnier, is a long time restauranteur who took advantage of economic reforms in 2010 to open this restaurant in a grand Vedado mansion in 2011. His passion for food is matched by his love of art.

The walls are filled with a revolving exhibition of the works of local artists. Don't skip the cover of your menu. It is hand painted.

The food is Cuban\French fusion.  My wife has never had better duck. My slow cooked lamb in red wine, was spiked with a hint of curry. We lingered over flan and 11 year old Santiago de Cuba rum.

Prices are on the low side for fine dining. Appetizers are in the 5 to 10 CUC range. Our vegetable lasagne was 6 CUC. Entrees range from about 12 to 20 CUC. The flan was 3 CUC.

Larry Stein, author of '4 Americans in Cuba: A Traveler on a Rope Guidebook'

The walls are a revolving panorama of local art.

Hector, the owner

The vegetable lasagna appetizer

The well sauced and seasoned duck

The chef visits most tables

Hector and his chef have a good rapport

Working Man Zero

All that a Trump supporters have to show for their votes are those lousy hats.   Their heads are covered, but their health needs are not.  Trump's threats to Obamacare subsidies, and his inconsistencies, are driving medical premiums up.   TrumpCare pays for nearly a trillion dollars of tax cuts for the wealthy by trimming an equal amount from Medicare expansion and premium assistance . His financially pressed loyalists will again be uninsured.

Trump's populist rhetoric is barely audible on his scratchy record.   He is filling the swamp far faster than he is draining it.  Billionaires dominate his cabinet, and lobbyists are lurking in the government. The number of lobbyists hired before waiting the customary 2 years, is a state secret.

Trump's budget is like cigar aficionados in a carnival fun house--all smoke and mirrors.  The fake budget double counts and inflates growth projections.   Fat cats feast, as the working poor lose food stamps.   Trump supporters vainly hoping for a hand up, better not look down.  The safety net is gone.

The Flynn Flam Man

Trump deals from the bottom of the deck, calling out others for flaws that he has in spades.  Our demure president, attacked Comey as an attention seeking showboat.  The certifiably charitable Clinton foundation came under attack for foreign contributions, notwithstanding Trump's heavily fined sham foundation, and his staggering, business related, conflicts of interest.

All of these pale before Trump's primary obligation, ensuring the security and safety of the American people.  During the campaign, Trump heckled Hillary for mishandling confidential information and using a hackable email server.  Here again, the pot is really black and dirty.  Our President blew an Israeli source who has, and could have in the future, alerted us to ISIS plots.  Even worse is his Flynn flam.

The New York Times has reported that in January, Michael Flynn disclosed to the Trump campaign that he was under investigation for being an unregistered foreign agent.  Additionally, Obama personally warned Trump about Flynn.  In response, our ever prudent President shared the nation's deepest secrets with Flynn by making him National Security Advisor.

Is it time to bid one no Trump?

The Circle Game

Trump is being run over by karma.  He is now at the mercy of those, to whom, he showed none.  He has derided and demeaned the intelligence services.  The deep state is surfacing with leaks of Trump's mishandling of classified information.

Trump wailed sourly at the NY Times, The Washington Post, and CNN which have been only too happy to trumpet Trump failings, and to exploit every leak.  Leaks have not only been from down deep, but also much closer to home.  Trump has undercut his staff, who have in turn delivered uppercuts for the media.

Trump fired FBI Director Comey.  His comeuppance will be direct.  Trump played Deputy Assistant General Rod Rosenstein.  Having not spared the Rod, Trump will be despoiled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Karma is a bitch.  Right now she is the only one sharing Trump's bed.

"4 Americans in Cuba" Is Now Available

Dear Readers,

For Americans, Cuba has been the forbidden fruit—a skin of Detroit sheet metal covering a center of tasty rum, swirling cigar smoke and sandy beaches.   So begins my Cuba guide book which is now available as an ebook on Amazon, Google Play and Ibooks.  Please help me out, and have a jolly good read for less than 3 dollars.  Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Americans-Cuba-Traveler-Rope-Guidebook-ebook/dp/B072L4WG3K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494952809&sr=8-1&keywords=4+americans+in+cuba 

Google Play:  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Larry_Stein_4_Americans_in_Cuba?id=JR7EDgAAQBAJ  

Blood on Trump's Hands

Israel pulled off the holy grail of counter terrorism, a plant inside ISIS.  Near real time intelligence could save thousands.

Now after our president puffed himself up by blowing the agent, the source is gone.  Every ISIS killing is now on Trump.

The Vista

More about Osiris' Vista al Valle, the best place to stay in Vinales, soon.  To whet your appetite here are some back porch pictures.  Creedence Clearwater Rival could not be more right about, "Looking' Out my Backdoor."