WanderingSalsero

The international joke in Copenhagen

I've been picking up bits and pieces of the big Goofball Congress....otherwise known as the 'Climate Summit', in Copenhagen.  Seems to me it's become just the kind of farce that I, and others, thought it would be.

Of course, I'm not alone in my opinion that this climate-change issue has been totally misrepresented and blown out of proportion by the radical left for their own benefit.   Lots of people have been calling it just what it is, pure bullshit, for many years.  In a way, I think these recent happenings have really been good for our side. 

As an example of this craziness I'm talking about, here's an article I just read.  And to think that these people actually have fat expense accounts and can get away with what they're doing.  It's really appaling.

You think the Israelis are the bad guys over there?

Here's an interesting story about the real situation concerning Israeli conduct in Gaza and the Palestinian situation. 

Knowing something, as I do, about some of the tricks the North Vietnamese and VC used in the Vietnam War, I gotta say that I'm not surprised.

People don't change.  Bad guys do what bad guys do and good guys do what good guys do.

Energy.......things are looking up again.

According to this article, the energy crises is a thing of the past.  The phrase 'cooking with gas' was never more appropriate.  Especiallly in Texas and Pennsylvania.

The article informs us that new technology makes previously unexploitable gas reserves now reachable and extractable.  It's an interesting article and it implies that everything energy related (which is just about everything) will start to prosper again.

Movie scene or reality?

Is this a scene from some movie about a future totalitarian state or a piece of present day reality?

Well, sad to say but this is what our country has come to as of today.  I don't know all the details but it looks pretty scary doesn't it.  And it also kinda angers me that somebody thinks they can treat me and my fellow citizens like this. 

Whatever happened to the right of assembly? 

Do you realize that this...."...by order of the police chief of...." stuff is probably the exact same thing that happened when the British were trying to squash the American Revolutionary movement. 

What's the difference? 

There ain't none!

The Constitution was intended to protect our rights.  Not the government.  Yet nowadays we've got people, our own fellow citizens, hiding behind their version of 'the law' to basically treat us like we're just some inconvenient, obtrusive nobodys who happen to turn up at inconvenient times when they're trying to think of more ways to 'stick it' to us.

Just look at those cops standing there.  No doubt some of them are decent people.  Do they even know what they're doing?

Probably not.

But regardless........times are changing.  We're all going to have to make some hard choices pretty soon, I suspect.  Have you thought about the issues?  Are you ready?

This stuff makes me sick.  It really pisses me off that these liberal socialist types are screwing around with me and my country.  The picture of this video is about the worst it's been yet.  Not good news, I'm afraid.

Yeah......moving is a hassle.

Just a neutral comment on something I saw in the news this morning.

I read on Yahoo News that the US withdrawal from Iraq is and has been underway for over a year now.  The article mentioned that the hardest thing to move was all the equipment.  And when it says "all", that's exactly what it means.

Realize of course that that doesn't necessarily mean that everything we own over there will be moved.  It just means that everything has to be inventoried and a decision made on whether or not it's cost effect to move it.

If the US government decides it's not cost effective to move it then in  some cases it might be destroyed.  But in most cases it'll probably simply be given to the Iraqis.  You know what that means, right?

It means that there's going to be a mega-ton of 'deals' being made.  Hands will be greased and pockets will be lined.  Probably both Iraqi and American (civilian and military). 

Aggressive and unscrupulous Iraqis and Americans will undoubtedly find ways to see that much of this equipment  we're leaving behind finds it's way into the Iraqui economy.....at their profit.  And some of it, I'm sure, will be listed as destroyed but in fact will mysteriously and miraculously survive.

It's kinda funny really.  I'm not sure I'd blame anybody for trying to get 'in' on it.  The same thing happened on massive scale in Vietnam too.

Yeah, moving is a hassle.  I've sure left lots of good stuff behind.  Several times.

Another grand event in San Francisco for Bachateros et.al.

Rodney Aquino and Jorge Elizando, those two tireless bachatero innovators who brought you the first ever Bachata Congress in Reno, Nevada last year are doing an encore in San Francisco.

Yeah, that's right!  This coming July Rodney and Jorge are putting on the 

1st BACHATA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SAN FRANCISCO

SUMMER OF JULY 16, 17, 18, 19, 2009

Reservations are already starting to come in at an increasing rate because everybody wants to be as close to the venue as possible.  Dancers as well as first class instructors are coming literally from the 4 corners of the world.

This event is for you if you're a:

beginners

intermediate or

advanced!

I guess that pretty much means you should come, right?

This event, the first ever "Bachata International" to be held in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California, is going to be totally awesome because you'll have over 70 dance workshops to choose from for the entire weekend!

Sure there'll be some salsa but.......once again Rodney and Jorge make sure that you'll get your 'bachata fix'.  Rodney and Jorge have made major advances in recent years in bringing bachata 'out of the closet'.  As a result of their efforts, bachata popularity has soared.  So you'll have a chance to learn not only from Jorge and Rodney but also several other of the best and most innovative bachata instructors in the world.

But wait!............That's not all!

Because bachata dancers are so so progressive, this event will also feature instructors teaching Dominican style Bachata, Bachata Moderna, Merengue, Boleero, Tango, Zouk, Zumba, Kizomba..... and more. 

A special added surprise treat, the details of which are a tightly guarded secret, will be a special class in "Lap Dancing For Bachateros and Bachateras".  Gee.....!!  I wonder what that'll be??

 There'll be over 50 internationally recognized dance artists and teachers!

And........you'll enjoy 

• LIVE International Dance Performances
• LIVE Latin Band
• "El Duque" a new bachata Movie screening presented by Award Winning Director Adam Taub
• Amateur and Professional Bachata Competition
• Top Latin DJs spinning the best of oldies and new music
• Workshops, Performances and "Dance-til-you-drop" all-night dance parties. 

The event is a super bargin at only $160.00 Full Pass.  Yeah, 4 full-of-fun days and nights in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  You'll not only learn things that'll take your dancing into the stratosphere but also have a chance to network with other dancers from all over the world and make friends you'll probably know for the rest of your life.

Jorge and Rodney's previous event, in Reno, was a huge success.  This time they've had a chance to find out even more about what YOU really want and that's what they've provided.  You definately shouldn't miss this event.....especially if you're a real bachatero or bachatera.

Man.......!!!  I wish I could be there!!!

I'd highly advise you to begin to make your plans now.  And start by going to this site for more info:  http://www.sfbachatafestival.com

This one'll work too:  HTTP://WWW.SFBIF.COM

Don't delay....... because the price of tickets goes up a bit after 1 July 2009.  You snooze....you loose!  Reserve your ticket right now .......and be sure to take lots of pictures and send me some of your best.  I'll put'em up on WanderingSalsero.  Ticket Info: $160.00 Full Pass Expires July 1, 2009

From a Christian perspective, I see......

I'm looking at this news article about Obama (is-he-or-isn't-he-a-youknowwhat) going to Saudia Arabia and consulting with 'His Majesty'.  The article doesn't specifically say it but Obama's actions since he's been in office leave no doubt that he's pretty much abandoning Israel and making a big deal about kissing up to the Arabs.

I haven't really been much into it recent years but I remember back when I was 'born again', I learned a lot about end-times prophecy.  And I know what the world scene looks like just prior to that time.

Israel will be virtually isolated from the rest of the world.  Yet they will still be prospering.  And the rest of the world will still be trying to blame all their problems on 'the Jews'.

Yeah.  Pretty stupid, I know.......but that's the way it is.  It's virtually that way now as anybody can see.

The point is.....the clock is running.  We are headed for the end of this era of mankind.  I have greatg difficulty seeing it's not plainly obvious to anybody looking at what's right in front of everybody's eyes and comparing it to what the Bible says.

For the President of the United States of America, the greatest Christian country ever on the face of the Earth, to be kissing ass with the King of Saudia Arabia, the earthly (did you catch that......"earthly" :-) really boogles my mind.

You know, regarding the idea of 'our time being over', the Bible talks about 'ages' and 'the time of the gentiles'.  I recall learning that when the Jews rejected Jesus, the Lord basically said, 'OK, well.....I'll take my message to the Gentiles.....for now.  I'll get back to you Jews later.'

I think that's why the wealth and focus of the earth shifted from the Far East and Middle East and to the 'New World' after that.  And it's been that way up until basically this century when the Middle East began to wake up again.

Even with that new awakening though, it wouldn't have been relevent or significant without the fact that the West began to lose it's Christian and moral foundations.  Opportunities are never lost but rather just picked up by somebody else.

So.......I really see things changing a lot.  I know there are a lot of people in America who see this same thing as I do and I'm confident that the Lord will continue to bless us, and all those who bless Him.  It's just sorta awesome to see humanity basically 'turning on a dime' like this....something so big and yet in many ways so subtle.

If you have comments, don't hesitate to make them.  I'll post them.  But don't think you're going to shake my believe.  I read the Book and I know what happens already.  You don't have to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Glenn's one question makes his point

Here's Glenn Beck's most recent video blog post.  The past posts are on the same page too but the top one is his most recent.  Here, he's talking about the continuing and deteriorating situation in Mexico.

Yeah, I think it's a shame....i.e. too bad, because I really like Mexicans.  They're good people generally speaking. 

But I don't think we need any more illegal Mexican (or other) immigrants here.  And Glenn talks about their situation with swine flu down there.  It's pretty well an accepted fact that they don't have the national or local medical facilities to effectively combat such a thing.  So Glenn asked a simple question.

"When too many people try to climb on a life raft, what happens?"

You damn right........it flips over and everybody is screwed!

According to a recent report (by some military commission) there are two countries on Earth in danger of imminent social and economic collapse.   Pakistan and Mexico.

Let's forget Pakistan for this discussion but consider Mexico.

Glenn is say, 'If you're a mom, or a dad, or anybody in Mexico and you've got the swine flue and you realize that your government can't or otherwise isn't going to be able to help you.....who ya gonna call?

Ghostbusters?  Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama?

Probably not, right?

No......you're heading up north to the Great Yanqui of the North.....Los Estados Unidos....the good ol' USofA.

Kinda makes you wish we had a fence don't it?

Something you need to remember about events like this too is that they often don't just simmer.  Very often these things happen very suddenly.  And if you were in the government, are you going to raise the alarm unless you really, really, really have to?

Hell no!  You're not going to do anything that'll (a) make it seem like you're not in control, or (b) cause people to give up the ship (and lose your job).  Point is.......Mexico could collapse almost overnight.  I say....could.

And if it did start to have really serious problems (e.g. with swine flu.....or anything) what do you think Obama (our saviour) would do? 

Damn right......he'd march right down there and they would de-facto become a US protectorate.  Sure, there'd be some quid-pro-quo (this for that), maybe in the form of oil or something.  But my point is that a crises, perceived or otherwise, is a perfect opportunity for government leaders to get things done, under the guise of 'emergency', that they otherwise could never hope to accomplish. 

It's happened before kids so don't think it couldn't happen again.

Here's Glenn's video page link.

The New Cuban Direction

Two articles I found today portend the future for salsa in the US.

US to Cuba travel on the rise.

The US state department is loosening travel restriction to Cuba so now, rather than people having to do it 'under-the-table', they're able to do it 'legit'.  I assume the same loosening applies to Cubans coming the the US sooooooooo.........look for a growing number of Cuban dancers and musicians coming the the US, right?  That's great.

I wonder if they'll be hiring 'native English speakers' for the ESL industry there?!!

Arabs investing in the new, booming, Cuban tourism industry.

The Arabs know their oil won't last forever so they're trying to invest their money as wisely as possible.  Tourism has always been a good industry.  It requires only moderate capital in comparison to heavy industry and in most cases all the labor except for upper management is locally available.  In this case, these Arabs are the first to start building hotels in Cuba.  Look for some big salsa events there in the future, right?

History repeats itself?

Yeah, I think it does. 

Why?

Because (as I've often said).....people don't change.  They keep doing the same things over and over.  The younger generation very seldom learns from the mistakes of the previous generation.  They go through the same cyles of birth, growth, thinking they're indestructible and going to live forever, and eventually blaming their mistakes on somebody else.

So that's why I find this article, here, which I picked up from a publication I just discovered called The Trumpet, very believable.

I've always like history and I know more, probably, than the average person about the events leading up to WWII.  I know some of the problems that made it so easy for Hitler and Mussolini to come to power in their respective countries.  And I see a lot of those same things happening today.

I didn't know much about what was going on in Italy currently though and that's what's so interesting about this article.  You might think I'm crazy but.....that's OK.

Regarding The Trumpet, it was interesting to see it because apparently it was started by a guy named Herbert Armstrong.  I was very surprised to see that (on the ad that got my initial attention) because it brough back my memories of listening to him on the radio many years ago back when I was a teenager. 

Mr. Armstrong used to have a radio program in which I talked about Bible prophecy.  That was before I was a born-again Christian but I nevertheless was raised in a family that sometimes would drag me to an Episcopal church.  So I sorta knew the dogma.  Plus, as I say, I had an interst in history.

I always found his program very fascinating.  Later I kinda moved on to other concerns in life and lost touch with Mr. Armstrong. He's probably dead now but the subject of end-times prophecy still interests me.

This article I'm linking to points out some startling similarities between pre-WWII Italy and the Fascists of Benito Mussiloni