HAPPY AT 90 MILES

The rationing book is a form of control, relegating people to paralyzing hours in line for the meager handouts as freighters loaded with goods for the tourist hotels pull into Havana harbor. According to this AP story, Cuban state-run media (which has a monopoly on expression) are suggesting that the rationing should come to an end. This seems to be part of Raul Castro’s lurching steps toward economic reform, but it is a example of how difficult it will be to implement changes in a fragmented way.
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With these panels chapter four comes to a close, thanks to those who’ve been following this. I’m going back to chapter one to work chronologically from here, and in the process I will find a way to present the pages in a more standard web comic format instead of the slide show.

ComicPress is a nice template for doing this, I just have to figure out how to incorporate it into the existing site.

I came across this article in the Miami Herald today, recounting how a group of 14 Cubans were smuggled out of the island on a fast boat and held hostage in a safe house in Cancún, Mexico.

This is very similar to the ordeal Jorge went through, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if the same group of smugglers was involved. The sad thing is that this is a network of Cubans making an illegal profit on the desperation of their countrymen, and are ready to torture and kill if the business goes sour.

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Colombian rock singer Juanes has caused quite a stir in his adopted hometown of Miami for his project of bringing a stellar roster of Latin musicians to a mega concert in Havana. Today, after facing a storm of controversy among exile Cubans for several weeks, the concert, called Peace Without Borders is in full swing in the Plaza de la Revolución with an audience of over a million people.

To people outside the Cuban sphere the controversy surrounding this concert may be hard to comprehend, and I will attempt to shed some light on the subject.
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More panels added, have a look! (click on the picture) And don’t forget to watch the slideshow in fullscreen.

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Click on the image to access the slidehow.

I’m getting close to having the material needed for the book proposal, three more pages to go!

A note to younger readers and those easily offended; there is no censorship in this story. The following pages feature some swearing, which in any case isn’t half as offensive as the treatment Jorge received from his jailers.

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Having decided to post the graphic novel on the web while I keep making it, I have been looking around the web for other web comics. I keep finding true storytelling gems, much more than just a couple of years ago, so I’m going to plug the ones I like from time to time here on Happy at 90 Miles.

First out is the excellent portal SMITHMAG, home to various quality web comics, such as The Pekar Project – new stories from the comics veteran Harvey Pekar, and Next-Door Neighbor, a collection of illustrated autobiographical short stories about the dreaded people who live next to us.
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A couple of more slides, click on the image to read the update.

I’m aware that the slideshow’s not the best way to be following updates, and have looked into a better way to present the material. Turns out there’s a WordPress theme tailored for webcomics called Comicpress.

I’ll have to look into a way to integrate it into the blog, but in any case, it’ll have to wait until I finish chapter 4 (which I’ve jumped ahead to for publishing submission purposes) and can go back to working chronologically from chapter 1.

In the meantime, thank you all for your patience with my slideshow presentations, please make sure you’re using the full screen viewing option.

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Today’s Miami Herald:
A Bendixen poll of Aug. 24th shows support for the embargo eroding, mainly among the younger generations. Overall there is no longer a clear consensus for maintaining the restrictions on trade.

While most of the older exiles maintain it is a necessary punishment for the Castro brothers, others doubt the benefits of the 47 year long policy and some maintain it has only helped strengthen the regime’s hold on the Cuban people, providing a convenient excuse for its deficiencies.

President Obama has said that the release of political dissidents are a prerequisite to lifting the embargo.

Poll results
Miami Herald Article

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