Erasmo Calzadilla’s Diary

Yes, I’m an Animal

From an intellectual perspective, it’s commonly assumed that reggaeton is a negative phenomenon…regression from what has been achieved musically and culturally…a symptom of the degradation of taste and morality. And there’s no lack of people who suggest that many such evils originate with (or are caused by) the “revolutionary” process.

Cuba/Bicycles: Safeguarding the Future

During the economic crisis of the 1990s, one of the deities of our Olympian society had the brilliant idea to promote the use of bicycles. Bought from China, they imported huge quantities of these rough-hewn and archaic devices which were well suited to our crumbling streets and the robust Cuban bodies.

Getting to the Top, We Found a Cliff

The future scares me. We’ve passed the point of maximum world petroleum extraction — or “peak oil” — and in the coming years the supplies of that fuel will be insufficient to meet demand. Everything seems to indicate that the world we know will succumb.

Will Telesur Give Cubans the Whole Picture?

Telesur programming has resumed in Cuba, but now it’s live and direct, not like those pre-recorded edited broadcasts of the past, that brought us what the island’s authorities called “The best of Telesur.” I’m left wondering why the change?

Cuba’s Sexual Mill

In a recent previous post I discussed my idea that sex, a rich source of pleasure and happiness, has been converted into a source of distress and unhappiness. One of these operations consists of developing — with the help of science — seduction techniques that are increasingly effective.

How I Spent New Year’s

During these holiday seasons, I usually pick myself up and hide. I don’t like all the celebrating, and I find it exasperating to hear the squealing cries of pain made by pigs when they’re stabbed. The environment of joyfulness ends up making me sad.

Freedom for Your Pecker

Sex mobilizes an enormous amount of human energy. Cuban campesinos have expressed the enormous power of sex in old sayings such as: “A good ass pulls more than a mule, and a pair of hooters can pull more than a horse.

My First Express Detention (Part II)

One night I went out with my friends to just hang out. Everything went fine and we didn’t run into any problems. But when it came time to go back home, there weren’t any buses around, so we decided to sit on a curb talking crap until something showed up.

My First Express Detention

Express Detentions are one of the instruments of repression that the government currently uses against the most active political opponents. They’ll lock you up, put you in jail for a few days, and then let you go without any explanation or document to reflect the time you’ve spent behind bars.

Faith Put to the Test by Dengue

My dear father is a true revolutionary soldier, one who describes himself as an “unconditional supporter.” He’ll put his shoulder to any Olympian task and attempt to execute it without question…though later he might grumble.