Saturday, November 09, 2024

Saturday's video: A chat with Mailyn Salabarria about the elections and more

Memories of talking with my late father about the 1960 election

Memories of talking with my late father about the 1960 election: It happens every four years and we post about election results. For me, election day brings back memories of talking with my late father about one specific election that impacted our lives like no other. Many years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy….
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It happens every four years and we post about election results. For me, election day brings back memories of talking with my late father about one specific election that impacted our lives like no other.

Many years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard Nixon to win the 1960 election.

Down in Cuba, this election was followed closely by my father’s generation because of the communist radicalization of the Castro regime. I recall my father telling me stories of sitting around his Phillips short wave radio and listening to the debate. I can add that there was a lot of cigar smoke in our living room that night. Talking politics over my mother’s Cuban coffee and big Cuban cigar must have been a charm.

VP Nixon conceded the next day despite this election being very close. Wonder how many people know how close that JFK-Nixon election was? The two men were separated by about 113,000 votes, or 49.72% to 49.55%!

The Kennedy “mystique” is such that many people assume that he was elected by a landslide. On the contrary, it was a very close election and one wonders what would have happened if Nixon had insisted on a recount.

Down in Cuba, the election was followed with great interest, especially the second debate when they spoke about the situation in the island. 

In less than six months, now-president Kennedy dropped the ball at the the Bay of Pigs. It changed Cuban history forever. Of course, it gave me a memory of talking to my father. He left us in 2015 and I remember him every election night as we catch results on TV. That election meant a lot to him.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

We remember Mary Travers (1936-2009)


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Mary Travers was born in Kentucky on this day in 1936.  We learned a few years ago that she died died at age 72.

Of course, Mary was the Mary of Peter, Paul & Mary.

They were the greatest folk music group of our generation. And Mary Travers was the beautiful voice in the trio.

Check out some songs by Peter, Paul & Mary, specially the "concert" album recorded years ago.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 




November 1971: "Stairway to heaven" is a year older!




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Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to heaven" is another year older this month. 

Led Zeppelin was one of the greatest British bands ever.  They had a very unique sound and came along just as LP's were replacing 45's. 

It is probably the most interesting song of the 1970's but it suffered from massive saturation on FM or "album rock" radio. 

Yes, I got so tired of this song that I avoided it for years.  I guess that's what happens when you play something so often that it makes you sick.

However, I like it again, specially when I'm working out and need an 8-minute song to help me pass the time.

Overall, it was a great song and a real rock classic, one of the best songs of the rock era.  It came at # 31 in Rolling Stone's Top 500!

Last, but not least, I am still not sure what the lyrics mean!  Perhaps I'll figure them out in the next 40 years!

Click here for the song below:

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.


 

  "There's a lady who's sure All that glitters is gold
And shes buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and shes buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall But she wants to be sure
cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook Theres a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it makes me wonder.

Theres a feeling I get When I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen 
Rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder, 
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And its whispered that soon If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn 
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow 
Don't be alarmed now,
Its just a spring clean for the may queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run There's still time 
to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it wont go
In case you don't know,
The pipers calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And shes buying a stairway to heaven...."



We remember Tom Fogerty (1941-90)


Image result for tom fogerty imagesWe remember Tom Fogerty, born in California on this day in 1941.     He died in 1990.

Along with brother John, they started CCR, one of the super groups of rock.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
 



We remember Bob Gibson (1935-2020)


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We remember Bob Gibson who was born on this day in Omaha, Nebraska in 1935.    He died in 2020. 

Gibson became one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history:  251 games with a 2.91 career ERA!   He pitched 56 shutouts and 255 complete games.   
In 1968, he won 22 with a 1.12 ERA and 13 shutouts!    Almost perfect!

Gibson joined The Hall of Fame in 1981.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.







1989: East Germany opens The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of tyranny and repression.  It was built by East Germany to keep people from going West, or looking for freedom.  

Thankfully, it came down on this day in 1989.

Unlike 1956 (Hungary) and 1968 (Czechoslovakia), Soviet tanks did not crush this event.  

On the contrary, the whole world saw people crack the wall and celebrate its collapse.
It was quite a day!
 
 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1960: The US election that impacted Cuba


Image result for nixon kennedy images

Many years ago today, Senator John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard Nixon to win the 1960 election.  
VP Nixon conceded the next day despite this election being very close. Wonder how many people know how close that JFK-Nixon election was?   The two men were separated by about 113,000 votes, or 49.72% to 49.55%!   
The Kennedy “mystique” is such that many people assume that he was elected by a landslide. On the contrary, it was a very close election and one wonders what would have happened if Nixon had insisted on a recount.    
Down in Cuba, the election was followed with great interest, especially the second debate when they spoke about the situation in the island.       
In less than 6 months, now President Kennedy dropped the ball at the The Bay of Pigs. It changed Cuban history forever.   
PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

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