Saturday, August 18 (sabado 18 de agosto

Computer Problems

I certainly meant to have my next post up some time ago. But, over the past several days, most of my time has been spent trying to figure out why Internet Explorer would not function correctly on my computer. Multiple phone calls to internet providers, The Geek Squad at Best Buy where I purchased the computer and Toshiba Technical Support yielded nothing positive.

Everyone had their theory, none seemed to work. Yesterday, using some software called Internet History Eraser, I cleaned my hard drive and waa laa, problem solved. I assume I picked up some kind of virus somewhere. So, hopefully I can be more regular with this blog from this point on.

I have been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Dean the past couple of days. It looks like Sosua and the north coast is going to 'dodge another bullet.' This severe Category 4 hurricane is going to pass to the south and west of the island. I wonder if Sosua is getting tropical rain from the outer bands. Amazing how every hurricane it seems, follows that ally and and spares the north coast.

Like the last several hurricanes following this path, there is a hurricane warning for the south coast from Barahona west to the Dominican/Haitian border and all along the southwestern coastline of Haiti. Haiti, I have a feeling, will suffer many fatalities again from the wind, rain and mudslides.

The latest report indicates that the southern portions of the island are being battered by the outer fringes of Dean.

The best site I have found to keep up to date with hurricanes in the Carribean is: http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/ .

My thoughts are with my friends who live much further south on the tiny island of Dominica. Dominica is located in the Lesser Antilles between Martinique and Guadaloupe. What a beautiful island that is.

Like the north coast of the DR, Dominica has a long history of remaining out of the eye of storms in el Caribe. This time their luck did not hold. Most of the news has been about the damage on Martinique, but, I am reading that they took a hard hit as well.

Dominica is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Monchy and Alexandra are among the most popular Bachata artists in the Dominican Republic.

Monchy (real name: Ramon Rijo) and Alexandra (real name: Alexandra Cabrera de la Cruz) have been singing together as a group for more than five years. They have had several major hits, including La Otra (2007), No Es Una Novela (2006), Perdidos, Hasta El Fin, Yo Sin Ti Y Tu Sin Mi, No Me Pidas (2004), Polos Opuestos (2003), Te Quiero Igual Como Ayer, Dos Locos, Cuando No Se Puede Olvidar (2002), Pasion, Llorando Penas (2001) and Hoja En Blanco (1999).

Ramon Rijo (Monchy) was born September 19, 1977. From an early age, he studied piano, guitar and singing. Alexandra Cabrera was born October 19, 1978 in Santo Domingo. She attended a university in 1998, but her studies were put on hold when the opportunity arose to audition with Monchy. Alexandra won the audition and the duo, Monchy and Alexandra, was born.

They have sold over 500,000 albums worldwide and have been recognized by some of the most prestigious organizations in the music business. Their albums include Hoja En Blanco (1999), Unplugged (2000), Confesiones (2002), The Mix (2003) and Hasta El Fin (2004). Their Greatest Hits album (Exitos and Mas) was released in 2006.

Congratulations to my buddy, Dr. Bruce Wallerstein for recently becoming a Dominican citizen. Bruce has been going through the process for quite some time and finally has achieved his goal.

My question to Bruce is, "Now that you are a real Dominican, are you going to tell me your mother, your sister, your cousin or your grandfather are sick and then ask me for money every time we talk?

Mt. Isabel

Mt. Isabel de Torres is a landmark that all of us who live or visit the north coast are accustomed to looking at. When we go to the beach, it is how we can tell if it is a crystal clear day or if there is a haze in the air.


Puerto Plata nestles at the foot of the majestic peak (pico).


I have never ridden the cable car (teleferico) up the nearly vertical slope to the summit. I can tell you that I won't either. The mere thought of hanging from a cable overhead is frightening enough to me. But, I am told that it is a 7-minute ascent to the top.


The trip affords spectacular views of the ocean and Puerto Plata below. At the summit there is a restaurant, a botanical garden and a statue of Christ similar to the one found in Rio de Janerio.


You can watch a video of the experience at:
http://www.dr-tourist.tv/pages/videopages/teleferico.html.

Barbara Morir - 29 year old actress from Uruguay

Link For The Day - http://www.askmen.com

AskMen.Com is one of my favorite sites, especially these days. It is an online magazine for men that has 5 million readers each week. The site features a plethora of information about all sorts of information of interest to men. There are sections devoted to fashion, dating and love, sexuality, entertainment, health and sports, cars, life and living to mention just a few.

When you check the site out, look on the left side for the button that says 'Babe Tournament.' Click that button and you will be taken to a 32-woman Latin Babe Tournament being held right now. Each round lasts for one week and viewers select the winners. Sadly you have missed the first round but can get in on the rest of it. The one Dominican entry, Miss Universe, Amelia Vega is still in it.

Melky Cabrera (Santo Domingo) - OF - Las Aguilas

What teams are all those guys that played for the Dominican Winter League Champion and Caribbean World Series Champions Las Aguilas de Cibaneas playing for this summer? Let's check some of them out.

Melky Cabrera has become the regular center fielder for the New York Yankees, moving Johnny Damon to left field. Cabrera is hitting .297 with 8 home runs, 52 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. I suspect that as soon as he gets his first big contract with the Yankees, we won't be seeing him in the winter anymore.

Jose Arredondo (San Pedro de Macoris) - Pitcher - Las Aguilas

Jose Arredondo plays in the Los Angeles Angels' organization. The 23-year old prospect is on the Angels 40-man roster and was recently listed as one of the Angels' top 20 prospects. Jose is currently pitching in the Angels' Advanced Class A League for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

He started the year in AA for the Arkansas Travelers. Arredondo is currently 2-4 with a 6.30 ERA, has 4 saves and 28 strike outs.

Bernie Castro (Villa Vasquez) - 2B - Las Aguilas

The 28-year old winner of the Dominican Winter League Batting Title last year is in the Washington Nationals' organization. Castro is playing for their AAA club, the Columbus Clippers. Bernie is hitting .286, has no home runs, 26 RBIs and is their regular second baseman.

Edwin Encarnacion (La Romana) - 3B - Las Aguilas

The 24-year old Encarnacion is the regular third baseman with the Cincinnati Reds. He currently is hitting .264, has 8 home runs and 48 RBIs.

Hector Luna (Montechristi) - IF - Las Aguilas

Luna played with Las Aguilas during the first part of the winter season. He is of interest to me because he played for several years with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals traded him to Cleveland last year for Ronnie Belliard.

This year he has been all over the place. He started the season in the Major Leagues with Cleveland, but was demoted to their AAA team, the Buffalo Bisons. The Cleveland organization released him in July, he was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays and was again in the Major Leagues with them. Just recently he was sent down to the Blue Jays' AAA team, the Syracuse Chiefs. He remains on Toronto's 40-Man Roster.

We staged a pre-emptive invasion of Iraq to stop the tyrant Saddam Hussein because he had a country full of weapons of mass destruction right?

Aaaaah No....Wrong! It's all about the Big Oil companies. Texas is Big Oil. The older George Bush has made billions in the oil business especially with the Saudis. Young George is all about oil. Dick Cheney, before winning the title as the most hated man in America, was the CEO of Halliburton Oil.

Ask yourself this question. What was the only government ministry in Baghdad that the American soldiers protected from being looted after Sadaam was run out of town? If you guessed the Oil Ministry, you would be correct.

All along, like everything else in this country right now, it is about the rich getting richer.

All the specifics about the oil/greed invasion and 100s of other disturbing facts are contained in the new book, 'Armed Madhouse: From Baghdad to New Orleans - Sordid Secrets and Strange Tales of a White House Gone Wild.' This book, a New York Times Bestseller, was written by Greg Palast, an Investigative Journalist who is an American, but works for the BBC.

You might also check out his website: http://www.gregpalast.com.

That number listed above in RED is the current budget deficit. Thats trillion: 8 trillion, 970 billion, 756 million, 958 thousand, 325 thousand and change.

$127 Billion - U.S. Budget surplus in 2001 when Bush became president.

Think of all the good we could have done with that money!

Some Spanish Phrases

Esta Bien ..... That's Okay

Gracias A Dios ..... Thank God

!Callate! ..... Shut Up!

?De Verdad? ..... Really?

Exactamente ..... Exactly

Claro ..... Of Course

En Serio ..... I'm Not Kidding

No Importa ..... It Doesn't Matter

Buena Suerta ..... Good Luck

Peor Para Ti ..... Too Bad For You

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