shelves

i have seem just one grocery store in three days. food and sundries are in very short supply. the explanation often given is "the blockade" but some i've spoken with think this may be a way of maintaining economic control. economy is a reflection of every aspect of our lives, as americans know very well as a disproportionately consumer culture.

i tried to bring a dvd player in to a friend of a friend in richmond but it was confiscated at customs in the havana airport. it took two trips back to the airport (one thwarted trip), a series over a few days of long complicated phone calls, and a navigation through half a dozen different individuals with many forms, several in triplicate or more, lots of stamping and processing.