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Chapters: Conch Republic, Cuban Sandwich, the Studios of Key West, Fantasy Fest, Key Lime Pie. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 33. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The Conch Republic is a micronation declared as a tongue-in-cheek protest secession of the city of Key West from the United States on April 23, 1982. It has been maintained as a tourism booster for the city since. Since then, the term Conch Republic has been expanded to refer to "all of the Florida Keys, or, that geographic apportionment of land that falls within the legally defined boundaries of Monroe County Florida, northward to 'Skeeter's Last Chance Saloon' in Florida City, Dade County Florida, with Key West as the Nation's Capitol and all territories north of Key West being referred to as 'The Northern Territories'." While the protest that sparked its creation, and others which have occurred periodically since then have been described by some as "tongue-in-cheek", they were motivated by frustrations over genuine concerns. The original protest event was motivated by a U.S. Border Patrol roadblock and checkpoint which greatly inconvenienced residents and was detrimental to tourism in the area. Although the Conch Republic is not, and never was, a real secessionist movement, many in Key West continue to identify with the concerns that motivated the original protest against what they view as an "unresponsive" central government taking action without considering all of the implications. At least three related protests have taken place subsequent to the original incident. The Conch Republic celebrates Independence Day every April 23 as part of a week-long festival of activities involving numerous businesses in Key West. The organization - a "Sovereign State of Mind," seeking only to bring more "Humor, Warmth, and Respect...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=266652 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 146 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1227 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of Religion, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 6844 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.The second edition of this highly regarded encyclopedia, preserving the best of the first edition's cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture, this new edition is the definitive work in the field for the 21st century. An international team of scholars and contributors have reviewed, revised and added to every word of the classic work, making it relevant to the questions and interests of all researchers. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1432 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Provides comprehensive coverage of the foods and recipes of approximately 75 cultural groups from more than 60 countries. Entries provide 10-15 recipes for each group and include data on the agriculture and dietary habits of each group as well as an overview of each group's nutrition and health. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Black Music Research Journal, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 6315 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: "Joe'i Korsou?" (who is the true Curacaoan?): a musical dialogue on identity in twentieth-century Curacao.(Report)
Author: Nanette De Jong
Publication: Black Music Research Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 26Issue: 2Page: 165(15)

Article Type: Report

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This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, published by Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies on July 1, 2008. The length of the article is 7590 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: A finales de los anos ochenta, tras tres decadas de gobierno Revolucionario, se abrio en Cuba una renovadora etapa creativa en la que la produccion cultural se oriento a reconstruir espacios de dialogo y negociacion propios de la sociedad civil. La obra cultural se entendio entonces como un foro de discusion en el que, entre otras cosas, se ponia en cuestion la definicion oficial de la nacion, de sus limites y de su textura. Para ilustrar esta idea se analiza aqui un numero de obras cinematograficas y plasticas representativas de las artes visuales cubanas contemporaneas.

Citation Details
Title: Cuba posible: pictogramas de una nacion en proceso.
Author: Ana Belen Martin Sevillano
Publication: Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2008
Publisher: Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Volume: 33Issue: 66Page: 109(20)

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Black Music Research Journal, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 10292 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The rhythmic component of afrocubanismo in the art music of Cuba.(Report)
Author: Mario Rey
Publication: Black Music Research Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 26Issue: 2Page: 181(32)

Article Type: Report

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This study examines the evolution of Cuban literature and culture from its origins in the 19th century to the present. The early sections analyze the relationship between literary production and universities, the printing press, the abolitionist movement and the exile community from 1810 through the post-war years.Subsequent sections trace literary life from the 1920s to 1958, focusing on the links between writers, readers, and the institutions that supported literary endeavors in the Cuban Republic. The remaining chapters address Cuban literary culture from 1959 through the 1990s.
This first thorough study of Cuban print culture after the 1959 revolution fills a large gap in Latin American studies with original research in archives and journals.Analysis of the relationship between literature and contemporary Cuban society is grounded in the earliest Cuban vernacular literature born in the Spanish colony and redefined in the process of nation-building in the first half of the 20th century.The book also surveys Cuban literary production in the current period of transition, confronting issues of globalization, fragmentation, and Cuba's adjustment to a post-Cold War world. ... Read more

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Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Isolated Island: Intriguing, Compelling, Myserious
'Culture Smart' Series Review:

First, I am a culture junkie and am a big fan of the 'Culture Smart' series with seven guides thus far in my growing collection. * Germany, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Cuba, Croatia, Brazil and Morocco * This series offers a compact look into the cultures of the world: their customs, attitudes and behaviors, etc. These books provide perhaps as close of understanding to many of them as a reader will have. It also does not hurt that I take in fun/unusual facts like a sponge. I highly recommend this series before traveling to another country or just to further your knowledge of other cultures. ... Read more

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Whether travelers to Cuba plan to stay for a week or a year, they'll benefit from such topics as the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices, and making friend. This "Culture Shock!" volume attempts to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Irresponsible!
I must say I agree with Cramer when it comes to the wealth of Cuban culture.However I have a few concerns about this book.A most shocking part of this book is what is not in it.While it is true that Cuban citizens have no right to bear arms since all weapons were confiscated at the start of the revolution, gun violence is still a factor to consider in Cuba.Consider the case of Joachim Løvschall a Danish student learning Spanish in Cuba who was shot in the back and killed by Cuban state security with an AK-47...In addition, I did not care to hear about how JoAnne Chesimard aka "Asaka Shakur" a fugitive from justice, convicted of killing a NJ state trooper, had learned to adapt to life in Cuba.By sharing the story of Ms. Chesimard Cramer lends credence to her "story" of persecuted victim.In addition, Cramer says he will be balanced but by mentioning the story of Ms. Chesimard an allegedly former political prisoner in the US and not mentioning the plight of dissidents in Cuba (such as Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet... his commitment falls through. The US Department of State has suggestions not mentioned in Culture Shock for those wanting to visit Cuban schools and universities...

A Great Read
I bought this book after I fell in love with the Buena Vista Social Club series and thus Cuba.It is difficult to find unbiased reporting on life in Cuba because most people have very strong feelings about this island.Cramer carefully considers all opinions but actually talks to the people who live there.He doesn't just interview those who love Castro -- in fact, most think Castro should step down.He interviews people who feel that Cuba is racist and those who feel that the "social experiment" has eliminated racism.The book is very intellectually honest which is rare any work but especially one on Cuba.Cramer demonstrates why he is horserace betting's most effective writer.He can teach while he tells amazing stories.

Cramer has written a fascinating look at an amazing island.

Gain insight *before* you go!
Culture Shock Cuba really did it for me. Any imaginable situation you get yourself in while visiting Cuba is mentioned. Coming from a Northern European culture there was just a lot for me to understand, if I didn'twant to behave like a total weirdo. It is an easy and fun to read book Iabsolutely recommend. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

An interesting sociological document, if not a very good piece of literature
Reyita describes her life as a black woman, being born in 1902 and growing up through all the violence and poverty of Cuba in the twentieth century.

In 1912 Reyita,was living with her godfather and his wife, the latter being terribly abusive. This lady was also head of the women's section of the local branch of the leading Afro-Cuban political party, the PIC. The PIC had been formed in 1908 in order to fight against racial discrimination. It was been banned by the Cuban government in 1910 on the false ground that it was anti-white. As a result of what Reyita claims was a trap laid by the Cuban president Jose Miguel Gomez, the PIC launched a revolt. The Cuban military responded by executing and torturing thousands of ordinary Afro-Cubans. Reyita's aunt was arrested on bogus charges and thrown into prison.

Reyitaspends a great deal of time in this book discoursingher use of herbal remedies and other home-grown medicine to cure various ailments of her neighbors. In this way, as a medicine woman, also as one with a reputation as receiving accurate visions from the spirit world, she found a certain niche for herself in Cuba's patriarchal culture.

Reyita was alert to any opening in Cuba's political sphere which might serve as veichle to better the condition of her people. The PIC seemed to offer a ray of hope and Reyita tried her best as a young girl to support her neighborhood chapter. After the PIC was crushed, Afro-Cubans were virtually terrorized into submission. The biggest attraction after this was the fatalistic "Back-to-Africa" movement of Marcus Garvey, which Reyita was enthusiastic for, roughly, in the 1918-22 era. This movement was also repressed by the Cuban state. Then there was Reyita's involvement with the Cuban Communist Party, the PSP, in the early 1940's....

Reyita married a white man who was virtually disowned by his family as a result of this inter-racial marriage and had problems with some of his neighbors in places they lived. Her husband, of course, never brought Reyita along when he was invited to dinner at the houses of his bosses at his factory. Reyita admits that she married this man in order to produce light skinned children who would have a considerably easier time of it in Cuban society than she did growing up. In spite of his steadfast commitment to his marriage to Reyita in the face of society's hostility, her husband was at the same time a rather traditional and dull fellow. He was very controlling towards her and their children.

Reyita tried to engage in small activities that would earn her own money and which could give her a measure of independence from her husband. For instance, in what is perhaps the most vivid and interesting section of the book, the family's life in the 1940's living in the poor neighborhood called Barraccones in Santiago De Cuba, Reyita first opens a diner in her family's home.. She reports how several of these prostitutes lifted themselves out of their [...] and their children that Reyita took care of while their mothers were trying to get their lives together, turned out well. Many of these prostitutes were white, but they shared a bond with Reyita because they were all very poor. Reyita also briefly mentions the gay men who patronized her dinner and she speaks about the lifestyle they practiced with no hint of any disfavor whatsoever. A very tolerant woman was Reyita.


On the years after the triumph of the revolution, Reyita mentions that great progress has been made, but that discrimination is still present, that black candidates for jobs can be excluded in favor of less qualified white ones and so on. She mentions that in film and literature, some of the old stereotypes of Afro-Cubans remain. She notes that oral historians in Cuba post-revolution, made little effort to interview people like her, who had witnessed such events in Afro-Cuban history as the massacres of 1912.

This book does not exactly evoke great feeling in the reader, though at times it can. Thestanzas of poetry that open each chapter, apparently selected by the poetry buff Reyita, are quite beautiful.

Loved It!
Reyita's story is both touching and inspiring.As a Black Cuban woman she suffered a great deal of hardship, which she worked very hard to overcome especially for her children.Stories about her life were very interesting and informative and present a picture of Cuba that is not generally known.Black women all over the diaspora can relate to her story and her desire to have more for her children.Some may question her decision to marry outside her race as a product of poor self-esteem, but she provides a well-reasoned argument to better the lives of her children.I would have loved the opportunity to meet this lady. ... Read more

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Living the Good Life of a Cigar Smoker


Chapter 1: A Short History Of Cigars And Tobacco
Chapter 2: All Styles And Sizes:The Basic Types Of Cigars
Chapter 3: Cigars Versus Cigarettes: Which Is The Lesser Evil?
Chapter 4: The Parts Of A Cigar
Chapter 5: How To Buy A Good Cigar
Chapter 6: Old Vs. New:Choosing The Right Cigar
Chapter 7: Drugstore Cigars:A Good Buy?
Chapter 8: Tasting The World:Cigar's From Different Countries
Chapter 9: How To Purchase Cigars From Cuba
Chapter 10: How To Spot Fake Cuban Cigars
Chapter 11: Cigar Smoking Etiquette
Chapter 12: Choosing The Best Ashtray For Cigar Smoking
Chapter 13: How To Choose The Perfect Single
Chapter 14: How To Buy Cigars As A Gift
Chapter 15: When Do Cigars Really Taste Good?
Chapter 16: How To Pair Cigars And Alcohol
Chapter 17: How To Properly Age A Cigar
Chapter 18: Check The Ashtray:Using Ashes To Determine The Quality Of Your Cigar
Chapter 19: The Health Risks Of Cigar Smoking
Chapter 20: Why Use A Humidor?
Chapter 21: Fighting The Beetles:Protecting Your Cigars From Infestation
... Read more

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The earliest films made in Cuba-newsreel footage of the Cuban-Spanish-American War-date from the end of the nineteenth century, but Cuba cannot be said to have had an indigenous film industry before the revolution of 1959. The melodramas, musicals, and comedies made until then reflected Hollywood's-and the United States's-cultural domination of the island, but the revolution precipitated urgent debates about the role of cinema in a socialist country and the kinds of films best suited to the needs of the people and their rulers. Among the feature films, documentaries, and short subjects made in accordance with revolutionary principles are celebrated works by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Humberto Solás, and other filmmakers who have had a profound influence on both Latin American and world cinema.

Michael Chanan provides a comprehensive, authoritative, and absorbing account of Cuban cinema both before and after the revolution, deftly setting individual films and filmmakers within the larger framework of Cuba's social, political, and cultural history. First published as The Cuban Image in 1984 to wide acclaim, Cuban Cinema now appears in a new, expanded edition that updates Chanan's discussion to the beginning of the twenty-first century. New chapters address ongoing concerns about freedom of expression; Havana's restored importance within the Latin American film industry through the Havana Film Festival, before state support for filmmakers dwindled in the economic collapse that followed the fall of the Soviet Union; Cuban cinema's place within the globalized cultural market; and the changing audience for Cuban films.

The only book-length study of Cuban cinema written in English, this indispensable work on one of the world's most vital national cinemas offers a unique perspective on the Cuban experience in the twentieth century.

Michael Chanan is a documentary filmmaker and professor of cultural and media studies at the University of the West of England in Bristol. ... Read more