Back to Blog
Jrebel release notes6/22/2023 ![]() I have been using Android Studio 3.0 since since the alpha versions, and it is good to see it finally released. Here is an example using the additional ‘addRebelAgent’ task that I specified earlier, that I use on my Windows 64 machine. Gradle build files, command line, build scripts, etc. Once set up, that allows you to use the environment variable in multiple ways, e.g. However the path is still hard-coded, which is something that should be avoided if possible.Īnother way to specify the path is to use a system environment variable to point to where JRebel is installed. Putting the path to the JRebel library to use as the agent in a properties file allows multiple developers to have their own version. Gradle bootRun -PaddJRebel=true Finding the Rebel Base Then to use JRebel you just need to add the extra property. I have also added a debug message if the ‘rebelAgent’ property is not available.Īnother way would be to pass an optional property to the ‘bootRun’ task to use as a flag whether to add JRebel or not. Now running ‘bootRun’ would start the app normally, and if you want JRebel then use the ‘rebelRun’ task instead. There would be several ways of doing this, but one would be to add the JRebel startup configuration in an optional task. Make JRebel Optionalįor instance, what if you don’t always want JRebel everytime you start the app with ‘ bootRun’? JRebel plugins for IDE’s like Intellij IDEA are smart enough to give you the option of running your app with or without JRebel However there are several ways to improve on this. Then set the property in gradle.properties: It is basic but works fine.Īll you have to do is to add a few lines to adle: You can see a list of retired libraries along with their replacement libraries at Azure SDK Deprecated Releases.There is some documentation on how to add JRebel to a Spring Boot app that uses Gradle as the build tool. ![]() While no code stops working, support and updates end on the respective dates in 2023. ![]() Numerous older Azure SDK libraries that don’t comply with the Azure SDK Guidelines have been retired (deprecated) and support ends in 2023.New releases for Storage Blobs and Queue for Go.New releases for Storage Files Data Lake and Files Share for C++.New releases for Blobs, Blobs Batch, Blobs Cryptography, Files Data Lake, Files Share, and Queues for Java.Azure Monitor OpenTelemetry Exporter for.Key Vault Administration, Certificates, Keys, and Secrets.NET, Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, and Go New Relic Observability, Palo Alto Networks – Next Generation Firewall, and Self Help.Palo Alto Networks – Next Generation Firewall Qumulo.Palo Alto Networks – Next Generation Firewall and Qumulo.Palo Alto Networks – Next Generation Firewall.Azure SDK for Python Management Libraries.Azure SDK for JavaScript Management Libraries.Azure SDK for Java Management Libraries.See the release notes for a full list of our releases. Please take a few minutes to respond to our survey. The Azure Developer Tools team is seeking feedback on the Azure SDKs and REST APIs. Welcome to the May release of the Azure SDK. You can find links to packages, code, and docs on our Azure SDK Releases page. ![]() Subscribe to our Azure SDK Blog RSS Feed to get notified when a new release is available. Thank you for your interest in the new Azure SDKs! We release new features, improvements, and bug fixes every month.
0 Comments
Read More
Back to Blog
Larry fink letter6/22/2023 ![]() A culture of short-term focus in markets and the media - an obsession with second-by-second movements and prices - drives fear and discourages smart investing. And that’s not because they weren’t savvy enough to invest in the “right things” - it’s because they were not invested at all.Īround the world, savers are struggling with low interest rates as well as obstacles to better investing behaviors. But much more importantly: a lot of people didn’t. Reflecting on 2017, it is easy to get wrapped up in the remarkable performance of markets. He taught me that investing isn’t just about tomorrow - it’s about decades of tomorrows. That same $1,000, invested instead in the S&P 500, would be worth about $800,000 today.īy the time I moved to New York to work in finance, I realized how grateful I was to my father - and how lucky I was that he taught me such vital lessons about the importance of investing and about preparing for the future. Like millions of other working Americans, he became an investor. But he knew there was a better way to build for the future. If my father had put $1,000 in a bank account in 1952, the year I was born, it would be worth around $20,000 today. Looking back, the lessons are as powerful as ever. ![]() And with each year, I grew to understand the power of investing in the markets. I continued to work, save and invest all throughout high school, college and grad school. I bought my first stock, DuPont, when I was 13 years old. I started saving at a young age, earning money helping my father out at the shoe store. But without even knowing it, I was quietly absorbing these lessons from my parents on a daily basis. We can be better at allocating capital and resources in ways that recognize the enormous economic potential of including the multiple stakeholders to capture the latent investment opportunity in creating sustainable change at scale.When I was younger, I didn’t get it - or at least I didn’t feel like I did. As we start our recovery from the pandemic, we call upon all investors, businesses, and consumers alike to work together to power the next phase of global economic growth. ![]() So the time for corporate platitudes is behind us – it is the doing that matters now. Businesses are now our most trusted institutions compared to governments, NGOs and the media, per Edelman’s latest Trust Report. To turn plastic waste into a resource, we can only understand the full breadth of the opportunity when we invest for multi-stakeholders: consumers, waste pickers, corporations, the recycling industry, municipal governments, communities, and more.Īnd while we need all of these stakeholders working together, now is the moment for businesses to take the lead. Ocean plastic is a systems problem that demands a comprehensive, systems solution. This is exactly the sort of model that my company has taken on here in South and Southeast Asia to combat ocean plastic and that I have written about previously for this column. The same holds true when seeking better social and governance outcomes, as well. Ultimately, a more inclusive business offers the real possibility of being more productive and more profitable, and here the research is unambiguous: there are enormous financial benefits from financial leadership and innovation decisions that are inclusive of women and minorities - benefits that show up as better performance and financial rewards across investments in all asset classes. We have seen first-hand as investors how financing with an emphasis on the environment and multiple stakeholders can drive superior returns for shareholders and have positive impacts on society. Businesses that benefit from a range of stakeholders and are optimized for positive ESG outcomes in the market, present investment opportunities – not risks. Capital can be used as a tool to benefit workers, consumers, supply chains, the environment and communities (society as a whole), without diminishing returns to long term investors. The good news is that we already know that such an approach works.
Back to Blog
Valentines day gift for him6/22/2023 She’s written about products for Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Apartment Therapy, Brides, MyDomaine, SHOP Today, and Drew and Jonathan Reveal, to name a few. This article was written by Hannah Baker, a freelance writer and editor with a decade of experience researching and writing about home products. Plan for it, think about it, and keep it simple.” Don't miss every shipping deadline and then run to the bodega for chocolates on February 13. “The other key is to order a gift far enough in advance. Write down a note on your phone when an idea for a gift hits you.” “The vibe should just be ‘I saw this and thought of you,’” she says. How do you choose a more thoughtful gift?įorrest reminds us that the gift doesn’t have to be over-the-top or super expensive to impress him. Valentine's Day does have a lot of pressure attached to it, so planning an experience that you would love to do regardless of the holiday is a great way to go, rather than worrying he won't make the best-ever excited face opening the gift.” Or, book a fun class together like a cooking class or a pottery class where you two can actually keep getting to know each other. “Try to score a hard-to-get dinner reservation for the near future. “It doesn't have to be a physical keepsake,” she says. If you're in a new relationship, Forrest suggests keeping it light and fun. What should you get for Valentine’s Day if you’re in a new relationship? “For the guy who has everything, or just doesn't need anything for Valentine's Day, tickets to a comedy club, to a book signing, to an art fair, or really to anything are always a good idea.” “The most special and creative gifts go one extra step in thought from usual to unexpected.”Īnother suggestion from Forrest is tickets. Very into taking care of himself and his skin? Get him a certificate for a facial and enough to pick out some new products,” she says. Does he love to cook? Think about specialty ingredients or spices that he normally wouldn't purchase. “Wine or spirits drinker? Purchase a birth year vintage or a bottle from a location you two have been together. Questions You Might Ask What are some creative Valentine’s Day gift ideas for men?įorrest recommends thinking closely about what he enjoys, and then choosing something extra special that correlates to that interest.
Back to Blog
Sqlitemanager download6/22/2023 ![]() Each chart type can be displayed in different ways. The program allows you to choose between bar or pie charts, radar, scatter or Venn charts and QR code. You can perform many analysis tasks on your database and generate various charts. Additionally, the program’s Lua-based scripting language can be useful if you wish to write your own plug-ins and automate repetitive tasks, like inserting records in loops, downloading data and many others. SQLiteManager allows you to edit a few predefined scripts or create new ones. It allows you to interact with your data in various ways and you can also save individual values as files and load them when you need to. The corresponding code will be generated automatically, on the same window.Īlthough the software provides support for inline editing, its trademark record editor can make your work much easier. To create an index, you must name it, select a table and target one or more columns. For example, if you wish to create a table, you just need to create a few columns, set their content type to text, integer, timestamp or others and select one or more constraints for each column, such as primary key, auto increment, unique and so on. Most configurations are quite easy to make. Creating new components, executing scripts or performing other actions can be done on separate windows. The software allows you to create tables of contents, indexes and other components, edit them, verify or analyze your database, generate charts and perform other actions, in different sections of the interface, which can be accessed via navigation buttons, located on a toolbar. The user interface has the same layout and options, regardless of your initial choice. You can also choose to connect to a cubeSQL server. When launched, SQLiteManager will place a series of options at your disposal, for creating different database types, such as file based or in-memory databases or encrypted databases. The program is not freeware, but you can try it free of charge, with a few restrictions. If you opt for the Windows edition, you can run it on Win XP, Vista and Win 7. It is distributed for Windows and Mac OS X platforms. The setup file is almost 12 MB and it does not take long to install the program on your computer. The software allows you to query data with a single click, create indexes or triggers faster, write your own plug-ins and automate repetitive actions and perform all sorts of basic or advanced tasks, without too much effort. It provides a user friendly interface, with clear and easy to understand functions to go with it. With SQLiteManager, you may create, edit and manage sqlite databases faster and easier. Live SQL preview offers you detailed information about the sql generated by your actions. Based upon your settings, it automatically recognises whether the Alter Table operation is natively supported by sqlite or whether a special transaction is required. With SQLiteManager 4, a special popover window is displayed when you click on a cell which has plenty of space and options available. Inline editing is always difficult within most database management apps, where available space is limited and there are no options which are easily accessed. If you need to refine your queries you can stack up an unlimited numbers of filters. Instead of typing complicated command line commands, SQLiteManager allows you to query data contained in tables or views with just one click. The true power of SQLiteManager is its simple and intuitive interface, all the main features are just a click away and most of the time very complicated command line commands are wrapped inside a simple button. SQLiteManager allows you to work with a wide range of encrypted sqlite 3 databases: AES 128/256/RC4 encrypted databases, SQLCipher encrypted database and also with cubeSQL server. With SQLiteManager you can easily ALTER any sqlite database schema, you can easily show PDF, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, and QuickTime image from any BLOB record, you can access your SQL history, you can display add notes and stickies to your database, you can import, and export data You create the report templates using a report template language and then generate reports by pouring SQL query results into the templates. SQLiteManager’s report generation system is flexible enough to let you generate reports in just about any format you can imagine (report generation can actually be used to export data in just about any format you need). It enables you to insert, delete, and updates records in an intuitive way, it supports arbitrary SQL commands. It allows you to create and browse tables, views, triggers, and indexes. SQLiteManager allows you to open and work with wide range of database versions like sqlite 2, sqlite 3, in memory databases, AES 128 encrypted databases, and with REAL Server databases.
Back to Blog
Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment6/22/2023 ![]() Your provider may inject the carpal tunnel with a corticosteroid such as cortisone to relieve pain. There isn't evidence, however, that these drugs improve carpal tunnel syndrome.Ĭorticosteroids. ![]() NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), may help relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome in the short term. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nighttime splinting may be a good option if you're pregnant because it does not involve the use of any medications to be effective. Even though you only wear the splint at night, it can also help prevent daytime symptoms. A splint that holds the wrist still while you sleep can help relieve nighttime symptoms of tingling and numbness. If the condition is diagnosed early, nonsurgical methods may help improve carpal tunnel syndrome, including: If you have numbness in your hands, you need to see a health care provider. Splinting and other conservative treatments are more likely to help if you've had only mild to moderate symptoms that come and go for less than 10 months. Other treatment options include wrist splinting, medications and surgery. Avoid activities that make symptoms worse.Take more-frequent breaks to rest the hands.In the early stages, simple things that you can do for yourself may make the problem go away. Treat carpal tunnel syndrome as early as possible after symptoms start. This test may be used to diagnose the condition and rule out other conditions. A small shock is passed through the median nerve to see if electrical impulses are slowed in the carpal tunnel. ![]() In a variation of electromyography, two electrodes are taped to the skin. This test can identify damage to the muscles controlled by the median nerve, and also may rule out other conditions. During this test, your provider inserts a thin-needle electrode into specific muscles to evaluate the electrical activity when muscles contract and rest. This test measures the tiny electrical discharges produced in muscles. This can help determine whether the nerve is being compressed. Your provider may recommend an ultrasound of your wrist to get a good picture of the bones and nerve. However, X-rays are not helpful in making a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some providers recommend an X-ray of the affected wrist to exclude other causes of wrist pain, such as arthritis or a fracture. He or she will test the feeling in the fingers and the strength of the muscles in the hand.īending the wrist, tapping on the nerve or simply pressing on the nerve can trigger symptoms in many people. Your provider will conduct a physical examination. They also tend to occur at night and may wake you during the night, or you may notice the numbness when you wake up in the morning. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually occur while holding a phone or a newspaper or gripping a steering wheel.
Back to Blog
Surah hashr last 3 ayat ki fazilat6/22/2023 Surah Al-Hashr is a Surah with which you gain success in every aspect of your life whenever you recite it. The person who recites it on a regular basis will be regarded as a martyr when he/she will die.#SURAH HASHR LAST 3 VERSES MP3 OFFLINE#.#SURAH HASHR LAST 3 VERSES MP3 DOWNLOAD#.These verses are great verses that include a lot of Allah most beautiful Names. By downloading this surah al hashr mp3 app you can learn to read,write and memorized this surah.This app can also be said as surah english translation app. In this post, we will be looking at the translation and meaning of surah hashr last 3 ayat. The hypocrites showed support to them and incited them initially, but later betrayed them. You can easily download this mp3 surah by clicking on the 3 dots button or can. 059 Al-Hashr This is a Madni Surah and is also known as Surah Banu Nadhir, one of the Jewish tribes in Madina, as it relates their hostility against the Muslims and consequent expulsion from the city following their attempts to assassinate the Prophet. ![]() some of the beautiful names of Allaah (SWT) in the last three verses. Surah Al Hashr mp3 surah recites by Al Afasy in his heart-touching voice. The surah features Fifteen attributes of God in the last three verses.
Back to Blog
Cannot open vedio with mplayerx6/22/2023 ![]() Movie-Aspect is 1.78:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect. Opening audio decoder: FFmpeg/libavcodec audio decodersĪUDIO: 48000 Hz, 6 ch, s16le, 0.0 kbit/0.00% (ratio: 0->576000) Selected video codec: vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg H.264) Opening video decoder: FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family Error when calling vdp_device_create_x11: 1 A problem in your operating system may also cause QuickTime to stop working.Failed to open VDPAU backend libvdpau_nvidia.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory For instance, if your computer is infected with malware, it may prevent QuickTime player from opening your files. QuickTime Player Makes Video Files Not Open on Mac So you need to resolve all the internal Mac errors and make sure to download reliable antivirus software that helps you scan all the issues and get rid of the virus that infected your computer. It can be discouraging to find out that QuickTime Player cannot open video files on your Mac. There can be several reasons for it, like codec issues, software issues, filename inaccuracy, and more. What Format of Video Files Can QuickTime Player Open? Whatever the reason, you can overcome these problems using the right method and enjoy the video viewing experience. ![]() QuickTime Player supports multiple file formats. Some of them include MPEG-4 files (MP4, MP3, M4V, M4A), QuickTime movie files (MOV), DV Stream, MPEG-2, Mjpeg, AVI, and even some audio files such as AIFF, WAV, and AAC. The QuickTime Movie format supports video or audio tracks encoded using different types of codecs.Īpart from these formats, you can expand QuickTime to utilize more media formats by installing additional QuickTime components on your Mac. Now, let us look at different solutions to fix "QuickTime player not playing video" issues. When you cannot open your file with QuickTime player, it either means your application is either incompatible or outdated. The QuickTime player might be too old, which is why it cannot read the file. So, try updating the application and see if that fixes the issue. When it comes to updating QuickTime player applications, it is unnecessary to uninstall the app and then reinstall it again. Use Other Installed Apps to Play Videos on Mac All you have to do is go to the "Help" tab located on the QuickTime player window, select "Update Existing Software." Follow the instructions given on the screen and complete the update process. If the above solution does not work, you can try playing your video on other installed media player applications on your Mac. You can use players like MplayerX or VLC whenever you experience QuickTime video playback issues. It is recommended that you use VLC to open video files as it is configured to play videos with different formats. Here are the steps you need to follow to play videos with VLC by default on Mac. Step 1: Find a video file that you want to open with VLC, like an MP4 file, and then right-click on it. After that, select "Get info" from the list of options you see on your screen. Step 2: Now, a dialog box will open choose the "VLC.app" option. If you cannot find the "VLC.app" option, make sure VLC is installed on your Mac. A window will open, click on the "Change All" button - this will open the file you want to play using VLC. Step 3: Now, a confirmation dialog box will appear on your screen, click on continue to proceed further. Step 4: The final step is to close the window. You are now ready to open your media file with VLC. Use Suggested Mac Apps to Open Videosīesides QuickTime Player, you can also use other applications to play your videos, depending on your video file formats. Follow the steps below to search for an application that works with your video file: You can use popular apps like MPlayerX, 5K Player, Elmedia Player, VLC, Plex, and more. Step 2: You will see a list of installed applications that you can use to open your file type. #How to update quicktime player software.
Back to Blog
Psst cat spray repellent6/21/2023 Treating Fleas, Bad Breath, & Skunk Smell Prevent Cats from Peeing Outside Your HouseĬats May Drive You Crazy, but They Won't Make You Mentally Illģ All-Natural Recipes That Are Safe for Indoor & Outdoor Catsġ0 Extraordinary Uses for the Ordinary Lemon Use This Type of Repellent to Avoid Mosquitoes-& Zika Make a natural homemade flea repellent for pets Repel Mosquitoes Naturally Using Just Plants & Oils ![]()
Back to Blog
Kitchen extractor fan6/21/2023 ![]() This in turn can cause damp patches on ceilings etc which can cause direct water damage or secondary issues such as mould problems. Over time, if moisture in a kitchen is not controlled, the steam from cooking (or boiling a kettle) will settle on surfaces, reaching dew point and forming condensation on various surfaces. Several of these things can be associated with ‘damp’ problems in kitchens and can in fact be linked to condensation problems (and then mould problems). In our article about the signs of a water leak, we talked about how there are a few signs of a leak to watch out for. So back to the benefits of kitchen extractor fans… Condensation and Mould in Kitchens If you think about it, where would the moisture go? It might sound silly to say but extractor fans and cooker hoods don’t really come with a water tank or dehumidifier in them as standard. ![]() Quite often the filters, which may include carbon filters, are relatively effective at removing smells but they are not as effective at removing steam (which causes condensation). Extractor fans that work only on a ‘recirculate’ are far less effective at removing moisture from the air, which is the main purpose of an extractor fan. ![]() However, it’s widely agreed that extracting to the outside of a property is far more effective all-round. In some instances they are ‘pop-up’ from the actual kitchen unit itself.Īs you can see on the AO.com website they come in all shapes, sizes and costs.Īs we said earlier, not all extractor fans vent to the outside of a property so… Do Kitchen Extractor Fans Need to Vent Outside? They are usually mounted directly above them to capture and extract steam and odours which rise as cooking takes place. They can take many forms and, in many ways, can look like a bathroom extractor fan or even PIV Unit vent (although PIV units are ‘positive’ ventilation).Ī cooker hood is a unit often containing an extractor (or recirculation) fan in the proximity of a hob on a cooker. suction – hence ‘extractor’ fan) vent in a kitchen. Kitchen extractor fans is a general phase to describe a negative pressure (i.e. This might sound like an obvious question but there are some interesting things to consider when looking at how kitchen extractor fans differ to cooker hoods, especially as not all cooker hoods extract to the outside (more on that later). This is usually worse in winter when (a) windows are more likely to be closed and (b) other surfaces are colder making hitting dew point more likely.Ĭooker Hoods vs Extractor Fans – What’s the Difference? Helping to prevent all of the above in other rooms in the houseĪs you will likely know, when you cook, especially with pots and pans containing boiling or simmering water, a lot of steam (and smells) can circulate potentially causing a lot of condensation on walls, ceilings and window condensation.Helping to prevent mould on walls and ceilings in kitchens.Helping to prevent damp walls and ceilings in kitchens.Helping to prevent condensation in kitchens.To control cooking smells and odours from cooking in a kitchenĪs well as that there are secondary benefits:.To control steam and humidity levels from cooking in a kitchen.In a nutshell a kitchen extractor fan serves two primary purposes: We look into the whole subject in this article along with an interesting experiment later on in the article where we monitor relative humidity in a kitchen over a full month, with fascinating results. In fact, they simply recirculate the air in the room.Kitchen Extractor Fans are something that we often take for granted, especially in modern homes, but what exactly do they do and what are the benefits of having one (or more!) in your kitchen? So instead, these spaces rely on simple fans, which capture grease and some particulates in a filter but otherwise do very little to remove pollutants. For people with health issues or allergies, ducted versions by far the best option.īut in many millions of homes (like crowded apartment buildings), kitchen ductwork is structurally difficult or impossible. ( Electric stoves don’t produce carbon monoxide and only small amounts of nitrogen dioxide, though they do produce fine particulate matter.)ĭucted hoods are the best solution to this problem, as they suck in contaminated air and then vent it to the building's exterior. That's because cooking over high heat produces carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, fine particulate matter and other potentially dangerous byproducts. Now, imagine that your kitchen stovetop might create more pollution than some places that have famously filthy air – for example, in one study more than half of California homes featuring gas stoves had pollutant levels exceeding limits for outdoor pollution. You've undoubtedly seen ominous smog that hangs over heavily polluted metropolitan areas.
Back to Blog
My eyes are stapled open wide6/21/2023 Her lovely grand- and great-grand-children lined up to recite poetry which they’d memorized for school. They calmed and soothed her, a woman who looked like her smoothing back the old woman’s white hair. She was lovingly coaxed out of her claims that she was useless to them and nearer her end than anyone wanted to admit openly. ![]() Her family gathered around her the moment they realized, of course. No one else noticed until after the song ended and the young musician successfully fled, but she was weeping silently through every word. But my eyes were on the birthday girl, the old woman of nearly a century whose eyes had filled with tears. I started singing quietly as well, and I received smiles and impressed nods that I knew the words. The last moment of my life should be, I believe that it should be romantic.” Many adults began singing along, and the patio came aloud with the sound. The refrain is the most famous line: “El ultimo momento de mi vida debe ser, creo que debe ser romántico. It’s a beautiful and popular song, mind you, written shortly before his death, but I immediately worried about the choice. The singer began, and the song he chose, I’m not sure why, was a beautiful ballade all Cubans know called “La Ultima Canción/The Last Song.” The song was written by a celebrated Cuban musician named Polo Montañez, who was killed early in his career by a drunk driver and who is still mourned by all Cubans. And then something happened I’ll never forget. The singer finished a song and made as if to leave his seat, but the crowd insisted on another, blocking his path and pushing him back down with friendly but insistent hands. Someone came around with a tray of shot glasses filled with a thick white drink it was sweet and strong, going straight to my head and relaxing me into the rocking chair immediately. It was a birthday party, it turned out the old woman on the rocker in front of me was turning 90. I tried to refuse the rocking chair given up by a woman 20 years older than I, but as the honored guest, I was goaded until it seemed far more polite to accept. Within minutes, they were inviting me onto their patio and into their festivities. They saw me at once, and I smiled widely and tried to make myself infinitely approachable, the kind of person anyone would trust with their children. I leaned back against the building across the street from their patio. I could see his neck straining and I imagined my father saying how he’d blow his vocal cords out in no time, but it was worth it to listen in that moment, to get to hear such talent so accidentally. It wasn’t a woman a young man around 25 was belting his heart out as he strummed intensely on his guitar. ![]() ![]() The song drew me to a small cement patio outside a simple cinder-block home in the middle of a block, a patio crowded with adults and children of all ages, nearly all afro-cubanos gotten up in their nicest clothes to gather around the singer. I followed it, but hesitant to intrude I ended up skirting the block before I mustered the courage to approach. At first I thought it was a woman the voice was a loud and clear high tenor, powerful and resounding in the empty street. I was photographing a paper dove stapled to a doorway, the words“contra el terrorismo / against terrorism” handwritten on its warping surface, when I heard the singing. The streets were pretty desolate at ten that morning they’d been bustling with shoppers and people walking to and from work, school and markets, but by late afternoon everyone had gone home to enjoy the waning heat and the touch of evening breezes coming in off the ocean. I wasn’t in the touristy section of town I’d wandered into purely Cuban neighborhoods where the streets were too narrow for a car to pass easily. It is a town just beginning to feel the impact of increasing tourism as roads get better and travelers get more adventurous, more willing to spend twenty-plus hours on a bus to get to the farthest reaches of Cuba. I wandered with nothing particular to do or see once the heat was bearable, exploring the backside of a remote town called Baracoa. The late afternoon light was yellow and sharp, every brick and stone standing out against the deep blues of sea and sky. Click here to see Jennifer’s full Cuba blog from 2007 “It is trust that opens wide the heart, without the longing of expectation.” |