Remember Ibrahim Ferrer, the personable, 77-year-old singer who became famous in the United States after appearing in The Buena Vista Social Club? Ferrer and four other Cuban musicians were denied visas to enter the United States in order to attend the Grammy awards. Although no specific reason was given, an American diplomat in Havana said people deemed "detrimental to the interest of the United States" could be denied entry. More to the point, the Bush administration has stepped up its anti-Cuba rhetoric and cultural contact between the two countries has dropped off.