Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The End Of An Era


It's official. After more than 49 years as a president, Fidel Castro has now retired. Old and ill, he decided to give the power to his younger brother Raul. Here's the article:


By Anthony Boadle 19 minutes ago

HAVANA (Reuters) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he will not return to lead the country as president, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.
Castro, 81, said in a statement to the country that he would not seek a new presidential term when the National Assembly meets on February 24.
"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament ... I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept -- I repeat not aspire to or accept -- the positions of President of Council of State and Commander in Chief," Castro said in the statement published on the Web site of the Communist Party's Granma newspaper.
The National Assembly or legislature is expected to nominate his brother and designated successor Raul Castro, 76, as president in place of Castro, who has not appeared in public for almost 19 months after being stricken by an undisclosed illness.
His retirement drew the curtain on a political career that spanned the Cold War and survived U.S. enmity, CIA assassination attempts and the demise of Soviet Communism.
A charismatic leader famous for his long speeches delivered in his green military fatigues, Castro is admired in the Third World for standing up to the United States but considered by his opponents a tyrant who suppressed freedom.
His illness and departure from Cuba's helm have raised doubts about the future of the Western Hemisphere's only communist state.
The bearded leader who took power in an armed uprising against a U.S.-backed dictator in 1959 had temporarily ceded power to his younger brother after he underwent emergency surgery to stop intestinal bleeding in mid-2006.
Castro has only been seen in pictures since then, looking gaunt and frail, though his health improved enough a year ago to allow him to keep in the public mind writing reams of articles published by Cuba's state press.
Castro could remain politically influential as first secretary of the ruling Communist Party and elder statesman.
Raul Castro, Cuba's long-standing defense minister, has run the country since July 31, 2006 as acting president. He has raised expectations of economic reforms to improve the daily lot of Cubans, but has yet to deliver.


(Reporting by Anthony Boadle, Editing by Eric Walsh)


Saturday, February 16, 2008

Cuba Libre, exams, Interpol and weaved black&white shoe-laces

Hello hello!
Long time, no sign of life!
My first exam session has ended successfully and I have a few remarks about it (which apply to me, I don't know about others)
1. Being a lazy-ass might not be the best solution: the day before the exam can be so stressful that you become the most irritable person in the world and everyone (including the little creatures in the dust particles) will avoid you like the plague.
2. Learning during the semester sounds geeky and ass-kissing, but at least reading the lectures once a week is useful. At least you know the titles and what to expect when you actually study.
3. The exam session is not exactly the grim reaper. it's more like 80% sleeping late in the mornings, watching TV and browsing the net (=time-wasting) and 20% studying and freaking out.

The best celebration of my maiden exam session's death had to include some Spanish-named, exotic beverages like tequila and Cuba Libre as well as incognito conversations with funny-looking folks on the bus :)) All's well when it ends well as a bloke from medieval England used to say.

Also, I discovered my passion for shoe-lacing styles and I weaved the white laces of my white Globes with some black laces and now they look sorta like a chessboard. Needless to say that they get stared at like they're the 8th wonder of the world. Not that I mind too much :P. (I had to explain the reason they're in the title ;) )

I would have TONS of songs that deserve a spot in this entry as I've been listening to a lot of music lately, but Interpol wins it. I had a hard time choosing between "Mammoth" and "Evil" but as the latter is my fav Interpol song ever, it came out victorious :P So here it is: Interpol - Evil


Rosemary
Heaven restores you in life
Coming with me
Through the aging, the fearing, the strife
It's the smiling on the package
It's the faces in the sand
It's the thought that moves you upwards
Embracing me with two hands
Right will take you places
Yeah maybe to the beach
When your friends they do come crying
Tell them now your pleasure's set up on slow-release

Hey wait
Great smile
sensitive to faith not
Denial
But hey who's on trial?

It took a life spent with no cellmate
The long way back
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?

we speaks about travel
Yeah, we think about the land
We smart like all peoples
Feeling real tan
I could take you places
Do you need a new man?
Wipe the pollen from the faces
Make revision to a dream while you wait in the van

Hey wait
Great smile
sensitive to faith not
Denial
But hey who's on trial?

It took a life spent with no cellmate
To find the long way back
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?
You're weightless, you are exotic
You need something for which to care
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?

Leave some shards under the belly
Lay some grease inside my hand
It's a sentimental jury
And the makings of a good plan
You've come to love me lightly
Yeah you've come to hold me tight
Is this motion everlasting
Or do shutters pass in the night?

Rosemary
Oh heaven restores you in life
I spent a lifespan with no cellmate
The long way back
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?
You're weightless, semi-erotic
You need someone to take you there
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?
Why can't we just play the other game?
Why can't we just look the other way?