fidel turns 80

Sorry folks, he's not dead despite persistent rumors to the contrary.

A few stories of note to mention here:

- A statement attributed to fidel states that Cubans should be "prepared to confront any adverse news". Also note a comfortable-looking fidel proudly holding a Granma headline in his hospital room (doesn't he look like the dead character from the film Weekend at Bernie's?). Well, close enough.

- fidel mini-me hugo chavez is scheduled to arrive in Cuba today to celebrate his daddy's birthday.

"I'm taking him a nice gift, a good cake and we will celebrate the 80 years of that great figure of America and our history,'' Chávez said.

Rumor has it chavez's gift is 1,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude.

Finally, follow the link at the end of the sentence for some well-wishes from the exile community courtesy of Val and Babalu.