How about some expert opinions on the Castro photos?

[Alex Wuijts]

There has been some controversy around some newly released photographs of Fidel Castro, showing him in a healthy condition, notably the one i attached.

 

To me it seems the lettering of the newspaper looks far too black. You would also expect to see some shadows of his hands on the newspaper from the flash. They could have used multiple flashes, but wouldn't Castros shadow been thrown on the background then?

 

I think this is all just highly exciting. Has anyone any opinions on this?

[Jordan Brade]

The picture doesn't look fake to me, but then again I'm not an expert.

 

I personally can't wait to Castro kicks the bucket. The fall of two communist countries happening in my short 18 years of existence, plus the fact that the people of Cuba will be free of Castro's rule.

 

Also, I can't wait till I can get Cuban cigars legally :)

[Nick Mulder]

I personally can't wait to Castro kicks the bucket. The fall of two communist countries happening in my short 18 years of existence, plus the fact that the people of Cuba will be free of Castro's rule.

 

Also, I can't wait till I can get Cuban cigars legally :)

 

You are looking forward to someones death, because it will cause the fall of a communist country ?

[John Holland]

The picture doesn't look fake to me, but then again I'm not an expert.

 

I personally can't wait to Castro kicks the bucket. The fall of two communist countries happening in my short 18 years of existence, plus the fact that the people of Cuba will be free of Castro's rule.

 

Also, I can't wait till I can get Cuban cigars legally :)

With an attitude like that , its no wonder the Americans are becoming more and more hated world wide, john holland.

[Jaan Shenberger]

it definitely is altered. but, to me it seems genuine.

 

the black levels of the headline & photo have definitely been been tweaked (the banding in the photo make it obvious), though it is very likely to have been done in order to make them more immediately readable.

 

there would be no shadow from his hands if you analyze the positions of the shine on his face... the flash seems to be at the standard position slightly above the lens. also, the flash seems to be somewhat diffused/softened.

 

the reason i say that this is probably genuine is because since the black levels have been so obviously tweaked, that kind of amatuerish unsophisticated craftsmanship probably would not have been able to so convincingly recreate the distortion of the paper surface in the headline & photo, nor the highlights on the middle crease. anyone who could pull off that kind of retouching would not have made such a mistake with the black levels. so to me, logic says that it's real. but then again, the cuban propaganda machine might just be so clever as to use such combinations to fool people like me.

 

the only suspect thing would be the lack of white area to the left of the headline, which is a fundamental aspect of graphic design/printing in order to allow for misregistration of the printing press. though it looks like the paper might be buckling inward towards his hand, so it's hard to say.

 

I personally can't wait to Castro kicks the bucket. The fall of two communist countries happening in my short 18 years of existence, plus the fact that the people of Cuba will be free of Castro's rule.

 

you forgot to add that within a few years the people of the US, and a few other countries, will be free of bush's rule. also, there were a lot more than two communist countries to fall in the last 18 years.

[Bob Hayes]

Also, I can't wait till I can get Cuban cigars legally

 

Castro isn?t preventing you from getting Cuban cigars legally. Its moronic attempts by the US to disrupt Castro.

 

When Castro dies Bush will sure be laughing, no I mean Clinton, no I mean Bush 1, no I mean Reagan, or at least Carter will be laughing, I bet Ford will laugh, Nixon for sure, Johnson would be a big laugher, Kennedy would have the biggest laugh, or at least Eisenhower might smile. I think Castro has had the laugh on all of us.

[Sam Wells]

But what's up with the Adidas shirt ? Product placement ? :D

 

-Sam

[Thomas Fant]

But what's up with the Adidas shirt ? Product placement ? :D

 

-Sam

 

A.D.I.D.A.S

 

All Day I Dream About Socialism

 

Sorry I couldn't resist

[Matt Pacini]

But what's up with the Adidas shirt ? Product placement ? :D

 

-Sam

 

Well, since the socialist paradise of Cuba makes no products that anyone on earth wants, (other than Cigars), they have to import everything else (including Castros shirts) from us evil Capitalistic countries.

When Castro finally kicks off, I think there will be huge parties going on in many places on earth.

Florida especially will erupt into a gigantic celebration, and those people know firsthand what a terrific guy he's been to all their murdered relatives.

Unfortunately, I'm sure his brother is already engaged in a power grab, so things probably won't change much in Cuba, unless there's a quick, sudden uprising, and I find that unlikely, not because the people would want it, but because they've been raised in fear for a generation that they'll be taken out and shot if they cause trouble.

But hey, at least if you are lucky enough to live through the execution attempt, you'll have free health care to patch you up, and that's all that matters.

As for the photo, he'll be dead soon enough, so I don't know what the benefit would be of hiding his death. It's not like they could keep it up for years or whatever, but it certainly looks highly "enhanced" for effect. I'd like to see the original

 

MP

Edited August 14, 2006 by Matt Pacini

[Marc Marti]

When Castro finally kicks off, I think there will be huge parties going on in many places on earth.

 

Of course, despite the fact that the USA blocking to Cuba is the most decisive factor related to the actual state of the island....

Anyway, I don't agree with Castro in many aspects (one of them is the death penalty) and I prefer him to pass away. But when Bush or Sharon die, yes... that will be THE BIG PARTY all around the world...

[Leo Anthony Vale]

Well, since the socialist paradise of Cuba makes no products that anyone on earth wants, (other than Cigars)

 

What about sugar?

Surely all the co-ops must be selling Cuban sugar over by the organic honey from free range bees.

[Dan Goulder]

Well, since the socialist paradise of Cuba makes no products that anyone on earth wants, (other than Cigars), they have to import everything else (including Castros shirts) from us evil Capitalistic countries.

While we're busy congratulating ourselves here in the U.S. over how wonderful we are, how about asking ourselves why Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than we do. Socialism might be one extreme, but letting a higher percentage of our kids die in favor of saving money has got to be another, unnecessary extreme. Of course, murdering over 50,000 (and counting) innocent Iraqis doesn't come cheap, so I guess we need all the money we can pinch.

[David Sweetman]

While we're busy congratulating ourselves here in the U.S. over how wonderful we are, how about asking ourselves why Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than we do. Socialism might be one extreme, but letting a higher percentage of our kids die in favor of saving money has got to be another, unnecessary extreme. Of course, murdering over 50,000 (and counting) innocent Iraqis doesn't come cheap, so I guess we need all the money we can pinch.

 

I don't see the correlation. Socialism kills less kids? Capitalism kills more kids? I don't know many parents who want to go over to Cuba so their child has a better chance of living.

 

If you'll recall, the trade embargo is a residual deal from when Castro pointed nuclear missiles at our country. How is it a moronic attempt to disrupt him? We're very lucky Margaret Thatcher was so willing to help us and set up nukes in the UK for potential use against the Ruskies, which finally got them to remove the nukes from Cuba. It's not just America pointlessly meddling with the trade of other countries.

 

You people who say openly you're waiting for Bush to die, you're very, very lucky and you don't even realize it. Castro and Stalin and Hitler have killed many people for much less. The worst part is you use the tone, "You want Castro to die? Who the heck is Castro? We've got someone really bad over here in our very own country!"

 

All those 50,000 dead Iraqis are not a direct result of American intervention. Check the sources, find out who was killed, where, and by who. Even an admittedly biased source such as http://www.iraqbodycount.net/database/ shows that by far, most civilan deaths are not caused by Americans. You could argue that the violence wouldn't be there if America wasn't there, but that's a hypothetical I don't buy into, the place has always been filled with violence. Plus, even by that source, which argues your same point, you're padding a bunch of deaths on there to make a point, some 10 - 6 thousand.

[Sam Wells]

We're very lucky Margaret Thatcher was so willing to help us and set up nukes in the UK for potential use against the Ruskies, which finally got them to remove the nukes from Cuba. It's not just America pointlessly meddling with the trade of other countries.

 

Uh, they were removed in 1962....

 

Anyway, not everything Cuban is embargoed; the SAI-EGF cancer drugs developed in Cuba are exempt..

 

-Sam

[Dan Goulder]

I don't see the correlation. Socialism kills less kids? Capitalism kills more kids?

Those are your words, and it is an offensive oversimplification. It doesn't matter if you see the correlation or not. Those figures on infant mortality rates are verifiable facts. It has to do with health care access. It doesn't mean we have to turn into Cuba. It means there's no excuse for us lagging behind in such a critical area.

If you'll recall, the trade embargo is a residual deal from when Castro pointed nuclear missiles at our country. How is it a moronic attempt to disrupt him? We're very lucky Margaret Thatcher was so willing to help us and set up nukes in the UK for potential use against the Ruskies, which finally got them to remove the nukes from Cuba.

Now it is I who's unable to see the correlation, since your math is off by only a few decades.

All those 50,000 dead Iraqis are not a direct result of American intervention.

You're right. They all died of natural causes, and our invasion had absolutely nothing to do with it, as we've only spread peace and love. By the way, even Bush admitted on live TV to 30,000 killed by the war, and that was over a year ago. The bodies are now being counted daily by the mainstream press and broadcast networks, not merely by some "fringe group" who you conveniently quote in order to once again make a deliberately misleading point.

[Jaan Shenberger]

what happened to the good ol' days when young people used to distrust the president? i guess as long as they have a playstation in front of them, the world is doing great.

[Arni Heimir]

I don't see the correlation. Socialism kills less kids? Capitalism kills more kids? I don't know many parents who want to go over to Cuba so their child has a better chance of living.

 

If you'll recall, the trade embargo is a residual deal from when Castro pointed nuclear missiles at our country. How is it a moronic attempt to disrupt him? We're very lucky Margaret Thatcher was so willing to help us and set up nukes in the UK for potential use against the Ruskies, which finally got them to remove the nukes from Cuba. It's not just America pointlessly meddling with the trade of other countries.

 

You people who say openly you're waiting for Bush to die, you're very, very lucky and you don't even realize it. Castro and Stalin and Hitler have killed many people for much less. The worst part is you use the tone, "You want Castro to die? Who the heck is Castro? We've got someone really bad over here in our very own country!"

 

All those 50,000 dead Iraqis are not a direct result of American intervention. Check the sources, find out who was killed, where, and by who. Even an admittedly biased source such as http://www.iraqbodycount.net/database/ shows that by far, most civilan deaths are not caused by Americans. You could argue that the violence wouldn't be there if America wasn't there, but that's a hypothetical I don't buy into, the place has always been filled with violence. Plus, even by that source, which argues your same point, you're padding a bunch of deaths on there to make a point, some 10 - 6 thousand.

 

 

Dear Mr David Sweetman

 

I'm with you on this one. The commies have had the floor on this forum for too long. I must be the only isolationist with a background in international relations. I feel that we should stop mettle in other people's affairs. If savages in third world countries want to kill each other off - fine by me.

 

Secondly, the american government (not including private donations) has given over a trillion in financial aid to third would countries. So I reject all anti americanism.

 

There is a sentiment in the air that America is responsible for the dire economic landscape in Cuba. The embargo applies only to US citizens. The rest of the world can trade with Cuba.

 

Truth be told, some call George Bush a murderer. Castro and Che Guevara are the known murderers. Guevara sentenced people to death with no authority to do so and for variety executed many as them for kicks. And he is the hero of the revolution.

 

Cuba is an ideal example that socialism has failed.

 

Viva captialism.

[Chad Stockfleth]

Commies...such an inflammatory word. Anybody who believes in the community acting as a whole for the good of all is a commie.

 

What about us Cappies? Last time I was in Newark or Detroit or 3/4 of the South it didn't seem like we are living the utopian dream either. Perhaps both ways failed?

 

And just because Bush didn't pull the trigger himself (some would say more of a "MAN" would) doesn't mean he isn't a murderer i.e. Hitler.

 

By the way, Heimir, I'm planning a trip to Iceland in December....can't wait to see your beautiful country!

[Dan Goulder]

The commies have had the floor on this forum for too long. I must be the only isolationist with a background in international relations.

Your childish characterization of those you disagree with shows you know absolutely nothing about international relations, which is the purvey of grownups.

[David Sweetman]

So I got the prime minister wrong, gimme a break. Those britts are always messing with me. Who was it, then, so next time I don't have to feel stupid? I was fairly sure it was a woman. Maybe in my mind the Cuban Missile Crisis is running together with that militant Irish group, forget their acronym...or maybe I'm just way off again, I'm no expert on brittish politics.

 

Anyway if you could provide sources for the infant mortality rates and the deaths of civilians in Iraq, I would appreciate it. But from what I've seen of our health care, we've got a really good, functional system. You can quote facts and everything, but from what I've experienced first hand, and from all the stories I've heard, there aren't any complaints, besides perhaps some very long lines in South Central hospitals. At least from my own experience, it seems you've got a case of "the grass is greener on the other side."

[David Mullen ASC]

So everyone on the left side of the political line is a commie? That sort of reductive thinking is part of the problem today. For example, in the U.S. if you say you want national health care, even though many major corporations agree with you! -- and you're called a commie. It's a convenient way of ending the debate and stopping real progress.

 

We've got the best health care system in the world -- if you can get access to it. But for a large number of Americans, what we've got is a fairly mediocre health care system compared to other first-world industrialized nations.

 

The corporate heads of WalMart rely on many of their employees getting access to state & federal healthcare programs rather than provide healthcare themselve -- and I'm not sure I really blame them because it's a major burden on businesses to provide ever-expensive healthcare. So I guess that makes the owners of WalMart commies (well, they are in league with the Chinese after all...)

[Dan Goulder]

At least from my own experience, it seems you've got a case of "the grass is greener on the other side."

Not at all. I'm glad I wasn't born anyplace else. More than anything, I was responding to the current politcal/media trend in this country to feel the need to proclaim ourselves to be superior in every way to all others on Earth. This supremacist attitude is causing lots of problems both home and abroad, and it's resulting in the taking of a lot of innocent human life. We should be mature enough not only to admit fallibility, but be able to address it.

[David Sweetman]

We should be mature enough not only to admit fallibility, but be able to address it.

 

I'll agree to that, I don't consider myself a nationalist...after all, that's what caused WWI, and like Einstein said, "nationalism is an infantile disease, it is the measles of mankind." And I'm pretty sure that was Einstein and not Margaret Thatcher, buy you may want to check it out anyway.

[Arni Heimir]

So everyone on the left side of the political line is a commie? That sort of reductive thinking is part of the problem today. For example, in the U.S. if you say you want national health care, even though many major corporations agree with you! -- and you're called a commie. It's a convenient way of ending the debate and stopping real progress.

 

We've got the best health care system in the world -- if you can get access to it. But for a large number of Americans, what we've got is a fairly mediocre health care system compared to other first-world industrialized nations.

 

The corporate heads of WalMart rely on many of their employees getting access to state & federal healthcare programs rather than provide healthcare themselve -- and I'm not sure I really blame them because it's a major burden on businesses to provide ever-expensive healthcare. So I guess that makes the owners of WalMart commies (well, they are in league with the Chinese after all...)

 

Of course American coperations wants Universal healthcare. Because they pay for healthcare for its employes.

 

The term commie is something the new left doesn't want to be associated with. Neocons like myself use it as a derogatory slur.

 

I think that America has a great healthcare system. Aren't most cures for diseases found by the American medical community? I was talking to an Icelandic friend of mine and he told me that waiting lists for surgery doesn't exist in America. You either qualify or you don't.

 

Shouldn't healthcare be considered as any other service? Is it a human right to receive medical attention for no charge? And who should then otherwise pay for it? Taxpayers? These a very tough ethical questions.

 

I heard or read somewhere that the American healthcare providers are developing a "work for healthcare programme." Maybe you know more about it. Seems like a good idea. People with tubes coming out of them cleaning the streets.

[David Mullen ASC]

The term commie is something the new left doesn't want to be associated with. Neocons like myself use it as a derogatory slur.

 

Gee, thanks. It does SO much to raise the quality of a debate when you throw derogatory slurs into the mix. Maybe you'd like to be called a fascist or Nazi or something else unpleasant and inaccurate to boot.