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Obligatory humorous photoshop...

When I first saw the new Castro images on TV, I thought they looked a bit odd, but I DON'T believe they're photoshops. That hasn't stopped the rumors from flying though, including from Drudge:

Okay, Drudge is asking a question, but it certainly comes pretty close to spreading rumors. Again, they photos look a little weird, but I think it's just his brand new, spotless Adidas track suit. He looks so clean for a minute I thought he might be a "rescue worker" who just got done digging bodies out of rubble in Lebanon! (Hey! Hit me .... oh wait, I don't have a house band, so obviously no drummer to supply my much deserved rimshot there.)

Again, I think the Castro pics are real and the only thing that really stands out about the images is that one of those where he's on the phone shows much darker hair than the other. It seems obvious that it's just a matter of camera flash/settings, etc.

See the other new Castro images here.

*UPDATE*
Some bloggers aren't so sure that the new Castro photos are real. Dan Riehl directs our attention to Sean Gleeson's running Castro photo disection post. Fools R Us weights in as well.

Gleeson does raise some interesting points, and is causing me to rethink this a bit.

***UPDATE***
A commenter at Babalu Blog points to photos from 2002 of Castro wearing the same exact Adidas jacket. So we can conclude that he either has a bunch of them, manages to keep this one very clean, or that it is possible that these are old photos. (Images link to their location on the web)

I'm still not convinced that the new Castro images are fake, but some of these bloggers make interesting cases. In case you question the 2002 date on those last three photos, check out Sports Illustrated and CNN. I don't know what, if anything, it means that Castro was wearing this jacket over 4 years ago, but it's definitely worth noting.

*UPDATE* - David Lunde Photoshop
Earlier my computer locked up and I had to reboot, but I thought I still got this image up. Guess not. Anyway, check out this awesome photoshop from David Lunde (I particularly like the logo):

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The Bethie Bee, Mike's America, Independent Sources, Babalu Blog 1, Babalu Blog 2, Florida Masochist, Captain's Quarters, bRight & Early, Global Clashes

 

You can't make this stuff up.

(Kyodo) _ North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has send a get-well message to communist ally Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro, state-run media reported Thursday.

Kim, in a message sent to Castro on Wednesday, said he was "shocked to learn that you underwent an operation for unexpected sudden illness," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

"I express profound sympathy and consolation to you. I wholeheartedly hope that you will recover your health as early as possible so that you may continue successfully fulfilling the heavy responsibility entrusted to you by the Cuban revolution and people."

No confirmation on rumors that the North Korean dictator sent a gift to the Cuban dictator, but rumor has it that Jong Il is considering hookin' Castro up with a gift certificate to the Sunglass Hut.

Allahpundit has more crazy Castro related news.

 

Well 'ol Castro has come a long way since November when he claimed that his health was fine, amid swirling reports to the contrary:

“They have tried to kill me off so many times,” Castro said. But those who circulate the frequent reports that his health is suffering would be disappointed, he said. “I feel, luckily, better than ever,” he said.

“If I don’t feel I’m in condition, I’ll call the (Communist) Party and tell them I don’t feel I’m in condition ... that please, someone take over the command,” Castro said.

But Castro also indicated such a scenario was unlikely to occur soon, telling the students that he exercises regularly, watches his diet, “and don’t neglect myself in any way.”

He went on to hold his arm out to prove wrong the rumors that he has Parkinson's Well, it looks like you no longer "feel in condition" because upon going in for surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding, you handed power over to your brother/defense minister Raul.

Somewhere Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte have a quiet sadly crying embrace over the loss of their dear friend, as they wait for many of their other Hollywood pals and Castro fans to come console them. They may all pitch in for a giant tire that they can float from Florida to Cuba on to attend his wedding, to celebrate the desperate measures people took to escape their hero's communist dictatorship.

Rumor has it that Cindy Sheehan, who has become increasingly popular with the dictators of Latin America and specifically hung out with the Castro crowd, is making tentative plans to hold a vigil outside of Castro's hospital if he dies. She'll then send one of her operatives to buy some property in Havana, but have them lie about why. In all likelyhood we'll see intense coverage of her activities, and a few one liners like "George Bush murdered my dictator".

Seriously though, Michelle Malkin has the scoop, including a photo of Cuban-Americans in 'Little Havana' celebrating the news. See photos here as well. Bryan at HotAir waits and hopes for news of Castro's death.

I'm just curious what happens if he does die. Does his brother maintain power? I don't know that Cuban-Americans and Cubans should get their hopes up for his death, if his brother is just going to take over, right? I believe I read somewhere that his brother would be even worse, but I can't seem to find the link now. Anyone familiar with how this will all go down when/if Castro dies?

I guess the only other question left is - Who will take the crown as the King of Cuba's Funniest Home Videos?

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4 The Little Guy, Assorted Babble, Morning Coffee, Captain's Quarters, Plains Feeder, Hennessy's View, Blogofascists, Resurrection Song, Babalu Blog