Instant Messaging In Cuba Consists Of Chatting At Havana’s Central Park

Taking its name from Cuban baseball lingo for third base, the ‘Hot Corner’ is a place in Havana’s Central Park where locals of every stripe gather to debate sports. But lest they bore themselves to death, chatters occasionally let their topics of conversation wander to provide an outlet for unrestricted speech in a country whose government isn’t–to put it lightly–very fond of that whole free media thing:

But debate sometimes spills into other areas: women, ration cards, clothes and cars. Illegal TV hookups, water shortages, booze and last night’s neighborhood Communist Party meeting.

Participants will even talk about American politics to pass the time, people like 70-something Lorenzo who’s got a prediction about our upcoming presidential election:

I’m a Republican. But for me, Bill Clinton was the best president in U.S. history. The economy was strong. They threw Monica Lewinsky at him, and he just kept going. That will help his wife.

Well put. ‘Cause nothing helps your wife’s future political aspirations like jizzing on a crazy intern’s dress, then lying about it. Hillary might as well consider this race in the bag!

‘Hot Corner’ tests free speech in Cuba [Associated Press / Yahoo! News]
Image [MSNBC via Latin Americanist]