We’ve been reading and hearing rumors on the net and through our well-placed, under-compensated sources that Fidel Castro is no longer with us. These are the kinds of rumors that prompted Cuba’s Foreign Minister to issue a canned, scripted denial of the notion that the health of Communism’s most effable dictator has taken “a turn for the worse” since his 81st birthday on August 13th:

[Castro] is steady, on track with his recovery, showing discipline, a lot of dedication and a lot of activity, writing, reading and working.

So if any of you can confirm that ‘writing, reading and working’ is code for ‘smoldering in a grave somewhere,’ step forward. The same goes to you who feel confident that El Comandante is alive, well and just catching up on the missing Hardy Boy chronicles.

Cuban FM dispels rumors about Castro [The Age]
Fidel Castro Deathwatch Coverage on Guanabee