Fidel Castro, 88, talks about the quality of Cuban cheese in rare public appearance following deal t

[Judi Lynn]

Fidel Castro, 88, talks about the quality of Cuban cheese in rare public appearance following deal to restore relations with US

Former president discussed improving cheese production at agricultural event in Guatao, his first appearance since late March in Havana

Appearance follows announcement of US and Cuba officially reestablishing diplomatic relations for the first time in 54 years

By Christopher Brennan For Dailymail.com
Published: 13:03 EST, 5 July 2015 | Updated: 16:19 EST, 5 July 2015


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Fidel Castro, the former president of Cuba, reportedly made a rare public appearance on Friday at an event discussing
cheese production on the island nation
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Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, 88, visited 19 cheese producers for four hours on Friday in a rare trip outside of Havana, according to state media reports on Saturday.

Pictures released by Cuba's official news outlets show Castro, often rumored to be ailing, alive and well in a meeting at the Food Industry Research Institute

The photos came out three days after Raul Castro, his younger brother and the current president announced that the island nation and the United States would restore diplomatic relations on July 20 after a break of 54 years.

State news organ Granma published the most recent photos of Castro, and said that he and the country's Food Industry Minister discussed bringing cheese quality levels back up to those seen before the economic crisis accompanying the fall of the Soviet Union.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3150225/Fidel-Castro-88-talks-quality-Cuban-cheese-rare-public-appearance-following-deal-restore-relations-US.html#ixzz3f9PKMcXF

[Warpy]

1. He looks damned good for 88, a tribute to the health care system he helped found.

I look forward to trying Cuban cheeses. We get Mexican cheeses here and they're very good, although the variety is not great.

[Judi Lynn]

2. I've seen a lot of US recipes for Mexican dishes call for Mexican cheeses, now.

It looks as if they are becoming available in a whole lot of US cities in the recent couple of years. That's progress, and a good step forward.

[Warpy]

3. Mexican crema can be subbed for creme fraiche

in other recipes. Where there is Mexican cheese, crema is not far behind. It's also good drizzled on tacos and burritos, much nicer than sour cream that tends to kill the taste.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Good news. Never knew about this. Sour cream can overwhelm flavors. Thanks! n/t

[hack89]

7. 1% 'rs can afford the best. nt

[Warpy]

8. In his case, that meant lots of meat,

lots of rum, and lots of those big green cigars he favored. None of those is conducive to a long and healthy life.

I credit the medical system.

[hack89]

9. He gets medical attention the typical Cuban doesn't get

As Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez receives the best treatment that Cuba’s health service can offer, most residents of the country can only dream of similar standards of medical care.

Chávez has been in Cuba since December 9 undergoing treatment for a cancer relapse. He is at CIMEQ, the Medical-Surgical Research Centre, a special hospital set aside for the political elite and foreigners. The facility is located in Havana’s Siboney area, home to politicians and top-brass military and close to the embassy district.

Such “foreigners’ hospitals”, as Cubans call them, cater for health tourists seeking treatment and plastic surgery, and for the elite. An official who requested anonymity said CIMEQ was for senior figures in the Communist Party, government or parliament; the police, intelligence and security agencies; elite scientists and anyone awarded the title “Hero of Labour”, plus their family members.

Contrary to the perceptions fostered by the government, the hospitals that ordinary Cubans go to are generally poorly maintained and short of staff and medicines. That applies even in the capital, where the Calixto García and Miguel Enrique hospitals are in an advanced state of neglect and deterioration.

https://iwpr.net/global-voices/cracks-show-cuban-healthcare-system

[forest444]

10. But the same could be said for our own leadership.

As well as our elite - all of whom have access to a quality of care the rest of us are simply priced out of.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/18/news/economy/health-inequality/
http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/02/23/cheneys_5_heart_attacks_unusual_shows_good_care/

Medicare goes a long way to fill that gap, thank goodness; but you have to wait until you're 65. Without it - or with something like Paul Ryan's "voucher" (read: toilet paper) system - our national heath statistics would very much be within Third World parameters.

[hack89]

11. My family and I routinely get access to the best hospitals in Boston

I am not rich. I am merely one of the 90% of Americans with health insurance.

[forest444]

12. I'm happy for you and yours, Hack89.

Massachusetts has a much better-regulated private insurance market than most states (Romneycare) and better-funded public hospitals than most. Those in many other states have far fewer options, if any - with the result that many limp along to 65 with chronic conditions that could have been prevented and/or cured in young adulthood or middle age (when the body responds best to intervention).

This doesn't even touch on the superior, cutting-edge health care technology Cheney and other high-dollar whores have obviously availed themselves of - which you or I would probably never see (how many people - especially men - do you know with five heart attacks that have not only survived, but are far from disabled as people with even one or two attacks typically are).

My point is that before we criticize whatever health care inequality Cuba has (and they surely do), we should consider our own very stark inequalities in same - which no doubt are far worse.

[hack89]

13. The typical Cuban gets nowhere near the medical care of the typical American.

their system is poorly funded and falling apart. They do not access to services Americans take for granted.

[dhill926]

4. ok then...

cheese....rum....music...I'm in!

[No Vested Interest]

5. Which of us thought a few years ago that Fidel would still be

this side of the turf in 2015?
Not many, I think.
Either those Venezuelan and Cuban doctors have something going for them, or he has exceptional genes.
Take your pick.