the news * A Brazilian newspaper reports that Pres. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been told that Castro has cancer, and he responded by saying--on record, one assumes--"It looks like we are going to lose our friend."

* Some hot-shot astrologist in Miami has everyone convinced that according to Castro's chart (I'm so totally not making this up), he isn't dead yet, but is going to kick the bucket between the 7th and 27th of this month. Way to take a serious professional risk, lady.

* The provisional Cuban government--whoever and whatever it currently consists of--reassured the citizens of Cuba again today that everything is a-ok, and it even managed to issue its first decree since Fidel stepped down. The decree condemns Israel's bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana as a "cowardly, vile and criminal act," and urges the world to force an immediate cease-fire.

* Condi Rice beamed herself into the country via TV Martí and encouraged everyone to take advantage of uncertainty and fight--but not too hard, because we don't want any trouble--for democracy.

* The Party newspaper dedicated yet more page space to yet more Raúl-love, dragging up and reprinting a newspaper from 1953 that proves his revolutionary loyalty during the Moncada disaster. The story basically recounts Raul's decision to assume responsibility for the 1953 attack on a military barracks after he believed his brother was killed. Of course, when he discovered that in fact Fidel had survived, Raul returned to his role as soldier. How dutiful.

* In related news, Cuban citizens spotted reading the Party newspaper for the first time in decades. In general, the thing has a well-deserved reputation for being low-cost toilet paper.  ¶ 12:10 PM