Rum Wars

I realize that most here at Lem's are tee-totalers (for disparate reasons), but I am not one (yet).

I've been following the Bacardi Ltd. v. Pernot Ricard S.A. "Havana Club"rum trademark war, and even posted on it back here.

I just found this video tonight which explains better what I can't seem to say. Watch for yourself and chose sides! (I love the surprise ending taste-test):

You've Got Me, But Who's Got You?

Yeap Raul Castro just did this to the President of the United States

Obama is an embarrassment to everything we are pic.twitter.com/lC7D3d11Ru

— Jared Wyand (@JaredWyand) March 21, 2016

Obama's Trading Places again...

 

Rubio: Pope Infallible on Theological Issues, Not Political Ones

Link to video

Via Fox News

"An American Flag in Cuba"

"As a crowd of a few hundred Cubans and Americans assembled inside the Embassy grounds, a larger crowd of Cubans, carefully organized and watched over by Cuban security forces, gathered outside as the official onlookers. They included a number of Cubans who, incongruously, waved miniature American flags as well as Cuban ones, while a series of gigantic Cuban flags hung from the façades of adjacent apartment buildings. The Cubans outside the American diplomatic legation periodically let out a cheer, especially when someone who appeared to be American approached."

"At a social gathering in Havana yesterday, a Cuban who has a close relative in one of the adjacent buildings told me that residents there had been visited by Cuban security officials, who informed them that they were expected to appear on the street today and to “be enthusiastic” in their slogans, cheers, and applause. Above all, they were expected to overwhelm and, if possible, drown out any anti-American or anti-imperialist shouts. The Cuban said that his relative had waggishly asked whether the anti-imperialist Cubans were now the “new enemy,” since, for many years, he had been expected to publicly condemn the Americans. In any event, all I heard outside the Embassy today were joyful noises, sincere or not."

"Fidel Castro to US: you owe us millions"

"Castro wrote: "Cuba is owed compensation equivalent to damages, which total many millions of dollars, as our country has stated with irrefutable arguments and data in all of its speeches at the United Nations.""

He did not go into detail on precisely how much money he reckons Washington owes Havana. The Americans are also claiming compensation for US-owned property, such as real estate, that was confiscated when Castro took power.

Castro made no mention either of Kerry's visit to reopen the embassy...

Over the years, Fidel Castro has been a frequent contributor of essays to the communist party newspaper Granma and other media. Thursday's was his first piece since May 8.

"Writing is a way to be useful, if you keep in mind that we poor humans must be more and better educated in the face of the incredible ignorance that surrounds us all, except for researchers who use science to seek a satisfactory answer," Castro wrote.

Castro must have heard about Iran Sanctions Relief.

Marco Rubio on Mark Levin

Rubio is talking about Obama's one-way deal with Cuba. He is tremendously knowledgeable and interesting. Fifteen minutes of rapid fire dishing out knowledge. I learned quite a lot. And one of the few instances, I think, that' you'll find Mark Levin in listening mode.

Right Scoop. 

Renewed U.S.-Cuba diplomacy Quotes

"In the medium and long term, this is a challenge for the Cuban system, because it undermines the climate of hostility that has long been used to justify one-party state," said Arturo Lopez Levy, a former Cuban government analyst who now teaches at NYU.

"I want to see who they blame now for the economic collapse and lack of freedoms that we have in Cuba," dissident activist Yoani Sanchez wrote on Twitter following the White House announcement.

"For a government that denies economic freedom and property rights it seems clear that the changes proposed will first benefit the state apparatus," said Jose Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Cuban Patriotic Union dissident group in Santiago, the island's second largest city. "Only in the medium or long term will we know the effect on the Cuban people."

Lawyer's office

I did not watch Alan Gross on television today. I had much more interesting and engaging things to do  like take a walk and speak to acquaintances and strangers. I figure anyone who gets themselves arrested in a communist dictatorship for providing forbidden communication devices pretty much deserves what they get. 

What do they get? Access to the vaunted free healthcare that does not include dental. I learned Alan Gross lost a few teeth during his captivity. Cry me a wee rivulet. I don't expect so much as a river. 

And his choice of lawyers. Have a look at his office. 

Daily Caller.

Alan Gross praises "generous" Cubans. NY Post.

Obama Announces US and Cuba will resume relations NYT

Marco Rubio: Alan Gross release puts a price on the head of every American abroad ABC News. (auto play)

Marco Rubio on Cuba deal: Obama worst negotiator since Jimmy Carter TPM

Ew, that framed picture makes me angry, very angry indeed. Now I will have to annihilate your planet with my Uranium PU-36 Illudium radioactive space modu-lay-tor.