Havana Calling

Did you know that Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has a radio talk show? I didn't, but Fidel Castro did. He gave Chavez a ring.

The half-hour call to the radio talk show of Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, on Tuesday raised expectations that Castro could soon re-emerge in public. The conversation was aired later on Cuban TV.

"I'm gaining ground. I feel more energetic, stronger and have more time to study. I've become a student again," he told Chávez over the phone.

"I can't promise that I'll go over there soon," Castro said, but added, "I feel good and I'm happy."

Until Tuesday, Castro had only been heard in videotaped comments released by the Cuban government, which quelled speculation that he was deathly ill but failed to give an immediate sense of his health.

Castro chose to speak to a foreign leader instead of to his own people. How rude. What, there are no live radio programs in Cuba?