Quote:HAVANA - President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) tripped and fell after leaving the stage at a graduation ceremony, but later returned to say that he was "all in one piece."
Castro's off-camera tumble after the Wednesday night speech in the central city of Santa Clara was certain to launch a new round of speculation about the 78-year-old communist leader's health after 45 years of rule.
There was no official word from the government on Castro's condition after he left Santa Clara, about a three-hour drive east of Havana, in his regular black Mercedes Benz.
Speaking live on state television less than a minute after his fall, Castro told television viewers across the island of 11.2 million people that he thought he had broken his knee "and maybe an arm ... but I am all in one piece."
"I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you can see I can still talk," he said, sweating profusely into his olive green uniform as he sat in a folding chair. "Even if they put me in a cast, I can continue in my work."
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said Castro tripped on a concrete step after he finished walking down the stairs from the stage, then fell onto the ground on his right side, first hitting his knee and hip, and then his elbow and arm.
He was immediately surrounded by scores of security agents and others who rushed to help him up.
Television viewers could not see what happened after Castro wrapped up the speech at a graduation ceremony for arts instructors. Television viewers only saw several of his security men running off to the side, evidently to assist him.
As he has grown older, Castro's knees have seemed more wobbly, his step less steady. Nevertheless, he maintains a busy schedule that frequently includes all-night meetings with aides and visitors.
Castro's health has long been closely watched — particularly by his political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community.
Such speculation was particularly fierce three years ago when he apparently fainted during a speech under a scorching Caribbean summer sun before a crowd of thousands.
Many people burst into tears after watching Cuba's commander in chief start to collapse behind the podium several hours into that speech on June 23, 2001.
Castro returned minutes later to assure people in the audience — and millions more watching it live on television — that he was fine.
But the incident prompted many average Cubans to reflect for the first time on their leader's mortality and the future of their country after he dies.
The Wednesday night incident seemed far less serious.
Castro on Wednesday asked Cubans to forgive him for "any suffering this may have caused."
Castro noted the presence of international photographers and television camera crews at the event.
"The international press has captured it and surely tomorrow it will be on the front pages of the newspapers," said Castro.
He then encouraged those at the event to continue with their televised musical program, which they did.
I have the 4.9 drivers, they do what they should, no complaints. The deal is, they list the latest drivers as the 4.1s. What the heck? Oh wait, they tacked a zero on the end (4.10), freaking brilliant you bunch of idiots. Don't you know adding zeros AFTER decimals does NOTHING to the number's value? Just round it up to version 5!
Just ranting about nothing, go on with your lives. Really though, are they trying to be funny or what?
That there is a site that gives you in depth intstructions on how to let your DC games (the ones that don't suppport the DC broadband adapter) to "dial in" to your PC, which will act as a server using your broadband connection to get the DC online that way. You are capped at the absolute maximum speed of the DC's modem mind you :D.
Anyway, thought I'd share that since I know there are DC owners here who have long since moved on to broadband and don't want to pay for a narrowband connection JUST for the chance of downloading Shenmue stuff or save files :D. (It kinda sucks that the various online games, a large number anyway, never were designed to use the broadband adapter, but oh well, here's a solution.)
Seems as though you need Linux (lucky me), but I'm sure someone will find an alternative for Windows soon enough...
I've mentioned this show before, but now that the first season is out on dvd and the second season premiers on November 7th, I feel the need to mention it again, and more clearly.
Arrested Development is by far the best live-action comedy show I've seen in several years. It's extremely well written, directed, and every single cast member does their job amazingly well. It's too good for network tv, let alone Fox. If you ever liked stuff like The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or the BBC show The Office, you guys will fall in love with this show. GR, you especially will love it more than anything else. I promise you that! So seriously guys, give the show a chance and rent the dvds or something.
And don't let Fox's lame ads fool you! The show is comedy gold.
![[Image: capt.lon80810211433.cuba_castro_lon808.jpg]](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041021/capt.lon80810211433.cuba_castro_lon808.jpg)
![[Image: capt.lon80910211433.cuba_castro_lon809.jpg]](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041021/capt.lon80910211433.cuba_castro_lon809.jpg)
![[Image: capt.lon80310211131.cuba_castro_lon803.jpg]](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041021/capt.lon80310211131.cuba_castro_lon803.jpg)
![[Image: checking-out-the-pstwo-20041015062406941.jpg]](http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/557/557637/checking-out-the-pstwo-20041015062406941.jpg)
