If you kiss up to the ultra right and hold Coral Gables Golf Club fundraising parties at $100 a plate you might be questioned at home.

But then who is going to tell the Cuban people about it? The state controlled media and paid bloggers? As long as the Cuban people are kept in the dark, and they are aware most of what they are fed is government propaganda, they'll ignore it. The Cuban dictatorship has a serious problem, like any other dictatorship which craves media control and censors the free flow of ideas, it has zero credibility with its own people. You could tell them Yoani is a Martian, and they'll know it's a lie. You could tell them the truth, and they'll also think its a lie. It's human nature.

The only persons kept in the dark are the gringos. Cubans know more about Yoani and her deeds than do 99.99% of Americans.

or round table as far as I know, not often but enough to make the necessary points.

... that even Cuba's Granma is more accurate, fact-based, honest and even better written than the huge majority of outlets of private mainstream media...

he got into a conversation with a Havana cab driver and was stunned to discover the man knew what Cuba legislation was going on in Congress at that very time, and had always followed news regarding Cuba from the U.S.

Very interesting to find out!

I have also heard that some Cubans can pick up US American TV stations with roof-top antennas.

A Canadian DU'er who used to post here said that once when she was in Cuba during an election season, she discovered she could pick up Miami radio stations on her "Walkman" radio simply walking down the sidewalk in Havana. She realized if she could others had been listening for years, and she hadn't known about it.

They also pick up tv stations from other islands, Central America, etc., as well as periodicals from everywhere.

If U.S. Americans looked into it, and started thinking things over, they'd realize WE are the ones who've been shockingly unaware of events in other countries, going back a very long time.

Americans are a very inward looking people. I used to live in New York, where things are a bit more cosmopolitan but then my family moved to Texas and it was really amazing, it was like living in a cocoon. Gradually I realized most of the USA was this way, there's almost no interest about what goes on elsewhere. I think this is in part because the country is huge. And there's always some nut with a gun going postal, politicians mudslinging, wars to fight, and famous movie stars getting in trouble.

But the issue here is not whether Americans are in the dark or not. Evidently they are in the dark about many issues. But I got the feeling Cubans have to be in the dark even more because they mostly get information via a state controlled media. Or they get rumours and gossip passed from person to person. We know this happens because in countries where the same system was applied (Soviet Union, East Germany, Hungary and others) people have related their experiences.

So yes, I do make my own opinions based on what I read. But I think most readers would agree I am reasonable and logical when I make deductions. If I can't express what I think and I am limited to quoting what others write, then what's the use? I might as well become a piece of wire.

satellite, mainly illegal some legal

in Havana install a satellite antenna at their home! That was well over 10 years ago, too.

Found that very interesting.

With some explanation of how primitive (at that time) their system was - and how advanced there social implementation was and is.

He also indicated in his posts that when he was visiting his Havana friends once, he broke his leg, and they took him to their clinic to get some help, and how swiftly they helped him, and how expertly, with no waiting, no pressure, etc.

Said it couldn't have been better, and that was THEIR own facility.

A different poster there, Casey, at a different time, told of being in Cuba when she had a dental problem, and went to a dentist contacted through her hotel, I guess. That dentist was an African-Cuban woman who did perfect work for her, at a higher price than that Cubans would pay, as her practice was with tourists.

She was completely satisfied with that esperience.

I can't imagine, however, being stuck with a broken leg away from home, like Billy B, however. Yikes. It seemed Billy B. was very impressed with their system, and grateful they helped him.

They are, after all, the ones footing their discretionary budgets, in may instances!

Remember the time people were busted in the US, I think in Miami, getting together some goodies for them, including canned crabmeat, Godiva chocolates, cashmere sweaters, leather jackets, even chain saws, etc., etc.

Crazy!