A digression -- a joke and some cool images on US-Cuba relations

This post is off topic -- not about the Internet per se -- but the joke cracked me up and the image gallery accompanying this NY Times article are a terrific recapitulation of US v Cuba since 1959.

Click here for the image gallery

Welcome home Alan Gross!

By now you must have heard about the release of Alan Gross after five years in prison for bringing several satellite receivers, computers and WiFi access points into Cuba.

I've been quite busy since his release, so have not had the time to comment on it on this blog. I've another blog on the Internet in Cuba and have been following Alan Gross's story -- both the technology and the politics -- for several years.

I am very happy to end that thread!

I'm also happy that his release has removed an obstacle to the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba -- that will benefit the Cuban people and the Cuban Internet.

This may or may not be the end of Alan Gross's involvement with the Internet in Cuba -- he is clearly an advocate of Internet freedom and a friend of the Cuban people.

I hope he adjusts quickly to his freedom and am looking forward to hearing more from him if he cares to share his experience.