The Socialist Paradise in all its glory
From Reuters: Cuba orders extreme measures to cut energy use:
Cuba has ordered all state enterprises to adopt "extreme measures" to cut energy usage through the end of the year in hopes of avoiding the dreaded blackouts that plagued the country following the 1991 collapse of its then-top ally, the Soviet Union.
In documents seen by Reuters, government officials have been warned that the island is facing a "critical" energy shortage that requires the closing of non-essential factories and workshops and the shutting down of air conditioners and refrigerators not needed to preserve food and medicine.
Cuba has cut government spending and slashed imports after being hit hard by the global financial crisis and the cost of recovering from three hurricanes that struck last year.
"The energy situation we face is critical and if we do not adopt extreme measures we will have to revert to planned blackouts affecting the population," said a recently circulated message from the Council of Ministers.
Mayne the brothers can loosen a little of their hoarded cash to help the energy crunch... 
Notice how casually they said....
"The situation is not as dire as in the 1990s because Cuba receives 93,000 barrels per day of crude oil, almost two-thirds of what it consumes, from Venezuela. It pays for the oil by providing its energy-rich ally with medical personnel and other professionals."
It rpovides Venezuela with medical personnel a/k/a slaves.
pototo-
You answered the question, 'what happened to all Chavez oil?'
If fido's still getting it doesn't that raise a new question, what're they cooking? They swapping oil for munitions, cash, baggies?
If oil's still flowing why the crisis? What's the gag?
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasoviet Key, Florida
11 November, 2009
The news of an energy crunch in Cuba makes their problems of participating in foreign exchange all too clear. The pain the Castroite regime continues to inflict upon its own people must be producing pressures upon the leadership we cannot see, otherwise they would not fear a crackdown on dissent which, in spite of the brutal treatment handed out to Yoani et al. last week, has not surfaced. Their intimidation has been private, almost covert in nature. The regime is treading lightly, and with the news above you can see the reason why. Economic hardship creates political uncertainty, no matter how substantial the capacity of the regime for repression.
Ladies and gentlemen, hear the truth! The embargo is working. At least, in so far as the trade restrictions prevent the Castroite rulers from gaining foreign exchange. We must not let that change as a result of current discussions now underway in Washington to lift the embargo in its entirety. No way!
But I also submit that we should now consider what steps we may take to enhance the flow of information into Cuba from the U.S. in order to let the Cuban people gain enhanced access to alternative interpretations of the source of their economic woes. It is time to review the travel restrictions. It would help to put a different spin on Cuba's economic plight in front of the Cuban people.
But leave everything else outside of travel in place. The embargo is working.
StJacques
StJacques Online: A Freedom Blog