Regarding Cuba and other such nations past and present: Poor, poor people of the world. It’s amazing how one despot, with a
small group of radical followers can control a large population. They do usually gain power because people think their situations will be better (Hitler and the Germans), and by the time they realize what they’ve supported, it’s too late.

Hi Virginia–

I’m not absolutely certain, but I’m pretty sure that hydrogenated coconut oil is completely saturated.  Most of the fats making up coconut oil are saturated, but a few aren’t.  I suspect that completely hydrogenating these few increases shelf life substantially.

Best–

MRE 

A dictatorship is a dictatorship. It doesn’t matter whether it’s right or left–any dictatorship takes away democracy-the will of the people.

It’s rather patronizing to think that a people as proud and nationalistic as the Cubans would have considered for one nanosecond that being a protectorate of any other country would have been desirable. Please remember they overthrew Spain for many of the same reasons we overthrew England.

There is no doubt that Batista wasn’t a saint. And I’m not being patronizing. Ask yourself this question: If the “proud and nationalistic” Cubans had to do it over again, would they opt for spending the last 50+ years living as a US Protectorate or under the tender mercies of Fidel, Raul, et al? I would bet on the former.

Coincidentally, the first scene in the documentary “Outfoxed” is a group of American businessmen dividing up a cake in the shape of Cuba, symbolically divvying up the island among themselves. Batista was very much on the side of this group, and my parents and their fellow Cubans knew that Batista was selling Cuban business down the river to the highest bidder. It was in this atmosphere that they supported the only man who seemed to be doing something to save the island from foreign ownership. Too bad he turned out to be just a different brand of narcissist from Batista.

Hi LC–

One wonders whether the millions of people in Cuba would have been better off under the ‘corrupt’ Batista regime (and his followers) these last 50 or so years than they have been under his executioner’s rule.

It has always amazed me that Castro achieved power because the populace thought Batista was selling out to the Americans, when the very same people supporting Castro got wind of his true intentions, they (or at least those who had the wherewithal and foresight to do so) split for … America.

I suspect that if Castro had failed, the worst that would have happened to Cuba – at least in terms of Americanization – would have been that it becomes a protectorate as has Puerto Rico.  Cuba would have retained its charm and countless thousands of people wouldn’t have been lined up against the walls and shot or been imprisoned.

Once again the old admonition to be careful what you wish for holds true. 

MRE 

I wrote to the contact on your home page with a question 2 weeks ago, and they suggested I try getting it answered through your blog, so here goes.

In “Protein Power”, you state that hydrogenated fat is not a problem. I recently read that it is, and wondered if it’s still o. k., or if any research has changed your mind regarding it. Thanks.

Hi Virginia–

Depends on what you mean when you say ‘hydrogenated fat.’  If you mean partially hydrogenated fat, i.e., trans fat, then it is definitely bad.  If you mean fully hydrogenated fat, then your talking about a saturated fat, which is fine.

You’re probably talking about trans fats, though, and they should be avoided.

Best–

MRE 

From one kind of tropical island to another! Hawaiian decor and culture was big in the US at the time, and made its way to what was a very pro American Cuba way back when.

Hi LC–

You were there in the Batista days?

MRE 

Every though of a Spanish version of the LifePlan? I can help! (Actually, that is a serious offer…)

Well… I’ve translated a lot of that book (unoficially) so I can actually explain it to Spanish speaking friends. But no worries… nothing has been left written anywhere where it can be taken and print it ‘officially’.

You said in your blog about Cafe Americano that I inspired you to play around with your own blends… now you’ve inspired me to go clean my desk! If there is something that’s really my ‘clutter-point’ is paper… I could be like an ant and accumulate massive amounts of paper. Thanks for the inspiration; now I feel without any scruples so I can thrown away every piece of paper that comes across my desk!

Hi Gabe–

Thanks for the translation offer.  I wish it worked that way.

Warner Books owns the world rights to the PPLP.  If they get an offer from a Spanish publisher, they (Warner) then sells the Spanish rights and gives me part of whatever money they collect.

Glad I inspired you to clean your desk.  It’s a constant battle with me.

Cheers–

MRE 

Who knows why?  It’s been pretty much shown, though, that it wasn’t the fiber.

MRE 

My only lingering request is your evaluation of Fiber Menace. The thesis makes sense but my life also makes sense and I’ve been healthfully eating very high fiber for more than 60 years.

Hi Marly–

Thanks for the kind words.  I’ll get to Fiber Menace in due course.  I’m almost finished, but it gets so dreadful near the end that I almost can’t bear to go on.  If I were you,  I wouldn’t worry a whole lot about the totally contradictory advice given in the book.

Cheers–

MRE