Out of sight but not out of mind, Fidel Castro turns 82

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro turned 82 on Wednesday, still a world and national figure even though he has not been seen in public since falling ill two years ago.

After ruling for almost 50 years, Castro follows a special diet for an undisclosed illness that required intestinal surgery and admits he does not have the strength he once had.

But he occasionally surfaces in videos on state-run television. The most recent showed him to be more robust than those aired a few months after his July 2006 operation.

Raul Castro, who replaced his brother provisionally until the National Assembly formally elected him president in February, described Fidel Castro in a July speech as still very active, engaged and at times better informed than he was.

"His day is very busy -- exercising, writing, reflecting, thinking. Sometimes it is he who gives me international news that I have not had time to read," Raul Castro said.

Tellingly, he said he had given his brother a speech beforehand to review and was "overjoyed" when he got word back that Fidel Castro "agreed completely" with its contents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMMANDANTE!!!!!