So Fidel Castro officially stepped down as President of Cuba on Thursday, meaning little brother Raoul will now assume sole control over the Communist island.

No one saw this coming. If any leader had the words "will rule for life" stamped all over his face it was Castro. For him to go out this way is just the latest surprise in a long and wacky reign.

Castro's formal resignation has spawned a great deal of optimistic hope that perhaps the new President Castro will finally begin some serious reforms, now that he is free of his brother's shadow. Economic, democratic, social whatever. Cuba could use anything at this point, really.