LETTER FROM VENEZUELA

Jeanette Rodriguez Super Sexy, o la magia del Photoshop

2011-12-24T02:57:00.000-08:00

Ana C. Díaz en Venevisión

2009-07-09T17:22:00.001-07:00

Ana C. Díaz en Venevisión
Vídeo enviado por noticias24

Ana Cristina Díaz, co-fundadora y Presidenta de Noticias24, fue entrevistada hoy en Venevisión

La Erika colombiana

2009-06-16T05:58:00.001-07:00

Camila Zarate
Vídeo enviado por Pavlina14

Aunque Camila Zarate canta y actúa, además de animar en CytyYv y hacer radio por la Mega en Bogotá.

Hugo Chavez anti crisis economic measures

2009-03-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

According to Reuters news agency:

1. Chavez will soon announce a series of economic measures
2. He “promised” to offset lower oil revenues and the global crisis
3. He “promised” to “protect” social programs
4. He “promised” investment in infrastructure
5. He “promised” investment in housing.
6. He “promised” investment “to defend” the interests of the people
7. He “promised” his own top officials will “moderate” lavish lifestyles
8. He “promised” he will not devalue the currency (BsF)
9. He “complained” about subsidies on water, electricity and gasoline
10. He “suggested” prices increases on water, electricity and gasoline
11. He “promised” to tap into investment funds offered by China and Japan
12. He “promised” to stimulate the economy

According to street word of mouth:

13. Loans in China and Japan (16.000 Billion US$)
14. Tax on bank checks (IDB)
15. Value Added Tax (IVA)
16. Price increase of Petrol (% not known yet)
17. 25% increase on Electricity, Gas and Water services.
18. Public transport fares increases
19. 28% tax on new cars
20. Tax on private education
21. Tax on Olive oil and other delicatessens
22. Increased prices for hygiene products (soups, shampoo, etc.)
23. Very high taxes on fancy consumer goods
24. Airport tax increase
25. Tax on public leisure activities (movies, theater, concerts)
26. Tax on cable television
27. 28% increase on telephone services
28. 66% increase on Internet services
29. Changes in the preferential import list (122 items)
30. Monopolization of ports and airports
31. Monopolization of food imports and distribution
32. Confiscation of many private banks
33. Militarization of Guayana state industrial plants
34. Militarization of the Caracas Metro
35. Destitution of 3 regional governors (Tachira, Miranda and Carabobo)
36. Take over of independent TV station Globovisión
37. Accidental destruction of El Nacional and El Universal paper depots
38. Jail for many uneasy opposition city mayors and congressmen
39. Jail for “corruption” of some uneasy chavista local leaders
40. Attack to Colombian military posts in the Caura region
41. New foreign currency exchange regulations

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Ask before signing

2009-01-05T10:25:00.001-08:00

Chávez wants to rule for ever

2008-12-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

Preview: Petare and Green Stick Open 2008

2008-12-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

La hija de...

2008-12-03T01:43:00.000-08:00

No es delito tener mamá, todos tienen una, pero de allí a querer vender una serie de telvisión apelando a eso es receta para el fracaso. Venevisión lo lamentará.

Con la excepción de la hija de JLRodriguez y Danielita Alvarado, (quienes son buenas en lo suyo, independientemente de sus padres), no recuerdo en 50 años una "hija de" que hay sido exitosa por ser "hija de".

En VV deberían imitar a RCTV Internacional, que mantiene una escuela y de allí surge gente como la chamita de la novela de la noche, quien casualmente es" hija de" pero es una excelente joven actriz.

Merito adicional de esta niña es que su papá (muerto gracias a la delincuencia desatada desde el poder) no está para ayudarla y sin embargo está haciendo un papel destacadísimo en la exitosa serie de RCTV Internacional.

Cosas de la vida...

The cost of the world financial crisis

2008-12-02T05:44:00.000-08:00

There is a crisis but Hugo Chavez government insists that it will not impact us in Venezuela, however it has not completly developed already is costing about 4% of World GDP.

The worst is that the guy is ignoring the crisis and has taken no one measure to mitigate its impacts on the economy, employment, banks, currency, food supplies, etc. His only worry is to remain as president for life. I am sure, that if the guy keeps that behaviour for too long, we can only expect problems.

Economic Cost

USA: 800 b$
China: 586 b$
EU: 240 b$
Russsia: 186 b$
Italy: 100 b$
Spain: 50b$
UK: 30 b$
France: 24 b$
Subtotal: 2016 b$ (3% of World GDP)
Including ALL countries: 4% of World GDP
1929 Depression: 8,9 % of USA GDP (for comparison)

Jobs Lost

World: 1.120.000 highly paid jobs in world financial and technological sectors
Wall Street: 110.000 jobs
India: Textiles up to 500.000 jobs lost
China: 700.000 in just one province

Suicides

4 reported so far

SOURCE: Newspapers & Wikipedia

Valientes, valientes...

2008-12-01T10:06:00.001-08:00

Terrorist throw The Stone...

A terrorist group called "LA PIEDRITA" (small stone), financed and supported by the Venezuelan government, has been attacking the homes and offices of disliked newsmen and newswomen.

The last person attacked was Martha Colomina, a radio & TV interviewer. Before that, Globovisión News TV station, newspaper "El Nuevo País" and the prominent TV anchorman Leopoldo Castillo homes and/or offices were attacked.

The terrorist group usually leaves leaflets identifying themselves as Hugo Chavez supporters. So far no investigation has been opened.

Miss World: Made in Venezuela

2008-12-01T09:50:00.001-08:00

The fantasy world of Hugo Chavez

2008-12-01T06:24:00.001-08:00

Chavez: With the sun in his back

2008-12-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

Venezuela Analítica brings today this interesting article

"In the elections last Sunday, Hugo Chavez suffered a major setback. Governorships obtained by the Opposition have great political importance: Miranda, Zulia, Carabobo and Tachira are the most populated regions. New Sparta (Isla Margarita) is the largest tourist pole in the country. All five states remain in opposition hands, which also achieved an impressive victory in the capital city of Caracas with the arrival of Antonio Ledezma as the Mayor of Greater Caracas.

Hugo Chavez number exercises to hide this frank advance of the Opposition are useless.

All we perceived the atmosphere of defeat the ruling heads of the government party PSUV showed the night of Novembre the 23rd, today less united than ever.

(Later) in the luxurious rooms of the Hilton hotel, Chavez wanted to change reality with twisted phrases and numbers.

But statements by the defeated candidates, Jesse Chacon and Aristobulo Isturiz, agree on the real issue: The people voted against Chavez... "

(MY CONCLUSION: Bye, bye eternal presidency and infinite reelection)

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Competencias de los municipios

2008-11-29T13:01:00.000-08:00

Del Poder Público Municipal

Artículo 168. Los Municipios constituyen la unidad política primaria de la organización nacional, gozan de personalidad jurídica y autonomía dentro de los límites de la Constitución y de la ley. La autonomía municipal comprende:

1. La elección de sus autoridades.

2. La gestión de las materias de su competencia.

3. La creación, recaudación e inversión de sus ingresos.

Las actuaciones del Municipio en el ámbito de sus competencias se cumplirán incorporando la participación ciudadana al proceso de definición y ejecución de la gestión pública y en el control y evaluación de sus resultados, en forma efectiva, suficiente y oportuna, conforme a la ley.

Los actos de los Municipios no podrán ser impugnados sino ante los tribunales competentes, de conformidad con la Constitución y la ley.

Artículo 179. Los Municipios tendrán los siguientes ingresos:

1. Los procedentes de su patrimonio, incluso el producto de sus ejidos y bienes.

2. Las tasas por el uso de sus bienes o servicios; las tasas administrativas por licencias o autorizaciones; los impuestos sobre actividades económicas de industria, comercio, servicios, o de índole similar, con las limitaciones establecidas en esta Constitución; los impuestos sobre inmuebles urbanos, vehículos, espectáculos públicos, juegos y apuestas lícitas, propaganda y publicidad comercial; y la contribución especial sobre plusvalías de las propiedades generadas por cambios de uso o de intensidad de aprovechamiento con que se vean favorecidas por los planes de ordenación urbanística.

3. El impuesto territorial rural o sobre predios rurales, la participación en la contribución por mejoras y otros ramos tributarios nacionales o estadales, conforme a las leyes de creación de dichos tributos.

4. Los derivados del situado constitucional y otras transferencias o subvenciones nacionales o estadales.

5. El producto de las multas y sanciones en el ámbito de sus competencias y las demás que les sean atribuidas.

6. Los demás que determine la ley.

Artículo 178. Son de la competencia del Municipio el gobierno y administración de sus intereses y la gestión de las materias que le asigne esta Constitución y las leyes nacionales, en cuanto concierne a la vida local, en especial la ordenación y promoción del desarrollo económico y social, la dotación y prestación de los servicios públicos domiciliarios, la aplicación de la política referente a la materia inquilinaria con criterios de equidad, justicia y contenido de interés social, de conformidad con la delegación prevista en la ley que rige la materia, la promoción de la participación, y el mejoramiento, en general, de las condiciones de vida de la comunidad, en las siguientes áreas:

1. Ordenación territorial y urbanística; patrimonio histórico; vivienda de interés social; turismo local; parques y jardines, plazas, balnearios y otros sitios de recreación; arquitectura civil, nomenclatura y ornato público.

2. Vialidad urbana; circulación y ordenación del tránsito de vehículos y personas en las vías municipales; servicios de transporte público urbano de pasajeros y pasajeras.

3. Espectáculos públicos y publicidad comercial, en cuanto concierne a los intereses y fines específicos municipales.

4. Protección del ambiente y cooperación con el saneamiento ambiental; aseo urbano y domiciliario, comprendidos los servicios de limpieza, de recolección y tratamiento de residuos y protección civil.

5. Salubridad y atención primaria en salud, servicios de protección a la primera y segunda infancia, a la adolescencia y a la tercera edad; educación preescolar, servicios de integración familiar del discapacitado al desarrollo comunitario, actividades e instalaciones culturales y deportivas. Servicios de prevención y protección, vigilancia y control de los bienes y las actividades relativas a las materias de la competencia municipal.

6. Servicio de agua potable, electricidad y gas doméstico, alcantarillado, canalización y disposición de aguas servidas; cementerios y servicios funerarios.

7. Justicia de paz, prevención y protección vecinal y servicios de policía municipal, conforme a la legislación nacional aplicable.

8. Las demás que le atribuya la Constitución y la ley.

Las actuaciones que corresponden al Municipio en la materia de su competencia no menoscaban las competencias nacionales o estadales que se definan en la ley conforme a la Constitución.

Hugo Chavez regime violates all electoral regulations

2008-11-08T11:32:00.001-08:00

Michelle: "Actually, this is a J.Crew ensemble..."

2008-10-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

"Yap, I buy at J.Crew too..."
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Another wall falls, but now in New York

2008-09-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

Coincidentally, the area of NY where the banks and other financial institutions which make that fiancial heart of the world is called Wall Street.

But starting this week, the future will not be any more what it used to be. "A financial Pearl Habour" called it one of the wealthiest businessmen in the world.

In addition, the BBC has just withdrawn a newscast to broadcast a special show called "the world in the brink". That name is enough to understand the seriousness of the issue.

Someone pointed out that Wall Street may be losing its world preeminence overall. U.S. Capitalism will not be copied in the inmediate future.

The USA should open beyond the G-7 to the G-20, said another guest, implying that world financial power will be more spread in the future and Asia and the Arabs will want assurances before placing their assests in the hand by their American competitors.

But, as one participant who resides in Hong Kon said: "The world will be the same again in the future. We will overcome this crisis and others will come elsewhere.

My immediate conclusion is that the Americans should stop living -as the Argentinian- beyond their means and they can not expect others pay for their careless (¿criminal?) way to bring about their financial affairs, without supervision or honesty.

The common people of the U.S. has to correct their bad borrowing and consumption habits and the bankers should be more alert in order not to compete "giving away" money to people with no ability to pay.

Unfortunately, it the young people who will pay for the mistakes of their elders. They will have to pay by way of inflation government expenditures to save dishonest and inept bankers.

A Berlin Wall Financial is crumbling before our eyes is ...

Oil prices have fallen

2008-09-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

“Oil prices have fallen more than $54 from the record high price of $147.27 a barrel, and will probably dip below $90 a barrel this week…”

Como el presupuesto lo calculan siempre con la mitad del precio, el de este año fue calculado a 75$ para asegurar que sobraran 70$ para Alí Baba y sus 40 Ladrones; pero el bajón de esta semana –SIN DUDAS- le descuadrará las cuentas a la pandilla.

Así que los veremos corriendo el año que viene o antes a fines de este año, para corregir los gastos en el pueblo. Que al final compite por la misma plata con la banda de ladrones que lo administra.

Si lo venden a 90$, y le restan el presupuesto oficial, solo les quedarían 15$ para robar, no los 70$ que habían imaginado.

Como sabemos que el pueblo y sus necesidades van DESPUES de la pandilla, el año que viene veremos menos recolección de basura, menos policías en la calle, más homicidios sin aclarar, menos fiscales por expediente, más presos esperando juicio más tiempo, más escuelas destartaladas, más hospitales sin insumos, más muertos por falta de atención médica, más bebes muertos en las maternidades, menos inversión, más protestas, más represión, más tráfico de drogas (de algo tienen que vivir los revolucionarios), menos inversión pública, menos mantenimiento de las infraestructuras urbanas, más deterioro de la CANTV y de la Electricidad de Caracas y en el interior apagones más largos y seguidos.

Cierto, el mundo no se acabará, pero para el pueblo todo se pondrá más difícil, pro que no es verdad que Alí Baba va a robar menos o a comprar menos armas o a viajar menos.

Eso no cambiará, al menos mientras el pueblo -sobornado como está hoy- se lo siga permitiendo…

Russian Bombers in Venezuela

2008-09-16T11:01:00.001-07:00

Imagenes inéditas bombarderos
Vídeo enviado por noticias24

Venezuelan Officials Support FARC

2008-09-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

September 12, 2008
HP-1132

Treasury Targets Venezuelan Government Officials Supporting the FARC

Washington, DC--The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated two senior Venezuelan government officials, Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios and Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva, and one former official, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, for materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a narco-terrorist organization.

"Today's designation exposes two senior Venezuelan government officials and one former official who armed, abetted, and funded the FARC, even as it terrorized and kidnapped innocents," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of OFAC. "This is OFAC's sixth action in the last ten months against the FARC. We will continue to target and isolate those individuals and entities that aid the FARC's deadly narco-terrorist activities in the Americas."

Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios is the Director of Venezuela's Military Intelligence Directorate (DGIM). His assistance to the FARC includes protecting drug shipments from seizure by Venezuelan anti-narcotics authorities and providing weapons to the FARC, allowing them to maintain their stronghold of the coveted Arauca Department. Arauca, which is located on the Colombia/Venezuela border, is known for coca cultivation and cocaine production. Carvajal Barrios also provides the FARC with official Venezuelan government identification documents that allow FARC members to travel to and from Venezuela with ease.

Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva, the Director of Venezuela's Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services or DISIP, is in charge of intelligence and counterintelligence activities for the Venezuelan government. Rangel Silva has materially assisted the narcotics trafficking activities of the FARC. He has also pushed for greater cooperation between the Venezuelan government and the FARC.

Ramon Emilio Rodriguez Chacin, who was Venezuela's Minister of Interior and Justice until September 8, is the Venezuelan government's main weapons contact for the FARC. The FARC uses its proceeds from narcotics sales to purchase weapons from the Venezuelan government. Rodriguez Chacin has held numerous meetings with senior FARC members, one of which occurred at the Venezuelan government's Miraflores Palace in late 2007. Rodriguez Chacin has also assisted the FARC by trying to facilitate a $250 million dollar loan from the Venezuelan government to the FARC in late 2007. We cannot confirm whether the loan materialized.

On May 29, 2003, President George W. Bush identified the FARC as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker, or drug kingpin, pursuant to the Kingpin Act. In 2001, the State Department designated the FARC as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, and in 1997 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

This OFAC action continues ongoing efforts under the Kingpin Act to apply financial measures against significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations worldwide. In addition to the 75 drug kingpins that have been designated by the President, 460 businesses and individuals have been designated pursuant to the Kingpin Act since June 2000.

Today's action freezes any assets the designated entities and individuals may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions involving those assets. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1,075,000 per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000,000. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10,000,000. Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code.

Carimba, skin story

2008-09-07T05:14:00.001-07:00

Carimba, marcada en mi piel

Spanish video on racism in Venezuela. I will be waiting for a video by the same filmaker on SPANISH racism and xenophobia against ALL latinos living or visiting SPAIN. Vale.

You will enjoy this

2008-09-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Scientific: Money buys you happiness

There are studies for every thing.

Two recent ones indicate that the country with more intelligent people is Singapore (108 points).

The country with more gross people is not Ireland or Poland (as the joke has it) but Equatorial Guinea (59 points).

Venezuela appears with 84 points, exactly half the scale, meaning we are half gross.

Another study says Happiness is not distributed evenly.

The happiest people live in Denmark (273 points) and the most wretched live in Burundi (100 points).

In that ranking Venezuelans appear with 247 points and Singaporeans with 230.

The obvious conclusion is that the Orientals are unhappy smart guys while Venezuelans are happy but idiots.

If despite all your intelligence you find it confusing, just read the third study.

It links income with intelligence and presents the graph with which everything is finally clarified.

The obvious scientific conclusion is 'Venezuelan are a bunch of happy poor asses...'

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Gallup: Obama with 6% lead

2008-08-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

Obama 48% --- McCain 42%

The IceRocket graph shows that also leads in Obama Internet blogs...

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CNN lies: Chavez was the real speaker in Denver

2008-08-28T23:42:00.000-07:00

Wait and look tomorrow for Venezuelan pro government press front pages.

They will say something like this: "The real speaker in Denver was Hugo Chavez. CNN lied showing a manipulated image of Barack Obama..."

Fatherland, Socialism or Dead*

(*) your dead, not mine

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The Uggly Russian boot

2008-08-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a message that challenges the World demand for due respect of Georgia sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"You can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state..."

The bear army tanks are there to make sure that does not happen...

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Sleeping Beauty

2008-08-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

In Flicker one can find photographs many Asians sleeping in subways and buses.

Today, I found this one in the Caracas Metro.

It must be their national hobby or sport...

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HAPPY 8-8-8

2008-08-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Venezuela: Dictatorship officially started today

2008-08-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

With unconstitutional legislation and vetting of opposition candidates, the Venezuelan regime decided TODAY to take off the democratic mask it has been showing during almost 10 years.

Today decision became unavoidable because of the loss of public support which will make it to appear weak in November local elections and most probably loose power in or before year 2012.

Take note of the date...

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Humor Negro 3 en 1

2008-08-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

El Teniente Coronel dijo que "los 26 decretos aprobados por el él fueron debatidos y discutidos y quien no esté de acuerdo que vaya al TSJ que en Venezuela hay un estado de derecho..."

Gracioso el tipejo...
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We wish health and good luck to Christina

2008-08-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Un vago dijo

2008-08-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

"Yo soy la única persona que tienen moral aquí para hablar por los trabajadores y con los trabajadores y por los trabajadores...”

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The New King and his secret legislation

2008-08-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Chavez eats a Spanish bank

2008-07-31T17:27:00.001-07:00

... but violations to human rights of opposition candidates is much worst a problem for common Venezuelans...

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Venezuela: Opposition candidates

2008-07-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Those are the designed (or most probable) opposition candidates in November regional elections:

* Aragua: Henry Rosales (designed in statewide open primary)
* Anzoátegui: Antonio Barreto Sira
* Monagas: Domingo Urbina
* Zulia: Pablo Pérez
* Cojedes: Alberto Galíndez
* Lara: Pedro Pablo Alcántara
* Nueva Esparta: Morel Rodríguez
* Miranda: Capriles Radonsky
* Carabobo: Henrique Salas Feo
* Apure: Miriam Montilla
* Barinas: ?
* Bolívar: Velásquez
* Yaracuy: E. Lappi or E. Torres
* Trujillo: Enrique Catalán
* Táchira: W. méndez y G. Azocar
* Mérida: William Dávila
* Delta Amacuro: ?
* Sucre: Eduardo Morales Gil
* Vargas: Roberto Smith
* Guárico: Reinaldo Armas
* Portuguesa: ?
* Amazonas: ?

Caracas:

1. Alcaldía Mayor: Leopoldo López
2. Municipio Libertador: Stalin Gonzalez
3. Municipio Sucre: Carlos Ocariz
4. Municipio Chacao: ?
5. Municipio Baruta: Ricardo Blyde
6. Municipio El Hatillo: De Nacimento

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The King and I

2008-07-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Irresponsible researcher sees cancer risk in mobiles

2008-07-25T03:59:00.000-07:00

With no study to support him, Dr. Ronald Herberman warns that "children should use cellphones only for emergencies".

The head of a prominent cancer research institute has issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff: Limit cellphone use because of the possible risk of cancer. The warning from , director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, issued Wednesday, is contrary to numerous studies that have not found a link between brain cancer and cellphone use and a lack of official concern from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman said he was basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He said that it took too long to get answers from science and that he believed people should take action now, especially in regard to children. Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn't wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,' Herberman said.
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Juan Carlos and Hugo, singing and dancing

2008-07-25T02:58:00.001-07:00

Righeira - Vamos a la playa Vídeo: james_milan

Chávez en La Habana

2008-07-25T02:15:00.001-07:00

Chávez en La Habana
Vídeo enviado por joslop2004

Antes de ser elegido Presidente de la Rapública de Venezuela, Chávez visitó a Fidel en La Habana y desde ese entonces se declaró su fiel seguidor.

Chavez giving away 'his' country

2008-07-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

Interfax quotes Chavez

"Venezuela would welcome Russian military bases in the South American country: 'If Russian armed forces would like to come to Venezuela, they will be welcomed warmly,' Chavez told the news conference, Interfax reported. 'We will raise flags, beat drums and sing songs, because our allies will come..."

Treason, treason...

Colombia presidential contest started today

2008-07-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

... and those are the two candidates: Santos y Betancourt.
(Please, do not get confused with Shakira and Juanes).
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Colonel Narciso TV debut

2008-07-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

February the 4th, 1992

Colonel Narcissus declares after being humiliated and defeated in his poorly planned coup d´tat.

Carlos Ocariz en Canal i

2008-07-16T09:11:00.001-07:00

Carlos Ocariz en el i
Vídeo enviado por noticias24

Vivo en el Distrito Sucre y me pareció interesante conservar esta entrevista para reclamarle en el futuro, si sale electo y no cumple esas promesas.

Viva Dayana

2008-07-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Venezuelan elected Miss Universe

2008-07-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

The Rival Chávez Won't Permit

2008-06-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Defenders of Hugo Chávez like to argue that there is no alternative to the Venezuelan caudillo other than the feckless and unpopular politicians who preceded him in the 1990s. The simple refutation of that canard is Leopoldo López, the 37-year-old mayor of central Caracas, whose boyish good looks only underscore the fact that he represents a fresh generation. López, a hyperarticulate graduate of Kenyon College and Harvard, is a pragmatic center-leftist, like most of the presidents elected in South America since the turn of the century.

Like in Zimbabwe

2008-06-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Powerful fans of Chavez are abusing Chacao mayor Leopoldo Lopez, the only politician who reaches levels of popularity as high as the revolucionarian comunist president.

It explains the repeated accusations and court cases agains the youg mayor...

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Venezuela financing terrorism?

2008-06-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

President of Bolivian senate accuses Venezuelan Embassy of terrorist attack against a TV station in Yacuiba, province of Tarija. The car of the accused was under a rent contract with the Venezuelan Embassy in La Paz.

The original news note is in spanish:

LA PAZBolivia, jun. 27 (UPI) -- El presidente del Senado, Oscar Ortiz, presentó este viernes pruebas que vinculan a la Embajada de Venezuela con el atentado a un canal de televisión en Yacuiba. En un contacto con la Red Uno, el senador Ortiz sostuvo que dicha representación alquiló el automóvil en el que se trasladaba el militar Georges Nava, acusado de haber atentado contra el canal 4 de Yacuiba un día antes del referéndum autonómico en Tarija.

'Es un hecho gravísimo el poder comprobar que una Embajada extranjera en este caso la de Venezuela, financió un atentado terrorista. El presidente Morales le debe una explicación a los bolivianos y debe tomar medidas', aseveró. Pidió además que se identifiquen quienes dentro de su gobierno estuvieron involucrados en el atentado que sufrió dicho canal el domingo pasado.

© Copyright 2008 United Press International
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Venezuela 'supplies half of Britain's cocaine

2008-06-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

Anti-drugs officials estimate that more than 50 per cent of all the cocaine consumed in Britain has been trafficked through Venezuela - under the 'revolutionary' regime of Mr Chavez.

50pc of all the cocaine consumed in Britain is believed to have been trafficked through Bolivarian Venezuela. Last year, about 250 tons of cocaine are thought to have passed through Venezuela - up to a five-fold increase on 2004. Much of this ended up in Britain.

The figure could be as high as two thirds. Senior commanders in Venezuela's security forces are thought to be profiting from the trade and actively helping the smugglers, notably by allowing them to use military airfields.

Daily Telegraph, 27/06/2008 by David Blair, Caracas"

You can help

2008-06-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

... with ideas for more paradoxical magazines.

I already have in mind for next week the following magazine covers:

"Atheist Believer"

"Peaceful Warrior"

"Prolife Abortionist"

Crude but could be funny... for some...
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Paradoxical Magazines III

2008-06-25T17:46:00.001-07:00

Paradoxical Magazines II

2008-06-25T17:43:00.001-07:00

Paradoxical Magazines I

2008-06-25T17:42:00.001-07:00

Bye, bye, McCain

2008-06-21T04:28:00.001-07:00

Mussolini, Hitler y Stalin were babies

2008-06-21T03:44:00.000-07:00

“No se trata de ganar elecciones, (sino) impedirle al enemigo que divida al país (?) eso es un primer paso; porque luego viene el compromiso profundo, el objetivo que va mucho más allá: Construir el socialismo en Venezuela desde el barrio y la alcaldía”

For this guy the country starts and finishes in the presidential palace.

People opinion expressed in the recent referendum does not exist for him.

It is the real XXI Century fascism-leninism with cuban inspiration...

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Round Up

2008-06-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today an opinion survey by Alfredo Keller was published and his main finding is bad for everyone: Hugo Chavez is not finished yet but is in a minority on many issues and his supporters are losing almost every decently carried out election.

Defeat is now common, from the Andes University student union in Merida, to the Journalists Union or the Central University Deans selection to almost every professional guild or union.

For the coming elections his candidates are in a very bad position, losing between 8 and 12 states or provinces and deep divisions in his party rank and file. The communist option is rejected in his own party by moderate democrats, the enriched military and common people.

Internationally, the Reyes PCs have him in the verge of a pariah status. Just yesterday two persons with connections with the government were accused of being members of the terrorist Hizbolá organization which operates in the middle east and few weeks ago 2 Venezuelans were detained in Colombia with ammunition loads for the FARC guerrilla.

In the economic front, finances are at shambles despite the high state income from sky high oil prices, inflation is out of control, scarcity of food is estimated affects more than 33% of the products and medicines are frequently out of stock in the drugstores.

On the social side, basic services do not work: health, education and specially public safety are disorderly managed, police are infiltrated by gangs and homicide rates are the highest in America, 6 million guns are running free, drug traffic, guerrilla activities and kidnaps are in the increase, to travel -even in public transport- is unsafe anywhere and anytime.

Sadly, the only action taken so far is to go to Cuba to get advise from eternal dictator Fidel Castro and to limit liberties by law (but failed) or by fact (administrative and illegal inhabilitation of popular mayor and governor candidates), police terror with 1000s of people killed in "shootings" with the police and two known journalists killed in the last two weeks. Weakened authoritarians only think about being more authoritarians.

It is a round up of recent news in Venezuela...
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Venezuela today

2008-06-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Chavez next economic measure

2008-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Lost in space

2008-06-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Chavez friends of the first hour look now far and away from the Colonel...

(La imagen es del chiguire bipolar)

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

2008-06-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Colonel Narciso should have started by recognizing the validity of the 1999 Constitution and accept the verdict of the people on December 2, 2007 who rejected Communism and its entrance door that is the Cuban style Socialism.

Colonel Narciso had to admit that he has been wrong for 10 years when seeking personal control (not by the Estate) of the goods and people living in this country, that is not his -or his corrupt buddies- but all Venezuelans.

After that, only after that, should have Colonel Narciso announced any measure. But real measures, not that meringue of warm patches arriving late in clearly insufficient magnitude to reactivate anything.

“Too little too late...”, as the English say.

1000 MM $ are 120 are bags of money, nothing to reactivate an economy.

Dollar exchange controlling is nonsense, he had to remove it.

Price controls do not work, he had to remove them.

The dollar is not worth 3,00 Bs. and he knows it, he should have been sincere on that.

Petrol is not worth 10 cents, he should free the price. The fuel subsidy only benefits the rich, congestes streets and damages the lungs of children in Caracas. Colonel Narciso should have eliminated it.

It is true that all this can not be done at once.

... but Colonel Narciso had 10 years to do it and he did not.

It is time for Colonel Narciso to leave the high office for someone more capable.

That's what I think.

Me and my new office assistant

2008-06-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

Nations Urge Oil Producers For More

2008-06-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

"Leading energy-consuming nations urged oil producers to boost their output to counter soaring prices threatening the world economy, while they pledged to develop clean energy technologies and improve efficiency."

Oil prodicer shouls say no.

1. To produce more for less depletes their grandchildren´s piggy.

2. To increase production lows price and retards the development of alternative sources of energy.

3. To increase production pollutes the atmosphere and long term damages earth climate.

Three good reasons to let rich countires to adjust to higher prices...
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Well, this isn't exactly the party I'd planned...

2008-06-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

"I've had every opportunity and blessing in my own life, and I want the same for all Americans. And until that day comes, you'll always find me on the front lines of democracy, fighting for the future. The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States. Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me."
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Venezuela: A police state?

2008-06-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

A draconian charter for spies

IT MAY be an autocracy, but Hugo Chávez's government has never been particularly repressive, let alone a dictatorship. A decree issued late last month with no prior debate threatens to change that. It creates a new intelligence and counter-intelligence system which in the name of national security enlists the entire population in ... a spy network.

“This undoubtedly brings us close to...a police state” declared Provea..."

“The law establishes vague, generic crimes, which is very dangerous... and ... abolishes the presumption of innocence...."

The decree authorises police raids without warrant, the use of anonymous witnesses and secret evidence. Judges are obliged to collaborate with the intelligence services. Anyone caught investigating sensitive matters faces jail.

The law contains no provision for any kind of oversight. It blurs the distinction between external threats and internal political dissent. It requires all citizens, foreigners and organisations to act in support of the intelligence system whenever required—or face jail terms of up to six years.

The Economist print edition, Jun 5th 2008 | CARACAS
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Make me your VP

2008-06-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

It's All About Her

2008-06-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

"Waiting for Senator Clinton to decide what she wants. This routine -- be it Senator Clinton's defiance, or the party's deferential behavior toward her -- illustrates exactly why this party, and liberalism with it, must change. And while we wait here in some kind of twisted Pollyanna limbo, Senator McCain is measuring the White House Residence to see if his Craftmatic adjustable bed will fit through the door..."

Bob Cesca: Even In Defeat, It's All About Her - Politics on The Huffington Post
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EDITOR KILLED BY SICARS

2008-06-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

At 6:00 PM, the VP of Reporte Diario de la Economía, a very critical venezuelan newspaper, was killed by motorized sicars with 17 bullets. Apparently he was confused with his brother, who is the President and Editor of the paper and has received death threaths from many sources, apparently from the corrupt official denounced by the newspaper.

Already, the Director of the paper is in jail under "criminal charges".

One journalist of this paper, Leocenis García, is in jail too also under "criminal charges".

Another, journalist and cleric Padre Palmar, stoped working in the paper.

If it is not a bloody african tirany, you tell me ¿what is it?
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Chávez tightens hold on venezuelans

2008-06-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

CARACAS, Venezuela: President Hugo Chávez has used his decree powers to carry out a major overhaul of this country's intelligence agencies, provoking a fierce backlash here from human rights groups and legal scholars who say the measures will force citizens to inform on one another to avoid prison terms.

Under the new intelligence law, which took effect last week, Venezuela's two main intelligence services, the DISIP secret police and the DIM military intelligence agency, will be replaced with new agencies, the General Intelligence Office and General Counterintelligence Office, under the control of Chávez.

From the IHT
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DEDOCRACIA (Fingerocracy)

2008-06-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

It is the name of a regime (the Venezuelan) which fingers candidates to regional elections on the basis of personal loyalty and a past as militay conspirator.

It resulted in 15 military (mainly army) being imposed as candidates to governors in primary elections with deeply oscure winner selection methodos...
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Retrovolution

2008-06-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

Retrovolution: Neologism to describe Venezuelan Hugo Chavez communist experiment.
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Official photo of my university graduation (1973)

2008-05-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Carter: Abusive and imprudent

2008-05-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Carter: "Israel has at least 150 atomic weapons in its arsenal". In a new slip Carter made his comments at a press conference at the annual literary Hay Festival in Wales however Israel has never confirmed they have nuclear weapons.

This Jimmy Carter is a really bad weed...
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There is not right to eternal power

2008-05-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

The excentric and corny gang governing Venezuela belives their leader has a right to stay in powewr for ever. Even go to the extreme of inventing a new fundamental human right for him.

"Un exministro anuncia que "en el 2010 se planteará la iniciativa de referéndum constitucional para reconocerle al Corornel Chávez su derecho fundamental de postularse a la Presidencia de la República OTRA VEZ en el año 2012..."

Funny. A monarchic revolution, something never seen before...
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Myself, but long ago...

2008-05-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

RCTV

2008-05-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Oil at $200 the Barrel

2008-05-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

The Oil Market is MAD

2008-05-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Oil at $200 the barrel means unviable economies

2008-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oil at $200 the Barrel

2008-05-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

"An Oracle of Oil Predicts $200-a-Barrel Crude"
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Foto NYT

UFO over Orchila island

2008-05-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

"By mistake" spy airplane visited Mr. Hugo Chavez beach house on a Saturday...
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The Empire strikes back

2008-05-19T09:29:00.001-07:00

CARACAS, mayo 19 . - Autoridades venezolanas denunciaron el lunes que "un avión militar estadounidense violó su espacio aéreo" el fin de semana, lo que el Gobierno consideró una "nueva provocación por parte del enemigo imperialista, bla, bla, bla... "

250 kilotones Nuclear Bomb

2008-05-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Colombia redujo de 250.000 a 5.000 toneladas al año el cupo de exportaciones de carnes hacia Venezuela.

A correr carnívoros...
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TIM PADGETT´s Dilemma over Chavez

2008-05-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

TIME magazine Tim Padgett thinks that: "... there's the possibility, albeit remote in the eyes of many observers, that Chavez might be right — that the laptops themselves might not be authentic. Interpol chief Richard Noble said he was "absolutely certain" that the computers "came from a FARC terrorist camp." But technically, all that Interpol did in its examination of the computers was to confirm that they had not been messed with post-March 1; it wasn't asked to investigate Chavez's allegations that the computers had been planted by the Colombian military in the first place..."

Good but failed attempt to dissociate Chavez from FARC computers...
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WashPost on Hugo Chavez

2008-05-19T06:53:00.001-07:00

Evidence of support for terrorism could carry Chávez to the pariah status he deserves.

Sunday, May 18, 2008; Page B06

THE CONFIRMATION by an international forensics team that laptops and hard drives captured by Colombia originated in a camp of FARC terrorists ought to open a new era in relations between the democratic world and Hugo Chávez's Venezuelan government. Whether it does will depend to a large extent on how Colombia and the United States handle a rich but tricky diplomatic opportunity.

The computers and drives contain a staggering 610 gigabytes of data, according to Interpol, including 983 encrypted files opened by its team. What is already known is enough to demonstrate that Mr. Chávez and senior members of his government, army and intelligence service had a far-reaching clandestine relationship with the FARC and that Venezuela offered the group weapons, money and harbor on its own territory. Ecuador, which under President Rafael Correa has become a Venezuelan satellite, had lesser but also incriminating ties to the group, which specializes in drug trafficking, kidnapping and massacres of civilians.

On its face the evidence is enough to convict Mr. Chávez and his collaborators of backing terrorism against a democratic government. If Venezuela were a European or Asian country, it would surely become an international pariah virtually overnight. But Venezuela is in Latin America -- where governments are reluctant to criticize their neighbors, terrorist groups professing a left-wing ideology have often won sympathy in Europe and the United States, and demagogues such as Mr. Chávez are able to turn hostility from Washington to their advantage. That of course is the Venezuelan strategy: Rather than even attempt to respond to the contents of the laptops, Mr. Chávez is describing them as a CIA plot and a pretext for a U.S. invasion.

Therein lies the best approach for Colombia and the United States. Since neither Mr. Chávez nor Mr. Correa has offered any credible or even serious response to the laptop material, they should be firmly, repeatedly and relentlessly confronted with the evidence and asked for answers. Colombia can do this by petitioning the Organization of American States to determine whether Venezuela and Ecuador have breached its charter; it could also ask the U.N. Security Council to judge whether the two governments violated Resolution 1373, passed in September 2001, which prohibits all states from providing financing or havens to terrorist organizations. President Álvaro Uribe should order that all of the captured material be posted on the Internet. This should at least expose Mr. Chávez's behavior to global scrutiny and make it more difficult for countries and political leaders who have tried to ignore or excuse it, ranging from neighbors such as Brazil to some U.S. Democrats.

Some in Congress are already calling for Venezuela to be placed on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. While the designation may be justified and even mandated by U.S. law, it could simply bolster Mr. Chávez's anti-American narrative. A better course would be to single out and sanction Venezuelan companies and individuals compromised by the laptop evidence, such as the generals who have been secretly meeting and doing business with FARC leaders. Punishment of Venezuelans as a whole would serve little purpose. After all, the country recently voted down Mr. Chávez's attempt to prolong and institutionalize his rule. If managed correctly, the laptop scandal will surely deepen the domestic political hole into which the would-be "Bolivarian" revolutionary is sinking.

The Economist unravels Chavez mistery

2008-05-15T16:26:00.001-07:00

A $10m mystery

May 15th 2008, from The Economist

What connects the deputy-chairman of the Conservative Party with Hugo Chávez?

MICHAEL ASHCROFT is a powerful man. A former treasurer of the Conservative Party, he is now its deputy-chairman. He is also a very wealthy man—the 65th richest in Britain, according to a rough-and-ready ranking by the Sunday Times. Through one of his companies, he has given over £3m ($6m, at today's rates) to the Tories in the past five years in cash and kind (including free flights for the leadership and opinion-poll research). Before the last general election, Lord Ashcroft lent the Tories another £3.6m.

As well as being powerful and rich, Lord Ashcroft is elusive: he is the right-wing pimpernel of British politics, whose name is uttered with awe and terror by Labour MPs. The mystery partly emanates from Lord Ashcroft's association with Belize: he spent part of his youth in what was then still British Honduras, subsequently returning to Belize to base some of his business
activities there.

Belize is the smallest country on the American mainland, and one of the poorest in the Caribbean (“if the world had any ends,” Aldous Huxley wrote of it, this “would certainly be one of them”). If Lord Ashcroft is an influential man in Britain, in Belize he is a colossus. His holding companies control, among other things, the country's biggest bank, Belize Bank. A strange tale involving that bank and Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's left-wing president, now risks embarrassing the Tory deputy-chairman.

At issue—and now under dispute in assorted ongoing court cases—is a $10m transfer from Venezuela to the government of Belize that has, in effect, ended up in the coffers of Belize Bank. The bank argues that the money it received constitutes repayment of a government-guaranteed debt; the current government says Belize Bank had no right to hang on to it and is suing to get it. The story revolves around a private hospital established by a company called Universal Health Services (UHS), with early financial backing from the government of the day and from Belize Bank.

The UHS hospital is today a surprisingly modest building in a suburb of Belize City. According to the Ministry of Finance, the firm borrowed money from Belize Bank in 1998 and then from various arms of the government, incurring debts that were transferred between government agencies as they rapidly mounted. It is unclear why the agencies and Belize Bank continued to lend relatively large sums over an extended period to such an unpromising enterprise, which was never able to meet its repayment obligations.

By December 2004, says the Ministry of Finance, UHS owed Belize Bank Bz$29m ($14.5m, or £7.7m). The prime minister of Belize, Said Musa, agreed to guarantee repayment of all UHS's obligations to Belize Bank (assuming a guarantee previously issued by Belize's Development Finance Corporation). The guarantee was signed by Mr Musa and by Francis Fonseca, the attorney-general. As court papers show, the guarantee was not disclosed publicly and the cabinet was not informed of it.

Further funds were advanced and UHS's debts continued to mount, to more than Bz$33m by March 2007, according to court submissions. A new agreement was reached on March 23rd 2007 in the form of a settlement deed and a loan note signed by Mr Musa and representatives of Belize Bank in the presence of Mr Fonseca. In it the government promised to repay UHS's existing obligations to the bank, beginning on April 23rd, and the former open-ended guarantee was discharged. Any disputes were to be resolved through arbitration in London. An additional loan facility for Bz$12m was agreed on March 29th.

The GDP of Belize is only $1.2 billion; many of its 300,000 inhabitants live in poverty. Illiteracy, shanty housing, gang crime and ill health are all sadly common (the annual budget of its health ministry is less than $40m). So you might think that there would be restraints on the government's ability to agree to what, in Belizean terms, was an enormous guarantee. In fact, there were: under section 7 of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act of 2005, the government required the approval of the National Assembly.

What friends are for

The first was to ask for a hand-out from rich and friendly countries. Taiwan agreed to help the government of Belize (one of the few countries with which the Taiwanese have formal diplomatic relations). On September 12th the Taiwanese paid a (US) $6m cheque into an account held with Belize Bank in the Turks and Caicos islands, and on October 20th another cheque for $4m was deposited.

Oil-rich Venezuela also obliged. On December 28th the central bank of Belize received $10m from Venezuela, wired via the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. In January Venezuela's generous gift, for housing and a sport stadium, was disclosed to a grateful nation; a general election was announced and cash frantically dished out to eager voters.

Unbeknownst to the public, however, another $10m pursued a more winding path from Venezuela to Belize. As court papers show, the funds were transferred on December 28th by the Banco de Desarollo Económico y Social (BANDES), Venezuela's development bank, to Belize Bank's account with its correspondent bank in London, Bank of America. The transfer contained (in Spanish) the instructions “Single disbursement [to]GOB (ie, the government of Belize) [for] construction and repair of housing”. On January 24th the money joined the Taiwanese funds in the Turks and Caicos islands.

While this aid was being wrung from public donors, a private-sector buyer for UHS was also sought. Dr Muthugounder Venugopal was the man eventually fixed upon. He and his associates ran the Loma Luz hospital in Belize—and he reportedly raised Bz$5m in the form of a loan from Belize Bank. A bewildering array of trusts and companies and a joint venture variously registered in the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and St Kitts and Nevis was used to convey much of the money thus assembled to Belize Bank. On January 30th Belize Healthcare Partners, owned by a joint venture essentially between Dr Venugopal's Venny Group and a new Belize Healthcare Charitable Trust, paid Belize Bank Bz$39m—almost the combined total of Taiwan's grants and the secret transfer from Venezuela—to buy UHS's assets, and a further Bz$6m to other creditors and suppliers.

This secret Venezuelan transfer was not made public—until Mr Musa, despite the hand-out, lost the election on February 7th: he is now threatened by a host of corruption allegations, including some involving dodgy loans by development agencies. The day after he was swept from power, the new rulers of Belize were, they say, asked by Venezuela for an accounting of its $20m gift. The central bank of Belize demanded that Belize Bank hand over the Venezuelans' second $10m and display its authorisation for not coughing up the Taiwanese funds. In its report on the matter sent to Belize Bank on March 31st it charges the bank with various irregularities. For its part Belize Bank has challenged in court the central bank's directives.

The government of Belize, under its new prime minister, Dean Barrow, wants good relations with Belize's largest commercial bank and with Lord Ashcroft. But it also wants what it sees as its money back. On April 10th the government sued the bank for the return of the Venezuelan $10m. (Referring to the former government's secret agreements, Mr Barrow told the assembly on April 25th that “The days of doing things in the dark behind the backs of the Belizean people in order to screw the Belizean people are over.”)

What is the truth of the matter? Philip Johnson, the chairman of Belize Bank, says in a letter to The Economist only that “a further settlement was reached which allowed monies to be made available for the purchase of the assets of UHS.” He insists that the guarantees were legal, and claims that Belize Bank in fact received less than it was entitled to. As to the transfer instructions from Venezuela specifying that the funds be paid to the government of Belize for housing, his bank “was not privy to the arrangements between the Governments of Belize and Venezuela” (though, as the deposit was made into Belize Bank's correspondent account in London, it seems odd that the bankers should have been unaware of Venezuela's instructions).

A different interpretation is summarised by Mark Espat, a minister under Mr Musa who lost his cabinet job for opposing the guarantee. Money, he says, was “diverted from its intended purpose to honour a debt that should never have been agreed in the first place”.

They seek him here, seek him there

Lord Ashcroft's Belizean existence has caused him trouble before now. When he was ennobled in 2000, the Tories said he would assume permanent residence in Britain—fulfilling the inverted principle of no representation without taxation. His nomination for a peerage had previously been rejected, partly, it is thought, because of his tax status. It remains unclear whether that pledge has been fulfilled; his attendance in the Lords has been infrequent. And as the UHS row demonstrates, he is as controversial a figure in his adoptive homeland as he is in what is theoretically his real one.

The Economist sought his comments on Belize Bank's involvement in the affair, but none has been forthcoming from him or from his aides. So Lord Ashcroft's own role in the matter, if any, remains unclear. But Belize Bank is owned by a holding company of which he is the majority shareholder and executive chairman. His son runs Belize Bank in the Turks and Caicos.

Meanwhile, Lord Ashcroft and his fortune continue to exert huge influence on British politics. Exploiting a clause in party-funding laws that allows unlimited campaign spending before an election period, he is funding aggressive campaigns by prospective Tory candidates in key marginal constituencies—a tactic that reaped big benefits at the 2005 election.

INTERPOL: Reyes PC documents intact

2008-05-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=14229
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USS Washington & Presidents

2008-05-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

The USS Washington is at Punta Arenas (Chile), while more than 50 presidents meet in Peru. Caring or intimidating?

I do not know about military things, just do the question...
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MAD about a computer

2008-05-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Venezuelan president looks really nervous about the Raul Reyes FARC computers and today is de "D" day. D for disclosure...

Mothers´ Day 2008

2008-05-11T17:07:00.001-07:00

OBAMA already sounds like the guy

2008-05-08T03:56:00.000-07:00

Papers all over say Obama has 90% chance of being the Democratic nominee for the WHouse. Will he be able to defeat McCain. Three months ago I would have not doubted, now after all these Clinton attacks and his own mistakes I am not so sure. Time will say.I only hope he is not killed like the Kennedies or rev. King in the sixties...
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Exercise your brain or else...

2008-05-05T03:52:00.001-07:00

This story is in the New York Times today: "When David Bunnell, a magazine publisher who lives in Berkeley, Calif., went to a FedEx store to send a package a few years ago, he suddenly drew a blank as he was filling out the forms. “I couldn’t remember my address,” said Mr. Bunnell, 60, with a measure of horror in his voice. “I knew where I lived, and I knew how to get there, but I didn’t know what the address was.” Mr. Bunnell is among tens of millions of baby boomers (about 50) who are encountering the signs, by turns amusing and disconcerting..."

Bolivia: A sad history of dismembering

2008-05-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

Some one is mad here

2008-05-03T04:06:00.000-07:00

The last madness. A computer gamewith prostitution and homicides. Please, tie those desktopcrazies. Enough with all the Mugabes, Castroes and Chavez in this world...
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USA, be careful

2008-04-30T03:01:00.000-07:00

Half the houses do not find buyer, oil at 120 per barrel, 100.000.000 people will receive government aid, exagerated personal debts, Irak tactics do not work, etc...
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Venezuelan Pinnochio

2008-04-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Like the Castro brothers:
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I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist, I am not a Communist
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Venezuela: Communism by the back door

2008-04-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

"The guy still denies that he introducing Communism by the back door..."
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US Navy reactives Caribbean Fleet

2008-04-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

The US Navy said it has reactivated the US Fourth Fleet to direct an increasing American naval presence in the Caribbean and Latin America. Beginning July 1, the fleet will have operational responsibility over navy ships assigned to the region from the US Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

Revolutionary devaluation

2008-04-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

Greenpeace asked to protect the whales

2008-04-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Greenpeace asked and Hugo Chavez accepted...
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Venezuela: Chavez allows devaluation

2008-04-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today there are news of a new (implicit) dollar rate (see newspaper) of about 3,00 Bs.F/$. It will be in the market at the same time as the 2,15 rate for ESSENTIAL items and the "free" rate for luxury items, which I estimate will be around 4,30 BsF/$. I PREDICTED this would happen about six month ago and now have proved right...
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Democrats road to defeat

2008-04-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

I think the same as this New York Times columnist: "The Democrats are doing everything they can to blow this presidential election. This is a skill that comes naturally to the party. There is no such thing as a can’t-miss year for the Democrats. They are truly gifted at finding ways to lose. Jimmy Carter managed to win the White House in 1976 by looking pious and riding a wave of anti-Watergate revulsion. After four hapless years, he dutifully handed the keys back to the Republicans. Bill Clinton tried hard to lose, with sex scandals and whatnot, during the 1992 campaign. But Ross Perot wouldn’t let him. Mr. Clinton won with a piddling 43 percent of the vote. For eight years, Mr. Clinton tried to throw the presidency away (with sex scandals and whatnot), but he was never able to succeed..."