Alfredo Octavio: Venezuela

Venezuela going for Number 1!

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:56:12 GMT

Venezuela consumption of scotch grew 55% last year!. Two comments, first we are number 8 in the world, come on guys do an effort in a couple of years we could be number one. The National Assembly should declare Scotland Most favored trading nation or something. I hope Chavez announces a program to exchange oil for scotch soon. Second, we finally have some clue were all the money that got into Venezuela may have gone... And this is on top of of all the beer we drink.

Chavez threatens to follow the law?

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 16:36:03 GMT

Chavez vows to 'lock up' US spies
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela threatens to jail any US officials caught spying in his country. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

The capitalism

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 14:03:33 GMT

of the Anti-capitalists has bother anti-globalization activist so much, that some have decided to leave the main forum in order to criticized Chavez.

Doesn't make sense?

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 16:34:03 GMT

Venezuela officers 'spied for US'
The Venezuelan vice-president says a number of military officers are held on suspicion of passing information to the US. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

What are Venezuela's secrets? and how come "low-ranking officers" have access to them? Either they are not that important, or the armed forces is about as dumb as the rest of this government...

Foro Mundial...

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:55:49 GMT

Anyone pissed off about how much money the Venezuelan government has spent on the World Social Forum now causing traffic jams in Caracas should check this out...
Foro Social Alternativo.

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:50:37 GMT

washingtonpost.com - Central America - Chavez Stokes Confrontation Over U.S. Role in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela -- After the rumble of tanks died down and the last soldier high-stepped past the spectators' pavilion, President Hugo Chavez told the thousands attending Venezuela's Independence Day parade July 5 that no invading army could match the fighting force that had just marched by,...
[Via PubSub: Venezuela ]

How the right wingers help Chavez...

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 14:01:44 GMT

Yesterday I commented on an article at the The Devil's Excrement about how McCain [had] joins[ed] Chavez's name calling. The intention of my comment was to counteract the barrage of inane right wing sounding comments that tend to permeate any discussion of venezuelan politics that is not inundated with inane left wing sounding comments. Basically the jest of my comment is that being anti-war or anti-Buish does not make you pro-Chavez. Deeply, I was hinting at the topic in the title of this article. I really have no problem that someone has right wing ideas, my problem is how they have permeated and hurt the opposition in Venezuela, making it a left-vs-right issue, but more about that later, got a story to tell.

What happened next was expected. A new barrage of inane right wing sounding comments demanding that I explain this pretty self explanatory statement:

Bush has contributed to put america in danger by furthering its dependancy on foreign oil and alienating the countries that produce it.

Since I was prepared for that to happen, I decided to leave only one more comment there and not answer any of the dribble that ensued. I left a link to this great script about How Conservatives Argue. But later on I checked on the comments again to find this:

I don't agree with you on this statement, Alfredo: Bush has contributed to put america in danger by furthering its dependancy on foreign oil and alienating the countries that produce it. I have been talking to petroleum institute people and they don't think the dependency problem is based on anything Bush does. They think it's special interest groups across the US - greenies, eco-wackos, nimbys - all of them acting like little medieval fiefdoms, hypocritically demanding cheap oil but screaming bloody murder any time an oil company wants to drill, or worse yet, build a hated refinery. And a new nuclear power plant? Forget it. They will all scream bloody murder and make it impossible to do. Nothing new has been drilled in the US for a long time, it's all off limits due to these nimbys and enviromentalists. Leftwing activists have got to start taking responsibility for their refusal to allow any drilling in the US. Right now the only place a lot of drilling is going on is the western gulf of mexico, which is hurricane country. That's why there isn't enough oil. The spotlight has got to be turned to these eco-wackos who are empowering hugo chavez.

This I had to answer, since I couldn't do it there, I decided to bring the discussion here, where it doesn't belong and get some much needed google juice out of the hassle.

The first thing that struck me about the response it that it came from Publius Pundit whom I considered one of the most thoughtful commenter in that site. The second thing is that it look like a typical "chavista" argument. Here is what would have been my from-the-guts-answer:

You mean to tell me that after 5 years in power, poor Georgie can't do what he wants? They won't let him govern as he wishes? I wonder why the chavistas haven't used that argument... Oh... Wait... Scratch that, they have.

You mean to tell me you really see no relation whatsoever between a war in the middle east, billions of tax payer money spent on Iraq, the deficit, the state of the economy, and the price of oil? If Chavez could claim such independence in such related fields he could... Oh... wait... he has.

Your sources arguments are weaker than Chavez blaming the Viaducto failure on "40 years of false democracy".

But really, the small point of this piece is that the political line is a circle and all extremist use the same type of arguments. It is pointless to counter them. But sometimes you have to 'cause the stakes got raised.

Venezuela has a tiny group of truly right wing believers (as it has a tiny group of truly left wing believers), but somehow we are much more afraid of right wingers than of left wingers. Here in the south the left wingers are cruel but romantic, while the right wingers are cruel and efficient (witness the events of April 12). Thus, we are more afraid of "a Pinochet" than we are of Chavez. This is also the reason why Chavez has been so slow in reform, he doesn't want to frighten us. If he nationalized something big (e.g. CANTV, the banking system) he may upset the delicate balance that keeps him in power. He would upset the dialectics of left-vs-right (as my intellectual wife would say). Hence, Chavez needs a right wing in the opposition to claim that all the opposition is right wing and frighten us, the people in the middle, the real mayority. At least so that we don't participate. At most so that we support him in order to curl the right wing threat. The best thing a right winger could do, to help Venezuela, is, really, shut up. Most Venezuelans do not want a US marines invasion, most Venezuelans believe the influence of the US in the region is negative, most Venezuelans prefer Chavez to a right wing dictator. Deal with it. Let the opposition be intelligent and allow them to conduct the politics they need to win. Allow them to critique Bush, to talk against the war, and to participate in the Social Forum. It would be good if some of the participants there hear about the real Venezuela...

That's right...

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 00:46:00 GMT

Election Day
I voted early this morning; we’ve been living in this neighborhood long enough that I recognized some people over at the poll, hung out and chatted for a bit. It felt good. I think that what’s happening today here in Canada highlights the single essential thing about democracy; I wrote about this almost three years ago, but it’s worth saying again: I don’t particularly trust “the people” to pick the right policies or even to pick the right leaders. I do, however trust them to detect the condition that the government has been bad and needs to be turfed. Which we, today, are apparently the process of doing. Frankly, I think it would be OK to pick the next government by random selection, and we probably wouldn’t do that much worse than the current electoral crap-shoot. The important thing—the only thing that really matters—is that we retain the right to throw ’em out in a peaceful and orderly fashion, at our sole discretion and for any reason. There are a lot of people in the world without that right. It’s the one that all the others flow from.
[ongoing]

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:03:49 GMT

Captive Colombians in Chavez plea
Colombian politicians held by rebels urge President Chavez of Venezuela to help free them in a video appeal. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:31:18 GMT

The Venezuelan version of Know your client is Beware of the service provider.

I't won't talk...

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 17:01:03 GMT

Inefficiency in Venezuela is not exclusive of the Chavez government, a friend at our offices there reports that work in front of our offices (in Av. Francisco de Miranda, right in front of C.C. Lido) continues. They have been working on that street for almost 3 months, and they are not doing anything useful, a barrier to prevent people from crossing the street is the only achievement and that has caused incredible traffic, in a street that previously was pretty much Ok, as people concentrate in a single point to cross stopping traffic. The rest of the construction is a mysterious opening and closing of holes on the street. The reporter complains of the amount of traffic and the state of the street which is worse than when it first started. We just want to say to the people responsible at the Chacao Mayorship... Stop torturing that street! If it hasn't talked by now it provably won't ever.

The Future NOW

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 20:19:35 GMT

Here we are, static in the younger half
of the twenty-first century
but it might as well be the Middle Ages,
there'll have to be some changes
but how they'll come about foxes me.
I want the future now,
I want to hold it in my hands;
all men equal and unbowed,
I want the promised land.

but that doesn't seem to get any closer,
and Moses has had his day...
the tablets of law are an advertising poster,
civilisation here to stay
and this is progress?
You must be joking!
Me, I'm looking for any kind of hope.
I want the future now,
I want to see it on the screen,
I want to break the bounds
that make our lives so mean.

Oh, blind, blinded, blinding hatred
of race, sex, religion, colour, country and creed,
these scream from the pages of everything I read.
You just bring me oppression and torture,
apartheid, corruption and plague;
you just bring me the rape of the planet
and joke world rights at the Hague.
Oh, and after the Millennium!
We seem to be further away!
I want the future now
I'm old, but it's my right.
I want a reason to be proud.
I want to see the light.
I want the future now,
I want to see it on the screen,
I want to break the bounds:
make life worth more than dreams.
-- Peter Hammill (updated)

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More on the Viaduct

Wed, 11 Jan 2006 03:15:33 GMT

I have said elsewhere that for even the alternate road to have a chance to exist several things must happen. First, the people living below in the valley have to be taken out (hence the expropriation of buildings in Caracas, so the government can offer a lie with substance). Second, the viaduct has to be brought down, then the creek there have to be flowing in a stable manner, and, finally, the new road can be built. Miguel sends what will happen if not:

Not surprisingly at all...

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 10:45:14 GMT

"A new report from the Inter-American Development Bank suggests that the constant search for the hot new idea may be focused on the wrong thing. Perhaps it's not what you do, but how you do it. The study found that countries that scored well on how policies are made and carried out are the places where life is improving. Not surprisingly, Chile is at the top of the list. More surprisingly, El Salvador is also highly ranked. Argentina and Venezuela are near the bottom."
[From The New York Times]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 18:54:54 GMT

Hugo Chavez Accused of Anti-Semitism

By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER
Associated Press Writer

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- A Jewish rights group accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of making anti-Semitic comments in a Christmas Eve speech.

The Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center demanded an apology Wednesday from Chavez saying such remarks have long been used to persecute Jews.

"The world has enough for all, but it turned out that some minorities, descendants of those who crucified Christ, descendants of those who threw Bolivar out of here and also crucified him in their own way in Santa Marta, there in Colombia. A minority took the world's riches for themselves," Chavez said, according to a transcript of the Dec. 24 speech. Simon Bolivar led the 19th century fight to liberate Venezuela and some other Latin nations from Spanish rule.

Chavez did not did specifically mention the Jewish people in the televised speech.

A spokeswoman for his office said it had no immediate response to the complaint.

"In your words, the two central arguments of anti-Semitism emerge ... the accusation that Jews killed Jesus (and) associating them with wealth," the Center said in a letter to Chavez. "Our center strongly condemns your anti-Semitic declarations."

Another Jewish leader, U.S. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, said in an e-mail he has serious doubts it was an anti-Semitic slur.

"I know of no one who accuses the Jews of fighting against Bolivar," wrote Waskow, of The Shalom Center in Philadelphia. "And certainly I - and most Jews - teach that it was the Roman Empire, and Roman soldiers, who crucified Jesus."

Chavez's comments came in a part of the speech about the world's poor.

Chavez, a fiery speaker, has called President Bush a "madman" and also used a derogatory term for "jerk" in referring to him. Chavez has also criticized Mexican President Vicente Fox.

[John Rudnik's Blog]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:21:20 GMT

Chavez has given to other countries 16 billion dollars of venezuelan money. Enough to build 45 viaducts like the one that failed last week. If he cares so much about the poor, why leave all those poor families in Vargas without a source of income? Just a little planing and some inside generosity could have solved this problem,

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 01:04:36 GMT

It seems Venezuela is falling apart at the seams. I am glad I'm out of there, unfortunately, I was planning a short trip for tomorrow. Will I get to my house there? I don't know. Vargas State is a huge chavista stronghold, I guess this is how they thank them! We'll we really see the government that destroyed Venezuela win the elections next year?

Thu, 05 Jan 2006 01:24:40 GMT

JFK assassination 'was Cuba plot'. Cuba was behind the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in 1963, a new documentary claims. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

As with the Salvador Allende story my doubt is why wasn't this much more publicized? It doesn't make sense for the US not to use this as a justification for a hostile policy against Cuba. Is there any reason to hide this? Is there anyway to keep it secret for so long?

Veneblogs hacked!

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 02:51:30 GMT

Damn! veneblogs has been hacked by people with terrible grammar.

Venezuelan Reality...

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:51:24 GMT

all-encompassingly - Hugo Chavez' Venezuela: Poorer Than Before

In the seven years that Hugo Chavez has been in power in Venezuela, starting in 1999, $350 billion have entered the country in oil revenues. Nevertheless, the Poverty Index already at 43% has risen to 54% (numbers from the National Institute of Statistics, INE 's note: The INE is a Venezuelan government agency]). En the same time period, indigence has risen from 20% to 28% (same Venezuelan source). The external debt has risen from $22 billion to $27 billion.

Irrelevancy and rigging in elections...

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:36:44 GMT

This opinion from The New York Times is exactly the kind of misguided thinking we do not need. The optic is too far away from Venezuela. Chavez could already do what he wanted, the election was irrelevant, that's the reason everybody (including chavistas) stayed home despite of the pressure put on them by the government. The priority for the opposition is to clean up the electoral system so that there is a fair chance next year on the presidential election. The idea that the secrecy of the vote was improved is a reading of reality that does not hold sway. Why were the fingerprinting machines used previously? What did the CNE knew and when did they know it? Considering the software that the chavistas used, the lack of secrecy of the vote, and the ilegal pressure the chavistas have put on the voters, you have to realize the only option for the opposition was to wihdraw in order to gain some levelling of the field for next year...

Bebedor a bordo

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:39:13 GMT

An useful sign for this Xmass season.

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:31:11 GMT

Erwin's StarOffice Tango - Open Source Law in Venezuela.

"The stuff that is happening with "Software Libre" in Venezuela is really mind-boggling. In January the Venezuelan open source law goes into effect, mandating a two year transition to open source in all public agencies. This massive undertaking will involve the training of hundreds of thousands of government employees and migrating of the software that runs not only their public agencies, but also their oil industry (which accounts for 70% of the country's economy and is one of the largest business enterprise in Latin America). They are talking about a huge country-wide move to open source that dwarfs anything I've heard about anywhere else."

This is sad and funny at the same time. These guys think that because something is a law it will become a "reality". That's what happens to anyone that tries to opine about Venezuela without living here. Let me tell you about the reality of Venezuela. The so-called red-light is merely a suggestion here, it gives a slight priority to the guy with the green-light. Do you think that a country that can't managed obvious social things like traffic lights, a country were the smallest projects are mismanaged (both in the private and public sectors) until they become white elefants that no one understands, will be able to change its software to open source? Dream on! The reason Microsoft doesn't pay any attention to this is because they know it will get nowhere...

Lots of things going on...

Thu, 08 Dec 2005 16:13:12 GMT

The Devil's Excrement is a blog dear and close to my heart. First, because I was sort of the inspiration for it's author to start bloging. Second, because I think it is very courageous to tackle on Venezuela's situation in todays political climate. I am very proud to see a lot of things happening around the blog this week. Let's start with the fact that it has been digged:

rigging a presidential election .... and then publish the voting data. This is the software that was distributed showing who voted for who in the RIGGED Venezuelan election. This is being used by the government to fire workers that voted against the government. Digg for the hope of giving visibility to what is happenning in Venezuela !!!!!!!!!! [digg]

Though reading the stupidity of some comments, without research or thought makes one think that people receive standar emails saying how they should respond to criticism of Chavez. Actually, I know for a fact that this is true...

Then, yesterday, he was interviewed on a radio station in boston:

Bloggers tonight on Open Source.
So tonight at 7 PM EST (I think) you will get to hear me and Daniel Duquenal follow the Venezuelan Ambassador to the US and Prof. Daniel Hellinger discuss Venezuelan politics. Not many of you will see this or be able to tune in, but I thought I would keep you posted.

I undersatnd you can listen to it here.
[The Devil's Excrement]

I think he did great, but you can listen for yourself somewhere I've been told.

Finally, an example of the kind of content I like from him

The caring revolution part II.
The Minister of Science and Technology decided (needs password) that personnel at all of the institutions that are part of it should receive a bonus of 35% of six months salary for the following (also needs password, I can't get in) employees: administrative, ranking and "high level", the "high level" will receive an additional bonuses of 100% of six months, which applies in the case of IVIC to the Director and Vice-Director on top of the 35% already described. Additionally, the members of the Board of IVIC will receive Bs. 180,000 or roughly half a minimum monthly salary for each weekly meeting they attend.(This includews the two gusy who got the 135% too) What about the "obreros", the laborers who drive, clean, garden, do maintanance, carpentry, plumbing and the like at IVIC? Well, in the caring revolution, they get nothing, zilch, zero, no bonus as the new and encroached Bolivarian oligarchy can only think of themselves. Whatever happened to distributing the wealth in the revolution?
[The Devil's Excrement]

See? Chavistas won't answer to this with anything but nonsense drivel. The workers, the poorest ones, the ones striving to make ends meet, receive NOTHING from the government. How can you keep defending a corrupt system that permits this kind of injustices? If you admire someone like Che Guevara you should be outraged that this is permitted. Nevertheless, is the rule here, in Cuba, in China...

Yep, I am proud to be his brother...

Prohibido Olvidar...

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 20:52:30 GMT

Three years ago today, followers of Chavez murdered innocent people in Plaza Altamira.

A friend of mine designed the piece on the right commemorating the tragic event.

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Where are the ten million votes for Chavez?

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 21:58:34 GMT

Where are they?

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:59:13 GMT

Venezuela 'landslide' for Chavez. Parties allied to President Hugo Chavez say they have won every seat in Venezuela's parliamentary elections. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Still no mention of the lack of secrecy of the vote in previous elections. At least it is better reporting from the BBC, as usual.

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:16:14 GMT

Amazing how little reporting can be found in this New York Times article about Venezuela's parliamentary elections held yesterday. It just describes the official line, without mentioning that the vote in the previous elections when the machines were used was not secret and that the machines still maintained the sequence of the vote, so anyone knowing the order of voting would be able to find out the votes. What amounts to an admission of cheating is disguised as a concession to an infantile opposition. And that what we shall read all day today. By the way, some dumb chavistas are saying that the 75% of abstention is the 41% of votes the opposition got in the Recall Referendum plus the 30% that didn't vote. That is mathematically wrong. Those numbers would only give about 60% of total voters. (30% of voters plus 40% of the rest). Is this an intent to fool or ignorance?

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:36:15 GMT

I've been ask high and low about predicting the consequences of the events in Venezuela this last week. With elections tomorrow I have to say something now, something more than what I've been saying so far, basically, I don't know. What I think is that whatever we think may happen tomorrow, on Monday night, I believe, decent venezuelans will feel nauseated by the new unexpected tricks of the chavismo. They will again complaint about our leaders not preventing this new surprise. What is the surprise? I don't know.

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 14:49:18 GMT

I always thought my problems with Digitel's web site were caused because it was designed to be Windows/Internet Explorer only. Today I really wanted to check something, so I used first Firefox and the Internet Explorer on a WIndows machine... It turns out, I was seeing the same thing as Windows users... It is poorly designed period it just doesn't work. I can't imagine who makes the website, who is responsible for it. Those incompetent bastards should be fired at once! It is amazing that a company like Digitel has a nonfunctional website.

Blog at 11...

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:50:48 GMT

First hand reports confirm that poverty and corruption are rampant everywhere in Venezuela. The big advantage is that you don't need those tedious documents like the national ID or a drivers license just "collaborate" economically with any policeman that detains you. Most get very friendly so watch out. This is the plan to get rid of criminals in the country, make them police, or supreme court judges, or some other kind of government job.

On the other hand the concept of "freeway" is pretty weak in Venezuela. Basically, any road without lights will be called a freeway and a toll put on it. Why built freeways if you can built tolls? You sometime see signs that "Freeway Starts" without any change in the road you are in. The small advantage is that the tolls are cheap.

Not surprisingly most people are Pro-Chavez, actually Chavez has more adherents in Venezuela than there are inhabitants. Surprisingly everywhere you go you find people loudly badmouthing Chavez and using "chavista" as a form of insult. But we know the truth, those were rich oligarchs in dirty workers overalls talking in a roadside eatery. Damn, the CIA is organized!

It doesn't make any difference...

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:25:42 GMT

(Bruni: Sorry to put this in the front page without consulting you first, but I either do not understand your point or we have a difference of opinion that should be put forward...)

Bruni says in the comments:

Well Alfredo, prepare for a 100% chavista parlament, the change of the name of the country and the extension of the presidential period to..forever. BTW see that the BBC mentions that the opposition is claiming CNE "favoritism"...they never say that the opposition is complaining about the system's transparency.
I am prepared for that! Since last year! You really think the events this week make any difference? Chavez was going to get his total parlament control! With or without the opposition withdrawal. Or do you not believe they are cheating? They are so bold as to pre-announced the result of 10 millions votes beforehand How much of an admission is that? Furthermore, Chavez has been able to do as he pleases since he cheated last year at the recall referendum. Proof? They change the supreme court! They just chose this electoral path because it rings better with their international propaganda. But Chavez has full control of Venezuela since at least a year ago...

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:30:52 GMT

Chavez denounces poll 'sabotage'. Venezuela's Chavez says the opposition are trying to derail Sunday's election after they quit the congressional poll. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

This sounds like Chavez is somewhat nervous about the withdrawal of the three opposition parties. I believe it is a reporting problem. He invited the opposition voters to select a Chavista candidate, very intelligent. He didn't seem afraid at all. Which means he has the bodies to show up on sunday to back up his 10 million vote dream... I wonder how they will do it... But other dictatorships have done it for ages.

Union is for oneself

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:39:56 GMT

La unidad es solo de uno.

What if you had an election and nobody went to vote?

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 19:30:02 GMT

Venezuelan opposition quit poll. Three opposition parties in Venezuela pull out of the congressional election on Sunday, claiming conditions are unfair. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

I don't think I like the idea of pulling out so late, I believe it would have been better not to participate at all in a rigged election. But, on the other hand, there is no point on going to vote if there are no opposition candidates. Now the weight is on the chavistas to show they really have the numbers... Will we, finally, know the truth about the numbers on each side?

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:26:04 GMT

Venezuela signs Spain arms deal. A deal that will see Venezuela supplied with military hardware by Spain goes ahead despite US opposition. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Yahooo! We finally have enough weapons to defeat all our enemies! What a happy day! The continent should prepare for mayhem. We are going to make Bolivar dream true, by force! It will be ironic when we finally declare war on Spain, just after defeating the US. Julius Cesar, Napoleon, Hugo de los Reyes Chavez Frias... Frias? Hmmmm! Beer! I'll be back..

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 15:38:31 GMT

Yeah, The New York Times says come to Caracas. Sure, you may die or be robed, but the Avila National Park is so nice! If anyone thought Juan Forero wasn't absolutely confused about life this article should dispel any doubts. The restaurants recommended are not the best. But worst yet is that every single place he recommends is owned and operated by an opposer of the government... wonder why that is...

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:51:19 GMT

Chavez renews trade pact attack. President Hugo Chavez leads a protest in the Venezuelan capital Caracas against a US-backed trade plan. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

That's sad...

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:23:45 GMT

The CIA seems to think that Castro has Parkinson's disease. That's very sad news... I mean its not even contagious or anything!
[Via Miguel]

man, we drink a lot of beer...

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 17:51:30 GMT

Beer by volume produced (2003):

Rank	Brand	Country (main)	Brewer	Million barrels
1	Budweiser	USA	Anheuser-Busch	38.1
2	Bud Lite	USA	Anheuser-Busch	37.1
3	Skol	Brazil	InBev	27.2
4	Corona	Mexico	Grupo Modelo	23.0
5	Heineken	Netherlands	Heinken	18.8
6	Coors Light	USA	Coors	16.6
7	Asahi SuperDry	Japan	Asahi	16.0
8	Miller Lite	USA	SAB Miller	15.9
9	Brahma Chopp	Brazil	InBev	13.9
10	Polar	Venezuela	Cerveceria Polar	12.3
11	Tsingdao	China	Tsingdao	10.2
12	Amstel	Netherlands	Heineken	9.4
13	Carlsberg	Denmark	Carlsberg	9.2
14	Guinness Stout	Ireland	Diageo	8.9
15	San Miguel	Philippines	San Miguel	8.8
16	Kirin Tanrei	Japan	Tanrei	8.6
17	Natural Light	USA	Anheuser-Busch	8.3
18	Baltika	Russia	Baltic Beverage Holding	8.3
19	Stella Artois	Belgium	InBev	8.2
20	Kaiser	Brazil	Coors (molson)	7.6

Source: Anheuser-Busch site, based on IMPACT survey
[Via Oligopoly Watch]

Famous Quotes

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 02:07:55 GMT

When I was less than half the age I am now, I had one wall of my room painted with my favorite quotes. Among them were some I can remember quite well but not who said them like:

"The earth is blue like an orange."

(Just Googled it, it was written by the surrealist Paul Eluard.) Or that famous quote by the great Mikhail Bakunin, that rings so true today in my country:

"Freedom without Socialism is privilege and injustice and Socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality."

that I remember quite well. Also among them was a phrase by Che Guevara, that I can't remember at all and one by Simón Bolivar, namely:

"Unamonos y seremos invencibles."
("Let's unite and we shall be invencible.")

Today I saw that phrase in some ~~Official Graffiti~~, excuse me, Murals, by the Mayorship of Caracas. I don't know if it was the speed, a freudian slip, or just a tad of reality that, finally, seep into my mind, but I swear I read:

"Unos monos y seremos inservibles."
("Some monkeys and we shall be useless.")

Venezuelan Sponge Bob is found dead

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 22:13:49 GMT

Leco sent the bad knews... I guess Chavez still has some work to do against poverty and crime...

Dreaming in Caracas

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 20:31:52 GMT

Check out Maruja's new cd. It's called Dreaming in Caracas and you can buy it at CDBaby. How cool is that?

Novicia Tuyera

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:12:25 GMT

The Sound of Music, Venezuelan Style...

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[Via Periodismo de Paz, Thanks Gabo!]

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 19:43:13 GMT

[Via GavPOLITICS]

Chavez won again...

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:24:01 GMT

While some argue that the recent Argentinian Summit puts Chavez in a bad light, I have to completely agree with The New York Times when it says that it is scary that Bush have three years left in office...

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 15:18:46 GMT

Today is La Octaviera, the big party of a bunch of people that has last name Octavio. I don't think I know most of them.

A muslim revolution in France...

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 02:36:16 GMT

Rioting in Paris Suburbs Continues for a Ninth Night. The government fretted over how to quell the violence and address the underlying frustrations that are fueling it. By CRAIG S. SMITH. [NYT > Home Page]

They won't quit until the Interior Minister did. Weird! You have to be really careful with what you say, if you are a politician... Of course, that doesn't apply in Venezuela.

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 16:26:48 GMT

I really like Yahoo Maps Beta, but not because it uses Flash or any other geeky reason like that, but just because when you zoom over Cuba it disappears! NeatO!

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 11:51:47 GMT

Chavez might sneak up and scare Bush at the summit, that's what he said...