Archive for May 14th, 2009

Devil banned in China, hope for the “right” reasons

May 14, 2009

baned

(Picture from Caracas statues yesterday morning)

Through a friend and reader, I learn that my new website can not be reached from China, while the older one remains available. I have confirmed this through this test.

The question is why the new one is and the old one is not, while neither Daniel’s nor Quico’ s sites are banned. It may have nothing to do with politics, but the fact that “devilsexcrement” contains “sex” in its string…

We will never know…but I hope I have been banned for the “right” reasons…

(Note: For those who asked, no I am not at home, still traveling for about another week. )

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Once again, why don’t we follow Norway?

May 14, 2009

From the New York Times on how Norway has managed its oil wealth well. The best sentence:

“If you are given a lot, you have responsibility”

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments »

Death penalty for media owners (as in the US)!

May 14, 2009

And the Minister of Information and Communications in that style of respect for human rights and democracy and ignorance about the world that characterizes this Government said it just like that today that in any other country like the US (Iran?) if media owners behaved like those of Venezuela, they would receive the death penalty.

Just to prove his ignorance again, he said that freedom of expression is not an absolute and Globovision is a political party. Funny, why isn’t VTV judged by the same measure?

There is no doubt that Globovision will be shutdown in the near future and who know, why not make the death penalty legal? Anything is possible in this stupid revolution.

Posted in Venezuela | 8 Comments »

Government agrees to buy Banco de Venezuela as it intervenes Industrial

May 14, 2009

The Government said that it had agreed to finally buy Banco de Venezuela, an affiliate of Banco Santander and it would close the transaction on May 22nd. This is not the first time the Government claims to have closed the deal, but what is perhaps most ironic is that at the same time it was announced the Government would intervene Banco Industrial de Venezuela, the state’s largest bank, after it found “irregularities” and losses of the order of US$ 90 million.

Banco Industrial de Venezuela has been capitalized twice during Chavez’ ten years in office and one of the reason to buy Banco de Venezuela is the stupid belief that if purchased, will magically run itself well in the hands of the Government. Banco Industrial de Venezuela managed these huge losses at a time when private commercial banks are making 20-30% returns on equity despite the extreme regulation by the Government.

Thus, another one billion dollar Chavez whim is completed and you can be assured that in a couple of years Banco de Venezuela will be run with the same lack of criteria as Banco Industrial.

Another billion down the drain…

Posted in Venezuela | 4 Comments »