As you know, I am not the most optimistic about Venezuela at this time, which sometimes makes it hard to sit down and write. Thus, as I was thinking about what image to post for the holidays, I had mixed feelings about posting something without a reality check on what is happening in Venezuela. Then, my brother sent me this image and I thought it was perfect, a somewhat cynical view at the type of Christmas Venezuelans are being forced to have. But despite all, Christmas has to be celebrated.
It is a time of the year to be thankful, to be with family and enjoy the holidays. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas wherever you may be. That Santa Claus or the Wise Men bring you what you want (hopefully not what is in the picture) and you spend some happy times with your family, forgetting about all the problems.
Thank you for coming back and putting up with my writings and my rants. I am humbled to have such a loyal readership and hope you keep enjoying it.
Merry Christmas everybody!
From the Devil Himself.
The Devil's Excrement 
December 28, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Miguel,
Are these 5 billion more or the same 5 billion of last month?
http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/131228/venezuela-y-china-logran-acuerdo-por-5-mil-millones-de-dolares
December 29, 2013 at 12:07 am
Typical Chavismo, they announce before, during, when and after. Same s… Different day
Sent from my iPad
>
December 29, 2013 at 5:44 am
I thought so. Next time they will use a set of mirrors to project the image of Maduro next to his milicos while declaring Venezuelans will get more fatherland and Haier gadgets.
December 26, 2013 at 11:56 pm
So pleased to have you! keep it snowing!
December 26, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Merry Xmas Miguel!
Big fan of your blog. Keep on with your good work!
December 26, 2013 at 8:40 am
Merry Christmas and Happy New year. Thank you for all your blogging. It is a light in the communications about Venezuela these days.. Que disfrutes de unas buenas hallacas.
December 26, 2013 at 7:36 am
Mientras haya vida hay esperanza. Gracias Miguel y felicidades a todos.
December 25, 2013 at 11:03 pm
A Merry Xmas to all, and remember the French say: “tant qu’il y a de la vie il y a de l’espoir”, as long as there is life there is hope.
December 25, 2013 at 7:37 pm
You da man Miguel. Appreciate your efforts to keep the conversation alive on whats happening here in Venezuela.
December 25, 2013 at 11:38 am
Merry Christmas, Miguel and the gang. Given the situation, the feeling on the streets here is “Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
In a way it is positive, in the sense that everyone is cognizant that some change, for better or worse, is coming in 2014. Fasten your seat belts everyone. It is going to be a bumpy ride.
December 25, 2013 at 3:04 pm
I wish I could be so positive, Roy. Or as RT’d by Alfredo Weil:
Yusnaby @Yusnaby 23 Dec
Miren el regalo navideño que me dejaron en la entrada del edificio. #ElCheHastaEnLaSopa pic.twitter.com/vmIKL6V0t2
December 25, 2013 at 3:06 pm
mmm, the link got a little buried there. Let me try again: https://twitter.com/Yusnaby/status/415281552382509056/photo/1
December 25, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Che is dead–they should get over it.
December 25, 2013 at 5:43 pm
So’s Chavez. Iconography is a powerful tool for those who want passive subjects.
December 26, 2013 at 10:29 am
Roy are you back in Venezuela??Thought you moved to Finland.
December 25, 2013 at 7:56 am
Thank you for your rants..They are invaluable to those of us with families stuck in Venezuela..I always look forward to your blog..the truth beats all!
Merry Christmas, and let us all not give up HOPE. Perhaps, the New Year will somehow bring some very needed changes for what was once a wonderful country. The beauty remains, but who really wants to live there..It is no longer
LIVING…
December 25, 2013 at 2:05 am
Merry Christmas! I always appreciate your blog.
December 24, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Plenty of Harina P.A.N here in USA! My lovely Venezuelan wife just picked up a bunch of 2.2lb bags at the grocery store, there was a whole shelf full of it. So Christmas is good here, even if her family couldn’t visit this year due to the crazy airline prices out of Venezuela. We hope for the best in Venezuela, perhaps Christmas and the New Year will at least bring some cheer to the hearts of Maduro et. all.
December 24, 2013 at 10:25 pm
… and that cheer might result in them pardoning a few people like Simonivis, you can always hope.
December 24, 2013 at 8:07 pm
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Miguel.
You and the other bloggers are what keep the lights on, despite the encroaching darkness.
Even when you are reporting the worst possible, it is still great to have.
Never give in, Never Give up.
December 24, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Make it Snow Miguel!
Make it Snow!
December 26, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Snowing now
December 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm
Fun-nee. Thanks for the chuckle, Miguel!
December 26, 2013 at 6:18 pm
Like to please readers…
December 27, 2013 at 5:56 am
I was afraid you had lost the touch.
December 28, 2013 at 4:10 am
Man, it’s really coming down now….
December 24, 2013 at 6:39 pm
A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to ALL.
December 24, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Yesssss.
Merry Christmas for everybody !!
Please, don´t forget our venezuelan political prisoners and tonight say a little prayer for the release of all of them.
December 24, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Miguel
te deseamos mucha salud, energia y que todas tus esperanzas sean cumplidas en el 2014!
December 24, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Feliz Navidad! Miguel. And thanks for sticking to it. I always find your analysis enlightening and helpful.
December 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Merry Christmas Miguel!
December 24, 2013 at 2:37 pm
OMG, your photo with wise men bearing precious gifts is priceless. Well done, Diablito! And Feliz Navidad to you and yours and all who congregate here, in peace, or not.
December 24, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Thanks” Devil” , Same to you and yours.I think what we all need is the light of understanding.My our thoughts and prayers lead the way.
“Oh beautiful star (beautiful, beautiful star) of Bethlehem (star of Bethlehem)
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on”
Merry Christmas to ALL
December 24, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Merry Christmas, everyone. and thanks Miguel for the funny photo above, and for giving us a forum for discussion.
December 24, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Thank you… and a merry Christmas / Feliz navidad a ti… your rants keep me going…
December 24, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Gracias pana por hacer que uno entienda un poquito mejor el despelote Venezolano. Ojala mejore!
Feliz navidad a ti y a los tuyos.
December 24, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Merry Christmas Miguel & all the other people who congregate here in your forum..
I can only wish that this night is enjoyed by your families with no thoughts of politics – although that’s pretty tough once a few drinks get consumated.
December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Moctavio: May the next year see things getting better in V.