The Devil's Excrement

Top Left: Cattletonia Why Not                                             Cattleya Walkeriana Pendentive, plant has five flowers

Comparetta Falcata on the left, with another look from the side on the right, showing the elongated spur on its back.

I had not posted pictures in while. Many reasons for this, few flowers, Xmas, a horrendous cold, my dog died. But I am back! Look for regular updates.

For those that missed yesterday’s talk show:

-President Hugo Chavez announced yesterday the creation of a new TV station called TVSur to compete with CNN. “A dream has been born, has become a reality” said Chávez. Chávez said the Venezuelan Government will initially be the only investor, but he invited other countries to participate in the project.

-President Chávez announced the creation of two new Ministries: The Ministry for Basic Industries and Mining, the Ministry for light industry and Commerce and the Ministry for Tourism. The Ministry of Production and Commerce will disappear.

-It is unclear whatever happened to the Ministry for Feeding, which was announced but has yet to be created.

-The President also announced, once again, the new Venezuelan Government airline Conviasa, saying it will begin operations soon.

The Government continues tangling itself in lies in the case of the Foreign Minister of Colombian terrorist group FARC. We have gone from ignorance about the possibility that Mr. Granda was in Venezuela or kidnapped in Venezuela to accusations about bounty hunters kidnapping Granda in broad daylight. Of course, he makes no mention of the fact that Colombians may have perpetrated a kidnapping in Caracas in broad daylight and taken Granda all the way to the border without the Chavez Government doing anything about it. How efficient no? Even today, the Government continues to deny that it knew about Granda’s invitation, participation presence in the II Bolivarian Congress, while overwhelming evidence shows that they had to know.

This is very similar to the Ballestas or Montesinos cases in which the Government tried to hide its role in those cases, only to get so tangled in its own lies that the whole thing looked foolish. That is what happens when spin doctors get used to being successful. The same is true in the Anderson case, the hero Prosecutor that was given the country’s highest honors when killed is now being accused of blackmailing those he was accusing.

In the case of Granda, the Minister of Interior and Justice immediately denied that Granda had been kidnapped in Venezuelan territory. This changed later, when it became evident that there were sufficient witnesses to the case and the terrorist group published the accusation against the Chavze Government in its website, challenging the Chavez administration to state its position with regards to that group. However, at the time the Minister of Justice said the Government had no evidence that Granda had been in Venezuela or that he participated in the II Bolivarian Congress. In fact, even today, a Chavista Deputy said that Granda attempted to speak at the Congress, but they did not know who he was. This is actually quite curious to this blogger, given that Rodrigo Granda made the following proposal at that Congress:

·  Aprobar una resolución sobre el caso de Colombia, delegación que presenta la siguiente propuesta para este fin:

1.        Rechazar la intervención del imperialismo norteamericano en el conflicto interno bajo el pretexto de combatir el terrorismo y el narcotráfico atentando contra la soberanía nacional.

2.        Exigir el retiro inmediato de las tropas norteamericanas y de los mercenarios o contratistas civiles del territorio colombiano.

3.        Alertar que el Plan Colombia es una amenaza real contra todo el continente, así como su expresión interna denominada Plan Patriota.

4.        Propugnar por las solución política dialogada al conflicto social y armado que desangra a esta patria bolivariana.

But this becomes essentially irrelevant with the new revelations that Granda was nationalized Venezuelan last summer, without fulfilling the prerequisite of ten years of residence in the country. Moreover, Granda had been living in Venezuela in a little known town in Aragua state called Tazajera. That town is up in the mountains about 1400 meters above sea level and is quite spectacular. That state happens to be the most pro-Chavez state in the country. Thus, it is very unlikely that Granda could live there under his own name and go back and forth between Venezuela and Colombia without the authorities knowing about it. You can read here the opinion of General Gonzalez Gonzalez on the case

The Government continues tangling itself in lies in the case of the Foreign Minister of Colombian terrorist group FARC. We have gone from ignorance about the possibility that Mr. Granda was in Venezuela or kidnapped in Venezuela to accusations about bounty hunters kidnapping Granda in broad daylight. Of course, he makes no mention of the fact that Colombians may have perpetrated a kidnapping in Caracas in broad daylight and taken Granda all the way to the border without the Chavez Government doing anything about it. How efficient no? Even today, the Government continues to deny that it knew about Granda’s invitation, participation presence in the II Bolivarian Congress, while overwhelming evidence shows that they had to know.

This is very similar to the Ballestas or Montesinos cases in which the Government tried to hide its role in those cases, only to get so tangled in its own lies that the whole thing looked foolish. That is what happens when spin doctors get used to being successful. The same is true in the Anderson case, the hero Prosecutor that was given the country’s highest honors when killed is now being accused of blackmailing those he was accusing.

In the case of Granda, the Minister of Interior and Justice immediately denied that Granda had been kidnapped in Venezuelan territory. This changed later, when it became evident that there were sufficient witnesses to the case and the terrorist group published the accusation against the Chavze Government in its website, challenging the Chavez administration to state its position with regards to that group. However, at the time the Minister of Justice said the Government had no evidence that Granda had been in Venezuela or that he participated in the II Bolivarian Congress. In fact, even today, a Chavista Deputy said that Granda attempted to speak at the Congress, but they did not know who he was. This is actually quite curious to this blogger, given that Rodrigo Granda made the following proposal at that Congress:

·  Aprobar una resolución sobre el caso de Colombia, delegación que presenta la siguiente propuesta para este fin:

1.        Rechazar la intervención del imperialismo norteamericano en el conflicto interno bajo el pretexto de combatir el terrorismo y el narcotráfico atentando contra la soberanía nacional.

2.        Exigir el retiro inmediato de las tropas norteamericanas y de los mercenarios o contratistas civiles del territorio colombiano.

3.        Alertar que el Plan Colombia es una amenaza real contra todo el continente, así como su expresión interna denominada Plan Patriota.

4.        Propugnar por las solución política dialogada al conflicto social y armado que desangra a esta patria bolivariana.

But this becomes essentially irrelevant with the new revelations that Granda was nationalized Venezuelan last summer, without fulfilling the prerequisite of ten years of residence in the country. Moreover, Granda had been living in Venezuela in a little known town in Aragua state called Tazajera. That town is up in the mountains about 1400 meters above sea level and is quite spectacular. That state happens to be the most pro-Chavez state in the country. Thus, it is very unlikely that Granda could live there under his own name and go back and forth between Venezuela and Colombia without the authorities knowing about it. You can read here the opinion of General Gonzalez Gonzalez on the case

Sometimes it is truly hard to know what is going on. On the same day that the Governor of Yaracuy, not exactly Daniel’s favorite person, issues his own decree “rescuing” lands in his state, the Land Institute issues a communiqué saying that the intervention of lands requires a presidential decree. (El Nacional, page A-14, by subscription). Thus, three decrees intervening land and now a step back?

Well, as usual, it is unclear. All the Land Institute is saying is that it will have a meeting tomorrow about these issues. The Land Institute did say that Governors and Mayors have the duty to fulfill with the requirements of legislation, but is qualifies the need for a presidential decree to do it.

Thus, it is not as easy as the Governor of Cojedes suggested, saying that legal formalities have to be bypassed in the name of social Justice. Even if Governor Yanez had the backing of the President it is clear that there are some divisions on the issue. First of all, there is the Head of the Land Institute Eliezer Otaiza who obviously feels threatened as the interventions by the Governors certainly make his Land Institute useless. Moreover, all of the Governors have been saying they acted because of the slowness  by the Land Institute in executing its mandates, something that affects Otaiza directly as he may go out of favor in the eyes of President Chavez.

But the most significant problem appears to be that the Governor of Cojedes included the land of the El Charcote farm, owned by British Group Vestey and that Embassy has not only expressed its concerns about the intervention, but apparently the Vice-President of Venezuela José Vicente Rangel had made promises to British authorities about their land being protected.

So, this is simply another reflection of improvisation, disregard for the law and the fear by the Chavista Government of international repercussions to their actions. A true revolution would simply not care about the British and some rich British family with investments in Venezuela. But this is a revolution based on the manipulation of the media and information, particularly the foreign media, thus this issue may hurt because of the inclusion of foreign land.

In the days ahead we should have a clearer picture of what is going on. Our suspicion is that we will see some form of unifying concept to try to give these gubernatorial decrees some legality followed by a promise of coordination by the Institute of Land.  Ninety days from now, as the decrees term expires, the issue will once again be revived with full force.

-Banks have stopped lending to farms, peasants, cattlemen, crop growers and anyone that has something to with agriculture in the State of Cojedes after the “intervention” of 25 farms by a decree by the Governor. I wonder why…

-Former Vice-Minister of Finance Jesus Bermudez pleaded not guilty in his trial in Miami fro attempting to circumvent US laws. Separately, the prosecutor’s Office in Venezuela said that they were investigating the origin of the cash Bermudez had on him. 

-Former PDVSA Executives have been charged again for their role in the December 2002 strike. Once again some of the executives say they were denied their right to due process and access to their file.  They all had been charged before but the Supreme Court found they were denied their right to due process and the charges were not supported. In any other place, the AG would have been fired, but you know, this is a revolution.

-Meanwhile, former Head of the Metropolitan Police Ivan Simonovis will have to remain in jail until January 7^th. to “give time to the Prosecutor to present their charges”. Definitely revolutionary Justice, jail first, charge second.

-Meanwhile Police officers Henry Vivas and Lazaro Forero, had their first Court appearance in Court where apparently the same trick will be applied: They will remain in jail until the Prosecutor can get its case together. They are being tried in Aragua state and not in Caracas. Could it have something to do with the fact that Aragua is the most Chavista state in the country? Coincidence that it is the same state that found the Puente El LLaguno shooters innocent?

–Venezuela’s Ambassador to Russia, Carlos Mendoza Potella, will be investigated for corruption by the Chavez Government. Most don’t remember this revolutionary character who had been named to the PDVSA Board that led to Chavez brief departure in April 2002. Mendoza Potella went to the National Assembly to testify and got into an argument with a Deputy or a reporter and pulled out a gun on him. He is now being affected by Chavez’ praying mantiss effect. Such nice people!

Viva la “Revolucion!” (Not a paid announcement by the Chavez Government)

-Banks have stopped lending to farms, peasants, cattlemen, crop growers and anyone that has something to with agriculture in the State of Cojedes after the “intervention” of 25 farms by a decree by the Governor. I wonder why…

-Former Vice-Minister of Finance Jesus Bermudez pleaded not guilty in his trial in Miami fro attempting to circumvent US laws. Separately, the prosecutor’s Office in Venezuela said that they were investigating the origin of the cash Bermudez had on him. 

-Former PDVSA Executives have been charged again for their role in the December 2002 strike. Once again some of the executives say they were denied their right to due process and access to their file.  They all had been charged before but the Supreme Court found they were denied their right to due process and the charges were not supported. In any other place, the AG would have been fired, but you know, this is a revolution.

-Meanwhile, former Head of the Metropolitan Police Ivan Simonovis will have to remain in jail until January 7^th. to “give time to the Prosecutor to present their charges”. Definitely revolutionary Justice, jail first, charge second.

-Meanwhile Police officers Henry Vivas and Lazaro Forero, had their first Court appearance in Court where apparently the same trick will be applied: They will remain in jail until the Prosecutor can get its case together. They are being tried in Aragua state and not in Caracas. Could it have something to do with the fact that Aragua is the most Chavista state in the country? Coincidence that it is the same state that found the Puente El LLaguno shooters innocent?

–Venezuela’s Ambassador to Russia, Carlos Mendoza Potella, will be investigated for corruption by the Chavez Government. Most don’t remember this revolutionary character who had been named to the PDVSA Board that led to Chavez brief departure in April 2002. Mendoza Potella went to the National Assembly to testify and got into an argument with a Deputy or a reporter and pulled out a gun on him. He is now being affected by Chavez’ praying mantiss effect. Such nice people!

Viva la “Revolucion!” (Not a paid announcement by the Chavez Government)

Today I went up to the town of Galipan in the Avila mountain which separates Caracas from the sea. To those that have never been here, El Avila is a spectacular sight, which is probably what attracted the Spaniards to the valley in which Caracas is. This is what it looks like:

To add to the perspective, think about the fact that Caracas is 1,000 meters above sea level (3,000 feet). Well, El Avila at it highest peak is like 2,700 meters or 8,000 feet, these mountains are truly majestic. El Avila has been a National park for a long time, converted to a national park by the transition Government in 1958, after the Perez Jimenez Dictatorship was overthrown.

When it was declared a National Park, only those that lived there could remain there and improve their homes, but new building within the park was barred. There was a little agricultural town called Galipan up there, whose inhabitants grew flowers and were separated from Caracas by the difficult dirt road that connected it to it. Imagine going up some 6,000 feet in less than five miles, it is steep! And it was only dirt, it was very messy, particularly if it rained.

About some twenty years ago, the Government built a road up there and people began going there to visit. A Restaurant opened up, now there are about half a dozen. Many wealthy Venezuelans have purchased homes up there, improved them and use them as vacation homes.  Caracas is typically 10 C warmer than Galipan, it gets chilly up there.

Last week my brother invited me to go to Casa Pakea today. Casa Pakea is by far the best Restaurant up in Galipan. It is run by a Basque who reportedly got there after leaving Spain for belonging to a certain separatist organization. The food is wonderful. It is a fixed menu of six dishes for a fairly cheap price of Bs. 48,000 per person, about $19 dollars at the parallel exchange rate. You bring your own wine, which makes it a perfect chance to have a good wine with great food, at a reasonable price.

The views are incredible, you are above the clouds, and the mountains change colors as if by magic. Here are two pictures:

To enter the Park, you have to go by a National Guard station, tell them where you are going. Sometime they search your car, but usually you just go straight thru. You have to go up in a four wheel drive vehicle (I guess it is more important on the way down). We went in my sister’s car, a big red thing, Dodge I think it is, that is banged up all over. It is like a four wheel drive van. There are few like that in Venezuela as it was given to her husband as payment for a debt and it was imported from the US. So, it is easily recognizable.

This sister of mine is a reporter/writer and just completed her first book “Excess Baggage” which won an important award for books by first time writers.

I tell you this as background, because when we entered the park, rather than let us thru, the National Guard told my brother who was driving to please park the car on the side. He approached and asked him where we were going and to get out of the car. Then he asked him what was in the trunk. My brother said he did not know, that the car was my sister’s not his. At that point the Guard asked my sister to get out of the car and go see the Guard that was at the desk in the kiosk where you first stop. That Guard asked my brother if she was his wife and was she a writer.

That Guard asked my sister: do you remember me? She said no. Well, it turns out that he had stopped my sister in the same van a few weeks ago and she had no papers for the car (typical!), no identification. She told him she was a writer, was in a rush to get the proofs of her book and they were going to close. He let her go at that time.

He told her that van was recognizable anywhere and said: “Do you have papers for the van today” She said yes, but he did not ask her to produce them. Then he asked “And how is your book”. Incredibly, my sister had just given us copies of the book at her home before we left for lunch, so she said: “It is doing very well, it was published this week”. My brother came to the car, got a copy and she ended up dedicating a copy to the National Guardsman. He asked her for her e-mail to send her his opinion about the book when he finished it!

After our meal, we went by the same kiosk said hi and he called out “I am already reading the part about the lady, very nice book”. So, my sister now has a fan in the Venezuelan National Guard.

It might be a silly story, but it was very nice and fun and we laughed about it all afternoon. By the way, the food was delicious too!!!

By the way, driving home, we were stopped by the Caracas police, the van had no plate in the front, which is illegal…she keeps going like this she will know all cops in Caracas soon. Maybe sell a lot of books?

Today I went up to the town of Galipan in the Avila mountain which separates Caracas from the sea. To those that have never been here, El Avila is a spectacular sight, which is probably what attracted the Spaniards to the valley in which Caracas is. This is what it looks like:

To add to the perspective, think about the fact that Caracas is 1,000 meters above sea level (3,000 feet). Well, El Avila at it highest peak is like 2,700 meters or 8,000 feet, these mountains are truly majestic. El Avila has been a National park for a long time, converted to a national park by the transition Government in 1958, after the Perez Jimenez Dictatorship was overthrown.

When it was declared a National Park, only those that lived there could remain there and improve their homes, but new building within the park was barred. There was a little agricultural town called Galipan up there, whose inhabitants grew flowers and were separated from Caracas by the difficult dirt road that connected it to it. Imagine going up some 6,000 feet in less than five miles, it is steep! And it was only dirt, it was very messy, particularly if it rained.

About some twenty years ago, the Government built a road up there and people began going there to visit. A Restaurant opened up, now there are about half a dozen. Many wealthy Venezuelans have purchased homes up there, improved them and use them as vacation homes.  Caracas is typically 10 C warmer than Galipan, it gets chilly up there.

Last week my brother invited me to go to Casa Pakea today. Casa Pakea is by far the best Restaurant up in Galipan. It is run by a Basque who reportedly got there after leaving Spain for belonging to a certain separatist organization. The food is wonderful. It is a fixed menu of six dishes for a fairly cheap price of Bs. 48,000 per person, about $19 dollars at the parallel exchange rate. You bring your own wine, which makes it a perfect chance to have a good wine with great food, at a reasonable price.

The views are incredible, you are above the clouds, and the mountains change colors as if by magic. Here are two pictures:

To enter the Park, you have to go by a National Guard station, tell them where you are going. Sometime they search your car, but usually you just go straight thru. You have to go up in a four wheel drive vehicle (I guess it is more important on the way down). We went in my sister’s car, a big red thing, Dodge I think it is, that is banged up all over. It is like a four wheel drive van. There are few like that in Venezuela as it was given to her husband as payment for a debt and it was imported from the US. So, it is easily recognizable.

This sister of mine is a reporter/writer and just completed her first book “Excess Baggage” which won an important award for books by first time writers.

I tell you this as background, because when we entered the park, rather than let us thru, the National Guard told my brother who was driving to please park the car on the side. He approached and asked him where we were going and to get out of the car. Then he asked him what was in the trunk. My brother said he did not know, that the car was my sister’s not his. At that point the Guard asked my sister to get out of the car and go see the Guard that was at the desk in the kiosk where you first stop. That Guard asked my brother if she was his wife and was she a writer.

That Guard asked my sister: do you remember me? She said no. Well, it turns out that he had stopped my sister in the same van a few weeks ago and she had no papers for the car (typical!), no identification. She told him she was a writer, was in a rush to get the proofs of her book and they were going to close. He let her go at that time.

He told her that van was recognizable anywhere and said: “Do you have papers for the van today” She said yes, but he did not ask her to produce them. Then he asked “And how is your book”. Incredibly, my sister had just given us copies of the book at her home before we left for lunch, so she said: “It is doing very well, it was published this week”. My brother came to the car, got a copy and she ended up dedicating a copy to the National Guardsman. He asked her for her e-mail to send her his opinion about the book when he finished it!

After our meal, we went by the same kiosk said hi and he called out “I am already reading the part about the lady, very nice book”. So, my sister now has a fan in the Venezuelan National Guard.

It might be a silly story, but it was very nice and fun and we laughed about it all afternoon. By the way, the food was delicious too!!!

By the way, driving home, we were stopped by the Caracas police, the van had no plate in the front, which is illegal…she keeps going like this she will know all cops in Caracas soon. Maybe sell a lot of books?

Today I went up to the town of Galipan in the Avila mountain which separates Caracas from the sea. To those that have never been here, El Avila is a spectacular sight, which is probably what attracted the Spaniards to the valley in which Caracas is. This is what it looks like:

To add to the perspective, think about the fact that Caracas is 1,000 meters above sea level (3,000 feet). Well, El Avila at it highest peak is like 2,700 meters or 8,000 feet, these mountains are truly majestic. El Avila has been a National park for a long time, converted to a national park by the transition Government in 1958, after the Perez Jimenez Dictatorship was overthrown.

When it was declared a National Park, only those that lived there could remain there and improve their homes, but new building within the park was barred. There was a little agricultural town called Galipan up there, whose inhabitants grew flowers and were separated from Caracas by the difficult dirt road that connected it to it. Imagine going up some 6,000 feet in less than five miles, it is steep! And it was only dirt, it was very messy, particularly if it rained.

About some twenty years ago, the Government built a road up there and people began going there to visit. A Restaurant opened up, now there are about half a dozen. Many wealthy Venezuelans have purchased homes up there, improved them and use them as vacation homes.  Caracas is typically 10 C warmer than Galipan, it gets chilly up there.

Last week my brother invited me to go to Casa Pakea today. Casa Pakea is by far the best Restaurant up in Galipan. It is run by a Basque who reportedly got there after leaving Spain for belonging to a certain separatist organization. The food is wonderful. It is a fixed menu of six dishes for a fairly cheap price of Bs. 48,000 per person, about $19 dollars at the parallel exchange rate. You bring your own wine, which makes it a perfect chance to have a good wine with great food, at a reasonable price.

The views are incredible, you are above the clouds, and the mountains change colors as if by magic. Here are two pictures:

To enter the Park, you have to go by a National Guard station, tell them where you are going. Sometime they search your car, but usually you just go straight thru. You have to go up in a four wheel drive vehicle (I guess it is more important on the way down). We went in my sister’s car, a big red thing, Dodge I think it is, that is banged up all over. It is like a four wheel drive van. There are few like that in Venezuela as it was given to her husband as payment for a debt and it was imported from the US. So, it is easily recognizable.

This sister of mine is a reporter/writer and just completed her first book “Excess Baggage” which won an important award for books by first time writers.

I tell you this as background, because when we entered the park, rather than let us thru, the National Guard told my brother who was driving to please park the car on the side. He approached and asked him where we were going and to get out of the car. Then he asked him what was in the trunk. My brother said he did not know, that the car was my sister’s not his. At that point the Guard asked my sister to get out of the car and go see the Guard that was at the desk in the kiosk where you first stop. That Guard asked my brother if she was his wife and was she a writer.

That Guard asked my sister: do you remember me? She said no. Well, it turns out that he had stopped my sister in the same van a few weeks ago and she had no papers for the car (typical!), no identification. She told him she was a writer, was in a rush to get the proofs of her book and they were going to close. He let her go at that time.

He told her that van was recognizable anywhere and said: “Do you have papers for the van today” She said yes, but he did not ask her to produce them. Then he asked “And how is your book”. Incredibly, my sister had just given us copies of the book at her home before we left for lunch, so she said: “It is doing very well, it was published this week”. My brother came to the car, got a copy and she ended up dedicating a copy to the National Guardsman. He asked her for her e-mail to send her his opinion about the book when he finished it!

After our meal, we went by the same kiosk said hi and he called out “I am already reading the part about the lady, very nice book”. So, my sister now has a fan in the Venezuelan National Guard.

It might be a silly story, but it was very nice and fun and we laughed about it all afternoon. By the way, the food was delicious too!!!

By the way, driving home, we were stopped by the Caracas police, the van had no plate in the front, which is illegal…she keeps going like this she will know all cops in Caracas soon. Maybe sell a lot of books?