The Devil's Excrement

The opposition closed its campaign today with six marches and a rally ending in the same point. It was very impressive. The mood was festive, happy, joyful and enthusiastic. I don’t want to get into an argument about size or if it matters, but it was HUGE. At somepoint I just moved according to the flow of people around me without being able to determine where I was going. It was hot, fun and I think it made everyone happy. Usually, it is hard for me to be within a march or rally and be able to take pictures even attempting to show how big it was. But here are four pictures, three of which attempt to do that, I actually had to work for these. I am tired, but in about an hour of two I will put up a selection of people’s pictures. I took lots, stay tuned! Great rally. The die is cast!

Top left: This is from a midpoint between the stage and the back of the march looking towards the back as far as I could see. Right: same shot but looking left, the stage is out of the picture further to the left.

Bottom Left: This is taken from the back of the stage, it was crowded there too. Bottom right: Personalities to the left of the stage. The sign says: Barinas (Chavez’ state) asks Venezuela for forgiveness.

Check out Daniel’s blog for a great overview of the march

Wonderful panoramic’s of the march in pepemora

More violence today, as Chavista thugs blocked opposition supporters from setting up a stand in Bolivar Square in dowtown Caracas. A foreign press photogarpher was taking pictures of the attack and some of the Chavistas with hoods on starting punching him and took him away, kidnapping him. He was later found nearby. he is injured and has been taken to a Hospital. There was also an attack on Globovision reporters near the building that houses the Vice-President’s office.. After the attacks, Chavez ,who has not been seen since Sunday, and did not participate in scheduled campaign events, has invited foreign reporters to a press conference tomorrow. (No Venezuelan ones invited). Below the photographer as he was attacked and taken away.

Note added: While the Venezuelan press keeps saying that the photographer was a foreign reporter, Spanish newspaper El Mundo says he was a tourist that was thinking of sending the pictures to a newspaper in Catalunya.

I have been told to spread the word that US consulates are asking registered voters to show their visa in their passport as proof of residence in order to vote. Thus my dear friends: Don’t forget to bring your passport to vote, anywhere in the world!

A public service announcement from your friendly blogger!

You can download many images for the “Si” from webpage sipublisi. Use them to make pamphlets, leaflets, t-shirts, whatever you want, they are good and they are free. Si!

Above, two of my favorites.

Definitely the best poster of the campaign: Yes or No You Decide, Vote!

Toe left: Phalenopsis Cornu Cervi a Phal species.I got a flask at the Worl Orchid conference two years ago and have given away quite a fewplants to frends. This is the first to flower. On the right is a hybrid Phal. no name

This is Blc. Ronald Hauserman, an amazing hybrid, you can’t help but be awed everytime it flowers by its colors, size and almost cardboard consitency. Got it at Kawamoto Orchids, Honolulu, HI.

These are the same Laelia Purpurata Striata species from Brazil. Note the veins in the sepals. Love it!

Another Laelia Purpurata, this one is called Delicata, certainly deserves that name.

Toe left: Phalenopsis Cornu Cervi a Phal species.I got a flask at the Worl Orchid conference two years ago and have given away quite a fewplants to frends. This is the first to flower. On the right is a hybrid Phal. no name

This is Blc. Ronald Hauserman, an amazing hybrid, you can’t help but be awed everytime it flowers by its colors, size and almost cardboard consitency. Got it at Kawamoto Orchids, Honolulu, HI.

These are the same Laelia Purpurata Striata species from Brazil. Note the veins in the sepals. Love it!

Another Laelia Purpurata, this one is called Delicata, certainly deserves that name.

Very busy lately, but it is important that we have a question ready (since early this week). The question: ¿Está usted de acuerdo con dejar sin efecto el mandato popular otorgado mediante elecciones democráticas legítimas al ciudadano Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías como presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela para el actual periodo presidencial? 1) No y 2) Sí. And My translation: Do you agree to leave without effect the popular mandate given through legitimate democratic elections to the citizen Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías as president of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Republic for the current presidential period? 1) No and 2) Yes. Yes, the answers are reversed, the chavistas seem to think there are enough dyslexics in Venezuela to upset the vote. Wishful thinking.

-YFGB

In the comments MM asks for a way to send me pictures. I don’t know yet how to put them in the blog. But I think it’s a good idea to have an email people can use to send me pictures, info, criticism and stuff. So here it is: ghostblogger@hotmail.com. Use it as much as you want. Keep in touch. If anyone can give me a hand posting pictures, please let me know. I was supposed to put pictures in a particular folder and then magic would happen. But it isn’t happening, I’m probably screwing it up. On a personal note, blogging is really addictive!

– YFGB

In the comments MM asks for a way to send me pictures. I don’t know yet how to put them in the blog. But I think it’s a good idea to have an email people can use to send me pictures, info, criticism and stuff. So here it is: ghostblogger@hotmail.com. Use it as much as you want. Keep in touch. If anyone can give me a hand posting pictures, please let me know. I was supposed to put pictures in a particular folder and then magic would happen. But it isn’t happening, I’m probably screwing it up. On a personal note, blogging is really addictive!

– YFGB