The Money Ends?

It seems Chavez's golden goose, might be a little bit strained. With profits slumping and increasing borrowing, it seems that the cash cow might be coming to a screeching halt pretty soon.

As Alek states, and as some of the news report, PDVSA is the only oil company taking losses instead of making profits.

News and Views

A dissertation takes a lot of your time, but I vow to keep the blogging up.

It seems all hope is not lost in Venezuela, if one can trust the sources.

Mark Cuban seems to fall from grace; after his Magnolia Pictures produced wonderful films like Voices in Iraq, it will now distribute Loose Change - a movie about 9/11 being an inside job. As conspiracy theories go, this has got to take the cake. I believe in free speech, but as fellow blogger Roberto says, you have to take responsibility for what you say. To me this says Mark Cuban either believes the conspiracy theory or doesn't have enough conviction to pass up the money.

People think Bush is dumb; it very well may be. But if he is so dumb, how the hell does he have so much clout? I think his detractors give him too much credit. If he were capable of all this things, then he really couldn't be that dumb.

That Cuban Embargo is really something. $110 million? And please, let's not forget the Political Prisoners.

Tony Snow

White House spokesman Tony Snow has recurrence of cancer.

Chavez Imperialist Part II

A while back, I commented on how Chavez is engaging in "imperialist" behavior, very similar to the one he "fiercely opposes".

But then again, I guess engaging in this sort of behavior is you know, pro bono work out of the goodness of your heart - not because you want to have influence in the region, lest you become the Latin American Imperialist. The real kicker is using those "imperialist" lawyers of yours and offering your military should someone overthrow you. Isn't that meddling in someone else's political affairs?

Really, how hypocritical can you be? Well you could be the former YPFB head in Bolivia, who seems to have gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Wasn't Evo going to "end the corruption" and "give back to the people"?

All these "revolutions" are nothing more than hot air, as they still benefit just a chosen few.

The Easter Bunny

I've been a Catholic all 36 years of my life. I've hunted for eggs almost every Easter Sunday; Abuela use to make us beautiful baskets that the "Easter Bunny" would leave for us.

However, I never knew until today that the Easter Bunny was a Catholic or Religious symbol for that matter. At least Santa Claus originates from Saint Nick, but come on the Easter Bunny?

Christmas trees have become "Holiday" trees, now the Easter Bunny is becoming either the "Spring" bunny or Peter the Rabbit. Yet they are still holding the egg hunts and other traditional events. In other word, they want to have their cake and eat it too. If as one of the complainers say, "Without Easter, there would be no Easter Bunny,” then without Easter there would be no egg hunt I guess. What's good for the goose .....

Surprisingly people in California are standing up for the Easter bunny. Hell may be freezing over after all.

I think this PC madness is going too far.

The Law: The Real Victim

It is rare, for a conservative like me, to find a voice of reason up here in "blue" New England. But Mark Patinkin, from the Projo, is usually one of those.

Recently, there was an illegal workers raid up here, were hundreds of them were arrested. They've been made to be "victims" and the agents have been made into "villains". But even someone who sympathizes with illegals can see who the real victim is.

They weren’t singled out randomly by agents who like to break up families for fun. The detainees were targeted for the simple reason that every one of them is accused of a crime. They are charged with being in the U.S. illegally.

That means they snuck across a border, avoided proper procedure, and have intentionally been living under radar.

They knew they didn’t have papers. They were aware that at any time, they faced deportation. They knew their children could be left behind with state agencies or other family members.

Do you really get to put your own kids in jeopardy like that, and then blame the authorities for enforcing the law you knew you were breaking in the first place?

And Mr. Patinkin also calls out the bias in the media, which hasn't reported all the facts and has insisted on this "victim" veil.

ICE reported that 55 of them were hiding from existing deportation orders. And 11 had already been deported once but apparently snuck back in. By the way, I had to dig around to find those numbers. Most news reports focused on the detainees’ hardships instead of their defiant behavior.

And that's not all; he also debunks the beaten down excuse of "America land of Immigrants".

But I don’t think most immigrant ancestors snuck around Ellis Island. They went through the turnstiles and got stamped.

Althouhg Mr. Patinking agrees he has no solution for the poblem of the 10 to 12 million illegals in this country, he does have this to say about the New Bedford raid and the news coverage:

For weeks, most news coverage has been implying that the illegals detained in New Bedford are mostly victims — and that the immigration agents are the villains.

It’s not true.

Hell must be freezing over. I'd never thought I'd see a New England paper call out press bias.

Another NFL Marine heading to Iraq

The Iraq Was has turned it's four year anniversary. I've been wanting to write my views on this, but time has not been on my side. In the meantime I give you this:

"The way I look at it, we're spreading freedom, and you have to support the troops and you have to support the war," Staat, 29, told KITV in Honolulu on Tuesday as he prepared to leave from Hawaii. "You can't just tell some Marine who just lost his buddy that we supported you but not the war, because in that case you're basically saying that Marine, his buddy, just died for nothing. We're one team."

Emphasis on the Last sentence is mine. I couldn't agree with him more. Some of you will think him foolish; personally I think he is brave, courageous and a true hero. He is willing to go fight for the freedom of others and to help his countrymen in the service. It doesn't get anymore selfless than that.

News and Views

The Ladies in White were harrassed during one of their protests that mark the anniversary of the Black Spring.

Recently, Chavez claimed that he gave more financial aid than the billion or so proposed by Bush. But I doubt that even Chavez, and his socialist propaganda, can compare to the aid the U.S. indirectly sends to Latin America.

And the Cayman Islands government continues to act against their residents ideals when it comes to Cuban refugees.

Last but not least comes the scariest news of the day. Why so scary? Because it seems that from #16 on, most of this directives have been accomplished.

Al Gore full of Hot Air?

Global Warming, Climate Change, An Inconvenient Truth.

Democrats accuse the Republicans of fearmongering with the war on terror, yet Gore's documentary used fearmongering to get his message across. Ever since it came out, and the book too, some have sided and some have criticized. Of course many skeptics have been discredited for having a personal agenda.

However, via Dean's World, the New York Times just published an article in which scientists themselves find some holes in Gore's message. It is a good and interesting read. And hey, it its in the NYT you cannot accuse it of being a right wing conspiracy, now can you?

Yipeee!

I have successfully completed and passed my comprehensive exams.

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!

Cuba in the News

While Mel Martinez introduces a bill to punish companies who help Cuba drill for oil, someone, somewhere is saying that Castro will run for re-election in 2008.

Excuse me? Re-election? He was never elected. It seems the press has forgotten the big headline of "Why run an election if the people have already voted". I cannot believe any serious paper or journalist would even consider such a headline.

Re-election my ass.

Another Success Story

I love Cuban refugee success stories such as this one. There are still people who realize the American dream is there for those who pursue it.

Bush controls Hollywood

You know, for someone nicknamed Dubya, called every single name in the book, and whose intelligence has recently been called into question, W must be a pretty powerfull guy if he has gained control of Hollywood. At least that what Iranians believe.

Makes you wonder where Iranians were when the book was published. I can hear Carly Simon ... you're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

Hollywood cave to W's agenda? Ha, Ha, ha. LMAO!

Two new GOPers may run

First, we have what I will call the Law & Order President - Fred Thompson. Not in a derogatory sense, at all. But because Law & Order has been my favorite TV show since the start. For those of you without a clue, he plays NY AG in Law & Order, was a past Tennessee senator, and yes, would be another actor turned president.

Next we have Chuck Hagel, who says that if he doesn't win the nomination he'll run as an independent. Don't know much about him, but will find out.

You'll notice both links are from the NYT - on purpose.

One positive thing about Democrat Presidential Hopeful Dennis Kucinich - he stood up to his fellows regarding the contested debate on Fox Network. As strange as this sounds, I agree with Mr. Kucinich:

“I’m prepared to discuss the war, health care, trade, or any other issue anytime, anywhere, with any audience, answering any question from any media. And any candidate who won’t shouldn’t be President of the United States.”

Man, I am sooooo looking forward to blogging Election 2008. This will be one interesting, fun and hard fought run for both Democrats and Republicans.

Cuban to the End

Three heartfelt stories of three unrelated exiles who had to leave Cuba due to Castro.

I always enjoy running into these stories; and I'm always amazed people are surprised that exiles who have lived longer in the US than in Cuba, still feel love for the country they were born in.

Election 2008

I have something special for Election 2008.

Since most blogs cover mainly their preferred candidate and attack the opposition, here at La Ventanita will be trying something different. Since I believe in discourse, and have liberal friends who believe in discourse too, that is exactly what La Ventanita will be doing.

Together with a more liberal friend and fellow co-blogger (won't announce who until we make it official) we will be co-covering ALL the candidates in a balanced manner. A true objective evaluation of the strenghts and weaknesses of each candidate by both sides- conservative republican and a "liberal" democrat.

So, what do you think of this "experiment"? We hope to bring some sane discourse and real debate back to the political blogs. Are you in?

Hugo Chavez Imperialist

I always discuss with people that I find Chavez's platform of "American Imperialism" hypocritical for many reasons. The first, that if considered an empire because of its territories, USA is certainly not alone in that standing. France, the UK and Holland are not far behind.

But what strikes me most, is that Chavez himself is an Imperialist. Just look at how he has gained power and influence over the region. He practially bought Argentina through bonds and has given away much of Venezuela's wealth to other countries - friendly to his government of course- to the point of displacing the IMF.

Well, now some of his neighbors are calling him just that, an Imperialist.

Jumping on the Cuba wagon

I've been off the wagon for a while.......

Three Cubans try to escape from Russia to the US by pretending to be Mexican nationals, while eleven others rafted their way out of Cuba and landed at the Cayman Islands - and were greeted as an embarassment to the officials. At least not all Cayman residents approve of the treatment.

If you need a reminder of why Cubans flee, you can always rely on Armando Valladares to tell it like it is.

Meanwhile the first courting of the Cuban community by a presidential hopeful has begun. I'm sure many more will follow reciting to us the same tired speech only to gain our votes. I wonder if the time has come where at least one candidate will have the balls to be honest and practice what they preach.

Musing about Papi

As many of you know, Papi passed away last fall. It has been tough trying to keep it together, teach, study, be a wife - while at the same time deal with the death of Papi. Sometimes I still can't believe he is dead. Some Friday nights, I still take the cellphone to the nightstand, 'cause Papi might call in the morning. And then I remember, he will not call.

It's hard talking about him like he is no longer with us. It's very hard to talk about him in a past tense. At times I bite my tongue, when I find that I want to ask Mami if Papi called her last week. They say the hardest part of dealing with death is accepting it; moving beyond the denial stage. This process, it seems, will take a while.

The only silver lining of this process is that I get to go through ALL his stuff. Everything. Nothing. Goes. Without. My. Approval. And in doing so, it's like I get to live Papi's life; as if he were taking me on a trip through time and space and making me participate in a part of his life when I didn't know him, when I didn't exist, when he wasn't even married.

Click on the pictures for a better view.

I've gotten to meet my granfather whom I never knew, and who wouldn't you know it, was a pretty good looking guy.

I've gotten to know how much Papi paid for his business in Cuba when he bought it. With every paper, and every document and every picture, I get to know Papi more intimately every single time.

I've gotten to meet a great uncle that was a priest. I can show you that American Football was played in Cuba and that it was a racially integrated sport.

So what's my favorite picture so far?




Him and his employees in what I believe to be Wall Street.






As soon as I get my energy up again, I'll post some more pictures. Including some Albert sent me, that we think might be Wall Street today.