Observations focused on the problems of an underdeveloped country, Venezuela, with some serendipity about the world (orchids, techs, science, investments, politics) at large. A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, referred to oil as the devil's excrement. For countries, easy wealth appears indeed to be the sure path to failure. Venezuela might be a clear example of that.
The Devil's Excrement
El Nacional page C-5:
The Government electric corporation will install a 50 MW turbogenerator to guarantee electricity for the Caribbean Baseball series in February
El Nacional page C-3:
Simón Bolívar University suspends suscriptions to scientific journals in 2010 due to budget cuts.
The development model is clear: Pan y Circo!
January 7, 2010 at 1:08 pm
This is an Epic Fail…
But this will become worst: they are “short” in time to get this 50 MW ready. It would be great if, in plain “series”, there is a massive shortage that would demonstrate, without a doubt, what is the real situation here in Venezuela.
January 7, 2010 at 1:14 pm
The weird and paradoxical thing on top of that is that the Caribbean Series is a capitalistic “for profit” event, organized by the private sector, while Simon Bolivar is a public university, financed by the State and free for those that get in.
January 7, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Well, as long as the Leones de Caracas make it to the Series, I see no problem with cutting off access to scientific journals. THey can read those on the Internet.
Oh wait, you need electricity to access the Internet!
Wouldn’t a candle lit Serie del Caribe be more romantic, anyway?
January 7, 2010 at 4:27 pm
I agree with Alberto.
Let the series be in the dark & let all the world see what a complete disaster Chavismo has been.
When we have a summit meeting here they run around cleaning things up & fixing things.
It’s all a complete sham.
They installed street light made from emergency lights that you would buy in a hardware store & installed them, posts & all at the curve overlooking Playa Manzanillo. During the African cumbre they worked just fine. 2 days after all the delegates had left they were turned off never to be relit.
A government of stupidity – nothing more.
January 7, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Robert, you have to pay suscriptions in order to be able to read the Scientific Journals in internet.
January 8, 2010 at 10:34 am
Alexandra:
I was being sarcastic.
What you’ll find, unfortunately, is that some folks will probably pay out of their own pockets, but they better have tarjeta domiciliada en el exterior…………………………
January 8, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Can’t they just play baseball in the daytime?
January 8, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Well, yes, they could, but then the games would be tape delayed to the rest of the Caribbean in order to be shown in prime time. Not the best, and still would represent a loss of face for Chavez.
Portable generators and totumas with flashlights would do nicely