Liberator or thug?

I've been following Chavez for about 5 years and have been alternately impressed and frustrated by him. I respect several of the programs his administration has put into action (especially in education like the Mision Robinson: http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=42510&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html), but I cringe when he pulls shit like announcing the cell phone numbers of his critics on TV and asking his supporters to call and harass them.

Lately, he's been getting a lot of flak for, as CNN put it, "forcing a TV station off the air". It's not quite as dramatic as all that. Actually, he is simply not renewing RCTV's license to broadcast over public airwaves. They still get to show their soap operas and game shows on cable and satellite. Seems like they got off pretty easy considering they committed the treasonable offence of inciting people to overthrow a democratically elected president. What if CNN anchors started telling Americans to overthrow Bush? As much as I might like that to happen, I can appreciate that the illegality of that situation would cause more damage than good.

In any case, Chavez and RCTV are both right and they are both wrong. Alan Mota explains it in detail: http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=363833&rel_no=1

And for even more detail: http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/05/30/venezuela-rctv-and-media-freedom-just-the-facts-please/

With all of the propaganda and misinformation being beamed at us constantly, it's easy to think everything is in black and white. The situation in Venezuela seems to be the rich vs. the poor or freedom against tyranny (depending on whose side you are on). However, if you do a bit of research, you'll find a myriad of opinions and differnet ways of perceiving the situation. In Venezuela there are other forces at work besides the wealthy elites and the teeming Chavistas.

!Vivan los Libertarianos y Anarquistas!http://www.nodo50.org/ellibertario/english.html

Lots of discussion on BoingBoing: http:http://www.boingboing.net/2007/05/28/venezuelan_media_cra.html//

The Mefites have something to say as well: http://www.metafilter.com/61570/Venezuela-replaces-opposition-TV-with-state-network

100%ChocolateCafe

Last year a cafe opened in Chuo-ku that serves chocolate... only chocolate. Choclate drinks, chocolate pasteries, chocolate ice cream, and, well, chocolate. Can't believe I've never heard of it until now. Take a gander at the website and try not to drool into your keyboard. http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/choco-cafe/shop/index.html

Heads up!

Something random I saw on the way to put the trash out this morning...

Russian roulette recipe a la Google

All that was in the kitchen was a half-box of couscous, freezer-burned shrimp, a wrinkling red pepper, and a sliver of some forgotten feta. Had no energy to think of what to cook and couldn't be bothered going to the supermarket either. I typed in the four previously mentioned rations into the Google bar, added "recipe" and what to my wondering eyes should appear than a recipe that called for those exact ingredients! Slowly simmered the couscous in veggie boullion and saffron. Meanwhile fried the shrimp with onions, the red pepper, red wine vinegar, about ten cloves of garlic, and various herbs. Threw it all together and crumbled the feta on top. It called for zucchini, but no way was I going to pay 300yen for one of those things. Next time I will add peas and olives but leave out the shrimp!

Smoothie Season~

It's warm enough now to have smoothies for breakfast and the supermarket started carrying this wonderful ingredient: soymilk with pineapple and coconut juice!! Add yogurt, banana, and frozen mango. Makes it worth getting out of bed.