It was all smiles for Chavecito, Evo, Lula and El Ecuadorable at a recent summit in Manaus, Brazil. The great news from this one? The Bank of the South, Bancosur, will open in December, and will probably provide a huge boost to the region--and a buffer against the crisis of Wall St. to boot.
I get the feeling that I'm not the only woman who likes this humble honey...and as proof, I present these shots taken at the recent UN meeting:
Michelle Bachelet's body language tells me all I need to know about how she feels about Evo. I guess he charmed the pants off her when he negotiated that sea route with Chile.
Ditto Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, of Argentina. I sure hope Néstor's not jealous!
Well. Now that Evo's basically shown the Media Luna-tics who's the president of the republic, it's back to work...
...which, in Evo's case, means showing up to be doused in confetti and draped with streamers, and to open construction on an agricultural water system in rural Chuquisaca. This particular project will benefit 240 families, and help make Bolivia self-sufficient in food. Which just happens to be one of Evo's bigger projects, right up there with land reform (which is being done to the same end, BTW.)
No doubt the lamestream media find this aspect of Evo's job very boring and unsexy, because they never report on it. There's nothing about it to upset the North American bourgeoisie, you see. In fact, it makes Evo look like a bigger and better do-gooder than USAID, which apparently has nothing better to do in Bolivia than finance bogus "democratic" opposition groups. Just as in Venezuela.
Nope, we can't have Evo look like an effective president getting worthwhile things accomplished, because that would ruin everything for USAID, the patron saint of fascism democratic opposition everywhere!
A catchy ode to the President of Ecuador and his putting a stop to all the bullshit and getting the house in order.
Who says slackers are couch potatoes? When it comes to politics, Michael Moore knows what it takes to pry them out of apathy, and he's not afraid to use it:
If you're in Canada or the US, you're in luck: this one will be downloadable for free on September 23. Go here to sign up.
Jayzus. Do we really need more proof that El Ecuadorable is one smoldering dude?
And the 'Cito isn't exactly chopped liver, either. But then, we already knew that.
Since the BoRev dude has already scooped what I was planning to post for you today, I guess I'll just have to make do with yet another week of yummy Evo pix...
Sigh. Life is so hard.
But hey, maybe it's just as well that it's Evo again this week, because look at how much of Bolivia is behind him:
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Aw, crap!" »
Damn, Evo...those are sure some dimples you got there. Wonder what made 'em pop. Surely it's not the fact that you've got an over two-thirds majority in your referendum now, and still counting? Or maybe the fact that the Media Luna-tics can't face defeat, even when it's staring them in the face?
Perhaps our cheeky cholito is just laughing over the thought of having to lend them a Jaws of Life so they can pry their buttocks apart and extricate their heads. I know that would have me in stitches, were I in his shoes...
Soccer skills come in handy in other fields, too. Here's Evo, honing his ass-kicking technique on the pitch:
Come Sunday, he's going to be putting it to good use. That's when our high-stepping hero shows the prefects of the Media Luna how to hold a real referendum--legal and legitimate--and win it, too.
BoRev reports that CITGO has just branched out into serving something rich, dark and Venezuelan in its coffee shops. And no, it's not fuel--at least, not of a petrochemical nature. Here's some fresh-brewed video for ya:
BTW, I hear Venezuelan chocolate is also pretty damn fantastic. Will CITGO consider carrying cocoa, I wonder?
...and in time for Chavecito's upcoming birthday:
I found this at Inca Kola News. Apparently it's an actual mural from Caracas. It's also one of the funniest takeoffs I've ever seen on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes. It's got Fidel Castro as God, Chavecito (looking hunky in a patriotic Speedo!) as Adam, and Evo, rather appropriately considering his dimples, as a cherub (at lower right).
I'm pretty sure Chavecito was not really "made" this way, but it made me chuckle anyhow.
PS: Speaking of chuckles, check out the video at the bottom of this page. I can't make out much of what's being said, but the body language speaks for itself: Chavecito is getting the last laugh on the King of Spain by charming the royal pants off. Oh, he's good.
Congratulations are in order for my best friend. Writing under his Craft name, he's published what might just be the first "Wicca 201" guide--The Wiccan Mystic, which traces the mystical lineage of modern-day Wicca through mystical threads in recorded history. It's clear, it's succinct, it's precise, it's a gem--and one influential British pagan book reviewer thinks so, too.
On a personal note, I've known "Ben" for over 20 years now; we became friends in our first year of university. (Yes, I realize that gives our ages away.) He taught me everything I know about Wicca, and if you read his book, you'll see why he was such a great teacher. He's great at making the connections, and his research is rock-solid. (And yes, I can say that, because I proofread and fact-checked his book before he sent it off to the printers.)
If his self-published work becomes a bestseller, it will truly deserve to. He is anything but a "fluffy bunny" Wiccan (my choice of graphics notwithstanding!), although he's probably the nicest, unspookiest guy you'll ever meet.
And I could not be more proud to call him my friend.
WTF is it with these leftist presidents who keep on keeping their promises to their voters? This time, it's Evo...making good on his promise of uniting Beni and Mamoré with some long-overdue roadwork (and getting a little help from his friends in Venezuela):
And if I may say so, he's lookin' mighty fine in the process, too. Totally rocking the collarless-suit-with-no-tie look.
And why not? Ingrid Betancourt is finally free, albeit under very sniffy circumstances. But since the objective of all his work was peace in Colombia and a release of all hostages, not scoring political points, and since she's safe, he can still say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. After all, it was his success in freeing others, such as Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, that helped spark this happy reunion between Ingrid and her family. And it was his words to the FARC that sparked this major release, as subsequent news will show (and I'll blog it if the lamestream media goes on failing to report!)
Congratulations are in order for Evo Morales. This month, he and his indigenous/socialist fusion revolution made it into National Geographic--and, unlike Chavecito, he didn't get his ass slammed. This even though the same author wrote both pieces. (I know! How strange! Even stranger, Chavecito isn't mentioned in there at all, and neither is Fidel Castro--even though they're Evo's #1 and 2 allies, respectively!)
Anyhow, there's only one pic, showing Evo as he normally dresses: baseball-type jacket, button-down shirt, black jeans, sneakers--and a whackload of confetti overtop of it all. Boring. But I guess they just didn't want to supply y'all with Evo-cheesecake. For which onerous task there is Yours Most Sincerely, showing how Evo got to be cautiously termed "a man of some charm" by the Geographic's writer:
Okay, so his cute legs aren't in it (damn AP photogs!), but we can see the charm, can't we?
(Bonus: More Evo on the Geographic's website, here. And yes, he puts his charm on display for the photographer who wrote about him, too.)
A fun animated short history of South America, Simon Bolivar, and his modern counterparts. Several familiar cartoony faces in there...
And gets a hug-ito from Chavecito at a religious ceremony at Caricuao in his honor:
And if the speech he gave in Ecuador here is any indication, he will work well with the rest for integration:
BTW, El Ecuadorable and Evo are in there too. Watch for them.
Do I need an excuse to post pictures of these guys?
All right, my reason for posting this one of Evo is "Because it's nice..."
And my reason for posting this one of Chavecito is "Because I like it!"
What? No Chavecito or Evo this week?
Nope...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Ecuadorability!" »
And he's twice as big as ever:
Che would have turned 80 this year. That's twice as old as he lived to be. So it makes sense that this statue, which will stand in his birthplace of Rosario, Argentina, is twice life-size.
Not, I hasten to add, that he wasn't a towering figure in life, too.
And for some reason, I found a lot of funny pix from it...and for some reason even stranger, most of the funniest ones had Evo in them. In some funny context or other.
Like this one, in which he's chatting with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel:
What do you suppose is going through her mind? My educated guess is it's something like this:
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Some summit that was in Peru" »
Yes, I know the hour is late. But this will still squeak in under the bar!
Lost amid all the crazy-ass talk of miraculous laptops and what they do or don't demonstrate, a little bit of happy news. Chavecito recently nationalized, or rather re-nationalized, the crucial steel company SIDOR.
The workers, with whom he appears here, were more than happy. This is something they've been pushing for a long time.
Since there's been so much to-do this past week with bogus "autonomy" in Bolivia and all, and the elite of the lamestream media are still sounding the death knell for Evo Morales and his government, here, have a look at this:
Do he and his veep, Alvaro Garcia Linera (at left) look at all worried to you?
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Do they look threatened to you?" »
Hmmm, Democracy is looking a wee bit tousled lately. Considering he's just narrowly managed to avert a coup, though, he's entitled to look as rumpled as he damn well pleases.
And besides: tousled is sexy. Especially when you've just been nominated, once again, for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Yes, I know...I'm shameless. But if you want to see cute pix of Evo AND express your social conscience, Todos Con Bolivia is the place to go.
And don't forget to sign their petition.
(Thanks to Corey and Madalena for directing me to the site!)
I don't know about you, but Evo-pix like this make me feel all warm and sunny.
Why is Chavecito wearing a big sombrero? Because the daughter of a rather important Mexican hero has just delivered a big honor to him.
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Viva Zapata!" »
Okay, I'm a bit behind on this because Chavecito has been busier than a one-legged man in a soccer tourney. But I still thought I'd share this photo of Chavecito on his recent trip to Brazil (from which he's been back for a few days now).
It's just a photo-op grip'n'grin shot with Lula, but it's a cute one because they both look like they're actually having a good time.
Who's the more gorgeous of these two green-eyed cats...this LOLtabby?
And ooooooooh yeah, Evo's knees!
Who's the perfect 10? Both of them, of course. They faced off at a recent charity game. Who won? The people of flood-ravaged Bolivia. And South American solidarity didn't fare too badly, either.
No matter how tense the official occasion (in this case, Argentine president Cristina Kirchner's recent visit to Venezuela, during the days when Colombia attacked and then menaced Ecuador), Chavecito knows how to lighten things up and make everybody go awwwwwwww.
Oh, and did you know he brokered the peace at the summit that ensued? That's pretty awwwwww-inspiring, too.
Um...not really. But you must admit that the presidents of Ecuador and Argentina, respectively, look absolutely divine together.
And if you want to know what was really going on when this was taken--relax, no one's cheating on their spouse. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was simply showing support for Rafael Correa in a time of crisis during a meeting in Venezuela. She was far from alone in this, by the way.
Green is the color of health, and Evo is drinking to yours.
He sure looks groovy in green, does he not?
In honor of Fidel Castro's recent announcement of his intention to retire, today we go retro:
Those were the good old Ches.
Because damn...
...right now, I sure wish I were a microphone.
Well, all right. This guy isn't really Chavecito:
But you have to admit he's a pretty good lookalike. (And no, that's not FARC leader Manuel Marulanda behind him; that's another festive impostor.)
Meanwhile, Evo was out for the festivities, partying with his people...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Chavecito does Carnival" »
Who, Evo? Chicken?
Nah. He's just receiving a traditional "Ekeko" figurine of a hen, symbolizing a female partner (as he is, incredibly, still single). And a second one for his VP, Alvaro Garcia Linera, who's also unattached. (Single women get roosters.) The figurines are blessed by Aymara shamans and given as good-luck presents; nobody buys one for themselves. The thing they represent is supposed to come into the recipient's life within a year. You can read more about the customs and rituals of Alasita here.
(Holy crap, I better get flapping, so I make it down to Bolivia within the year. Boy, will my arms be tired.)
...to post pics of Chavecito?
Well, I do.
I posted this one because it's cute. And I like it.
No one can accuse Chavecito of being all work and no play (although he certainly works very hard). Here he is on a recent visit to Nicaragua, attending a local baseball game with his Sandinista amigo, Daniel Ortega:
More video of Chavecito with Ortega here. (Scroll down to the bottom.)
The video from yesterday's humanitarian mission in Colombia. About midway through, the rescued hostages get an important phone call from Venezuela, one that puts a big smile on their faces.
And the news doesn't end there. According to Senator Piedad Cordoba in an interview with VTV's Jorge Arreaza, one of the still-captive FARC hostages has asked, in writing, for Venezuelan citizenship, partly in recognition of Chavecito's good offices in the situation, and also in the hopes that it will help get the others freed sooner. Plus, Clara Rojas and her son Emmanuel may end up staying on in Venezuela; the government is looking into securing permanent residency for them.
You can't get a better recognition for a job well done than that!
You know you're a hottie when you can even make a miner's helmet look good...
...especially when combined with something as unlikely as floral garlands.
And of course, we already know what Evo does for soccer shorts:
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Random Evo and senseless cuteness" »
The operation to bring three hostages out of FARC territory in Colombia is now on. This afternoon, military helicopters left Venezuela for Colombia, bearing the Red Cross logo to signify that this is a humanitarian mission.
And of course, it was a great day for two faithful campaigners who didn't stop working for this moment:
Chavecito and Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba go over a map to see what path the rescue 'copters will take.
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Operation Emmanuel is a go!" »
The Big Fella was a busy boy this past week (when is he ever NOT?)--visiting Argentina to attend the inauguration of a good friend and former Argentine First Lady, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner...
...who got a customary Chavecito friendship gift: a copy of Bolivar's sword.
And while he was there, he toured a low-income housing construction site, where he palled around with some women workers...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Chavecito in Argentina" »
...and we're about due for another dumper of lake-effect snow here on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The seasonal norm is 3 degrees Celsius, and today's high was that...in the negative integers. My joints ache, my fingers are waxen white and my nail beds are blue. That's why I'm holed up in here, looking for pictures with something about them that'll warm my cockles.
Like, oh, say, Chavecito's cozy scarf, which goes great with dimples...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Baby, it's cold outside..." »
Let us count the ways.
He does it with speeches...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: How does Evo kick ass?" »
Can you caption these?
Turn down your high beams, dammit!
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Chavecito Caption Time!" »
Supposedly, the big story out of the recent Ibero-American summit in Chile was the King of Spain telling Chavecito to shut up. Here's the more harmonious side the media neglected:
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Chavecito plants one" »
A little birdie tells me that there are a LOT of yummy Evo-pix out there this week...
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Evo, Evo everywhere..." »
Hugo Chavez's maiden speech to the Venezuelan congress.
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: A little vintage Chavecito" »
Say, this guy looks familiar...
Is that Evo???
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Double vision" »
I'm a little late in paying tribute to Che Guevara on this blog, but better late than never. Here's a rap song dedicated to El Comandante Amigo:
"Way to support the troops, Boil Butt!"
Anthony from Sweden, aka Malmo Blue, calls in at about 5:30 in this YouTube (which he made and posted.)
Way to give ol' Boil-Butt the red-ass, Anthony and Mike!
It's Chavecito time, of course!
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: What time is it, Mr. President?" »
"Rock the Casbah".
(I figured that in light of all the recent hysteria in favor of bombing Iran, a little levity and perspective were called for.)
Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko reads two poems in Spanish at the Poetry Festival in Caracas: his passionate ode to Che Guevara, and a humorous selection called "More or Less".
A video collage with a cool, catchy tune. Starring all my favorite revolutionaries. From Ecuador!
"Radio Bemba", with special guest appearance by the EZLN (Zapatista) guerrillas.
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy:
Bolivian author Nestor Taboada ("Tierra Martir - Martyr Land") stressed the importance of Bolivian President Evo Morales' candidature for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize does justice to all Latin American farmers, poor people and indigenous communities."Evo Morales is at the same level as Benito Juarez or Nelson Mandela," he said.
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Evo gets nominated" »
No, this is not one his own paintings. I just find it interesting how once in while, Chavecito crops up in a work of fine art:
I can't remember where I found this on the Internets, but it's a very cool poster. He seems to have a halo composed of news clippings, and the artist has emphasized the black part of his heritage, right down to the power salute. His features are more Africanized, and his complexion is a bit darker than it is in reality. The message is clear: Chavecito stands with, and for, the oppressed peoples of the world--particularly those of color.
Chavecito has been very busy again lately on the front of Latin American integration. Talk of continent-wide energy integration is topmost on the agenda. He's been in Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador; now he's in Bolivia. Here's some video from his visit to his other amigo--Evo.
He got full military honors, as you can see. And a big hug from Evo, and lots of cheering from the crowd.
Looks like the Bolivarian project is also marching forward at a brisk clip!
Clearly, all my friends at UNN do. And they all show it in various ways. But Tony "T-Bone" Jones, our multi-talented producer of the Talk and Action (yes, that's T & A for short) progressive women's podcast, has really outdone himself:
...with an outstanding bit of photoshopping.
I should have known someone would send me Chavecito-porn on my birthday. Or is that Chavecito cheesecake? Any way you slice it, it's a hoot. Had me laughing so hard I bumped my head on the wall behind me, and scared my cats. Thanks, Tony! (I owe you several rants, amigo.)
(I have no idea whose body that really is, BTW.)
What do you get the guy who's got...well, pretty much everything?
A nice trophy, like this replica of the Copa America?
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Happy Birthday, Chavecito!" »
Finally, Chavecito lets slip what he REALLY thinks of Mr. Danger:
See that gesture? That's another way of saying "he's muy loco in the coco!"
And considering all the nutty hijinks in the White House of late, can you blame Chavecito for this burst of frankness?
No...seriously? You don't say.
I would never have guessed it in a million years. I mean, it's not as if he's covered in phallic symbols or anything.
On his recent trip to Russia, Chavecito got a warm welcome, complete with a Cossack sabre...
...whose heft and balance he seems to be checking here. Will it do for hacking through a jungle of archaic, backward legislation that's still holding his country back? Let's hope so.
He was there on a working visit, but it's still festive--he inaugurated the Simon Bolivar Latin American Cultural Centre in Moscow, and got a lot of love from the locals--especially some ladies who showed up wearing floral crowns in the colors of the Venezuelan flag. No purchase of nuclear weapons or subs, contrary to all the flap-and-squawk going on in the US media. But there WAS talk of getting Russian expertise on gas and oil extraction, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if Lukoil, the Russian firm, stepped in where ConocoPhillips (in a fit of cutting off its nose to spite its face) buggered off. Their loss is sure to be someone's gain, and I have a strong feeling that that someone is Russian.
Evo and the great Diego Maradona are Chavecito's guests of honor at the opening ceremonies of the Copa America soccer tournament this past Tuesday...
It doesn't get more festive than this.
This time, it's the new viaduct for the highway between Caracas and La Guaira:
The old one broke down a while back, after years of sagging and buckling (known to previous presidents and obvious to anyone with eyes, but unaddressed.) Chavecito ordered civil engineers to save it, but unfortunately it was too late for the viaduct; it collapsed in spite of their efforts. Luckily, it had already been closed for repairs and the traffic re-routed through the valley, so no one was on it when it fell. Still, the opposition seized on the collapse as "evidence" of ineptitude in Chavez's administration, ignoring the fact that the problem pre-dated him and was therefore actually due to inept previous presidents.
With this big infrastructure project completed, that's one more thing off the escualidos' list of "what can we use against him?"--and one more reason for them to grit their teeth and go loco.
Let's just hope they don't erupt in road rage while driving on the new viaduct!
PS: Well, that didn't take long--Globovision is already spinning the lie that this bridge is the only infrastructure project of the Bolivarian government. Amazingly, they forgot several. I call bullshit!
And boy, is he pissed.
On a more serious note, yesterday would have been Che Guevara's 79th birthday, if he had lived. Here are Eduardo Galeano's remembrances of "El Comandante Amigo":
Continue reading "Festive Left Friday Blogging: Chesus is Risen!" »
