Posted on 01/03/2005 10:18:25 PM PST by Kitten Festival
Going back to work to start the year was no different than working last week; most Venezuelans are certainly not working and will likely not go to work for at least another week, a phenomenon that I have always marveled at. It is in fact pretty amazing that a country with such low productivity practically shuts down for three weeks every year at Christmas. And let’s not talk about Easter week and carnival week when similar slowdowns take place. But maybe I should lighten up.
The slowdown is general. The best part is that politicians also disappear from view for equivalent periods of time, so that real news is hard to come by. Reporters also disappear, I have always found it amazing how virtual newspapers like Descifrado, simply shut down for two weeks and a “real” newspaper like Tal Cual Digital simply shuts down. ... there is something about it their absence that bothers me, if doesn’t truly annoy me.
... But the worst part is that much of this also leaves me with of feeling of isolation, as most of those that “know” what is going on, also go away. Thus, regular sources of good information or interpretation of what is going on, also are missing in action and this makes it sometimes hard to figure out what is happening. For example, I have not been able to verify yet why Chavez came home from China a few days early. And this is important to know, as Chavez is clearly playing his own China card of attracting Chinese investment vis a vis US investment.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.salon.com ...
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