https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/Everything you wanted to know about Latin American countries, their culture, idiosyncracy, politics, and social problems such as poverty and unemployment, etc.hourly12000-01-01T12:00+00:00https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/513898I noticed this, because it seems they have the same type of charisma. Despite their radically different origins and ideologies, there are some striking similarities (besides their appearance, that is). Chavez in the 1998 presidential campaign; Barack Obama today. 1.- They seem to be 'the...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/512795English translation of excerpts from a letter by Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician being held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Rainy morning, like my soul, jungles of Colombia, Wednesday, October 24, 8:34 AM My adored and divine mother of my soul....https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/512383Hello again. I hope you all had a great Christmas and a happy new year celebration. Last time I wrote, one thing I thought impossible happened. Chavez lost the elections thus his period will last until 2012 if not before. The frequent reader of this blog may have wondered: what has happened since...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/506364Results 'till now: Block A: Group of laws containing presidential indefinite reelection and a extension to a seven-year period. YES: 49.3% NO: 50.7% Thus they're not approved. Block B: Group of laws contemplating the elimination of private property. YES: 49% NO: 51% Thus they're not approved....https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/506332It seems the results are head-to-head. I watched a goverment press conference in which the Vice-president, Jorge Rodriguez, seemed like he's just come from a funeral!!! He said that if the NO option wins, the government would accept the results! He said it three times! There's also this rumor...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/506295CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing him to remain in power as long as he keeps winning elections, two government-linked sources said, citing exit polls. Three exit polls showed Chavez won by between six and eight...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/505094Venezuela-Colombia ties strained in presidents' feud CARACAS (AFP) — Relations between Venezuela and Colombia hit the lowest level in years after the two countries' presidents traded insults and Caracas froze ties with its neighbor. The highly-public row came a week ahead of a pivotal referendum...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/502979A powerful earthquake centred in northern Chile has caused surprisingly little damage despite being felt across South America. Two deaths and more than 100 injuries have been reported after the 7.7-magnitude quake, which was so strong it was felt on the other side of the continent in the...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/501935LOL. That' what the King of Spain, Juan Carlos de Borbón, told Hugo Chavez, given that he was disrespecting Spanish ex-president Jose Maria Aznar, calling him a fascist three times. The actual president of Spain, Jose Luis Zapatero, was telling him to stop because he was also surpassing the 3...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Matie/501552Teh Weird.