Photo looks like a couple of old queens getting ready to put the moves on each other

I guess Raul will be apartment hunting in Caracas for after they kick his @ss out of Cuba

all we need is Danny" the diddler "on that hideous sofa and it would be the three stooges of communism

Hugo-a go go and Raul the fool Castro, these two look like 2 peas in a pot.

Dumb & Dumber in the houuuse! Communism any one? I think they were sitting around waiting for Hitler.......

All great movements are popular movements. They are the volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotions, stirred into activity by the ruthless Goddess of Distress or by the torch of the spoken word cast into the midst of the people.

Adolf Hitler.

i need clarification from DominicanLady, who confuses me with her post. first , she characterises chavez and castro as "dumb and dumber". then, she informs us that popular movements are born out of the effects of the Ruthless Goddess of Distress. well, i think that Chavez and Castro represent what happens when a population is distressed. there are those who believe that Martin Luther King, and people like Malcolm X invented racism; au contraire. racism invented them.

This is good news for Venezuela. There is much that the Cubans can bring!
http://www.cityfarmer.info/category/cuba/
It is good to see increased co-operation now EU has cooperation deal.
S.

My dearest Dreads,
Don't read too much in between the lines. I noticed you are not aware this is a quote by the sick minded hitler. I merely wanted to show his way of thinking, which is not too far fetched from Mr. Danger a.ka. Chavez & his friend Castro. You see; is all about mind games, brain washing..... According to the Socialists.....

I refrained from commenting regarding your Hitler quote. I think you could find similar material from many great social thinkers. However historical progression is not linear. I think you are wrong to compare Castro, Chevez with the leaders such as Stalin, Hitler etc. from another historical era. It is not possible in these few words to give all the differences. Perhaps Milosovic might be a better comparison to Hitler. http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/milosevic.html
Consumerism is the characteristic brainwashing of the US, Some religious leaders 'brainwash'. e.g. Billy Grhaham's mass conversions have been criticised. http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/graham.htm

http://www.sustainableenterprises.com/Planet/anticonsumer.htm
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_How_do_our_kids_get/
S.

Seriously? Socialist X Socialist = Socialist....

And for now, I won't wrestle the pig, because we both get dirty and the pig likes it.....

DominicanLady, do you have a philosophical disagreement with socialism? if so, do you believe that the US government should have provided an 850 billion dollar bailout for capitalist operations, who lost their shirts by trying to make more money by devious means? and, do you believe that the people who lost their jobs and houses should receive food stamps and health care while they look for work? just asking.

Dreadlocks, DominicanLady,
In my opinion, based on my experiences living in South Central Los Angeles during the 1960's Your both right on all points, but may I add...Neither invited racism but were products of it. Both looked to change the status quote. In my part of the World during that time the Black community was divided.

On one hand you had the Black Radical Muslins how were Militant lead by young Malcolm-X, who believed that change would only come threw physical fear and Terror type confrontational, educational Tactics.

On the other hand you had the Christian non-violent Movement lead by Martin Luther King [ who by the way was inspired by Gandhi Tactics ] who believed change would come threw Faith, GOD inspired non-violent Tactics.

Even Malcolm-X who at first was very radical, only to change his way of Belief after a visit to Mecca thus becoming a threat to the Black Militant Muslin cause who later was TARGETED by his own People / Movement.

More to come

mrios, i introduced the names of martin luther and malcolm x as products of their circumstance. had there been no racism, there would have been no martin luther king. similarly, if places like Venezuela were more just societies, Chavez would have been a redundancy.

Dread crusading for Truth Justice and The American Way......up up and away

Dreadlocks,
So true.....But once these A--Holes gain total power threw circumstances, they end up chocking the life and freedom of all Mankind.
I'll leave you with these thoughts.....

As my father always said......

Those who have it....Want more of it, and will do anything to get it.

Those who don't have it..... Want it, and will do anything to get it.

So we know you are like Bonnie and Clyde barelling across America with the depression raging!
Greed and violence obsessed. You best keep runnin'.
S.

GC, i know that you find truth and justice to be things worthy of ridicule. we are just different, that is all. there was just not enough conscience and decency to go around when God was giving them out. the fact that you were not in the line does not help.

Written by: dreadlocks, 13 Dec 2008 5:16 PM
From: United States
i need clarification from DominicanLady, who confuses me with her post. first , she characterises chavez and castro as "dumb and dumber". then, she informs us that popular movements are born out of the effects of the Ruthless Goddess of Distress. well, i think that Chavez and Castro represent what happens when a population is distressed. there are those who believe that Martin Luther King, and people like Malcolm X invented racism; au contraire. racism invented them.

True, socialist are products of there environment. Jose Marti and Juan Pablo Duarte are two other examples of this theory environment.
The Haitian revolution is also a product of its environment.
And Dominican lady, how can you say dumb and dumber when in Cuba the revolution has made it so even the prostitutes have college degrees.
What dumb is that DR ranked in at one of the lowest in public schools.
These are all facts; you know DR still has a h

What is dumb is that DR has a high level of illiteracy.
What dumb is people that can not make a decent salary to support their families.
What dumb is that exiled must send money and food to DR so that our families can survive.
Politically we just have received certain rights, because even in “La era de Balaguer” we where repressed politically. Many people where jailed and died under Balaguer. His reign only ended in the 90’s.

Dumb, some Dominican still think that the war of 65 still had to do with communism.
Dumb is the U.S. of A giving away money to rich people. Fighting a war allegedly to stop terrorism when the U.S. is terrorizing, attacking a country that had neither to do with 911 and crating more enemies for the United States.

chill, truer words have yet to be said. i met guys in havana with college degrees that would have been cutting cane under Batista. the disagreement that some of these posters have with such a system is that they believe in some human hierarchy of mankind which says that only certain people, principally those that look like them, are entitled to the good things in life. the others were put here by God to serve and worship them. we all know people like that on this board, and they know who they are.

there are no blacks at the top levels of Cuban government ...it is a dirty little secret....only a few old black generals from the revolution...anyone who thinks otherwise is a dreamer....and now the government has to explain how a country they have painted as racist for 50 years with only 12% of the population black has elected Barack Obama ....good luck to them

Read it ..........." Pichón: Race and Revolution in Castro’s Cuba: A Memoir (Lawrence Hill Books, an imprint of Chicago Review Press, November 2008) by Carlos Moore with a foreword by Maya Angelou chronicles the life of one of the most extraordinary modern-day activists to emerge from Cuba. When Moore was first called a “pichón” as a young boy, he did not know its meaning, but he sensed that the word was more damaging than other insults. He later learned that “pichón” is Cuba’s most derogatory term for blacks."

These people (Chavez, Castro and the other communist stooges) don't represent "truth and justice".

A note about Obama, he was not elected because people really feel in love with him, (it was because McCain was just to old), neither because he had a fall in love with plan, (only because McCain was going to keep the country in the same direction Bush had it), nor was it because he had any good qualifications, etc a past soldier, military experience or any of that, (McCain had some but still, just too old), however, Obama was the better choice and people did not want to see stiff McCain croak in his chair during term, ofcourse not very much liked him he was just not convincing enough, but Obama, young, charming, handsome fellow.......a new generation, that wants to believe that maybe, just maybe he'll be different, then any of the others that have come thru, even though he is of black origin, (Old McCain of white, still not the choice). does not mean we are suppressing the racist era, at all, Obama was the only choice....God Bless Him. We will have to wait and see, what the outcome be

Gatitapequena,
So true in many ways, even Obama is realizing not much will change War, economy etc..etc.. Obama will have the weight of the World on his shoulders.
Regarding Racism people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpten, etc..etc.. are reminders of the old ways and who only exist threw threw injustices of there own makings at times and fuel more hurt towards there misguided antics . ie; Cake incident at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale Calif. with Al Sharpten.
In America to date we have more People of Color.... Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Actors, Music Producers, Athletics's, Political Government Positions etc..etc.. even a Half Black soon to be President in the History of America.
Reality is...........We still have Crime, Drugs, Father less Children, Jails & Prisons etc..etc..Filled with people of Color.
Doctor Kings Dream has become a "NIGHTMARE'.
True Obama does need our support and PRAYERS more then ever.
More to come...

Let us hope he can change some bad attitudes

Am I the only one that gets it......It's not HE......... it's US. We can not pen our hopes on one MAN regardless of Political Position or Status to change our lives, change starts at HOME and FAMILY the two are inseparable.
I remember growing up as a young Man People [Woman] in my Neighborhood talking about having Children, the more the better [Welfare wise]. No different today.

Talking about getting whats theres whats due to them. We Latinos, Hispanics, Spanish or what ever we call our selfs for sake of Identity are in a sense no different, some with a twist of work ethics. When are WE gonna make a difference and start setting an example for future generations, it does start some where.

Most successful People I've had the pleasure to speaking with all agree, the focus is US, not THEM.

PAY NOW, OR PAY LATER......

the Coconut Gulag will be coming to an end soon Raul is in Caracas apartment hunting for himself and his senile brother....we wish them luck ...they look like a couple of old queens sitting on that hideous sofa ....not that there is anything wrong with that

mrios............who's talking about anyone changing our lives, no one can do that except yourself....let me tell you a thing or two about something you just might not know, "Its no one's fault but our own what the outcome and direction our life's face", "No one is responsible for the bad things that are in our lives, except ourselves", and for all those that say things like that about having kids and more kids so they can live off of welfare and food stamps, or bum of their lives off of women to support them, these people need to educated about where these hand-outs are coming from, back to "He", yes people are expecting Him to change their lives, which is not going to happen, what they should be expecting is for him to change the circumstances that were in, right now, and the circumstances that were headed for, so stop thinking that your the only one with knowledge, because your not!!!!!!!!!!!

Gatitapequena,
NO DISRESPECT, BUT......Know I'm beginning to wonder whys it's addressed from 'Somewhere in the World" I printed FACTS not FICTION from real life experiences and observations. WE ARE NOT IN THE 1800's come back to earth and the present date 2008 going on 2009. It's also about taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and COMMON SENSE, that you learn from loving and caring PARENTS, not OTHERS, SCHOOL or the GOVERNMENT. God helps those who help them selfs. Regarding "Change of Circumstances" go tell that OPRAY and the many thousands of Color who have made there mark upon America.....HOW ?.Your right, I don't know it all, I'm not GOD, nor do I hold a Doctorate's Degree in anything. Just one who is tired of S.O.S the "SAME OL SH*t" Make a difference.
Please detail / explain...."Circumstances that were in". Wake up, new Leadership..Same ol Sh*t.

Lets all quit making EXCUSES and start taking Responsibility for our actions.

Gatitapequena,
Sorry, I forgot to take Deadlocks advice...."Don't take things so personal" TAKE CARE.
There is good in every MANS HEART.

I have met so many stupid USA folks who say God helps those who help them selfs
This is not true, not biblical and a lie!'
'Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth' 200 other Scriptual references. Why do these people deceive - to justify their stupid greed material possessions?
USA has listened to lies from the likes of Bush for too long saying go out and spend after 9/11.
Whatever religion you have or none the message is 'Making Heven on Earth' not driving people to destitution and aggession through greed and selfishness shopoping till you drop at Christmas.
People like mrious must seriously question the values they were brought up with and see the light on the road to Damascus or whatever is appropriate in their religion.
<a title="Caught In A Dream Lyrics" href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics....lyrics_53647.html">Caught In A Dream Lyrics</a>
you'll never get to heaven in a pink cadillac

Anyone that picks any systems of government or ideology is in a state of brain-washed by individuals who want supporters for their cause. Politicians for the most parts are experts at this and people keep on believing, defending and dying for them. Politicians dispute with one another and create the wars and formed of mass-destruction while the general population is made to paid the price. Thus is the case with Cuba. People in general just want to live their lives with as little interference from government as possible, to be able to freely do business with one another and raise their standard of living with their honest work. There are those that want it for free and that live off the work of the people --- such as politicians that produce nothing and are glamorized by an ignorant population, each side is doing the same thing at the expense of the people they governed. They all are the real criminals that violate life.

People, history has shown, do not want to live their lives with as little interference from government as possible. Countries with very educated populations and long democratic traditions choose governments that effectively control over 50% of the economy and a similar percentage of jobs. Honest work without extensive controls does not raise standard of living if measured by happiness. A regulated economy is the expectancy of most people and this is offered by politicians of many countries. True some governments deliver some do not. In some countries funcions are delegated to quasi-governmental institutions - religious groups, supervisory boards of companies such as VW etc. nationalized industries etc.

Anarcho-syndacalism has been tested at the ballot box at various times and been found wanting for the same reason that a colony of ants with each ant acting indepentely does ensure survival. At certain moments in history, for example the Klonydye gold rush, anarchic societies have been put to the test and been found lacking.
S.

ABC200,
Who ever said "The sun never sets on the British Empire".....Sounds like you've been a British Subject a little to long, why if it wasn't for your King George the OL U.S would still probably be a Commonwealth.

History of the British Empire is enough for me.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Sun sets on all empires. Including USA. 'Nero fiddled while Rome burns' . Global warming et. al. is destroying the planet, millions more go hungry due to global depression, people in the World's richest country due its massive natural resources live in tent cities. So called entepreneurs make money out better widgets such as wine bottle openers.
S.

ABC200,
Thanks.....Nothing like a good exchange of knowledge with out the put-downs, insults. I really do appreciate your constructive input.

I try and be constructive. And also express ideas clearly. Sometimes thay can be taken as personal insutts - but really non intended. But I have been in USA companies and others where instead of pullling to achieve someihing as a tug of war team, supporting weaker members and to contribute at least something the system encouraged everyone pulling in different directions and much 'office politics'. One of these companies lost the market and their former site was taken over by a Japanese company making product for the same market sector.
The balance between individualism and co-operation is hard. Societies have a mix of people, some of whom are strong on giving, co-operation, others are fiercely individualistic. The best social democracies ( Sweden, France , Germany , Spain etc. )use both these traits to the full to maximise benefits.
S.

For example in France one porson may choose the security and moderate rewards of working the extensive nationalised Nuclear Power Industry ( 80 % of elctricity ) while another may choose to be a fiercly individualistic fashion designer. But there is multual respect and acceptance that even someone who empties the trash deserves rewards.
MLK was assassinated in 68 supporting trash collector's demands.
Again many religions have something similar to:
"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' NASB Mathew 25:40. Islam has something similar.
http://www.financeinislam.com/article/10/1/554
S.

S.

The bleak scenario would mark a rapid unraveling of Russia's oil-fueled economic gains over the past eight years, during which time the government has paid down most of its foreign debt and built up a vast stockpile of international reserves.

"If oil prices in 2009 and 2010 average $30 a barrel, that would be a nightmare scenario for a global economy," Zeljko Bogetic, the World Bank's chief economist in Russia told investors on Friday. "The pressures on the current account and public finances in Russia would quickly rise to a point where the financing constraint would become so sharp that it's possible even to envisage Russia's return from a creditor to international organisations to (that of) a borrower."

At $50 a barrel, Russia could drain much of its reserve funds and run budgetary deficits, but would not face a "meltdown" scenario,

Russia is back supporting the free Caribbean
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7792370.stm
Russia can quickly stop non-essential imports to save reserves. This may have happened already - there are reports of containers of goods not being paid for and being re-directed to other markets. Russia has secure EU gas supply contracts and is not a member of WTO so is luckier than most in that it can trade in the national interest. Russia exports fertilizer, military equipment and many other essential items.
S.

Russia's grain exports are growing:
http://www.allaboutfeed.net/home/....18-20_mln_t_of_grain_in_2008.html
Grain could be the new oil for Russia. Gold exports are also rising.
http://www.sras.org/library_resource_export_russia
Russia is no. 2 World potato producer.
Summary is produced by Ca organisiation.
Russian ships are enhancing friendship with Cuba:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7792370.stm
S.

This board needs a revolution. Dominican Lady must have eaten a book of quotes from a dumpster; a dirty, ignorant dumpster. Ask any Dominican and I am sure he/ she would prefer a system of quotas and rations over starvation.

another commie creep with yanquiphobia who lives in America...they should cancel your greencard if you have one and send you to Cuba for your revolution.............."Cuban Five" currently serving long prison sentences stateside for, among other things, their role in the 1996 inflight destruction of two Cessna 337s belonging to the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Cuba claims the outlaw leafleteers on board the planes were in Cuban airspace, but that contradicted the official findings of an International Civil Aviation Organization investigation. No attempt was made to contact the interloper aircraft by radio or to offer it guidance into international airspace, making the aerial murders a particularly ugly violation of the conditions that make peaceable air travel possible throughout the world, even in the vicinity of belligerent states......When you leave take the wanker with you

You can support the five through:
http://www.antiterroristas.cu/
I guess GC thinks Somali pirates deserve protection when they are on the high seas.
The imprisonment of the five is an arbitary act of US government.
http://www.antiterroristas.cu/ind....ocess.tpl.html&lNews_temas=45
GC gets hold of some crazy ideas!
S.

Cuba has long protected fugitives on the run from U.S. authorities, and it now protects more than 70 of them. While Washington has always wanted them returned,
the Bush administration has become increasingly vocal about the issue, tying it to its global offensive against terrorism.

The State Department includes Cuba on its list of countries supporting terrorism, partly because the United States says Cuba harbors people involved in rebel groups
from Colombia, Spain and elsewhere. Washington also calls Castro a terrorist for harboring Morales and other outlaws from the United States.

Cuban officials say those on their soil are not terrorists. They say, for example, that Colombian rebels living here have been key participants in peace talks with the
Colombian government in Havana in recent months.

Officials here also say the only Americans they protect are those who deserve protection.

In the past numerous govenments and individual have supported exiles fleing from US so called justice.
http://www.sirnosir.com/archives_....rces/library/articles/aeb_02.html
US support for Colombian government is very dubious.
http://www.sirnosir.com/
Help free speech and democracy:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=24841
S.

ABC200 FOR MINISTER OF INFORMATION! Thank you for your input. Now on a sadder note, let's talk about the literary terrorist called GC. I am a full-blooded Americano who has lived in various parts of the country and experienced many perspectives. Funny...usually those who are most patriotic, tend to be some of the most ignorant, unread humans I have ever met. One chap asked me if the official language of Puerto Rico was Puertorican. I AM NOT KIDDING!

chewy I used to live in Puerto Rico so what ?....have you ever been anywhere other than the airport in Isla Verde ?....probably not

3GCPO, you lived in PR? Cool. Hey, did you know that there is an airport on the westernmost part of the island in Aguadilla, known as The Ramey Base? Now regarding my globetrotting, here we go: I've driven from NYC to Los Angeles through 24 states (on purpose & for the experience), been to Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and a tour of England, France and Spain. Maybe not enough travel for you but it still reminds me that the US is not the center of the universe.

sure I knew that ....Ramey was closed the first time I moved to PR in 73....I knew the US is not the center of the universe I was born and raised in Canada...the USA is just Rome of the 20 th and 21 st century get used to it and stop acting like the Barbarians at the gates....remember what came after Rome .....The Dark Ages....you got it made chewy in the city so nice they named it twice

Negative, 3GCPO. I live in a country where a good portion of the populace believes that the earth is 10,000 years old and lags 23rd (see UN reports) in education.

chewy move to Cuba they will tell you what to believe ....then you wont have any choice

When the news of Castro's death is made public, riots are expected in Little Havana, similar to the one when he stepped down from power.

"It's kind of sad to say that someone's dead and we're all happy about it," said Havana's owner Martha Reyes. "But he has been very cruel. He's been awful. If news like this will come in, people will be happy."

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has also made some cryptic comments about Castro. He has been quoted as saying the Cuban leader will likely never appear in public again, and that he will live beyond the physical life.

read the whole thing josean and get your black suit out ...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28667268/