Monday, October 25, 2010
Articulo del Universal: "Yes baby, soy un pitiyanqui..".
Cuál es el sueño de la gran mayoría de los niños Venezolanos? Jugar en Grandes Ligas y vivir EEUU. Las pocas estrellas de beisbol Venezolanas que conozco lo primero que hacen pedir la residencia y ciudanía, y mandar a sus hijos a colegios privados y universidades en EEUU. Algunos se pasan unas semanas en Navidad y Semana Santa, pero en realidad viven en EEUU. Por qué? Yo he vivido la mitad de mi vida en EEUU y lo otra mitad en Venezuela. Todos los Venezolanos que viven en EEUU tenemos nostalgia de aquellos tiempos de nuestra adolescencia en Venezuela, de rumba en rumba. No voy a hablar de todo lo bueno de EEUU sino porque Venezuela es otra. Hace apenas 30 años, andábamos los niños esperando solos el autobús por la madrugada, íbamos al kiosquito de la esquina, jugábamos toda la tarde fuera de la casa, visitando a nuestros amigos, caminábamos varias cuadras sin necesidad de un adulto. Uno escuchaba de algún secuestro de algún hacendado o algún asalto por lo barrios pero la gente no tenía miedo de salir. Hace 20 años, la gran mayoría de estudiantes graduados en las mejores universidades de EEUU en gran parte gracias a Fundayacucho, volvieron a Venezuela a ser profesionales en empresas. Algunos a dar clases en las universidades, otros trataron de trabajar en el Gobierno y Alcaldías. También los graduados universitarios de Venezuela tenían oportunidades con grandes multinacionales, o domesticas, tratar de abrir un negocito. En 1993, la Procter & Gamble tenía cinco fabricas que producía para varios países y construye la sede Latino Americana en la Trinidad. El Presidente Mundial visitaba Venezuela todos los años y se reunía con el Gobierno. Muchas empresas multinacionales seguían los pasos de Procter. Pero ahora que esperanza tienen los jóvenes profesionales? Hace 60 años mi padre llegó de Europa a Venezuela. El describe esa Venezuela como un paraíso inclusive durante la dictadura de Perez Jiménez. La razón principal era por que había oportunidad para la gente que quería trabajar duro y honestamente, y sin el miedo que lo maten al salir a la calle o a sus hijos. La gran mayoría de esa gente se fueron a Europa. Por qué? Sr. Presidente, ya es hora que se mire en el espejo y deje de echarle la culpa de todos los males a EEUU.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Letter to WH and Congress on Dream Act
I think the WH and Congress did a very poor job of explaining to the American public what is the Dream Act. Most believe it is automatic amnesty. The American people understand fairness. It is not fair for someone who arrived to the U.S. when they were 5 years old that now that they are 18 cannot go to college in the U.S. even by paying it in full. Anyone from around the world can get a student visa and go to college in the U.S., but these kids are not allowed that. Many of these kids are willing to do the ultimate sacrifice for their country (because they grew up in the U.S. and don't know another country). We are denying them of that too. So, they have no choice but to go into illegal labor or worse. So, where is the WH to explain all this to the American public?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Review & Outlook: The Obama Economy - WSJ.com#articleTabs%3Dcomments&mg=com-wsj#articleTabs%3Dcomments&mg=com-wsj
Review & Outlook: The Obama Economy - WSJ.com#articleTabs%3Dcomments&mg=com-wsj#articleTabs%3Dcomments&mg=com-wsj
I agree that the recovery has been very slow at best, but if I understand the republican alternative would have been no stimulus and cutting taxes for the rich? It is not simple to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. I agree that it was not the best time from an economic stand-point to pass health care reform, but it was the only chance politically to pass. What got us in this mess to start with? The mortgage bubble was disastrous for a lot of middle class owners who have now a debt some time twice higher than the value of their homes. People have lost confidence in Wall Street banks. They have earn it back. You did not mention in your article that the Dow has grown about 50% since it is all time low. I think business are waiting for the market to stabilize before starting to hire. People will start to consume more when they feel safe about their jobs. Unfortunately, our country is losing competitiveness because of high labor costs ...
I agree that the recovery has been very slow at best, but if I understand the republican alternative would have been no stimulus and cutting taxes for the rich? It is not simple to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. I agree that it was not the best time from an economic stand-point to pass health care reform, but it was the only chance politically to pass. What got us in this mess to start with? The mortgage bubble was disastrous for a lot of middle class owners who have now a debt some time twice higher than the value of their homes. People have lost confidence in Wall Street banks. They have earn it back. You did not mention in your article that the Dow has grown about 50% since it is all time low. I think business are waiting for the market to stabilize before starting to hire. People will start to consume more when they feel safe about their jobs. Unfortunately, our country is losing competitiveness because of high labor costs ...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Chavez Embargo Threat Fails To Roil Oil Markets
By Forrest Jones
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
CARACAS (Dow Jones)--The international oil market largely shrugged off Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's threats to cut crude oil sales to the U.S. if a diplomatic confrontation between Venezuela and Colombia, a Washington ally, escalates into a military conflict.
In the past, Chavez's threats of turning off the spigots in Venezuela have spooked markets and governments alike. But this time, analysts say, Chavez picked a bad time with spare capacity in the market and the end of the U.S. summer driving season in sight.
Venezuela on Thursday severed all diplomatic ties with Colombia after the government of President Alvaro Uribe charged that Chavez tolerated the presence of Colombian leftist guerrilla groups in Venezuelan territory. On Sunday, Chavez said that if Venezuela were attacked from Colombia or elsewhere, he would halt oil sales to the U.S.
The outgoing Uribe administration has maintained silence since Chavez severed ties, and officials of the incoming administration of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos, rather than talking of attacks, have been talking of restoring strained trade ties with Venezuela. Santos is scheduled to take office Aug. 7.
The U.S. denied having any plans for military action against Venezuela, Agence France-Presse reported Monday, quoting a State Department spokeswoman as saying the U.S. and Venezuela have a mutually beneficial energy relationship, "and we wish to see that relationship continue."
But even if Chavez's comments were aimed at rattling oil markets, they failed to do so Monday. Crude for September delivery settled flat at $78.98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, again failing to close above $80, the top of its range of recent months.
Alan S. Hegburg, a senior fellow in the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said there are an estimated five million barrels of surplus capacity in the oil market right now, which could be tapped to meet any potential shortfalls resulting from an embargo.
Also, the end of the driving season is near, and that means less demand for gasoline and therefore for oil. "That does put a damper on any fears in the marketplace," Hegburg said.
Even if Caracas does cease oil shipments to the U.S., others would find a way to fill in the gap. "High prices tend to bring more oil into the marketplace," he said, and in any case Venezuela will still remain a relevant player in the world's oil markets.
Venezuela has been seeking to cut crude sales to the U.S. in the past few years, and Chavez wants to increase oil sales to China, the world's second-biggest oil user after the U.S.
In recent years, Venezuela has been the fifth-biggest source of crude oil imports for the U.S., with much of it going to the refining network of Citgo, the refining and retail unit of Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA.
The South American country has accounted for up to 11.5% of annual U.S. crude imports since 2007, down from 12.9% during the 2004-2005 period and well below levels of the late 1990s, before Chavez took office. In 1997, Venezuela was the top source of U.S. crude imports, with a 17% share and volume of near 1.4 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical and analytical arm of the Department of Energy.
In 2009, combined U.S. imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Venezuela averaged 1.078 million barrels a day, the lowest in any year since 1991.
The most recent figures from China, meanwhile, show that in the first six months of 2010, China's crude oil imports from Venezuela were up 168.3% from the same period a year ago, while China's imports of Venezuelan fuel oil were up 14.5% from the same period a year earlier, making it the third-biggest supplier.
Juan Pablo Fuentes, an economist at Moody's Economy.com in Philadelphia, doubts Venezuela is ready to break commercial ties with the U.S., especially with many Citgo refineries on the Gulf Coast configured to handle Venezuela's heavy crude.
"In reality, Venezuela has much more to lose than the U.S. if Chavez cuts oil exports," he said. "Venezuela would have to sell it on the spot market at a deep discount. Such action would result in substantial loss of revenues for Venezuela in the short term, which the country can hardly afford at this particular moment."
Citgo, meanwhile, would have to buy crude oil at a premium in the spot market. "It is a lose-lose proposition for PDVSA and Venezuela," Fuentes said.
From the U.S. point of view, the impact would be very minor, as Saudi Arabia or Kuwait would jump at the chance to fill the gap with their ample spare capacity.
-By Forrest Jones, Dow Jones Newswires; (58) 414 249 6821; forrest.jones@dowjones.com
(David Bird and Jerry A. DiColo contributed to this report.)
TALK BACK: We invite readers to send us comments on this or other financial news topics. Please email us at TalkbackAmericas@dowjones.com. Readers should include their full names, work or home addresses and telephone numbers for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit and publish your comments along with your name; we reserve the right not to publish reader comments.
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
CARACAS (Dow Jones)--The international oil market largely shrugged off Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's threats to cut crude oil sales to the U.S. if a diplomatic confrontation between Venezuela and Colombia, a Washington ally, escalates into a military conflict.
In the past, Chavez's threats of turning off the spigots in Venezuela have spooked markets and governments alike. But this time, analysts say, Chavez picked a bad time with spare capacity in the market and the end of the U.S. summer driving season in sight.
Venezuela on Thursday severed all diplomatic ties with Colombia after the government of President Alvaro Uribe charged that Chavez tolerated the presence of Colombian leftist guerrilla groups in Venezuelan territory. On Sunday, Chavez said that if Venezuela were attacked from Colombia or elsewhere, he would halt oil sales to the U.S.
The outgoing Uribe administration has maintained silence since Chavez severed ties, and officials of the incoming administration of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos, rather than talking of attacks, have been talking of restoring strained trade ties with Venezuela. Santos is scheduled to take office Aug. 7.
The U.S. denied having any plans for military action against Venezuela, Agence France-Presse reported Monday, quoting a State Department spokeswoman as saying the U.S. and Venezuela have a mutually beneficial energy relationship, "and we wish to see that relationship continue."
But even if Chavez's comments were aimed at rattling oil markets, they failed to do so Monday. Crude for September delivery settled flat at $78.98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, again failing to close above $80, the top of its range of recent months.
Alan S. Hegburg, a senior fellow in the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said there are an estimated five million barrels of surplus capacity in the oil market right now, which could be tapped to meet any potential shortfalls resulting from an embargo.
Also, the end of the driving season is near, and that means less demand for gasoline and therefore for oil. "That does put a damper on any fears in the marketplace," Hegburg said.
Even if Caracas does cease oil shipments to the U.S., others would find a way to fill in the gap. "High prices tend to bring more oil into the marketplace," he said, and in any case Venezuela will still remain a relevant player in the world's oil markets.
Venezuela has been seeking to cut crude sales to the U.S. in the past few years, and Chavez wants to increase oil sales to China, the world's second-biggest oil user after the U.S.
In recent years, Venezuela has been the fifth-biggest source of crude oil imports for the U.S., with much of it going to the refining network of Citgo, the refining and retail unit of Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA.
The South American country has accounted for up to 11.5% of annual U.S. crude imports since 2007, down from 12.9% during the 2004-2005 period and well below levels of the late 1990s, before Chavez took office. In 1997, Venezuela was the top source of U.S. crude imports, with a 17% share and volume of near 1.4 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical and analytical arm of the Department of Energy.
In 2009, combined U.S. imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Venezuela averaged 1.078 million barrels a day, the lowest in any year since 1991.
The most recent figures from China, meanwhile, show that in the first six months of 2010, China's crude oil imports from Venezuela were up 168.3% from the same period a year ago, while China's imports of Venezuelan fuel oil were up 14.5% from the same period a year earlier, making it the third-biggest supplier.
Juan Pablo Fuentes, an economist at Moody's Economy.com in Philadelphia, doubts Venezuela is ready to break commercial ties with the U.S., especially with many Citgo refineries on the Gulf Coast configured to handle Venezuela's heavy crude.
"In reality, Venezuela has much more to lose than the U.S. if Chavez cuts oil exports," he said. "Venezuela would have to sell it on the spot market at a deep discount. Such action would result in substantial loss of revenues for Venezuela in the short term, which the country can hardly afford at this particular moment."
Citgo, meanwhile, would have to buy crude oil at a premium in the spot market. "It is a lose-lose proposition for PDVSA and Venezuela," Fuentes said.
From the U.S. point of view, the impact would be very minor, as Saudi Arabia or Kuwait would jump at the chance to fill the gap with their ample spare capacity.
-By Forrest Jones, Dow Jones Newswires; (58) 414 249 6821; forrest.jones@dowjones.com
(David Bird and Jerry A. DiColo contributed to this report.)
TALK BACK: We invite readers to send us comments on this or other financial news topics. Please email us at TalkbackAmericas@dowjones.com. Readers should include their full names, work or home addresses and telephone numbers for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit and publish your comments along with your name; we reserve the right not to publish reader comments.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Venezuela necesita una Violeta Chamorro - Andrés Oppenheimer - ElNuevoHerald.com
Venezuela necesita una Violeta Chamorro - Andrés Oppenheimer - ElNuevoHerald.com
interesante las ultimas cifras de Hinterlaces ..."El 78 por ciento de los venezolanos dicen estar en desacuerdo con la reciente decisión de Chávez de eliminar la emisora RCTV del sistema de televisión por cable. El 87 por ciento de los venezolanos no quieren que su país se parezca a Cuba"
interesante las ultimas cifras de Hinterlaces ..."El 78 por ciento de los venezolanos dicen estar en desacuerdo con la reciente decisión de Chávez de eliminar la emisora RCTV del sistema de televisión por cable. El 87 por ciento de los venezolanos no quieren que su país se parezca a Cuba"
Thursday, January 28, 2010
TrackingFrame
TrackingFrame: "when I first saw Steve Jobs and the apple.com video showing its capablities and saw the price, I wanted one right away. However, the day after, I am pretty sure that I don't want one. This is from someone who has bought the first, second, and third iPhone the first week it came out. The more I read the reviews the more I am convinced it is completely useless for me. The iPad does not even allow you to do everything the iPhone does, and it does not come close to a laptop's capilities. The only thing that is better is the battery. Unless they make major improvements so that it runs closer to a laptop, I think this product will not succeed"
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Si Ud. es un venezolano que vive en el exterior, cuéntenos cómo ha sido afectado por el nuevo régimen de Cadivi - Economía - EL UNIVERSAL
Si Ud. es un venezolano que vive en el exterior, cuéntenos cómo ha sido afectado por el nuevo régimen de Cadivi - Economía - EL UNIVERSAL
Mi comentario:
El dólar de viajero era y sigue siendo un subsidio para los venezolanos que viajan al exterior, no para los que viven en el exterior. Sin embargo, si nos afecta indirectamente por qué tenemos familia en Venezuela que le va a costar el doble poder visitarnos. Además la economía de Miami, donde vivimos al mayoría de los Venezolanos, va ser afectada por la reducción de importaciones y compras de los Venezolanos. Irónicamente, estas medidas de Chávez puede disparar el dólar negro, lo cual benéfica aquellos Venezolanos que tienen su dinero en dólares y mandan dinero a Venezuela o van de visita frecuentemente como yo. Cuando yo fui a Venezuela el verano pasado me parecía todo super caro cuando lo calculaba a 2,15 Bs. X $ pero super barato a 6,50 Bs X $. A mí me da mucha tristeza ver como Chávez sistemáticamente está destruyendo un país que siempre considero mi patria aunque viva en el exterior. Este control de cambio es un Recadi II, que todos sabemos cómo termino. Ya hemos leído este libro varias veces pero no aprenden. Como siempre sufren más los pobres que son afectados en mucha mayor proporción por la inflación. Desafortunadamente, nada va a cambiar hasta que Venezuela no toque fondo. Quizás Chávez logre que el Guri y Venezuela por consecuencia toquen fondo muy pronto y por fin veamos el cambio.
Mi comentario:
El dólar de viajero era y sigue siendo un subsidio para los venezolanos que viajan al exterior, no para los que viven en el exterior. Sin embargo, si nos afecta indirectamente por qué tenemos familia en Venezuela que le va a costar el doble poder visitarnos. Además la economía de Miami, donde vivimos al mayoría de los Venezolanos, va ser afectada por la reducción de importaciones y compras de los Venezolanos. Irónicamente, estas medidas de Chávez puede disparar el dólar negro, lo cual benéfica aquellos Venezolanos que tienen su dinero en dólares y mandan dinero a Venezuela o van de visita frecuentemente como yo. Cuando yo fui a Venezuela el verano pasado me parecía todo super caro cuando lo calculaba a 2,15 Bs. X $ pero super barato a 6,50 Bs X $. A mí me da mucha tristeza ver como Chávez sistemáticamente está destruyendo un país que siempre considero mi patria aunque viva en el exterior. Este control de cambio es un Recadi II, que todos sabemos cómo termino. Ya hemos leído este libro varias veces pero no aprenden. Como siempre sufren más los pobres que son afectados en mucha mayor proporción por la inflación. Desafortunadamente, nada va a cambiar hasta que Venezuela no toque fondo. Quizás Chávez logre que el Guri y Venezuela por consecuencia toquen fondo muy pronto y por fin veamos el cambio.
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