Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

August 2, 2013 By Fausta

Venezuela imports US$3 billion worth of Cuban surveillance equipment

First, The Lives of Others (full movie):

Since the Cuban Communists were trained by the Stasi, they have the tools Maduro wants:

a. Cuban Information Technology Penetration in Venezuela (emphasis added):

[In 2011,] The year after Valdes’ trip, El Nacional published a special edition detailing that the Venezuelan government had granted Albet S.A. the contract to provide and administer the software to manage SAIME’s functions. SAIME’s functions include creating and issuing electronic identification documents (ID cards and passports) and maintaining a civilian registry. The software also manages databases for:

• Public and private registries,

• Centers to analyze information,

• Educational software,

• Project “Alba Guardia” database which keeps track of oil rigs managed by PDVSA, Venezuela’s national oil company,

• The President’s communication office,

• Any information pertaining to the country’s prison, security, emergency and
hospital systems. [7]

It is particularly alarming that a non-Venezuelan company manages the country’s civilian registry and has the ability to issue personal identification documents. It does not only violate Venezuelan sovereignty but it exposes the personal information of every Venezuelan citizen to Cuban authorities.

b. Castro Sells “Security Software” to Venezuela

According to El Nacional newspaper, last year the Castro regime exported over $3 billion in “security, citizens databases and communications interception software” to the Venezuelan government.

The transactions were conducted through Albet, a Cuban state-owned company linked to the University of Information Sciences (known as “UCI”), an entity created by Castro in 2002 to form the regime’s “cyber-warriors.”

The UCI is located at a “former” Soviet espionage and communications interception base.

A former Venezuelan government consultant recently described Albet as “a camouflage of Cuba’s G2.”

Ironically, Cuba maintains the lowest Internet connectivity rate in the Western Hemisphere and one of the lowest in the world.

But it’s #1 in control.

No wonder people are leaving, Cuba reports highest outflow of citizens since 1994

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Filed Under: Communism, Cuba, Cubazuela, movies, Venezuela Tagged With: Fausta's blog, The Lives of Others

June 4, 2013 By Fausta

In Betty Jo’s podcast

celebrating her 6th anniversary: Six Years of Movie Fun!

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Filed Under: Blog Talk Radio, Fausta's blog, movies Tagged With: Betty Jo Tucker, Fausta's blog, Movie Addict Headquarters

May 18, 2013 By Fausta

Pro-bono Depardieu

The trailer for Welcome to New York is no longer available on YouTube, but Gerard Depardieu played the part of Dominique Strauss-Kahn for free,

He’s doing it for the pleasure of working with Abel Ferrara.

And perhaps a cut of the ticket office, no?

Maybe not.

Dèdè

said he took the role because he does not like Strauss-Kahn. During an interview at the time, Depardieu called the former IMF chief “unpleasant” and “arrogant.”

Considering his current avoirdupois, if I were a casting agent, I’d suggest that he play a nice guy, send him a fleece jacket, & have him star as governor of NJ.

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Filed Under: France, movies Tagged With: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, DSK, Fausta's blog, Gerard Depardieu

February 21, 2013 By Fausta

This roundup has been brought to you by the letter “Q”

Q at the movies:

(That last one looks rather familiar…)

Q at the weather service:

 


Snow stuns golfers in AZ...
BEARS DOWN ON MIDWEST...
Severe T-storms, Tornados in Deep South...
WATCHES/WARNINGS...


‘Q’ TARGETS 30 MILLION

In other news, not only have the oceans stopped rising, the fat has melted away: White House Credits ‘Let’s Move’ for Halting and Reversing Childhood Obesity Trend

The press release does not include any data to bolster the claim.

And George Galloway’s a firm supporter of human rights:

Hillary Clinton To Charge $200k Per Lecture. In case you missed it,

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Filed Under: Barack Obama, History Channel, Michelle Obama, movies Tagged With: Fausta's blog, George Galloway

February 12, 2013 By Fausta

If you could play it for her,

And a question,
Rick, at the end: heroic and self-sacrificing, or just another guy who didn’t want to commit?

(Yes, it’s symmetry day here.)

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Filed Under: entertainment, movies Tagged With: Casablanca, Fausta's blog, Humphrey Bogart

February 12, 2013 By Fausta

Play it, Sam,

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Filed Under: entertainment, movies Tagged With: Casablanca, Fausta's blog, Ingrid Bergman

February 5, 2013 By Fausta

In Betty Jo Tucker’s podcast right now

talking about Hugh Jackman!

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Filed Under: Blog Talk Radio, entertainment, movies Tagged With: Fausta's blog

January 6, 2013 By Fausta

Sunday morning Suo Gan


Yesterday I was watching Empire of the Sun, which is a troubling movie in many levels (but not quite as troubling as JG Ballard’s other works), and the Welsh lullaby Suo Gân punctuates a key scene of the film.

Bryn Terfel performs my favorite version of Suo Gân. You can buy the MP3 from Amazon, but it was also used in this beautiful short film, The Dinner Guest by Joe Gleason, to great effect:

Here’s Bryn, with a piano accompanist,

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. May God bless you and your family and loved ones.

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Filed Under: Bryn Terfel, entertainment, Fausta's blog, films, movies, music Tagged With: Fausta's blog

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