Zorro
Zorro's JournalVenezuela to Shut Down for a Week to Cope With Electricity Crisis
Venezuela is shutting down for a week as the government struggles with a deepening electricity crisis.
President Nicolas Maduro gave everyone an extra three days off work next week, extending the two-day Easter holiday, according to a statement in the Official Gazette published late Tuesday. Maduro had originally said over the weekend that the extended holiday would only apply to state employees.
The government has rationed electricity and water supplies across the country for months and urged citizens to avoid waste as Venezuela endures a prolonged drought that has slashed output at hydroelectric dams. The ruling socialists have blamed the shortage on the El Nino weather phenomena and “sabotage” by their political foes, while critics cite a lack of maintenance and poor planning.
“We’re hoping, God willing, rains will come,” Maduro said in a national address Saturday. “Look, the saving is more than 40 percent when these measures are taken. We’re reaching a difficult place that we’re trying to manage.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-16/venezuela-to-shut-down-for-a-week-as-electricity-crisis-mounts
Brutal Anti-Cruz Attack Ad Just 30 Seconds Of Candidate’s Photo Displayed Without Any Text,Voiceover
RALEIGH, NC—In what many political observers are calling a new low in an election season that has already seen its share of negative campaigning, a scathing anti–Ted Cruz attack ad airing this week reportedly shows nothing more than a still photograph of the Texas senator’s face for 30 seconds, unaccompanied by any text, voiceover, or music.
The pointed TV spot—which continues on in complete silence and does not pan across or zoom in on the candidate’s face, but merely holds steady on the image for half a minute before fading to black—is said to be running in several states with upcoming primaries and is paid for by a super PAC opposed to Cruz’s presidential bid.
“This is an extremely vicious jab at Ted Cruz, and one that succeeds in painting the candidate in a most unfavorable light,” said Douglas Reisenthaler, a senior analyst with Public Policy Polling, who described the ad as by far the most unrelenting and hostile attack to air since the 2016 election cycle began. “Inevitably, some voters will be turned off by the maliciousness of showing an unretouched headshot of Ted Cruz on television screens across America, but it has nonetheless proved very effective in turning public opinion against his candidacy.”
He added, “Everywhere this ad has aired, Cruz’s numbers have gone into complete free-fall.”
http://www.theonion.com/video/brutal-anti-cruz-attack-ad-just-30-seconds-candida-52562
Obama tells Cuban dissidents he will discuss rights with Castro
U.S. President Barack Obama promised one of Cuba's most prominent dissident groups he would raise the issues of freedom of speech and assembly with Cuban President Raul Castro during his March 20-22 visit to the Caribbean island.
In a letter dated March 10, Obama praised the work of the Ladies in White, which marches weekly to protest Cuba's Communist government, and defended his policy of seeking to normalize relations with Cuba as good for its people.
U.S. support for the dissidents is a source of tension ahead of Obama's visit, the first by a U.S. president since Fidel Castro's rebels overthrew a pro-American government in 1959.
After more than half a century of Cold War-inspired animosity, the two sides promised 15 months ago to normalize relations.
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-tells-cuban-dissidents-discuss-rights-castro-205443898.html
How dare Obama do such an audacious and insulting thing!
Venezuela president extends economic emergency
Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decreed a two-month extension on emergency powers meant to help shore up the country's crippled economy.
The presidential decree, published in an official gazette released Monday, is meant to "protect Venezuelans from economic warfare," it says, and expands the socialist government's powers.
Maduro regularly blames US and local business interests for what his administration sees as a "national and international boycott of Venezuela" amid low oil prices. Caracas depends overwhelmingly on oil revenue.
The opposition-controlled National Assembly previously struck down the emergency measure, which then was upheld by the Supreme Court in January.
http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-president-extends-economic-emergency-223205098.html
Maduro owns the current Venezuelan economic situation.
Cruz Stands by Pledge Unless Trump Shoots Someone
Source: NBC News
Ted Cruz suggested on Monday that it would take Donald Trump shooting somebody in New York City to not support the current front-runner in the general election if he becomes the Republican Party presidential nominee.
"Well I can give you one example where I would no longer support Donald Trump," Cruz told reporters in Rockford, Illinois. "If, for example, he were to go out on Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, I would not be willing to support Donald Trump."
Reporters pressed Cruz on Monday why he would continue to back Trump despite suggesting over the weekend that Trump "encourages violence" and "disrespects voters."
Since the first GOP debate, Cruz has maintained his commitment to supporting the eventual Republican nominee next November. He continued to hold the line on Monday, telling reporters, "When I tell you I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it."
Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/cruz-stands-pledge-unless-trump-shoots-someone-n538051
This is not The Onion.
Democrats denounce GOP 'pinata' comment on Supreme Court
Source: AP
Democrats accused Republicans on Tuesday of taking their cues from Donald Trump after the Senate's No. 2 Republican said President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court should expect to be treated like a "piñata."
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Republicans were "acting like big, tough people threatening to destroy the reputation of a Supreme Court nominee they haven't even met yet."
Reid and other Democrats denounced a comment by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, who told reporters late Monday that anyone nominated by Obama to the high court "will bear some resemblance to a piñata."
Reid called the comment beneath the dignity of the Senate and said it was a threat in the mode of insults and bullying by Trump, the GOP front-runner for president.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/senate-democrats-meet-iowa-challenger-grassley-202924050--election.html
That's Republican leadership for ya.
Frustrated GOP lawmakers weigh move to impeach top judges
Source: AP
Republican lawmakers in Kansas, weary of conflicts with a judiciary that has been pushing for more school spending, are beginning to act on a measure to expand the legal grounds for impeaching judges.
The move is part of an intensified effort in red states to reshape courts still dominated by moderate judges from earlier administrations.
A committee in the GOP-controlled Senate plans to vote Tuesday on a bill that would make "attempting to usurp the power" of the Legislature or the executive branch grounds for impeachment.
Impeachment has "been a little-used tool" to challenge judges who strike down new legislation, said Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle, a sponsor of the measure. "Maybe it needs to be oiled up a little bit or sharpened a little bit."
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/frustrated-gop-lawmakers-weigh-move-impeach-top-judges-193740406.html
I'm glad I don't live in Kansas. My condolences to those who do.
How 401(k)s have failed most American workers
Today, many Americans rely on savings in 401(k)-type accounts to supplement Social Security in retirement. This is a pronounced shift from a few decades ago, when many retirees could count on predictable, constant streams of income from traditional pensions (see “Types of retirement plans,” below). This chartbook assesses the impact of the shift from pensions to individual savings by examining disparities in retirement preparedness and outcomes by income, race, ethnicity, education, gender, and marital status.
The first section of the chartbook looks at retirement-plan participation and retirement account savings of working-age families. The charts in this section focus on families headed by someone age 32–61, a 30-year period before the Social Security early eligibility age of 62 when most families should be accumulating pension benefits and retirement savings. The second section looks at income sources for seniors. Since many workers transition to retirement between Social Security’s early eligibility age and the program’s normal retirement age (currently 66, formerly 65), the charts in the second section focus on retirement outcomes of people age 65 and older.
http://www.epi.org/publication/retirement-in-america
Well worth the read. It's disturbing.
Atheist lawmaker's prayer sets off Arizona House dispute
An atheist member of the Arizona House denied the chance to deliver the chamber's opening prayer by majority Republican leaders last month got the opportunity Thursday, only to see leaders rule his prayer didn't pass muster and call up a Christian pastor.
The opening prayer by Democrat Juan Mendez included a call to work to help the state and its residents flourish and to "honor the Constitution and the secular equality it brings." But he didn't pray to any deity, which infuriated some Republicans who are Christians.
Mendez said before the session that he had been invited to deliver the opening prayer by majority Republican leaders and that he didn't plan to invoke God.
After his prayer, House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro said Mendez's decision not to pray to God didn't meet House rules he issued earlier this year for the opening prayer. Speaker David Gowan then said "point of order well taken" and called on a Baptist minister on hand in an apparently planned response.
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-lawmakers-prayer-sets-off-arizona-house-dispute-225757784.html
Colombia re-authorizes FARC leader visits to rebel troops
Colombia's government has re-authorized visits by rebel peace negotiators from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to guerrilla encampments in the country, the government's negotiating team said on Thursday.
The government suspended visits by rebel leaders two weeks ago after it said FARC negotiators violated the terms under which they were allowed to return from Havana, where peace talks have been taking place since 2012.
The rebels will only be allowed to meet with their own troops for the purpose of explaining progress at the talks, the government negotiating team tweeted.
"The protocols signed by the two sides do not allow events with the civilian population or the presence of the media," the team said. "For security reasons the locations of visits will not be revealed."
http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-authorizes-farc-leader-visits-rebel-troops-161425209.html
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