Cuba II: Electric Boogaloo

I've gotta admit, I pretty much had Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez pencilled in the "good guy" category--or at least the "lovable rogue" category. Democratically elected, supposed champion of the poor and Bush hates his guts? That's pretty close to the trifecta for a third world leader, right there.

The thing about the "democratically elected" part of that, though--you can't have much of a democracy without a free press, can you?

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's top court on Friday ordered the Defense Ministry to take control of installations of an opposition television station amid a show of military force before the station's controversial closure.

President Hugo Chavez's decision to close the RCTV television channel, which he accuses of backing a 2002 coup against him, has prompted international condemnation and several demonstrations.

So long, "good guy" column. Welcome to the "Dude, what the fuck? That is not cool" column, Hugo.
[via dust my broom]

Extra-super-secret irony bonus: Watching right-wing US blogs like Badger Blogger rabidly defend RCTV's right to advocate the violent overthrow of a democratically elected goverment--then Googling their archives for times when they call Alec Baldwin or Jane Fonda traitors. It's like Alanis Morisette, only on-key.

Freedom of Speech, just watch what you say

What would you do if you found yourself all of a sudden living in the kind of country that is terrified, not only of actions, but of words? The kind of country where "glorifying terrorism" through words--even fictional or satirical ones--now rates as a criminal offence? Well, for a group of British science fiction writers, the obvious solution is find the boundaries of that law--and trample 'em like it's going outta style. Charlie Stross has more.