For those of you waiting for an announcement from anyone (me too): I do not understand how Chavez can announce Sunday that the proposed deal with CRRC is in force unless our BOD can waive the current shareholder vote requirement to close the deal. How can the closing be left up to us (to give our final approval or rejection to)? Chavez will want to announce whatever first, I'm sure. The possibility also exists he will announce he's throwing us out, buying us out, and/or a new 51/49 JV. Maybe then we hear something from the BOD! Also, he might say nothing about us and then of course we'll hear nothing from the BOD! (I am trying to find a little humor in all this).

People here have mentioned before that there might be enough institutions and major shareholders brought on board (51%) that could proxy approval of the deal in advance, so then Chavez could then look like he announced it. A full shareholder vote afterwards would then just be a formality. Sounds good but is it all legal? I assume that if it can be done and the BOD feels it is necessary, I would be happy with that.

One thing I do have to admit the man can spin a wild tale. He can make it look like we're geting the shaft when in reality, we making out OK. Some Venezuelan citizens might know he's spinning yarn, but nobody standing there is going to call him on it.

I don't understand Venezuelan so I am going to leave it up to all you great brainiacks to translate his speach. So, I'll check back on Sunday to see what you all have to say. Have a good weekend everyone. HB