At 11:58 AM 3/2/2007, you wrote:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ben_whitford/2007/03/chvez_is_no_castro.html
Chávez is no Castro
Neither the excesses nor the achievements of the Venezuelan leader are
in the same béisbol-park as his cigar-puffing neighbour.
Ben Whitford
March 1, 2007 9:30 PM
Well, obviously Ben Whitford has exactly the kind of journalistic
background that would prepare him for an in-depth analysis of Venezuelan
politics.
Newsweek
November 28, 2005
U.S. Edition
HEADLINE: And No Sticky Mess;
Taking kids' birthday parties out of the house
BYLINE: By Ben Whitford
Behind the faded storefront of the Closter, N.J., branch of Sandy Deck's
Parties, Jack Naidrich turned 4 years old in style. Under the watchful eye
of professional party hostess Eugenne Buenconsejo, Jack and a dozen friends
gobbled pizza, stomped gleefully on a giant sheet of bubble wrap and danced
to the Elmo Song. Off to the side, his parents eyed the chaos with beatific
smiles--it's good they were pleased, as the party was costing them $516.
After exactly 90 minutes, Buenconsejo distributed goodie bags and steered
the revelers out the door. "Get the vacuum cleaner out!" she called to her
assistant. "We've got 10 minutes until the next party arrives!"
With 45 branches in four states, the Sandy Deck's franchise is at the
vanguard of a burgeoning segment of the $10 billion private- party
industry: dedicated venues for children's affairs, combining the
convenience of a McDonald's with the personal touch of a backyard bash.
Once a cottage industry largely confined to New York City, where cramped
apartments preclude large parties, specialized venues are moving into the
mainstream.
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