It seems that someone’s had a lil’ change of heart where it comes to social media. Known for his radio and television speeches which can go on and on and on and on, Venezuelan el Presidente Hugo Chavez will be forced to learn a little brevity when he starts Twittering. Can Twitter’s 140 character limit accommodate the loquacious leader?

From the Telegraph:

In January Mr Chavez said that using Twitter, the internet and text messaging to criticism his regime was “terrorism.”

He has now decided to use the social networking tool for his own purposes.

“Comandante Chavez is going to open his Twitter account soon to wage the battle online,” Diosdado Cabello, director of Venezuela’s state-run telecommunications agency, said on Venezuelan television, according to Bloomberg News.

“I’m sure he’ll break records for numbers of followers.”

And he’ll probably prove to be much more interesting than Ashton Kutcher or John Mayer!

 
The trailer for Oliver Stone‘s new documentary on Hugo Chavez, South of the Border, just popped up on YouTube.  I see Stone co-wrote it with Tariq Ali, the New Left Review editor (and inspiration for the Stones’ Street Fighting Man), so expect the usual shitstorm of controversy.  And who’s that behind the camera?  How nice—Gimme Shelter‘s Albert Maysles! 

In the LAT: Oliver Stone Heads “South Of The Border” To Chat Up Chavez And Others