The death of Venezuelan democracy seems to be replicating in many other countries. How are democracies dying today? A new book by María Puerta Riera explains the diverse and incremental ways this is happening. By Pedro Graterol. Full Text -> CaracasChronicles

Traducción de cortesía -> La muerte de la democracia venezolana parece estar repitiéndose en muchos otros países. ¿Cómo mueren las democracias hoy? Un nuevo libro de María Puerta Riera explica las diversas e incrementales formas en que esto está sucediendo

In December 2002, thirteen days after I had my first daughter, I had to leave my country without prior notice or wanting to do so.  Since that day, I’ve done voluntary work in an ex-pat community in Brunei. I’ve sold fruit juice in Gabon. I had a daughter in Singapore. And in the Netherlands, where I live now, I wrote a book about Venezuela, because I’ve never stopped missing my country. By Rafael Osío Cabrices. Full Text -> CaracasChronocles

In 1953, her father moved their family to Puerto Ordaz, where he had a new job working at the Orinoco Mining Company. Throughout high school, Ms. Curran Croquer and her brother lived with their grandparents in the suburb of Oregon to attend Clay High School and went back to Venezuela during the summer months. She said that sometimes, her high school friends would come to visit her in her new home country. After college, Ms. Curran Croquer decided to live in Venezuela full time, obtaining a job at a local elementary school. She taught Spanish and provided swimming lessons each afternoon as a physical education instructor. As the years passed, Ms. Curran Croquer continued traveling between two countries, and eventually had four daughters. Personal reasons brought her back to America to live out the rest of her life. Still, Ms. Curran Croquer fondly remembers her adventures, and said that living in Venezuela was “fabulously free and an amazing experience.” By Zaphora Price. Full Text-> ToledoBlade

President Trump said it would be “cool” to invade Venezuela and that the South American country was “really part of the United States,” according to a forthcoming book authored by former White House national security adviser John Bolton. By Olivia Beavers. Full Text -> TheHill.com