- News>
- Out Of Line
Loud, powerful, dangerous - gotta be Bin Laden
Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 02: Venezuelans seeking an extra bang for their new year`s parties or political protests have found a noisy new ally -- the Bin Laden.
Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 02: Venezuelans seeking an extra bang for their new year`s parties or political protests have found a noisy new ally -- the Bin Laden.
The name of Osama Bin Laden, leader of the militant Islamist al Qaeda network and suspected mastermind of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, has been borrowed by Venezuelans to describe a particularly loud, powerful -- and dangerous -- type of firecracker.
As in many countries in South America and Asia, Venezuelans use fireworks and firecrackers to add zest to feast days, Christmas and New Year celebrations -- and political marches.
At a new year`s party in Caracas held early yesterday by tens of thousands of foes of Leftist President Hugo Chavez, the thunderous clap of exploding ``Bin Ladens`` punctuated a barrage of firecrackers and fireworks.
In ear-splitting decibel power, the ``Bin Laden`` tops the bewildering arsenal of fireworks sold at this time of year by street vendors in bustling downtown Caracas.
Before the Sept. 11 attacks, the noisy explosives went by Spanish names like ``Tumbaranchos`` (hut-destroyer) or ``Matasuegras`` (mother-in-law killer).
Bureau Report
The name of Osama Bin Laden, leader of the militant Islamist al Qaeda network and suspected mastermind of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, has been borrowed by Venezuelans to describe a particularly loud, powerful -- and dangerous -- type of firecracker.
As in many countries in South America and Asia, Venezuelans use fireworks and firecrackers to add zest to feast days, Christmas and New Year celebrations -- and political marches.
At a new year`s party in Caracas held early yesterday by tens of thousands of foes of Leftist President Hugo Chavez, the thunderous clap of exploding ``Bin Ladens`` punctuated a barrage of firecrackers and fireworks.
In ear-splitting decibel power, the ``Bin Laden`` tops the bewildering arsenal of fireworks sold at this time of year by street vendors in bustling downtown Caracas.
Before the Sept. 11 attacks, the noisy explosives went by Spanish names like ``Tumbaranchos`` (hut-destroyer) or ``Matasuegras`` (mother-in-law killer).
Bureau Report