Unlike any relationship we’ve ever been in, the one between Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and actor Sean Penn seems to be moving forward. You may remember Mr. Penn from such cinematic greats as Fast Times At Ridgmont High and I’m An Irish Crime Boss With A Creepy Wife Played By Laura Linney. You may also recall that last summer, Hugo’s house was a veritable pipeline from Hollywood with visits not only from the then “freelance journalist” Penn, but also Danny Glover looking for movie funds and Kevin Spacey just being generally spacey. Today word comes to us that Penn accompanied Chavez Sunday on an inspection of a natural gas pipeline project.

Everyone’s being all hush hush about the specifics of the visit, (it didn’t appear in local press), but we feel safe in assuming that some gasses were exchanged. Oh and meanwhile, the entire country was without electricity. Again.

Earlier: Sean Penn Talks About His Buddy Huey Down South
Sean Penn visits Venezuela’s Chavez for 2nd time [AP]
Venezuela suffers big power cut [BBC]