Alec Baldwin tweeting his love for newspapers (Reuters)

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) – Alec Baldwin's Twitter Q&A sessions with his followers have been funny, cordial and at times lurid, but Tuesday they turned nasty thanks to Baldwin's love of newspapers.

The "30 Rock" star tweeted on Monday night that everyone should "buy and read a newspaper every day. In print or online, there is information in newspapers you will never get from other media."

That drew some negative response from his followers, one of whom asked for an example. Baldwin provided the New York Times subscription plans.

The exchange escalated when one follower not only insulted newspapers, but Baldwin's family.

Psx120 tweeted "@AlecBaldwin Hey Alec, newspapers are more worthless than your brothers' career. Get a clue."

Baldwin responded by calling the person a "festering boil on the buttocks of a free society."

The user soon recanted the statement and apologized, but the invective directed toward newspapers continued "Newspapers are failing in their duties to be our free society's watchdog however. That was my main point," Psx120 tweeted.

Baldwin encountered another non-believer in happyub, who tweeted "@Alec Baldwin TOP HEADLINE !!! today another 72,000 acres of prime, beautiful forest was felled today in order that sheep can read the PAPER.

Baldwin's response "Then read online, you festering ... "

When word spread of the exchanges Tuesday morning, some members of the media stepped in on Baldwin's side -- no surprise there.

Aaron Blake, a political blogger at the Washington Post, tweeted: "If Alec Baldwin tells you to buy and read a newspaper every day, who are you to disobey him?"

Eric R. Danton, a music critic for the Hartford Courant, seconded that, retweeting Baldwin's initial comment and adding "DO WHAT HE SAYS."

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Recovering in Cuba, Chavez back to tweeting (AFP)

CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is recovering from surgery in Cuba, was back to communicating by Twitter on Friday, without addressing the controversy over his time spent abroad.

"Good morning to my (Twitter followers). It is my Army's Day, and the sun is shining brightly. I am sending a big hug to my troops and my beloved people," Chavez said in a tweet from Cuba, his top regional ally.

The firebrand leftist leader was hospitalized June 10 in Havana for what officials said was an operation for a pelvic abscess, but turned into an uncharacteristically quiet, prolonged absence.

Officials have insisted that Chavez, 56, is recovering well and continuing to give orders from Cuba, and keeping abreast of developments in Venezuela.

In the legislature, however, fierce debate is raging over whether Chavez has the right to rule from abroad, with the minority opposition demanding more transparency.

And relatively few words from someone known for his verbal omnipresence left some foes speculating he might have had plastic surgery or might want to drum up sympathy for his illness ahead of a 2012 election in which he will seek a third term.

Chavez "as officially reported, is recovering well," his brother Adan Chavez, governor of Barinas state, told state broadcaster VTV on Wednesday.

"We do not know exactly when he'll return. We must wait for a medical assessment, but in a few days, in 10 or 12 days, the president will be (back) over here," Adan Chavez said.

Usually given to verbose speeches across all media,the Venezuelan president has not been seen nor heard since the operation, remaining silent in contrast to the non-stop interviews, hours-long broadcast tirades, and posting flurries on the Twitter global microblogging service for which he is renowned.

The last time his voice had been heard publicly in Venezuela was June 12, when he made a brief phone call to local television and said he was on the mend.

"There should be no secrets on this issue (of presidential health). In authoritarian governments, they send photographs. In a democracy, there is information," said opposition lawmaker Americo de Grazia.

And some political rivals argue that it is unconstitutional for Chavez to govern from abroad; they have complained that he was absent for a prison uprising in which at least 29 people were killed two weeks ago, and as a power shortage grows worse.

Chavez issued four short messages early Friday, all salutes to his armed forces, including an excerpt from the national anthem. He did not refer to his medical situation, or the debate about his stay in Cuba.

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