yanqui mike buenos aires argentina

Buenos Aires Crapmongers

2009-07-16T22:30:00.004-03:00

Looks like our ol' buddies, The Gang of 4, owners of baexpat dot org are up to their old tricks.

The Fox News of Buenos Aires forums has unleashed a bunch of their "fair and balanced" at the expat owner of a family cookie company, Frank Almeida of Sugar and Spice ...with all the reason and moderation that they're famous for.

If you know Frank, then you also know that you've met maybe the nicest expat that ever set foot on these shores. Stomping on him is a new, all-time low. I hope you'll write Frank and let him know how you feel.

I used to make a big deal in these pages about the scammers that run that site ...with their shill accounts, their Buenos Aires experts that secretly live 10,000km away, the rabid anti-Baires posters that they protect, the way the owners actually step-in to fan the flames if things calm down, the monthy dinner scam, and the wholesale banning of commenters that took issue with any of it.

It used to exist to drive traffic to something called indextar ...now I think it's worthwhile only for the owners to mine the last of the real estate trade from the expat community.

If you like that kind of stuff, have at it. But keep in mind that it's not particularly "Buenos Aires", "Expatriate" nor a "Group".

Robertson on "The Weight"

2009-07-16T03:37:00.001-03:00

According to songwriter Robbie Robertson, "The Weight" was inspired by the films of Luis Buñuel, about which Robertson once said:

(Buñuel) did so many films on the impossibility of sainthood. People trying to be good in Viridiana and Nazarin, people trying to do their thing. In ‘The Weight’ it’s the same thing. People like Buñuel would make films that had these religious connotations to them but it wasn’t necessarily a religious meaning. In Buñuel there were these people trying to be good and it’s impossible to be good. In "The Weight" it was this very simple thing. Someone says, "Listen, would you do me this favour? When you get there will you say 'hello' to somebody or will you give somebody this or will you pick up one of these for me? Oh? You’re going to Nazareth, that’s where the Martin guitar factory is. Do me a favour when you’re there." This is what it’s all about. So the guy goes and one thing leads to another and it’s like "Holy Shit, what’s this turned into? I’ve only come here to say 'hello' for somebody and I’ve got myself in this incredible predicament." It was very Buñuelish to me at the time.^[4]

Only in this case, the traveler encounters the favor-asking people in Nazareth itself.

The Best in Argentina

2009-07-15T20:47:00.002-03:00

When I look a little shaggy, which I certainly do from time to time, lemme assure you that it's only because I have not had time to go to my favorite barber in Argentina.

There are, of course, many great barbershops to be had here in the Paris of the Palmtrees ...but none so good as in the little peluquería in the town of Tapalqué.

Full disclosure: I'm a brushy-headed Polack. My hair is best described as "rebelde". If a barber cuts too much off, my head looks just like your shoebrush. If he's cool about it, I can get a great cut that makes me look human.

My buddy is a wizard with da skicissors.

Clear and Cold

2009-07-15T20:32:00.005-03:00

Not a cloud in the sky ...man, that means it's gonna be cold down on the ranch.

That lil' snap of the night sky was taken by an 8 year old Sony with 4 megapixels ...no problem.

We froze our asses off! Our "barn cat", Bob, however, made all that ever so sweet.

Here's a foto of the outside of our living quarters ...with inadvertent flash ...showing the only possible light for miles around. Except for the lights from Olavarría and Azul. Two candles y nada más.

US budget deficit at $1 trillion

2009-07-13T22:57:00.000-03:00

...from the Beeb

Slow News Day

2009-07-13T19:42:00.004-03:00

Other than the Sotomayor hearings, the only game in town is Ian Kath's Your Story.

If you're in the mood (after lookin' at my above mug) for an hour of Yanqui Mike holdin'-forth in a Buenos Aires brewpub ...you can find it there.

Ian is a splendid Aussie and a welcome mate to any exiled beer drinker here! He has a fascinating site of podcasts that should keep you busy for a long time.

??s at Newsweek??

2009-07-12T21:44:00.011-03:00

If you're quick ...you might see some doubt expressed regarding 4 paragraphs in an interesting article at newsweek.com entitled "The Rich are no longer Recession-proof" or "How the Mighty are Fallen."

Pages 2 and 3 have four paragraphs that are each led by two question marks (see screen capture here.)

Those four paragraphs are notable in that they seem to have been cut-and-pasted within the article and bear little stylistic similarity with the rest. I'm forced to wonder if something mischievous is happening at the Newsweek offices.

The paragraph that particularly caught my eye was this:

"??Similarly, the rich pay most of the taxes. In 2006, the richest 1 percent paid 28 percent of all federal taxes, estimates the CBO. The richest 10 percent (including the top 1 percent) paid 55 percent. The system is progressive—that is, the richer people get, the more of their income they pay in taxes. In 2006, the effective rate for the top 1 percent was 31 percent, reflecting all federal taxes. By contrast, the poorest fifth paid an effective rate of 4 percent. (State and local taxes are less progressive, because they rely more heavily on regressive sales taxes.)"

Take a look yourself and lemme know what you make of it. Maybe the author, Robert J. Samuelson (full disclosure: someone that lost my confidence years ago), added those paragraphs himself. Maybe the ??'s are editorial notes that made it into the web edition.

In any case, those "??" paragraphs reek of the efforts of Rush Limbaugh and others to paint a picture of the top 10% disgorging themselves of 55% their wealth ...each year. Wage-earners are susceptible to arguments such as that.

The concepts of "wealth" and "income" are hard to separate in the minds of those that can do little more than spend virtually every penny they are allowed to retain.

Samuelson's article, especially that above quote, does little to help 90% of US citizens understand how that 55% figure is probably quite fair...

...90% of US citizens comprise only 19% of the financial wealth of the United States.

University of California at Santa Cruz (2004)

Yep. 90% have just 19% of the wealth ...or, if you prefer, 10% hold 81% of the financial wealth of the "homeland of the middle-class" according to 2004 figures.

If you think that it is unfair for the holders of 81% of all US wealth to pay 55% of annual federal taxes...

...then I'd really like your opinion as to the fairness of the holders of 19% of US wealth to pay 45% of all federal taxes.

Anyway, aside from the deliberate confusing of the issue (accumulated wealth/annual income, wages vs.capital gains) within those four paragraphs ...I'd really like to know what those Newsweek ??s are all about!

¡Una Porción para Todos!

2009-07-11T18:34:00.005-03:00

Long time reader, Fred in Baires, sent me a link to a tremendous article in today's NYT regarding Buenos Aires' special designation for bars and cafés most important to the city's famous character. The very best book on the subject is this one from Gabriela Kogan.

The article put me in mind of a book published by the city detailing the pizzerías that are worthy of being considered part of the national patrimony. An updated version was published last year.

¡Pizza! True lovers of pizza will find themselves close to nirvana in this town of more than 3000 joints known for their pie. And with recession-mentality becoming fashionable, it's time for me to dust-off my Pizza Map toward the many delights to be had in a good pizza safari ...for very few bucks. If you have an opinion (or two, or three) as to the best pizza in Buenos Aires Argentina, navegate your way thru our conveniently clickable map and please leave a comment!

The city's book, Pizzerías, is a gem. Even if you don't read Spanish you'll get all the names and addresses and phone numbers that will direct you to 43 of the best in town.

Being in alphabetical order by barrio, Almagro pops to the top. Long-time readers know my affection for that part of town and, lo and behold, my first love among the pizzas of Buenos Aires is #1 on the list: Tuñin.

Tuñin's roots go back to La Boca where the first pizza ever sold was dispensed by a good Genovese standing on a street corner behind what resembled a folding barstool. The article alludes to the neighborhood rivalry with the tremendous El Banchero (without mentioning names) by describing the sign inside the original Tuñin that claimed "¡Ojo! ¡El Rey de la Pizza!"

Here's a translation of the Tuñin article (lemme tell ya, their pizza is great!):

"The May 1931 issue of Aconcagua Magazine turned its attention to the Pizzería Tuñin saying, "in its dominions of La Boca, Tuñin, the king of fainá, exhibits to the pedestrian gluttony its already classic product." The article showed a photo of the interior of the shop with a hand painted sign with the following legend: "The Old-Fashioned Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo. Try the delicious Neapolitan Pizza. Take note: The King of Pizza!"

Tuñin's fame transcended La Boca and because of that opened some branches in other neighborhoods.

In 1941, Don Alfredo Specos opened "Tunin de la Boca" at Rivadavia 3902 at the corner of Castro Barros catacorner from a classic of the neighborhood and throughout the city, the confitería Las Violetas.

Presently, this is the only remaining Tunin. Its current owners have been in charge of the premises since 1955.

This pizzería in the neighborhood of Almagro figures prominently in the youthful memories of many students of the School of Ceramics and the Mariano Moreno National College, who through so many years formed part of their clientele. As well, the Colegio Pio IX whose 1967 graduating class expressed their gratitude to Tuñin for being a meeting place for over thirty years by issuing the pizzería its own diploma.

The comfortable locale has a handpainted molding by fileteado artist Luis Zorz that runs its entire perimeter. Over the entrance is a the emblem of San Lorenzo de Almagro by the same artist. A generally warm, friendly, and welcoming decor for a growing clientele.

Specifically in the field of pizza, José Luis Estévez, one of its owners, recommends among other specialties, the classic muzzarella with olives, accompanied by fainá; the Neapolitan (muzzarella, fresh sliced tomato, ham, olives and sweet peppers); and the cheese fugazza or La Española (muzzarella, red sausage slices, sweet peppers and olives).

Castro Barros, crossing Rivadavia, becomes Medrano. Almagro shows its pride in this exquisite corner."

Drinking Liberally Tonight

2009-07-09T16:24:00.001-03:00

See you there!

Happy 9th of July

2009-07-09T15:16:00.002-03:00

Libertad, libertad, libertad!

A Blessing and a Curse

2009-07-08T23:52:00.005-03:00

I forget what happens on the fourth of July
Or when the rent is due
Dates and deadlines just float by
But I always remember you

What Columbus set out to discover
Isabel already knew
There'll be horizons and skylines
But I always remember you

If I could rearrange history
And give it to you as a gift
There would be one more movement
In Beethoven's fifth

Why, oh why, in a land of plenty
Some just have to make do
At the end of a breadline with just a penny
I'll always remember you.

Whole old world

2009-07-06T22:56:00.001-03:00

"Immigrants come to the United States and take menial jobs so that their children have a chance at a better future, he told me. While the jobs they take are below their intrinsic capabilities, they’re focused on giving their children a better life, not personal job satisfaction. Second-generation children, seeing how hard their parents work to give them an opportunity, in turn work hard at school, where, he noted, they often focus on mathematics and science in pursuit of the economic returns promised by careers in engineering and medicine. Third-generation kids figure the economic return on effort expended is better for business and legal professionals and pursue those professions instead of technical ones. By the fourth generation, any immigration-related incentives to work hard are largely nonexistent."

Same paper, same day.

Whole new world

2009-07-06T22:33:00.000-03:00

“These days, many South Koreans think they have the right to be white collar,” said Lee Byung-hee, senior economist at the Korea Labor Institute , a government-linked research organization based in Seoul. “But their expectations hit the dark reality of this economy, where people have no choice but to go into the blue-collar work force.”

Piggies are Doin' it for Themselves

2009-07-06T17:56:00.001-03:00

Panic!

Bagelazo!

2009-07-04T18:19:00.009-03:00

Ok. You're gonna need your bagels tomorrow.

Did you know that you can get REAL bagels in Baires?

Yep. Put in your order now and get 'em delivered to your door. My order's in ...and I can't wait!

We've talked about them in this space before ...and lemme tell ya, these are the real deal.

My own schedule is so f*&^!#-up that I'm hesitating putting in a regular order for every Saturday or Sunday or whatevah ...but what the hell, if I'm not here, the portero can eat them!

Anyhoo, they are so supreme (♪♫ lyrics I write of them ...I dream ...dream day and night of them ...and I scheme just for the sight of them♫♪) that you'll want them to be part of your regular fix.

After living in Buenos Aires Argentina as long as I have ...and remembering my first years of longing for a REAL bagel ...I feel that it is my CIVIC DUTY to support good people that want to go through the effort necessary to produce them.

Full disclosure: I am a baker and my first job was in a bagel bakery; try them, if you don't like them, you can throw stones at me.

My buddy, Frank at Sugar & Spice, is a fellow baker and he loves them as much as I do.

Taos Turner has waxed rhapsodic, too. If you don't know what these babies taste like, you are missin' out.

But don't try making bagels at home; it's too specialized and too much work for un departamento porteño.

When I dove into my first "Salmón Total", I was taken aback ...back to my roots. What a tremendous sensation. Although the amount of lox was not as ridiculously heavy as back in the old country, more important was the flavor and the intensity. Nothing less than satisfying.

I did have a complaint, however. My sandwich was wrapped and delivered with SUCH care, in the highest quality shrinkwrap ...that the tremendous bagel lost a little of its crunch. Not a biggie for us so far from NYC. They need to get some cheap deli bags ...for us that know. For porteños, they can give the careful packaging!

Not much of a complaint, eh?

Super. What a great addition to the community. Sometimes, the simplest of things are the things that make you feel SO VERY GOOD.

EL BAGELAZO came late to our influx of immigration. I hope that all of us will help them stay around during these tough economic times. They give us something so affordable and, in some cases, so necessary to maintaining those lovely tiny happinesses that are crucial to the little rewards we need to go about our our own daily struggles as well!

Keep 'em comin', Bagelazo!

100k cases of flu in Argentina

2009-07-03T18:21:00.002-03:00

44 deaths reported.

Democrats Abroad and Puertas Abiertas cancel 4th of July celebrations.

Flu: 10k per Day in UK

2009-07-02T17:49:00.001-03:00

By MARIA CHENG – 3 hours ago

Bourdain en Baires

2009-07-02T13:09:00.006-03:00

I'm probably the only person here in Argentina that has not seen the No Reservations episode (here's a link to it... get it while you can) where Ant'ny comes to our fair burg to sample our burg's fare ...but I don't watch a lot of TV.

However! When my pitiful channel surfing does land on an episode of his... my television treaty with My Missus invokes the Anthony Bourdain Clause and all other viewing ceases ...a cease-fire is invoked, as well ...and quiet reigns for the duration.

Ok. Maybe you've seen the episode (or not... I'm not really sure that we have this particular season here on cable yet)...

...but just maybe I have something new for you!

This particular scene looks like it was cut from the episode ...but was good enough to make into something of a promo. Man, am I glad it was. This shows Tony in the venerable El Cuartito ...finding his love for Argentine empanadas. For the love of God, please, don't blame that indescribable commercial on me.

What struck me about the promo is that in something less than 4 minutes, Bourdain travels the length and breadth of my own experience with empanadas!

I love meat-pies of just about any description but, for some reason, I could not fall in love with empanadas here. I don't know why. Argentine empanadas are truly champions among that food group ...but for my first 2 years here, I avoided them as the most pedestrian and uninspiring food in town. Never could explain it to myself nor anyone else. Nowadays, empanadas are my backstop whenever I get bored with local food! Couldn't live without them.

I've always liked and admired Anthony Bourdain's approach and savvy and program. However, seeing him condense my 2 years of personal experience with a touchstone Argentine food ...into what couldn't have been more than 2 hours of shooting ...makes me admire him so very much more.

The guy's not just another talking food head.

Sorry to bother you but...

2009-06-30T17:24:00.005-03:00

...it ain't over yet.

If you voted during the last US presidential election from Argentina, you know how tough it was ...and how many people it took to help you do it.

Now that Dems have a majority (CONGRATS, AL FRANKEN, btw!), however, we have a good chance to make the process much easier for US expats next time around.

This is big.

Would you please write your Congressperson if I could make it easy for you?

What the recent HR1739 is trying to do is... build on the framework that Republicans passed for US military personnel ...but DIDN'T extend to expats.

Democrats Abroad, as you might guess, is very involved in "harmonizing" the rights of everyone that finds themselves outside the US on any given election day. They're working for you ...could you write a letter or send an email or make a phonecall to help them out?

Not only do the Democrats want to help you vote from abroad no matter what party's candidate you want to vote for... they want to enact a law that requires that you be notified if your registration or ballot is rejected for whatever reason. That's pretty sweet, don't you agree?

On the 4th of July, I'll be at the annual 4th of July event held at the Argentine/US Cultural Institute's (ICANA) downtown headquarters ...there'll be more info for you there and I'd love to help you draft a letter of your own to Congress supporting HR1739.

But, please, make a point of contacting your congressperson no matter if you come to ICANA on the 4th or not!

Please write me here to find out how you can break some of the last barriers to voting in the US.

Your calls and letters to these 2 guys are especially important:

Hon. Robert A. Brady
Chairman, Committee on House Administration
U.S. House of Representatives
1309 Longworth Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Hon. Daniel Lungren
Ranking Member, Committee on House Administration Republican Office
U.S. House of Representatives
1313 Longworth Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Help yourself ...and help a fellow US citizen. Write a letter (they take snailmail much more seriously!)

Los K lose in their hometown?

2009-06-28T21:13:00.004-03:00

A new political map says Clarin.
Update: Kirchner loses control of congress.

Michael Jackson, RIP

2009-06-28T18:17:00.003-03:00

Of all the fascinating and historic-first stuff that Michael Jackson's career was chockfull of, I hope you'll forgive me for having this particular favorite: his purchase of the ATV song catalog in 1985.

ATV contained the entire Northern Songs catalog which itself contained about 97% of every Beatles song ever written ...plus gobs of other signature tunes from Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, &c.

Jackson competed against other bidders (including, famously, Paul McCartney) but came out on top with the enormous sum of $47,500,000. They say that Michael was personally involved in the deal from start to finish.

People laughed at the amount as overspending at the time ...but only ten years later, he sold a half-interest to Sony for $90 milski. Sweet.

It was a world-shaker and a game-changer, made a lot of news back in the pre-internet days and consequently many of the details weren't widely disseminated. So I started to look around at what a google search would do today.

I found this 1985 article from The Los Angeles Times that I would have loved to have read the day it was published. From everything else I glean, it reads like it's still the definitive account.

Expats Vote Tomorrow?

2009-06-27T19:19:00.004-03:00

Yep. More than 10,000 foreigners in Buenos Aires will cast votes for city offices.

If you have a DNI and you have registered at the Tribunal Superior de Justicia, Cerrito 760, you can vote even if you're not a citizen. I seem to remember that you can't register until 2 years after you receive your DNI.

It's in the city constitution and is a centuries old tradition here in town.

If you live in Comuna 1, I just might see you at Av. de Mayo 757!

The Argentine Firecracker

2009-06-25T13:39:00.007-03:00

My buddy Jesse and I, given enough fuel, would inevitably would reach a point in the evening's conversation wherein we would wonder, "why hasn't anyone looked up ol' Wilbur Mills' flame?" Certainly, notoriety awaited the person that brought back that story to a press that seemed to be starving for any stories from Buenos Aires.

Well, too late for that now. And, besides, Paul Krugman writes today that on the subject of Gov. Sanford, he gots two words for ya: Fanne Foxe.

Had some enterprising angloparlante sought her out a year or two ago, he'd be all over TV right now.

Update: Guv's luv could be illegal under SC law.

SC called. Their Governor is missing.

2009-06-24T12:28:00.012-03:00

"The mystery of the missing governor has taken another plot twist.

A South Carolina newspaper is reporting that Republican Governor Mark Sanford said he has been in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Thursday, not hiking the Appalachian Trail, as his staff had told reporters."

Update: 16:56...
Guv's gots sum luv... here in the Paris of the Palmtrees
(hats off to David M!)

“I developed a relationship with what started as a dear dear friend from Argentina,” Gov. Sanford said.

¡Che, las Argentinas!

¡Baires to El Bolsón, luv 'em right or leave 'em alone!

Sunday is Election Day

2009-06-23T21:33:00.003-03:00

"We'll have to wait until 2011, but this is a first punch and a first step for people to get involved," said Ignacio Bastanchuri, president of the Navarro rural society branch.
Navarro farmers still have until July, but even if they do decide to plant wheat, production may be further hit by lower spending on fertilizers and other agrochemicals.

"If the weather improves a bit, people are going to sow, but they're going to cut costs," said Rodolfo Bonnin, who runs a small ranch with his wife, Estela Natalini. They dedicate part of their land to crops to make up for losses from the cattle.

Natalini, whose family has reared cattle near Navarro for three generations, said times have never been harder.

"I'm producing food, but we get no help at all," she said in her modest farm house kitchen. "It's very upsetting."

I'll be casting my vote at the polls this Sunday! If you are a foreigner in Buenos Aires ...you might have the right to vote, as well.

IMAS can help you in this regard and many others. Reach out and get some help ...reach out and help someone with your area of expertise, too.