Radio Reminder - La Isla

I will be on the radio today at noon. The show is called "La Visión" (The Vision) and I will be interviewed by Carlos Clerici and Alejandra Zuccoli.

La Isla 89.9 FM - La Vision


********castellano*******

Me van a entrevistar hoy a las doce del mediodía en el programa "La Visión" de Carlos Clerici y Alejandra Zuccoli en La Isla 89.9 FM.

Largest Environmental Disaster?

I wonder, if the US media aren't around to call it, then could it really be the largest environmental disaster?

Or could it be that George Bush does have a direct line to the big guy in the sky? I can just imagine his nightly prayers going something along the lines of "Dear Lord, if there is another major disaster please make the media blind to it, and could you maybe help in taking care of it? I mean, we are the greatest country in the world."

Source 1 - "Let's talk clean coal" by Pharyngula.
Source 2- "Environmental disaster in Tennessee rivals largest oil spills" by Inside, Looking Out.


Seriously though, where the hell is the major media coverage on this?

It's Christmas, Shut Up!

I found this video by ways of a very popular blog called Pharyngula. I guess we share a common appreciation of anti BillO humor.



And on a lighter side of the holidays (or holy days, but don't let any super religious, super conservative in on the origins of the word 'cause I like seeing them rant themselves into a circle) you might want to keep tabs on the big guy and see what he is up to. No, I mean the other big guy, the one that Coca Cola declared chubby, and white bearded with a love for red suits and pants. Click on the Norad Tracks Santa sight to track his whereabouts.

Merry X-mas, happy holidays and just have a great rest of the year for those of you who don't celebrate anything at all between now and New Year's Eve.

Pan Dulce on My Mind

This is the time of the year that I am busiest, stressed out, and would have been pulling my hair out by now, but that was last year´s trick.

Patricia Gilmore is this year´s Pan Dulce Angel. She, and 18 volunteers, went around the city and gave any homeless person they could find an edible hug (a.k.a. Pan Dulce). I donated some pan dulces to her idea and you could read more about that by clicking here. She promises to organize this thing better next year. She could possibly have a database that would be valuable to the city... just thinking out loud.

This year we participated with Girl´s Night Out and we raffled off 5 Pan Dulces de Tus Sueños. There were also many other things raffled off and it turned out to be a very fun night. The weather was very nice, drinking champagne, surrounded by women. Too bad I forgot the camera at home.

Yo Que Voz, also participated and they have a promotion going on with our cookies as well.

Oh, La La (the picture above was taken from the magazine) just placed us among the top 5 pan dulces this year. You won´t find it in the link I provided though; it´s only in their printed magazine.

So far, we are on track to selling almost three times as many Pan Dulces this year as we did last year, and that is a great way to wrap up this holiday season.

Running for Treasurer of Democrats Abroad Argentina

As if I didn´t have enough things on my plate right now, I decided to make a run for Treasurer of Democrats Abroad Argentina. For those of you who are not members and would not get to see my post on that website, I offer it to you here:

I am honored to be included for consideration for the position of Treasurer.

I have lived in Argentina since 1999 and have lived through the major financial meltdown of 2001. Catastrophe and crisis usually come hand in hand with opportunity. Back then that crisis was part of the world events that lead me to try something new. Out of that crisis Sugar & Spice was born and it grew to become Argentina´s first truly gourmet cookie brand, singel handedly creating the local retail gourmet cookie segment and reaching over 2 million pesos in sales this year.

Before I entered into the world of entreprenuership, I was working in corporate sales of Crown Relocations in Buenos Aires, and before that I ran English conversation classes and helped people create their own unique grad school essays.

Throughout the whole time I have been in Argentina I have also been involved with Fundación Leer, which is a local license of Reading is Fundamental from the United States. I saw first hand just how that group affected change, inspiration and hope in the eyes of the children that received their very first, and in many cases, the family´s only book. From that first tear streaked smile of a child hugging her book I was hooked. At first I donated time, and when I started my own company, I set aside a percentage of sales. We know have grown to be able to support a reading corner.

Democrats Abroad Argentina has also ventured into a crisis of its own. I am confident that we can pull it out of that mire and build upon the succesful work that has already been done. We should never forget how crisis and opportunity go hand in hand. I see living proof of that in every supermarket shelf and every child that recieves a book through Fundación Leer, and I would like to have a hand at making sure Democrats Abroad Argentina has a shot at success as well.

This would be something new for me and I would be honored to serve as your Treasurer.

Girl´s Night Out

This event is for all women, and for that woman in your life (if you are a guy reading this).

Go ahead, sign up, go have some fun drinking, socializing, shopping, eating, shopping some more and all the while knowing that you are also donating to a local charity.

For this event we are going to raffle off 5 of our Pan Dulce de Tus Sueños. You need to buy a ticket to the event be eligible for this raffle that they will organize.

For all who participate they are going to be giving away some goodie bags that will have Sugar & Spice goodies included.

Click below to get more details.

www.girlsnightoutbuenosaires.com

Now what are we to do on Wednesday night?

Now that the special vote isn´t happening and you, the *thirsty beer swigging mob, have no where to go Wednesday night you might want to consider ditching your beer mugs for wine glasses.

I wanted to drum up some support for a tasting that Gary and Nigel organize on a monthly basis. This month, I'm covering for Gary. The tasting costs 35 pesos and it is at Nigel Tollerman's wine cellar at Anchorena 695.

If you can't make it, feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested :) They can RSVP to the Google groups list, or me at phos at pobox.com or my cell is 15-6942-7132, but if it is just a few you can also come without RSVP as we don't usually get close to packing the house.

I'm also planning to bring some cheese this month, so we won't go hungry. We also have a Google group dedicated to this monthly tasting, http://groups.google.com/group/vinoba

Take care,

Jason

Okay Jason, you asked for it. Get your cleaning crew ready to receive the thirsty, beer swigging mob.

*reference to someone thinking that this type of mob was going to appear at their 6th floor home.

High School Musical 4 or Democrats Abroad Undone?

I just can´t get a break. I was looking forward to this meeting to at least have some closure. Is it too much to ask to have a defining moment? This brought flashbacks of high school petty squabbling.

The special vote is canceled. Joe Green, the Vice Chair for Dems Abroad of the Americas wrote to all of us with the news that the showdown was off.

Someone backed down? Someone repented and took back their accusations?

Hardly, what happened was that the entire board decided to throw in the towel. That´s right, all of them quit and now we will have the normal yearly vote in January:

I write to inform you that, because of the current leadership crisis in your Executive Committee, all members of that Committee have tendered their resignations to the Democrats Abroad (DPCA or Democratic Party Committee Abroad) global leadership team. This means that there will be no special meeting on Wednesday, December 3, 2008.

Although Mike doesn´t get to face a firing squad, I am kind of let down because he also doesn´t get to respond to his accusers. I am sure that Mike was also disappointed. Debbie explained it pretty well in her blog post on the latest happenings.

However, I am sure he will get over it and will run again. I am looking forward to it, and I will support Yanqui Mike once again.

But, who will run the show if we don´t have a board?

The January 2009 Annual General Meeting of DAAR will elect a new executive committee and its officers (this would have had to happen in any event, since the 2008 selection was part of an organizing meeting and requires a new election at the first AGM). This meeting will be organized by the DPCA leadership and I plan to be with you at that time.

That´s right, the big man himself is coming down here to make sure things run smoothly and nobody wants to run around and cancel meetings, and change venues, and worry about drunken mobs tracking mud all over their living rooms.

Political Drama in Buenos Aires

We just couldn´t let the Republicans have all the fun of political infighting. Could it have been the lack of fight, now that Obama won, that made us turn on each other?

Democtrats Abroad Argentina is now organizing a vote to remove Yanqui Mike from DAA for this Wednesday night at the home of a fellow expat Laura Atkins:

Calle Austria 2660,
the entire 6th floor,
Recoleta, Buenos Aires
6pm

View Larger Map

Being a member of Democrats Abroad, I think I have previously mentioned it here, I have received some e-mails on the subject; another expat mentioned those e-mails in her post. And yet, another expat wrote about the same thing, and according to her post, she seemed to have met Yanqui Mike the same way I met him.

For transparency´s sake I have to mention that I consider Yanqui Mike a friend. I have been social with him and his wife and have gone out and shared a beer or two. It should not be any surprise to anyone that I would find all this nonsense unsettling. My very first reaction is to stand up for my friends. What kind of a friend would I be if that was not the case?

My second reaction was to check with him to see if he did anything wrong.

The other two posts on the subject, written by Gina of Buenos Aires Style and Debbie of TangoSpam highlighted the little we know of the accusations. So far, in those accusations, I don´t see any reason to have taken things this far. If there are other reasons I guess I will have to wait to hear what those are at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the accused Yanqui Mike, did write on his blog regarding this turn of events. The very first post on the call for his resignation has him promising to post every e-mail that he receives. The second one is actually a listing of some more e-mails--this guy gets a lot of e-mails. In the third one he is posting information on the meeting and begging people to go and witness and vote. In this one, "Heidi in San Juan" makes an important observation.

"This is more like Democrats Abroad Buenos Aires" since people that live in the interior of the country are out of luck and will not be able to vote unless they travel to the big city.

One other little thorn to this event is the timing. 6pm is very early for Argentina. There will be some people who will not be able to attend becuase they will be either working or stuck in rush hour traffic. However, I have also been calling people and the word on the street is that there is a lot of interest in this meeting and some people are making arrangements to get there. Heck, one guy is coming straight from the hospital after recuperating from surgery and another person is coming from Quilmes just to name two examples.

I wonder how big Laura´s 6th floor really is? We might have to actually use the entire floor.

I will have to take time out of my day. I would rather be playing with my kids, or spending time with my parents who are visiting from out of town, or being in the company of my own wife, getting dinner ready and talking about our day, etc.

I probably echo most of my fellow Democrats when I say the following: There better be some damaging evidence there ´cause what I have seen so far is petty squabbling and if I drag my ass out there to hear whining and little substance I am going to be pissed.

And if that wasn´t bad enough Ian of Goodairs just had to highlight how now it looks like the famous Argentine beef will be a thing of the past much sooner than later.

Podcast Reminder - The Socially Responsible Cookie

Patt Gilmore stopped by the store last week and we had a chat over coffee and cookies. She surprised me by putting the interview up right away. If you would like to hear it you can click here.

Her site is called What´s the Frequency Argentina?

While you visit her site you can also listen to her other recent interviews covering ice cream, grilling meat, etc. She also has an audio book called Squatting Over a Bucket Under the Argentine Moon.

If you have iTunes you can also look up her podcast and listen to it on your iPod.

You are sure to find something to interest you at her site.

Oh, that non-profit that I could not remember during the interview is CCRAI.

Radio Reminder - Pan Dulce (Panettone)

Mañana me van a entrevistar en la radio en el programa de Adalberto Rossi "Cátedra
Avícola y Agropecuaria" am750 entre las 7 y 8 horas de la mañana. El tema sera sobre el Pan Dulce.

Obviamente voy a hablar sobre el Pan Dulce de Tus Sueños.

********English*********

I am going to be on the radio again. What, you haven´t heard me on the radio?

I can´t blame you. I haven´t mentioned it before. I have been pretty bad about that so from now on I am going to try to let everyone in on those little events before hand.

Tomorrow, between 7am and 8am Argentina time, I will be interviewed on a show called "Cátedra
Avícola y Agropecuaria" on am750. The topic is going to be Pan Dulce (Panettone).

Obviously I am going to talk about the Panettone of Your Dreams.

Pan Dulce de Tus Sueños / Panettone of Your Dreams

Cuando decidimos hacer pan dulce no queríamos hacer uno más de lo que ya estaba en el mercado. Haber iniciado en el mundo de los pan dulces me dí cuenta que yo no era el único a quien la mayoría de los pan dulces no gustaban.

Me encontraba con más personas que me declaraban su disgusto por la fruta abrillantada por ejemplo, o que no les gusta el pan dulce seco y otros a quien sí les gusta el pan dulce seco.

Nuestro pan dulce esta hecho para mi, porque a mi me gusta un pan dulce con frutas secas como avellanas, almendras, nueces, castañas de caju, cascara de naranja y pasas de uva maceradas en coñac.

Este año decidimos dejar a ustedes decidir que ingredientes irán en su pan dulce, el *pan dulce de tus sueños.

* Por favor tomen nota de los ingredientes disponibles en el cuadro al inicio de esta nota.

El costo del pan dulce de tus sueños es de $65 pesos (x 1 kg).

• El pedido requiere una seña de 50% del valor con un anticipo de 7 a 10 días.
• Con su compra de su pan dulce puede recibir un descuento de 10% sobre el resto de los productos en nuestro local.
• Si piden un pan dulce sin ingredientes pueden descontar $10 pesos del precio.
• Si piden el pan dulce con estuche esmerilado por favor agregar $10 pesos al precio.

************

When we started making panettone, we did not want to make just another panettone that would get lost in the shuffle. We wanted to make one different from what was already out there. I soon met others that felt the same way I did about the majority of the panettones in Argentina.

They would tell me that they really disliked the candied fruit or how many of them where dry and some people actually preferred the dry ones.

Our panettone is made for me basically. I like my panettone chock full of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, candied orange peel, and Cognac soaked raisins.

But this year we have decided to let you have a say as to how to make your panettone. You tell us what ingredients to make it with and we will make the *panettone of your dreams.

* Please note the available ingredients in the logo above.

The price of the panettone of your dreams is $65 pesos (1 kg).

• To place your order for your Panettone you need to leave a deposit of 50% of the value of the panettone and give us 7 to 10 days to have it ready for you.
• With your purchase of this panettone you can also get a 10% discount off your purchase of any other products in our store.
• If you order a panettone with no ingredients then you can subtract $10 pesos from the price.
• If you want the special plastic see through case then please add $10 pesos to the price.

Sara Palin is so Dumb...

This is so brilliant and simple. Here is a sample and if you feel inspired you can send in your own:

...she took an umbrella to see Purple Rain.

...she thought Boyz II Men was a day care center.

...she called Dan Quayle for a spell check.

...she thought a quarterback was the new tax refund.

...she sits on the tv and watches the couch.

...she thought soy milk was Spanish for I am milk.

Yes, We Did!

Yes, We Did!

Caption in the picture: "It is no longer a dream"
Thanks to Bloc de Periodista for that one.

Oh, no he didn´t...

Okay, we can still feel good,

But let´s remember to keep our feet on the ground...

Dollar Sale

Photo from William Lauer Photo Blog.

Yesterday, while I was writing my post about the currency crisis, the government held a garage sale and they were selling dollars.

Argentina's peso closed steady Wednesday due to a massive central bank dollar sale, but bonds fell for an 11th consecutive session due to continued concerns over a government plan to take over private pensions.

Just thought the timing was kind of funny.

Basically, investors flocked to the dollar fearing that the Argentine´s nationalization of the nation´s private pension funds was a money grab to keep the country from defaulting on its debt.

Argentina just can´t get a break, sort of like McCain these days.

Meanwhile I am still waiting for the price of chocolate, butter, eggs, transportation, etc. to go down... any day now.

Dollar anyone?

You know it´s gotta be bad when not even Mexicans want to be paid in dollars, and Brazil and Argentina turn their back on the greenback, when trading among themselves.

But what gives? I have been reading that economies will be going to the dollar.

Well, in the case of Argentina and Brazil, the move is supposed to save money for small and medium sized businesses by lowering the costs involved in changing from one currency to another. I don´t know much about Mexico´s state right now to talk about them... anyone?

But a decrease in demand, and therefore a decrease in commerce all around, would seem to give Brazil and Argentina reason enough to give us little guys a hand this way.

The consensus seems to be that we are heading into a currency crisis.

So what does that mean for us in this part of the world? Well, I have been approached by some of our big clients and have been told in no uncertain terms that we have to lower our prices.

Hmmm, does this sound like deflation?

The only trouble is that I have yet seen a decrease in my own costs. This might be something that will be coming down the line for me. I mean, I have some clients who are gigantic, compared to me, and they feel the ripples way before I do. In some cases, these giants do not even bother to pass on the savings to their own customers. But lucky for me, I do not deal with that company.

So while Don Corleone was pitching me a deal I could not refuse, I was wondering if maybe he could pay me in dollars, or would that question buy me a fishing trip to Lake Tahoe?

Meanwhile you can check out a fantastic site focused on explaining the Monumental Clusterfuck of a Financial Mess my beloved USA has gotten us all into.

Financial Crisis for Beginners

US Election Night

For those of you in Buenos Aires, Democrats Abroad has finally picked a place to watch the historic event with a slingbox connection to CNN from the USA.

If you want to know why it took so long you can click here. Otherwise I will see you November 4th.

Sacramento Resto Bar
El Salvador 5729
Palermo Hollywood
Buenos Aires
...from 9pm to whenever! Free and open to the public!

Blackness

Okay, I have never been much of a joiner. I have never been much into politics and this year I have Fox Noise to blame as well as the past 8 years of a disastrous manhandling of the country by GWB for getting me all interested in what is going on.

But it´s not fair to be solely motivated by hatred. In fact, I am really liking the hope that I feel for my country and I am not alone. Jessica (high school friend of mine) wrote a great post today that mirrored much of what I feel.

Yanqui Mike has been writing great posts for a while now, and in his tireless efforts managed to organize Democrats Abroad here in Argentina providing me with an outlet for my hatred/hope. Now, thanks to him, I have picked a side.

I also love seeing all the sites that are out there keeping track of the shenanigans of not only fox noise but bullshit in general. Thanks Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Indecision 2008, Media Matters, Crooks and Liars, Pharyngula, and Huffington Post.

There are others, but I do have a life and can´t spend the whole day in front of a computer you know. I have to take over Argentina with cookies and brownies. Speaking of others though. I leave you with this very funny video.

This is from This Week in Blackness.

Liberal = Leftist = Terrorist

This person is actually a representative from Minnesota? This is embarrassing stuff. Minnesota you have to get your act together and vote her out of office.

Michele Bachman is a complete idiot.

Thanks to Pharyngula you have a link to the person she is running against.

What is happening to my country? It is quickly showing a fascist side and it is scary. We need more people out there to stand up to this nonsense.

Regalos Corporativos / Corporate Gifts 2008

Last year we were in a rush to try to get the new gifts out in time, but we didn´t make it. By the time we had finally settled on the format, the box, the variety, it was too late to place orders for the boxes.

So we have been sitting on these ideas, pictures, etc. for almost a year now.

What do you think?



Last year our Pan Dulce (Panettone) was included in an article in Bacanal and they not only put us on their short list of best Pan Dulces (Panettones), but we were the only one that was shelf stable on that list. The other Panettones were from specialty bakeries, and local famous cheffs.

I´m voting for "THAT ONE"

You wanna buy your ver own shirt? Click here for that.

28th Year Anniversary

I really enjoy reading from the writers of the Daily Show (Indecision 2008). Click on the image above to find out the significance of the number 28.

Happy 28th Year Anniversary to John McCain.

Next up, Sarah vs Joe

This time there is no cover charge at the door. And just to wet your appetite a little you can read these:

Sarah Palin on Dinosaurs, Cavemen and Sleestaks
Wanna See Sarah Palin Naked?
McCain Urges Treasury to Act Without Legislation on Bailout (and he wanted 1 Trillion dollars).
Witches, Fine... But Does Sarah Palin Believe in Religious Tolerance?
What's it Like to Debate Sarah Palin?

and see what Sarah is up against...

Biggest Debate Watching Party on the Planet!

Congratulations to Mike and gang of Democrats Abroad. Last week they organized the biggest debate watching party on the planet.

I knew there were a lot of people. Some of the people that I saw were:

Gina Gattone of Buenos Aires Style.
Maya of Sexy Spanish Club in Buenos Aires and hubby Tom Frost.
Kevin Dwyer of El Pavo Real B&B.
Cliff Williamson of Transpack.

and many more.

Time Out

Image taken from This Modern World and found it through Indecision 2008--the best and funniest political humor site I think.

And now for some more laughs courtesy of David Letterman...

American Express Member´s Project - International Medical Corps

o

Once in a while I receive news of worthwile causes and after looking this one over I couldn´t help but write about it.

This non-profit came about as a result of the Afghan war. In the early 1980´s a UCLA emergency room physician read about the plight of the Afghans, who at the time were fighting the Russians. Hearing the news that "all but 200 out of 1500 physicians had been executed, imprisoned or exiled and relief agencies had been ordered out of the country" he decided that he needed to do something.

They now operate in over 40 countries and they are also one of the founding members of the One campaign and a Member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

International Medical Corps has been matched to one of the Top 25 in American Express’ Members Projects, ‘Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children.’  Chosen out of 1,190 projects, “Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children” is now eligible to receive up to $1.5 million in funding. The project with the most votes receives $1.5 million, 2nd receives $500,000, 3rd $300,000, and 4th and 5th $100,000. The funding – made possible by your votes – would bring a vital lifeline to hungry and malnourished children around the world.  We need your help between now and September 29th. Voting is easy and doesn’t cost a thing! In just a click, you can save the lives of thousands of malnourished children. Click here to vote:

So, if you have an American Express Card and the desire to some good please check them out and evaluate the possibility of helping them out. Remember they have until the 30th of September.

Debatin' Time

Actually all are welcomed, Republicans, Libertarians, Moose hunters...

Just know that the proceeds will go towards the Obama campaign.

I don't know about you, but wouldn't it be funny if McCain were to make another spectacular blunder on live TV?

I mean he did mistake Spain for a rogue South American country and didn't have the balls to say so and instead opted to stick to his guns and ally be damned

He invented the Blackberry, but yet has no clue on how to work the Google.

The Fundamentals of our economy are strong (mentioned on the 15th of September by the way) and since that day he has gone through the 5 stages of grief over the economy.

McCain got everything wrong on Iraq.

...I could go on and on.

Better to wait and come down to watch this all important event.

For just $10 pesos you get to share the experience in what looks like a nice posh setting. And I heard that Yanqui Mike was buying beers. Take him up on it.

September 26
The Sacramento
El Salvador 5729 (between Bonpland and Carranza)
just 3 blocks from Juan B. Justo
8pm

So let's have some beer and enjoy the show!

It Happened to Francis Ford Coppola As Well

A while back Francis Ford Coppola had his computer stolen when thieves broke into his property in Palermo Viejo. Being a neighbor of his (I live two blocks away) I have noticed how most of the businesses have been targeted and have been victims of theft. I knew it only had to be a matter of time before my own business was targeted.

Actually, last year, I did have some theft problems and those did catch me off guard. I never thought they would steal metal gratings???

This year the buggers got a bit more daring. They winched up the metal curtain, propped it up with a metal rod, broke the glass door and took off with the computer.

Could it have been a jealous competitor; a hungry dad wishing to feed his kids; or riff raff that hangs out at the train tracks across the boulevard?

I would put my money on that last option.

Between people calling me to tell me they have one of my relatives in the trunk of their car, being in a street that once a year turns into a river, and now this, I must be crazy to keep at it. But you know what? I would be crazy to do otherwise; I love this place.

I just have to come up with a better way to protect the store.

Below are some pictures of the aftermath. Later on I will upload a little video I shot of the store.

Time Out Buenos Aires 2008

click on images for a larger view

A while back I wrote about how we were starting to get noticed by the media, but Time Out, for example, did not know who we were; Well, they know us now.



They took a couple of pictures; chatted with me for a while over cookies and coffee; and they went back and wrote this about us:



Does this mean I better get cracking on making muffins? Should I take that as a hint?

One more further clarification. We are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm and close from 1:30pm to 2:30pm for lunch.

We also are open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

I am still tickled pink that they thought of us and I love their description. They have just shot to the top of our short list of magazines that we are going to publicize in.

Lipstick on a Pig

"I’m not insinuating anyone is a pig. Nor am I suggesting you need to be wearing lipstick. I believe the saying ‘let’s put some lipstick on this pig’ originated in the brokerage/investment banking industry. Typically, the saying referred to promoting or selling a stock or investment product, which the broker didn’t believe in or which may not have been in the client’s best interest to buy."--Mark McGlinchey

That´s right Obama, only John McCain can use that phrase. Maybe that´s the real reason he is so angry about it. Oh wait, so can Torie Clark, Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Rep. John Mica of Florida and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, as well as the author Mark McGlinchey who is responsible for that book you see above.

But McCain's campaign is not about to let the issue go. They released a Web ad Wednesday that plays Obama's lipstick comments, then asks, "Ready to lead? No. Ready to smear? Yes."

Hmm, lately McCain´s ads seem to describe McCain more than his intended target. Would that be calling the kettle black?

Now let´s see a classy, Presidential type response from Obama. This guy sounds more and more like a President than his counterpart:

Time for Some Campaignin´

I found this video amusing and wanted to share. Thanks Christina!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Rain of Biblical Proportions

Maybe if the rain doesn´t work they can switch to voodoo dolls. Meanwhile we still have States that would rather have our teachers not teach evolution.

At least there was a reply on Television to this sillyness and I post it below:




I know I seem to be all over the place with this, but really people. There is something wrong when we have to argue about the validity of teaching Evolution in our schools and having a segment of the population praying to their God for a political prank. Believe me, voodoo dolls are not that far a stretch from this.

I am currently living in one of the most religious countries on this continent and I don´t see nearly the same level of idiocies as I see coming from the religious right of the United States. Grant it, this group has it´s baggage ( a lot of bad history here and plenty to criticize), but that is a whole other ball of wax that I can´t tackle here.

Well if you must and you know Spanish you can go to Alerta Religion for that. If you want to read from the same author, but in English then you can click -here- and get a whole slew of material.

Meanwhile one of the most trusted names in the news industry is a comedian (Jon Stewart). He held a breakfast with the news media and my favorite quote from that event was "Why do I take this more seriously than you?".

Way to go Jon!

Maybe we do need rain of biblical proportions, but I would like this rain to wash away this idea that the church and the State have anything to do with each other and that it gets some reporters wet. I am a "Glass half full" kind of guy so I will take this as a good start.

El retrato y el cuerpo - Gallery Nights

Click on picture to enlarge.

This seems to be an Art theme going on recently and that is most likely due to so many artistic events happening around this time. This unique event is part of Gallery Nights. The show starts the 29th of August, 7pm at Arenales 1415.

This time around this show is interactive. You the visitor, if you want to obviously, will have some makeup applied on the second floor, then on the third floor you will have your picture taken.

I don´t want to give anything away, but as you can imagine it´s not just a plain picture that will be taken. The third floor will be set up just for these pictures that will use the space, or the background as part of the total effect.

These pictures will be displayed simultaneously on an LCD screen downstairs for all to see and you could have your particular pictures e-mailed to your friends and family.

The pictures will form part of the show that will be exhibited for the whole month. I am sure to go to this one.

There will be champagne as well as Sugar & Spice cookies to nibble on while exploring the show. Anyone who takes their picture with a cookie and sends me the picture can have a free pack of their favorite cookies (the largest size pack of course to be picked up at our store).

pedidos at sugar and spice dot com dot ar

The show is organized by Omnes Artes, and Marca Futuro Arte, and held at La Europea.

This show is also sponsored by:

Sugar & Spice
Chandon
Maxim Store
Bodega Sur de los Andes
CeeLite
ICAP
2MG NET
among others.

Hank & Maraya

I used to think it was the air that was special here. If it were up to these two, the city would have most likely been called Buenas Luzes instead of Buenos Aires.

Hank is a professional photographer. Having worked for National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, PBS and The Travel Channel, his *girlfriend had to have picked up the shutter bug along the way right?

*correction: I just found out that Hank & Maraya are not partners. My mistake, sorry.

Actually, she is an artist in her own right as well. She received her BFA in art education from the University of Calgary in 1989. She is also a published poet and this couple is currently having their work in photographs displayed at the Edea Art Gallery in San Telmo. The collection is called "The Light is Special Here" and it is a collection of photoshop free highlights of their travels through Argentina and Central America.

The show has already started and it runs from the 14th through the 24th. On the 24th between 4:30 and 6:30pm Hank and Maraya will treat their guests to some Sugar & Spice cookies so you can satisfy any cookie craving you might have while admiring their handy camera work.

Just to give you a taste of what you can see at the show I have included some pictures below, as well as the picture above. You can click on them to get a much larger view:

El Corte Ingles

From the 26th of September through the 18th of Octobre, El Corte Ingles will celebrate 3 weeks of Argentine products in their stores; this includes Sugar & Spice products in the offering.

This will include 8 stores in Madrid, 5 in Barcelona, and 4 in Valencia.

El Corte Ingles is Spain´s largest department store and is also one of its oldest and most prestigious stores. There is an article on the history of this department store in Spanish.

The following are some numbers that represent this event:

390 products purchased and represented during these 3 weeks
34 companies represented in this purchase
21 wineries
7 distributors who end up representing another 20 food companies
600,000 euros was the aproximate amount of their total purchase

Sugar & Spice ended up sending the largest number of pallets (about 15 pallets) of all the participating companies in this round.

Thank you Fundación Exportar for including us in this round of negotiations with El Corte Ingles!

Swiss Day in Buenos Aires

Switzerland became an independent state in the year 1291.

I have never been to Switzerland, and the way the local economy is functioning, it might take a very long time for me to save enough pesos to make it a worthwhile trip. However, if I do go, it would be great if it would be around their independence day. From what I read, they tend to celebrate with a paper lantern parades, fireworks, bonfires, as well as drinking, dancing and eating.

Here in Buenos Aires, the Swiss Embassy is celebrating the day by sponsoring the kickoff to the "Semana del Chocolate" along with Fundacion EISA.

They have asked Sugar & Spice to participate in their event. We will be there with a stand offering our goodies so please come by, say hello, and peruse the stands that will be offering all things chocolate.

Friday night is a private party for the Embassy, and at least 400 guests.

Saturday and Sunday the doors open to the public from 3pm to 8pm. The cost is $10,00 for adults and $5,00 for children (5 to 12 year olds, under 5 enter for free).

I have a very limited number of tickets for this event. Whoever comes to my shop and spends more than $30 will receive two tickets for this event.

The celebration continues past these two dates:

On Monday the 4th of August from 3pm to 6pm, there will be a class on making marzipan figures by Swiss Cheff Philippe Zellweger and a Truffles and Petit Fours class by Head Baker Hilda Caridi.

On Thursday the 7th of August from 6pm to 9pm there will be a class on how to make artisanal chocolate by Swiss Cheff Carolina Bartalay.

Each of these classes cost $60 individually; if you take two, the cost is $100

The address is Rodriguez Peña 254. You can click on the map below to get a bigger view of the location of the event.

Good Morning Buenos Aires Party

Samuel of Good Morning Buenos Aires is proud to announce he is hosting a cocktail party to show his appreciation to the International Community of Buenos Aires.

This is no cover charge for this event. Good Morning Buenos Aires does not profit in any way. No kick-backs, no inflated prices, no fuss, no muss, no wrinkles...

There will be 2 for 1 drink specials and 20% off all food items until closing time and several items will be raffled off for free to include:

• A free cultural tour from CULTOURS of Buenos Aires;
• A dinner for two at the Duhau Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires;
• 5 hours of Spanish lessons (or a backpack) from EleBaires;
• A dinner with dessert (no beverages included) at Freak Restaurant on your next visit (depending on attendance levels, Freak will donate more than one meal);
• Free drinks at Freak Restaurant to be used on your next visit;
• Two gift sets from Sugar & Spice (pictured above and normally retails for $40)
  
• One year membership with South American Explorers...

There will be more details announced leading up to the event date....

Several organizations and companies are co-hosting this event to include: BA Gatos, the BA Insider Magazine, Buenos Aires International Newcomers Downtown Group, CULTOUR turismo con identidad, Democrats Abroad Argentina, Duhau Park Hyatt (Buenos Aires), EleBaires Spanish Experience Program, Freak Restaurant and Cocktails, InterNations.org, South American Explorers, Sugar & Spice, TMT Argentina, Wynn Woods Solutions, yanquimike.com.ar and more to be announced later....

I hope to see you all there.

For complete information on the date and location, please go to the following link:

http://www.wynnwoods.com/party.htm

Through Thick & Thin

Official Web Site

"the Documentary is a brilliant historical record coming from a multi-talented producer of a new genre of Latin American filmakers." - El País, The Herald Tribune.

Apparently love does not conquer all. The film sounds fascinating and brings to light yet another embarrasing point against the United States.

Free screening is Saturday the 26th of July.

Oh, and by the way, Democrats Abroad will help any American that wants to register to vote with the whole process.

Ian and Cintra of GoodAirs are also helping to promote the film. Below you can click on the link to their post:
GoodAirs: More than a bad translation of "Buenos Aires": Democrats Abroad Film Series Inauguración

Sugar & Spice at Fontenla Design Mall

Fontenla has several furniture stores throughout the city. They just inaugurated their design mall and it is a fantastic building. Sugar & Spice was there for the inauguration. I guess they liked the cookies so much that now they have asked me to go back and work this art gallery event.

Two famous names in Argentine art will be there: Clorindo Testa (click here for a picture of the Library he designed), and Héctor Medici. I found a little info on Héctor Medici below:

click on image to expand

This event is open to the public so you can check out some fine contemporary art in beautiful surroundings while munching on Argentina´s most delicious cookies. Come by and say hello if you visit.

The alternative address is Avda Cnel Roca 6701 and it´s shown below. You can click on the image for a larger view.

The Market Works!

You know, I used to think that there was a big difference between third world country governments and our own. I guess we needed a President to match the new peso.

For those of you who normally don't follow this show. Jon begins with a reference to his visit to Bill O'Reilly's show where Bill claims that a huge segment of Jon's viewers are stoned when they watch him.

Make History for $8.34

I don´t know what´s going on with me recently, but bear with me a little while longer. I normally have not been very political in the past. Maybe it´s all the stupid stuff that I have seen and keep seeing coupled with some great stuff.

So what´s with all these generalizations? And who is Sean Tevis and what does he look like?

I don´t know the answer to first question, but I could help you out on that second one...(click on any of the images below and you will be taken to the original site.)












If you have read this far then you need to click on any of the images above and see how the story turns out, as well as how he is doing in his fund raising (he is at 1,414 donors as of the 17th of July).

I love his approach. I love his sense of humor, and I also love that he is standing up and fighting against the current republican.

Kansas, give Sean Tevis a shot!
Oh, and he has a blog as well.

I found this guy through an excellent blog called Pharyngula where you can follow his recent battles with organized religion over the Eucharist, or as he affectionately calls it, a cracker.

I, in-turn, found that blog through Pablo´s excellent blog called D for Disorientation.

Pura Vida Buenos Aires

Back when I started my gourmet cookie business I thought there were several other things that could go over big here. One of those other ideas that I had was a smoothie bar.

I was not alone in thinking that and pretty soon Marty Hannah set up Argentina´s first genuine article smoothie bar... Pura Vida Juice Bar.

I love this place. I just wish he would hurry and open one up closer to where I work.

If you like the idea of an Avocado Citrus Calad (organic mixed greens, avocado, grapefruit and orange slices, cilantro, mint, sunflower seeds), or a Pollo Latino Wrap (chicken breast, organic greens, salsa latina-marinated bell peppers, tomato, mango, red onion, cilantro, chilies), or a Coconut Corn Soup, or even a Goji Berry Poppy Seed Muffin, then you best plan a visit to this one of a kind shop in Buenos Aires, and now in two locations.

I don´t know of anyone doing anything similar.

In the pictures below I noticed that I included shots of the prices. If they are different when you visit keep in mind that Argentina has very high inflation these days; besides, the muffins were very good.

McCain Giving Women a Choice?

Carly Fiorina, ex Hewlett Packard CEO, is currently helping McCain with his run to the White House. In her efforts she has stated that women would like a choice when it comes to birth control.

"many health insurance plans cover Viagra, but wont cover birth control medication. Those women would like a choice" --Carly Fiorina

She was tapped to help McCain win the women vote. Here is another quote from Carly:

"Of course, it would be an honor for anyone to serve John McCain. But I'm really focused on helping the American people get to know him a little better," she said.

Well let´s see how she is doing. Below is a clip of John McCain trying to answer, or trying not to answer the Viagra/Birth Control question that Carly brought up above.




They are so in tune with each other aren´t they? What a well oiled machine! This is how you run a campaign!

And just in case you may not know why McCain needs help trying to get the women vote. Here is a little of what he is trying to erase or at least hope no one remembers. These are a sample of his jokes:

Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.

Okay, so when I read this one I chuckled a little bit, but then you gotta keep in mind Chelsea was only 17 years old. Now picture an old guy making fun of a seventeen year old girl. It just doesn´t have quite the same chuckle effect any more. And just to clarify, I laughed at the Bill Clinton--Janet Reno imagery not at poor little 17 year old Chelsea.

Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, ‘Where is that marvelous ape?’

I guess this is the reason why Viagra is covered for insurance? And no, I didn´t even crack a smile at that one.

And finally, I leave you with a video that pokes fun at John McCain calling his wife a cunt. Now this is comedy John.



The inspiration for this post came from Crooks and Liars, and Democrats Abroad.