Test blogging...

...on the pirated wireless connection from my new apartment!

Quaffers! Thursday!

The third Quaffer´s outing! Thursday, the 29th of November at 8pm. Bangalore Brit Pub and Curry House, Humboldt 1416 (near the corner of Niceto Vega), Palermo ¨Hollywood¨

As you may have noticed from other posts and our Facebook entry, the group also goes by the name something like Beer Drinkers Who Hate Quilmes. That´s a bit of a misnomer (although Quilmes Crystal is about as detestable a yanqui-style liquid-air chem-brew as a fella is likely to bring to his lips in this vale of tears.)

It sounds like, from our name, that we members hate the Quilmes Company... which couldn´t be farther from the truth.

The Quilmes brand comes from the Bemberg family (still one of the most fabulously wealthy families of all the even still fabulously wealthy families of Buenos Aires history.

Now just being wealthy and making a brew more apt to compete with coca-cola than cerveza is not enough to spare Herr Bemberg et al from my wrath.

What gives Otto & descendants, however, a lifetime pass from at least me is the fact that he was the Man who Brought Barley to the Argentine.

...and not just brought barley here... he made barley WORK... and made Argentina not only a Breadbasket of the World but added the title ¨Maltser to the World¨, as well.

It wasn´t easy. Good European barley grew well here... but not well enough to make anybody fabulously wealthy... or bring membership to La Republica in the club of great maltsers... or even satisfy the small but burgeoning demand for beer in South America.

For that Don Otto would have to work hard... and with a fanatical attention to detail that reminds me of nothing more than John D. Rockefeller´s attention to the emerging lampoil business some 10000km away.

Bemberg actually sent barley seed to every corner of Argentina. He hired the best men to not only sew, grow, and harvest but also to analyze every stage of the growth and the yield and results. Then all the tabulations were sent to Lo de Otto for compilation.

So far, so good... but not good enough for Bemberg.

He then produced his own strains of barley from the results and repeated the process again and again until he had his hands on the very best barley that could grow in South America... particularly in Argentina.

To this this day some or all of the fine micro- and craft-brews in Argentina are entirely from malt either directly from Bemberg or from his descendants... the same barley used in Quilmes Crystal.

I have 50kg of Quilmes Paine barley.

2 or 3 kilos of which is available to any aspiring maltser that attends Thursday´s gathering.

Cheers!
Mike

"A Republic, if you can keep it"

When you're "readin' the news and it sho looks bad" from 10,000km away from the Republic... it's difficult to feel as though you are doing your part to keep it.

Last night, however, a large group of people came together in person and over the internet to organize the first Argentine chapter of Democrats Abroad in history.

And even if we didn't exactly mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor... we did go publicly on the record as being against the madness and, just as importantly, for:

individual freedom in the framework of a JUST SOCIETY... political freedom in the framework of meaningful participation by ALL citizens... and HONEST endeavor in a manner WORTHY of a society of FREE PEOPLE.

If that sounds like something that you personally could get behind... we still need a few more founding members in order to reach the 50 people we need to be recognized as full-fledged country committee.

Listen, when we yanquis finally end our collective madness (again)... you won't be able to find anyone who will admit to slavishly supporting the Bush Administration.

On that day, one half of the US population will either lie or make excuses and claim to have been part of the resistance that finally brought this one-man-rule to an end. Believe me, it will disgust you if there is no way to distinguish yourself from those posers.

Democrats Abroad Argentina offers you something that you will cherish when that day comes...

irrefutable proof that YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED... as a good and decent person, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it ...in a way however great or small.

Click democratsabroad.org/join... or email us at demosabroadargentina... or just leave a comment and we'll contact you personally.

Become a Founder TONIGHT

Don't just be a member... be a founder.

When your adorable little grandchildren look up in your wrinkly old face and ask with that sweet little voice, "What did you do when you lived in Argentina at the turn of the century?"

What are you gonna say? "I chased a lot of cute bootée." "I ate a lot of huge cheap steaks." "I drank malbec 'til my eyes turned the same color."

NO!

You are going look down at the little cherubs and tell them that you made history.

You are going to be able to say that YOU FOUNDED the US Democratic Party in Argentina.

You are going to be able to point to that crinkly aging digital jpeg of you and your cohorts dedicating a plaque in a little park in Buenos Aires and tell them that it's still there for them to visit.

...but you have to show up. ...you've gotta pull your dissipated rump off the sofa and hail that taxicab and come to Thames 2334 in Palermo Viejo at 8pm on Wednesday and give a huzzah!

It's been a long time since Americans abroad have fought fascism. When you're old and gray, everyone will claim to have fired the first shot that brought the world back to its senses... but YOU will have proof.

Proof that you cared. Proof that you recognized evil when no one else did.

Proof that when history needed making... you were there.

Get in on the World Wide Primary on WEDNESDAY at Demos Abroad!

Information for Voters & Potential Delegates

The Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary will take place from February 5-12, 2008 with voting by Internet, mail, fax, and in person at Voting Centers in more than 30 countries around the world.

This primary takes place alongside state primaries being held throughout the United States. As an American citizen living abroad you have the option of voting in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary or in a state presidential primary.

WHY NOT VOTE BACK HOME?

Overseas voters are encouraged to participate in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary because:

* Democrats Abroad have facilitated the process of overseas voting in the Global Presidential Primary by allowing voting by Internet and in person.

* Given this year’s early primary schedule, ballots requested may not arrive in time to complete and return.

* If your voting state votes by caucus, you would have to fly home to participate!

* Your vote will count alongside those of other members of Democrats Abroad towards the allocation of Democrats Abroad’s 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. As such, your individual vote carries significantly more weight than a vote in a state primary or caucus.

ELIGIBILITY

To vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary, a voter must:

* Be a member of Democrats Abroad, the official overseas arm of the Democratic Party of the United States

* Be age 18 or over on November 4, 2008

* Be temporarily or permanently resident outside the United States

* Not vote in any other state presidential primary or caucus

REGISTERING FOR THE DEMOCRATS ABROAD PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

To vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary you must be a registered member of Democrats Abroad. There are no membership fees. Simply complete the online membership form at www.DemocratsAbroad.org/join.

VOTING

In January 2008, Democrats Abroad members will all be sent detailed instructions and will be able to select their preferred voting method: Internet voting, paper ballot (by mail or fax), or in person at a Voting Center in more than 30 countries worldwide. Details will also be posted online at DemocratsAbroad.org and publicized in the press.

In order to vote by Internet, mail, or fax, you must be a registered member of Democrats Abroad by January 31, 2008. To vote in person, you may join Democrats Abroad on the spot and vote immediately at a Voting Center.

YOUR STATE PRIMARY

If you participate in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary, you may notvote for President in your voting-state primary or caucus. (Your “voting state” is the last place you resided before departing the US. If you never resided in the US, most states will accept the last place your parent(s) resided. Contact Democrats Abroad or your local voting registrar for details if required.)

You may choose to request a primary ballot and vote for other offices on your voting-state primary ballot. You should register to vote in the general elections, you can do that now by completing your online ballot request at VoteFromAbroad.org.

DELEGATE SELECTION

Democrats Abroad has the status of a State Party within the Democratic Party. As such, we will send 22 voting Delegates and one or more Alternates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008. Eight of these Delegate positions are pre-allocated to our eight members of the Democratic National Committee. The other Delegates and Alternate(s) will be elected at Democrats Abroad’s Regional Caucuses and Global Convention. Finally, one Member for each of the three Standing Committees of the Democratic National Convention (Platform, Credentials, and Rules) will be elected by the Democrats Abroad Delegation once it has been composed.

If you wish to run for any of these positions, you should contact your local Democrats Abroad organization for the necessary paperwork. Please see DemocratsAbroad.org. If there is no local Democrats Abroad organization in your country, please contactSecretary@DemocratsAbroad.org. You can also obtain a copy of the filing form from theDemocratsAbroad.org website.

Under the Rules of the 2008 Convention, only those people who have been pre-approved by the presidential candidates may run for the position of Delegate, Alternate, or Standing Committee Member. To obtain such pre-approval, you must submit statement-of-candidacy and pledge-of-support forms to the International Chair of Democrats Abroad: Christine Schon Marques, 107 chemin de Saint-Maurice, CH-1245 Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland, Chair@DemocratsAbroad.org. Deadlines are as follows:

February 23, 2008: for any positions elected at the EMEA Regional Caucus on March 15, 2008 in Brussels.

March 14, 2008: for any positions elected by the Global Convention or the meeting of the Democrats Abroad National Convention Delegation on April 12, 2008 in Vancouver.

March 21, 2008: for any positions elected at the Americas and Asia Pacific Regional Caucuses on April 11, 2008 in Vancouver.

Applications for approval by the presidential candidates will be forwarded by the International Chair to representatives of the respective presidential campaigns who will then certify who amongst the candidates for the positions has been pre-approved. Some presidential candidates may also require that you have contacted them directly in order to be pre-approved. Check the website of your preferred candidate for more information.

Once pre-approval is confirmed, it will then be up to the Regional Caucuses to elect nine of the Delegates to the National Convention based on the binding results of the presidential preference vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary on February 5 through 12, 2008. The number of Delegates to be elected by each of the regions will depend on their percentage of participation in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary. In addition, three At-Large Delegates to the National Convention and two Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates will be elected by the Global Convention. They, too, must have been pre-approved by the presidential candidates in order to be eligible to run. Finally, the members of the Standing Committees (Platform, Rules, and Credentials) will be elected by the delegation to the Democratic National Convention once it has been completed at the Democrats Abroad Global Convention. The candidates for those three Standing Committees must also have been pre-approved by the presidential candidates.

Throughout the process, under the affirmative action plan, Democrats Abroad must make every effort possible to ensure not only general balance of the delegation but also to include representatives of Asian-Pacific Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, as well as members of the LGBT Community and disabled persons and youth. Our goal for ethnic diversity amongst the complete delegation is four and our goal for representation from the LGBT Community is one.

Note: It is also possible to run as an Unpledged Delegate to the National Convention. In this case, obviously, there can be no prior approval by the presidential candidate, but an application form must nevertheless be submitted to the International Chair of Democrats Abroad in order to verify that you are in fact a member of Democrats Abroad.

THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION

To request a ballot for the General Election on November 4, 2008, go toVoteFromAbroad.org. Print, sign and mail your ballot request form. Alternatively, contact your local country committee of Democrats Abroad and request help registering to vote.

If you do not receive your state ballot by October 1, 2008, you may cast your vote using a blank back-up ballot called the FWAB, or Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. The FWAB will be printed alongside your ballot request form at VoteFromAbroad.org. Please keep it in a safe place, in case you should require it. You can also return toVoteFromAbroad.org at any time and download a FWAB.

Note: If you register to vote in 2007 and do not receive your voting state’s congressional primary ballot or other voting materials, you should re-register in 2008 to be sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to vote in the November general elections.

DELEGATE SELECTION PLAN

The final version of the Democrats Abroad 2008 Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan has been filed by the International Chair of Democrats Abroad with the Democratic National Committee. A copy of the entire plan can be downloaded atDemocratsAbroad.org.

TIMELINE 2008

Jan 31: Deadline for joining Democrats Abroad in order to vote by Internet, mail, or fax in the Global Presidential Primary

Feb 5-12: Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary. Refer to individual Democrats Abroad Country Committees for opening hours of Voting Centers.

Feb 23: Deadline for application forms to run for positions elected at EMEA Regional Caucus

Mar 14: Deadline for application forms to run for positions elected at the Global Convention or the Democrats Abroad National Convention Delegation Meeting

Mar 15: Europe-Middle East-Africa Regional Caucus, Brussels

March 21: Deadline for application forms to run for positions elected at Americas and Asia-Pacific Regional Caucuses

Apr 11: Americas Regional Caucus, Vancouver

Apr 11: Asia-Pacific Regional Caucus, Vancouver

Apr 12-13: Democrats Abroad Global Convention, Vancouver

Apr 13: National Convention Delegation Meeting, Vancouver

Aug 25-28: Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado

Nov 4: Election Day

ANY QUESTIONS

Secretary@DemocratsAbroad.org

DemocratsAbroad.org

days of heaven

300km toward the center of the provincia de Buenos Aires, the climate is a bit harsher. The middle of summer brings hotter days than the Capital, light snow is not unusual in pleno invierno, the rains of all four seasons lure the conditions of any unpaved road as far into impassibility as their wet siren song can muster. Then, as well, there are other days...

There are days especially in spring where all the sweet liquors of the Argentine climate combine and settle into an exquisite cocktail. A master curry of innumerable mild spices. A cuvée of the best vintages of living and past memories. A thousand novenas of answered prayers spread to anoint every green blade and soft wind.

If indeed the essence of days such as these could be distilled into a self-administered potion it would no doubt be declared illegal and denied to the poor. As it is, every human and animal is free of pain and care. A strong sun slowly and gently warms to the very bones. Shade is startlingly refreshing in its contrast. Nothing more than occasional gentle breezes stir the air. If cows and birds and even plants can experience joy then it is on days such as these that they undoubtedly do.

One actually wonders if a thousand hectares of some narcotic plant is in bloom nearby. Opium eaters among us will recognize a chain of effects beginning with an unsettling feeling. The stomach wonders if it should begin to churn. The inner ear apparently uses the pain of living and the cares and woes of existence to help maintain balance for in their absence one's moorings feel as though they are slipping. The eyes register a slight intensity added to every color. The mind retracts into what feels to be its natural shape, no longer stretched to cover and bind together every ambition.

An acceptance of joy and mercy and something approaching pure love then spreads not so much through one's veins but up from the soles of the boots, through the hair under the warming cap, with the sweat disappearing from under the shirt at every air's caress. The legs seem to search with a will of their own for someplace tall, green and leafy near the ground.

The afternoon's pause in the day's toil will come early on days such as these. Work will resume a little later than normal. Wine will taste deeper, bread more recognizable as the miracle it represents. A nap will bring with it something more than mere sleep. Any possible description will have to wait for tomorrow.

We've had some questions...

...from good people that would love to attend the big shebang on Thursday the 21st but for one reason or another cannot.

In the next couple of days, we'll be posting instructions on how you can still become a founding member of Democrats Abroad Argentina over the internet.

If you think you'll be availing yourself of this option, please drop us a line at demsabroad@yanquimike.com.ar

50 years ago in Yanqui Mike

NEW YORK—November 11, 1957—With the re-election of Mayor Robert F. Wagner of New York and Governor Robert B. Meyner of New Jersey, it looks as though the Democrats really gained last week.

It was sad to see that Virginia elected a segregationist Governor who will be completely subservient, according to news reports, to the Byrd machine. One could not hope, I suppose, for anything different. Virginia once was the leader in freedom and it is sad to realize that this leadership now applies only to white people. In Thomas Jefferson's time, it applied to colored people as well.

In New York City, Stanley Isaacs was the only Republican reelected to City Council, and I for one was pleased to see that the voters of this big city were discriminating enough to re-elect a Republican who stands by his principles and whose loss to the city would have been incalculable.

Experiment in International Living, an educational organization which this year celebrates its 25th year of student exchange work, has presented an award to Chester Bowles, who was United States ambassador to India in 1951-53. This award not only cited the outstanding contribution of Mr. Bowles but that of his whole family in furthering international understanding on a people-to-people level.

News reports have announced that Mr. Bowles is hoping for the nomination for U.S. Senator from Connecticut. I have been thinking for some time that Connecticut is fortunate in having two Democrats who would make outstanding candidates for the Senate—Mr. Bowles and William Benton.

Either one would be a great addition to the Senate, and whichever one is nominated, I will be hoping greatly for his election.

There is a book that I have had in page proof for a long time, but it was not until my trip to Russia that I finally managed to read it. Written by P. Friedman, it is called "Their Brothers Keepers."

This book is inspiring reading in spite of the fact it brings back the horrifying days of Hitler's unbelievable cruelty to the Jewish people. I wish many people would read this book, for it gave me the feeling that if all of us have the courage to protest immediately when we feel something is wrong, we perhaps could prevent such tragedies as Hitler brought about.

The stories in the book show that there were human beings who had the courage to live by the democratic and Christian tradition and to believe in the value of the human personality and spark of divinity that are present in all human beings, which certainly cannot be denied because of race or color.

These stories are about people who had great courage, great faith and lived according to their beliefs.

An interesting bit of opinion...

...from a fellow that calls himself Justice Little (whom I dangerously haven't googled to find out what sort of writings he has published in the past):

"And what of Hillary, our third mujer who would no doubt love to emulate Cristina’s path? If Hillary becomes the next POTUS (President of the United States), she may well take a page from the Peronistas… and possibly enact her own version of Peronism, with an American twist.

Peronism—the political movement Cristina and Nestor Kirchner are aligned with—is a bit of a strange brew. It has a strong whiff of populism to it, but a slight tinge of fascism too. (Juan Perón, husband of Evita and eponymous founder of the movement, was a fan of Mussolini.) Upon describing the various flavors of Peronism, Wikipedia offers the following general characteristics:

* Strong authoritarian centralized government, with strict control of opposition forces.
* Freedom from foreign influences.
* A third-way approach to economics which purported to be neither socialist nor capitalist, but to incorporate elements of both in a corporativist manner.
* The combination of nationalism and social democracy.

That sounds a bit like what the US may be in for. As America’s social fabric is rent asunder by economic hardship, calls for political action will only grow louder. “Freedom from foreign influences” could translate into protectionist sentiment. And as free market criticism grows—look what Wall Street has done to us! etcetera—the fuzzy notion of a “third way” could grow more appealing. And if things get hairy enough, the general populace could start baying for blood… or treasure… or both.

An increase in “authoritarian centralized government” thus seems practically guaranteed for the United States, as evidenced by the fascistic tendencies of the frontrunners in both parties. What’s worse, the average American seems to like all the iron-fist talk… explaining why said front runners are so happy to deliver it."

I used to see too many parallels between Buenos Aires Argentina and the old country. Now, I just see lots of them.

The Cristina/Hillary coincidence has and will inspire any hack with a blog to tap away at a "parallels" story many undoubtedly would never have otherwise written. That shouldn't, however, keep us from seeing them where they really exist.

3 more weeks

November is Democrats Abroad Month and I'd just like to fill you in on a couple of details regarding the tremendous bash we'll be throwing to inaugurate the first chapter of Democrats Abroad in the history of Argentina! That's right. History will be made.

Mark your calendar and be there.

Wednesday, November 21, 8pm, at Thames 2334 entre Güemes y Charcas in Palermo Viejo.

Did I mention FREE BEER? That's right, free beer for all who RSVP... everybody else, too, while supplies last.

All US citizens of voting age that attend will become founding members of Democrats Abroad Argentina.

Democrats Abroad has been looking out for US expats of all political persuasions since 1964. Back then, we expats did not have a right to an absentee ballot in most states. DA changed all that.

Show up.
Become a founder.
Give something back to Buenos Aires Argentina and leave something good here that will last long after we have gone.

Here's a little gaucho delicacy...

...eggs of the avestruz, ñandu, rhea, or sometimes called South American Ostrich. These babies are monsters. And as the population of these giant birds increases (no doubt owing to the increasing presence of grains in the pampas) these giant eggs are getting more and more common!