A Clean Sweep by The Progressive Ticket

With our DAA Vice-Chair of the Americas, Joe Green, certifying the results of the vote at our first Annual General Meeting of the membership today... myself, Deby Novitz, Marta Motta, Frank Almeida, and Matthew Johnson, the candidates of The Progressive Ticket, swept all five of the offices on DAA's Executive Committee.

So many people worked so hard on this campaign that it would be impossible to thank everyone without my slighting someone. To all of you, please accept my undying gratitude.

Certain individuals did, however, serve in an official capacity during this process. Those individuals deserve the thanks and appreciation of every member. They are, as follows:

Beatrice Murch, Nominations Committee
Diana Aiello, Nominations Committee

Alicia Blumencweig, Vote Counting Committee
Sarah Johnson, Vote Counting Committee

My gratitude extends to our loyal opposition in this election, Eric Alvino, Elissa Hambrect, Beth Cushman, and Cate Kelly.

I pledge myself to faithfully representing all of their supporters as your National Chairman as well as continuing my efforts to make DAA agressively representative of every Democrat in Argentina.

Now that the Executive Committee is duly constitued by all members of The Progressive Ticket, we can look forward to a 2 year term of cooperation. We were a self-selected group already dedicated to working toward the advancement of Democrats Abroad Argentina, not an amalgam of disparate interests... and now are all elected by as many of our members that could navigate the voting process.

Under 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, and 19.6 of our bylaws, I call for meetings of the Executive Committee at 678 San Martín on the first and third Thursday of every month, except for Argentine national holidays, at 6pm for a one-hour meeting, the minutes of which will be posted as audio for all to hear.

As your Chairman, I will always insist upon meetings of the Executive Committee in public places and insist that they are open to all members with due notice to all of the time and date.

I will never support holding meetings of Democrats Abroad Argentina in private homes.

My thankfulness and gratitude to all who made this happen.

I hope to see you all this Thursday.

Yours in art and labor,
Yanqui Mike
Chairman,
Democrats Abroad Argentina
Buenos Aires: 4322-0968
VoIP: 312-224-8490

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Last Chance to Vote...

...for me and The Progressive Ticket.

How do you vote?

Join Democrats Abroad Argentina:
https://www.democratsabroad.org/user/register

Print your ballot:
Go to http://www.paisleychick.org/Ballot.pdf
In blue or black ink, Print your name, Sign your name, Write today's date.

Vote for Mike Skowronek
Vote for Deby Novitz
Vote for Marta Motta
Vote for Frank Almeida
Vote for Matthew Johnson

Fax your ballot to Fort Worth Texas:
(817) 977-1369

Last chance to vote. Last chance to save Democrats Abroad Argentina.

Yours in art and labor,
Mike

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Beware of the Living Room People

If you have not yet voted, please do. And while you are deciding whom to vote for please beware of the "Living Room People."

These opponents of The Progressive Ticket are well on their way to shrinking this organization that YOU built ...into a quiet society that can fit into their well-appointed living rooms ...where it will never be heard from again.

You may never be heard from again, either.

Expect from them "zero tolerance", whatever that means. Expect that you will not be able to call a liar a liar (exceptions will, no doubt be made for yours truly ...and, I expect, certain others!) Expect that if you express yourselves too often, you will run afoul of the Living Room People ...and expect not to be welcome in their living rooms.

You in the many provinces of Argentina can expect no special efforts to include you beyond "I'm sorry that you find it inconvenient."

Under my leadership as our 1st chairman, we have kicked up a lot of dust, bruised some sensitive feelings, and almost run afoul of the law! But we made history at almost every turn.

We built Democrats Abroad Argentina from the minimum 50 members required for recognition ...to 500 members today.

Under my leadership, we reached out to Democrats in every corner of Argentina, in the underrepresented barrios of Capital, to groups that needed our help ...and groups that offered help to us. You can't build that kind of an organization in a living room. You can't even continue an organzation like that in a living room.

Every step of the way, I was told, "No! You can't do that!" My stock answer was, "Yes, I can; yes, you can, too; and yes, anybody can do this! Why don't WE do it FIRST and the BEST way we are able."

You have an opportunity to vote "YES".

You have an opportunity to keep DAA from becoming an Buenos Aires afternoon tea society. You have an opportunity to choose action and community building instead of placid co-operation that will take us backward.

Please vote The Progressive Ticket:
Yanqui Mike Skowronek, Chairman
Deby Novitz, Vice-Chair
Marta Motta, National Secretary
Frank Almeida, Treasurer
Matthew Johnson, Counsel

You'll be proud that you did.

...If you have not yet voted, please go to http://www.paisleychick.org/Ballot.pdf and print your ballot.

If you cannot attend the Annual General Meeting, please contact me and I'll send you a volunteer so that you can give your signed, sealed ballot to a friend who will attend and will courier your ballot to the meeting. (email me: letters@yanquimike.com.ar or call me at 4322 -0968 or VoIP 312-224-8490.

Just a few more days until we will count the votes of those fortunate enough to have their ballot arrive by post, arrive by fax to Fort Worth Texas(!), and those who can physically attend the AGM at the Argentine Deaf-Mutes' Home(!) on Saturday at 3pm.

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Are you a Democrat?

...if so, there's still time to vote for the group of 5 people that will direct the future of Democrats Abroad Argentina. (instructions on how to vote below)

...if not, join here.

We're beginning to change some minds.

I've warned since mid-November that a group of DAA members are attempting to seize control of the organization and turn it into a sleepy Afternoon Tea Society for only the toniest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.

It was difficult to believe ...even for me when I first saw it.

I've been warning about the "Living Rooms", the inappropriate places to host meetings (and private executions!) of a national organization that constitutes the US Democratic Party in Argentina.

But some people are beginning to come to the same conclusion given the campaign statements of the 3 people that oppose The Progressive Ticket to which I belong.

This campaign has been messy ...maybe even dirty ...with unsubstantiated charges from both sides. But there can be no doubt as to the passion.

The passion, however, has come in two very different flavors: a passion to continue our achievements ...and a passion to seize control and tame Democrats Abroad Argentina now that it is established and finally worthy of jealously.

The Progressive Ticket needs your help.

Help keep us a national organization ...in one of the biggest nations on earth.

You in Greater Buenos Aires, please help The Progressive Ticket.

Help, with your much greater numbers, keep Democrats Abroad Argentina representative of ALL Democrats, those in EVERY city and province. Don't let us degenerate to a fancy Buenos Aires Democrats Club ...that will fit in a fancy Recoleta living room and generate resume items for some mildly ambitious transients and those that would seek to profit from control of the organization you worked so hard to build.

Vote for The Progressive Ticket:

Yanqui Mike Skowronek, Chairman
Deby Novitz, Vice-Chair
Marta Motta, National Secretary
Frank Almeida, Treasurer
Matthew Johnson, Counsel

(Instructions for voting TODAY thru Saturday the 31st before 3pm.)

Members of Democrats Abroad Argentina can vote now ...until 3pm Saturday the 31st.

Not a Member??? Join here

It's too late to vote by post. But you can fax your ballot to Ft. Worth Texas (don't ask... It wasn't my decision) ...or you can deliver your ballot to our Annual General Meeting.

You can also give your ballot to a friend that will be in attendance...

...call or write here for a friend that will be in attendance:

Buenos Aires: 4322 - 0968
VoIP: (312) 224 - 8490
letters@yanquimike.com.ar

Get your ballot here: http://www.paisleychick.org/Ballot.pdf
(...not very professional either, but I'm starting to get used to it.)

The fax number and location of the DAA Annual General Meeting (at the Argentine Deaf-Mutes' Home ...is there a pattern here?) are shown on your ballot.

Print your name.
Sign it.
Date it.

Get help
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOTE COUNTS:
Buenos Aires: 4322 - 0968
VoIP: (312) 224 - 8490
letters@yanquimike.com.ar
Provincia de Buenos Aires, Provincia de Catamarca, Provincia del Chaco, Provincia del Chubut, Provincia de Córdoba, Provincia de Corrientes, Provincia de Entre Ríos, Provincia de Formosa, Provincia de Jujuy, Provincia de La Pampa, Provincia de La Rioja, Provincia de Mendoza, Provincia de Misiones, Provincia del Neuquén, Provincia de Río Negro, Provincia de Salta, Provincia de San Juan, Provincia de San Luis, Provincia de Santa Cruz, Provincia de Santa Fe, Provincia de Santiago del Estero, Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, Provincia de Tucumán, La Plata, San Fernando del V, Resistencia, Rawson, Córdoba, Corrientes, Paraná, Formosa, San Salvador de Jujuy, Santa Rosa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Posadas, Neuquén, Viedma, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Río Gallegos, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Ushuaia, San Miguel de Tucumán

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See you in microcentro!

Should be good fun, as always!

...as usual, Drinking Liberally Buenos Aires is HERE!

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Barack Hussein Obama

Inauguration Day! Come to Sugar Bar, Costa Rica 4619, Palermo Soho!

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Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

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Did My Vote Count?

How will you know?

You can snail-mail it via the Argentine Post Office ...or any other post office in whatever country you might be visiting this holiday month.

Or you can fax it to FORT WORTH TEXAS, fercrissakes! (I'm not making that up.)

Or you can use the Free Courier Service from the Progressive Ticket.

But who knows if it will actually get to the Annual General Meeting on the 31st.

The Progressive Ticket of Democrats Abroad Argentina has a service for you to put your mind at ease regarding whether or not your vote actually got counted: our supporters will be there at the DAA Annual General Meeting

...and we will present a list of every voter that registers with us.
...we don't want to know who you voted for.
...we just want to make sure that if you said you voted, that your vote was counted.

If you vote/voted ...please email us here at yanqui mike ...and our observers will insist on knowing that your vote arrived.

We will report back to YOU!

Please include the method you used to vote: Fax, Snail-mail, or courier.

Our witnesses will verify that your vote counts! ...and counted.

Register HERE for our witnesses to verify that your vote was counted.

Another service from the people that bust their asses to represent ALL Democrats in Argentina: Your Progressive Ticket

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Candidate Profiles: Matthew Johnson

As a member and participant of Democrats Abroad Argentina, I've watched the Past Chair and present candidate, Mike Skowronek, work to create a dynamic organization that functions to serve the American community in Argentina. From the voter registration drives to events for the 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential debates, Mike's efforts have contributed to DAA becoming a center point for the American community in Buenos Aires and the provinces of Argentina.

I would like to help. It would be an honor serve as Counsel to DAA and assist with the continuation of these types of efforts.

I am an expat living in Buenos Aires for almost two years now. I do private research here in the area of imaging science related to my background in photonics and opto-electronics.

Prior to Buenos Aires, I worked closely with legal staff from the U.S. private and public sectors. For about 10 years my skills were applied to protecting technology based infrastructure systems as well as the investigation and prosecution of entities misusing those systems.

During my first 13 months in Buenos Aires, my company tasked me with managing a project to survey and evaluate the legal environment in Argentina as it relates to the operation of foreign companies. The team I managed coordinated with a network of attorneys to accomplish this task.

In short, Argentina is a melting pot of laws and legal theories that are as varied as their European origins. In many cases the law is codified to a level of detail that is unfamiliar to the U.S. The smallest and simplest business relationships between individuals and/or companies are manged to a finite degree by laws that can take precedence over contractual relationships.

If elected, I look forward to researching solutions and reaching out to the necessary people to find assistance for DAA when needed. I also look forward to the opportunity to serve the DAA membership and work with other members of the Progressive Ticket (see list below) to continue DAA as an active and vibrant organization.

Cheers,
MJ

The Progressive Ticket:
Chairman: Yanqui Mike Skowronek
Vice- Chair: Deby Novitz
Secretary: Marta Motta
Treasurer: Frank Almeida
Counsel: Matthew Johnson (myself)

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Candidate Profiles: Frank Almeida

I am honored to be included for consideration for the position of Treasurer. I wholehearted support "The Progressive Ticket", as well.

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, single 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 recieved 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.

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Candidate Profiles: Marta Motta

Hello, I'm Marta Motta.

I'm honored to run for Secretary of Democrats Abroad Argentina. I appreciate your taking the time to get to know me a little better.


First of all allow me tell you that I fully I support the "Progressive Ticket" of:


Chairman: Yanqui Mike Skowronek
Vice- Chair: Deby Novitz
Secretary: Marta Motta (myself)
Treasurer: Frank Almeida
Counsel: Matthew Johnson

We are a progressive group devoted to action (there's never a shortage of words, is there?)

Let me to introduce myself.

All my life I've stressed the importance of education and political involvement. I like motivating youth and volunteered in public service to help disadvantaged youths gain the necessary preparation. On a more personal level I am family oriented, I'm a happy Mom and Grandma married to a professional world awarded musician.

I was born in Pergamino, Argentina and I moved with my husband to the US attracted by the ideals that have made America great and to give my kids the opportunity to live in the country of opportunities.

We arrived in LA and adopted our new home country in 1989 and I began to be involved in public service. While in California I worked as Community Representative for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I helped organize parents' centers and worked on their planning and development. I organized the first LAUSD Parent Center, at Mulholland Middle School, in the San Fernando Valley.

I regularly wrote columns for educational magazines and was invited also on a regular basis to talk on radio. On the business side, I worked as the General Manager of the music company "Maga Music".

In 2000 we moved from California and settled in Las Vegas where we finally had the opportunity to put down roots for 5 years. I joined several women's organizations and Latino organizations and worked campaigning with several labor unions.

I served as a Community Organizer in California and Nevada and I campaigned hard for Democrat candidates such as:

* Hilda Solis, Obamaís nominee US Secretary of Labor.
* Shelley Berkley, Congresswoman for Nevada, US House of Representative.
* Dina Titus, US Congresswoman for Nevada, Las Vegas 3rd District.
* Harry Reid, US Senator for Nevada, Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate
* Ruben Kihuen, Assemblyman District 11, Las Vegas, Nevada
* Estella Morales, Former Nevada Hispanic Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair and 2000 DNC Delegate.
* Ruben Zacarias, First Hispanic Superintendent of LA School District

Upon returning to Argentina from Las Vegas I joined Democrats Abroad Argentina. As your Secretary I will bring my organization skills, my energy, my experience and strong political links within the Democratic Party as well. Itís also my deep wish to help integrate American residents in Argentina with Argentineans by offering my knowledge on local issues.

I enjoy staying positive and bringing people together. I believe in collective teamwork and individual responsibility. I learned to work with courtesy under pressure and I am committed to equality, to labor causes and appreciation for education. Iím a hard worker and I feel very inspired and confident that 2009 political challenges are going to be democratically solved by our grassroots positive actions.

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Candidate Profiles: Deby Novitz

I have been a community organizer and invloved in politics since I was 17 years old. Once I earned the right to vote I never stopped. I have voted in every election regardless of where I lived. My grandparents instilled in me the right to vote is a privilege and I took that right very seriously.

My generation was the first to vote at 18. I began my activist career by registering my fellow high school students to vote and subsequently college students when I landed there in the fall of 71. It was the only way I felt we could make a difference to end the Vietnam war.

Throughout my life I have worked in every presidential election, senatorial, and on the local level for causes and local politicians that I believed in. I believe that every vote counts. It is the only way to make a difference. The last 20 years I lived in the US I lived in Oakland California.

I worked for the Democratic party helping to coordinate the Latino vote in the Furitvale district. On the community level I worked to keep our neighborhood safe and free of McDonalds. (Oh yes I did, and we won!)

You might say I have been a quilombera ( shit- disturber) my whole life and I don't plan to stop now that I live here. The politics of the United States has an effect on the whole world. Witness the meltdown that has happened with the Bush Administration. Our votes still count! It doesn't matter where we live, we still need to vote.

I believe that Democrats Abroad Argentina can continue to be one of the strongest supporters of the Democratic party outside of the country. I want to help continue that process. I know that if you elect me I will work hard for you. Why? Because that is how I am. I always give 200%. I would be honored to serve as Vice Chair of Democrats of Abroad Argentina. Please support the Progressive Ticket of

Chairman:Mike Skowronek
Vice- Chair: Deby Novitz
Secretary: Marta Motta
Treasurer: Frank Almeida
Counsel: Matthew Johnson

We want to support all the Democrats of Argentina, not just the Democrats who live in Recoleta or Palermo. I don't have the kinds of friends who can produce $400,000
dollar dinners for presidents, I have the kinds of friends who walk
precints, who knock on doors, who have people in their living rooms to
tell you what the candidates are like.

The Progressive Ticket wants the second season of DAA to work to get the Democrats in the rest of Argentina active in our organization. I want to help to make that happen.

OK, what do I do now? I came to Buenos Aires in 2004 after 18 trips from 2000 - 2004. I sold everything in the US. I am full time legal resident here. I have a bed and breakfast for tango dancers in my apartment. I teach English, I do translations....and of course...I dance tango If you really want to know more about me you can read my blog www.tangospam.typepad.com. It was picked as one of the world's 350 best blogs and is now highlighted on Globalpost.com and from time to time on Huffingtonpost.com. I hope Mrs. Sargent my 8th-10th grade English teacher is proud of me.

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We need your votes.

I'm Yanqui Mike Skowronek and I'm running for re-election for Chairman of Democrats Abroad Argentina as part of The Progressive Ticket of DAA members devoted to keeping our organization vital and active all year-round.

The Progressive Ticket consists of myself, Deby Novitz, Marta Motta, Frank Almeida, and Matthew Johnson.

Democrats Abroad Argentina is a national organization that gives a real voice to Democrats within the United States Democratic Party. This is what I have fought for since the day we founded DAA more than a year ago...

...The Progresive Ticket is devoted to returning that real voice to you.

Democrats Abroad Argentina is NOT a "Recoleta Democrats Club"; our chartered purpose is to advance the interests of all our supporters residing in Argentina. That means Democrats in all 23 provinces as well as every barrio porteño. Our chartered purpose means that we must advance the interest of Democrats of every description, every race, every sexual orientation, and any financial means...

...The Progressive Ticket is devoted to returning to that task of maintaining and expanding that representation of all Democrats in Argentina.

That is not easy to do in a country that is more than 1/3 the size of the continental US ...and in the 11th largest city in the world.

Getting that tough job done requires activity; it requires action.

The Progressive Ticket's opponents are devotees of keeping DAA small and quiet and headquartered in the finest addresses that Buenos Aires has to offer ...and keeping the rabble out of their living room meetings.

Turning Democrats Abroad Argentina into a Buenos Aires Afternoon Tea Society will make it much easier to manage... but you will lose.

Vote for The Progressive Ticket and keep us united. United for action. United for good deeds. United for building the US Democratic Party in Argentina. United for the expatriate community. United for service to our members.

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New Blogs: ...take the ride.

It was a January 6th post by food pilgrim Layne Mosler of Go Where the Taxista Takes You that first caught my eye ...then I was reminded of her last night after stumbling upon an old NPR story.

"I'm a freelance food writer based in Buenos Aires. Every week, I hop in a taxi, ask the driver to take me to his favorite place to eat, and chronicle my adventures (culinary and otherwise). As the food columnist for South American Explorer and a regular contributor to Time Out Buenos Aires, I'm always searching for a great meal."

She's in Northern California right now but intends to be back in Baires any day now.

Give her some encouragement ...I'm drooling for a new post from Layne.

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...off to Drinking Liberally

Hope I see you there!

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New Blogs: Every Day in BA

Rick Powell is a recently arrived gay expat whose upbringing (Indiana via 14 years in Chicago) parallels my own. I remember exchanging a few emails with Rick prior to his move here from Prague.

He's an experienced Prague blogger and his take on our own expat mecca can't help but be interesting.

Every Day in BA! Stop by his new blog. See you there.

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New Blogs: The Argentina Gringo

The Argentina Gringo is a great start-up that gives his own opinions about the issues of the day here among us expats.

Keep an eye on him and lemme know how those opinions jive with yours.

Support your new bloggers!

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They're here...

...the new bus fares, that is.

There's still a lot of confusion. I had thought that the fares would increase on Monday ...but I paid 90¢ all day. Today I noticed everybody in front of me paying $1.20 ...but the machine came up $1.10 for me after telling the driver what street I was going to.

La Nacion notes a lot of confusion among their readers. Depending on the zone boundaries that you do or don't cross, your fare will vary. Some readers are reporting that their return trips between the same two bus stops are diferent. Still some others contend that the fare varies depending on the driver.

If we ever get a hold of the zone maps, we'll post them here.

What was your collectivo experience today?

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New Blogs: Discover Buenos Aires

A new aggregator, Discover Buenos Aires ...the adventures of NEW expats ...takes a fresher look at news coming from all of us and all of Argentina than some of us tired old long-timers.

Give it a look and give them some feedback on their ambitious task that they've chosen on keeping us all informed.

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New Blogs: Esplendor y Miseria

Annie hasn't posted since New Year's Eve ...but Esplendor y Miseria has been at it since July. Lots of content from the perspective of a woman that has lived a full life ...and is now beginning another.

One to watch ...make sure that you give her some encouragement for 2009 posts.

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New Blogs: Seashells and Sunflowers

The first in a series... of new blogs that we expats should be looking at in 2009.

I chose Seashells and Sunflowers as the first because it is very expat and not from Buenos Aires Capital. Well, that and (full disclosure) she was brought to my attention by her quoting a post I made from 2006.

That having been said, the blog is by a young US woman living in the lovely coastal town of Necochea Argentina ...where both sunflowers and seashells are emblematic of the surroundings.

It's not easy being an expat ...and being an expat outside of Capital has its own special challenges. Please give Katie a look and send her the kind of encouragement that all of us here in similar shoes should.

Support new bloggers and expats!

Look for more new blogs in this space everyday.

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Street Food Chinatown Buenos Aires

The videos are up! Sunday was another perfectly beautiful, stunningly splendid, summer's day ...and as luck would have it, the beautiful and talented 99 chose the afternoon for her Chinatown Street Food Safari.

Some of us jumped on the train in Retiro to make out to Barrio Chino ...and if you don't know about the train system here in town, you really should take a few moments and add that system to your taxi / subte / collectivo bag of tricks. It's tremendously fast and cheap. Check your 'hood for a rail station and keep it in mind for all the points along the line.

The food was scrumptious and unidentifiable ...and cheap. Nothing over 3 pesos. And lots of fun.

Click around the above graphic for links to YouTube uploads.

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Our Own Cameron Snow ...in Cairo

Buenos Aires expat Cameron Snow touched-down yesterday in his new home, Egypt.

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The Fourpoint Report

Another new blog! This one from someone I know well and a founder of Drinking Liberally, too!

He's just warming up... look for some good observation and analysis from the Libertarian part of the spectrum! After many visits to Buenos Aires, he's finally here permanently should be part of your survival kit as to how to navigate, survive and prosper here in the Argentine.

Give him a look! And maybe come out tonight and meet him and his lovely wife.

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Yanqui takes lead in Today's Dakar

18:49 - Bike
2 - Marc Coma loses a quarter of an hour

Timed at 6h56’51", the leader in the general standings, Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) a lost 15’45" on today’s winner, Jonah Street (KTM). As for Cyril Despres (KTM), he also lost 14’46" on the young American rider.

18:47 - Bike
26 - First stage victory for Street

As the first 5 cars have now reached the end of this 5th special stage, American rider Jonah Street (KTM) has been so far timed in the lead of the stage rankings, 7’34" ahead of Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM) and 11’12 ahead of Frenchman David Frétigné and his 450cc Yamaha.

This just in: Dakar claims life of French motorcycle rider
( Reuters)
BUENOS AIRES, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Dakar Rally retained its deadly reputation despite a change of continent when the body of a 49-year-old French motorcycle rider was found early on Wednesday morning.
"We are saddened to learn that Pascal Terry was found dead in the night from Jan 6 to 7 at 0210 am," organisers said in a statement. "He was in a place very hard to access in the middle of heavy bushes, some 15 metres from his bike. He had his helmet off and had found some shadow."

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Drinking Liberally is Back!

After the back-to-back Thursday holidays, Drinking Liberally Buenos Aires returns to charge the air with good, liberal thought and conversation.

That fine old tradition of liberal tavern politics lives on ...EVERY week, EVERY Thursday, ALWAYS at 7:00pm and ALWAYS at Sir Will's Pub, San Martín 678, in conveinient microcentro!

No leaders, no members, no rules ...just principles.

Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, Radicalista, or Peronista ...if you consider yourself a liberal, you're welcome at Drinking Liberally Buenos Aires.

This Thursday should be a blast!

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Marc Coma still leads Dakar

Spain's Marc Coma has finished first again in today's Stage 3 from Puerto Madryn to Jacobacci, Rio Negro.

"Pending validation, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) easily won this 3rd staget, 17’49" ahead of his team mate and countryman Jordi Viladoms (KTM) and Norway’s Pal-Anders Ullevalseter (KTM), both tieing in 2nd place. The third fastest time of the stage goes to France’s David Casteu (KTM) checking 18’16" behind the winner. By a way of consequence, in the overall rankings, Coma now has a 39’11" lead over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), also leader in the 450cc category and a 41’14" lead over Dutchman Frans Verhoeven (KTM), who is the leader in the marathn category."

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Summertime and the livin's easy...

...especially if you write for the Wall Street Journal!

It's 34º (94F) right now ...but with only 22% humidity, we'd kill for an afternoon like this in July in Chicago. (Actually, our tradition there is to wait at least until 3am when it's 98F with 98% humidity before taking a life over the weather.)

Yes, friends, the weather here is back to "normal paradise" rather than the last two weeks of unseasonably supernatural springtime. Porteños will tell you when pressed, "Sure, God is everywhere ...but his office is in Buenos Aires." Maybe the Big Guy was in town.

But if you're George Selgin, the sun is always shinin' on your WSJ gig well away from no longer having to regurgitate important fictions about money matters in the financial capital of the USofA...

...if you're George, you can go to Argentina and regurgitate fictional money matters here!

I ask you, whether you're from here or afar, how many times have you heard about Buenos Aires having no small coins in circulation?

How many times have you seen the requisite foto of a kiosco with a sign asking for correct change due to a lack of coins in circulation?

Lexis/Nexis somebody, please. In five years, I've seen more of these stories than actual shortages.

It's a fact that there's not enough small change to allow you to make any goofy transaction you want in Buenos Aires with each and every tiny vendor in town. I don't know what part of NYC Mr. Selgin is from (closer review shows that he's actually from West Virginia!) ...but I once saw a guy try to buy a pack of cigarettes in Manhattan with a $100 bill. The response was a quiet dose of pure Big Apple Brand venom.

Of course, here we sudacas are not allowed that kinda 'tude. "Want change for a five-peso (about $1.70) note? Don't try getting it at a store, unless you plan to buy something" he says ...in what appears to be amazement.

George, ol' pal, try asking for 5 bucks worth of change in "a store" in almost any big US city. Get back to me when you get a chance.

The truth is that there's enough small change for everyone to conduct their normal business.

Sure, you can get caught short and have a problem sometimes ...but that's when you're outside your neighborhood dealing with one of the myriad of tiny vendors that don't know you ...but know that they'll never see you again.

Each one of these kiosqueros has change ...but not for you.

They have coins for their regular, faithful customers in case one of them has nothing more than a medium-sized bill. Those regulars also assist the vendor in at least attempting to pay with coins or exact change.

Earthshaking? Bizarre? I don't think so.

Very much like New York (not so much, Morgantown), this city functions with scads of tiny vendors without which we couldn't live the life we love here. A century of market-feedback has determined exactly how many kioscos can exist (ever see a kiosco go out of business? It's rare!) Every kiosco makes it's living serving its small but densely populated turf ...and occasionally other passers-by. The occasionals pay with exact change when coins get tight.

Some sage told me shortly after my arrival here, "You can't do anything in Baires without a friend." Good advice. So different from Chicago where you can get anything done just waiving around a big bankroll. Here, you need to make friends with your corner shop owner, newsstand, shoeshine, etc. Don't just buy your little stuff all over town, become part of your barrio. Try paying with the smallest bill and as close to exact change as you can. That way, if you pull up lame some time, he'll give you change without hesitation ...no matter what the sign says. "That's the Buenos Aires way" (in my best Sean Connery accent.)

George has a twist to his "no coin" reprise, I'll give him that. He says the government is too much in control of... get this... the currency. Christ almighty. I guess that crap doesn't sell so well up North anymore. Maybe Mr. Selgin is trying to find somewhere far, far away in which to ride out the Obama years.

In his best you-know-what-you-people-need-down-here, he posits that big supermarket chains could avoid shortages by issuing tokens instead of coins. Hell! Where does he think we get all of our coins? I even got 80¢ from the Retiro San Martín railway station today. Some shortage.

He goes onto grumble that his idea wouldn't work because the government wouldn't stand for corporations privately printing currency. There goes that damm gubmint, agin!

My neighborhood supermercado could probably spit out "coupons" worth 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos all day long at a push of a button ...and the government probably couldn't care less. But people would scream! Doesn't sound like the 18th century British coin shortage that he describes so well.

Give it up, George. There's enough coins. If you're here on an expense account, try practicing this old yanqui phrase, "Keep the change." Quedate con el vuelto.

If you're in town longer than a week or two, save your small change for the tiny vendors next to your digs, buy your paper and smokes and breath mints from them, keep some coins for the bus ...and enjoy your day.

It's beautiful outside! Hey, you gonna eat that bon-bon?

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Dakar - una gauchada

Dakar motorcycle driver, Marc Coma of Spain, was leading the pack yesterday and got off to a very good start today until...

"I had a serious problem because at kilometre 100 my oil radiator sprang a leak. I do not know why, as I did not notice anything out of the ordinary, but actually there was a loss of oil pressure and that is an important problem. At kilometre 108 I stopped to try and solve the problem with a paste we carry. In the end I half-solved the problem, but it began to leak again."

Km108, somewhere between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, doesn't have too many spectators. Coma told the press today that this kind of problem can put you completely out of the rally.

About 10k back up the road, Coma had tried to buy some oil but was told that none was available. He was ready to write-off his 2009 attempt ...when he noticed a child had appeared next to his racing machine. "¿Te faltas algo?" The competitor told the kid that he needed a liter of oil.

"In 5 minutes, I was presented with oil."

After finishing in top place yesterday, Coma finished today 12 minutes behind the number one position. He still leads overall by 13 minutes.

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Dakar Fever in Buenos Aires

The teams all over Buenos Aires are champin' at the bit this new year's day in Argentina! We talked to one lodged in the hotel across the street from our apartment today. They're thinking about last minute items that they should have procured ...on a day when everything is closed!

I'm catchin' the fever a bit this year because not only do I have a support crew living across the street from me ...but the route of this year's race goes right by our cattle ranch!

The Dutch team we spoke to badly needed camping equipment ...originally they were under the impression that there would be hotels all along the 10,000km route from Buenos Aires ...and back again to Buenos Aires ala The Motorcycle Diaries.

Not even the teams know where the starting line will be Saturday ...that will be announced only hours in advance.

Dig the site: www.dakar.com ...and some photos I took of the team across the street.

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