yanqui mike buenos aires argentina

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Senate Health Care Bill

Does anyone realize what the Rethugs just did to us?

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The video to your right is NOT evangelistic in the least! I may have to take it down because people are getting the wrong idea about a porteño version of Lynyrd Skynyrd with some GREAT visuals of Buenos Aires.

Montevideo Journal

My and me blog still ain't exactly back on our feet yet ...but, sheesh. I never thought that I'd write a beef post entitled "Montevideo Journal."

But here it is! The title was glommed from the NYT, and the article is a must-read, but it is à propos of everything that I want to write about hoy en día.

The article is spot on. I'll simply add that there is no way that anyone can tell the difference between a fine grass fed steak from Argentina ...and one from Uruguay (full disclosure: I have no idea as to the state of feed-lot beef in Uruguay.)

But ladies and gents, I can't even believe myself when I tell you that it may soon be easier to obtain a fine grass-fed steak in the UNITED STATES ...than it soon will be in Argentina.

I can't believe I just wrote those words.

Much, much more to come.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

We're Almost Back

First of all, a MILLION thanks to all of you who have kept visiting during our downtime this last 6 weeks or so.

If I ever wondered if anyone truly cared about my little blog ...I don't wonder anymore.

Anyhoo, my advice to anyone that wants to schedule EVERYTHING for the month of November is "don't do it." If you do, it will bleed into December and probably January.

My fault, totally. Springtime (November, down here) is the busiest season for a rancher. Now that we farm as well, it's even busier. Add to that the death of my personal computer and list of other things that is too depressing to re-live... thank God I can't even remember them all... and I'm just now pulling out of the weeds.

Next November, yanquimike.com.ar will be on hiatus ...so help me, God.

While I'm repeatedly invoking the Deity Herself ...lemme praise Buenos Aires' own PETE HOWELL of www.meccahosting.com for his Sisyphean efforts to help me out of my self-imposed jam. If you are looking for webhosting, you won't do better than Pete and his crew.

Bueno. There's lot's to talk about here in the Paris of the Palmtrees, the Breadbasket of South America, and the "Home of the Brave and the Free - in exile." Let's get to it.

But thanks again for stickin' wit' da Shank ...spread the word, we're almost back.

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The New Global Student

It's truly satisfying when good things happen to good people ...and the reviews filtering-in from allá regarding Maya Frost's new book are actually exciting.

I knew that Maya was working on this book for a long time ...and that impresses me even more; the timing of the release put this book in the vanguard of recession consciousness! How'd she do that? The number of parents willing to consider alternatives to the sudden sticker shock of today's 4 year institutions must be suddenly enormous. When that alternative is as attractive as what Maya describes, the book strikes me as a must-have for anyone with children reaching that age. Although I've never been blessed ...I'm still fascinated at economic aspect of the subject. The responsibility that parents feel ...and the responsibility they are trying to instill ...takes on a new aspect in what could be a long recession: student debt is crushing some of the US' brightest. A recent NYT article was most noteworthy for the more than 400 comments it generated, mostly from students describing the life-long hell they are facing in order pay the bill (more than one is pondering leaving the US permanently to escape the unpayable debt.) Parents both with and without the means to pick-up the tab can't go wrong by adding Maya's book to their survival kit. Making sure that their kids are aware should be a cinch when it's presented as such an attractive and fulfilling alternative.

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Ian Mount/MarketPlace

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Buenos Aires' own Ian Mount reports on a subject close to the Yanq's heart: producing the beef that we all know and love. Ian's piece on American Public Radio's Marketplace is only a few minutes but if I haven't been able to get through to you on this very important subject, I'm confident that Mount's fine audio piece will do the job. Give it a listen here. My wife and I are trying our very best to hold onto our cattle, unlike ALL our immediate neighbors who have had to "take the bull by the tail and face the situation" ...for their own survival. Hats off, man! Good job.

Bourdain en Baires

I'm probably the only person here in Argentina that has not seen the No Reservations episode (here's a link to it... get it while you can) where Ant'ny comes to our fair burg to sample our burg's fare ...but I don't watch a lot of TV. However! When my pitiful channel surfing does land on an episode of his... my television treaty with My Missus invokes the Anthony Bourdain Clause and all other viewing ceases ...a cease-fire is invoked, as well ...and quiet reigns for the duration. Ok. Maybe you've seen the episode (or not... I'm not really sure that we have this particular season here on cable yet)... ...but just maybe I have something new for you! This particular scene looks like it was cut from the episode ...but was good enough to make into something of a promo. Man, am I glad it was. This shows Tony in the venerable El Cuartito ...finding his love for Argentine empanadas. For the love of God, please, don't blame that indescribable commercial on me. What struck me about the promo is that in something less than 4 minutes, Bourdain travels the length and breadth of my own experience with empanadas! I love meat-pies of just about any description but, for some reason, I could not fall in love with empanadas here. I don't know why. Argentine empanadas are truly champions among that food group ...but for my first 2 years here, I avoided them as the most pedestrian and uninspiring food in town. Never could explain it to myself nor anyone else. Nowadays, empanadas are my backstop whenever I get bored with local food! Couldn't live without them. I've always liked and admired Anthony Bourdain's approach and savvy and program. However, seeing him condense my 2 years of personal experience with a touchstone Argentine food ...into what couldn't have been more than 2 hours of shooting ...makes me admire him so very much more. The guy's not just another talking food head.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

3000 days in Afganistan

Monday, December 21, 2009

Senate Health Care Bill

Sunday, December 20, 2009

No Holy-Rollers on this site!

Montevideo Journal

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

We're Almost Back

Back Issues

Hug a Swine from 99

The New Global Student

Ian Mount/MarketPlace

Bourdain en Baires