From the monthly archives:

July 2008

Lady Liberty

2008.Jul.31 Thursday

 The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” – Thomas Jefferson Buenos Aires – It’s one of those quirky little things that somehow or other doesn’t even register. I’ve wandered through the parque Barrancas del Belgrano (the Belgrano Barracks, which is what used to be on the site [...]

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Oh Mami!

2008.Jul.30 Wednesday

 Savoriness or umami is the name for the taste sensation produced by the free glutamates commonly found in fermented and aged foods. The additive monosodium glutamate (MSG), which was developed as a food additive in 1907 by Kikunae Ikeda, produces a strong umami taste. Umami is also provided by the nucleotides that are naturally present [...]

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Mexican Spitfire

2008.Jul.24 Thursday

 The first time you buy a house you think how pretty it is and sign the check. The second time you look to see if the basement has termites. It’s the same with men.” – Lupe Vélez, actress Buenos Aires – I like celebrating people’s 100th birthdays or similar events for Casa SaltShaker dinners. They [...]

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The Supremes – Track 1

2008.Jul.22 Tuesday

 Although the Assembly of 1813, as a representative body, did not comply with its fundamental objective of sanctioning a constitution, it developed a vast legislative activity pro individual freedom and constituted the opening into new institutional modes. From the point of view of the political organization, it established a Unipersonal Executive Power, creating the position [...]

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Sourdough Dreams

2008.Jul.20 Sunday

 It is important to understand the basic differences between the wild yeast of sourdough and the commercial baker’s yeast in most other breads. First sourdough yeast grow best in acidic doughs, while baker’s yeast does better in neutral or slightly alkaline doughs. Baker’s yeast is a single species, with hundreds of strains and varieties, while [...]

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Park Designer Park

2008.Jul.17 Thursday

 Se es mas feliz viviendo en una cabana dentro de un parque que en un palacio sin jardin. [One is happier living in a cabin in a park than in a palace without a garden.] – Carlos Thays, French landscape architect Buenos Aires – Despite having designed some of Buenos Aires’ most important parks – [...]

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Three Manly Games

2008.Jul.16 Wednesday

 THRONGS OF MONGOLS in resplendent robes of blue, red, and maroon swarm Ulaan Baatar’s Central Stadium. Archers snap bows, bands blow brass music, and the air is saturated with the pungent odor of mutton, the national dish (the older and tougher, the better). Yet all eyes are focused on the field, where scores of burly [...]

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Welcome to The Plateau

2008.Jul.15 Tuesday

 Sun, sea, wine and red meat every day. Scientists say a village in Sardinia holds the key to long life.” – Robert Hardman, UK Daily Mail Buenos Aires – While I’m gathering my thoughts and notes on Supreme Director Posadas, I thought I’d fill in the time with a little diversion…. A “giara” is a [...]

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Keep On Keepin’ On

2008.Jul.11 Friday

 Stay the course.” – George W. Bush, president of the U.S. Buenos Aires – One of the things that fascinates me about history is the way it repeats itself. Despite all those colloquial admonitions about “those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them”, it’s a common failing throughout the world. We’re [...]

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