On Frank Almeida of Sugar & Spice

As many of you may have noticed, I have remained silent on the recent posts by and about Frank Almeida of Sugar & Spice that have been popping up on local forums, blogs, websites and social networking sites. I have since decided that I want to share a few words with you regarding my thoughts on Frank, his company and his involvement in the community. In my opinion, there are three types of people involved in a community: those who are members of a community, those who participate in a community and those who help create a community. Frank clearly falls into all three of those categories. However, when I think of the last group, those who strive to build something greater than themselves, Frank immediately comes to mind as both a leader and a pioneer.

I know from firsthand experience that Frank has striven to contribute in a significant way to assist both the local and the expatriate communities. As many of you are aware, I am involved with several organizations here in town working within both the expat and local community. Frank, along with Sugar & Spice, has been there nearly every step of the way. He has offered encouragement, support, time, energy and on several occasions has either catered events or offered items for raffles which were intended to promote a greater community than the one we arrived to participate in.

Throughout history there have been those who have cared about the world around them. There have been those who wanted to create a better community, a greater world. There have been those who have tirelessly given of themselves, their time, and their talents. And unfortunately, throughout the ages these people have met strong resistance. However, I believe in people and in the power of community. And I also believe in the power of light to conquer the darkness.

In the instant case, I am reminded of the words of Haile Selassie excerpted from a speech he gave before the United Nations in 1968:

“...until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and goodwill; until all [of us] stand and speak as free human beings, equal in the eyes of the Almighty; until that day, [we] shall not know peace. We ... will fight if necessary and we know that we shall win as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.”

Frank is one of the best men I have ever had the privilege to call friend. I admire Frank. He has my respect. And he has my full support and that of those who I hold most dear.  Read more!

Witness - World and the Underworld - 08 Oct 08 - Part 1

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Political Economies: Explained Using Cows

United States: You have two cows. The government pays you subsidies not to milk your cows. Imports of dairy products from South America increase.

China: You have two cows. The government takes both cows and shoots you.

Iraq: You have two cows. They end up in Guantanamo Bay, but receive excellent medical care.

India: You have two cows. You worship them.

Poland: You have two bulls. You get killed trying to milk them.

Russia: You have two cows. You drink vodka and see four cows.

Argentina: You have two cows. Néstor and Cristina Kirchner take the milk and export it. They tax you 44%, leaving you without enough money to cover production costs. Too bad! On the plus side Cristina is able to pay for Botox injections and pays off some political cronies. Read more!

Seeking Operación Cóndor Information

I am working on a research project which involves U.S. State Department and intelligence services through the research of documents spanning back to the mid 1970's that have been released through the FOIA, Freedom of Information Act.

While the focus of this project is the involvement of the USA in the Southern Cone of South American during this period, I would also be interested in accounts from people who were here, or had family here at that time. The nationality of the individuals is of no importance, nor is the ability to speak English.

Specifically, I was wondering if any of you out there had any first or secondhand knowledge of Operación Cóndor, or if you had any first or secondhand experiences relating to that period in history. More specifically, I am interested in accounts of life in Buenos Aires during the period between about 1972 or '73 up until around 1983. Memories, stories, letters, photos, etc. are all of interest. And of course, anyone with info relating to other member countries of Operation Condor is of interest as well.

While notes and/or recordings might upon occasion be used to insure the accuracy of the project, personal information can and will be withheld from others upon request.

I will provide some brief background for those of you unfamiliar with Operation Condor, Operación Cóndor in Spanish. Operation Condor was a shadowy Latin American military network created in the 1970s whose key members were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. This group was later joined by Ecuador and Peru. The operation was a covert intelligence and operations system that enabled the Latin American military states to hunt down, seize and execute political opponents across borders. Refugees fleeing military coups and repression in their own countries were "disappeared" in combined transnational operations.

Of particular interest is the fact that Operation Condor was not only the result of the joint work of intelligence and security services of those member nations, but it also received direction, support and financing from the USA through its State Department, intelligence and security services.
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