As
for here in Spain, the latest corruption scandal concerns a lady
who's a member of the regional government down in Andalucia, where a
"year-long
investigation has already shown that up to €136 million of a
pension fund was embezzled between 2001 and 2010". Of course,
corruption down in Andalucia has a long history, as detailed in this
recent post by David Jackson.
Another
regional government - Cataluña's - has decided to ban the wearing in
public of face-covering items such as balaclavas, motor-bike helmets and burkhas. But niqabs and hijabs are excepted as they leave the
face exposed. More here.
In
Spain each region has its own ombusdman. But not for much longer. As
part of its program of rationalisation, Madrid has decided these must
go, to be replaced by a single national body. People are not happy
about this but may be powerless to prevent it. Even less appealing is
the central government's plan to end the system of separate ombudsmen
for different industries and to put everything under a single
multi-industry body. This is probably not the sort of change folk had
in mind when they called for reform of the country's administrative
system. But it's a lot easier to push through than anything which
needs the cooperation of the the 17 regional presidents. Such as
cutting their own personnel and reducing their powers of
patronage.
July
1 saw the beginning of summer sales in Spain. So off my visitor went
to buy a new suitcase, starting in the shops displaying 50% Off
signs. He found the item he wanted in a place where there were no
such signs on the windows but no sooner had he cited the discounts
elsewhere than the price fell from 75 to 45 euros. Definitely a good
time for me to be looking for a new TV.
Talking
of shops . . . I think I've mentioned that at least 2 Chinese bazaars
have closed in town. So I was rather surprised to see a new one on my
route into town yesterday, only a few hundred metres from an existing
one, round the corner. Interestingly, the newcomer calls itself Asia & Europa.
And
talking of my visitor . . . Wanting a beer last night, his choice was
between a warm one he'd just bought or one of a frozen pair I'd
forgotten to take out of the freezer last Monday. While Ian put one
of the latter in the sun (upside down over a glass), I put the other
one in the microwave. With the top off, of course. As Ian felt there
was a risk the bottle would blow up, we left the kitchen, to wait on
events. Which, I'm pleased to say, weren't explosive.
A
Spanish company has been forced to pull its ad for a special variety
of small cherries after
complaints it was sexist and vulgar. They made the standard Spanish
apology that they never intended to offend anyone. Make up your own
mind here.
Finally
. . . A nice headline from American Dad - Optimist drowns in
half-full tub.
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