Bad Xmas week news for
Princess Cristina - the instructing judge has finally decided she'll
face criminal charges of tax fraud. The trial is scheduled for the
2nd half of 2015, so there's plenty of time for the Spanish
establishment (La casta) to find some legal reason why it shouldn't.
Or just to sack the judge for some manufactured offence. Or both,
probably. After all - What's the point of power if you can't abuse it?
Which reminds me . . .
Unhappy Spaniards demonstrated in more than 30 cities yesterday,
against the Gag Law, which, inter alia, will ban protest meetings anywhere near places selected by the
government. There'll also be fines for folk who film or photograph
police officers or who' disrespect' members of Spain's security
forces. It seems to be a Latin thing to demand respect for numerous
people in authority. And for the Catholic Church and its adherents,
of course. A vestige of recent dictatorships, I guess.
For both the religious
and the irreligious, the Xmas lottery, El Gordo (The Fat One), dished
out €2.5 BILLION yesterday. Sadly, none of it came my way. Not even
a duro nor a penique.
George Galloway is a
British MP who's infamous for a number of egregious actions. Perhaps
the worst was his cosying up to Saddam Hussein and lauding him to the
skies - "Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your
indefatigability." "Gorgeous George" has since become
a standard-bearer for Muslims in the UK, married a 4th (young and
pretty) wife and appeared on both Al Jazeera and Iranian TV, slagging
off the West. So you won't be surprised to hear he's now on the
Russian propaganda TV channel, RT. For some reason, George does all
his interviews wearing a trilby. It can't be because he's bald as
he's had little hair for a long time. Theories welcome.
Demonstrating just how
insane tradition can be . . . 65 MILLION brussels sprouts will be
sold in the UK tomorrow, ahead of the Xmas Day dinner. For the
Spanish, this will take place around 10pm on Xmas Eve. Followed by
another huge meal at 3pm on Xmas Day. Followed by the same
performance at both New Year and Los Reyes (Jan 5-6). Given the
noise levels next door, I really should go away every year. Except
I'm invited for the NYE shindig - which normally goes on until 5am.
Penultimately . . .
Judith Durham was the singer of the 60s group, The New Seekers.
Before that, she'd actually been a performer of jazz and blues and,
in the 70's, she recorded a double LP/album - The Hottest Band in
Town. This is now available as a pair of CDs. So, how does she shape
up singing numbers made famous by the likes of Bettie Smith? Well,
pretty well, in my view; her unique (vibrato) voice, her immaculate phrasing
and perfect pitch do justice to the songs. But others will surely
disagree (Denis?). Needless to say, you can get some tracks on youtube and
sample them all here, if you're tempted. And here she is singing
with Woody Allen. BTW - She also gives a decent rendition of The
Entertainer on the joanna.
Finally . . .
THE THE GUIDE FOR YANKEE
SOLDIERS GOING TO LIMEYLAND IN 1942
British Reserved,
Not Unfriendly.
You defeat enemy
propaganda not by denying that these differences exist, but by
admitting them openly and then trying to understand them. For
instance: The British are often more reserved in conduct than we. On
a small crowded island where forty-five million people live, each man
learns to guard his privacy carefully – and is equally careful not
to invade another man's privacy.
So if Britons sit in
trains or buses without striking up conversation with you, it doesn't
mean they are being haughty and unfriendly. Probably they are paying
more attention than you think. But they don't speak to you because
they don't want to appear intrusive or rude.
Another difference. The
British have phrases and colloquialisms of their own that may sound
funny to you. You can make just as many boners in their eyes.
It isn't a good idea, for instance to say "bloody" in
mixed company in Britain – it is one of their worst swear words. To
say "I look like a bum" is offensive to their ears, for
to the British this means that you look like your own backside. It
isn't important – just a tip if you are trying to shine in polite
society. Near the end of this guide you will find more of these
differences of speech.
British money is in
pound, shillings, and pence (this is also explained more fully later
on.) The British are used to this system and they like it, and all
your arguments that the American decimal system is better won't
convince them. They won't be pleased to hear you call it "funny
money," either. They sweat hard to get it (wages are much
lower in Britain than America) and they won't think you smart or
funny for mocking it.
Editor's Note: A
'boner' was clearly something different back then. In the (US) text I
am copying from, some automatic censor had replaced the word with
asterisks. For 'dickie seat' it had substituted '****ie seat'. My
thanks to reader Perry for explaining this to me.
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