The first big
corruption headline of the year relates to 5 directors of Caja Madrid
(as was) who stand accused of plundering the bank's coffers in order
to pay themselves almost €15m they weren't entitled to between 2007
and 2010. As yet, the case doesn't have its own name but it can't be
long coming.
I had an unusual
experience yesterday - overhearing Spanish folk complaining about
slow service in the city's central (i. e. only) post office. Mind
you, one of them had been waiting an hour, with only 3 of the 6
desks open. I got off lightly - only half an hour. Plus I had a crossword
to do. And a book. Two of life's little essentials here.
Spanish stats: More
women over the age of 30 had abortions in the last two years than
younger women – 1.328% from age 30 to 34 and 0.892% from 35 to 39,
compared to 1.223% of women aged 19 or under Most abortions are
carried out in Madrid – 1.462% of the total population of women in
the region – followed by Catalunya, at 1.418% and Asturias at
1.362%. I can't imagine why any decimal points were necessary, but
three! Specious accuracy?
HT to fuckedtranslation for this wonderful example of the mangling of English.
Each time it's played Elvis spins. Is Principe reading it? Or did he actually memorise this garbage?
Talking of language . .
. In my final dream before waking this morning, I seem to have
invented the Spanish word beanudo. I have no idea what it's meant to
mean. Someone was asking someone else whether some departed people
fitted this description.
Still on language . . .
Glasgow's School of Art now has a modern extension, built opposite
the early 20th century masterpiece of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The architect describes
his work as a 'complementary contrast'. Which seems to be jargon for
'offensively unlike'. The building bears an uncanny resemblance to Pontevedra's dreadful new exhibiton and museum building.
But, anyway, here's one informed commentator's review
I've mentioned the walk
my daughter and I had on a local beach the other day. As we set off,
we passed a Japanese couple sporting one of those silly
selfie sticks. My first sighting. Since then, of course, we've learnt
there's now something even dafter - a selfie drone.
Penultimately . . . The
owner of one of my 3 regular café-bars has given me and my daughter Xmas gifts of a book each. In Gallego. I can't imagine Spanish
customers being happy about this, never mind us.
Finally . . . Another
extract from the 1942 Guide for Yanks in Limeyland:-
Do not be offended if
Britishers do not pay as full respects to national or regimental
colors as Americans do. The British do not treat the flag as such an
important symbol as we do. But they pay more frequent respect to
their national anthem. In peace or war "God Save the King"
(to the same tune as our "America") is played at the
conclusion of all public gatherings such as theater performances. The
British consider it bad form not to stand at attention, even if it
means missing the last bus. If you are in a hurry, leave before the
national anthem is played. That's considered alright.
On the whole, British
people – whether English, Scottish or Welsh are open and honest. If
you are on furlough and puzzled about directions, money or customs,
most people will be anxious to help you as long as you speak first
and without bluster. The best authority on all problems is the
nearest "bobby" (policeman) inn his steel helmet. British
police are proud of being able to answer almost any question under
the sun. They're not in a hurry and they'll take plenty of time to
talk to you.
The British will
welcome you as friends and allies. But remember that crossing the
ocean doesn't automatically make you a hero. There are housewives in
aprons and youngsters in knee pants in Britain who have lived through
more high explosives in air raids than many soldiers saw in first
class barrages in the last war.
Britain at war
AT HOME in America you
were in a country at war. Since your ship left port, however, you
have been in a war zone. You will find that all Britain is a war zone
and has been since September 1939. All this has meant great changes
in the British way of life.
Every light in England
is blacked out every night and all night. Every highway sign has come
down and barrage balloons have gone up. Grazing land is now ploughed
for wheat and flower beds turned into vegetable gardens. Britain's
peacetime army of a couple of hundred thousand men has expanded to
over two million men. Everything from the biggest factory to the
smallest village workshop is turning out something for the war, so
that Britain can supply arms for herself, for Libya, India, Russia,
and every front. Hundreds of thousands of women have gone to work in
factories or joined the many military auxiliary forces. Old-time
social distinctions are being forgotten as the sons of factory
workers rise to be officers in the forces and the daughters of
noblemen get jobs in munitions factories.
But more important than
this is the effect of the war itself. The British have been bombed,
night after night and month after month. Thousands of them have lost
their houses, their possessions, their families. Gasoline, clothes
and railroad travel are hard to come by and incomes are cut by taxes
to an extent that we Americans have not even approached. One of the
things the English always had enough of in the past was soap. Now it
is so scarce that girls working in the factories often cannot get the
grease off their hands or out of their hair. And food is more
strictly rationed than anything else.
The British Came
Through. For many months the people of Britain have been doing
without things which Americans take for granted. But you will find
that shortages, discomforts, blackouts and bombings have not made the
British depressed. They have a new cheerfulness and a new
determination born out of hard times and tough luck. After going
through what they have been through it's only human nature that they
should be more determined than ever to win.
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