Dawn

Dawn

Wednesday, April 24, 2013


I suppose he has to do it, even though no one believes him for a micro-second; Spain's Minister of the Economy says he sees the Spanish economy growing 'slightly' next year. But as he's just binned the previous f2013 forecast of an 0.5% decline and replaced it with shrinkage of 1-1.5%, he's not exactly talking from credibility. We can probably safely predict 1. the decline will be at least 2% this year, and 2. there won't be any growth next year. And we can also confidently say that the people least affected by this dire situation will be Spain's underworked and over-numerous politicians. Some of whom might well be honest. Viva la revolución!

Talking of honest Spanish politicians . . . This small group presumably includes the State Prosecutor, who's said that “Corruption is the most devastating attack on democracy.” Or perhaps he's just another able liar.

Which reminds me, the latest crook with his nose in the trough is the ex-president of an NGO who managed to siphon off 7.5m euros during his 11 years in charge. He's been given 6 years in clink but these sentences usually mean little, what with pardons and the like.

Writing on the Spanish economy this week, Edward Hugh – not everyone's favourite economist – concludes with these thoughts:- Such details are doubtless lost on Mr Rajoy and his advisers, which is just my point. The current crisis – which is arguably no longer a crisis but rather a way of life – has all now got so complex that the issues involved are almost certainly, and in principle, “beyond their ken.” Spain’s economy will continue to march boldly forward towards what now seems almost guaranteed to be long term decline, while from within the captain’s tower, far from an acceptance that what is happening really is happening, we will continue to hear yet one more crazy and implausible story after another telling us “if only this”, or “if only that” even as representatives of the Plataforma de afectados por las hipotecas (or equivalents) start to assemble outside the local version of the winter palace looking for their hides. Viva la revolución!

Ironically, we all used to lay into the PSOE President Zapatero for having no idea what was going on beneath his feet or of what to do about it when it rose up and hit him in the face with a wet kipper.

I mentioned that Telefonica called me last week to try to induce me to buy their new Fusión product, at something over 60 euros. Strange, then, to read yesterday that they are bringing out soon a cheaper option for around 42 euros. Do you think, if I'd signed up for the former, they'd have allowed me to shift to the latter? No need to answer.

I watched Bayern Munich thrash Barcelona tonight, reminding myself of a recent thought that, however unpopular Germany is in Spain right now, it's nothing compared to the odium that'll accompany the exit of both Barca and Real Madrid from the Champions League at this semi-final stage - leaving the final to be contested by two German teams. Should bring the Revolution a step closer.

Galician joke:
I've just killed a mole.
How?
Buried it alive.

Finally . . . Here's a couple of flash mob experiences from Liverpool. The first is strictly amateur in its spontaneity and its performance (on Central Station) but the second is rather more professional, being very ably performed by students of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Enjoy.

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