An amusing cartoon in a
local paper - A politician is saying, from behind bars: "I want
to fight corruption; that's why I've handed myself in."
On this theme, this is
how Spaniards recently answered the question - "Do you believe
there's an abuse of power and self-enrichment in the following
institutions":-
- Political parties - 84%
- Politicians - 72%
- Banks and financial institutions - 54%
- Private companies - 45%
- The police and customs - 41%
- The courts - 38%
- The Health & Safety inspectorate - 36%
For me, the last 4
would be the most surprising, not to say worrying.
Still on this theme,
over a million people are said to have turned out for a demonstration
in Madrid on Sunday against the nature and policies of the current PP
government. With smaller protests in other cities around Spain,
including Santiago de Compostela here in Galicia. Is Madrid listening?
Getting off the subject
of corruption . . . A survey of Spanish universities shows the extent
of endogamy here - 73% of professors in public universities are from
the institution they studied in. Though this figure falls to as
low(?) as 32% in private universities.
And getting really
positive . . . . Expedia tells us that, along with Denmark, France
and Germany, Spanish employees get the highest number of holidays in
the world - 30. Against the EU average of 28 and the US average of
14. Plus, they make sure they take them all. And then there are all
the public holidays and the 'bridge' holidays that occur when one of
the latter falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday. No wonder Expedia tells
us the Spanish get the highest number of days off in the world. When
asked what they'd sacrifice for an extra week’s holiday, 16% of
Spaniards aid they'd give up showering for a week – the highest
rate in the world – while 48% would give up social media and 28%
would forego sex. Believe it or believe it not.
As usual, I walked
round the flea market in Veggie Square on Sunday. And, as usual, there was
little beyond junk and trinkets. But I have, over the years, found 5
or 6 items to buy. An even better reason for my Sunday ritual is
that, I'm convinced that, one time I don't put in an
appearance, someone will be selling a coco-de-mer. Meanwhile, the most
interesting aspect of the market is that gypsy sellers are expanding
it down the adjacent streets. Christmas? Or problems with traditional
businesses?
Finally . . . What are
the odds on this? I listened yesterday to a podcast on Iceland. And
then last night I watched a film - Walter Mitty - set partly in
Iceland. BTW: Last time I saw a film called Walter Mitty, it was - I
think - set in Yorkshire. Starring the luminous Julie Christie, whose
picture (face only) had adorned by bedroom wall. Wrong on at least 2
counts: The film was called Billy Liar and it was set in the UK
Midlands. NYT review here.
For Richard et al:
The Signing
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