Spanish
Corruption:
- I heard in a podcast that “extremely corrupt” Mexico has a 'submerged economy” of 10% of GDP. Spain's is generally reckoned to be 20-25%. The implications?
- A comment I read early this morning, about Russia and the Panama Papers: What was telling were the very different attitudes to other people’s wealth around the world. Russians wouldn’t want a pitiless despot who wasn’t bloatedly rich. How could you trust a man who wanted power but not money? That would be worse than immoral — that would be un-Russian. So, what amounts to being un-Spanish, in this regard? A politician who doesn't have very sticky fingers?
Criticising
Spain: As you well know, I'm not given to merely criticising Spain
and the Spanish, though I do have the occasional problem that stops
life here from being perfect. The fiercest critics, as in any
country, are those who return from a stint abroad. This is known as
'reverse culture shock' and there's something about it here.
Modern
Architecture: Remember that restored castle that was almost as funny
as the restored Jesus? Did you, despite the laughter, admire it?
Well, your take has been endorsed by the architectural 'community'.
It's been given some sort of award. See here. It takes all sorts.
Moscow's RT Propaganda TV Channel: Quotes of the Week:
- Russian aggression is a myth.
- Syria is a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the latter supported by the USA so then can sell arms to the latter. But no mention of the recent delivery of medium-long range missiles to Iran
Life in Ponters: I've
mentioned the Thursday night curry lesson for my lovely neighbour,
Ester. But I didn't reveal that the evening was an hilarious farce,
centred on Ester trying to both listen to and disagree with me, while
at the same time cleaning - or throwing out - every thing she could
lay her hands on. And using the amount of water, electricity and
washing-up liquid I'd take a month to consume. Anyway, it was
witnessed by my rather-less-frenetic friend, Elena, who yesterday
suggested the interaction between me and Ester would make an
excellent TV sitcom. And she might be right. So, I'm pondering it.
- It's also a bad morning when you tip the coffee beans into the grinder without having taken the lid off the latter. Boy, those little buggers can roll!
- The daffs finally came out. But they're rather pathetic, having been battered by last night's storms.
- In compensation, my neighbours' lilly has made its annual poke through our joint fence.
- A Sunday morning meteorological miracle. The weather conditions produced a thin stream of cloud only metres above the river. I'm hoping Google Photos will give me a panorama of this but here, for now, is my attempt at this.
How about that! Google Photos came through just now . . . Wonderful. I forgive them everything!
No comments:
Post a Comment