Pontevedra Pensées: 22.12.16

It's reported that €2.3billion euros was wagered this year on El Gordo, 'The Fat One' - the government's Xmas lottery. Here in Galicia - one of Spain's poorest regions - the average outlay was €61 per wishful thinker. Astonishing. Guess who's the biggest winner, even before the results are announced.

Which reminds me . . . HT to Lenox of Business Over Tapas for the news that Tax Office (La Hacienda) has advised(admitted?) that 84% of taxpayers earn less than €30,000 a year.

Another astonishing fact noted yesterday is that 64% of news is now accessed via the less-than-trustworthy social media. Even worse was the report that the 4 week-old baby of some Kardashian kouple has 760,000 followers on Instagram. Probably a million by the time you read it. Never underestimate the stupidity of the public, someone once said. I thought Mr Barnum but it turns out to have been H L Mencken.

Here in Spain, disagreements between the main parties appear to have stymied 'plans' to have a special parliamentary commission investigating corruption and the solutions to it. Anyone surprised?

Here in Galicia, El Tráfico is going to put sensors at the entrances to our autovias, to ensure they're immediately warned that a kamikaze driver is going the wrong way. Will our insurance premiums now fall? I rather doubt it.

Which reminds me . . . Vast sums of money are now being spent to deal with the consequences of frequent fog banks on our A8 near Mondoñedo. Where the highway rises above the countryside on a spectacular viaduct. Totally predictable, of course.

The AVE news is that more than 70% of the track between Olmedo and Ourense will be only single-track. Asking for trouble? By the way, people here are already betting on delays until 2021 or 2022 for completion, if current plans are maintained. I say 'plans' but is this the right word for something that might never happen?

Among the musicians on our streets this Xmas - nearly all of whom are very welcome - there are 3 from a major Moscow orchestra. They've exiled themselves after their wages fell to €100 a month there. Blimey, even cleaners in 5-star hotels here get a bit more than that.

It's never happened to me before but, watching news of a bionic eye which will restore some sight to the blind, I welled up instinctively. But, not to worry, one of those nauseatingly sentimental Xmas ads – from Apple – soon had me on the verge of vomiting.

Ever wondered what an ouroboros is? Well, wonder no more. For here's the gen on this word I stumbled on yesterday. Essentially, a dragon eating its own tail.

Finally . . .  Yesterday, I received very-genuine-looking emails from Virgin Media, telling me they'd opened my account, etc., etc. Phishing, of course. Be warned.

Today's cartoon . . .