Dawn

Dawn

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Thoughts from Galicia, Spain: 19.2.19

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
            Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spain
  • As someone who believes there should be vastly more investment in public education just about everywhere. I find this report encouraging
  • Here's the estimable Giles Tremlett answering a good question.
The UK
  • Interesting to see that it's not only in Spain where the political scene is being shaken to its foundations. Seven members of the Labour Party quit it yesterday, to form the core of a new 'independent group' in parliament. As one columnist puts it this morning: This is the start of something much bigger [than a revolt against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party] because it is not just about policies, it is about values and culture. Both of the main parties are on the brink.
  • A question occurring ton me - Are we likely to see what's happening in Spain, the UK, Germany and France happen in the USA? I fancy not, for one reason and another. Though the Democrat party seems to be trying hard to split itself into at least 2 parts. 
The USA
  • This is what Wiki describes Infowars: A far-right American conspiracy theory and fake news website owned by Alex Jones. . . The InfoWars website receives approximately 10 million monthly visits, making its reach greater than some mainstream news websites such as The Economist and Newsweek. The site has regularly published fake stories which have been linked to harassment of victims. Now ponder the thought that Trump voters trust it at least as much as they trust the New York Times and the Washington Post. Which possibly haven't been prosecuted for such things as harassing victims, inter alia.
Social Media
  • An interesting Prospect article, containing some ideas on how to deal with the today's immoral corporate monsters
Spanish
  • The word I cited yesterday - cortisuelto - is unknown to all my Spanish friends and doesn't appear in the dictionary of the Royal Academy But this is the/a definition found on line. 'Cotisuelto': a Spanish Caribbean word: One who wears the shirt tail outside their trousers. Reader Maria advises: It's not common at all but is still occasionally used around here in Rianxo. And she adds that the Gallego equivalent is 'faldradora'. And that, in her neck of the Galician woods at least: It was supposed to be a charm against witches for men to wear their shirt hanging out, so that's what they were to do when they passed a suspected witch. But nowadays, it just refers to a man who doesn't care much about his appearance, or is careless. Though not in sophisticated Pontevedra, it seems.
  • Word of the Day:  Tajante
Finally . . .
  • Road stories:-
  1. My route into town reach morning takes me over a bridge above the AP9. Turning right after this takes you towards town but turning left takes you to the city's slaughter house. Trucks from the latter cause deep holes in the tarmac and these are regularly filled in, cheaply. One is forced to wonder why they don't do this properly.
  2. On this route I pass the city's driving test centre. Yesterday, a car driven by an instructor(!) pulled out right in from of me. Today, there was a hold-up and and I naturally assumed this guy had finally managed to hit someone. But it turned out to be (doubtless superficial) repairs to a deepish hole in front of the gates. Perhaps they'll get to the bridge later today. Again.

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