Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain*
The C Word- The net news in Spain is still said to be positive, here and here. And the BBC here.
- But, as expected, we're going to be imprisoned for another 3 weeks, with the possibility that there might be (light economy-related) relaxations in May. By which time we could well know whether Sweden has been very right or very wrong.
- Meanwhile, Spanish patients aged 98 and 101 have beaten the dastardly virus.
- Can you blame Turkey for this?
- So, the curve is successful bent downwards. Then what? What’s the endgame here? Do we try to eradicate the virus — without a vaccine? Do we try to manage infection rates, to let the population “build immunity through suffering” until a vaccine is available? How can we revive the economy without risking thousands of deaths in fresh outbreaks? . . . . The first scenario, “put out the fire,” is modeled on Korea. Use shelter-in-place and face masks to suppress the growth of the virus, then use rapidly-growing testing capacity to trace and isolate the infected. With a return to “containment,” everyone else can get back to work. South Korea is doing well, and only has 100 new cases per day nationwide. But even South Korea hasn’t been able to put out the fire completely. And “get back to work” involves major changes in how work is done, to reduce infection risks every minute, every day. The second scenario is “controlled burn.” See all of this excellent article here
- Meanwhile, the question on everyone's lip is: What form will the revenge on China take, in the post-virus re-ordered world? Suggestions on a postcard.
- Day 21 of María's Chronicle of life in a Galician village.
- As María says, the far-right Vox party is, to say the least, egregious. Even in times of great difficulty it's hard to believe - and depressing - to see them representing a sizeable proportion of the Spanish people. I'm guessing most of them are fervent Catholics and, quite possibly, members of Opus Dei. Which even my ultra RC sister - not the Jewish one - regards as fascist.
- Walking through the (99% closed) shopping centre to the supermarket last night, I noticed that the IT/phone shop was open and, so, must be regarded as an essential operation. Which makes sense, I guess, given how dependent - now more than ever - we are on communications technology.
- Walking around said supermarket - masked and gloved up - I noticed quite a few folk not wearing masks. And I thought to myself: "Have you dumbfucks not heard the WHO's advice on the wearing of masks?" And then I said to myself: "Hey, only a day or so ago you were asking the same question of people who were wearing masks . . .". Ain't life funny?
- Something to bone up on. I love Soralla's stuff and have been to his house/museum in Madrid a couple of times.
- As in Spain . . . Per Richard North: The current [mistaken] policy belongs as much to Labour/PSOE as it does to the Conservatives/PP party. Only, the terms in office during austerity are the other way round. Which must prove some point.
THE USA
- The US economy is uniquely vulnerable to the coronavirus, claims old favourite Don Quijones here.
- Republicans v Republicans.
- The Federal State v The States
Hard to avoid the conclusion that the USA is an even more benighted country than the rest of them. Which really isn't good for the world, is it?
Shysters Corner
- Talking of darkness and evil . . . This takes the biscuit. For today at least.
Spanish
Finally . . .
- This is a recording which shows, yet again, how small the differences are between those singers who achieve fame and those that don't. Excepting Ella Fitzgerald from this comment. Oh, and also Peggy Lee, Marion Montgomery, Karen Carpenter, Rumer, Eva Cassidy and a few others. But definitely not Bob Dylan. Who has written great songs but sings even worse than I do. IMHO.
*A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant.
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