Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.   

- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*

The Bloody Virus  

• Back to the future?. Says the New York Times here: For some Italians, the future of work looks like the past. Italians are returning to the agricultural jobs of their grandparents. So, will we see the same in Spain's vast southern 'fields' of agricultural products, shown here?

Life in Spain in the Time of Something Like Cholera 

• Spain's first virus free 'region' is the non-colony of Melilla. Which is in Africa.

Real Life in Spain 

• More on our polar, tribal politics, which outshine(?) those of all other European states.
• María's Come-back Chronicle: Day 14. Spanish housing.

The UK  

• The Guardian's John Crace is the best critic of BJ on the block. Which doesn't necessarily mean he's always right, of course. Just 'forensic', in the word of the moment. And the funniest. Satire is now dead, says Crace. But, given that Trump has been in power for almost 4 years, we all knew that long ago.
• Talking of laughing . . . Here's the estimable Dilly Keane of the wonderful 'Fascinating Aida'. 

The EU

• A proposal by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron for a €500bn fund to save European economies laid low by the coronavirus was rejected yesterday by a quartet of financially conservative EU members, who insisted the money be in the form of loans rather than grants. The move by Austria, Holland, Denmark and Sweden — the “frugal four” — sets the stage for a battle this week as the European Commission struggles to find a solution that will be acceptable to all 27 EU member states. 

The Way of the world/Social Media

• Will this development be entirely positive?: A world record internet speed has been set in Australia, allowing film buffs to download 1,000 HD movies in one second. The researchers achieved the record using a micro-comb, a single small optical chip replacing 80 separate infrared lasers, capable of carrying communication signals. The chip test was conducted through normal cable technology, raising hopes of the process being able to supercharge existing broadband networks. 
• Are you surprised? As conspiracy theories flood social media and despite warnings from watchdogs that there is no evidence they work, Amazon is peddling underwear, stickers and blankets that falsely claim to protect users from electromagnetic radiation and 5G mobile signals.
• Jeff Bezos is about to become the world's first trillionaire. It's an ill wind . . . 

The USA  

• A frightening/depressing read.  As someone has said, with his support among (sane)Christians reducing, Fart can be expected to go to the utmost lengths to please /retain his (insane)Evangelist base.

Finally . . . 

•  My visit to the local tech service place to get a new mica plate for my microwave has so far proved fruitless, in that they haven't contacted me - after 10 days - to say they've cut me something to size. So, I will now buy a larger plate and cut it myself. I'm not entirely surprised at this. Here in Spain, the devil often takes the hindmost. Busy chap.

 * A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant.