Covid

It may not feel like it but this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Maybe.

Cosas de España/Galiza  

Spain is in the van again. Not bad for an ex-centre of rigid Catholicism. Perhaps because of that.

Here’s Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas on the morning tiffins of his cuello del bosque.

The UK  

Addicts of chorizo and other Spanish products could well be going cold turkey soon. Not because it’s January but because the UK is about to start complying with Customs rules imposed in the EU a year ago – as we residents in Spain know full well, from the duties applied and the delays experienced. Even with mere letters from UK banks.

If you’re thinking of retiring in 2022, this is an article for you. Spain at number 9, does rather less well than neighbouring Portugal at number 4. The Spanish view would be that, if you’re essentially a dull sort of person, you should definitely go there. More so if you’re a Brit, as you’re very likely to feel very much at home there. The number one spot goes to Panama, by the way. Which takes some believing. But, then, the article is written for North Americans.

En  passant . .  The comment that trash is picked up every night is out of date. At least where I live, that stopped years ago.

The USA 

Can we believe this Times headline: A year after the Capitol riot, the spectre of civil war haunts America. This link to the article might work. A taster: Decaying democracies are particularly vulnerable to violent conflict, aided by the “accelerants” of social media.

Point of detail: White evangelical Christians represent two thirds of the Republican Party. With just enough religion to make them hate, but not enough to make them love one another. As a certain Mr Swift put it.

(A)GW

Polar bears are a favourite ploy of the adherents of the Net-Zero-by-2050 faith. The Telegraph has an article on their plight in Alaska but Richard North takes this to pieces here, ending with the comment that: This story tips the balance between shoddy journalism and propaganda. Johnson’s intent to support the climate change narrative is not supported by fact and he leaves his readers ill-informed. We deserve better from the media.

Media: crossing the line

If you want to hear a reasoned counter-blast to the AGW zealots, this is a podcast for you. Alex Epstein expatiates on the reasons we need cheap energy for humanity to flourish, on the backwardness of the green movement, and on why Net Zero is more dangerous than climate change. In this divisive age, I doubt that anyone who is upset by the last sentence will actually listen to the podcast. In the same way as religious zealots of one stamp don’t listen to those of a different stamp. Too convinced they’re divinely inspired.

Why the world needs fossil fuels

Spanish

If you haven’t read Lenox’s piece . . Un tewe – A tea with whisky. 

English

Anocracy: A partial democracy. Something between a democracy and an autocratic state.  The USA, for example?

Finally . . . 

Here’s a tip that might help someone. The charging ports on my not-very-old laptop don’t always work. This might be due to dust, as when I puff air into them – or even just blow into them – the problem disappears. Maybe that’s why it’s called a Mac Air . . .

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