Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts
the stars to flight.
And, lo, the hunter of the east has caught the sultan’s turret in a noose of light!

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable – Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain.

Cosas de España

The lady I mentioned yesterday – the Secretary/Minister of Labour – is in a fight with the Treasury over taxation of the recently increased minimum wage.

In graphic form . . .

One of the first surprises I had about Spain when I first came to live here in 2000 was the level of anti-Americanism here, especially on the Left. This has a long history, dating back to the seizure by the USA in 1898 of Spain’s few remaining colonies. Failure to help the legitimate government against fascist forces in 1936 was another major reason given to me.|I’ve just remembered a 2005 article on this subject which opened with: Spain’s feelings toward the United States are the coldest in Europe after Turkey. You can find it here. Anyway, this is by way of a lead into this [decent] video on why – from the other end of the tunnel – Trump regards Spain as his biggest enemy in Europe. Which ‘bear-poking’ might not bode well for Spain in the near future.

Portugal

Something there is going in the wrong direction.

Ukraine v Russia

Today’s outrage . . . Trump’s conditions for peace are conspicuous by their absence. Whatever Russia demands, apparently. Can the conspiracy theory that Putin has something on Trump actually be true?

The headline of this article says it all: Trump’s senseless capitulation to Putin is a betrayal of Ukraine – and terrible dealmaking. Unless you don’t really care about ‘millions’ dying but just want to live your final years accoladed with a Nobel Peace prize.

The USA

This article and this podcast address the just-initiated MAGA war on the judiciary, aimed at making Trump as all-powerful and unrestrained as he wants to be.

It’s been pointed out that billionaires flaunt their power by ignoring dress codes. In the White House this week, Elon Musk went went so far as to dress informally in the Oval Office, including a baseball cap. And then capping this by bringing a child, called X. Oligarchy has thus become muskocracy, raising the question of how long Trump will tolerate this in his imperial court. Eminence grises normally remain grise, for very good – self-preserving – reasons. Musk might well turn out to be the richest fool in history.

In her latest post, María reveals the insolent bad language Trump had to endure from the brattish X. Maybe the reports that Musk has something on Trump are also true. Possibly provided by Putin . . . I mean, the US is a model of madness right now, so absolutely anything could be true.

Having seen the news this morning, I found myself wondering whether, when the Founding Fathers were sitting around designing the famous system of checks and balances, one of them mused: But what if some insane, narcissistic psychopath becomes president and ignores the constraint theoretically supplied by the judiciary? And was dismissed as a pessimistic fool.

Why doesn’t anyone in the room tell Trump’s Press Secretary that her logic is, to say the least, faulty? Or even imply it. But I guess we know why. Tyranny can be delegated.

Quotes of the Day

• One of the most difficult things to accept about Trump is that religious folk have convinced themselves he is religious.
• It has become ever more apparent that, to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. A federal judge
• We’re moving the Gazans to a beautiful place. They’ll love it. I know all about real estate;
• Every bargaining chip has been given away for free. The art of the deal! [That man really is desperate for a Nobel Peace Prize, Or to save his skin. At any cost to others.]

Spanish

• Redomado: Arrant, out-and-out, inveterate unmitigated. Sly
• Tragaldabas: glutton gourmand
• Como de coña: As a joke.
• Trabajar in B: to work in the black economy
• Chiringuito: Usually a beach ‘kiosk’ but can mean one’s business activity

Did you know?

All the ways your brain can deceive you . . .You’ll need to zoom in. https://www.futilitycloset.com/2025/02/13/head-games-3/

You Have to Laugh

That gulf . . . How Google Maps treats it. With bendable accuracy:-

• In the USA – The Gulf of America
• In Mexico – The Gulf of Mexico
• In Europe – The Gulf of Mexico(The Gulf of America)

Next, The American Atlantic?

Finally . . .

I managed to get the key to my mailbox copied, twice. But neither of them worked . . . Thankfully, after a bit of amateur filing by me, I did get them to lock and unlock the door. But only after ‘fiddling’ with them. I will now have to train my neighbours in this art.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts.

The Usual Links . . .

• You can get my posts by email as soon as they’re published. With the added bonus that they’ll contain the typos I’ll discover later. I believe there’s a box for this at the bottom of each post. If you do this but don’t read the posts, I will delete your subscription. So perhaps don’t bother if you have other reasons for subscribing . . .
• For new readers: If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here. If you’re passing through Pontevedra on the Camino, you’ll find a guide to the city there.
• For those thinking of moving to Spain:– This is an extremely comprehensive and accurate guide to the challenge, written by a Brit who lives in both the North and the South and who’s very involved in helping Camino walkers. And this is something on the so-called Beckham Rule, which is beneficial – tax-wise – for folk who want to work here. Finally, some advice on getting a mortgage. And this article ‘debunks claims re wealth and residency taxes’. Probably only relevant if you’re a HNWI. In which case, you’ll surely know what that stands for.