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/Galiza

Spain’s most senior lawyer – the Attorney General – is convicted in a controversial leak case and is given a prison sentence. Would never happen in the USA. And not because senior lawyers there never break the law . . . .

A happily-immigrated Brit writes here of the things that still bother him after 17 years – bureaucracy, litter, noise and the police (especially the Guardia Civil Tráfico). I empathise but have a couple of additions . . .

Just in case you think I’m exaggerating about needing to ensure I’m not mowed down on a zebra crossing. . . . I know this street well. The crossing is just after a blind right-hand bend. I can imagine a speeding car would have difficulty stopping in time.

The UK

Not so long ago, the Conservative Party had 365 seats in Parliament. They are now at 121 and a poll suggests this could well fall to 14 in 2029. And this is/was the ‘the most successful political party in world history’. There will be a wide range of theories as to why this is. And of opinions on how accurate the forecast is. Also variable will be the degree of despair at the prospect of a Reform government.

The mad, bad world of MAGA

There’s a view that Trump’s management of the USA is based on a belief in the primacy of ‘business’. Maybe, but I’d add the rider that this obsession comes with the requirement that he and his family benefit from endless grift. Quite why they want to become ever richer is a question for the shrinks. [This is an AI response to the general question of what drives billionaires to seek even more money.]

A reader warns that: A wounded narcissist can be very dangerous. So, let’s hope Trump has a fatal heart attack before he can press the wrong buttons and bring our misery to an end in another way.

That piggy insult. . . . The brilliant liar who is the Press Secretary says that it just shows how accessible, honest and transparent Trump is, compared with Biden, who – she says – hid from the media and lied when he did talk to them. So, a complete contrast with Trump. . . Someone should hand her a sow’s ear and she what she does with it . . .

Russia v Ukraine

For those seriously interested in this issue . . . Yet another dead-on-arrival peace scheme.

The Way of the World

A challenging read . . . From the collapse of the current narrative, a new world will emerge and it will be different.

Spanish

• A nice article from the estimable Max on the birth and near-death of the letter Ñ.

• Esvástika: It took me a second or two . . . Swastika.

Did you know?

I asked an AI engine if it was true the the World Cup was in chaos because Trump was making major threats – the latest viral story along these lines. The response: It is partially true. However, while these threats have stirred controversy and worry, the actual power to move World Cup matches involves multiple parties, including FIFA and local authorities. but this remains a political threat rather than a confirmed action at this stage. So, the situation is tense with threats from Trump contributing to some chaos and worry, but the tournament itself is still scheduled to proceed as planned across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

You Have to Laugh

• They don’t write pop songs this these days. Love the hairstyles. Probably all bald now. 1967 was a very good year for the sort of songs that are no longer written. But are still performed.

Finally . . .

Here’s an AI engine’s overview on the pronunciation of LL around the Spanish world. As per mine, I believe, Though I thought Argentinians say Sh, not Zh:-

Region/Phenomenon	Pronunciation of “ll”	Notes
Most of Spain (urban/metropolitan) & Latin America	Sounds like English “y” in “yes”	Yeísmo: “ll” and “y” pronounced the same
Some rural/northern Spain, Andes (Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, eastern Colombia)	Lateral consonant like “lli” in “million”	Lleísmo: distinct “ll” sound
Argentina, Uruguay	“zh” sound (like “s” in “measure”)	Called rehilamiento
Some regions (Spain and Latin America)	Soft “j” or “sh” sound	Regional variation

This variation means speakers across the Hispanic world might pronounce “ll” in quite different ways depending on their regional dialect.

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