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

The property crisis just keeps on getting worse, with predictable consequences.

Spain’s most admired bullfighter came out of retirement this week and was duly nastily gored.

Gang wars are taking place in a south east barrio of Madrid. Sadly, they’re not yet killing each other.

This is a fascinating explanation of how and why the Basques are genetically different from other Europeans. And why this has remained the case for 2,500 years.

What to wear in Sevilla’s Feria de Abril this year.

The Middle East War

Anyone who claims to know where things will end is a fool. Right now, the 2 extremes might be said to be:-

• It’s amateur hour. A giant clusterfuck. TACO Trump has no idea what he’s doing. As a deal-maker, he’s long on bullying but short on negotiating skills. The Iranians are dealing with a con man turned demented loon, issuing conflicting messages in a one-man Whatsapp group. He talks too much and his erratic commentary is the real block to a deal. Because of all this, Iran currently holds the initiative. There will eventually be a deal which, at the very best, will takes usback to something akin to the Obama deal that Trump abrogated in 2016 but, at worst will return to the status quo ante Trump’s ‘little excursion’ into Iran of 7 weeks ago, but with Iran now controlling the Hormuz Strait.
• This can only be a fight to the death. Trump’s apparently senseless – but clever – extension of the ceasefire is designed to do 2 things: 1. Amplify the struggle for power in Iran and bring it to civil war, and 2. To buy time for a surprise attack, the destruction of Iranian infrastructure and a ‘big win’ for the USA.

The United States of Trump America

Given the faults of the US political system so eloquently highlighted by a power-mad president and and a supine Congress, what if – anything – can be expected by way of reform:-

• Clear rejection of the doctrine of unitary Executive power?
• A better way to remove a malfunctioning president?
• An improved war powers provision?
• The elimination of mid-term elections?
• The elimination/reduction of the presidential power of pardoning criminality, corruption, abuse of power, etc.?
• Clarity on the ownership of guns?
• Revision of the Electoral College system?

Given the divisive nature of US politics, it’s hard to be optimistic on this issue.

Meanwhile . . .

• The Trump Administration engages in displacement activity by beating up on NATO in the hope that works better there than with Iran.
• Why Kash Patel is totally unqualified for his job as the head of the FBI.

Relevant podcasts/YouTube videos

• The Daily Beast Podcast/Video
• Inside Trump’s Head Podcast/Video
• The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent Podcast
• The Rest is Politics US Podcast/Video
• The DSR Network Podcast
• The Politics Girl Video. Amusing
• The Daily Show Video. Very amusing

The Way of the World

An interesting comment: Despite a US president and his administration being responsible for the deaths of huge numbers of people, ordinary US citizens aren’t vilified and terrorised around the world. Their schools, hotels and restaurants aren’t firebombed. Likewise, those of Russians. In contrast, Israeli citizens and their premises around the world are increasingly seen as fair game. What explains this? Other than the obvious

Spanish

• Cuello de botella: Bottleneck.
• Ensanche: Widening, expansion.
• Mariconada: This word was used several times – by women – in my Pilates class this morning. An AI engine says that it’s: A vulgar noun derived from “maricón” – a derogatory slur for a homosexual man. The RAE gives it 3 meanings:- 1. An action typical of a “maricón,” often implying effeminate or homosexual behavior. 2. Something trivial, foolish, or worthless, such as nonsense or a useless object, or 3. A malicious or unfair act, like a dirty trick or low blow. This one is presumably what our teacher was accused of doing to us this morning, in the form of tough exercises.

Did you know?

How bad the Black Death was?

You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn . . .

Finally . . .

Should we admire the enterprise of a chap in Barcelona who is accused of selling honey containing a medication for erectile dysfunction?

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

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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.

If you´re thinking of moving to Spain, this link should be useful to you.