Vice City on Linux

THsnapshot1.jpgA couple of months ago I made the switch from Windows to Linux (Kubuntu, to be precise). I reasoned that the main things we use the computer for are web browsing, email, music and video, FTP and occasional document editing. Kubuntu offers loads of applications for all of those, and much more besides.

The one thing that I really sacrificed in giving up Windows was the games. I don't have that many, but among them are some real favourites. Of these, the very best has to be Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. This game is just phenomenal. And I hadn't been able to play it since getting rid of Windows.

Until today. I installed a program called Cedega, which allows you to play Windows games on Linux systems. Now I don't usually post these sorts of things but after some playing around with the settings, Vice City runs very well. At least as well as it ran on Windows. Which makes you think… even if the program is designed for a different operating system, it could run better… on a better operating system.

Tomorrow: back to politics.

Share This
February 25, 2006 | Filed Under Internet computer | Leave a Comment 

Clash of cultures - Chelsea versus Barcelona

Tonight's game between Chelsea and Barcelona looks to be a scorcher. While I "know nothing about football", I'm looking forward to it and hoping, of course, for a Barça win.

If this post disappears later, you'll know that Chelsea cheated.

Barça won 2-1 thanks to Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Messi! As Nick says, the game was played on a potato field - but even dirty tactics weren't enough to help Chelsea win.

Share This
February 22, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia | 2 Comments 

A king cannot be the guardian of democracy

rey-juan-carlos1.jpgAs we approach the 25th anniversary of the storming of Madrid's parliament, there has been a lot of newsprint expended on how king Juan Carlos 'saved' Spanish democracy twice. The history is well known: named as Franco's successor, Juan Carlos 'led' the Spanish towards a new constitution and era of democracy, with himself as permanent head of state and chief of the armed forces. Later, when Tejero and his Guardia Civil conspirators attempted to overthrow the government, it was only when Juan Carlos told them to back down that they surrendered. Thus, the king is central to the new founding myth of the Spanish nation: guardian of Spanish liberties and guarantor of democracy.

But can a king ever really be the guarantor of democracy? His status as unelected head of state is inherently anti-democratic. When Juan Carlos dies, his son Felipe will automatically become the head of state and armed forces. This state of affairs is a cheap compromise which has been foisted on the Spanish people. Rather than defending the sacred democracy of Spain, the royal family and the constitution which protects them are yet another success story of Franco's dictatorship. In so far as Franco overthrew the Republic and stood in 'as regent' until a king could be found, the current state of Spanish democracy - recognising Juan Carlos as head of state - is severely lacking.

As to the myth of 'leading' the country into a new era, this is also highly questionable. The process of composing the constitution was not overseen by the king. But it was directly affected by the threat of another right wing rebellion. The Spanish constitution's provisions for the king are therefore the failure of democracy. The constitution itself is not an aide to true democracy and should be changed, removing the right of the king as head of state. Only then will the Spanish have succeeded in beating Franco. Until then, every day, Franco and his legacy will continue to set the rules on how we may or may not be governed.

Share This
February 20, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics | Leave a Comment 

Manifestació per el dret de decidir

The demonstration starts today at 5 PM. With a nice touch of symbolism, we'll start at Plaça de Espanya and end up at Plaça de Catalunya.

Som una nació

The Barça game has been moved back to make time for this demo, so hopefully there will be a big turnout. Anyone who's in Barcelona today could do worse than turning up and taking part in this great demonstration!

Share This
February 18, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics | Leave a Comment 

English language websites take sides

Throughout the general debate over L'Estatut and Spanish devolution, there have been numerous wild allegations on both sides of the argument. To be fair, the wilder claims have come from the Spanish right wing ('school children forced to report teachers who speak Spanish', 'Spanish Balkanisation' and so on), but the Catalan left are guilty of over-using the term 'fascist' - a huge mistake as it means that the term loses its meaning. In what is an expected reflection of the philosophical divide, the English language media, both inside and outside Catalonia and Spain, have been reporting the story in varying ways.

Broadly speaking, the international media did not become involved in the debate over the Catalan statute until Lt Gen Aguado made his speech in January threatening military action should Catalonia secede from Spain. While the speech itself was roundly condemned in the international community, the PP failed to explicitly distance themselves from the sentiment of the General's remarks. The New York Times and the Financial Times (the latter normally an ally of the PP) rounded on the conservatives (or fascists, depending who you ask) with some pretty stern criticism.

It was at around this point that the Spain Herald stepped in to speak up for military coups. In an astounding editorial, the website claimed that "Lieutenant General Mena made a statement befitting a high commander these days". It's one thing to fail to condemn Aguado, but to applaud him? Frequent readers of this blog and many, many others based in Catalonia and Spain will be aware of the extreme right wing bent of the writers at Spain Herald. I had already stopped reading the site because I thought I might suffer an apoplexy. But sadly, Spain Herald does a good job of masquerading as a reliable news source - so much so that it has been quoted numerous times by other news organisations.

The Spain Herald and Rajoy had managed, one way or another, to scare people and put the blame for Aguado's comments on the Socialist government. In many ways, they have been successful. The Socialist party backed down from its support for L'Estatut and instead forged a watered-down deal with the Catalan opposition CiU party. Aguado's speech, therefore, was probably a success for those opposed to Catalan devolution.

Why am I digging this up again? Today, Barcelona Reporter (a website which faithfully attempts to provide a balance of news afecting the city and region) includes a link to a news source called TCS (Technology, Commerce and Society) in which a Spanish writer 'sums up' the debate in Sapin Herald-esque language. There's little mention of the fact that catalan citizens voted overwhelmingly for a platform dedicated to reforming the region's statute of autonomy. In its place is a rehashed version of Aguado's and Rajoy's hysterical claims about the so-called 'Balkanisation' of Spain. Now, the TCS is clearly not a socialist-friendly news source (other articles headlining today include a celebratory piece on the chances of Berlusconi in Italy's forthcoming elections, and a criticism of social policy in the EU), but this is yet another example of the Spanish right wing promulgating their ideas through ostensibly serious news outlets. The risks for Spain are huge. If the right succeed in their campaign against Catalans, it will only give them more confidence to further attack the other principles we hold dear: democracy, social justice and truth.

Share This
February 17, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Language, Politics | 3 Comments 

Hot dates

Yesterday, we celebrated Gemma's latest birthday. Her parents took us out to a restaurant near Sant Quirze which used to be excellent, but has been gradually getting worse and worse over the last few years. It was just as expensive as any of the posher places in Cerdanyola, but without the exquisite cooking. To be fair, it may have been my fault for having a very dull Mitjana amb herbes, when I should have opted for Galtes. Despite that, the evening was fun and Gemma and I finished the day with two episodes of Black Books, a comedy which I always enjoyed, but which many other people have never had time for. A bit like Spaced, I suppose.

Today is St Valentine's day, but more importantly it marks five years that Gemma and I  have been 'officially' a couple. It'll be the last time we mark our anniversary on the 14th of February because on the 29th of September we'll be married!

Anyway, that's enough soppiness. Much more content coming to thebadrash over the next few days and weeks.

Be excellent to eachother.

Share This
February 14, 2006 | Filed Under Home | 4 Comments 

Super Saturday

We're off to see some old friends. Super Furry Animals were the first band I ever really got into (thanks to Joe!), and back in my teenage years they were a strong source of ideas for me. Topics including politics, selling out and drug use (as well as blim holes, alien abduction, Albert Einstein and mobile phones) were set and discussed with great wisdom… but they did push me to the harder stuff (Royal Trux).

So they're playing tonight… it will be about the tenth time I've seen them live in just over ten years. While I'm not a fan of their new material, I love the older stuff enough to wait for it. It'll be a good evening.

Share This
February 11, 2006 | Filed Under General | 9 Comments 

Canary causes unexplained havoc

Sorry, but the translation of Gran Canaria as Grand Canary was too good to leave. Any chance that Spain Herald is using some sort of automatic translation engine?

Share This
February 7, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

Anem a esquiar (una altre cop)!

We're off to Andorra again this afternoon for a pleasant weekend skiing and relaxing. Then, the weekend afterwards, we're off to Port del Comte (Lleida) for even more skiing action! And to think that last year, we didn't go at all…

In other news, I have updated the theme for this site. Some concerned readers told me yesterday that they had noticed problems with the site MONTHS ago but had only now remembered to tell me. Still, better late than never, eh? I quite like the new version of K2 Beta, particularly the comments page.

This week has been one of still simmering debate on l'Estatut and now open hostility over some danish cartoons. Without going into the issues too much now, I can only say that (a) I'm disappointed that the PSOE were cowed into partnering with the CIU, but satisfied that the PP have calmed down a little; and that (b) the freedom of speech should never be used to hurl insults at people but that at the same time, my freedom of speech must always have more protection than someone else's religious laws… I am not a muslim, and while I respect the right for people to believe what they choose, I will not live my life according to religious law. What gets me is the newspapers that followed suit during the week, seemingly with the express intention of stirring things up. Shame on you, lazy journalists.

Share This
February 3, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics, Site news | Leave a Comment 

Justice for Azelle Rodney

The general silence surrounding the state murder of Azelle Rodney is symptomatic of a police force still riddled by institutional racism, suffering from weak leadership (in the form of Sir Ian Blair) and still operating disastrous shoot-to-kill policy which has claimed too many innocent lives.

And this is the important thing: Azelle Rodney wasn't guilty of anything. A young man without a criminal record (and unarmed) was murdered by armed assailants in a planned operation. If his story were ever mentioned in the news, it would cause uproar… and even more so because his attackers were officers of the state, legally obliged to keep the peace and protect citizens.

In brief, here is a recap of the state of affairs (borrowed from the Justice for Azelle Rodney website):

Azelle was a rear seat passenger in a car travelling north along Hale Lane in Edgware when at approx 19.45 the car was stopped by Plain Clothes armed Police Officers from SO19 as part of a pre planned Operation, as the car was stopped he was immediately shot 7 times at close range (5 shots to the head, 1 in the back and one in the shoulder) 2 Bullets appeared to have missed him.

Sir Ian Blair, who this week claimed that the media were 'institutionally racist' is apparently on the verge of being sacked because of a string of failures by the Metropolitan Police, as well as several lapses in his personal judgment. When you have a police service committed to withholding information about cases where they have made mistakes, the media should be investigating. But at the same time, the police service needs to be reformed. How can it be that they freely suggested that Azelle was armed, but when they found he wasn't, they decided to keep quiet. Should the mainstream media have to fight the police for this sort of information? Or should the police simply be more honest about the tragic mistakes they made? The thing is: the police have intentionally left the idea in the public conscience that Azelle Rodney was armed. They knew he wasn't, but they allowed that idea to come out as a way of making the public feel that perhaps he deserved to be killed. The police therefore misled all of us and what's more, they likely calculated that by making the victim a young, 'armed' black man, they could trigger a racist fear response in the general public.

This case will not be suppressed. Azelle's family is leading a dignified campaign to make the police come clean about their mistakes and start the process of punishing the man who shot their son. Citizens committed to civil rights, the protection of the rule of law and preventing the encroachment of police capabilities on our human rights should lend all the support they can to the Justice for Azelle Rodney campaign.

Share This
February 2, 2006 | Filed Under Politics, UK | 2 Comments 

Where's the threat?

John Barrass's editorial on Barcelona Reporter is unduly critical of Catalan national sentiments, and of the groups committed to further autonomy for Catalonia. Indeed, the piece urges readers to ignore threats by a top Spanish military officer that the army would have to intervene should Catalonia - as irrelevant, all the while pointing out that it is Catalan seperatist elements who are the real threat to democracy.

What worries me about these claims is that I don't believe it's wise to discount the growing far right sentiment in Spain as unthreatening. The PP have successfully radicalised a large percentage of Spanish conservatives, via groups like the fictitious AVT (Victims of terrorism Association, dedicated to campaigning against PSOE policies and filling PP rallies), via highly suggestive rhetoric (the so called 'Balkanisation' of Spain) and by openly referring to 'the socialists, communists and anarchists' when what they meant was the centre-left PSOE government. The words 'communist' and 'anarchist' have a particularly powerful effect on Spaniards of a certain generation.

Barrass also drags up scraps of data about various local initiatives put in place to redress the inbalance caused by nearly forty years of brutal repression. TV3, the regional broadcaster, comes in for special attention. Apparently, it receives 'far too much funding', and yet it and 33 are the only watchable channels on Spanish television. What's the problem with a strong regional broadcaster? The PP invested over five times more in Madrid than in Barcelona when it controlled the central government. Would it be preferable to return to that imbalance? I don't think so.

Yet again, efforts are being made to 'split the vote' in Catalonia, suggesting that non-Catalans living here are somehow at risk of being disenfranchised (or even persecuted!) by the Govern de Catalunya. Needless to say, this is scaremongering. What Barrass is absolutely right on is that the rule of law and democracy must always prevail. Catalonia and Spain share a shameful history of corruption and nepotism. Before anything can really be improved, this culture should be changed.

Share This
February 1, 2006 | Filed Under 'Terror', Catalonia, Politics | 6 Comments 

Close
E-mail It